The Duke of Garwood and His Bride

CHAPTER 9. WHEN TROUBLE COMES IT POURS

Their exploration lasted until sundown. Rayne took her for a walk outside the castle walls and allowed her to see the beauty of the greenery of Garwood estates. He introduced her to the local folks who lived close to the castle. Adrienne was glad to meet some of them. Her heart went out to them for their warm welcome and hospitality. Their genuine sanguinity was contagious. Adrienne loved exchanging stories with the ladies, the children and the men alike. She felt warmly welcomed by the people. She was immediately besotted by their candidness.

“It’s getting dark, Adrienne.” Rayne broke into the women’s conversation, his wife looked up to him and nodded as she held on to his outstretched hand. “

“I lost track of time.” she said as she stood alongside her husband. “I had a lovely time ladies.” She turned to her companions who also stood up and gathered around her.

“We had a wonderful time too, Adrienne.” they chorused. She had insisted on being called by her Christian name. They were hesitant to begin with but she would not have it the other way.

“I will come back when Rayne allows me to.” she said and looked at her husband for approval.

“When I’m free to accompany you, my sweet.” he said, “I do not want you to leave the castle without me. It’s too dangerous.”

She smiled back at him and nodded. She allowed him to lead her to their horses. A few of their men also waited patiently for them. Rayne helped her mount their steed and stepped up right behind her. He pulled her closer to his body and secured her right in between his arms while keeping a firm grip on the reins. Just as he kicked his horse’s flank into motion, a group of men and a few women came rushing like the devil himself was after them. On a quick glance they all seemed to have sustained some injuries. Some of their faces had bruises, their arms and limbs wounded. Two looked terribly hurt and almost lifeless.

Rayne’s face turned murderous as he stared at his injured villagers making a hasty run for their safety.

“What happened!” he thundered, anger and worry boiling up inside him. He did not notice his wife slipped down from their mount and ran toward the injured men.

“We were attacked at the river, Your Grace!” one man cried out, his fear evident through his trembling body.

“Go! Before they escape, Rayne!” Adrienne shouted, bringing her husband into a start. He looked at her confusedly. He did not notice her dismounting their horse.

“Wait for me here! I shall come back for you!” he barked out before galloping away with his men.

Adrienne immediately put her full attention to the wounded and snapped her orders to the other men and women she had assigned to aid her. She moved like an automaton when she put on her doctoring to the severely injured men. She operated and stitched the dismembered limb in complete concentration. Everyone around her was amazed at her dexterity. She did not flinch nor fumble at the sight of blood and severed flesh. Her adept hands moved with speed and care. She moved from one patient to another until she was sure enough that everyone who needed her attention was thoroughly examined.

She was tucking one patient to rest when she heard hooves outside the small cottage they had made as a temporary sick bay. She feared that the newcomers could be enemies. Her breath lodged at her throat until she heard her husband’s voice asking where she was. It did not take long before the duke was escorted inside the sick bay and found her with a blood-stained dress and sweat-stricken face. The distress left his handsome face when he finally beheld her. Everyone in the room heard him sigh with relief.

Adrienne sprang up to him and inspected him for any injury. She grimaced when she found one nasty cut on his left rib.

“Are you alright?” Rayne held her shoulders and asked her warily.

Adrienne snorted, “I should be the one asking you that.” She shook his grip from her shoulders and led him to a small cot. “Lie down.” she snapped and motioned him to lie on the cot.

“I’m fine, Adrienne. I should take you home.” he said languidly.

“I will not have you riding with that open wound. Lie down there now before you run out of blood.”

“It’s a small cut.”

“I am the doctor. I get to say who goes fine and who doesn’t.” she refuted and gently pushed him to sit on the cot. She started to unbutton his shirt. Rayne watched her intently flick each button out and shove his shirt off his shoulders. Rayne froze at the warmth of her gentle touch on his bare skin. She was completely heedless of the effect of their proximity and even more heedless of the half naked body in front of her. “Lie down.” she mumbled as she guided him into the cot. Rayne could only comply. A middle-aged villager came with a basin of hot water and clean bandages. Adrienne murmured some instructions to the woman. The woman left and immediately returned with a tray of sterile medical instruments.

Adrienne made him drink some strong wine before she started cleaning his wound. She also dabbed a drug-soaked sponge on it and stitched the gaping wound. She spread some salve before she finally dressed it. Rayne fought his urge to scream with herculean tenacity. The pain almost made him cry but his pride did not allow a single tear to escape.

Adrienne finally glanced at his pained expression and smiled impishly, “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Rayne perked up an eyebrow at her, “I need more wine.” he choked.

Adrienne kept smiling as she propped him up on the pillows. "Did it hurt too much?"

"Like hell, it did!" He grunted.

Adrienne pulled up a chair beside his cot and handed him the bottle of whiskey he had chugged earlier. She wiped his face with the clean cloth. "Let's pray you don't catch a fever." she said, her hand gently touched his cheeks and forehead.

He felt somewhat cleaner under her thorough ministration. "You're a doctor." He mumbled. Adrienne's hand paused midway to his abdomen and regarded him carefully.

"Yes. I'm quite competent, don't worry." She winked at him. "You won't die."

Rayne chuckled softly, "I am not afraid to die, my sweet." He said and covered her hand with his and brought it on top of his bare chest. "But I will try my best not to die while I have you under my wing. I do not want anything to happen to you." his thumb absent mindedly stroked the back of her hand.

Adrienne gave his chest a gentle and quick caress. Rayne felt a bolt of lightning coursed through his body from her mindless act of compassion. Rayne stared at her lovely face. She remained unaffected, her face remained void of any sign of discomfort. Rayne tucked a stray of her red locks behind her ear to see her face clearly. Adrienne turned to him slowly and stared in confusion.

“Are you in pain?” she asked worriedly and cupped his face between her palms.

Rayne sighed and traced a finger along her fine jaw. Adrienne met his burning gaze. “Are you tired?” he asked, trying to shake the effect she had on him.

“No. I have been to worst.” she shook her head. “You take a nap while I prepare a warm broth for you and the other patients.”

“Aren’t we going home?”

Adrienne sat on the chair beside his cot, “I can’t leave these people, Rayne. I have to watch their condition carefully and make sure they contract no infection.”

Rayne nodded, “Take time to rest. I don’t want you to faint in exhaustion.”

Adrienne smiled tenderly at his concern, “Alright. Stop worrying about me. I’ll be just fine.” she said, trying to put his mind at ease. “Let me get you a broth.” She rose from her seat but before she could step away, Rayne caught her hand and pulled her towards him. In one swift motion, his left hand circled her waist and his right went behind her head. Taking her by surprise, his lips gently landed on hers. It was a quick peck but it left her wide-eyed and shaken.

“Thank you, my sweet.” he murmured before letting her go. He smiled at the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Now that’s the effect he wanted on her. Her breath quickened and her gaze flustered. “I think I would need that broth now, sweetheart.” he prompted when she still stood rooted on her spot. The sudden fluttering of her lashes was the only sign of her recovering from her astonishment. She turned away without a word. Rayne bit his lower lip and smiled, while he watched her leave. His rash action only proved his initial attraction to his lovely wife. She was a beauty to begin with but her heart was even more beautiful when she showed her compassion and care for their people. Seeing her thus, he would gladly welcome and embrace this attraction. He clenched his fists as if not to let go of the imprints of her luscious body in them.

Adrienne leaned against the wall in the small kitchen and tried to calm her raging heart. She was stupefied by his sudden action. She touched her lips as if to reminisce the feathery kiss her playful husband had etched on them. For such a huge man, his touch and kiss were unbelievably gentle. But he sure lived up to his reputation! A complete rake! He dared put his libertine tactics upon her.

***********

Rayne was forced to spend a few days indoors since he had sustained a small injury. Adrienne did not allow him to leave the castle until his wounds had started to heal. Adrienne nagged him constantly and had almost practically tied him to bed. He realized just how shrewish his wife could be when she wanted things done her way.Her voice drummed at his temples when he insisted on going out. So, to shut her pretty little mouth, he just did what he was told to do. He just put Max in charge during his absence.

Adrienne rose from her seat when she heard a soft knock outside the duke’s bedchamber.

“Who is it, Adrienne?” Rayne asked when she opened the door.

“It’s Maximus.” she answered briefly and opened the door wider for his entry.

“Thank you, my lady Adrienne.” Max murmured in gratitude and entered the bedchamber. “Your Grace.” he slightly bowed his head to the duke.

“Is there something wrong, Max?” Rayne asked as he gently propped himself up.

“We scoured the area where the villagers had been attacked. We found some of their

belongings hidden under the roots of a huge tree. We found some things to give away their identity.” he revealed and handed the duke a satchel. He watched the duke rummage through the satchel and found silver coins and some manifesto.

Rayne crushed the paper with his bare

hands.

“Who is it?” Adrienne asked,

keenly observing her husband’s tigerish expression.

“It’s the Viscount Sheldonne, my

lady.” Max answered her when the duke remained silent.

“When can I leave this awful

room, my lady?” Rayne grunted.

“I’ll give you two more days then you can go back to your duties. But you still cannot ride hard, and I pray you do not have another encounter any time soon, lest your wounds might reopen.”

“Do not fret so, Your Grace. I will do my best to hunt down our enemies. The soldiers from Durham are very diligent, Your Grace. They comb the area like hunting dogs. But they seem quite secretive about their every move.” Max reported. “No offense, Lady Adrienne, but I noticed...they seemed quite indifferent to us. Pardon me for saying this but they do not follow my leadership.”

Adrienne smiled at him and tried to put his worries at ease. “Do not worry, Max. I shall instruct them to regard you with respect. I apologize for their afront misdemeanor. But please allow them too, some time to adjust. They have regarded only one leader and having this change is something sudden to them.”

“There is no need to apologize, my lady. I only meant to put my observation into the open. I feel quite awkward giving out commands over them.”

“Well, I am glad we have that

cleared, Max. I appreciate your honesty. Thank you.” Adrienne said wholeheartedly.

**********

Two shadows moved through the moonless night in the forests of Garwood Estate. Their faces hidden by their black masks, their bodies clad in black tight-fitting outfits. Their feet are muted by their soft soled leather boots. They prowled the night in search of their prey. They combed the forests and left no stone unturned. Their hard work was rewarded when they caught up with what they were hunting for.

A wild scrimmage ensued as the two opposing groups confronted each other. A bloody aftermath concluded the fight with only two standing unscathed.

*********

"Your Grace!" Miller knocked in panic against the duke's bedchamber entrance.

Adrienne opened the door and frowned at the panic stricken valet.

"What happened, Miller? You're white as a sheet! " she exclaimed.

"My lady, Sir Maximus sent word that they found dead bodies on display at the villager's courtyard!" He revealed in between deep grunts.

Adrienne gasped in horror and covered her mouth while Rayne jumped off from the bed abruptly and almost hurt himself. Adrienne rushed to his side and helped him up.

"What did you just say, Miller?" He hissed.

"There had been dead bodies found at the villager's courtyard, Your Grace!"

"Are they our people?" He pried.

"They are still identifying the bodies, Your Grace."

"Take me to them, Miller." He ordered. Adrienne stepped in front of him with arms akimbo. Rayne shook his head and held his wife, "I'm sorry, darling, but you cannot stop me from leaving this room." He said gently.

Adrienne's lips curled into a smile, "I won't stop you but I'm coming with you."

"It might be dangerous out there, my lady." Worry creased his brows at her condition.

"Please stay here and I promise not to overtax myself."

"You will take me with you or I will have to go there on my own?" She prodded. "What if someone needed medical attention out there? What if they are our people?"

Rayne sighed and conceded to her foresight. "Alright. Make sure you don't stray too far from me."

"I promise." She chanted happily as if she was heading for an excursion.

"Give me a moment to change." She said. "Miller, can you help his lordship change?"

"Certainly, my lady." Miller bowed.

"I shall join you shortly downstairs, Rayne." She said and turned her heels around to leave the bedchamber.

"She's one stubborn, wee thing, Your Grace. Seems to me she feared no danger." Miller uttered.

"That she is, Miller. Now, do hurry and get me dressed up." He prompted.

Miller jumped to his command and had him ready in no time. He also escorted him downstairs as he still felt the pulsing pain on his wounded side. Both men were surprised to find the duchess pacing back and forth by the doorway. Her head shot up when she noticed their presence.

Rayne reached up to her and put an arm over her shoulders, while she too, instinctively put her arm behind his hip to take some of his weight so as not to put so much pressure on his healing wound.

Rayne watched her tenderly. She was such a noble lady with a caring heart. She cared not to be dressed in a peasant's garb, neither did she mind getting her hands calloused from serving her people nor did she care for naivete and genteelity when she tended to the sick be they men or women, young or old, clothed or naked. She was beyond her title and her beauty. She was something... more.

Rayne slowed his steed into a trot when they reached the village. People had gathered around the spectacle in the courtyard. Maximus came to meet them and assisted them to dismount.

"How many dead?" Rayne asked darkly.

"Only two in here, Your Grace. But there were 11 more in the forest." Max reported.

Rayne gnashed, "Are they ours?"

"No, Your Grace." Max replied with certainty. "No one from the villagers knew any of them. I have also sent word from the nearby villages and they don't seem to recognize any of these bodies."

"Any clue as to who these people are?"

"Nothing much, Your Grace. We did not find anything that would link them to Sheldonne." Max explained. "We found some gold and silver coins though. Some jewels." He added.

"Must be some random thieves." Adrienne surmised as she circled the corpses.

"Probably, my lady." Rayne agreed and watched his wife move around the dead bodies. He wondered if it was her being a doctor that she did not cringe from the sight of bloodied corpses. She even tried to touch them but he was quick to hold her hand. "It's not a pretty sight. Let's have them buried." He said and led her away from the horrendous sight and ordered his men to dispose of the bodies.

"Let me check around and see if any of the villagers need help." She said and untangled herself from his grasp. Rayne let her go and some women from the village came up smiling to her. But before she disappeared with the women, he caught her sneer at the corpses being hauled away by his men. It was so fleeting he thought it was only an imagination. Yet he saw it. It was there in her eyes.

************

Adrienne felt her husband’s intent gaze upon her. She had sensed a change in him from the day they went to see the dead bodies in the village. There was something wary about him when he looked at her. She did not like the way he made her feel under his scrutiny.

“Do you have anything against me, Your Grace?” Adrienne dropped the question while she was applying some salve on his almost completely healed wound.

Rayne tensed at her question and the way she met his gaze made him more uncomfortable. Her eyes burrowed deep into his own. “Why do you say that, my lady?” he said, almost succeeding to mask his suspicion with his dead calm voice.

“It’s all over your eyes, Your Grace.” Adrienne finished applying the salve on his wound.

Rayne stood and shrugged his shirt back on, “You must be imagining things, my dear.” he said and tried to walk past her.

Adrienne followed his movements and sneered, “Am I, Your Grace?” she jeered and stalked toward him like a graceful predator until she was under his nose, “I am not your enemy, my lord.” she declared. The iciness of her voice could have been enough to freeze him.

Rayne admired her audacity and straightforwardness. She was staring at him unflinchingly. Her big wide green eyes shone with defiance and her chin raised with pride. He shook his head at the crazy thing he harbored against her just because of one trifle way she looked at their enemies. He held her shoulders and pulled her gently against his chest. His hair at the back of his neck stood up when her palms landed on his bare chest. He closed his eyes at his callous mistake. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” he murmured and pulled her even closer. His hand gently caressed her hair. “I have nothing against you.” he added and buried his face onto her soft mane and breathed its scent.

Adrienne poked him in the chest and gently pushed him away from her. Her eyebrow raised inquisitively at him. “Do not try to sweet-talk me, Your Grace. I am not one of your ladies you can fool so easily. I would appreciate your honesty better than your seduction.”

The cloud inside his head finally dissipated at her utterance, instead, a pure outburst of laughter escaped his lips. Adrienne snorted at his resounding laughter and like a child she marched up to him and stomped on his foot with all her might. Rayne groaned and found her not so amused wife glaring at him. But instead of getting annoyed, he took her by surprise, held her arms and in one swift motion he had her sprawled on the bed with him on top of her.

"Hugging you was far from seduction." He said, his face inches away from hers, his lips teasing her, giving her tiny nibbles and gentle nuzzles. His hands kept her gently pinned on the bed, subduing her protest. "This is seduction, my love." He breathed against her neck. Passion replaced the playfulness in his eyes as he swooped down and claimed her lovely mouth, drowning what she was about to say with his assault.

Adrienne tried to avert her face from his onslaught of tempting kisses. She tried so hard to keep herself from kicking him or banging her head against his. But her train of curses died down her throat as his mouth silenced her with one demanding entrance. She gathered all her strength and tried to free herself from his grip. He was tantalizingly strong but she must find a way to end this madness before she got carried away. Much to her horror, he tasted so good, he smelled so good and damn he even felt so good!

Adrienne had to keep her head clear or there might be hell to regret later. She breathed in deeply, and spread her legs apart, locked them around her husband's hips and with all her might, rolled him over, bringing him beneath her.

Surprised by her sudden counter move, Rayne stared at her in daze. "Nice move, my love."

Adrienne pinned his shoulders on the bed, "I wouldn't be a Langley for nothing, Your Grace!" She sneered, "And your seduction? No seduction works on me." She said and sprang out of the bed, away from him and fixed her tousled auburn curls.

"I'm up for that challenge, my love." He smirked and propped himself on one elbow. A smug smile pasted on his sensual lips. "You're such a pretty sight, love. So lovely indeed." He added as he stared at her beautiful face.

"Stop fooling around, Rayne and stop teasing me." She warned. "I remember pretty well how much you hated me back then." She snorted and spun around to leave him.

Once again puzzled by her accusation, Rayne ran up to her and caught her by the elbow.

"I swear I don't remember ever hating you." He said, his frown deepening. "I don't even remember meeting you before our marriage."

"Hmmm," she murmured, "You were barely sober back then. You only had eyes for beautiful women, you frequented the brothels and bed every willing female back then. So how would you remember the plain Adrienne Langley?" She questioned, her eyes reflected the painful memory. "It could have been you." She smiled wryly and shook off his hold of her. She left the duke speechless and clueless.

**********

Adrienne kept shooting daggers at her husband who had joined her and Rose in their afternoon walk to inspect the construction of her garden. She and Rose brought some refreshments for the men working but her husband had continued pestering her about their past that he couldn't remember.

"Your Grace, have some of these." Rose offered the duke some ale. Rayne tore his gaze away from his shrewish wife and regarded Rose with his full attention.

"Is your cousin always like that?" He grumbled as he grabbed the tankard of ale offered to him.

Rose threw a quick glance at her cousin and answered the duke with a smile, "She could be worse."

"I really don't get what she's so upset about. I was only asking her how we met before." The duke hissed.

"She's still punishing you for not remembering, Your Grace." Rose elaborated with a grin. "She's quite masochistic sometimes."

Rayne sighed exasperatedly and paced back and forth while quaffing off his ale. He watched his wife help the other servants refill the tankards of the men working in the garden. She fascinated him with her complex nature. She was sweet and caring at times but she could be a shrew too. She was gentle yet she could be brutal at times. She was very straightforward yet he felt there was still something about her she was not revealing. She was not like any other noble ladies who fancy themselves at every ball meeting and flirting with men. She was not fond of fancy dresses and shiny jewels. She works hard like everyone in the house. She was no lady who sat all day waiting to be served with tea and pastry.

She was every inch a beauty but she never once boasted it nor did she make anyone feel beneath her. Even their kitchen staff was so taken by her whenever she visits the kitchen to help. She was never domineering nor cruel to their people. She even has the heart to see to their welfare especially when she caters to their health.

"Your Grace!"

Rayne bolted to the sound of the call. He turned to find Maximus running toward him. The look upon his face told him something was amiss.

"What is it, Max?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"The tanner's house was burned and his family butchered. The eldest daughter was missing."

Rayne's face turned red with fury and his fists clenched. "Take me to them!" He growled.

Adrienne rushed to her husband and Max. Judging from their faces, she knew another remiss occurred. She would not let any of them leave without her.

**********

Adrienne saw the tanner's house almost burnt to the ground. The tanner was wounded and barely holding on to his dear life. She immediately issued commands to have the poor man taken into a shelter so she could try saving him. Rayne and his men tried to gather details about what happened and fished out the clues from any witness and set forth a hunt to track the culprits.

Rose helped Adrienne attend to the wounded. It took them hours before they were done, yet they still fear the man would succumb to his death. His injuries were severe, his organs might contract infection and there would be nothing more left but await his last breath.

Adrienne's tears fell at the sight of her patient. She knew she had done her best to save him but she knew too that the odds were against them.

"It's alright, dear. You did your best." an elderly woman came up to comfort her. Adrienne buried her face onto the woman's chest and hugged her as if to gain her strength.

"He must make it, Nana." She cried while inside the old woman's arms.

"Let's pray for a miracle, child. Do not be too hard on yourself." Nana cooed and patted Adrienne's back to stifle her sobs. Adrienne left the woman's comforting arms and sat on a stool to watch her patient's chest rise and fall so slowly. She kept a keen eye on him for any sign of survival. She held the old man's hand as if she could give even an ounce of strength to fight for his life.

The night turned bleak, Rayne and his men continued hounding the area where the culprits have escaped. They did not leave any stone unturned but then again, all their efforts were to no avail. It was almost dawn when they called off the search. They all came back downcasted and frustrated.

Rayne and the men returned to the small hut where the tanner's wounded body was taken. But all they came back to was his wife's puffy eyes and the old woman who owned the small hut. The guards he left for his wife stood motionless and grimly-faced. Instinctively, he knew that things went to their dire fate. He immediately jumped off his mount and ran to his wife and gathered her into his arms.

"The tanner did not make it, Your Grace." The old woman said between sobs.

Rayne hugged his wife tighter. It was evident that she was deeply devastated losing her patient.

"Max," Rayne called softly. His commander stepped right behind him. "Please give the old tanner a proper burial."

"I'll see it done, Your Grace." Max nodded.

"I'm sorry to leave it all to you, Max. But I think I need to take my wife home."

"Don't worry, Your Grace. I understand completely. The men and I will wrap things up here." Max assured the duke.

"Thank you, Max. I'll see you in the morning." Rayne said and steered his wife toward his mount. He helped up his steed and hoisted himself next. He wrapped one arm around her and gently pulled her head to rest on his chest. She wrapped his cloak around her and then kicked his steed into motion.