Denise Lynn Read online

  Jared gritted his teeth against the unwarranted memories.

  Less than a dozen feet away, he stopped and glanced up at the walls. The brave men of Montreau stood at attention, holding their helmets on the wall before them, their empty hands in full view.

  They seemed content to permit a lone woman to welcome what could potentially be an enemy.

  He drew his gaze back to Lea. Even if he hadn't known her, he would guess her to be Montreau's lady by her proud stance. Jared couldn't decide if he thought her brave, or senseless.

  To his chagrin, she grew more striking with each step that brought him closer. Her regal-like, straight posture belied her height. He knew from experience that the top of her head would barely reach his shoulder when her cheek rested against his chest.

  The long sapphire cloak bunched on the ground around her feet. From the way it didn't move in the wind, she apparently stood on the extra length.

  The familiar frame of ebony hair set off the paleness of her heart-shaped face.

  She looked fragile—vulnerable. He wanted nothing more than to care for her, protect her. Jared swallowed his instincts, knowing that was the image she'd intended to portray. He'd fallen for that hoax once before.

  Determined to keep their former relationship nothing more than a distant memory and from making a spectacle in public, he focused on the business at hand. He stopped an arm's length before her. 'I come to protect this keep in the name of the Empress Matilda.'

  She nodded. 'I have been apprised of your arrival.' She motioned to her men. 'We have no quarrel with this visit by Empress Matilda's men.'

  Visit?Jared raised an eyebrow at her statement. 'Lady Lea, perhaps you misunderstood. This is not a simple visit. My men and I are to secure Montreau from all.'

  'All?' Her brows furrowed in question. 'Surely not from its own inhabitants?"

  'From all.' Jared wasn't backing down on this. The empress had ordered him to take and hold Montreau.

  'But...' Her voice trailed off as if uncertain how to respond.

  Jared motioned towards the keep. 'We can discuss the details inside.'

  'Details?' She shook her head. 'Details of what?'

  'The details of you surrendering the control of Montreau to me.'

  Lea straightened her back and lifted her chin a notch. She met his gaze with a hard stare. 'This is my keep, Warehaven. I will surrender control to no one—not even you.'

  Jared's fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword. 'Then I will take it from you.'

  She drew in a deep breath at his brusque tone. Jared wasn't making an idle threat. He would indeed use force to take her keep if he felt the need.

  She'd not expected this to happen. The empress's missive had only hinted at giving control of Montreau to him. Her actual words had stated that he would merely protect her and the keep.

  Apparently, her orders to him had been somewhat different. Empress Matilda was a woman not to be trusted. Lea silently cursed herself. Like a simpering nit she'd ordered her men not to fight and had opened her gates, permitting Warehaven free access.

  She glanced past him, scouring the field and beyond for signs of his men. Could she summon enough courage and strength to shove him out of the gate and call her men to arms?

  'Rest assured, Lea, there are enough men out there to raze this castle.'

  Lea dragged her attention back to Jared. She needed to stall for time to figure out what to do now.

  'And what are the terms of Montreau's surrender?'

  'Terms? There are no terms. You and your men will not be harmed. Your keep will remain intact.

  For all appearances nothing will change.' He leaned closer. 'Except all orders will come from me.'

  His voice had lowered to a deeper, more gravelly tone—one he normally reserved for issuing a warning. Lea stared up at him. His eyes darkened as his pupils enlarged. Granted, she had little experience with other men, but she knew this one well and recognised that look. He might be here to take control of her keep, but he couldn't hide the fact he still found her desirable.

  A fact she could bend to her needs—if she was careful.

  Lea willed herself to move just the barest breath closer and asked in her most sultry whisper,

  'And 1 am to remain your— hostage—during your possession of my lands?'

  Jared's gut tightened. Her voice sang across his ears like a siren's song, inviting him to taste the rose-tinted lips that formed the words she spoke.

  But he'd tasted those lips before, and while they'd been yielding and sweet beneath his kiss, they'd told nothing but lies.

  'The Empress requires no hostages.'

  She rested a hand on his chest. 'Then what am I?'

  Her cloak fell open with her movement. The thin gown she wore beneath appeared nearly transparent in the flickering torchlight.

  Jared ignored the heat of her touch and swallowed past the sudden dryness in his mouth. He narrowed his eyes. He'd wondered before if she had set a trap for him and his men. Obviously she had. And he was in grave danger of becoming her victim.

  He warned, 'All I know for certain is that you foolishly play with fire. We are done talking. This keep is now under my command. There are no hostages. And no terms.'

  Without backing away from his warning, she stared up at him. Her lips parted to draw in breath; unblinking sapphire eyes, rimmed by thick, black eyelashes, held his rapt attention.

  'I cannot change your mind?'

  Jared's heart slammed against his chest. He inhaled, and hoped the act would keep his mouth from falling open at her brazenly unspoken offer. Any man with a shred of honour would order her inside. They would demand she cloak herself and leave the courtyard.

  Sometimes honour was for fools.

  Any man with half a wit would tear his gaze from her lush form and look around for the trap she'd so obviously set.

  Sometimes wit was a useless weapon.

  Jared stepped forwards and, unmindful of his mailled tunic, pulled her hard against his chest.

  Other than a brief flinch, she was pliant in his arms. He lowered his head to her ear and hotly warned, 'Lock yourself inside your chamber, Lea, or this time I will claim what you so boldly offer.'

  She turned her head to brush her lips against his, whispering, 'Are you not here to assume complete control?'

  Chapter Two

  Lea's heart raced as she ran up the winding stairwell to her chamber. She slammed the door behind her and leaned breathless against the rough-hewn wood.

  He'd pushed her away, but not before she'd seen the lust flare to life in his hungry gaze. She'd felt his heart pound beneath his maille. He knew exacdy what she'd been offering.

  Jared of Warehaven might still be angiy she'd jilted him in such a cowardly manner, sending her father to do the deed because she'd been too hurt to face him. He might be a warrior hardened by these last seven years of battle, but he was still a man. A man who still desired her.

  She could hardly believe what she'd just done in the bailey. A sliver of guilt washed over her.

  What would her parents think of her brazenness?

  She quickly pushed aside the self-reproach. Neither her father nor her mother would fault her for doing everything she could to retain Montreau. They might not agree with her method, but they would applaud the end result.

  But what about her? How was she to live with herself if she did become pregnant?

  Lea crossed the chamber, dropping her cloak on to the bed as she strolled toward the narrow window opening. The courtyard

  was ablaze with light and quickly filling with the Empress's men.

  She easily spotted him. Her heart tripped before settling to a more normal rhythm. Jared of Warehaven was a fine specimen of a man, more appealing now than before.

  Tall enough, and muscular enough to make a woman feel protected—safe. His dark sandy-blond hair was shot through with newer strands of silver that glittered like metal in the torchlight.

  Jared ordere
d everyone about. By the time he finished, there were as many of his own men on the walls as those from Montreau.

  Hard to believe, but he'd grown even more confident with age. It showed in the way he immediately took charge as if he'd been commanding Montreau for years. Only one of her men dared to show displeasure at the orders. And he'd been soundly knocked to the ground. Still the fool thought to fight back. His rebelliousness faded instantly when the tip of a sword was pressed against his neck.

  The guard's act of outright rebellion had been foolhardy. Thankfully Jared had generously spared his life where another might not have been as kind-hearted.

  When all was in order, he headed towards the keep. Lea lingered a moment or two longer at the window, then turned to don something more suitable—more demur—before she went down to meet him in the Great Hall.

  The thin, finely woven chain had served its purpose. Wearing it beneath her full cloak without an overdress had been extreme, but she'd wanted to see his reaction. Her test had proven successful—he still desired her. Anger, rage had done nothing to negate their physical attraction to each other.

  Shared passion had never been a problem between them. From the moment she'd first seen him at King Henry's court she'd been drawn to him.

  Nine years ago, barely out of childhood, she was fifteen and desperately in love for the first time.

  At three years older Jared of Warehaven was a man in her eyes.

  And when he'd shown up here at Montreau a few months later, Lea thought her father would have an apoplectic fit. He was outraged that anyone would dare to even consider courting his baby.

  Jared had stood up to her father and eventually, to her amazement, her sire had relented.

  She loosened the side laces of her gown and pulled the garment over her head. The chilled air of the chamber cooled her body, making her realise how warm she'd become thinking of Jared.

  The door to her chamber banged against the wall. With the gown in her hands, she stared at the intruder.

  Jared froze in the doorway; he'd been expecting the chamber to be empty. What was she doing in here instead of the lord's chamber? Hearing footsteps in the hallway, he kicked the door closed behind him.

  'I knocked. No one answered.'

  She dropped the gown, gasped, and then quickly retrieved it to hold against her body. Surely she didn't think that mist of cloth would protect her.

  It had only taken a moment, but he'd seen enough of her to whet his appetite. The urge to turn away warred with the need to crush her soft curves to his chest.

  'What do you want?' Her voice nothing more than a breathless whisper, Lea coughed, then asked,

  'What are you doing in here?' Her tone had turned icy.

  'I knocked.'

  'You said that.'

  He cursed his sudden distraction. 'When no one answered, I thought the chamber was empty.'

  'So?' She looked at the leather saddlebags and blanket roll in his hands. 'You thought to make this chamber your own?'

  'Yes.'

  'The men sleep in the hall.'

  Jared dropped his possessions to the floor. 'The lord doesn't.'

  'The lord is dead.'

  He certainly didn't feel dead. His blood rushed too hot and far too fast for him to be deceased. 'I am not sleeping in the hall on a pallet when there are plenty of bedchambers available.'

  'As you will. But you need find another one. This chamber is not available.'

  Her dismissive tone was new to him and it grated. He took a step towards her. 'A short time ago you made it plain you were very available. It stands to reason this chamber would be, too.'

  Lea held her ground, one inky brow lifting as she steadily said, 'I've changed my mind.'

  'Yes, you've always been quite good at that.'

  'What's done is done, Jared. I have no wish to discuss the past.'

  Neither did he, not right at this moment. But some day, some day soon, he would demand an accounting of her actions the day of their wedding ceremony.

  She turned away, giving him a full view of her back and lovely rounded—Jared tore his attention from the sight.

  With a glare over her shoulder, she ordered, 'Go.'

  Jared cleared the distance between them in three strides. He pulled her against his chest, revelling in the warmth of her body against his, even as his mind flinched at the idea of holding this traitorous woman so close. 'You don't give the orders here any more.'

  He felt her tremble in his hold. Yet, she shrugged as if nothing of any importance threatened her.

  'As you will. Please, my lord, leave me be, so I may dress.'

  Jared gritted his teeth at her attitude. He could do with her what he willed and none would stop him.

  He tapped the bed with the side of his booted foot. 'You play a foolish game, Lea.'

  'You will do nothing I don't permit.'

  For a heartbeat he wondered what had happened to rob her of the ability to reason. 'You of all people can't be sure of that.'

  'Yes, I can. While I cannot fathom why Matilda sent you in particular, she would never have sent a crude barbarian to hold Montreau. Not if she wanted to avoid a battle with York.' She tipped her head to glance up at him. 'Do you have enough men at hand to defeat the Earl of York?'

  He had to admit that she still had plenty of reasoning ability. Too much, perhaps. 'I have enough men at hand to protect Montreau from any who attack.'

  She laughed softly. 'So you say.'

  'Perhaps you forget. King David is near at hand. Whatever I may, or may not, lack in manpower, he more than compensates.

  And since he is Matilda's uncle, I do not think he would ignore a summons for help.'

  'Perhaps. But I do not believe King David would attack Montreau.'

  'And what leads you to believe that?'

  'He likes our apple tarts far too much.'

  Jared lifted his gaze briefly to the ceiling, then released her and stepped back. 'Apple tarts?'

  She swung away, out of his reach. 'Did not your aunt tell you? Montreau is the peacekeeper in this war.' She leaned towards him as if prepared to tell him a great secret. 'We do it with food.

  King David is partial to sweets—especially the cook's apple tarts.'

  He might have lost this dispute, but he refused to acknowledge her win. Instead, he headed for the door, pausing to retrieve his possessions and to order, 'Get dressed...' Jared drew a long, heated stare down her body '.. .in something more appropriate to your station and meet me downstairs.'

  She said nothing until he was nearly out the door. Then she called out, 'In due time, my lord.'

  Jared slammed the door behind him. He rubbed his forehead. When his aunt had given him the orders to come here, why hadn't he argued more fiercely?

  What had he been thinking to come to Montreau? He'd known from the start that dealing with Lea would not be easy.

  He'd fully expected to have his mind beset by memories best left locked securely away. But he hadn't expected his body, or his wilful desire, to so easily remember how she felt in his arms.

  Worse, she knew it. He could tell by Lea's easy manner that she'd recognised the blaze of desire.

  What worried him was that

  she didn't try to push him away, or to cry out in fear. The woman who absolutely refused to wed the son of a bastard was not afraid of his anger at her rejection, nor did she seem to fear his lust.

  Lea of Montreau was up to something.

  How had he let himself be tricked into this task so easily?

  Lea reluctandy opened her eyes as sunlight blazed across her bed. She groaned and rolled over to escape the brightness of the day.

  'Agatha, please. Close the bed curtains and let me sleep.'

  'Don't tell me you are tired.'

  Lea jumped at the deep male tone. Grabbing her covers tightly, she rolled on to her back. 'Are you lost again?'

  'No, but you are.'

  She glanced around him at her chamber. 'You are mistaken. This is my chamber.
Where is my maid?'

  'I am here, my lady,' Agatha called from across the room.

  'And she'll stay right there until I say otherwise.'

  'As you will.' Lea did her best not to smile as his jaw tightened. He obviously hated that phrase.

  She'd have to remember to use it often.

  'I waited for you in the hall last night.'

  'Did you?' She yawned. 'I found that I needed sleep.'

  He muttered something she couldn't quite hear before grabbing the edge of her covers. 'Get up.

  Get dressed. Get down to the hall.'

  Lea clung to the covers. 'I will. Just as soon as you leave.'

  'I think not.' He tugged at the covers.

  Tightening her own hold, she replied, 'Excuse me?'

  'It's apparent you still don't know how to follow orders. So, this time, I'm going to teach you.'

  That's what he thought. She was no longer the same naive young woman he'd known before.

  Heartache and marriage had seen to that. 'You are upsetting my maid.'

  On cue Agatha started wailing and wringing her hands as she paced the chamber. With any luck half the castle would arrive within minutes to see what caused such a ruckus.

  Jared released her covers and moved away from the bed. 'I will await you below. But if you do not hurry, I will return.'

  'As you will.'

  Once again his jaw tightened and he muttered something, but thankfully headed for the door without further comment.

  Lea flew from the bed and hugged Agatha, laughing. 'Thank you.'

  The woman patted her back before pushing her gently aside. 'Just like a trained dog I am.' The maid pinned her with a hard stare. 'Did you know Lord Warehaven had been sent?'

  'No.' Lea shook her head. 'Not until the guard said the ships had beached and then I knew it could only be him.'

  'And you let me believe some stranger was coming to claim Montreau.'

  'To be honest, I thought a stranger would worry you less.'

  Agatha snorted, then turned to retrieve a chemise and gown from the bench. 'I'd been laying these out when his lordship burst in.'

  Lea glanced at the door and the locking bar across the top. 'We'll have one of the men lower that bar to a level we can reach.'