“Oh, yes? And what was that?” he rasped after another moment spent catching his breath; in spite of his discomfort, he found himself unable to keep from smiling up at her obvious glee.
“That move does work, just as you said it would.” She grinned even wider. “Far better than I ever might have imagined.”
Evening couldn’t come soon enough.
Alissende could not remember the last time she had so looked forward to something. She burned with a sense of purpose. Of course, that her purpose this day had been to sweetly torment Damien, exciting him to the same feelings of desperation he’d subjected her to for nearly the week prior, was likely wicked. It was sure to earn her the penance of completing a slew of novenas and good deeds were she to admit it to her confessor.
In the meantime, she was enjoying every moment of it.
When she had suggested that she return the favor of Damien’s training instruction tonight, and in the privacy of their bedchamber, the look on his face had been beyond price. And seeing him react to every little nuance of her movements, her breathing, even the way she ate and drank…well, it had all gone a long way toward assuaging the feelings that had been bruised with his public sporting at her expense. She was beginning to understand why he’d enjoyed dallying with her so much. Aye, almost to the point that she’d considered forgiving him and letting up on her cruel torment of him. But that would have been far too easy.
“You seem in high spirits this evening, Cousin,” Michael said, calling her thoughts back to the here and now. He was standing in the door to her bedchamber with his arms stretched around a large basket full of used vellum, some inkhorns, quills, and other writing implements, smiling in response to the outlandish grin she herself was sporting. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he added, “Surely it cannot be at the prospect of copying letters.”
When she shrugged, he shook his head, laughing as he set down his burden. “I am well aware that your beauty is more than matched by your wits,amie,” he chided, “and I am happy to oblige you in any way I can, but even I cannot fathom why you asked for these things. In my mind there are few prospects less stimulating than an evening spent hunched over a table, getting a crick in your neck and ink stains on your fingers.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she murmured, picking up one of the quills he’d brought and twirling it in her fingers. “I fully expect it to prove quite stimulating tonight. Far more than ever before, in fact.”
Michael just shook his head again, chuckling and mumbling something about the whims of females. Alissende schooled her answering smile long enough to help him set up the things he’d brought. When they were done, she turned to give him a quick, fierce hug.
“Thank you, Michael,” she said, kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair. “I know how very dear these items are, and I will make good on my promise to send to the parchmenters and procure a dozen pieces of fresh vellum to replace these castoffs from the monastery.”
“I do not doubt it, Cousin. The brothers will not miss these pieces in the meantime, and the scribes will be greatly enthused to have unmarked vellum upon which to work, once it arrives.” He gave her a wink. “In truth, they are the only others I know who become even more inspired than you do at the prospect of working at their letters.”
Laughing in response to his gentle gibe, Alissende linked her arm with his and began to walk back toward the door with him. “Ah, Michael, I am going to miss you so. Are you certain that you must remain here at Glenheim when we leave for court? Can you not come with us?”
“Nay, Cousin.” He paused in their progress to cup her cheek in his palm affectionately. “Someone must stay to keep watch over your mother. And besides, there is naught for me there except for Hugh, and he would as like drive daggers through his eyes as be forced to acknowledge our kinship. More so now that he realizes my part in keeping you from him.”
Alissende frowned. “Aye, he was none too pleased. He may turn against you because of it, Michael. You must be prepared. Your brother has never reacted well to being thwarted, and I fear blood will have no bearing for him.”
Michael pulled back, gazing down at her in mock dismay. “What is this? Are you worried for me, Alissende?”
“I would not put anything past Hugh.”
Pausing, Michael took her shoulders in his hands before leaning forward to press a kiss to her brow. “Do not fear,amie. I will try to remain vigilant.”
She nodded, walking with him toward the door.
“Take good care ofMèrewhile I am gone, Michael; if aught goes amiss, send word to me quickly. Odiham is but two days’ ride away, do not forget.”
“I will remember, Alissende. Godspeed to you as well.” His gaze fixed on her, and he raised his brows to accentuate his words as he added, “And tell Sir Damien that I will be praying he proves the victor in the upcoming tournament. Perhaps he may finally teach that brother of mine a lesson in humility.”
Flashing another grin, Michael waved and ducked through the door. Alissende waved back, watching him go with a mixture of fondness and anxiety. She had always considered Michael more a sibling than a cousin, and though she was pleased that he had found peace and contentment in the priesthood, she could not help worrying about him. It distressed her that he had none to turn to, truly, except for other holy men, her mother, and herself.
For all of his jesting, Michael knew as well as she that his brother could not be trusted; Hugh had made no secret of the vague contempt he felt for his more sensitive and physically weaker sibling. Alissende did not doubt for an instant that Hugh would use any means at his disposal to get what he wanted. Even Michael.
But Hugh would be dealt with soon enough, in an arena that he would not find easy to sway to his own liking with intimidation or even brute force. Nay, the tournament results were determined by only one thing: finely honed battle skills. If Damien’s talents in that regard were anywhere near what they had been when she had known him before—and she had cause to think if naught else that they had improved—then Hugh would be fortunate to leave the field unscathed.
And yet before that satisfying conclusion was reached, she had other satisfactions to gain…namely the one that would come to fruition tonight, when she offered Damien the surprise he had earned by tormenting her with his public seductions this week.
Alissende smiled to herself, walking over to the table upon which were arranged all the writing tools Michael had been kind enough to provide for her. She ran her fingers along the smooth contours of the wood, thinking about what she had planned. Aye, this evening was sure to be a pleasurable one, for if all went as she hoped, then Damien would learn his lesson as well, in a way he had never imagined he would.
She was going to make sure of it.
Chapter 11
Just after dusk, Damien stood in the hallway upstairs, feeling a surge of dread that seemed ludicrous, considering the fact that it was his own bedchamber door looming in front of him. But that was just the problem. It might be his bedchamber, but he knew what—or, more precisely,who—waited for him inside.
If he hadn’t sworn to appear here after dinner, with a promise wrung out of him at the moment of what had been his greatest vulnerability this afternoon, he’d have put no less than ten miles between himself and this door by this time.
