Montbryce to spend a few days there. I want you to see where I was born. It’s our family castle, seat of my brother, the Comte de Montbryce. I must also visit my parents’ tombs in the crypt.”
“I can’t believe I slept through the voyage,” she blushed.
“Well at least you didn’t have to listen to Antoine being seasick. He’s a poor sailor.”
“But a good brother,” she rejoined.
“You’re right, and I must go assist him now with the landing. Stay here until I come for you.” He kissed her lightly on her forehead and a wave of heat swept through her body, followed by a chill now she wasn’t warmed by his strong arms.
The women watched as the brothers and their men ably disembarked the horses and other goods the ship had carried, including two crates of live pigeons from East Preston. Boden and Brigantia presided over the whole operation, giving an occasional ‘woof’ of approval.
When the horses had been saddled, Hugh came to fetch the women. “ Mesdames , we don’t have enough horses for everyone. Lady Wilona, you’ll ride with my brother, two of my men-at-arms will take Aediva and Bemia, another will carry the dog—don’t worry he’s a burly fellow—and Devona you’ll ride with me. Brigantia will keep up. We won’t be riding too fast.”
Wilona nodded her approval and, once everyone was mounted, the party set off for Saint Germain de Montbryce. Seated behind Hugh, Devona clung to his hard broad back, her arms around his waist, the warmth from his body seeping into her, praying none of this was a dream.
Everything had happened so fast, Hugh wondered if he was dreaming as he felt Devona’s arms tighten around him and relished the sensation of her breasts pressed firmly against his back. He tried not to become aroused, but it was hopeless. He decided to worry instead about the possible ramifications of what had happened.
He’d kidnapped the wife of a Norman nobleman and spirited her away to his own land. If he made love to her, which he desperately wanted to do, she would be guilty of adultery. If his bloodlust surfaced during the mating he might commit some unspeakable savagery against the woman he loved with all his heart. If it didn’t, he was a virgin, by the saints, and she a woman married for five years. What would she think of his lack of— experience —would she be able to tell?
On top of that, he was harbouring a Saxon woman who had killed the capitaine of the same nobleman. Though she’d acted in defense of herself and her children, Hugh knew only too well what the sentence of a Norman court would be. He wondered what Renouf would do once he returned home and found the prize gone? And where did Renouf go so frequently in Normandie?
Hugh was heartily glad to see the imposing Castle Montbryce come into view on its promontory. Contentment swept over him, as it always did at the sight. He glanced over to Antoine and they exchanged a smile and a nod. He was home, the woman of his dreams with him. He just hoped it wouldn’t all turn into a nightmare.
***
Steward Fernand Bonhomme had all in readiness for milords Hugh and Antoine and their guests when they arrived. His Comte’s brothers would sleep in their own chambers, which had been aired out for them, and two chambers had been readied for the ladies. He was somewhat taken aback by the huge dogs, which he didn’t expect, especially since one was injured, but he soon had the stable boys dealing with the matter of food for them. In any case they were to sleep in the ladies’ chambers.
“Bonhomme, where would Montbryce be without you?” Antoine exclaimed, after the women had been taken to their chambers by a maidservant. “The entirety would crumble around our ears!”
“It’s my honour to serve you, you know that, milord . Not as easy with Mathieu gone off to serve milord Rambaud in England, but I still have my younger son Honoré here as my right hand. He’ll be ready to take over from me when the time
“I can’t believe I slept through the voyage,” she blushed.
“Well at least you didn’t have to listen to Antoine being seasick. He’s a poor sailor.”
“But a good brother,” she rejoined.
“You’re right, and I must go assist him now with the landing. Stay here until I come for you.” He kissed her lightly on her forehead and a wave of heat swept through her body, followed by a chill now she wasn’t warmed by his strong arms.
The women watched as the brothers and their men ably disembarked the horses and other goods the ship had carried, including two crates of live pigeons from East Preston. Boden and Brigantia presided over the whole operation, giving an occasional ‘woof’ of approval.
When the horses had been saddled, Hugh came to fetch the women. “ Mesdames , we don’t have enough horses for everyone. Lady Wilona, you’ll ride with my brother, two of my men-at-arms will take Aediva and Bemia, another will carry the dog—don’t worry he’s a burly fellow—and Devona you’ll ride with me. Brigantia will keep up. We won’t be riding too fast.”
Wilona nodded her approval and, once everyone was mounted, the party set off for Saint Germain de Montbryce. Seated behind Hugh, Devona clung to his hard broad back, her arms around his waist, the warmth from his body seeping into her, praying none of this was a dream.
Everything had happened so fast, Hugh wondered if he was dreaming as he felt Devona’s arms tighten around him and relished the sensation of her breasts pressed firmly against his back. He tried not to become aroused, but it was hopeless. He decided to worry instead about the possible ramifications of what had happened.
He’d kidnapped the wife of a Norman nobleman and spirited her away to his own land. If he made love to her, which he desperately wanted to do, she would be guilty of adultery. If his bloodlust surfaced during the mating he might commit some unspeakable savagery against the woman he loved with all his heart. If it didn’t, he was a virgin, by the saints, and she a woman married for five years. What would she think of his lack of— experience —would she be able to tell?
On top of that, he was harbouring a Saxon woman who had killed the capitaine of the same nobleman. Though she’d acted in defense of herself and her children, Hugh knew only too well what the sentence of a Norman court would be. He wondered what Renouf would do once he returned home and found the prize gone? And where did Renouf go so frequently in Normandie?
Hugh was heartily glad to see the imposing Castle Montbryce come into view on its promontory. Contentment swept over him, as it always did at the sight. He glanced over to Antoine and they exchanged a smile and a nod. He was home, the woman of his dreams with him. He just hoped it wouldn’t all turn into a nightmare.
***
Steward Fernand Bonhomme had all in readiness for milords Hugh and Antoine and their guests when they arrived. His Comte’s brothers would sleep in their own chambers, which had been aired out for them, and two chambers had been readied for the ladies. He was somewhat taken aback by the huge dogs, which he didn’t expect, especially since one was injured, but he soon had the stable boys dealing with the matter of food for them. In any case they were to sleep in the ladies’ chambers.
“Bonhomme, where would Montbryce be without you?” Antoine exclaimed, after the women had been taken to their chambers by a maidservant. “The entirety would crumble around our ears!”
“It’s my honour to serve you, you know that, milord . Not as easy with Mathieu gone off to serve milord Rambaud in England, but I still have my younger son Honoré here as my right hand. He’ll be ready to take over from me when the time
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