He closed his eyes, if but to rest them a brief moment, but Remington immediately thrust herself into his weary mind. The familiar weakening, the familiar longing, saturated his limbs with liquid warmth. And pain.
He most definitely felt pain.
He saw the sea-crystal eyes twinkling back at him, her magnificent lips curved into a sweet smile. Her face, so sweet and beautiful, broke his concentration. The more he gazed at her beloved face, the more helpless and desperate he became.
His eyes flew open, forcing himself to breathe deeply, to refocus. He’d never felt so impotent and powerless in his whole life.
Be brave, angel. I am coming.
*
Ripley Castle loomedinto view in the wee hours of the morning. Barely after midnight, Hubert reined his destrier into the large, if not cluttered, bailey. There were several soldiers on hand to greet him, all of them reaching up hands for the lady.
“Back away, you buzzards,” Hubert bellowed, keeping a firm hand on Remington. “Where’s the lord?”
“Inside, Hugh,” a calm-looking knight stood by his right leg, eyeing Remington. “She looks familiar. Who is she?”
Remington gazed at the knight. “She can speak forherself, I am Lady Remington Stoneley.”
“Stoneley?” the knight repeated with surprise, looking at Hubert, “Good lord, Hugh, what goes on?”
Hubert handed Remington down to the knight and dismounted, but he quickly took her back into his protective grasp. “Quite a story. Ingilsby is going to want to hear this.”
Hubert and the other knight led Remington inside, away from the curious stares of the men-at-arms. Ripley Castle was a smaller keep, quiet for the night. The corridors were dimly lit as they made their way into a great room, illuminated golden by the dying fire in the hearth. Two huge dogs lying by the hearth barely gave the three humans a glance.
Hubert sat Remington down and sent the other knight for wine and food. When the man returned, Hubert gave it all to Remington.
“Aren’t you going to eat, too?” she asked softly. “We have been riding a long time and after the attack, you must….”
He shook his head, biting off her words. “Nay, my lady, you go ahead and eat your fill. I am not much hungry.”
“An attack? What attack?” the other knight demanded.
Remington looked up at the man as she ate in an appraising sort of way. Young, with wide brown eyes and an impish face,his cropped brown hair was standing straight up. Hubert, on her other side, removed his helm and set it loudly on the scrubbed table.
“On the road,” he mumbled wearily. “We were set upon by bandits. I shall tell you the all of it when Ingilsby arrives.”
The young knight looked at Remington curiously, obviously eager to hear their tale.
Alex Ingilsby entered the common hall, his eyes widening dramatically when he laid eyes on Remington. She smiled weakly and he sputtered.
“Remi,” he gasped. “What on earth are you…Hugh, did you bring her here? What is going on?”
“An unbelievable tale, I assure you,” Hubert indicated a chair for his liege to sit.
Alex hesitated a moment before seating himself next to Remington, his astonished eyes studying her. “Are you all right, Remi? What….?”
She nodded, patting the baron’s hand. “I am fine. Allow Hugh to tell his tale, my lord. I would do it, but I sorely lack the strength at the moment.”
Alex’s gaze lingered on her a moment longer before turning to Hubert expectantly. Without delay, the knight relayed the entire story, from Guy’s escape until their arrival at Ripley. When he was finished, Lord Ingilsby looked nothing short of stunned.
“Stoneley? Escaped?” he repeated, turning to Remington. “And what he did to you… my God, Hugh, I think I am going to be ill. Fetch me a chalice, please.”
Hubert filled a goblet full of wine and placed it in his lord’s hand. After a healthy gulp, Alex took a deep breath. “God directed Hugh to that inn, I know it. He was looking out for you, Remi. I will have a mass said at day break for thanks of your rescue.”
Remington turned warm eyes to Hubert, tired and still coated with black splotches of blood. “Sir Hubert was my true savior. He was magnificent, my lord. I am sure Gaston will reward him tremendously.”
“As will I,” Alex glanced at his captain. “Good lord, Hugh, you looked whipped. Why not take a meal and go to bed?”
