Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

F OR WHAT GOOD it is," Joan was saying as she combed Alyx's curls, "the people are less angry with you." There was no congratulation in Joan's voice. "When are you going to stop wasting your time and go after Lord Raine? We've been here two whole weeks and still he only glares at you. You should strip off your clothes and climb into bed with him."

"He'd gloat too much," Alyx said, buttoning the purple wool of her sleeve. "I'll not give him the satisfaction of winning so easily. He's said some awful things to me."

At this, Joan laughed. "What does it matter what men say? They have brains only for killing each other. Put a sword in a man's hand and he's happy. A woman must work to teach him there are things in life besides war."

"Perhaps you're right. Raine worries more about whether I have betrayed him than he does about how his child fares alone without its mother. Perhaps I should return to my Catherine and leave Raine to his brooding."

"Brooding is correct," Joan said. "Did you know that he has slept with no woman since he returned from Lord Gavin's?"

Alyx's smile started small and stretched very wide.

"He loves you, Alyx," Joan said softly.

"Then why doesn't he show it! Why does he sneer and glower at me? When I am with Rosamund I'll look up and there he'll be, watching me with his cold looks. I feel as if I've had the icy river water tossed on my body."

Joan laughed delightedly. "He is showing you that he cares! What do you expect him to do—apologize?" Joan laughed even harder at this idea. "The Lord made women stronger so they could put up with men's weaknesses. You say you were wrong to treat the forest people as you did, so you admitted it and set about changing your error. Do you think any man could be so strong?"

"Raine has accused me of being a traitor," she said stubbornly.

"The King has said Lord Raine is a traitor. The King is wrong, but will he admit it? No more so than your husband will come to you and ask you to forgive him."

"I don't like this," Alyx said, her lower lip thrust out. "I have done no wrong to Raine. Roger Chatworth—"

"Damn Chatworth!" Joan said. "Raine's pride is hurt. You stayed beside some other man instead of your husband. Above all else, men expect blind loyalty."

"I am loyal, it is—"

She cut herself off when a breathless Jocelin burst into the tent unannounced.

"You should come," he said to Alyx. "Maybe you can prevent a death."

"Whose?" Alyx asked, standing immediately and following Joss before he could answer.

"Brian Chatworth has just begged entrance into the camp. Raine is donning armor to meet him."

"But Judith said Brian loved Mary, that Brian brought her body back to them."

"Maybe it's the name Chatworth. That alone would send Raine into a rage."

Jocelin pulled Alyx onto a horse and set out quickly, dodging tree branches as they rode. When at last they stopped, the sight ahead of them surprised Alyx. In a small clearing, lit by the early morning sun, stood a young man. He was small, slight, even delicate. Yet he had the facial features of Roger Chatworth. Had Alyx seen him elsewhere she would have guessed this near boy was Roger's son.

Alyx slid off the horse before Joss could dismount. "May I welcome you?" she said, walking toward the boy. "I am Alyxandria Montgomery, Lord Raine's wife. I have met your brother."

Brian pulled himself to his full height. "I have no brother," he said in a surprisingly masculine voice. "I come to join Lord Raine in his fight to avenge his sister's death."

"Oh, my," Alyx said, astonished. "I had hoped you offered some solution to this feud."

"We're all wishing that," came a voice from above Alyx's head.

She looked up but could see no one. "Who are? You're not one of Raine's guards."

"Oh, but I am, and are you truly Raine's wife?"

Alyx listened to the voice, sure she'd never heard it before, yet something about it was familiar. It was definitely a voice full of humor. She glanced at Brian and Jocelin. Brian's face was immobile, too hard for one so young, while Joss gave a shrug.

Her attention was suddenly given to the appearance of Raine riding his great heavy war horse, wearing full armor, covered from head to foot in steel.

Dismounting, he walked toward Brian Chaworth, and the young man did not flinch. One blow from Raine's hand would have been enough to send him sprawling. "Do you plan to hide behind my wife's skirts?" Raine said in a low voice. "She is known to protect Chatworths."

Alyx put herself between Brian and Raine. "And do you make war on children?" she yelled up at him. "Can't you listen to him? Or are you too pig-headed to give the boy a chance?"

Raine never said a word to Alyx because laughter coming from the trees made him halt.

Alyx watched, openmouthed, as a man dropped to the ground. He was wearing the most extraordinary clothes she had ever seen: a big-sleeved shirt, a soft yellow color, was covered by a bright blue tartan blanket wrapped about his waist in such a way that it formed a skirt and then was tossed over one shoulder, a heavy belt holding it in place. His knees were bare, his calves encased in heavy wool socks, thick shoes on his feet.

"Stephen," Raine breathed, his eyes softening.

"Aye, 'tis me," this oddly dressed man said. He was tall and slim with dark blond hair, a very handsome man. "I've brought this boy to you. He wants to share your exile and would like to learn from you."

"He's a Chatworth," Raine said, his eyes hardening again.

"Yes, he's a Chatworth," Alyx said. "And you'll not forgive him, will you? No doubt you'll hate this man for daring to bring him here. Go," she said to Stephen. "It's no use trying to reason with him. He has a piece of wood for a brain."

To her surprise, Stephen began to laugh, a great, deep, joyful laugh.

"Oh, Raine," he cried, slapping Raine on his armored shoulder, making the steel rattle. "How Gavin and I have prayed for this time. So you've fallen head over heels for a woman who fights you at every step? Gavin had written us what a sweet, helpful, congenial little thing our new sister was." He turned to Alyx. "Judith said you had a strong voice, but a moment ago you nearly knocked me from the tree."

"You are Stephen Montgomery," Alyx said in wonder. He did look a bit like Gavin, but besides his clothing, his accent was strange.

"MacArran," Stephen corrected, smiling at her. "I am married to the MacArran and my name is hers. Now do I get a kiss or would you rather fight with my brother?"

"Oh, a kiss!" Alyx said so enthusiastically that Stephen laughed again before drawing her into his arms. His kiss was less than brotherly. "Can you help me talk some sense into him?" she whispered. "He is obsessed with the Chatworths."

Stephen winked as he released her, turning back to Raine. "I've come a long way, brother. Will you offer me no refreshment?"

"And what about him?" Raine motioned toward Brian.

"He may come, too," Stephen laughed. "He can help me disarm you. And you, Alyx, will join us?"

"If I am invited," she said, looking directly at Raine.

" I invite you," Stephen said, as he threw an arm around Alyx's shoulders and started forward. "Follow us, Brian," he called over his shoulder.

"Are you always so courageous?" Alyx asked, looking up at Stephen.

Stephen's face was serious. "How long has he been like this?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Unsmiling, angry, glaring at everyone. This isn't like Raine."

She thought a moment before she answered. "He has been this way since Mary's death."

Stephen nodded once. "Raine would take it hard. That's one reason why I brought Brian. They are very much alike. Brian is eaten with hatred for his brother. And what of you? My brother's black moods don't frighten you?"

"He thinks I've betrayed him."

"Yes, Gavin and Judith told me."

Her voice became louder. "He won't listen to me. I tried to explain, but he sent my letters back unopened. And he won't listen to Gavin, either."

Stephen squeezed her shoulders. "Gavin will always think of Raine and Miles as children. Raine and Gavin can't be in a room two minutes without arguing. Stay with me and I'll see if I can make him listen."

Alyx gave him such a radiant smile that Stephen laughed. "My Bronwyn will have your heart on a platter if you keep looking at me like that. Can you really sing as well as Judith says?"

"Better," Alyx said with such confidence that Stephen laughed again.

They stopped before Raine's tent and Stephen muttered something about wasting money that Alyx didn't understand. Rather like a sulky boy, Raine followed them inside and, after one malevolent look cast at Alyx, turned to Stephen. "What has caused you to travel so far south? Have those Scots tossed you out?"

"I came to meet my new sister-in-law, of course."

"She would prefer that you were a Chatworth."

Stephen paused, Raine's helmet in his hand. "I cannot allow you to say such things," he said quietly. "Don't cause a quarrel between us. Do you plan to disown me because I have brought a Chatworth to your camp?"

"You are my brother," Raine said flatly.

"Meaning that you trust me?" There was laughter under his voice. "Tell me, brother, what bothered you the most, that your wife talked to a Chatworth or that she dared to talk to any handsome man?"

"Chatworth!" Raine said loudly, with a glance at Alyx, who was studying her fingernails.

"Did I ever tell you the trick Hugh Lasco played on me?" Stephen knelt to unbuckle Raine's leg protectors.

As Stephen began to tell some long-winded, slightly unbelievable tale, Alyx watched Raine. After a while she began to understand Stephen's point. Stephen had believed all manner of low-minded things about his wife, and as a result of his mistrust, he'd almost lost her.

"Alyx," Stephen turned to her suddenly. "Are you in love with Roger Chatworth? Are you contemplating leaving Raine for him?"

The idea was so ridiculous that Alyx laughed—until she saw the smoldering light in Raine's eyes. "Roger Chatworth deserves to die for what he did to Mary but not at my husband's hands. He's not worth seeing Raine hanged for his murder."

For a moment Alyx thought Raine might be listening to her, but the moment passed as he sat down on the cot and began removing the cotton pads that protected his skin from the steel armor. "Women have glib tongues," he murmured.

Stephen glanced at Alyx, saw her eyes shoot fire. "You have my permission to take an ax to him," he said amiably. "Alyx, could you fetch us some food? I may die of hunger soon."

As soon as they were alone, Raine turned to his brother. "Why have you come? Surely you want more than to step between my wife and me."

"Someone should," Stephen snapped. "Her heart is in her eyes. Can't you forgive her? She doesn't know our ways, and women have such strange ideas about honor. I hear you haven't seen your daughter. She looks like you."

Raine refused to be swayed. "Why did you bring Chatworth?"

"For the reason I said: he wants to train with you. The King won't like your training one nobleman to fight another. And what is this I hear of your raising an army of criminals to overthrow the King?"

Raine guffawed at this idea. "What liar told you this?"

"Pagnell of Waldenham told King Henry this. Hadn't you heard? I thought Alyx came to warn you of this. The King's ears are being filled with lies against the Montgomerys."

"Alyx hasn't seen fit to warn me," Raine said.

"And I'm sure you sat down and asked her nicely why she deserted her child and the comfort of Gavin's house to come live near you in this cold forest."

"I neither need nor want your interference in my life."

Stephen shrugged. "I remember a few kicks I received when Bronwyn and I had problems."

"And now all is sweetness and light with you, is it?" Raine asked, one eyebrow raised.

Stephen cleared his throat. "We do have... ah, a few disagreements now and then, but generally she learns the true way."

"I'd like to hear Bronwyn's version of that," Raine said before changing the subject. "Have you seen Miles?"

Stephen was saved from answering by the appearance of Alyx bearing a tray, Joan behind her with a second tray. Stephen didn't want to tell Raine that his problem with women was mild compared to Miles's.

As soon as Alyx realized that Joan was going to make a fool of herself over Stephen, she sent the maid out. The meal was an awkward one, the first Raine and Alyx had shared since she returned to the forest. Stephen did nearly all the talking, entertaining them with stories of Scotland.

"And you should see my son," Stephen boasted. "Already Tam has taken him riding and he can't really sit up yet. You and I weren't on a horse until we could walk. And how is your daughter, Alyx?"

For the first time in two weeks Alyx let herself think completely about her daughter. "She is strong," she said dreamily, "short and healthy with a lusty cry that made Judith's son cry, too."

"Protective of his cousin, no doubt," Stephen said. "She has your eyes."

"You saw her?" Alyx came off her stool. "When? Was she healthy? Had she grown any?"

"I doubt if she's changed much since you've seen her, but I agree about her voice. Do you think she'll be able to sing?" He turned to Raine. "She has those dimples you got from Mother's family."

"I must see to the camp." Raine stood so suddenly he nearly upset the food Alyx had brought. Quickly, he left the tent.

"He'll come around," Stephen said confidently, smiling at Alyx's tearing eyes.

***

Alyx tried not to think of Raine's constant anger and instead turned her attentions to Brian Chatworth. He was a miserable young man, his eyes black with a deep, burning hatred, and he never smiled nor seemed to find pleasure in anything. Alyx could not persuade him to talk or to confide in her about any subject. Her questions about where he'd been for the last several months since Mary's death were met by silence.

Alyx gave up after a while and left him to the men on the training field. As for Raine, he neither looked at nor spoke to the boy and spent most of his time with Stephen.

After Stephen had been in camp for three days, Joan came to Alyx.

"I think they're fighting," Joan said excitedly.

"Who? Not Raine and Brian Chatworth?"

Joan's voice was impatient. "Of course not! Lord Raine and Lord Stephen have gone deeper into the forest, and one of the guards has reported loud voices coming from there. Everyone's planning to go and watch."

"You will not!" Alyx said, pushing past her maid and out into the cool air. "Jocelin," she shouted when she saw her friend. "Stop them. Leave Raine in private. And you," she turned to Joan. "Help keep the men in camp. Do what you must. But nothing lewd," she called over her shoulder as she hurried forward.

Jocelin enlisted the aid of some ex-soldiers to help him while some of the wounded helped Alyx, and Joan had her own methods of making men obey her. Together they managed to keep the camp people away from where Raine and Stephen were having their "discussion."

"They're just settin' now," said a guard as he was replaced by someone else.

Alyx walked away, not wanting to hear any more of the facts. Raine was so much heavier than his brother, obviously so much stronger. Stephen couldn't possibly win a fight between them, and Alyx prayed Raine would hold back and not truly hurt his slim brother.

At sundown, Alyx took the water buckets to the river, hoping to escape the gleeful voices of the people in the camp. They were all huddled about campfires listening to the guards with rapt attention.

She stood beside the river, motionless, glad for the quiet, when a sound made her whirl. Coming toward her, walking heavily, wearily, was Raine. Perhaps she should have listened to the people's comments so she would have been prepared for her first sight of him. The left side of his face was swollen and turning purple. There were bruises on his jaw, his eye a flamboyant mixture of unnatural colors.

"Raine," she whispered, making him look up and away from her as he knelt by the water. She forgot any memories of anger between them but ran to him, knelt beside him. "Let me see," she said.

Docilely he turned his head to her and she placed cool fingers on his misshapen face. Without a word, she raised her skirt, tore away linen petticoat, dipped it in cold water and touched his face.

"Tell me all of it," she said in a half-command. "What sort of club did Stephen use on your face?"

It was a long moment before Raine spoke. "His fist."

Alyx paused in her washing of Raine's face. "But a knight—" she began. She'd heard Raine shout a hundred times about how unchivalrous, how unmanly it was to fight with one's hands. Many honorable men had died rather than lose their honor by using their fists.

"Stephen has learned some strange ways in Scotland," Raine said. "He says there is more than one way to fight."

"And no doubt you stood there like a great ox and let him beat you rather than do an unknightly thing such as hit his face in return?"

"I tried!" Raine said, then winced and calmed himself. "He danced about like a woman."

"Don't insult my sex. No woman did this to your face."

"Alyx." He grabbed her wrist. "Have you no feeling for me? Will you always side with others against me?"

She took his face gently in her hands, her eyes searching his. "I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. Even then, when I had planned to hate you, I was drawn to you. I fought against loving you, but it was as if some great power controlled me and I had no say in what I did. Don't you realize that I'm always on your side? That day at the fair if you'd killed Roger Chatworth you could have been hanged. I pretended to bed Jocelin to keep you from leaving the safety of the forest. What more can I do to prove my loyalty and love?"

He pulled away from her. "Perhaps it's your methods I don't like. Why can't you tell me what you're doing? Why must you fight me all the time?"

"Fighting is the only way you'll listen to me," she said in exasperation. "I told you you could not leave the forest when the people accused me of stealing, but you wouldn't listen. I told you not to kill Roger Chatworth, but you stood there like a bull with veins standing out on your neck." Her voice was rising.

"I don't know who unmans me most—my brother or you."

His tone was so little-boy, feel-sorry-for-himself that Alyx tried not to laugh. "What did you and Stephen quarrel about?"

Raine rubbed his jaw. "Stephen suggested I consider that perhaps you weren't disloyal when you saved Chatworth's miserable life."

Raine turned and looked at her. "Have I been wrong? Have I treated you very badly? Is there any love in your heart left for me?"

She touched his cheek. "I will always love you. I sometimes think I was born loving you."

A single dimple appeared in his cheek and she caught her breath as she thought he was going to pull her into his arms. Instead, he reached under his doublet and rummaged in his pocket. "Perhaps I can purchase a smile or two," he said as he dangled the Lyon belt before her eyes.

"My belt!" she gasped. "How did you find it? I thought it was lost forever. Oh, Raine!" She threw her arms around him and began kissing his face so enthusiastically that she caused him great pain, but he didn't mind.

"You are the best husband," she whispered, kissing his neck. "Oh, Raine, how I have missed you."

She didn't say anymore because his hands twisted in her hair and pulled her head backward as his lips came down on hers. Alyx was sure she would burst apart into little pieces. She catapulted all her weight against him, and as he was in a precarious position, he fell backward, caught himself, then changed positions on her mouth and let himself fall, pulling Alyx with him.

Mouths attached, they rolled sideways, then changed directions, and in one quick movement landed themselves in the icy river water, Alyx on bottom.

"Raine!" Alyx screeched in pain as his heavy body rolled atop her arm, scraping it against a rock. "You're breaking me!" Already, her teeth were beginning to chatter.

"It would be small payment for what you've done to me," he said, lying in the water as if it were a feather bed. "Before I met you my life was peaceful and calm. Now my own brother beats me."

"Which you deserved!" she spat. "It's the only way to make you listen. Now let me up and let me get dry before I freeze to death."

"I know a way to keep you warm." He began to nuzzle her neck.

"You great stupid boar," she yelled into his ear, making him move away and shake his head to clear the ringing. "I'm cold and wet, and if you don't let me up I'll bring the whole camp to my rescue."

"You think they'd come to rescue you or would they side with me?"

She pushed at him. "They wouldn't recognize you with your great purple face."

He chuckled at that and easily moved off her. "You look good, Alyx," he said, his eyes alight, looking at her wet dress, which clung to her.

Alyx put her arms behind her and started to push herself up and found the wet dress to be very heavy. With another chuckle, Raine stood, lifted her and started toward the darkest part of the forest.

"The camp is that way," she pointed.

"Alyx, someone should teach you that you shouldn't always give orders. Perhaps you are right now and then, but sometimes you should listen and leave the commands to the men."

"I have to do what is right, and if you need to be saved from yourself, I will," she said arrogantly.

"You are leading up to a paddling such as you've never had before—if you've ever had one, which I doubt. That priest who trained you should have applied a lute to the bottom half of you now and again and perhaps you'd have a little humility."

"I have as much humility as you do," she said, watching him. "If you do foolish things, am I to stand aside and not raise my voice?"

"Alyx, you are going too far," he warned.

"And how will you punish me for speaking the truth?"

"Not in a way that you'll like."

"How can you threaten me after all I've done for you? I've saved you from Roger Chatworth. I was nearly burned at the stake because the judges wanted your lands. I left with Jocelin to keep you safe in the forest."

Raine grabbed her shoulders and held her at arms' length, her feet off the ground. One half of his face was swollen purple, but the other half was red with rage. "You've gone too far," he said through his teeth.

Before Alyx could take a breath, Raine had seated himself on a stump, pulled Alyx across his lap, bottom end up and tossed her skirts over her head. He gave her one strong, painful whack across her buttocks.

"You were not tried as a witch because of me," he said. "You had your quarrel with Pagnell before I ever met you."

Alyx didn't have a chance to answer as Raine smacked her bottom again. "True, I was angry and perhaps should not have ordered Chatworth to be killed, but as we were in a secluded place, who would have known to tell the King? I am not as stupid as you seem to think and would not have left the body near my brother's estate."

Again, his hand came down. "I don't like having my orders countermanded and especially not before my men. Is that clear?" Again he punctuated this with a blow.

Alyx, tears in her eyes, nodded silently.

"Good! Now, as for you and Jocelin, I don't like games and jests at which I'm the butt. It hurt too much to see you with another man, and later when I found out it'd all been a trick, as if I were a dunce to be made a fool of, I could have killed you. And you risked the life of my daughter with your stupid jests."

A very hard blow hit her. "You nearly lost my daughter to the fire as well as to the hazards of the road while you and Jocelin wandered about the country. I want no more of it, Alyx." He struck her again. "Do you understand me? You are my wife and you damn well better start acting like it."

With one more painful spank, he pushed her off his lap.

Alyx sat up, wincing with pain when her bottom hit the forest floor. There were so many tears in her eyes that she could hardly focus.

Raine stood, towering above her. "When you're through sulking," he said, "come back to the tent and I'll make love to you so passionately you'll forget who you are." With that, he walked away from her.

For a moment, Alyx sat staring after him, then she closed her mouth and stood. No sulking in the world was worth missing a bout of lovemaking. As quickly as her stiff legs could carry her, she ran after Raine.