Velvet Song Read online

  “But what has this to do with why you are here?”

  Why doesn’t she stand on her own feet, Alyx thought. Why does she so calmly sit on his lap and talk as elegantly as if she were in some nobleman’s hall?

  “It’s a long story,” Raine said. “Through an accident, Alice Chatworth was badly scarred, and what little there was of her mind went with her beauty. Her brother-in-law cared for her since she was a widow, and perhaps the woman poisoned his mind, because later Roger challenged my brother to a fight, the winner to get the wife King Henry promised Stephen.”

  “Yes,” Anne said. “I remember now. There was a great deal of property involved.”

  “Stephen’s Bronwyn is a wealthy woman, yes, but Stephen wanted the woman as much as the land,” he smiled. “But Chatworth could not stand losing and he has taken prisoner my sisters.”

  “Raine, how dreadful. But how did King Henry—”

  “I was taking some of the king’s men to Wales when I heard of Mary’s being taken and I turned and went after Chatworth.”

  “Leading the King’s army?” she asked, and when he nodded, she grimaced. “So Henry has some reason to declare you a traitor. Is that why you are dressed like a farmer and roaming about these dreary woods?”

  “Aye,” he said, looking at her. “You look well, Anne. It’s been a long time since—”

  With that she jumped off his lap, standing before him, smoothing her dress, a gown Alyx longed to touch. “You’ll not seduce me again, Raine Montgomery. My father has promised to find me a husband soon and I’d like to go to him as pure as possible so I’ll stand for no more of your lovely words.” Turning, she looked at Alyx for the first time. “And who is this lad who stares at us with his mouth agape?”

  Immediately, Alyx closed her mouth and looked away from the both of them.

  “This is my squire,” Raine said, his voice full of laughter from Anne’s words. “I may have to live in this forest, but I do have some amenities. He works hard and can read and write.”

  “I take it no one was able to drive that knowledge into your thick skull,” she snapped. “Raine! Stop looking at me like that. You’ll get nowhere with me. Now you, boy, do you have a name?”

  “Alexander Blackett.”

  “Blackett?” she said. “Where have I heard that name before?”

  From the issue for my arrest, Alyx thought in a panic. Why hadn’t she changed her last name? Now this odious woman would reveal her disguise to Raine.

  “It’s a common enough name,” Raine said in dismissal. “Alyx, go back to the camp and wait for me.

  “No, boy!” Anne said. “Raine, I’m serious. I’ll not be used by you again, and I will not stay alone with you. You must lead me back to the other hunters. When they see that I am lost they’ll try to find me.”

  “I have guards,” he said, catching her about the waist, pulling her between his thighs. “We’ll have all the time we need alone. Alyx, leave us.”

  “I want that pretty little squire of yours to stay,” Anne said, her hands on his shoulders, pushing him away. “You’ve been so long in this woods perhaps you’ve come to prefer pretty boys over—”

  She never finished her sentence as Raine drew her close to him, pulling her mouth down to his.

  Unabashedly, Alyx watched them. Never had she seen anyone kiss someone like this, with bodies together, heads moving. More than anything in the world, Alyx wished it were she Raine was holding in his arms.

  So engrossed was she in the scene before her that when the first arrow came sailing through the air, landing inches from Raine’s leg, she stood still, not sure what was happening. Raine reacted instantly, in one motion flinging both Alyx and Anne to the forest floor.

  “They are after me,” Raine said calmly. “Alyx, you are small enough to move along the tree.” He pointed with his head. “Try to make it to my horse and fetch the weapons.”

  “What about you?” she gasped as another arrow landed just above their heads.

  “I must take Anne to safety. Obey me!” he commanded.

  Without another thought, Alyx began crawling forward on her stomach, inching her way into the dense covering of the forest. Every time an arrow struck behind her, her body tightened in fear. Afraid to turn around, scared she’d see Raine lying dead, she struggled ahead. When she reached the end of the fallen tree she lifted to a crouching position and began to run. When the arrows sounded in the distance, she was able to halt and get her bearings.

  The horse, that great angry stallion of Raine’s, was prancing wildly from where it was tied, a man near it, trying to catch the reins. If they caught the horse, there would be no way of fighting, for most of the weapons were tied to the saddle. Damn Raine, she thought. He was so hot for the silk-clad woman he forgot everything.

  After a moment’s silent prayer, Alyx opened her mouth and let go of a bit of music she knew the horse liked. Instantly, it calmed, ears perked, and at that moment the man grabbed the reins, untied them and had the horse under control.

  “The horse is as stupid as its master,” she said under her breath before beginning another series of notes, high, sharp and discordant, something the horse hated. She was rewarded with the animal’s bucking, loosing itself from its captors. When it galloped toward her, Alyx held her breath, afraid of the great animal for a moment before she once again began to sing and the horse calmed, allowing her to catch it and mount.

  “Now, please do what I say,” she whispered when it turned its great head toward her, its nostrils flaring, eyes wide, trained to help one heavy man in war and not liking this featherweight person in the saddle. “Go!” she commanded in the voice she used to control twenty-five active choirboys.

  The horse took off in the wrong direction and Alyx used all her strength to pull back on the reins and guide the animal back where she came from.

  “No, Raine! No!”

  Alyx heard the woman Anne screaming as soon as she had the great beast under control, and when she broke through the trees, there stood Raine, sword drawn and bloodied over a dead man, facing two other men also with swords, Anne clinging behind the broad expanse of Raine.

  “They are my father’s men,” she screamed. “They’ve come to find me. I told you they would.” With that Anne left Raine to go to the man on the ground. “He’s not dead. We can take him back with us,” she said, tossing an angry look at Raine. “Why do you never listen to anyone?” she snapped. “Why do you draw sword and talk later?”

  Alyx, feeling a great surge of anger tear through her, jumped down from the horse. It was obvious from his tight-lipped face that Raine was not going to defend himself. “My lord was attacked first!” she said, spitting rage at them. “When an arrow flies at him is he to stand and ask who sends the arrow before drawing sword? You, my fine lady, were well content when he protected your precious, plump body with his own, but now that it costs you the care of a man you do not remember how you tried to entice my master into the bushes.”

  “Alyx,” Raine said from behind her, his hand on her shoulder. “Remember, it is not chivalrous to—”

  “Chivalrous!” she yelled, whirling to face him. “The bitch—”

  Raine clamped his hand over her mouth, drew her to him, her back pinned against his chest while she struggled to free herself. “Anne,” he said quietly, ignoring Alyx, “forgive me and the boy as well. He has had little training. Take your men and go back to the stream. I will send someone to guide you out of the forest.”

  “Raine,” she said, rising from the inert man. “I didn’t mean . . .”

  “Go now, Anne, and if you see any of my family, tell them I am well.”

  At that she nodded, a man helped her mount a horse behind him, the wounded man was thrown across the saddle and they left.

  When they were out of sight, Raine released Alyx.

  “They tried to kill you!” she gasped, glaring at him. “And that woman railed at you for hurting her man.”

  Raine shrugged. “Who can unde