Ice Maiden (5 page)

They changed the water twice before Amy
finally felt the baby’s temperature coming down. “There Bess, we’ll
feel better now. Emily brew the mint leaves your mother sent and we
will spoon some into her, they will soothe her breathing and
stomach cramps. And Emily, fix some for yourself and calm down, she
is fine, aren’t you love.”

The baby’s cooing brought a relieved smile
over Emily. Bess reached up and took hold of Amy’s fallen braid as
she dried her and wrapped her up in the blanket.

Amy brought the baby up to her shoulder
placing her head against her cheek to be sure the fever was down.
“Emily, if she gets hot again do the same thing with the water
until she cools. Don’t let her get too chilled and try to get the
mint down her.”

“It was the milk, the cow’s gone bad. I did
na’ know...”

“Hush, I will have Lansing send one out in
the morning.”

Bern moved away from the door, no longer
wanting to burst in and drag her out of where he trailed her.
Knowing what he thought to find and what he confronted in the
cottage still sent his head reeling in question. “Will ye ever stop
surprising me?”

“Who sire?”

Bern was so lost in his thoughts he failed to
realize that the boy returned. “The Lady, son.”

The boy gave him a knowing smile. “Ye too,
uh?”

“She let me care for Squire, never let’s
anyone else touch her stallion, not even Hop the livery in the
village.”

“And why’s that?”

“He’s too special, like her.”

“You’ll get no argument there, son. Does she
come visiting often?”

“Not much lately, too many strangers about.
Mum says tis’ too dangerous for her to be out like usual. But I
watched real good, to be sure she would be safe and the riders kept
going west, towards the Black Woods.”

“How many?”

“Five, but I saw tracks for more, many
more.”

Pushing the lad for more information might
make him suspicious, so Bern changed the subject. “Why’s the Lady
come out so far from the castle?”

“Always has, tis’ her way. I go with her
sometimes when she visits the outer cottages. I like those times,
she always has good things to eat for everyone, fills the whole
cart she does.”

“Takes all day, does it?”

“Most the time two, we stay over at my Aunt
Roberta’s.”

“You have a big family.”

“That’s what she says. I used to feel sorry
for her.”

“Why?”

“She has no one, but she told me she didn’t
need any family, she had all of us and we were her family.”

“Is she?”

“Family?”

Bern nodded.

“Everyone watches out for her and no one
would dare harm her, I guess that is family.”

“I think you are right.”

“I better get Squire. Will you ride back with
her?”

“Do you want me to?”

The boy looked him up and down. “She would be
safe with you.”

“I hope you are right.” The feeling there was
much more to Lady Amelia than he ever realized struck Bern
hard.

He’d watched as she tended that baby as if it
were her own child. He may naught have been around landed ladies on
a regular basis, but the ones he did know never gave a hoot about
how their tenants fared. The thought of tending a sick child would
revolt them.

All he ever saw in Amy was concern and a
level head. God, she looked like an angel to him.

A feeling started in his gut while he watched
her with the baby. At first Bern couldn’t say what it was, but as
it grew stronger there was no denying what he felt. He wanted to
see her holding his babe, son or daughter it mattered little, as
long as it was his child in her arms. She would be beautiful, her
belly swollen, carrying his child.

The enormity of what he admitted to himself
came as a staggering blow. He never held these kind of thoughts
before. Even stranger was the truth that until she awoke in his
arms, like she did that morn, he knew, he’d naught really felt any
feelings towards her, other than a challenge to combat his boredom
until the next battle called him. Oh, her lands were worth a large
ransom, but Bern had his own holdings and in all honesty hers
didn’t matter. In truth they would be a drain on his time and
resources to defend.

She’d probably scald him with those glorious
eyes of hers if she knew his thoughts concerning Morgan Castle and
its holdings. Even with all his faults, Lansing was doing an
admirable job running the place and that shouldn’t change. Bern
would leave the old man half the men he brought with him to shore
up his lacking defenses.

Hearing her say her goodbyes Bern
straightened off the wall and prepared himself for her discovery
over his presence. Learning so many of her secrets wasn’t going to
set well with the lady.

“You saved her, Amelia.”

“Nonsense, you would have thought of the
water yourself. I will have a cow out first thing in the
morning.”

“Thank you.”

“Just take care of her, she is a beautiful
baby.”

Leaving Emily at the door, Amy turned to face
the last person she expected to see. “Bern!”

“Amy.”

She tried to read his eyes, but they were
guarded. Maybe she should be grateful, at least he wasn’t raving
mad at her, not yet at least.

They both seemed at a loss for words. Amy was
caught and had no defense to give.

“We better head back.”

For the first time she noticed how late it
was. “The feast! Oh, I am sorry.”

“Why? It seems you had more important things
to attend to.”

Was he offended? “Not more important, Bern,
just more urgent.”

She’d misunderstood his meaning, but
selfishly he didn’t want to correct her. “Shall we?”

Amy accepted his hand up into the saddle. She
watched as he ruffled Cal’s hair and told him to help his mother
with the chores until his sister was well. It seemed the two had
known each other some time.

The silence between them grated on Amy’s
nerves. Her emotions ran from anger that he’d followed her, to
guilt over making them late for the feast, and like a naughty child
she wished he would just yell at her and get it over with.

Watching her silent fretting as she rode
ahead of him, Bern couldn’t say why he didn’t tell her he wasn’t
angry. Maybe in a way he was, but not for the reasons she would
believe. The idea of her roaming over the countryside like this
bothered him tremendously. And dressed like a lad--Ack! Any fool
could see what she was, those womanly curves were impossible to
hide.

By the time they reached the keep, Amy’s
stomach was tied in knots. He hadn’t spoken one word to her since
leaving Emily’s.

Mistress Tilly and the Captain were waiting
for them. She couldn’t deal with the reprimand Lansing looked like
he wanted to deliver. Turning away from him to the mistress, “The
baby will be fine, we broke the fever.”

The lady gave her a great hug. “I knew if
anyone could help her you could.”

Amy still needed to face Lansing because of
her promise to Emily. “Please see that a milk cow is delivered to
Emily’s by first light, their cow has gone sour.”

“Now you’re giving away the cows!”

“No, just trading one for another.”

“Aye and who’s gathering the better
bargain?”

“I did.” No more needed to be said, she saved
a baby and that was all the mattered. Before she could escape into
the castle Bern’s deep voice halted her.

“Lady Amelia?”

It took the last of her composure to face
him. “Yes.”

“Do me a favor?”

“If I can.”

“Next time you need to leave the castle, I
would like to escort you.”

“A request, Lord Randall?” She liked to have
bit her tongue for questioning his jester.

“Aye Lady, a request.”

His eyes told her it was up to her to accept
it as given. “In that case, I promise to inform you.”

She left them with lighter steps, deciding
that maybe her life here wouldn’t be so awful after all.

“Enough Mistress, I must get down there.”

“Worried about the Laird, are we?”

“No, of course not, it's just I have already
made everyone wait dinner.”

“Oh aye, we mustn't be rude.”

“Right. No, please hurry.”

“Just a touch here…”

Amy wanted to grab the bone comb out of the
woman's hand.

“There, finished.”

Amy practically jumped off the stool Mistress
Tilly kept her pinned to while fixing her hair.

“Ye best calm down.”

“No time.” Amy turned and hugged the woman.
“Thank you for helping me.”

Tilly watched the girl rush out the door. “Ah
she looks like a princess tonight, couldn't have picked a better
man for the lass than that one.”

Both her hands filled with her skirt to lift
it high enough as she danced over the stone steps. All the layers
of clothes were so awkward and took forever to put on, but Amy felt
lovely in the soft ivory brocade. A band of royal blue satin with
gold ivy embroidered on it outlined the scooped neck, flowing
sleeves and hem line. A sleeveless, open front cloak of royal blue
flowed down to the floor with a circled train at her back. Her hair
was covered in sheer gold silk that floated over the curling waves
to her waist. A rolled crown of ivory wrapped in shiny blue stones
circled her head. Amy never felt so nervous about how she looked
before now. She refused to admit all her worry rose for Lord
Randall's benefit. No, it must be only the changes in her life that
set butterflies off in her stomach.

The musicians' lutes were nearly drowned out
by the boisterous laughter and loud voices coming to her from the
great hall. Amy's steps faltered at the alcove's arch as her
enlarged eyes took in the colorful crowd.

“So many.” The awe in her voice fell heavily
over the returning fears that she could honestly pull this off. New
doubts flew up before her, all of them could be her undoing. If
they did discover she was an imposter the sentence she would face
wouldn't by healthy.

“Cold feet, my Lady?”

“What?” Caught in her own mire of troubles
Amy spun about nearly falling into Bern's arms.

“Planning on backing out?”

If only she could.
Amy's wits came to
her rescue and she thanked his hold on her for clearing her head
with astounding speed. “Would you like me to?”

“You are a foxy creature, aren't you?”

“Only when the need arises.”

“Ah, so you aren't immune to me, after
all.”

If he wanted silence from her that did it.
Their eyes locked and she probably never would have pulled away
from his devouring gaze if he did not prick her pride with that
male smile of his that he failed to repress.

“You really are full of yourself, Lord
Randall. What a blow it must be when the maidens don't drop at your
feet.”

His laughter filled the alcove they stood in.
“Ah my dear Amy, but they do, have no doubt on that score.”

Why did she let him get to her so easily?

Bern wanted to tell her how rich the color of
hazelnut glowed within the blue in her eyes right now. He could
swear she was truly jealous. She looked so exquisite, from lad to
fairy queen in a blink. Her cheeks were high in color against the
glowing cream of her skin. He never appreciated the female form or
beauty as much as he did when he looked upon her. The touches of
gold in her gown set off her dark lashed eyes in an exotic light.
She looked every bit the regal beauty of the manor, no other woman
could hold a candle to her radiance.

Bern knew he needed to move with her now or
sweep her away as he wanted for only his eyes to feast upon.
Locking her away in the tower was a barbaric thought, but damn if
he didn't want to do it.

“Shall we join your guest?”

“We better before they all pass out.”
Relieved that he didn't take the seductive spell he wove around her
any further, she accepted the arm he offered. Her palm practically
burned over the corded strength rippling beneath her touch.

“Your wine stores will probably never
recover.”

“No doubt your men will insure they
don't.”

“Your own guests are not doing too badly for
themselves.”

Trying not to display the discomfort she felt
by what he unknowingly told her, Amy's eyes scanned the tables as
they passed. It wasn't difficult to separate the fighting men and
her ladies in waiting from the royal guest in attendance.

Her feet tripped over each other as the vise
on her stomach tightened, thankfully Bern's attention was taken up
by something one of her men shouted. Amy bit her lip wondering how
she would ever fool everyone. Surely, Lady Amelia knew them all and
by name no less! Never in her life did Amy feel the desire to run
far and fast as strongly as at that moment.

Somehow she managed to make it to the head
table without alerting Bern to her rising panic. She kept a smile
plastered on her face and nodded to everyone that looked her way.
You are a fool Amy Bonner to think this will work.

“I promise to hold your hand all night if it
helps.”

Her gaze hid none of the wonderment she felt
over his offer. When he raised her clasped fingers to his lips, the
heat from his caress sent a fire coursing through her. “If only…”
Realizing she spoke out, Amy bit her lip and pulled her eyes
away.

“Trust me, Amy.”

No, she heard him correctly, the probing eyes
waiting for her own were too open to lie. She wanted to, heaven
help her, but she so needed to believe in this man. But everything
kept happening too fast. What if all this turned into some
fantastic dream?

Her gaze fell away in indecision, not liking
the anguish she felt over the possibility of never seeing him
again.

Steeling herself, she warned herself not to
let her guard down, the risks were too great. But the man sitting
beside her dominated her senses. Bern, she never knew anyone like
him. Nor did she feel so affected by a man this way. Just sitting
beside him could be unnerving.