stomach just now,? he remarked to her.

  ?That is not so,? she insisted.

  ?Is it not?? he replied doubtfully, then with a cold edge added,

  ?And never counter my cornmand again, wench. Did Master Blouet obey you instead

  of me, he would receive ten lashes for it.?

  Having heard that, the poor cook was now racing up the stairs to wake the butler.

  Rowena stopped eating, bringing her hands to her lap so Warrick would know he

  was ruining her appetite.

  ?You are contemptible in your spite.?

  Bernard drew in a sharp breath at her effrontery, but she still asked ?What will

  you do with the wine? For I will not drink it.?

  ?I will have it delivered to my solar for my own useas you will be delivered

  there as soon as you are finished with that mealunless you are finished now??

  Rowena reached for the food so fast, that humorless smile came to Warrick?s lips.

  ?Bernard??

  Bernard did not need to be told.

  ?Aye, my lord, as soon as she is finished,? the boy assured him.

  Warrick put a finger under her chin, which was moving vigorously with her

  chewing.

  ?Do not stuff yourself, wench, and do not be long, else I will have to return

  here to see what delays you, and I would not like that.?

  So saying, he left her alone with the squire and the food. Rowena chewed more

  slowly now, but anxiety was beginning to knot her stomach.

  He was going to rape her again. He as much as promised he would.

  Mayhap she ought to fight the boy instead of Warrick, then run off and hide.

  Bernard was bigger than she, though not fully grown, so she would certainly have

  a better chance of winning free from him than from his master. But would that

  not get the squire punished? And if Warrick came looking for her, would he not

  wake others to help in the search? Inconsiderate wretch, of course he would. He

  did not care that his castlefolk worked hard all day and needed their sleep. She

  should not care either, but she did not want the whole of Fulkhurst mad at her,

  when there was not a single soul there who would protect her from their

  retaliating abuse.

  ?Best you hurry, Mistress,? Bernard said from behind her.

  ?His mood does not include patience for waiting long.?

  She did not look back to answer ?So he has to come and fetch me again. Think you

  I care? Either way I have to deal with his anger.?

  And his little punishments?

  She wondered what would be her humiliation this time for defying him outside the

  weaving room, for running from him, for annoying him here. The begging he had

  mentioned? Worse? Nay, what could be worse than begging for pleasure from a man

  she despised?

  ?You are a perverse woman, not to be grateful for his generosity.?

  Rowena choked on the beef she was chewing. When the coughing spasms eased, she

  turned around to glare at the young man who had made that outrageous statement.

  ?What generosity?? she demanded.

  ?He feeds you after the kitchen has been locked for the night. Never has it been

  opened before. Master Blouet would not even dare were he starving.?

  Twas a standard rule in most castles. Too much pilferage would ensue otherwise.

  But Rowena was not impressed.

  ?He feeds his child, not me,? she scoffed.

  ?He would not open the kitchen for his daughters,? the boy scoffed back.

  ?You know naught!? she snapped impatiently.

  ?The man hates me.?

  ?When he desires you instead of another? When he debated for hours whether to

  wake you, though his need was great? When he even carried you so you would not

  catch a chill in your bare feet??

  She could have shot down each of those statements with ease, but she was

  blushing crimson over his mention of Warrick?s need, which she knew she had

  caused at his bath. She had assumed he would send for Celia. Why had he not?

  Because with you he gets revenge and his need seen to. But why wait so long?

  Because, in truth, he could not bear to touch her, any more than she could bear

  to touchnay, she was lying to herself. She had never really minded touching that

  finely made body when she had him in her power. And tonight, she had actually

  become aroused from touching him, while he had not touched her back. But she

  minded that! She minded his effect on her!

  ?Does it not matter that I want none of his attention?? she asked as if the boy

  could be made to understand and change his view.

  All he replied was ?As I said, you are perverse.?

  ?And you are ignorant and biased! Your lord is a cruel, vengeful?

  ?Nay!? Bernard cried, upset himself now.

  ?He is good and benevolent to those who serve him. He is only swift in

  retribution with his enemies.?

  ?And I am one of those enemies,? she whispered, turning her back on him.

  She stared at the food she no longer desired, and heard Bernard say behind her ?His

  enemy? A woman? What could you have done to earn his enmity??

  Only rape him and steal his child. But that was a crime so appalling in her own

  mind, she would never willingly admit it to anyone. Warrick would likely change

  his mind and murder her if she did, because at least half his hate must come

  from the fact that such could have been done to him, so powerful a lord.

  So she did not answer the question, saying dejectedly instead ?Do you mean to

  take me to him, do so. I am finished here.?

  The cook returned with the butler then, and hurried over to her.

  ?You did not care for leftovers, girl??

  ? Twas excellent fare, Master Blouet, merely have I had my fill. And I will be

  sure to eat at ?JB?TOWBPHR? are not disturbed

  ? ??? normal times henceforth so you are not disturbea again.?

  He waved that aside.

  ?The babe must have nourishment. I will see that you have extra portions at your

  meals.?

  ?Nay, you need not?

  ?Lord Warrick would have it so.?

  And whatever Lord Warrick would have, so it would be done.

  Rowena ground her teeth together and headed out of the kitchen. But before she

  reached the stone steps, she was picked up from behind, just like before. Only

  she did not feel secure in these arms. She felt as if she was about to fall.

  ?Put me down, Bernard. I am perfectly capable?

  ?Perverse,? he huffed to himself as he trudged up the stairs.

  ?She would rather catch her death so that I will be flayed alive. Utterly

  perverse.?

  ? Tis more like I will break my neck when you drop me, you fool.?

  ? ?Tis chivalrous to assist all womenbut next time wear shoes, Mistress.?

  He was complaining? Rowena would have boxed his ears if she did not think he

  would drop her in startlement. God save her from aspiring knights.

  ?There,? he said at last, and set her quickly on her feet.

  ?The wooden floor is not so cold. I needs catch my breath, but you may go on.?

  She could, could she? Rowena decided to be as perverse as he had called her.

  ?How would you know how cold the floor is when your feet are not bare? My toes

  are freezing. You will have to carry me after all.?

  He was standing there laboring for every breath. The dark hall stretched long

  before them, with only a torch at the far end to light the narrow path through

&nbsp
; the sleeping bodies of the servants.

  Bernard looked at her in horror.

  ?Ahmayhap you could wear my shoes instead??

  ?Mayhap I will return to my own bed.?

  His horror magnified.

  ?You cannot do that!?

  ?Watch me, sirrah.?

  She turned and started down the path, but no more than five seconds had passed

  before she was picked up again. Now Bernard was angry, and it came out in biting

  scorn.

  ?Your ladylike airs do not become you, Mistress. Think you the lord?s favor

  elevates you to that status? It does not, and best you remember that.?

  His words stung, prompting a thoughtless reply.

  ?I do not need elevation to a status already mine. Tis your good and benevolent

  lord who would make me other than what I am, which is Lady of? Her common sense

  returned before she blurted out ?Tures.?

  ?Kirkburough,? she amended.

  ?Which he did recently destroy.?

  ?You lie, wench.?

  ?And you sound like your master, lout,? she retorted.

  ?Verily, the only thing I lied about was the freezing of my toes. Now put me

  down!?

  He did, half dropping her as the strength in his arms gave out. But little good

  it did her, for they had reached the antechamber to the solar, and the door to

  the inner chamber stood open and promptly filled with the presence of her

  nemesis, drawn by her raised voice.

  ?What ails you?? Warrick asked his squire, for the boy was truly wheezing now.

  Rowena answered before Bernard could.

  ?He thought to mimic you and carry me, but found he must grow some ere he starts

  acting the barbarian in forcing women to his will.?

  The double gibe was not lost on either male. Bernard flushed with angry color.

  Warrick smiled, that chilling smile she hated.

  ?So my new serf has claws, does she?? he remarked.

  ?I will have to see what I can do about plucking them. Come inside, Rowena.?

  She did not move an inch, horrified by what she had just done. What had made her

  think she could taunt and insult him without paying for it? But as long as she

  was damned anyway?

  ?II am through accepting punishments that have naught to do with? She cast a

  glance at Bernard before ending with ?What lies between us. Do you want me in

  there, you will have to drag me in. I told you, I do not go willingly.?

  It would have been nice if Bernard were not blocking the only exit from there,

  but he was, and so there was nowhere to run to when Warrick accepted her

  challenge and came to get her. And although she tried with every bit of strength

  she possessed to remove her wrist from the clamp of his fingers, she was

  summarily dragged into his solar, where he slammed the door closed behind them.

  Nor did he stop until he had reached his bed and shoved her down on it.

  Then slowly, with a good deal of obvious pleasure, he lowered his body over hers

  until she was left with the sure knowledge that she could not budge him.

  ?You see now how little it matters, your unwillingness?? he taunted.

  ?I hate you.?

  ?The feeling is returned wholeheartedly, and I assure you I am much better at it

  than you could ever be.?

  He was wearing his cruel smile, so she had little doubt about that either.

  Suddenly she felt like crying. A few tears even gathered to brighten her eyes to

  a jewellike radiance.

  He noticed and studied them thoughtfully for a moment before he said ?You would

  not be thinking to make this easy for me, would you? Where is the fight you

  promised me??

  ?You take too much pleasure in my hate and my resistance. I would prefer not to

  give you any pleasure at all.?

  ?Selfish, wench,? he chided, though there was suddenly real humor in his eyes.

  ?So you think to lie there like a dead thing and hope I will grow bored and let

  you go??

  She had yet to meet this particular mood of his and said warily ?Now that you

  mention it??

  He laughed, confounding her, and laughed even more when he saw her confusion.

  Then his hand came to her cheek, so gentle, and his thumb rubbed slowly,

  tantalizingly, over her full lower lip.

  ?What am I to do with you??

  The question did not seem to be for her, actually, merely was he wondering it

  aloud. But she answered him anyway.

  ?Let me go.?

  ?Nay, never that,? he said softly as his eyes dropped to her lips.

  ?You were virgin in more than one area. What about these, too??

  There was warmth now in his eyes and smile that made him so handsome she was

  nearly mesmerized. And then his lips touched hers.

  She had seen it coming, had been prepared to resist, but she was unprepared for

  the unexpected involvement of the rest of her that she had no control of. His

  tongue licked at her lips, and she felt sensations in her belly. His tongue

  slipped between her teeth to caress her own, and she felt heat in her loins.

  Twas true that no lover?s lips had ever shown her the way of kissing. What

  Gilbert had done just before he left her to Warrick?s mercy was naught like this.

  That kiss had been brief, hard, and repugnant to her. This one was soft,

  unending, and she wished she were not being made to know the difference. There

  should have been no difference. But she could not deny this was another thing

  about her enemy that she did not mind.

  ?As I thought, another virgin terrain to explore,? he said, and seemed pleased

  by it.

  ?You must have been locked away until I found you.?

  Words seemed to be the only defense he would allow her. She used them now as a

  desperate measure, for she realized that she would have herself to fight as much

  as him if this continued.

  ?You did not find me, you were found for me.

  Remember that, and that you do not really want to do this. Let me go, Warrick.?

  His answer was to kiss her again, a kiss not so gentle this time, but still not

  the least bit repulsive. In fact, she was caught up in the passion of it so

  quickly, she forgot the taunt she had just used to avoid it.

  He did not. He was as angry with her as she had hoped he would be, merely was

  the result not what she had wanted. Nor did she become aware of it until much

  later, when she heard his whispered command ?Beg me,? and she had reached the

  point of such frustrating needthat she did.

  Chapter 23

  Warrick was in a bemused state of utter repletion and disgruntlement. Neither

  feeling sat well with him at the moment, but neither would leave him alone. The

  one made him wish he could deny the other, but he could not, for burying himself

  deep inside that flaxen haired witch had been unbelievably satisfying. Of course,

  obtaining revenge against her had made it so good. Such immense pleasure could

  not be for any other reason.

  But he should not have experienced that at all, for he had had no intention of

  touching her again after she had been released from her chains. He had meant to

  continue plaguing her, certainly, and heaping shame on her. He still meant to,

  for he had not allowed her to live without paying a price for it, and he wanted

  her constantly reminded of that.

  But tonight had shown him that he was a fool to think he could shame her by
>
  having her perform intimate services and not pay a price for it himself. He

  could have if she had continued to feel only shamebut she had become aroused

  instead, though she tried so hard not to show it, and her wanting him had sent

  him over the edge. Still, he had resisted her siren?s call and sent her away.

  Yet she had continued to prey on his mindand body.

  That should have enraged him, that she could still make him want her so

  powerfully. Verily, it did infuriate him, for ?twas no different from his lack

  of control when she had had him in her power. And he had fought the overwhelming

  urge to go and fetch her back to him tonight. But once it had occurred to him

  that her very status now gave him all the excuse he needed to have her again, he

  lost the fight.