She must find some other way out of this.
“You surprise me, Crispin.” She made her voice mild. “I once thought you a man of honor. At the very least, you were a man most certain of his success with the ladies. And here you are, occupying a lady’s chamber against her will.”
She hoped her acid words would bite but saw immediately that she had failed.
“Forsooth, there is much you do not yet know about me, sweet Esme.” He reached out and touched her cheek, forcing her to flinch away. “But fear not, we have the rest of our lives to better our acquaintance.”
While he was talking, Esme had reached behind her on the dresser, for the wooden sword which she’d discarded there after her last training session with Adam. She relished the look of surprise in Crispin’s eyes as she brandished it before him.
“Get away from me!” she ordered.
The sword was not sharp, but it was sturdy and strong. It formed an effective enough deterrent to make him take a step backwards.
“Further,” she said, jabbing at his belly with the tip.
“There is no need for violence, Esme.” With one smooth movement, he grasped her wrist and twisted until she had no choice but to drop the sword. As she scuffled away from him, he chuckled. “But I have to confess, it provided an unanticipated pleasure.” He picked up the sword and examined it with apparent interest. “Is this how you have been entertaining yourself whilst I’ve been gone? With kitchen chores and toy swords?”
His baiting fell on deaf ears. She could only think of how to escape, but Crispin stood between her and the door.
“Now that I am back you can know other pleasures.” He pushed her forcibly toward the bed. “Starting now.”
Esme railed against him, raining her fists on his chest and kicking with her feet, but Crispin was tall and strong and insistent. He half dragged, half carried her over to the bed and threw her, unceremoniously, on top of it.
“No!” she screamed, biting at the hand that held her down.
“Do not do that.” In the midst of unfastening his breeches, Crispin stilled. “Unless you wish to return to Wolvesley with a black eye?”
“You would not dare.” She scrambled up the bed, her eyes frantically scouring the chamber for something else she might use as a weapon. “My father would see you in chains if you ever raised a hand to me.”
“But you will no longer belong to your father, sweet Esme.” Crispin’s breeches dropped to the floor. “You will belong to me.”
Fear coursed through her veins, but before she could think to respond, her chamber door was kicked open with such force the candle fell from the dresser. An acrid smell of burning came from the rushes and Esme blinked in the sudden darkness. But she did not waste the moment of reprieve. Swinging her legs, she rolled to the other side of the bed and backed her way into the corner of the chamber.
Two men were fighting at the far side of the room, but it was hard to see who was who, much less who was winning. A cacophony of shouts and grunts came from them both. Esme wrung her hands, unable to think how she might help.
It must be Adam, who had come to her aid.
But she could not be of service to him if she could not see him.
With trembling fingers, she fumbled for her nightstand to find a taper. The smoke from the rushes was thickening and making her cough. At last, she secured a flickering yellow light which illuminated the scene. Her frightened eyes took in Adam, breathing hard, tying a length of rope around Crispin’s wrists. Crispin was face down on the bed with his hands behind him. He was shouting expletives into the blankets.
As soon as he had the man secured, Adam poured the contents of the water jug over the smoking rushes. With a hiss, the burgeoning fire went out.
Adam exhaled loudly, his gaze travelling at once to Esme.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. Her hand was trembling so much the candlelight jumped and shadows startled around them, as if the chamber was packed with people.
“Release me at once, you wastrel.”
Adam showed no sign of having heard him. His eyes stayed focused on Esme’s face. “Are you certain he did not hurt you?”
“Aye,” she whispered. Blood pounded in her ears and her fingers shook. She must secure this taper before she started another fire.
Adam nodded, briefly. “I will take him away.” He hauled Crispin off the bed, as if the tall knight weighed little more than a child. “If that is what you want?” he added.
Esme bit down on her lip, alarmed that he needed to ask. “It is what I want.”
