25

 

“No!”

Isabel’s sharp cry drove away all thought. Alex took his eyes off the rebel and twisted his body to locate her. 

He was suddenly thrown forward. The rebel he had been fighting produced a small knife in all the commotion. Alex toppled to the ground, and he could feel a slight whiff of air against his skin as the blade sliced past him. The man who had shoved him did not fare so well. Alex looked up to see the knife lodged in the breast of Isabel’s brother.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Alex scrambled to his feet and knocked his attacker unconscious with the hilt of his sword, before moving to Julien’s aid. Isabel’s brother must have realized the rebel would have stabbed Alex if he had not intervened.

He laid the man down after removing the blade. Julien gripped the front of his hauberk and pulled Alex close with surprising strength. “Take care of her,” he whispered roughly before collapsing.

Shaken, Alex waved his men forward to tend to him. Isabel had not moved from her spot on the ground a few yards away and looked stricken. He fell to his knees before her and rested his hands on her shoulders. Though she seemed not to see him, she was here, within his grasp. At last. Struggling to find something to say, he drank in her presence.

She blinked, her gaze slow to find him. A sob worked in her throat. “I did not leave you.”

He had to strain to hear her voice. “I know.” He cupped her cheek and ran his fingers along the cuts lining the side of her face. He wanted to tell her how much he had missed her, how much he wanted to hold her and touch her, but her brother’s condition was more pressing.

“Come, see to your brother,” he said with no small amount of reluctance. She looked up at him in surprise but complied as he helped her to her feet and led her to Julien.

As she knelt over her brother’s body, Alex caught Hugh’s grim look. Alex had no idea what Isabel’s reaction would be to her brother’s death. He watched as they spoke softly in English, clinging to one another. Captain Thomas and Kendrick stood by, offering silent support.

When Julien’s words slowed and his hands slid from hers, Isabel placed one last kiss to his forehead, and then straightened. With dry eyes, she marched over to the man Alex had been fighting with. She yanked the sword belt off him and collected the blade Alex had knocked free during their fight. She wiped the sword off in the grass before she strapped it around her waist.

“My brother’s sword, my father’s before his,” she explained softly. “Kill him,” she said to Kendrick, nodding toward the unconscious rebel. The Englishman stepped forward without hesitation, and Alex realized his last combatant must have been the heinous rebel leader who had threatened Isabel. She turned away as Kendrick slit his throat.

The day blurred past. Men were buried, others needed bandaging. Isabel was tireless, checking the injuries of each man. Captain Thomas had suffered a large cut along his side, but he was in more pain than danger. The rebels had knocked Hugh around during the battle as well. An axe blade had nicked his upper arm and a blow to his temple still bled freely. Under Alex’s watchful eye, Isabel knelt before him and saw to his injuries as she had done for everyone else.

Alex only succeeded in getting Isabel to rest once. He cursed her stubbornness, when it was so clear she was exhausted. Unable to watch her push herself any longer, he grabbed her elbow and directed her away from the others so they could have some privacy. While he shared some bread with her, he inspected the cuts on her wrists and face. He was unhappy with the way she rushed the food down and the weight she had lost since her abduction.

She gently pushed him away when she had finished. She had not spoken to him since they had buried Julien, and he had not pressed her. They were together, and it would have to be enough until they had time for themselves.

Alex and his men helped Captain Radolf in assessing the stores and supplies the rebels left behind. Radolf’s men would take the bulk of the foodstuffs and weapons, but little else was of use to them. They burned what remained in case some of the Englishmen returned.

“That is the rest of it,” Radolf said. “When I make my report to William, I will be sure to tell him of your contribution. We would not have been able to take them on without your help.”

Alex nodded in thanks. “I am glad we could be of service.”

“Well, you found what was lost,” he said, indicating Isabel, who talked with Kendrick while they watched the flames of the bonfire. “I had my doubts she would turn up.”

“I am thankful she did.” Alex faced Captain Radolf. “Safe travels.”

“And you,” Radolf replied, gripping Alex’s forearms in farewell. He and his men mounted their horses and left the clearing, and soon only the crackling of the fire could be heard in their wake.

Alex joined Isabel, still uncertain how he should treat Kendrick. The other man looked wary at his approach but moved a respectable distance from his wife. Isabel faced Alex, and for an instant he thought he saw a glimmer of relief within her dark brown eyes.

“Alex, Kendrick and Osbert will not be returning to Ashdown with us. I told them they would be welcome, but they have declined,” she said.

“We will travel to Norway. Too much has changed here, and they still hold to the old ways. I think we would both like the opportunity to start anew,” Kendrick said.

Alex nodded, unsure how he should feel. “Norway is a fair distance from here. Are you sure you do not wish to reconsider?”

“No. Osbert has some distant relations there who will help us get settled.”

Alex faced Kendrick. “Thank you for your loyalty to Isabel. Godspeed.”

Kendrick’s face was unreadable as he met Alex’s stare, but it only a lasted a few seconds before he turned to Isabel and gave her a short bow. He looked as though he wanted to say something more, but the Englishman only held Isabel’s gaze briefly before he turned away. He met Osbert, and they put their gear into a small wagon they would use to travel to the coast.

Isabel sighed and slipped closer to Alex, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. They watched the wagon fade into the forest. Alex pulled her tight against him, inhaling the scent of her hair and relishing in the warmth beneath his hands. “Are you ready to go home?”

As she looked up at him, a small smile brightened her watery eyes. “Yes.”

* * * *

“We will need a bath brought up as soon as possible,” Alex ordered when they reached the public house. He secured two rooms, one for him and Isabel and the other for Hugh and Captain Thomas to share. The captain was still in pain as Hugh helped him to their room, but Isabel thanked God his injury was not life-threatening. Jerome and the rest of the men would sleep in the stables overnight.

Averill hovered near Isabel as Alex settled with the hosteller. The girl had stayed behind in Radolf’s camp during the fight, and once reunited with Isabel, had been eager to see to her mistress’s injuries. 

With the arrangements finalized, Alex took Isabel’s arm. When Averill moved to follow them, Alex forestalled her. “I will tend to Lady Isabel. We are not to be disturbed.” 

Isabel managed a small smile for the dispirited girl before Alex led her upstairs to the biggest guest room the inn had available. Isabel gratefully sank down into a simple chair, and Alex stood by as the inn’s servant brought in buckets of warm water for the wooden tub they placed in the center of the room. Isabel was quiet, watching the water swirl and slosh as each bucket was added.

After the last heave of water, the serving wench curtseyed clumsily. “Just tell us when ye be done, miss.” 

Isabel nodded.

With a click of the door latch, she and Alex were finally alone. She stood up, disconcerted to find herself trembling and her breath shallow. 

Alex was quickly at her side and ran his hands up and down her arms in comfort. “Come, let me help you.”

He reached down, unbuckled her sword from her waist and took a moment to look at it. Her old blade had been well-made, and this one—her father’s—was even finer. He slid the sword back into its sheath and set it on the nearby table.

Alex turned to her, plucked her cloak from her shoulders and put it aside. He froze when he saw the dress she wore underneath. Gently, he smoothed the torn fabric, the touch sending a jolt through her as she recalled the last time they were together. Every acute detail. The warmth of his skin, his scent and the way he had fired her blood.

He must have felt it too, for he pulled his hand away as if burned. She took a shaky breath. Such thoughts would only complicate things between them now. She waited as he reached down and grabbed the edge of her dress. He pulled it up, and Isabel slipped out of it with little effort. He repeated the process with her shift, grimacing when he saw the cuts on her shins and her knees. Her chest was largely unblemished, with only a few stray bruises along her sides.

He led her toward the tub. She gripped his arm tightly as she stepped in, a hiss of pain the only sound escaping her when she made contact with the steaming water. Her motions still clumsy, he helped guide her down into the bath. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, she felt the intake of breath jolting through him. He must have looked down at her back for the first time, at the mass of bruises that no doubt ran down her spine.

“Jesu! What did they do to you?”

Isabel grunted. “Punishment for escaping.” She twisted toward him. “It does not hurt me much anymore.”

Raising his brows, he softly trailed his hands down her back and saw her wince. “Liar. I should have killed the brute myself.”

Alex pulled off his overtunic and pushed back the sleeves of his sherte before sinking to his knees next to the tub. The serving girl had left behind some pieces of cloth, and he grabbed a small scrap and soaked it in the water. He took Isabel’s hand and started to wipe away the dirt and grime. She was quiet as he continued his ministrations, traveling up her arm before moving on to her other hand. When he reached her chest and neck, he kept his touch from lingering too long in any one area. He then came to her face, and he cupped some water in his hand and poured it over her brow, wiping away the dirt and dried blood with his fingers. An unknown look shone in his eyes as she watched him.

Smiling reassuringly, he trailed his hand over her cheek one last time before he turned his attention to her back and carefully worked his way down over her bruises. When he was done, she dunked her head, slowly kneading her scalp and hair. She finished and moved to get up. Alex was at her side with a hand on her elbow and another larger piece of cloth to wrap herself in. He led her to the bed and then went over to their gear. He rifled through her saddlebags they had managed to recover and pulled out her comb. She took it gratefully and started running it through her hair.

Alex removed the rest of his clothing and got into the tub, not wanting to waste the water. He hastily performed his ablutions, dried off and put on a pair of braies. He called for the serving girls and had the tub removed. They also brought up a tray with some bread and cheese and left it on the table. Isabel sighed when he shut the door behind the last servant, knowing there would be no more disturbances.

Alex joined her on the bed. Her drying hair started to curl around her temples. He fingered it then pulled the comb out of her hands. “You should eat something.”

She nodded in agreement but did not move from her seat.

He set the comb on the table, grabbed a piece of bread and placed some cheese on it. He handed it to her, and she dutifully took a couple of bites. Alex ate as well, including what she could not finish. When he was done, he returned to the saddlebags and pulled out a clean shift for her. She stood. He pulled the towel away from her body and helped her slip on the gown.

Isabel smoothed the shift into place, relishing the clean clothes. She looked up at Alex’s face, at a wrinkle in his brow that had been there all day. She wanted to say something to dispel it, but could not find the words. Instead she stepped toward him, and he wrapped his hands around her as she hugged him close.

She pressed her cheek against his warm chest. “I thank you,” she breathed.

“I am sorry we did not find you sooner.”

She shook her head and pulled away from him. “We cannot change what happened. I was grateful for the chance to see my brother once more.” Her gaze fell to the bed. “But I am also glad I do not have to spend another night on the ground,” she said with a small smile.

His mouth quirked. “Indeed.” He stepped away from her and dug out a necklace from the pouch on his belt.

Isabel gasped when she saw it. “I thought I had lost it.”

He smiled. “You did, but when we found it, I knew we were closer to finding you,” he told her as he clasped it once more around her neck. She ran her hand over the chain and pendant in wonder.

“Come,” he said with a nod toward the bed.

Together, they sank onto the rope mattress. After blowing out the candle, Alex lay on his back, gathered Isabel in his arms. Her chin rested on his shoulder. Absently he picked up her hand, lacing their fingers together.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light the brazier in the corner of the room cast, Isabel concentrated on their breathing, noting the rise and fall of Alex’s chest. Sleep pulled at her, but Alex deserved some answers before she gave in to her exhaustion.

“I know you have questions, and I will tell you what I can.”

She saw a frown crease his face briefly before it disappeared in the dark of the room. “I know enough of what happened, but now you need rest,” he said. Kendrick had probably already provided him with most of the details regarding her captivity.

“Only if you are certain.”

“Sleep,” he said, his voice gentle to soften the command.

She nodded, and for a time all was well. In the warmth of Alex’s arms, Isabel slept soundly, the dread and discomforts of the rebel camp now behind her.

She woke sometime later in a panic, still not convinced she was safe. It took a moment for her to control her erratic breathing as she stared, uncomprehending, around her, at the man lying next to her—Alex—his profile unmistakable despite the dimness. She shuddered in relief and curled into his side.

He came for her. He really came. She had not dared to believe he would, and even though they were now together, had he only done it because it was expected—the honorable thing to do—or was there a deeper meaning to his actions? Their time apart had crystallized her feelings for him, but she had no inkling as to what Alex felt. For her.

Their marriage was the result of the conquest, and now their reunion was precipitated by even more bloodshed. What kind of a future could they hope for?

Alex woke to the muffled sounds of Isabel’s sobs dampening his chest. “Come, chérie, do not cry.”

Isabel sniffed, too upset to be embarrassed by her tears. “I did not mean to wake you.”

He pulled her closer. “All is as it should be,” he said. “We are together, and tomorrow we will be in Ashdown.”

“I know. I can hardly believe I am with you again.”

“You know not how glad I was we were able to find you before…”

“Before it was too late?” Isabel supplied.

Alex nodded. “I kept envisioning horrible possibilities,” he said with a sigh. “I feared for your safety.”

“I was fearful as well.” She closed her hand over his arm that anchored her against him. “Even though I was reunited with my brother, it did not take long to realize he could not help me. Kendrick could not help me.” She took a breath. “And… I feared you would not help me.” She looked down in shame at that, more tears slipping down her face. “At night, every cross word, each of our fights, filled my head. All the lies, all the awful things I said.”

He cupped her cheek. “Isabel, do not—”

She ignored him. She needed to unburden herself of all her sins, her doubts…everything. “And I despaired. Why would you want me back after that? Even if you did, it was Julien who pointed out it looked like I ran off of my own accord. Given our past, it would not be unreasonable for you to assume as much.”

Alex sighed. “You are right. I did doubt. I thought on those same things and made similar assumptions.” His tone was heavy with regret. “But then other things did not make sense. Like why you left without your horse, the fact that you were leaving your people behind to fend for themselves…” He cleared his throat. “And the soft look on your face when I left you that night.”

Isabel knew what he meant, and hearing him talk about that intimate moment with such reverence nurtured the anticipation coiled around her heart.

“Those things gave me hope,” Alex continued, “hope I would find you again.” He tightened his arms around her.

She sniffed. “When I saw you fighting Alric’s men, I knew all would turn out. Even when you were fighting against the devil himself, I did not doubt… Not until Julien left my side.”

Alex tensed beside her.

“Like you,” she continued, “I first thought he was going to attack you from behind. Kendrick explained to me later Alric always had a seax hidden in his tunic to use as a final defense. My brother knew that and sought to prevent him from surprising you with such an attack,” she explained. She shuddered as she remembered the short, sharp knife so like hers that had been removed from her brother’s body as Captain Radolf’s men scavenged the rebel camp.

Alex nodded. “Your brother—”

“I hated myself for doubting Julien’s intentions, especially since we came to an understanding of sorts in the end.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I am sorry he did not live,” he finally said.

“Even if he had not been stabbed, his injury would have surely killed him. I cannot help but feel I lost him all over again.”

“You had to deal with reports of his death only to find him once more so he could die before your eyes. I am amazed by your strength in all of this.”

She laughed and was surprised at the bitterness she heard. “Do not be. It is not strength, but merely survival.”

“Hmm…” Alex was not convinced. “Either way, we are together once more.”

“I know. And I am glad.”

He pulled her close again. “I am so sorry I could not protect you from this.”

“As you said, we are here, together. I may be bruised, but I am not broken.”

“For which I am eternally grateful,” he said with a growl.

He leaned over her and peered at her face through the darkness. Her breath caught at the serious look on his face.

“When you disappeared, I realized how much I had lost,” he said. “It was not just your knowledge of the English people, the language or even your father’s holding. It was you, all of you. I love you, Isabel…I just did not know how much.”

She closed her eyes as astonishment and hope and…love streamed through her. Her heartbeat picked up as she recognized the truth of his words.

“I knew it was a gamble when I joined with William,” Alex said, “but I never expected such a fortunate outcome. Yes, I was hoping for lands, but I got so much more. You are reward enough, even without such trappings.”

Isabel opened her eyes and took a calming breath. “Alex, I love you, too. I just hope you can still trust me—trust us—after all that has happened.” She was so afraid that despite all they had shared, all they felt for each other, the differences between them would prove their undoing.

“With my life.”

Relief flooded through her as he gathered her up in his arms.

When he finally kissed her, it seemed as though she had been waiting for that moment since they last parted. It started out innocently enough, a reassuring press of lips that ensured she wasn’t dreaming. Then the scent of him hit Isabel just as his tongue teased her lower lip, and she was ensnared.

She parted her mouth for him, reaching for his neck and drawing him closer. His arms were unintentionally digging into her bruised back, but she did not care. This was right. The way it should be.

Too soon, Alex eased them apart. “My lady, what of the men?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, irritated by the question. She hummed with repressed need, and she wanted nothing more than to get lost in more of his kisses.

Alex smirked at her knowingly. “They could hear if we continue…”

Her cheeks heated as her words from so long ago were flung back at her. “You…you are a bad man,” she said with as much indignation as she could muster.

He grinned. “As you say.”

Isabel pulled him closer so she could whisper in his ear.

“I care not.”