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  "I will help Maud so our guest will think 'twas all a lovely dream."

  Letia choked back a sob. Her bare feet flew across the floor leading back to her solar.

  Drawing off her clothes, she stepped into the bathing tub. Shivering from the cold water, she snatched up the cloth and lathered from her face to her knees, then knelt and splashed water over her flesh until she'd rinsed off the soap.

  As she straightened, she heard the same strange howls and shrieks come from the woods as she had heard the night before Ranald arrived. Surely, it was the same creature. No other animal could sound so frightening. Everyone in the keep had made comment on it. Most were certain it was Cerberus, the hound of Hades, come to steal a life for Lucifer.

  She hastened to dry as her eyes probed the midnight black corners of the room. Taking a shuddering breath, she grabbed the warm smock Maud had placed on a nearby stool then tiptoed into the sleeping chamber. After she eased herself into bed, she waited for her body to warm before she moved to press herself against Warin's back. Careful not to wake him, she put her arm over his waist and kissed his bare skin.

  She could not sleep. What woman could after doing such a thing? She held tight to him and tried to make sense of her feelings.

  Warin had always been gentle with her. He took time to assure she was ready to receive him so she would have no pain. But not once had their coupling been as the one tonight. On hearing young servants giggle with excitement when they talked of swiving, she had not understood. Nor why they would cast such admiring looks at the warriors they had bedded the night before.

  Tonight, she had learned why.

  Never had she sensed Warin needed a tight rein on his ardor. Tears came to her eyes realizing now how ill he had been since they wed.

  She had feared coupling with Raik, feared he would mistreat her. The moment he sensed her afore him, she had expected him to throw her to the floor, mount and thrust into her. Instead, he had gently drawn her to the bed and taken time to make slow, passionate love.

  Would he have been so caring and gentle had he known who lay beneath him?

  At first, when he stoked her passion to such great heights, her feelings frightened her. Would she harm herself with the pressure, the tension, when it exploded? She couldn't catch her breath; her body had become rigid. Then she had started to quake. Lights flashed in her mind.

  Aye, she exploded for certes. But not the way she'd feared.

  'Twas the saddest thing of all. The worst kind of betrayal.

  She had known ecstasy.

  o0o

  Warin knew Leofwan had believed he slept, but he had not. He had schooled his body to relax, his breathing to slow, even to snore gently. He stared up at the forest green canopy above the bed. They had not pulled the bed curtains, for he preferred a bit of light in the room. Tonight it made no difference, for the sky remained dark and gloomy.

  Like his thoughts.

  His clenched fingers near drew blood from nails digging into his palms as he waited to know Letia was unharmed.

  Not that he believed Raik would harm her. If he had harbored any such doubt, he would have killed him in the forest. He'd ordered Maud to stand outside Raik's door, just in case Letia became upset and wanted to flee. She would be there to aid her.

  To be truthful, he hoped Raik was half the man he had heard from his cautious inquiries. Every woman he had ever coupled with wanted to repeat the act. He prayed it was true, that Letia would finally know the fulfillment of being a woman.

  His own careful loving had brought her to a climax, but it had taken his skillful fingers and kisses to do so. His body had begun to betray him even before he had wed Letia. When his heart pained him so. The healers had said 'twas because his blood did not flow as it should.

  He near stopped breathing, hearing her entering the solar. He barely heard the soft sounds of splashing water. Soon after, the chamber door opened. It would be best to feign sleep. Let her compose herself, for she would feel more shame if she had to face him.

  He pressed his eyes tight when her arm snaked around him, when he felt her sweet kiss on his back.

  Ah. She did not hate him.

  He had feared she would.

  Finally, after what seemed half the night, he knew she slept. He slowly turned and gathered her in his arms and pulled the soft blanket up around her back. He cradled the back of her head in his big hand and buried his face in the curls atop her head.

  Silent tears fell as he kissed her and prayed.

  Please God. Do not let her sacrifice to have been for naught.

  CHAPTER 8

  Raik squinted and forced his eyes to open when a shaft of sunlight flowed through the window opening. He gripped his pillow and rose on his elbow to peer around for the woman. She wasn't there. His brows arched as he noted the bed.

  The sheets were neat and tidy as if he had slept quietly. The pillow on the opposite side of the bed still lay as plump and without a hint of a crease as when the laundry girl had freshened his bedding the day before.

  Not one thing lingered that suggested anyone had entered after he settled for the night.

  Nothing.

  o0o

  In the main bedchamber, Letia opened her eyes to find Warin had already risen. A bright array of clothing spread over two massive chairs beside the fireplace, caught her gaze. Her beautifully carved, dark wooden chest stood open to the right of the bed. A sky blue kirtle near spilled from it.

  "Maud?"

  Maud startled, then looked at the bed. "Lovey, you did not rest long enough. Look at you." She bustled over, worry creasing her brow. "Your eyes have moons beneath them so dark we must dust them with flour."

  "Flour?" Letia reached up and ran a fingertip beneath her eyes.

  "Aye. 'Tis all I can think of at present. Mayhap one of the other women would know what to use. Hm, cannot ask them, can I? They would be suspicious of why yer eyes are shadowed."

  "I could tell them truthfully that the terrible howls during the night kept me awake."

  "Aye. Your sister near died of fright when the sounds first began. Ye know how terrified she is of strange doings."

  "It did not waken Sir Raik?"

  "Not all the way. He started moving about on the sheets. We dropped down and hugged the floor praying he would not rise."

  "You are sure he knew nothing?"

  Maud shook her head and wagged her hand back and forth to match.

  "He sat upright for a breath or two, muttered and patted the bed then fell back and started snoring again."

  "I tried to keep silent while I was there. Are you sure he will think it a dream?"

  "Aye. He will. The draught causes colorful dreams." She rolled her eyes. "For men, 'tis mostly of swiving."

  "But what if he knows I came to him?"

  "He cannot. We took away even the cup he drank from and replaced it with water. We changed the bed linens and plumped all the pillows. Except his."

  "Why not his?

  "We could not pry it from him. He held it to his face as a bairn does its blanket." She shook her head and grinned at the notion. "Nothing remains that would even hint that anyone but he was in the room."

  Letia sighed with relief and turned her attention to the clothing strewn about. "Mayhap the bright green kirtle with the pale green smock will make everyone look to it and not my eyes?"

  "Aye. It will to my way of thinking."

  Letia freshened up behind the washstand screen. She felt her face flush when she became aware of soreness for the first time.

  Sybilla called softly from the other side of the door then stepped into the room carrying a tray laden with hot food. The aroma of just-baked bread drifted to Letia, making her mouth water.

  "The women of the keep are fearful this morn," her sister said as she sat the tray on the table alongside the outer wall.

  "Ha. I would say as many men as women are afeared. Never have I heard an animal such as the one outside our gates." Maud shook her head then came over to p
ut a wrap around Letia's shoulders. "Come, Lovey. Sybilla has brought you porridge with berries, eggs and scones. Even butter and honey. All the things ye like best."

  "She has brought enough food for the three of us." Letia settled in the heavy wooden chair, grateful she had made such a comfortable, padded tapestry to sit on.

  "'Twas my plan," Sybilla said and grinned. She sat and tucked her legs up under her, then reached up to pull the veil from around her head and neck. She lightly rubbed the scars there as if the cloth irritated her skin.

  "Sybilla, love, you do not need to cover yourself here at Seton." Letia reached across and caressed her sister's cheek. "None of us are perfect. We all bear scars of one type or another."

  "Aye. But no one else bears them in shame."

  "Shame? You have naught to feel shameful about. Your scars are a badge of honor. Warin told me Leofwan felt much the same when he was first injured. He begged Warin to leave him to die on the battlefield."

  "Aye, but he gained his scars in honorable combat."

  Before Letia could protest further, the sounds of a great commotion in the front bailey brought them all to their feet. As they stared out the window opening, people pointed toward the drawbridge. Her eyes traveled there. Seeing nothing of import, her gaze followed the same line out into the cleared field and beyond.

  She caught her breath. At the very edge of the forest was the biggest black beast she had ever seen. It stood motionless and stared across the field toward the castle. Finally, its head drooped. It took one halting step toward the drawbridge.

  A great creaking and clanking began. They were raising the drawbridge!

  The creature stopped, thrust back his head and howled.

  The sound was so mournful it tore at Letia's heart.

  She gasped. "Hurry, Maud, help me dress. That poor creature suffers!"

  Maud threw Letia's smock, then her kirtle over her head while Sybille helped her pull on her stockings and lace her shoes. All three were up and running out of the room before the last creak of the drawbridges rising.

  Letia near flew down the stairwell, grabbing the rope supports alongside every now and then to keep from taking flight into the air. She raced through the great room and out the huge, open doorway of the keep.

  "Maud, have cook bring me the biggest bone from the soup pot," she called out.

  Maud skidded to a halt, veered off and ran toward the Cook House.

  Letia barreled out into the bailey, breathless. She did not stop running until she reached the gatehouse.

  "Lower the bridge! Did you not see the creature is hurt?" Her voice rang with her anger.

  "But, mistress, he were howlin' and looked right ready to tear someone apart," the gatehouse keeper called down.

  "Lower the bridge and do as your mistress requests," Warin's calm voice called. He came up behind Letia and patted her shoulder. "It will be done, beloved. They are but fearful of legends."

  She turned to look up into his beautiful, blue eyes. He cloaked the sadness she first saw there and replaced it with interest.

  "How do you think to lure him in?"

  "Maud will bring me a tempting bone. The poor creature looks to be starving." She touched Warin's chest, patting it for comfort. "Did you see his limp?"

  "Aye. Do not try to touch him, beloved. Once his belly is satisfied and he learns we mean him no harm, mayhap then we can see how to mend the beast."

  By the time the drawbridge thudded to the ground, Maud arrived. Wrapped in a loose cloth was the biggest bone Letia had seen in months.

  "Stay away from the drawbridge," Letia warned everyone gathered there. "Go about your business so the poor beast will not be threatened by you." She took the bone from Maud.

  Under Warin's eagle eye, everyone moved back out of the way. He walked behind Letia as she slowly strolled through the long tunnel of the barbican and came out on the drawbridge. She crossed it until it met land on the other side of the moat.

  Letia studied the field over to the woods beyond. She did not see the beast.

  Poor, frightened soul. She would leave the offering just five steps from the end. Mayhap he would trust enough to fetch it.

  There at the distance she selected, she rolled the bone out of the cloth midway between the two sides of the bridge, then slowly backed away until she was within the walls of the barbican.

  The black beast slowly padded from the woods. He took several halting limps then stopped.

  She backed up another four steps. He advanced the same.

  Satisfied that he would come for the food, she continued backward, relying on Warin's hands to guide her.

  The big beast, wary with every step, half dragged himself to the bone. His left hind leg trailed behind him. He carefully eased down on the bridge, his nose on the meaty treat. Keeping an eye on Letia and Warin, he started to gnaw on it.

  "Let the beast eat in peace," Warin called out. "'Tis time for us to go about our own work."

  Once everyone moved back from the gatehouse entranceway, the animal's shoulders relaxed.

  Letia's did not, though. Eyes bored between her shoulder blades. She knew from whence the discomfort came. One quick glance to a window above showed a man standing there.

  Raik.

  Naked, except for white bandages on his shoulder.

  Those piercing, blue eyes below scowling brows unsettled her. Did they condemn, as they were wont to do?

  Aye. Those full, sensual lips that had kissed her with such passion in the dark of night now became a hard, thin line.

  He radiated disgust. His unyielding jaw and stiff stance said as much.

  Her stomach churned and bubbled like boiling porridge.

  CHAPTER 9

  Raik's head ached even more when he saw who had caused the clamor below. A woman started for the drawbridge the minute it thudded to the ground. De Burgh walked behind her, his sword drawn. 'Twas the Lady Letia. Acting like a man. Again! Her husband filled in for a squire and protected her back. He snorted.

  A woman shouldna be confronting a beast of that size. Or any size, for that matter. Especially an animal injured and ready to tear the throat out of any fool. Given its size, most likely its sire was a wolf.

  He held his breath when she walked so slowly she seemed to float across the boards of the drawbridge. He pressed his lips even tighter seeing she held such a succulent bone. Why, he could see meat still clung to it!

  His eyes fastened on the beast as it crept out of the forest. Though he dragged one leg, he could still run faster on three than she or her foolish husband could on two!

  Eejits! He turned and took long strides to the door of the chamber to yank at the latch. It wouldna budge. He banged his fists.

  "Open, ye gowks," he bellowed. No answer came.

  He banged again. The motion ripped pain through his shoulder.

  "Do ye wish yer foolish mistress dragged into the woods?" he bellowed.

  "Quiet yourself, my lord. You will do yourself an injury."

  Raik couldna believe anyone dared talk to him in that chastising tone. A young man's voice. 'Twas obvious the whelp did not know who he addressed. Huh! At Raptor, men didna dare hesitate to do his bidding.

  "I order ye to open and bring me my sword," he shouted in his meanest voice.

  "Heh! Order away, my lord, as much as you like. I obey none else but my lady Letia and the baron."

  "What is your name!"

  "I am called Giles. And to save you further questions, I am squire to Lady Letia. The baron himself ordered me to be loyal only to her. You should save your breath, for I do what she requests. For now, that is to stand guard over your door."

  Raik's jaw dropped open. The woman had her own personal squire? Humph! Did she also wear chain mail, a helmet and gauntlets?

  He snorted with disgust and stormed back to watch, his hands tightly fisted. Lady Letia was near the middle of the bridge. The baron was at her heels. She would take a step. The black beast did the same. By the time she stooped and pl
aced her offering on the wooden planks and started backing away, the beast had but a few paces to go afore its paws touched the drawbridge.

  He banged his fists on the sides of his thighs. Were he down there, she would be standing with the women, her husband beside her. He didna fault them for wanting to help the beast. He would do the same. But he wouldna have allowed the lady to step one foot toward it! Impatient, his fingers flexed. He itched to grab her shoulders and thrust her behind him.

  He wanted to swallow, but his mouth was dry. He wanted to shake her 'till her brains rattled against her skull.

  Why did it upset him?

  Because she acted so foolishly!

  That's why. No other reason.

  Oh, how his head ached. Bellowing at Giles had not helped. The lady was at last back through the gatehouse. Safe. His breath came out in a whoosh. His shoulders relaxed. He had not realized he had been so disquieted until his body lost its tension. He scraped his left hand through his hair; his fingers shoved it behind his neck.

  Now, who was the fool? Memories of the past night flooded back into his mind, making his heart pound. Was it a wonderfully sensual dream? Or had it been real? Never had he felt such a powerful need to possess a woman so completely. Someone had to have been here! Frowning, he searched the room. He looked for even one thing that could prove he was not crazy.

  During their lovemaking, the pillows and sheets had become so tangled he had wrenched them to the floor. Hadn't he? When the sun came up and he had reached to pull the woman back into his arms, his hands met thin air. He'd opened his eyes to find a bed with hardly a wrinkle in the sheets. The second pillow beside his head was as plump and unused as... Strange. He remembered propping it under his shoulder when first he had settled for the night.

  On awakening, he had felt reluctant to turn his face from his own pillow. Why? He frowned and reached for it. Holding it to his nose, he sniffed. And sniffed again. No washing or drying in the sun could account for its scent. 'Twas of flowers. Hm. Yes.

  Lilies. He recognized it. At Kelso Abbey when he had arrived to guard Ranald from his father, Lilies had adorned the chapel. Where he had stood, the scent had floated to him, reminding him of gentleness. He had waited there all night, keeping to the shadows as he watched over Ranald, outstretched on the cold stones. Praying. Naked as the day he was born.