Page 38 of The Unwilling Bride
“Henry’s a capricious man,” he answered with a shrug. “One can be in the king’s favor one day, and out the next.”
“Then why court his displeasure?”
“Because it was my pleasure.”
God help her! Between that slight grin, the proximity of his body and his low, deep voice, shivers of…not dread…ran down her spine.
She quickly went back to cleaning up. She drained the newly bloodied water into the chamber pot and put the cloths used to wash his wound into the empty basin. “I hope you won’t hold what happened today againstTalek,” she said, speaking of another serious matter, and one that would surely not lead to any unwelcome thoughts or images. “He’s a good soldier and very loyal.”
“I’ll deal with Talek in due course.”
Merrick’s deep voice was so stern and unyielding, her formerly heated blood ran cold. “What are you going to do?”
“He must leave Tregellas before nightfall and never return.”
She stared at him, aghast at the severity of his reaction. “But why? Because he missed his aim and struck you instead? I assure you, my lord, Talek is a good man.”
Merrick rose and regarded her with frustrating impassivity. “A fine soldier Talek may be, but as garrison commander, he has control of the soldiers, as well as the arms and weapons, and the defense of this castle. If I have even the slightest doubt as to his abilities, his loyalty or his desire to protect me and mine, he cannot remain here.”
“What cause would he have to harm you?” she protested.
“I don’t know.”
“Then why…?”
“Because he did harm me. Whether he meant to or not, I can’t let such a thing pass.”
“But to send him away, to shame such a loyal man—”
“What would you rather I do? Demote him? Have him become a common soldier? Would that not shame him more?”
Constance had to admit—to herself—that was true. But even so…“He wasn’t trying to kill you. I’m sure of it.”
“Enough to risk your life, and mine, and everyone else’s in Tregellas? Alas for you, my lady, I have no such faith. He must go.”
Obviously Merrick had no real regard for her opinion, and Talek’s years of service meant nothing.
The hard line of Merrick’s mouth softened a little. “I have reasons for my decisions, Constance. You may not understand them, or agree, but I don’t act on whims, or without good cause. I will protect what is mine, whether it is my life or my castle or my wife. I will guard what I hold dear.”
Did that mean he cared for her, or only that he would fight to keep what he considered his possessions, including his wife?
Yet as he looked at her, and she at him, the fiery gleam in his eyes altered to another kind of fire. She tried to ignore it, and the answering flame kindling within her, but her desire was stronger than her will. Her breathing quickened. Her heartbeat pulsed with excitement. His face was inches away, his body close enough to touch. She felt her resolve slipping, melting away under the heat of his gaze.
His steady stare still holding hers, Merrick reached out and drew her to him.
If he kissed her again, the last of her resistance would disappear like so much mist in the summer sun. Shewould be surrendering, perhaps forever. Accepting her role as his property.
She backed away.
Merrick’s expression hardened, and once more the stone-faced commander of Tregellas stood before her. “Go and find Talek. Tell him I will speak to him in the solar. At once.”
“I will do as you ask because you rule here, my lord,” she answered. “But I still think you’re wrong.”
A SHORT WHILE LATER, Merrick regarded Talek with such stern, merciless eyes, the garrison commander—who was no coward—began to tremble. “Forgive me, my lord! It was an accident.”
“Did I ask you for an explanation?”
The lord of Tregellas didn’t shout, or even raise his voice, but the cold steadiness of his deep voice terrified Talek even more.
