The Defiant Bride (22 page)

“My lord, there is activity outside the walls.” The soldier’s tone reflected his anticipation of the coming battle. He moved away to the steps.

Melissa remained. Dariana heard the clink as she drove the cell key home. The door slammed open against the wall, the ancient wood protesting at the mistreatment.

Dariana turned to her. Melissa appeared more like a feral animal than a lady of Henry’s court. She glared at Dariana, her eyes narrowed to slits in her rage. Dariana’s heart leaped. Melissa had left the door open. If only she could get past her—

“Think you to steal him, too?” Melissa’s tone was filled with hate..

“I seek nothing that is yours,” Dariana replied.

“Do not play the innocent with me. I know your game and you shall lose.”

Dariana attempted to placate her while edging toward the beckoning open cell door. “Forgive me, Melissa, if you deem I have harmed you.”

“Harmed me? You have taken all that is mine. I am left with this pile of stones as my dowry. William was my betrothed. You have taken my love and my wealth, all that was mine by right.”

Dariana’s ire was raised. “Your betrothed? Then, why did the king give his blessing to our marriage? Is there perhaps some part you have not mentioned?”

“You bitch!”

“So I am right? He was your betrothed only in your mind! You speak of wealth? Why, you wear more about your throat than a king’s ransom. Sell your jewels if you wish to rebuild your home.”

Melissa seemed momentarily stunned. Then she flung herself at Dariana.

Dariana was thrown back against the stone wall. The shock radiated, but her wrath washed away the pain. She straightened, then punched with all her might. The blow connected and Melissa lost her footing, landing hard on her backside. Undaunted, Melissa skittered back to the wall and used it for support as she stood.

Up again, Melissa was like a thing gone wild. Dariana lunged at the demon and took her down in a heap. As one, the two were back on their feet. Melissa swung and Dariana sidestepped before heaving Melissa into the wall. Melissa screamed her fury and spun, her eyes mirroring madness. She curved her hands into claws and lunged again, but Dariana was faster. There was a moment when she wondered what had possessed the woman. Dariana knew she should be terrified, but her own anger filled her with power. Now Dariana was the attacker and she swung. The blow connected. Melissa’s head lurched backward. She slammed into the wall, her head making a ferocious thump on the stone. Her eyes rolled up as she sagged to the unyielding floor, unconscious. Dariana leaned over, hands on her knees, to catch her breath, sweat dripping down her face. Melissa hadn’t moved. Maybe it was over. Hopefully.

Dariana was unsure how to react to the lifeless woman crumpled at her feet. She leaned down and saw that Melissa still drew breath. When the woman awoke she would have a headache worthy of many nights of carousing.

Before Dariana could do more, shuffling noises came from the corridor outside the cell. She peered out and, suddenly, William appeared as if from nowhere. His mouth covered hers, holding her in a plundering kiss that took her breath away.

“I heard scuffling. I wanted to reassure myself you were well.” It was then he noticed Melissa’s fallen form in the corner of the tiny room. He turned to Dariana, an eyebrow raised in question. She smiled sweetly.

“The moat seeped some of its garbage in here, but I shall see to its removal.” He shook his head in wonderment and turned back to join the soldiers awaiting him, heading for the sounds of battle above.

Dariana turned back to her cell, sidestepping the still-lifeless woman. She reached for Melissa’s eating dagger and that gave her new courage, knowing she could join the fight if the opportunity presented. While she waited, she would ensure that Melissa was no longer an impediment.

Using the dagger, she cut strips of material from her skirt and used them to bind Melissa’s hands and feet. This done, she stood and prepared herself to aid her husband.

William inched his way up the dungeon steps toward the crumbling battlement. Outside the walls, the earl’s men were moving forward. They had begun the onslaught with flaming arrows fired into the keep, the blazing torches flying over the walls, striking Cedric’s men, the sheer force of the attack catching them off-guard.

Although the earl’s men had initially seemed stiff and out of practice, William watched in amazement as their skills returned to them. It was clear many had not held the sword for twenty summers or more, but legend had it that in their prime they had been some of the finest, most ferocious men in England. Their fierceness in the thrill of battle was impressive.

Once the burning arrows had announced their intent, the earl’s men pushed into the keep. The crumbled walls offered little resistance as the earl and his men drew their swords and hacked at limbs. The screams of the dead and dying filled the air along with the reek of blood as it soaked into the sun-parched earth. Still, the earl and his warriors came.

When his father-in-law had pushed forward sufficiently, William roared his battle cry, a bloodcurdling sound. His men surged up the stairs. It took only a moment for Cedric’s men to realize they were trapped.

There was no question Cedric’s force was not ruled by honor, but rather by the coin Cedric had paid them. They let it be known they felt no need to die for their leader. They were done and begged for mercy.

William felt nothing but disgust for the mercenaries. Killing them would serve no purpose, but he needed to know where Cedric was.

“Where is your lord?”

One of the enemy soldiers, his left arm badly burned and blood leaking from a cut above his eye, stepped forward. “Lord Cedric is gone, my lord,” the soldier addressed William. “He disappeared as soon as the first arrow appeared above the castle wall. We know not where he is.” The soldier bowed then. William bade him rise.

The remaining enemy soldiers stood in a ragged line before him. What a sorry lot. They had indeed had the advantage of numbers, but without leadership, they had been disorganized and ineffective. William shook his head and addressed them. “Go
now, and quickly. But remember that the earl of Linford and the earl of Dansworth have spared your lives. When next you serve a master, affirm that he is man enough to see the battle met. Now go.”

The men rushed out of the castle as quickly as their wounds would allow. Then a cheer went up among the conquering soldiers. William spun on his heel to return to the lower level to see to his wife. But there was no need. She was standing near the steps, blinking in the intense sunlight, motionless before the pile of corpses, the color drained from her cheeks.

He rushed to her side and grabbed her by the shoulders. “I told you to wait,” he yelled, the heat of the fight still pulsing in his veins.

She looked up. “Why?” The question was barely a whisper.

William felt her pain and wrapped her in his arms. He moved his mouth down to her ear, his breath soft against her cheek as he answered. “Because some men are determined to take what is not theirs.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. “I wish to leave this place, William.” It was then that Dariana’s gaze rested on her father. Her intake of breath was audible. “Father?” she whispered.

The earl moved to her side and held her close for a moment.

“What do you here?” Dariana asked boldly.

“Think you I am too old to do battle with my enemies? The rogue tried to harm my daughter. Could I but do less?”

Dariana could not contain her smile at her father’s bluster.

“Forgive me, sir. I know you for a warrior. It was not that I questioned. I was merely surprised at your presence, though now I realize I should not have been.” With that, Dariana threw her arms around her father’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming for me.”

William observed this and his spine straightened. “What of me? I came to rescue you as well.”

“Aye, you did,” Dariana replied. “But it is your duty—as my husband.”

“He is your father.”

William saw Dariana was enjoying the competition between the two men for her attentions.

“All right.” She sighed as if holding up a great burden. “Then I suppose I must embrace you as well.” She threw her arms around
William and kissed him soundly on the mouth. He grunted in satisfaction before returning her kiss. The desire between them ignited anew. It was only the earl’s loud clearing of his throat that stopped them from completely forgetting themselves. Dariana stepped back, the blush staining her cheeks.

“Can we go now?” Dariana asked.

“Aye. But, what of Melissa?” the earl questioned. “Did she flee with Cedric?”

“No,” Dariana replied. “She sleeps soundly in the cell below.”

“Sleeps?” the earl asked.

“Indeed, Father. It seems she bumped her head. She will be content to remain below until your men can see to her,” Dariana stated.

“Why is that, daughter?”

Dariana now appeared a little embarrassed. “I suppose I tied her up.”

Both men burst into loud laughter at this. “Of course.” William chuckled, turning to the earl. “You would think I would know by now to never be surprised by anything your daughter does.”

“I have known her all her life and I am still surprised.”

“Thinking on it, we cannot leave Melissa in the cell,” Dariana remarked.

William turned to the earl. “What think you we should do with her?”

“It is not my decision to make.”

“She deserves punishment, but I do not wish to have our actions mirror theirs.” Dariana appealed to them both. “Justice can be served without cruelty.”

William called to several of his men. They moved toward the steps, with Dariana following. He turned his frown at her. “Go with your father. I will see to Melissa.”

“I wish to accompany you,” Dariana stated.

William gazed into her eyes and could deny her nothing. He held out his arm to her and she ran to his side. Together, the soldiers behind, they went down the steps. William was the first to enter the cell. He stepped back at once, preventing Dariana’s access.

“William?” she asked.

He called to one of his soldiers. “Escort my lady to her father.”

The soldier moved to Dariana’s side, but she stayed him with a hand on his arm. She turned to William, her eyes repeating her question.

William shook his head. “She is dead.”

Dariana could not contain her gasp. “Dead?” she whispered. “But she still breathed when I left her.”

William moved to his wife and wrapped her in his embrace. “She did not die by your hand, love. She was stabbed with a sword. This was Cedric’s work, I have no doubt.”

“I do not understand,” Dariana breathed.

“He is a man full of rage. He does not think ‘ere he strikes out. I have never harmed him, but his hatred of me consumes him. Perhaps because he could not have his way with you, he destroyed Melissa. Or, perhaps he was done with her and wanted to assure she would not become a liability.”

“She died without a priest,” Dariana commented. She felt nothing but pity for the dead woman now.

“I doubt it would have saved her. Her soul was black as night.”

“But you were going to marry her.”

“I told you the contracts were never signed. ‘Tis true I might have wed her for her land and she for my money, but that was before I discovered what it was to truly love someone. She joined with Cedric and would have seen you killed or worse.”

“How did you know?” Dariana asked.

“I sent a scout ahead when I recognized Cedric’s direction. John saw them together here. The alliance between them made sense. They both felt cheated. As for Melissa, I pray she rots in hell for her crimes.” He took a deep breath to control his anger and turned back to the soldier. “Please see my lady to her father while we clean up this mess.”

This time, Dariana allowed herself to be led up the steps.

It was when she had rejoined her father and his men that she noted the familiar faces among them. She was pleased and flattered that so many had come to her aid. Thomas wrapped her in his comforting bear hug.

Dariana moved from man to man, greeting each by name and giving a heartfelt “thank you” to each. Her heart fairly burst
with joy that none of them had been harmed, but it was not until she came to Evan, the gatekeeper, his head bowed in shyness and respect, that tears filled her eyes.