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  After seeing his splendor, she silently thanked Maud for insisting she not wear her mousy brown clothing.

  "Lady?" Raik's face was taut, his jaw and lips stern. Cold blue eyes studied her.

  He must have approved what he saw, for he nodded ever so slightly then stepped forward to replace Cormac's hand on her right elbow with his own. Aubrey squirmed and made a slight sound, drawing Raik's gaze. When the babe burped and tiny bubbles formed on his pursed lips, his eyes warmed.

  Raik turned back to face the crowd.

  "As ye know, by the Treaty of Durham, Seton Castle sits betwixt two kings. A Norman Castle in a land now under King David of Scotland's domain.

  "During my visits at Seton, ye knew me as Raik of Raptor Castle. But today, I return as yer new baron by decree of both King David and King Stephen"

  People turned to each other in surprise. Raik raised his voice and they soon quieted.

  "Seasoned warriors ken the widow de Burgh canna hold the castle alone and keep it secure...."

  Letia tensed and jerked her arm, attempting to pull away. He shifted his hand from her elbow to the soft flesh above it, anchoring her firmly.

  "King Stephen attempts to stave off one enemy of Seton. He has ordered Sir Julian of Chatton and his men to reinforce Roger de Newburgh at Warwick Castle. But when Sir Julian learns Baron de Burgh no longer holds Seton, he will attempt to seize control here."

  Worry hummed through the crowd. As he waited for them to adjust to his news, he stared down at the Lady. If he tilted his head toward her angry, flushed face, no doubt he'd hear her teeth gnashing together. He willed her to look at him. She would not. Had he usurped a man's control at Seton, he would expect such heated resistance. But Letia was a woman. 'Twas time she learned to act as one.

  Raik held up his hand and nodded. The crowd quieted.

  "No doubt ye wonder what is to become of the baron's son, young Aubrey." He looked down at the babe, then back at them. "The kings have appointed me ward over de Burgh's heir, to protect and teach him the ways of a warrior and man. And as a future baron. Earlier today, I caused the king's scribes to put in writing a declaration that Aubrey de Burgh is to be my heir. Sirs Leofwan, Edmund and Cormac and Father Paul have signed as witnesses."

  Letia gasped. Had she thought him so greedy he would usurp the child of his inheritance?

  "In the past, Baron de Burgh and his lady have been kind to all within reach."

  The faces looking up at him seemed to be dreading his next words. From the corner of his eye, he noted Sybilla's frightened face as she grasped her daughter close.

  If Letia stiffened any more than she was at this moment, she would turn to stone. For her to think he would be as cruel as Julian was like aiming spittle at his face. He took several deep breaths, willing the anger to leave him.

  "Life at Seton will go on. I will protect and feed ye, will see that everyone is sheltered." He gazed sternly around the bailey, needing them to understand their continued life here must be earned. "But for this, ye must pay a price."

  Cries of dismay rang out.

  "We have no coin! How can we pay?"

  CHAPTER 22

  Raik held up his hands for silence and waited until there were no more cries of distress before he continued.

  "Do not think yerself helpless! All have the means to earn their keep." He paused and looked over all the faces staring up at him. "'Tis by yer willingness to work. And yer loyalty to me."

  Raik was in the prime of his life, and he meant to have complete control of the castle. But first, he must wrest command from the one person who should never have had it.

  Letia de Burgh.

  "When I approached the castle early this morn, I was met with resistance from men who should have known better. I did not come unannounced. The king's men rode with me. Since the castle commanders were so easily swayed by orders from a person who should have had no control over them, I have called ye here to bear witness to an event."

  Beside him, Letia gasped and tried to jerk away. No doubt, she feared a whipping. Huh! Which she rightly deserved for trying to skewer him there afore the Black Raptor's men. He held tight to her.

  "The Lady Letia will no longer be a warrior atop the parapets. She will assume the duties of a lady within the keep...and within my bedchamber."

  His gaze searched for Leofwan, who nodded back and motioned toward Father Paul waiting on the first step. Raik had some small satisfaction of revenge when Letia's face paled.

  Humpf! Mayhap 'twas cruel of him to imply she was to service him as his mistress. He shuddered on thinking of bedding a woman who thought like a man and no doubt wanted to be a man. He steeled his resolve to get it done as swiftly as possible.

  "Come."

  She balked. Wouldn't move a step.

  Raik glared down at her.

  "Nay." She wrenched free and grasped the babe tightly to her chest, her eyes darting, searching for a way through the crowd.

  "Aye. Ye will."

  Letia's chin jutted stubbornly. He shoved both sides of the red cape over his shoulders, swooped down and scooped her up in his arms. She gasped, and had she not held the babe, he didn't doubt she would have fought him. He jostled her a bit in his arms to make sure he did not press the babe between them.

  Afore she could protest further, he followed Father Paul down the stairway, the crowd opening for them to make their way to the small church.

  "Put me down."

  Letia's words forced through her teeth sounded like an angry cat growling. He ignored her. His long strides carried them toward the church set amongst the orchard trees. With each step, his boots snapped twigs coaxed from the trees during the heavy rains two days before. He heard the crowd following them, heard the whispers and even giggles from the women. The priest had to near run to keep Raik's boots from striking at his heels. But that was all right.

  He would have favored waiting to wed until his mother Lady Joneta, arrived with Ranald. It didn't feel right marrying with naught but his friends Cormac and Domnall amongst the people there. But he had to carry out the king's order that he wed by nightfall. He had no misconceptions about the men his father and the regent had given him. No doubt, their prime purpose was to report to the king that he had obeyed the royal orders.

  A sinking feeling settled in his chest. He stared at the priest waiting in the open doorway of the church, his look expectant. No longer could he ignore Letia's whispered demands to "put me down, you foul-mannered, barbaric oaf!"

  "Maud!" He listened to the footsteps hastening toward them. When she appeared, he ordered, "Take the babe."

  "Aye, my lord."

  Surprisingly, Letia allowed her to take Aubrey from her arms. Once Maud had him, Raik stared down at Letia, his gaze boring into hers. Her eyes shied away from meeting his. His right arm dropped from beneath her knees, but his left held her tight to his chest. Her legs grasped for him as they fell, then stopped.

  Her blushing discomfort gave him spiteful pleasure. He curled her toward him, crushing her breasts against his chest while continuing to stare at her face. Her gaze darted everywhere, even skyward, as he inched her down his body until her feet reached the leaf-carpeted path.

  A boy she might want to be, but he couldn't deny her lush, woman's body. And it certainly appealed to his cock, swelling and demanding with a voice of its own.

  I'm here. Render me my due!

  Letia near shriveled with shame when her legs tried to grip Raik's thighs. It was naught but the fear of falling from his great height. She was sure of it. The moment her face was close to Raik's cheek and neck, the intoxicating scent of pine and clean male flesh quickened her pulse as if she had raced up the steep stairwell at the corner turret.

  In her bemused state, she walked with his urging up the stairs and into the church to stop at the altar where Father Paul waited. Sybilla and Agnes stood beside her, soothing her daughter and telling her there was to be a wedding. It focused Letia's attention.

  Humpf! She had
no wish to marry an overbearing man. She was to serve him within his chamber? Not likely. He'd have a long time waiting. She would be sleeping where she had slept since she was sixteen winters old, and certainly not within his bedchamber. His would be a cold, lonely bed for all she cared.

  How had Father Paul progressed so far into the ceremony? What had he asked? She raised her brow. He cleared his voice and repeated it.

  "Ahem. Lady Letia, do you take this man, Lord Raik of Raptor Castle, to be your lawful wedded husband?"

  She clamped her teeth together and folded her arms across her chest.

  "Ye are supposed to say aye, lady," Cormac whispered in her ear.

  She shook her head.

  Father Paul flushed and again repeated the question.

  Letia set her feet firmly apart. She was ready to do battle. She didn't reckon with how determined Raik could be. He glanced over his shoulder and gave a quick nod.

  Several of his knights moved to form a semi-circle behind them, screening them from everyone else's eyes. Now she realized why they had not wed at the church's entryway, as was the custom. He did not want witnesses that she refused to say her vows.

  Raik's left arm shot out and around her waist. He pulled her to the front of him, against his massive body and anchored her there with his right arm. Using his left hand, he gripped the back of her neck. Before she could stiffen and resist him, he forced her head to bob quickly several times, near making her dizzy.

  "She said 'aye', Father. Get on with it!" The cold words were as sharp as the keen edge of his sword.

  His warm breath so close to her ear sent shivers down her spine. She had no chance to deny him, for never had she heard the priest talk as fast as he did in the next few heartbeats.

  "I do," Raik replied, his voice cold, hard.

  The priest's words ran together. "I-pronounce-you-man-and-wife."

  Raik's arms fell from her as if she burned him. He turned and likely would have left her standing there, but for Cormac's laugh.

  "Ye're supposed to kiss yer bride, man, not trample her on yer way out."

  Raik stopped in mid-stride. He scowled down at her. She didn't have chance to draw a breath before he claimed her. Not with the warm, gentle lips she had secretly known before, but by cold, hard lips that performed a duty.

  Without any feeling for her, his required kiss ground her lips against her teeth. She shuddered and was thankful it was swiftly over. Would that she could have held her breath. The scent of his cheek had stirred her blood, tripping her heart for what could have been under other circumstances.

  Now, it would never be.

  The little church was near soundless. No doubt, because no one knew how to react to such a strange wedding. Cormac broke the frozen mood. He grasped Letia by the shoulders and placed a noisy kiss on her forehead.

  "I wish ye much happiness, Lady." He turned and cuffed Raik's shoulder. "Since ye are now Seton's baron, I guess ye'll be wanting the cows at Raptor returned from last year's raiding, eh?"

  Raik snorted for answer.

  "All is as it should be, Letia." Leofwan clumsily embraced her shoulders with his left arm.

  His gesture broke the silence from the crowded room, and soon so many friends wished her well that Letia lost track.

  They made their way from the church back toward the keep. Seeing everybody smiling, it seemed she was the only one against this forced wedding. She could not blame them for their giddy relief, for when the sun arose this morn, they believed they would be homeless by nightfall.

  Sybilla edged close, her eyes skittering between Raik and Cormac as if waiting for them to shove her out of the way. Raik halted the procession and stepped back, giving her room to greet her sister. Cormac swept his arm, motioning toward her as he spoke to Letia.

  "Lady, there was too little time today for proper festivities. I have learned yer sister has seen to preparing a feast on the morrow that is worthy of a king," Cormac praised as he bowed to Sybilla.

  Why, never had Letia seen Sybilla blush as rosy as any young woman would on hearing praise from a handsome man! Her face felt hot against Letia's cheek. Her niece stepped from behind Sybilla and tugged at Letia's sleeve, a slight frown on her face.

  "Must I call you by a different name now?"

  "Nay, I am still Lady..."

  "Your aunt will rightfully be addressed as Lady Letia of Seton, but to you, she is always your Aunt Letia." Raik interrupted. He made an effort to smile at the child, but his face was stiff.

  Letia felt herself flush. Never had she meant to draw notice of his bastardy by continuing to call herself Lady de Burgh. When they entered the great hall, she took refuge in not being able to talk over the din of so many voices. She should be happy her people were safe, that he had not thwarted Warin's plans. So many things could have gone wrong.

  What if she had never conceived? But she had. Only Maud, Sybilla and Leofwan knew when the babe's seed was planted. Raik must never learn Aubrey had come ahead of his time. If the Scot became suspicious, they would throw him off the scent claiming she was already increasing when he came to Seton.

  How had they reached the keep so quickly? Raik seated her then took the baron's chair. No one had ever had the right to sit in that chair but Warin. Her new husband must have sensed her thoughts, because his eyes narrowed at her.

  Fortunately, they had no need to talk as servants brought their evening meal. They ate in silence, both preferring to listen to the other diners. As usual, Giles was teasing Alfred the slinger about the quantity of food he consumed, and red-haired Piers was trying to coax Everard's secrets on handling horses from him.

  As the warriors celebrated with ale and wine, they soon began calling ribald instructions for Ranald, who answered by jibes of his own. When she had married Warin, she was a young innocent who did not understand what all the laughter was about.

  Now she knew. And blushed.

  "Lord Ranald, the Lady Joneta and his sister Elyne of Raptor will no doubt be here when the sun again rises above the keep."

  So, her reluctant husband did not mean to remain silent.

  "Mayhap Catalin will come with the twins?" Letia hoped it was so.

  "Nay. She sent word that they suffer from a summer cold. I didna think it wise to subject Aubrey to an illness."

  "Aubrey is my son. You have no right to make decisions about him." She shifted in her seat to glare at him. Where he had appeared relaxed before, his muscled body coiled tightly. He looked about to spring into action.

  "Aubrey is my heir. As such, I will deem what is best for him."

  Each word came out slowly. Clearly. Coldly.

  "'Tis time for ye to retire. He must be hungry." He surged to his feet and extended a hand to assist her.

  Letia turned her head in a haughty gesture and ignored it. If possible, he stiffened even more. She spun around and left through the doorway behind the baron's table.

  Raik held hard to his temper when she slammed the door behind her. His muscles flexed in his instinct to follow and demand... Demand what? Were she a man, he would have hauled her back by the shoulder and thrown her against the wall for defying him. But how did one discipline a noble woman? A wife?

  "Come, Raik. 'Tis far too early for ye to charge beneath the sheets." Cormac shoved a full chalice against Raik's clenched fist, sloshing wine over it.

  "Huh! It will still be too early when the night is so near end that the sky lightens to gold."

  "Ye are loath to bed her?" Cormac's eyes widened in surprise.

  "Would ye not be?"

  "Nay. The lady is more comely than any other I have seen but Ranald's Catalin and the Lady Muriele."

  "There you have it. Both are women who cause a man's cock to rise, though Muriele killed a man and Catalin has tamed Ranald." Raik shook his head, trying to put words to his feelings.

  "Aye. And Letia is pleasing to the eye, yet she can defend a castle as well as a man," Cormac supplied.

  "That is the problem. Swiving her wil
l be like taking a squire to my bed." His stones near cringed at the thought.

  "Humpf! I dinna think a squire has neither skin as soft as breasts, nor a body so pleasing to the.... Why are ye fixing me with that squinty stare?"

  Raik's eyes narrowed even more. "How do ye know the lady's skin is soft as breasts?"

  "Do ye not recall I kissed her betwixt the brows not long ago?" Cormac rolled his eyes at him. "Felt her, too. Though I would much rather 'twas her shapely arse than her shoulders."

  Cormac vaulted over the table before Raik's fist could reach his jaw. His laughter floated after him as he headed toward a well-curved lass, her plump breasts bobbing as she leaned across a table to spear a slab of cheese. Raik shook his head, and as he did, spied Sybilla's gaze fixed on his carefree friend. Hmm. She blushed.

  He lingered, talking to the men his father had provided. One man stood out amongst the sixty. Sir William. Not because of his added height, though he was near as tall as the Scotsmen were. He was a most comely man with shiny white hair, not cut so close to his ears like the Norman's, but falling in waves short of his shoulders.

  Raik narrowed his eyes and studied him. He looked to be past his fiftieth year. Considering his age, he was an unusual choice as a warrior. Most likely, his ability leaned toward judging all he saw at Seton and reporting it back to de Mortimer.

  William didn't seem reluctant to meet Raik's eyes. Anything but. The man's gaze met his every bit as forcefully. Huh! 'Twas a new way of testing strength? A staring match instead of arm wrestling? Raik lifted his wine in a mocking salute before he downed it.

  Though loathe to do so, he must be off to bed his bride, else all would think him unable to perform.... Cold washed over him. For sure, pesky Lucifer chortled at having caught him unaware to prod his manhood. The soft, fuzzy haze of time since Letia had left the room soon became sharp and clear. He forced himself to stand and ignore the shouts as he left.