Page 23 of A Knight To Call My Own
“Come lie with me, Lynet,” Ian urged, pulling back the coverlet for her to join him in their marriage bed.
She shook her head as rationality to his illness took precedence over the matters of her heart’s desire to give in to his urgings. “Nay, I cannot Ian, at least, not as yet. I would not deny you your rights, as my husband, but you must needs regain your strength afore such an undertaking.”
His chuckle rumbled deep within his muscular chest, even as her eyes devoured with yearning the expanse of his lightly furred torso. “You think a little thing like a dagger thrust could keep me from making you mine completely? ’Tis nothing but a small poke in my side, and surely will not hinder me in claiming you as my wife. Come…let me love you for what remains of the night.”
Leaning down, she gave him a chaste kiss then watched when a frown appeared on his brow. She pushed on his chest, and he easily fell back upon the furs. “You are as weak as a newborn kitten, Ian, so do not attempt to flatter me with your prowess, and what you think you are capable of this night. We have the rest of our lives together,” she whispered softly then kissed him quickly again and moved out of his reach. “Now rest yourself, for I will not have you be an ornery patient whilst under my care. I will return in a few hours, after I myself have rested and seen to my normal morning duties at the keep.”
“You promise you will return?” Ian asked with sleepy eyes, proving her point he was far from being completely healed.
“Aye…nothing could keep me from your side,” she answered honestly, tucking the fur about his shoulders. “Now be good, and go to sleep. I shall see you afore you even have a chance to miss me.”
“I miss you already,” he murmured quietly, closing his eyes as he reluctantly felt sleep claim him.
Lynet took a moment to look her fill at this man who was now her husband ’til she reached out to cup Ian’s cheek. Brushing her thumb gently across the roughness of the stubble, she gave a brief smile and leaned forward to give him a soft kiss. He barely moved. Satisfied he took his rest, Lynet gathered her things and left his tent. ’Twas still many hours afore the dawn would break. If she hurried, she would still be able to catch a few hours of sleep herself and return to him after her morning ablutions and mass, come the break of day.
She began to hurry whilst humming a tune to herself, but carelessly did not pay attention to the shadows filling the night. ’Twas a mistake she realized only too late when she felt a sharp object slam against the back of her skull. Darkness began to overtake her. Her eyes rolled back in her head whilst she felt herself pitching forward. Her last thought afore she lost consciousness was the wrath Ian would surely feel when she did not keep her promise to return.
Chapter Twelve
“What the bloody hell do you meanshe is missing? Who was the last to see her?” Dristan’s bellowing caused several people in his solar to cringe with worry. There had been a long passage of time since any had heard so much displeasure coming from their lord.
All eyes turned in Ian’s direction, as though he was, in truth, the culprit who had taken Lynet from the keep. “I can explain,” he began, “She came to my tent-”
Slam! He stumbled back from the force of Rolf’s fist making contact with his face. He should have seen that one coming. Yet, nothing prepared him for Rolf reaching for his throat whilst Aiden lunged around his tormentor’s body to try and get a piece of him, as well. Rolf’s murderous eyes blazed with fury as he squeezed tighter. Ian clawed at the hand around his neck. His head whirled as felt the room spin from his lack of air. ’Twas evident he was not completely well that he could not shake off his adversary, who himself was also wounded and fighting with only one arm! Obviously, he was still in need of Lynet’s herbs and healing touch.
The chamber broke into chaos. Not that Ian cared at the moment if voices were raised loud enough to shake the rafters in the ceiling. No one seemed to pay any attention that his very breath was being taken from him. A scuffle broke out and furniture began to scrape against the stone flooring as ’twas moved. The higher pitched voices of the ladies in the chamber mingled with the deeper tones of their knights as they tried to calm the hot tempered men. Ian gasped for air and at last heard Dristan’s bellow for Rolf to cease. Ian’s face flushed with color as he gulped air into his burning lungs, now that his windpipe was no longer being crushed.
Rolf grabbed him by his tunic with his good arm, bringing them face to face. “I will kill you myself if you have harmed one hair on her pretty head,” he threatened, giving Ian a shake.
Kenna came rushing to their side and grabbed Rolf’s arm. He at last let go of his grip on Ian, and she turned her scolding eyes at him. “He has been gravely ill, Rolf, and should not be out of bed. You could at least hear his explanation, although, I can vouch for his illness.” She began shaking her fist at the man, as though he were a misbehaving youth.
“You have been warned,” Rolf pointed his finger in Ian’s direction.
Ian pulled his tunic back down into place and brushed away Kenna’s helping hands. “I am well, Kenna,” he croaked and cleared his throat. “Stop fussing over me and leave me be!”
Kenna moved off to be consoled by her husband, but still muttered aloud about insufferable men. Dristan quickly regained control of his solar and ensured Amiria was once more settled in a chair near the hearth. That she took a dirk from her boot and was fingering its hilt whilst her violet eyes flashed angrily in his direction, gave Ian only a moment’s pause. She, of all people gathered here, should know better than anyone that he would never harm her sister. Even Katherine had a perturbed look upon her features that showed she was displeased with him.
Dristan sat next to his wife and finally leveled his gaze upon Ian, who did all within his ability not to squirm with the thought of telling the fierce warrior afore him he had handfasted with his wife’s sister. He gulped, trying to gain his composure when all eyes fell upon him, yet again. The hostility in this room was high, and ’twas all focused on him. God’s wounds, but he felt as if the world had been ripped asunder, knowing his wife was missing.
“Well?” Dristan bellowed, drumming his fingers on the edge of his chair, giving proof his patience was at an end.
“I can explain,” Ian began calmly.
“Aye, you have said as much, but minutes afore,” Dristan replied, leveling his gaze upon him.
Ian eyed the occupants of the room warily. He was not so sure Amiria’s dirk would not fly out in his direction once he found his words to justify what he and Lynet had done. “I must needs enlighten you to-”
“I am sure you can give full details as to why my wife’s sister was in your tent without a chaperon, which is why, as you can plainly see, we all eagerly await your story,” Dristan all but growled like the fierce dragon his reputation proclaimed him to be.
Aiden took a menacing step forward. “And here, I thought Rolf was the one I must needs keep my eye on.”
“If she had been with me, she would not be missing now, I assure you,” Rolf chimed in.
“Enough!” Amiria added, trying to calm the hot-headed men. “Let Ian have his say.”
Deafening silence filled the chamber. Folding his arms across his chest, Ian hoped he appeared in charge of the situation. “I was ill from a knife wound. Although this may have been the reason Lynet was with me, for the most part, I was not coherent that anyone was attending my wounds ’til I awoke from my fever.”
“But you’re better now, right?” Katherine inquired. His gaze fell to hers, and Ian could see the sincerity of her question. At least someone was concerned for his wellbeing.
