Thornbear (Book 1)

  “Are you enjoying the festival, milord?” she asked Gram, her features taunting him.

  “I doubt I have ever known a better one,” he responded.

  Robert Lethy came by then, smiling to congratulate them. “I thought my heart was going to burst from my chest!” he announced. “I don’t know how you managed to keep going for so long!”

  Daisy was still beside him, looking friendly, but her expression hid a mild jealousy. She had never expected to lose her best dance partner, or to be bested by a newcomer. “You dance very well, Lady Alyssa. Your endurance is hard to credit.”

  “Thank you. I owe some of it to the strength and ardor of my partner…” she answered before giving Gram a very direct look, “…but the women of my family are known for their stamina.”

  Daisy’s cheeks colored at the barely veiled message, but Robert laughed. Perry walked up beside him, swaying slightly. He had taken one too many cups while watching the two of them dance. “Perhaps the lady would give me the pleasure of a dance now that the music has slowed to a pace better suited for us poor mortals,” said the captain’s son.

  He attempted to sound charming, but his words came off as slightly petulant.

  “I have hardly rested but I believe I could manage,” Alyssa responded. She held out her hand and let him pull her to her feet.

  Gram glared daggers at him, but held his tongue, and then Moira jumped in to distract him. “I wouldn’t mind a quick sorte onto the dance battlefield myself,” she complained before coughing to get his attention.

  He took the hint and led her out to dance. The music was slow now, a stately pavan and though Moira was an excellent dancer his attention followed Alyssa as she turned and danced with Perry.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Moira told him reassuringly.

  “What do you mean?”

  She gave him a knowing smile, “I thought at first she might fancy Perry, but she’s been watching you since the day she came. Even when he took her for walks she was always looking around, trying to spot you.”

  “He took her for walks?”

  Moira nodded, “He’s been courting her since she arrived, and until tonight you didn’t show any sign of interest.”

  Moira was almost like a sister to him, so he didn’t bother trying to deny his feelings, instead he asked, “If he’s been courting her for that long then it sounds as though I should worry.”

  She shook her head, “If your mother had seen the look she gave you when you were sitting down a moment ago, she would have had her locked in the dungeon.”

  “We don’t have a dungeon.”

  “Lady Rose would have had one ‘specially made,” said Moira primly.

  He laughed, his head feeling lighter from the ale. The dance was ending so he let go of her hands. “I’ll see if I can give mother something to really worry about.”

  Moira winked at him as she retired to the benches and Gram tapped Perry on the shoulder.

  “Mind if I have the next dance?” he asked.

  Alyssa smiled at him, but Perry was less than pleased. “You’ve had her to yourself for long enough, let someone else have a turn,” he replied, slurring the words slightly.

  “I think the lady can decide that for herself,” said Gram, a menacing note in his voice.

  Perry released her, adrenaline causing him to sober. He faced Gram as his face began to turn crimson. “Are you trying to test me, pretty boy?”

  A red demon rose in Gram’s chest, filling him with rage but before he could respond Perry stumbled. The captain’s son stepped back, trying to regain his balance but Alyssa caught his arm. Though she tried to help him he lost complete control and fell to the ground. Unfortunately he twisted as went and rather than landing on his rear Perry fell awkwardly on his shoulder. His arm made an audible ‘pop’ as it came out its socket and the young man screamed in pain.

  Gram watched him fall, first with amusement and then puzzlement. While it might have looked to most observers as if the other man had simply taken a drunken tumble, he had seen otherwise. Perry had lifted his foot, about to advance, when Alyssa had tapped the sole of his boot with her toe, making him think he had stepped on something. When he had stumbled her ‘assistance’ had served not only to ensure he lost his balance, but to twist his arm into the position that had resulted in his injury.

  No one else seemed to have realized the truth, though, including Perry.

  “Someone help him,” called Alyssa, soliciting the aid of several men from the crowd. “I think he may have had too much to drink,” she suggested. Robert Lethy organized them and soon they were escorting poor Perry home.

  After they had left, she looked at Gram. “I believe you wanted another dance?”

  “I think I did,” said Gram, giving her a shallow bow. Taking one of her hands in his he placed his other on her waist, guiding her into the start of a graceful waltz. “I saw what you did,” he said quietly.

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “And what did you think?”

  “Most impressive,” he said, studying her face. There was confidence there, residing alongside something else—desire.

  “I can be very direct when I decide on something,” she told him, “and things were about to get out of hand anyway. I think things ended better this way.”

  “And you decided you really wanted a dance?” suggested Gram, slipping his hand farther down than was strictly within the bounds of propriety and pulling her close.

  “Perhaps,” she replied, sliding the hand on his shoulder closer, to stroke the side of his neck with her fingers.

  Chapter 18

  Gram lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling of his room. Despite rising early and having a long day he couldn’t rest. He had danced until his legs had turned to jelly. So much so that he had felt certain he would collapse upon reaching his bed, but once there he couldn’t relax. His mind was filled with visions of the woman he spent the evening dancing with.

  He would start to drift, and then the memory of her scent came to him, a glimpse of her hair, or her smoldering eyes. The thoughts were so pervasive he began to consider getting out of bed altogether. It was obvious he couldn’t sleep.

  The knock on the outer door was so faint he thought for a second he had imagined it. Then it came again and he leapt from the bed. Surely not! he thought, hurrying to the front room that held the outer door.

  Before he reached the door he remembered his nakedness and quickly darted back to his room to slip a long nightshirt over his head. Unable to delay any longer he ran back to the door and opened it quickly.

  She stood close to the door, illuminated only by the magical globes that, at this hour, gave only a mild light to prevent people from stumbling in the dark. Without a word he stood aside and let her in, never questioning her reason for appearing so late.

  Alyssa held a long cloak around herself, clutching it close to her neck, but she opened it to embrace him as soon as he had closed the door. Beneath it she wore only a thin nightgown, erasing any doubts he might have had about her intentions.

  They came together in a desperate rush, and Gram could think of nothing else for the next few minutes, nothing besides her warm lips and burning hands. His heart was pounding and his body burned with feverish heat as he gripped her waist and lifted her, her legs twining around him. Their lips never parted as he walked her to his room.

  She drew back, breathless as she stared down into his eyes, and then he tossed her lightly onto the bed he had vacated moments ago. He paused, wondering at his own audacity, but she couldn’t wait. Reaching up, she took the collar of his nightshirt and pulled him down, uttering only a single word, “Please…”

  He destroyed his shirt before he could get out of it and her nightgown nearly suffered a similar fate, but she solved the problem by simply pulling it up and then sliding her arms free, until the garment covered little more than it would if it had been a sash.

  It was the fi
rst time he had lain with a woman, but his body knew the basics, and when he stumbled for a moment her hands guided him the rest of the way, urging him on.

  Within a short span of minutes he grew close to the conclusion he so desperately needed.

  “Wait, Gram!” she said insistently. “Stop, not yet.” She used her hands to push his hips away.

  “By all the dead gods, please tell me you’re not serious,” he pleaded, a pained expression on his face.

  She smiled, the moonlight from the window showing him pearly teeth. “Are you so eager for children then?”

  “Not particularly,” he moaned, “but at present I am more than willing to take the risk.”

  Alyssa put her finger to his lips, “Let me teach you. There are other ways.” And then she shifted, sliding down to do something he had never considered. He froze and then groaned.

  “If you do that…” he began, hoping to warn her, but she knew already what she was about.

  The world ended, and Gram was reborn. When he returned to his senses he looked at her in amazement. “I never expected that… how did you know…?”

  “I have sisters, and the women in my family share their secrets. Are you alright? You seem dazed,” she told him with a teasing smile.

  He growled and slid his arms beneath her legs before lifting her into the air, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. “What are you doing?” she exclaimed as he placed her back against the wall.

  “Finding out if the reverse works as well for you,” he answered. He let her cries serve as his guide from there.

  Some unknown time later they rested, gazing at one another in the dim light from the window. “I didn’t know men did things like that,” she said, a curious note in her voice.

  “Was it unpleasant?”

  “No,” she said shaking her head, “far from it.”

  He smiled, kissing her once more, “Are you tired?”

  “No,” she answered, pulling him closer.

  “Neither am I.”

  “I can already tell.”

  ***

  Gram was wide awake as the sun dawned over Cameron Castle. Paradoxically, he felt full of energy, even though he hadn’t slept.

  As the night had drawn to a close and morning approached, he and Alyssa had finally ended their tryst, not because they were ready to, but for fear of discovery. He had ventured out and scouted the halls to make sure they were clear before she had made a stealthy retreat back to the room that she was supposed to have slept in.

  Since then he had spent the last hour waiting for the sun, eager for breakfast. While he felt little fatigue he knew with some certainty that he would be able to devour whatever fare was brought out for the first meal of the day. In his mind’s eye he imagined himself as lord of the castle, pounding the table with his fist, “Bring me a roast boar!”

  The idea made him laugh, then he mentally corrected himself, No make that two roast boars.

  At that point he realized he was grinning like an idiot, over what was arguably a not-very-funny mental image. That’s not really what I’m grinning about, though. He was grinning because he knew he would see Alyssa at the table shortly.

  “Lady Alyssa,” he mused aloud, before repeating her name several more times, experimenting with its pronunciation. I am thoroughly besotted.

  The hour passed with excruciating slowness, but eventually he found himself in the feast hall again, searching the crowd even before he reached his seat. She wasn’t there yet, but she appeared soon after he sat down.

  As she sat across from him, he couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes, complimented by a mischievous grin. He wondered if he looked as good.

  “Good morning, Gram,” said Matthew as he sat beside him. “Are you tired?”

  “Why!?” he replied, startled at his friend’s sharp observation. It couldn’t have been his magical sight could it? No, that’s impossible; their real beds are a hundred miles from here.

  Alyssa was giggling at his overreaction as Matthew gave him a strange look before explaining, “Because you danced like a madman for half the night?”

  Moira leaned over, “Your eyes do look tired. Did you sleep well?”

  “Fitfully,” admitted Gram, trying to cover his embarrassment, “but I feel better than ever oddly enough, probably better than I’ve ever felt in my life.” He risked a look at Alyssa as he said the last part.

  “Me too,” she said, entering the conversation. “I was up and down all night, but I feel very well today somehow.”

  Conall spoke up then, “What’s that smell?”

  “I was wondering that too,” added Matthew, “but I didn’t want to bring it up.”

  Comprehension slowly dawned on Gram, but he restrained himself before giving in to the urge to sniff his shirt. “I don’t smell anything,” he told them, feigning disinterest.

  “It might be something from the kitchen,” suggested Alyssa.

  “Not unless they’re serving sour milk,” declared Conall.

  Matthew leaned closer to his friend, “I think it might be you, Gram.”

  Moira glared at her brother, disapproving, “You have the manners of a goat! You shouldn’t call someone out if you think that.”

  Matthew shrugged, “It’s not a big deal. He was sweating a lot last night. A little water should cure it. It’s not even that bad of a smell—almost pleasant really.”

  Alyssa choked momentarily.

  “If you like the smell of dog vomit,” piped Conall.

  “Conall!” That was Moira, furious with her youngest brother now.

  Rather than face more scrutiny, Gram lifted his bowl and finished the contents. He wanted more but that could wait. “I’ll head to the baths.” Alyssa gave him a subdued smile as he left.

  ***

  After a thorough washing he returned to his room. He had considered going in search of Master Grayson, but then he remembered that the hunter had been thoroughly soused the night before. He was unlikely to want to go out. In fact, as the morning wore on Gram realized he was beginning to suffer from his lack of sleep.

  A nap was definitely in order.

  He found Alyssa waiting in his room.

  Shocked, amazed, and pleasantly surprised, he managed to articulate none of that, letting his hands and lips speak for him instead.

  “Aren’t you tired?” Alyssa’s own eyes were fatigued, but a new fire was kindling in them already.

  “I was. Want to take a nap with me?”

  Several frantic minutes later she observed, “You don’t seem to be napping.”

  It was an hour before they both were settled enough to finally rest, and then he heard the noon bell ring. He was desperate for sleep, but food was an even greater need at that point. He had only gotten a half bowl of porridge earlier. Sitting up, Gram began to struggle into his clothes.

  “You can’t honestly be planning to get up.” For her own part, Alyssa was quite happy to bury herself deeper into the pillows.

  He sat staring into space for a while, attempting to formulate a thought. “I might starve to death. I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.”

  “You had some porridge this morning.”

  Gram laughed. “That wasn’t enough to last me more than a half an hour. Besides, if we both miss the meal someone might get suspicious.”

  “Bring me something back?”

  “I’ll try to slip a sausage out for you.”

  She gasped, giving him a look of mock alarm, “Please Master Thornbear, have mercy on a poor girl!”

  He gave an evil laugh as he left.

  ***

  Moira had some questions for him when he got to the table, “Have you seen Alyssa?”

  A dozen things ran through his head and he considered his reply. The most important being that if Moira decided to make a serious search, her magical vision would turn up Alyssa’s location within a matter of minutes. He had seen both her and her brother do as much before on several occasions. His mind tried to cr
eate a plausible fiction, but eventually he gave up.

  “I saw her at breakfast.”

  She nodded. “I thought she’d find me after that, but she went to the bathhouse and then she disappeared.”

  “Why are you asking me anyway?”

  “Well, you two seem to be much closer now,” said Moira, giving him a mischievous grin.

  He could feel the blood rushing to his face.

  “Plus, I’ve searched the castle with my magesight and couldn’t find her,” she continued.

  Matthew jumped in then, “So you think she’s hiding in Gram’s room!? And you yell at me for poor manners!”

  I’m going to die, thought Gram, his heart pounding. He stared wildly at the two of them, his eyes moving back and forth.

  “I never said that!” protested Moira, glaring at her brother, “but you just did, idiot!”

  “Why would you think she was in there?” asked Irene.

  “Lady Rose had Father install privacy screens,” explained her oldest brother.

  Irene was still confused. “What’s that?” she asked. Gram was wondering the same thing, but he was afraid to ask anything at the moment.

  “It’s a weak shield to block magesight, like they have at the palace in Albamarl. Gram’s grandmother has them around her apartments too. Those are the only two places we can’t see into—well, unless we broke the screens, but then Dad would be very cross,” said Matthew. “You’ll see what I mean when your magesight awakens someday.”

  “Oh,” said Irene.

  Gram had been listening to the new information intently. Mother had never told him about having privacy screens, not that he would have cared before the events of the previous evening.

  “She probably just went riding,” suggested Matthew.

  “Yeah,” agreed Moira, “but she could have asked me. I would have gone with her.”

  Putting his head down, Gram focused on his food. He was still ravenous and the best thing he could think to do was to avoid the conversation altogether. A bead of sweat ran down his temple, and he hoped no one would ask him why he was sweating. If they ask I tell them it’s hot in here, he repeated to himself. He was a terrible liar but he thought that if he worked at it he might manage a simple one if he had the answer ready.