brought another memory. That firm mouth upon hers, creating a sensation she had never experienced before, and that hard frame molded to hers, causing a confusing emotion that she found very hard to put from her mind.
One day he would be her husband, the man she would live with, sleep with, and whose children she would bear. She was again shocked that the idea caused no fear in her. Was she falling in love with this hard and seemingly ungiving man?
Another thought came unbidden ... it would not prove a difficult thing to do. She already knew he was not the fierce and vengeful man that rumor portrayed, and she wondered if he did not use that reputation as a shield for his own protection.
The lands around Creganwald that would be in his control ran for miles along the shore, and if one turned inland, the miles were just as many. It was much too large a holding to cover in one day's ride, and Royce knew it. But he meant to see the shore defenses, to speak to some of the serfs, and to understand Lynette better by observing the care she had given to those who served her.
At every stop, she was shown a deference that came not from force but from true devotion. He was well aware of the regard in which she was held. Many times she was approached unreservedly by those who served her, and was asked questions to which she gave honest answers.
He listened as she asked after the health of this child or that man. She advised remedies and offered help to those who were ill. He kept his silence, but missed little. And his regard for her grew with every mile they covered.
It was nearing time for the sun to set when they found themselves at the edge of a small cliff that overlooked the calm harbor. From here they would return to the hall. But for a few minutes they had stopped to rest the horses, and to enjoy the view. He lifted her from her horse, and they walked together to the cliff edge.
They stood for a few minutes simply enjoying the breathtaking view. The sun was a red glow on the horizon, and the sky seemed to be painted by the brush of a master painter in hues of purple, gold, crimson, and shades of blue.
He turned to face her and was instantly held by the picture she made. Strands of her hair, loosened by the breeze, blew across her cheeks, and the mist of the water made a dewy softness on her creamy skin. Her eyes were full of a kind of pride. This land might be owned by William now, but her heart lay here forever.
As he gazed at her, another face formed like a shadow over hers. He had known a maid as fair, and he had taken her life. He would not do so again.
"It is always beautiful," she half whispered.
"Even when the cold is upon it as now?" he asked with a smile.
"Aye, even then."
"Lynette ... I would leave for London within the next five days."
She turned to look up at him, surprise in her eyes. "I had thought William expected us just before the marriage."
"Aye, he does. I had thought to go early. The court is an interesting place. Perhaps you would enjoy some time there before you are wed and your duties keep you here."
Lynette had the feeling that he had left a great deal unsaid, and it puzzled her. Yet his eyes held no sign of duplicity.
"You are anxious to return to court?"
"A bit," he lied without a sign.
"Perhaps to see if there is another more promising reward for your devotion to William than the meager lands of Creganwald?"
That she had struck to the heart of the matter so quickly shook him a bit, but he returned her question with a smile. "Perhaps."
"Perhaps I can be of help to you." She returned his smile with the same honesty.
"I had thought you might."
"You would see me choose a maid to warm your bed in place of me? Would you then, if I found such a maid, release me from our promise?"
"That is not for me to decide," he retorted. "William wants this manor held in his name. I am certain there are many who would covet these lands. If you find one to your liking, maybe William will listen, and
One day he would be her husband, the man she would live with, sleep with, and whose children she would bear. She was again shocked that the idea caused no fear in her. Was she falling in love with this hard and seemingly ungiving man?
Another thought came unbidden ... it would not prove a difficult thing to do. She already knew he was not the fierce and vengeful man that rumor portrayed, and she wondered if he did not use that reputation as a shield for his own protection.
The lands around Creganwald that would be in his control ran for miles along the shore, and if one turned inland, the miles were just as many. It was much too large a holding to cover in one day's ride, and Royce knew it. But he meant to see the shore defenses, to speak to some of the serfs, and to understand Lynette better by observing the care she had given to those who served her.
At every stop, she was shown a deference that came not from force but from true devotion. He was well aware of the regard in which she was held. Many times she was approached unreservedly by those who served her, and was asked questions to which she gave honest answers.
He listened as she asked after the health of this child or that man. She advised remedies and offered help to those who were ill. He kept his silence, but missed little. And his regard for her grew with every mile they covered.
It was nearing time for the sun to set when they found themselves at the edge of a small cliff that overlooked the calm harbor. From here they would return to the hall. But for a few minutes they had stopped to rest the horses, and to enjoy the view. He lifted her from her horse, and they walked together to the cliff edge.
They stood for a few minutes simply enjoying the breathtaking view. The sun was a red glow on the horizon, and the sky seemed to be painted by the brush of a master painter in hues of purple, gold, crimson, and shades of blue.
He turned to face her and was instantly held by the picture she made. Strands of her hair, loosened by the breeze, blew across her cheeks, and the mist of the water made a dewy softness on her creamy skin. Her eyes were full of a kind of pride. This land might be owned by William now, but her heart lay here forever.
As he gazed at her, another face formed like a shadow over hers. He had known a maid as fair, and he had taken her life. He would not do so again.
"It is always beautiful," she half whispered.
"Even when the cold is upon it as now?" he asked with a smile.
"Aye, even then."
"Lynette ... I would leave for London within the next five days."
She turned to look up at him, surprise in her eyes. "I had thought William expected us just before the marriage."
"Aye, he does. I had thought to go early. The court is an interesting place. Perhaps you would enjoy some time there before you are wed and your duties keep you here."
Lynette had the feeling that he had left a great deal unsaid, and it puzzled her. Yet his eyes held no sign of duplicity.
"You are anxious to return to court?"
"A bit," he lied without a sign.
"Perhaps to see if there is another more promising reward for your devotion to William than the meager lands of Creganwald?"
That she had struck to the heart of the matter so quickly shook him a bit, but he returned her question with a smile. "Perhaps."
"Perhaps I can be of help to you." She returned his smile with the same honesty.
"I had thought you might."
"You would see me choose a maid to warm your bed in place of me? Would you then, if I found such a maid, release me from our promise?"
"That is not for me to decide," he retorted. "William wants this manor held in his name. I am certain there are many who would covet these lands. If you find one to your liking, maybe William will listen, and
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