Chapter Five

R ichard rushed with Beatrix down the passageway to return to his bedchamber. Several servants carried multiple gowns that Beatrix had hoped would fit the lady he had left with Oswin Woodwarde standing guard outside the door.

“Tell me again why you took her, Richard,” Beatrix demanded, her voice filled with disbelief. “’Tis highly unlike you for you to take a woman as your prisoner.”

He halted their progress before speaking over Beatrix’s shoulder to the servants waiting for his orders. “Proceed. We will follow momentarily.” The servants quickly filed past them before Richard gave an exasperated sigh and began pacing back and forth in the passageway. “What else was I to do when she all but ran directly into me from her tent? One scream and she would have alerted the entire camp.”

“The Empress would have been captured,” Beatrix stated the obvious.

“’Twas impulsive, I know, but the alternative was worse—and ’tis not like I was given any choice on the matter. We could not afford to allow the Empress’s plans to all go awry before we even reached the river. The Empress gave the order. I but followed her commands,” Richard replied taking his sister’s elbow and guiding her down the corridor again.

“But to take a woman captive. Whatever will you do with her?”

’Twas a good question and one he did not necessarily have a long-term answer for. “For now, I had a bath sent up so she could wash. The gowns are to see she is at least made comfortable.”

Beatrix rose one delicate black brow. “You left her alone?” she said aghast that he would be so careless.

“Of course I did not leave her alone. I had Oswin standing guard at the door.” He noticed the sweetest smile cross his sister’s features, and the words of his friends months ago returned to his mind. “You favor him.”

She shook herself out of whatever was flitting through her head. “Who?”

A grunt left him. “Do not play game with me, sister. Oswin… that is who.”

She shrugged as if the man meant nothing to her, but Richard knew better. “He has been kind to me,” she finally conceded. “Nothing more.”

He halted their progress once more. “Do not get your hopes up where Woodwarde is concerned, Beatrix. He is in service to the Empress and who knows where such a life will take him next.”

“You do not think he would make a good husband for me? I thought he was your friend.”

“He is my friend, but I do not relish the thought of my sister squandering her life away living in a camp as Oswin goes from one battle to the next.”

“This blasted war cannot go on forever, Richard. One day ’twill come to an end.”

“I can only pray you speak the truth, particularly when it comes to this siege. Now, let us go to my bedchamber so I might introduce you to Lady Annora. I have the feeling the two of you will one day become good friends.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek and once he stood tall again he noticed her surprise.

She took his arm as they continued forward. “Friends? With a supporter of Stephen? You must be mad,” she said. They rounded the corner and saw Oswin standing guard to the door. She gave the knight a bright smile. “Lord Oswin… how fare thee this day?”

Oswin gave Beatrix a low bow. “Lady Beatrix… you are the bright ray of sunshine lightening my day with your presence.”

Richard rolled his eyes. “Good heavens… we do not have time to stand here all day whilst the two of you exchange pleasantries.”

“Behave, Richard.” Beatrix tapped her brother’s arm before she turned her eyes back to the man who so obviously cared for her. “You are too kind, good sir. May I also say you look resplendent this day.” Oswin took Beatrix’s hand and kissed her knuckles all the while continuing to gaze upon her.

“You two can continue your conversation later. She is still inside?” Richard asked giving Oswin a nudge to bring him out of fawning over Beatrix.

“Where else would she be? Other than the servants who just entered to bring in the mountain of dresses for her to choose from, no one else has entered except the maid who was to assist the lady with her bath.”

“Thank you for keeping watch,” Richard replied, his hand going to the latch of the door to open it wide.

He should have knocked. He should have immediately slammed the portal shut. But he did not…and now there was no way he would ever forget the vision of Annora’s body as she stood in the tub whilst the servant dumped a bucket of rinsing water over her head. Everything moved in slow motion as if time, in truth, stood still.

Her body was pure perfection. He stood there gulping at the woman before him. Firm full breasts above a narrow waist and well-toned shapely legs. Her skin glistened from the water but he could see for himself that if he were to run his hands over her flesh, ’twould be smooth to his touch. She was every inch a seasoned warrior but also a woman who was made to be loved and often. At least that was how she appeared inside his head.

And then everything moved as though time was catching up. Her gasp filled the chamber whilst Annora used one hand in an attempt to cover her breasts and the other her most private female part. Beatrix rushed around him to quickly race across the room to hold up a linen to shield Annora’s body from his view.

“You imbecile, Richard. Turn around for heaven’s sake,” Beatrix ordered over her shoulder.

Richard quickly did as he was told. “My apologies… I did not think.”

“Nay! You did not,” Annora snapped from across the room. “You ordered me a bath. Did you not think I would make full use of it?”

Beatrix answered for him. “Obviously, my brother did not. Try to forgive him if you can, Lady Annora.”

Water splashed as the lady removed herself from the tub and still Richard stood staring at his bedchamber door. He nodded to Oswin who quickly closed it. “Again, I apologize Annora. As my sister Beatrix just said, I hope you will forgive my thoughtlessness.”

A snort of surprise left the lady… or so he assumed because such a sound could easily have come from his sister. “You have been nothing but thoughtless from the moment we met, Grancourt. I highly doubt you have a chivalrous bone in your body.”

“I would have to disagree with you but then you do not know me any better than I know you, Annora,” he said still using her first name. Somehow after seeing her naked dropped all pretense with him and he could not imagine calling her anything else.

A sarcastic laugh filled the chamber. “Well, at least on that account, I can agree with you,” Annora proclaimed before she continued. “You may turn. I have a robe on now.”

Richard once more turned to face the room. The sight of her was just as striking as when he saw Annora rising from the tub. Her tawny-colored hair was dripping wet and she went to sit by the fire whilst the servant began to untangle the tresses that fell down her back.

“Again, my sincere apologies,” Richard said with a short bow. What else could he do but apologize? He had been a fool to enter so casually. The action had been automatic and he certainly had not thought that he would be disturbing the lady at her bath. He had assumed she had long since finished.

Beatrix came to him and began shooing him from his own bedchamber. “Out with you now. Lady Annora and I will finish getting her ready for whatever the cook will be able to provide to break our fast. You can see the lady later down in the great hall.”

“But—”

“You will see her later ,” Beatrix repeated as she opened the door and Oswin gave her a wink.

“Bring her directly to me,” he ordered his sister.

“As you wish, brother,” Beatrix answered right before his own door slammed behind him.

Richard exchanged a look with Oswin. “I need a drink,” he declared whilst his friend attempted not to laugh. “Care to join me?”

“’Tis a bit early in the morn to indulge in spirits.”

Richard lifted one brow. “That has not stopped us before.”

“If we can find anything, why not?” Oswin replied before placing his arm around Richard’s shoulder. “I definitely think you are going to need something strong for whatever comes next with your fair lady.”

Richard was about to make a retort that Annora was hardly his but found he could not say the words. His lady … such a thought could only make him ponder when or where the lady had begun to somehow weave her way into his heart. But considering how she hated him, the thought made him wish he had never crossed her path.

Aye, he definitely needed a drink.