Ashe looked toward Eada, he sternly told himself not to be such a fool. He hadinvaded her land, taken hold of her town; and in the fighting that was sure tofollow, he would undoubtedly take the lives of some of her people. It would bewise to hold onto some suspicion. He was responsible for other lives as well ashis own, and he could not allow a pair of beautiful eyes to beguile him intoignoring any possible threat.
Whenhe finally caught sight of Eada, he cursed softly. She stood flanked by hergrowling hounds and encircled by nearly a dozen leering men. Although she heldher ground, glaring bravely at the men, it was a dangerous situation. As hepushed his way through the men to get to her side, he mused crossly that someof the trouble she would bring was the lust and envy of the men. He might wellspend a great deal of his time trying to stop his fellow Normans from stealingher away.
Themoment he reached Eada's side, he grabbed her by one slim arm and confrontedthe men. With a sweeping glare, he proclaimed Eada his and his alone. He knewthat his belligerent stance at her side also announced that he was willing toback that claim with a sword or his fists. As soon as the soldiers began toback away, Drogo turned his attention to Eada, absently patting the houndswhich had been ready to defend her.
"Williamis right," he murmured. "You will be trouble. If I keep you, it isakin to taking an enemy into the very heart of my camp; and now I see that Imay well have to watch my companions-in-arms as closely as I watch you."
Eadalooked at him, hoping her expression held the look of sweet ignorance shestrove for. She resented the implication that she was not to be trusted, butcould not reveal that without revealing that she understood every word he said.Although he was an invader, her enemy, she would never stoop to betrayal,deceit, or treachery. If she fought him, she would do so openly. She also knewthat, even if she spoke to him in French with all the eloquence of atroubadour, he probably would not believe her.
Shemet his steady look and quelled a start of surprise. Behind the frowningconcern and the faint hint of unwarranted suspicion was wanting. It was thesame look she had seen in the other men's faces, yet not so harsh or alarming.Instead of fear, she felt her body warm with welcome.
Perhapsthey were destined, she mused. It was the only explanation for respondingfavorably to a lustful look from a man who intended to fight her people andhelp conquer her country. She knew she was not the sort of woman to warm to aman simply because he was strong and handsome. There was the problem of hissuspicion, however. If he feared she was the sort to slip a knife in his backor feed him to his enemies, their destiny would be difficult to fulfill. Eadaknew he would bed her without hesitation, but she was confident that Edith'sprophecy was not for her to be a mere leman, one of the many poor, bedraggledsouls who often trailed along behind an army. Old Edith had promised her asoulmate. Eada wondered just how hard she might have to work to gain thatprize.
Agroup of men awkwardly shepherding a small flock of sheep down the road caughtEada's attention and she cursed. "And where might they be takingthem?"
Theway she was glaring at the sheep gave Drogo a hint of what she had just saidand he replied, "We need to feed the men." He pointed at the sheepand rubbed his flat stomach in an awkward attempt to make her understand.
"Ifyou feed your soldiers too well this late in the year, you will face a long,hungry winter, fool."
Drogoshook his head. Her tone was cold, angry, but he had no idea what she had justsaid. He was either going to have to learn her coarse language or teach herFrench. Although what she had said to William had disturbed him, it revealed asharp mind, and he realized he wanted to enjoy that almost as badly as hewanted to bed her.
"Tancred,"he called to his friend as he shook aside the confusion he felt over hisstrong, unwavering attraction to the slight woman at his side. "Stay andguard this bounty of ours for a moment or two. I will send Ivo to you so thathe might choose what we require. The rest must then be placed with the othersupplies."
"Sincethe beasts are all tethered, I think I can do it," Tancred drawled, andthen he looked at Eada. "And I think you had best hide away your ownbounty. The men eye her with more greed than they eye the food."
"Theyunderstand that she is mine."
"Oh,they understand that. You made it very clear. That does not mean that they willnow all stay away. Some of them might think to challenge you, especially if youcontinue to dangle the prize in front of their eyes."
"Ido not fear them nor will I turn away from a fight."
"Iknow that. No insult was meant. William, however, might prefer that hissoldiers save their strength for the battle with the English."
WhileDrogo laughed along with his companions, Eada rolled her eyes. The men hadprobably earned the arrogance they now displayed, but that did not make it anyless irritating. Eada also knew that, no matter how much she might resent it,she was going to need their protection. One glance at the thousands of Normansand mercenaries swarming over Pevensey verified that. Even if Drogo were notthe one Old Edith had claimed as her destined mate, Eada suspected she wouldhave accepted his claim to her anyway. From what little she had seen so far,Drogo seemed to be a good, honorable man. Far better to be the leman of onegood man than a whore to the whole of the invading army.
"Iwonder which one of these dogs has laid claim to my home?" she murmured asshe looked around, trying to see if anyone walked toward her house. "Itwould be nice if I could at least get a clean gown." She patted her dogs,glancing up at Drogo and catching him staring at her.
"Itwould be better if we spoke the same tongue," Drogo said.
Eadawondered if he were trying to trick her into confessing that she knew French.It would make some things much easier if they could talk openly. She was alsonot confident that she could maintain her air of ignorance for very long. Forthe moment, however, it gave her a small advantage and she intended to clingtightly to that for as long as she could.
"Andsince I know exactly what he will ask of me, I see no need for words or anygreat understanding between us." She could tell by the frown upon his facethat he recognized the bitter tone behind her words. He had a keen ear and thatcould prove to be troublesome.
"Iwill not hurt you."
Afterglancing around to make sure that the English speaking Amfrid was not close by,Eada decided to answer Drogo directly. He could not understand her words orknow that she understood his if she guarded her expression. "You mean tomake me your leman, your whore. If Old Edith was right and you are my destiny,it is certain that you do not know it. You are but acting like any warrior whosees what he wants and just takes it."
Drogoshook his head. "I wish I could understand you or that you could speak mylanguage. There is anger in your voice and, unless I can reason with you, Icannot soothe it. Nor can I still the fear you must feel despite your bravestance."
Shelooked at the Normans casually plundering the town and noticed how few of herfellow Saxons she saw. "Even if we spoke in the same tongue, nothing youcould say could fully banish my anger, my sense of hopelessness, or my fear.You have come to conquer and, though we are destined to be mates, in doing thatyou must hurt me. And even if I spoke in the most eloquent French, I do notthink you could ever understand how I feel about all of this."
Whenshe tried to pull free of his grasp, he gently tightened his grip on her arm."No, you will stay with me."
Stillpulling against his hold, Eada pointed toward the cart. "I must get thechest Old Edith gave me."
Eadabreathed a silent sigh of relief when he eased his hold enough to allow her topull him along as she went to the cart. It dismayed her a little that she hadalmost forgotten about the gift Old Edith had left her. She quickly soothed herpangs of guilt by reminding herself of all she had endured since waking thatmorning.
Ashiver of unease tickled her spine as she picked up the chest. Old Edith hadsaid that it held the truth. Eada decided she had had her fill of Old Edith'struths. So far, they had brought only confusion and sorrow. As she clutched thesmall, ornate chest in her arms, she decided that this particular truth couldwait. She needed time to muster up the courage to look at it.
