Unbroken (Unarmed Trilogy #2) (13 page)

Tamzin smiled, with tears lining her eyes as she leaned into him and rested her head against his shoulder.

"I am sorry I hurt you and humiliated you," Tamzin said only loud enough for Will to hear. "And don't worry, I think you're a better husband and commander than Rolf could ever be."

"It's my absolute handsomeness," Will smiled as he brought their intertwined hands to his lips. "I know I am going to regret it, but will you tell me about the men that you were with here? So I know to avoid them?"

"After dessert, when you finally dance with me!" Tamzin said as the servants cleared their plates and put the dessert in front of him. "You can thank me later."

Will stared at the dessert. It was the apple pie she had promised to make him back in the very first days of their marriage. He noticed that he was the only one who had the pie piece.

"You baked the pie for me?" Will asked, a small crack in his voice. He knew what today was. It was a day that had never been celebrated in his entire life, but it didn't stop Tamzin from curling her fingers in his.

"I guess it's my way of saying I'm sorry again," she laughed. "Happy Birthday, Will," she said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Will stared at the piece of pie for a moment before he reached out and cut into it with his fork. He felt Tamzin smile in his direction and he briefly wondered how she knew it was his birthday. He hadn't acted any differently as he had been taught that his birthday wasn't any different from any day. Gregory had told him that, as a King, he needed to let go of all things that he thought made him special. There couldn't be a day dedicated to him, like his birthday, and he never received any gifts or even good wishes from anyone on the day. Over the years, Will wondered if everyone had just forgotten.

The apple pie was slightly tart, but mostly hearty as he put the piece in his mouth. He sighed happily as he chewed the piece and turned to look at Tamzin, who picked at her slice of cake.

"How did you know?" Will asked as he swallowed and gently wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. "I don't really think about this day much."

"I know that's a lie," Tamzin said as she sliced the cake for her fork. "Let's just say a little birdy told me."

"Is that little birdy a man named Garrett?" Will asked as he reached for her hand.

"I will neither confirm or deny that," Tamzin said as she squeezed his hand. "I have your present in our chambers."

"And what is this present?" Will asked as he gently placed his fork on the table and reached for her chair, which he gripped. Slowly, he pulled her chair closer to him and Tamzin's breath caught in her throat as she felt his hand come to rest between her crossed legs. The way her arm was placed hid the view from her family and the other nobles as Will leaned in. His hot breath caressed her cheek as he hunched forward to press his hand further between her legs.

"You can't make me tell you," Tamzin said breathlessly as she leaned back against her seat. She felt her nipples harden from his hand and the instant rush of arousal. She prayed that no one noticed, until she heard her father's voice from at the end of the table.

"Tamzin, you should allow Will to have a dance with you. I know his Northern upbringing will make this slightly embarrassing, but it is customary," Turner said as he eyed the couple suspiciously. "Are you alright, darling? Your face is flushed. Should I call for Jacque?"

"No, Father!" Tamzin blurted out as she felt Will's hand slither away from her. "It's just a bit warm in here, is all. I've become used to the cold of the North." Tamzin noted that, when she said that, Will looked triumphantly smug and smirked at Turner. "But we should have our dance."

"Whatever you want, love," Will said as he took her hand in his. He helped her stand with her shaky legs and came to wrap his arm around her waist to support her. With her close and her father no longer in the vicinity, Will leaned in. "I've left you a blithering mess and I didn't touch your skin."

"Don't think too highly of yourself," Tamzin said as the people on the dance floor parted to let them in. She led Will to a corner spot where it would be difficult for others to see them. She knew he was self-conscious about his dancing abilities. "They say heightened sexual response is common amongst women in my stage of pregnancy." She felt his beard slide against her smooth cheek and it made her tingle and the hot rush between her legs felt good. She couldn't stop the shudder from escaping her lips.

"You can try to blame the babe in your belly, but you and I both know you always feel this hot for me," Will whispered in her ear as his fingers touched the bare skin of her back. Her hand came to join his in the proper dance stance, but it was impossible to hide their intimacy. It was difficult to stand close, due to her belly, but it didn't matter. Will kept her as close as possible as they danced slowly, to keep track of Will's two left feet. "After the baby comes, you should show me how to dance properly."

"You dance fine," Tamzin responded as she looked down to watch his feet. "You could break my toes and I would still find this dance less painful than the one with Rolf."

"But he's a proper Southern gentleman," Will said sarcastically as he peered over Tamzin's shoulder. "So I know there is Rolf and Hudson, the stable boy. Anyone else?"

"Rolf and I only kissed a few times. He's not a very passionate man. Hudson was my first kiss, as you know, until he decided he liked boys slightly more than girls. There were no hard feelings, but I imagine he found you very attractive," Tamzin teased as she reached and trailed her finger down his cheek. "From what Hudson has told me, he likes very manly men."

"And the other men who openly stare at you?" Will asked as he felt his fingers curl against the fabric over her lower back. "Are any of them going to duel me for your hand?"

"We're married and I have your baby. There isn't much to duel for," Tamzin laughed as Will maneuvered her, so she could see the men behind them. "Those men are in the second archers with Rolf. Xander, the oldest in the group, fondled me a bit when I was younger. He had no idea what he was doing," Tamzin smiled as she leaned forward and felt Will tighten his grip on her. “And Rolf thought his kisses between my legs were just mind blowing."

"Rolf has been that intimate with you? But you just…" Will asked as he pulled away and his eyes flickered to Rolf. "I could have gone my entire life without knowing that."

"Lucy told me about it when we were a bit younger. She said it felt good and that I should find a man to make me feel good before I was shipped off to you. I used to think it was because she cared, but now I think she had been trying to ruin the alliance all along," Tamzin said as she twined their joined fingers together. "I never loved those men. I liked them, even Rolf, but never once loved them. I love you and what we do together is that much more special because of it."

"I love you, too," Will said before he kissed her lightly. "So why did you suddenly decide against naming our child Nicholas? I think I would prefer that over William."

"I'm allowed to be fickle," Tamzin replied as the music slowed and came to a stop. "I don't want our child to be associated with pain. You don't say it, but when someone brings up your mother, I see the pain on your face. You don't talk about your mother much, do you?"

"What's there to talk about? She died after I came out of her. My father refuses to speak about her. I don't know what to expect when we leave for Bradford. Will they answer questions, do you think?" Will asked as he and Tamzin pulled away and drifted further into their corner. The Hall began to clear out but it was still crowded.

"I don't know, honestly. Your Uncle sounds interested in meeting you, and I'm sure your grandfather must have some interest in properly getting to know you." Tamzin's hand touched his elbow comfortingly but Will couldn't look her in the eye.

"He hasn't been interested so far."

"You don't know that," Tamzin said before she bit her lip. "I don't think your father has been as open with you as you thought."

"I didn't know Lucy was a Johansson and I don't think my father did either," Will responded with rising anger. "Why would he let the daughter of his enemy into his territory?"

"To undermine you?" The words spilt from her mouth before she could control it. Will's eyes blazed for a moment but he didn't respond.

"And what purpose would that serve? I'm his heir," Will said with gritted teeth as he clenched his hand into a fist.

"He is getting older, Will. He doesn't like the power you wield."

"Power I wield?" Will laughed as he released his fist and raked his hand through his hair. "What power do I have?"

"His army follows you. Gregory has more charisma than you, yes, but you're smarter than him. Some men become drunk off power and they can't imagine losing it. You're a grown man. He can't control you anymore." Tamzin reached and pulled his hand from his hair. "Some men are not an open book. Sometimes, they don't need a reason to betray someone."

"You don't know my father," Will said defensively as his cold eyes came to trace her features.

"I don't, but I watch. I know the North is harsher than the other territories sometimes, but your father is cruel to you. You don't celebrate your birthday, he won't tell you about your mother, and he never shows you any affection. He shows Garrett more fatherly love than you." Her eyes widened slightly before Will turned away from her. "If you're his heir, you should be his pride and joy..."

"It seems I am interrupting a very tense conversation," Turner said as he appeared to Will's side. "The palace is retiring for the night, Tamzin. We shall see you in the morning?"

"Yes, Father," Tamzin said with a fake smile. Turner observed her for a second before he gave Will a grating look and left them alone. "I'm sorry if I've upset you, Will. It's your birthday..."

"It seems you've spent plenty of time thinking this through," Will said coldly before he looked up to the entrance. He offered her his hand. "Are you going to join me in our chambers?"

Tamzin was surprised by his tone and the invitation. Though she didn't need him to ask her to join him in her own chambers, Will was acting very calm for a man who just had his father be accused for various indiscretions. She took his hand and allowed him to guide her through the crowd still present in the Hall. People murmured about them, but Will said nothing as they walked up the marble staircase and into the hallway. He opened the door first and began to discard his tunic as soon as Tamzin shut the door.

Her chambers were well lit with small candles and the lanterns that hung from the ceiling. The sky was brightly lit with stars and Will rested against one of the columns as he watched the water. Though he had no scars on his back, Tamzin could see the ones on his shoulders and more as she came to stand next to him. They were battle scars, but some were places where the armor hid his skin well. She had never questioned them until now. It was like Will knew what she was thinking, when he began to speak.

"I can't remember my father hugging me as a child. He changed when you came. He became kinder in general, tolerated me a bit more. I remember when I was a child, I thought he was a monster from the storybooks. He would rage all the time and liked to hit me," he said as he traced a scar across his stomach. "He had to make me tough, he said. Kings and leaders could withstand anything. I never did a single thing right. When Garrett's father was killed in battle and he came to live with us, my father mellowed some. He stopped berating me in public and spent a good deal of time training Garrett. He said Garrett had to be just as skilled as I was."

"Has it always been like that with Garrett?" Tamzin asked as she gently began to caress his arm.

"I guess," Will said with a shrug. "I don't remember life without Garrett being in it. We've grown up together, like brothers, but Garrett has always been treated differently. There are only a few months between our birthdays and while Garrett has never had a real birthday either, my father always gave him something the week of his birthday. I didn't put it together until I was older, but when I realized, that hurt more than any of these wounds," Will said as he touched a scar again. "Before you, I was always second choice. If you told me tomorrow my father hated me, I would believe you, but why would he want to hurt me? Hurting me is hurting his territory."

"I think some of his decisions are strange. You were supposed to return home much earlier before Thurston was destroyed, but he had to chase down the Johanssons? It could be argued that he wanted this to end, but he knew it wouldn't. You all were aware Douglas Johansson didn't send everyone. It gave more chance that you would be killed in battle. When we were attacked in the forest, how did a man and woman who grew up in the South know the exact road we took?" Tamzin asked as her hand trailed down his arm and took his hand. "It's suspicious, Will. All of it."

"If I die, his line dies with me..." Will interrupted as he turned to look at her.

"He's young enough to father another child," Tamzin frowned. "Or he changed his plan when he saw that I am with child. This is all theory."

"How long have you been thinking about this?" Will asked as his hand reached out and touched her belly. "You're a smart girl."

"I've been thinking about it ever since my father said he told Gregory about Lucy when we first arrived in Thurston. My father told Gregory to keep the alliance intact. Despite our marriage and my condition, your father had every right to execute me for treason when he found out..."

"But he didn't..." Will said. "He didn't because he knows I love you."

"Or he didn't think he could take on my father's army again. If I died during the Thurston invasion, the blame would be put on you. Gregory may be King but you make decisions about the army. Think about it. Everyone has blamed you for what happened," Tamzin explained before she took a deep breath. "But why would he hate you? You're his fresh and blood. You're all he has left of your mother."

"I killed my mother," Will said solemnly and he turned back out to face the ocean. "He tormented me my entire childhood. He probably thinks it would have been better if I died instead of her."