Royal Feud

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Aye, milady. Since you are here, I can rest easier, knowing Sadie for." She glanced at Delvin. Delvin held out his hand to her. He watched her as she briefly embraced Lucy,

then accepted his help mounting her horse. As they rode out of Mersthorpe, the villagers emerged from their houses. Delvin nodded and held up his hand, acknowledging the villeins' greetings as they rode past. He glanced at Hermione to see her smiling tiredly and waving to the people.

Once clear of Mersthorpe, Delvin urged his horse into a canter, looking over at Hermione to ensure she did the same. Side by side they rode back to Ishton in silence. When they arrived at the stables, Delvin dismounted, then went to Hermione's side to help her down from her horse. He kept her hand in his as they walked to the donjon, where

Renwold met them as they entered the hall,

"Welcome back, milord, milady." He greeted them with a bow. "The guards alerted us to your arrival so I have had warm water brought to your chamber. Food has been laid out in your solar, milord."

"Excellent," Delvin said. "Your efficiency is much appreciated, as always, Renwold." "Thank you, milord." The steward's thin lips briefly curved into a slight smile.

"Please send a maid up to help Lady Ishton." "Aye, milord." Renwold stood back to let them proceed.

Delvin walked next to Hermione as they climbed the stairs and entered their bedroom "Hermione, I will leave you now. Please join me in the solar after you have refreshed yourself."

"Aye, milord."

ver breakfast in the lords' solar, Hermione observed her husband's grim

O expression. It made her uneasy and stole what little appetite she had. She picked at the bread in her hand, watching Delvin as he consumed a hearty amount of the cold pigeon pie. After finishing his food and draining the ale in his cup, he sat back in his chair and looked at her. "Hermione, you deliberately disobeyed my order to stay away from Langston. I cannot

allow you to flaunt my commands. Your safety, and the safety of the entire castle, depends on my orders being obeyed without question." Hermione bent her head. Her joy over Sadie's recovery had dissipated under the force of his speech, leaving behind exhaustion. Feeling limp and drained, she knew she did

not have the strength now to endure a confrontation with her husband.

"I am sorry, milord. I know you are angry with me, but could we talk about this

later, after I have had some rest?" "Aye, on the condition that you remain in our chamber, alone, until we do have this discussion."

"Aye, milord."

Delvin stood and came around the table to pull out Hermione's chair. She followed him as he escorted her next door. "Get some sleep." His voice was quiet. "We will talk tonight after supper."

"Aye, milord. Thank you."

Delvin did not look up from the letter he was writing but was aware of Langston entering the solar in response to his command. Silence loomed in the room. After several minutes, Delvin finished writing and leaned back in his chair, studying the younger man.

Langston stood at attention in front of the table, his hands relaxed by his side. "Are you in love with my wife?" Delvin asked.

"Aye, milord." Langston's answer was delivered in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

Clenching his jaw, Delvin stared at Langston, who met his gaze impassively. "I cannot decide, Langston, if you are a very brave man or merely a very stupid one." Langston said nothing.

"If you wish to remain in my service, you will leave Lady Ishton alone." "Milord, my love for Lady Ishton is completely pure. I seek only to protect and serve her."

"You have been listening to too many chansons d'amour. They are. no such thing as a 'pure' love. If you love a woman, you want to bed her." planted both hands on the table in front of him, and leaned over it to glate a Langston. "I will protect Lady Ishton. You will serve me. You are not to approach Lady Ishton. You are not to talk with Lady Ishton. You are not to be alone in her company at any time. Do I make myself clear?" all bull. There is Delvin stood,

"Aye, milord."

"You are dismissed."

Langston bowed curtly to Delvin, turned, and left the room.

Hermione watched Delvin as he went to a side table and poured wine into two goblets. He handed one to her and sat down opposite her. The heat from the brazier filled their bedchamber, but the warmth did not penetrate into her cold hands.

"How are you feeling? I hope you had a good sleep this afternoon." "I am fine, Delvin. Thank you."

"Hermione, I have reason to believe that Langston is an agent for your father, bent on

destroying Ishton."

Hermione's head snapped up. "That is not possible."

"Is it not?" Delvin's left eyebrow rose.

"Langston shielded me from my father on several occasions. He clearly abhorred my father's cruel actions. He would never act dishonorably,"

"Are you willing to stake your life on that?"

"Aye."

"Are you willing to stake my life on that? My mother's life? The lives of every man, woman, and child at Ishton?"

She stared at him. "If you think Langston is such a threat to Ishton, why allowing him to remain here?"

are you

"I prefer to have him under surveillance so I can counter any move he tries to make."

"What if you are wrong? What if Langston is innocent?" "Only time will tell if he is innocent or not. He will come to no harm if he does not

attack Ishton." Hermione bent her head, toying with her wine goblet.

"I must have your promise that you will not speak with Langston, and you will never be in his company.

Tears clogged her throat at the prospect of being cut off from Langston's friendship and support. She had not realized how much she had missed the comfort of his presence until he had come to Ishton. Should she fight Delvin on this? No, he was

clearly not able to be reasonable about Damien. She looked up at him, defeat heavy on her heart. "Aye."

She watched him swallow a drink of wine. He leaned forward in his chair, his forearms resting on his spread thighs, holding the goblet between his knees. He did not look at Hermione for a long moment. "Why were you in his embrace when you can barely stand my touch?" His voice

was soft and unthreatening. Startled, she looked into his piercing blue eyes. "He is not...I do not..." Delvin sat up straight, maintaining eye contact with her. "He is not what? You do

not what?" "He is not my husband," she finally said. "I do not have to submit to him in bed."

"Do you love him?"

“Aye. Nay.”

"Which is it? Aye or nay?"

"I love him like a brother, not like a...a..." "A lover?"

"Aye."

"So you love Langston like a brother, and you find comfort in his touch. You are afraid of me, so you find my touch distasteful."

“Nay, L...”

*What?"

"I do not find your touch distasteful," she replied.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"Aye."

"Why? Do you think I will hurt you?" "I do not think you will deliberately hurt

me."

"But, given the consummation of our wedding vows, you believe that the act itself

is painful."

"Aye." She dropped her eyes to the goblet in her hands. "Most husbands would not care about their wives' fears. They would just bed their wives, disregarding their pain."

"Aye, I know." She met his eyes. "Delvin, I do appreciate your patience with me." He gave her a slight smile. "I do not suppose it would do much good to reassure you that most of the pain was due to your being a virgin. Next time I bed you, you should not experience any pain. You might even find it pleasurable."

Feeling the heat rising in her face, Hermione bent her head. "Nay, I did not think so." There was a pause, but Hermione did not remove her gaze from the cup she clutched in her hands.

"I still think the best way to solve this problem is for you to get used to my touch." He stood. "Let us go to bed, Hermione. I have not slept in two days, and I am sure you are still tired as well."

"Aye." She stood and set her gobler down beside his on the table. Silence blanketed t chamber as they got ready for bed. As usual she kept her chemise on as she slid into bed, and he waited until she was lying down before extinguishing the candles in the chamber and coming to join her. He propped his left arm on the mattress beside her and gently stroked the top of her head. He caressed her forehead, rubbing his thumb in small circles. Finding comfort in his touch, she closed her eyes. He cupped her left cheek in his hand, lightly stroking his thumb over her scars. The touch of his lips on hers caused her to stiffen beneath him. Immediately his lips left hers, and she felt him lay down beside her. the

"Good night, Hermione," he said quietly.

"Good night, Delvin."

When Hermione opened her eyes, Delvin's intense blue eyes were locked with hers. Maintaining eye contact with her, he ran his forefinger softly over her bottom lip. She lay still on her back, wondering what he would do next. Sliding his hand gently over her left cheek, turning her face toward him, he leaned down and lightly kissed her lips. She instinctively stiffened against his touch. Instead of drawing back as he had last night, Delvin continued to delicately nibble her closed mouth. She willed herself to relax, thinking she should respond to him as much as possible so she would not exhaust his patience.

Delvin tenderly stroked her cheek as he kissed her. He caught her lower lip between his lips and gently tugged on it as his nimble lips moved systematically around her mouth, nibbling on her lips. He pulled back and looked down into her face. "Good morning, Hermione."

She opened her eyes to stare at him. "Good morning, Delvin." He stroked her face, pushing her hair back from her forehead. Cupping her cheek, he leaned down to give her another closed mouth kiss. He smiled at her before turning away and leaving the bed. She closed her eyes against the sight of his n***d body.

"It looks like a sunny day today, for a change," Delvin remarked. "Hermione, you are

allowed to look at me. I am your husband, after all." She choked. Her face flamed in embarrassment, and she flung her arm over her eyes. Relieved he did not say anything else, she listened to the sounds he made as he washed and dressed. Soon the mattress beside her dipped.