softness. Following the curve of her
waist, he traced his fingers upwards until they brushed the underside of her
breast and a sigh from her prompted him to cup at the delectable fullness,
skimming a thumb over her hardened nipple. Sitting up, he pulled at the
neckline of her chemise, continuing his ministrations while placing greedy
kisses upon her collar bone.
Breathy sighs drew his head up and he found himself mesmerised by the
motion of her mouth, her crimson lips parted in pleasure and, as he stroked his
other hand up her soft thigh, he was rewarded with his name tumbling from her
lips in a breathy sigh.
His hands clutched at air as the sweet warmth of her body vanished, the
echoing sound of his name turning into a scream of pain, and his mind became
plagued with torment, the voices and faces of all those he had hurt persecuting
him, deriding him for his cowardice. Finally the faces of the two that
beleaguered him most in his dreams appeared before him, a grisly image set in a
haze of blood and terror.
Wrenching himself from his nightmares, he heaved open his heavy
eyelids, his body slick with sweat. Lying back, he waited for his heartbeat to
slow. The nightmares were normal, it was rare he didn’t experience them, but
why had Evelyn come to him in them? So perfect was she that she didn’t belong
in his world of horrors. Realising that his nightmare world was no better for
her than his real one, despondency settled into his gut. Dreams would be all he
ever had. All he could ever have.
Chapter 5
The revelries had gone on until the sun crested over the brow of the
hill, the ochre light filtering in through the shuttered windows, casting a
warming glow over the disarray of the Great Hall. Some guests continued on
until the call of the morning meal while others simply slumped over where they
sat, rendered insensible by too much drink. Heavy heads afflicted some, the
raucous shouts of those with more stamina causing curses to fall from their
lips.
Evelyn avoided the meal, the rowdy atmosphere spoiling her appetite,
and instead retreated to the bailey. She was delighted to come across Lady
Isabel, who greeted her with the same warmth, and they determined a walk into
the town would be a suitable way to avoid the continuing intoxicated
celebrations.
Grateful that Tibald was too distracted to
think of her, she decided that Isabel would be escort enough and they set out
promptly arm in arm.
“Did you enjoy the feast, Lady Isabel?”
“ Priay call me Isabel,” she begged. “‘Twas
pleasant as feasts go. Sir Walter was so drunk that he found himself incapable
of even standing up straight let alone bedding me, which was a pleasing
outcome.”
Evelyn looked at her in surprise, wondering if she was jesting.
Seeing her expression, she laughed teasingly, “Oh, Evelyn, for all your
years I fear you are too innocent to associate with myself! I shall but offend
you with my every word!”
Evelyn could not help but laugh also. “Nay, you do not offend. ‘ Tis a joy to be
able to laugh once more.”
“Aye, I would imagine there is not much pleasure to be had within the
keep of Etone .”
“ ‘Tis so, Isabel. Between the cruel Lord Tibald and the surly Sir Gabriel,
there is not a moment of fun to be had.”
“You must at least gain some pleasure in the company of the enigmatic
Sir Gabriel?” Evelyn blushed and Isabel laughed again. “Nay, I did not mean
that! What a mind you have! I merely meant to suggest that looking at a man
like that cannot be all hardship.”
Evelyn smiled but Isabel noted with interest that it did not reach her
eyes.
“I saw you dancing with him last night. You cannot tell me you did not
enjoy that? What I would not give to be pressed against that chest!”
Evelyn chuckled genuinely this time at her new friend’s outrageousness.
“I would take more pleasure if a heart lay beneath it.”
Seeing she would be unable to pry any further, Isabel changed the
topic. “Well, you may rely on
waist, he traced his fingers upwards until they brushed the underside of her
breast and a sigh from her prompted him to cup at the delectable fullness,
skimming a thumb over her hardened nipple. Sitting up, he pulled at the
neckline of her chemise, continuing his ministrations while placing greedy
kisses upon her collar bone.
Breathy sighs drew his head up and he found himself mesmerised by the
motion of her mouth, her crimson lips parted in pleasure and, as he stroked his
other hand up her soft thigh, he was rewarded with his name tumbling from her
lips in a breathy sigh.
His hands clutched at air as the sweet warmth of her body vanished, the
echoing sound of his name turning into a scream of pain, and his mind became
plagued with torment, the voices and faces of all those he had hurt persecuting
him, deriding him for his cowardice. Finally the faces of the two that
beleaguered him most in his dreams appeared before him, a grisly image set in a
haze of blood and terror.
Wrenching himself from his nightmares, he heaved open his heavy
eyelids, his body slick with sweat. Lying back, he waited for his heartbeat to
slow. The nightmares were normal, it was rare he didn’t experience them, but
why had Evelyn come to him in them? So perfect was she that she didn’t belong
in his world of horrors. Realising that his nightmare world was no better for
her than his real one, despondency settled into his gut. Dreams would be all he
ever had. All he could ever have.
Chapter 5
The revelries had gone on until the sun crested over the brow of the
hill, the ochre light filtering in through the shuttered windows, casting a
warming glow over the disarray of the Great Hall. Some guests continued on
until the call of the morning meal while others simply slumped over where they
sat, rendered insensible by too much drink. Heavy heads afflicted some, the
raucous shouts of those with more stamina causing curses to fall from their
lips.
Evelyn avoided the meal, the rowdy atmosphere spoiling her appetite,
and instead retreated to the bailey. She was delighted to come across Lady
Isabel, who greeted her with the same warmth, and they determined a walk into
the town would be a suitable way to avoid the continuing intoxicated
celebrations.
Grateful that Tibald was too distracted to
think of her, she decided that Isabel would be escort enough and they set out
promptly arm in arm.
“Did you enjoy the feast, Lady Isabel?”
“ Priay call me Isabel,” she begged. “‘Twas
pleasant as feasts go. Sir Walter was so drunk that he found himself incapable
of even standing up straight let alone bedding me, which was a pleasing
outcome.”
Evelyn looked at her in surprise, wondering if she was jesting.
Seeing her expression, she laughed teasingly, “Oh, Evelyn, for all your
years I fear you are too innocent to associate with myself! I shall but offend
you with my every word!”
Evelyn could not help but laugh also. “Nay, you do not offend. ‘ Tis a joy to be
able to laugh once more.”
“Aye, I would imagine there is not much pleasure to be had within the
keep of Etone .”
“ ‘Tis so, Isabel. Between the cruel Lord Tibald and the surly Sir Gabriel,
there is not a moment of fun to be had.”
“You must at least gain some pleasure in the company of the enigmatic
Sir Gabriel?” Evelyn blushed and Isabel laughed again. “Nay, I did not mean
that! What a mind you have! I merely meant to suggest that looking at a man
like that cannot be all hardship.”
Evelyn smiled but Isabel noted with interest that it did not reach her
eyes.
“I saw you dancing with him last night. You cannot tell me you did not
enjoy that? What I would not give to be pressed against that chest!”
Evelyn chuckled genuinely this time at her new friend’s outrageousness.
“I would take more pleasure if a heart lay beneath it.”
Seeing she would be unable to pry any further, Isabel changed the
topic. “Well, you may rely on
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