The Falcon and the Flower Part 4

"Demoisel e, have no fear," he whispered huskily, wondering vaguely why his heart had stopped beating. Could this exquisite fairy princess, sprung from a legend, possibly be the same maiden he had encountered the other night?

Jasmine's eyes were wide. "Do not think to lure me with gentle words. I know who you are and I know exactly what you want of me," she said bravely.

He smiled at her youth and innocence. "Then yield it up to me without further protest," he teased. He reached up strong arms and lifted her down to him. She was al silver and pink and utterly delicious, like a bon-bon at a birthday fete.

His great hands encircled her waist and his thumbs were actual y caressing the undersides of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She could feel him through the delicate material. Her breath caught in her throat. She had escaped him once, how could she do so again? She summoned al her courage and defied him. "I wil never yield to you, my lord Satan!"

He did not know if he was amused or annoyed at her words. "You live in a make-believe world. I am not the Devil; there is no Devil. Who has charge of you, that they j have fil ed your head with fairy tales?" For the first time he saw a spark of anger in her lovely eyes.

"No one has charge of me. How dare you say my head is fil ed with fairy tales? Let me go at once or I shal scream!"

"You obviously live a fantasy that you are a fairy princess riding about the countryside on a unicorn. Are you escaping an ogre or a dragon? Are you fleeing from the wicked queen, your stepmother? How unfortunate for you that upon escaping your castle overgrown with poison vines you should encounter the Devil! Stop playing games. I am no more a devil than you are a princess."

She pul ed away from him sharply. "You are the one playing cruel games. You know very wel who I am. You know I am a real princess and I know you are Satan," she whispered, looking frantical y about for some means of escape.

"I am a knight," he said flatly.

" Tis a guise. A knight in s.h.i.+ning armor come to aid a damsel in distress."

The corners of his mouth twitched at the absurdity of it al .

"Shal I slay the dragon for you and lay my heart at your feet, my princess?"

Her eyes were fil ed with dread. "What forfeit wil you take to release me? Another kiss?"

"Since you are a thousand times more beautiful than you were the other night, I claim a thousand kisses." He pul ed her against him, unable to keep his hands from her any longer. His fingers caressed her silvery, silken hair, then his lips covered the soft pink mouth whose taste he craved. With his mouth upon hers, he recal ed that he had dreamed of her al night, and hot desire flooded his veins. The tip of his tongue tried to enter her delicious mouth, but she wrenched from him and gasped, "You are the Devil!"

This time he took her mouth ruthlessly, invading the virgin territory. "Yes," he said in a hard, cruel voice. "I am the Prince of Darkness. I am here to carry you off to my underworld where I wil ravish you nightly and keep you captive forevermore."

Jasmine gasped, alarmingly short of breath, then she slumped forward into a faint.

He caught her before she slipped to the ground. His face fil ed with awe as he drank in the beauty of his delicate burden.

Never in his life had he been fil ed with such an intense need to protect and cherish. She was so smal she seemed weightless. Her skin was like porcelain where the golden crescents of her eyelashes rested upon her cheeks. He held his breath in case she disappeared into thin air, then he found his chest so tight he could not take another breath. What the Devil was the matter with him? His head fil ed with the pretty scent of her until he actual y felt dizzy. He stared at her in fascination, noting the delicious pinkness of her mouth, the delicate size of her wrists, which made her seem fragile enough to be broken into pieces if he grasped her too hard.

Her hair was the color of moonbeams, and he shuddered as the silken ma.s.s fel over his hands. l.u.s.t hit him like a thunderbolt. A childhood legend fleeted through his head in which the beautiful princess could be awakened by a kiss. He shook his head, fearing he had been spel bound. He came out of his trance and realized that she was not going to revive and that he must get her to the castle.

He quickly tied the palfrey's reins to his saddle, ignoring the fact that the wolves' blood was making the smal horse very nervous, then he swept the girl before him on his destrier and cradled her limp form with one strong arm. The great horse's hooves struck sparks on the cobblestones of the courtyard as he drew rein and swept his limp burden into the great hal .

Isobel saw him immediately and hurried forward. "Jasmine!

Dear G.o.d, has there been an accident?"

"Nay, Lady Isobel, somehow I frightened her so much, she has fainted," he said, trying to squelch his anxiety.

"Oh, poor little rabbit! I wil take her to the women's , quarters.

Perhaps it was the heat." She quickly summoned two servants to carry Jasmine, and the serving women held out their arms expectantly.

Falcon was loathe to relinquish the delicate beauty, but under the circ.u.mstances he had no choice. Isobel fol owed the women up the staircase and said over her shoulder, "You had best beware Dame Winwood if she knows you have frightened her grandaughter."

He stood in the hal feeling almost bereft. Jasmine . . . her name was Jasmine. After a few minutes Ela came to keep him company and to rea.s.sure him that al was wel .

"She wil be fine, milord. The dear little lamb was frightened out of her mind."

"Who is she?" de Burgh asked eagerly.

"Wel , she is our half sister." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "The poor little thing is il egitimate. She's never been very robust, you understand. The heat made' her delirious."

He ground his teeth in mute rage at Ela's condescending tone, but she prattled on without heed. "Can you ? imagine, the sil y child thought you were the Devil after her! That's what comes of leading a sheltered existence, isolated from men.

Her maternal grandmother has charge of her. Oh, I must warn you about Dame Estel e Winwood. She is the most curious, eccentric creature. ... ah, speak of the Devil and she shal appear," Ela said with a giggle.

The smal woman strode in as if she owned the place.

"Ah, Dame Winwood, how good to see you," Ela said courteously.

"Rubbis.h.!.+" Estel e spat. "I hoped to be greeted by Wil-liam."

She gave the young woman before her a critical glance. "Ela, you are running to fat," she said flatly. "We enjoy your visits so much," Ela murmured ough tight lips.

The older woman swept de Burgh with a forbidding look. "Is that your great destrier outside? Brute almost nipped me, until I put my fist between its eyes!"

He was startled. Spine of G.o.d, it was a miracle Light-ning hadn't bitten her arm off. "Excuse me, madame," he murmured politely, "I am bloodied from the hunt." He strode back to the courtyard to a.s.sess the damage to his poor war- horse.

Wil iam of Salisbury sat stunned as Estel e told him of her visions. Years ago he had scoffed at her predictions, but he had lived to rue the day that he had dismissed the things she told him. Older and wiser, he now knew better than to doubt the truth of her crystal gazing.

"Thank you for bringing me the warning, Estel e. It looks like I wil have to go to Normandy."

She nodded her agreement. "The news wil reach Win- Chester first, then the news wil be brought to you tomor- row or the next day. Neither of us has any love for Elea-nor, but I must admit I pity her losing her most beloved son Richard."

"Amen to that," said Wil iam, crossing himself.

"Perhaps this is not the time to speak of it, Wil iam, but when the time does come that a new king rules En- gland and sets up a royal court here, Jasmine wants your permission to join that court."

He frowned and shook his head. "Court is too worldly for the child."

"She is a child no longer, Wil iam. Rest a.s.sured I would accompany her and protect her always," Estel e emphasized.

"We'l speak of it when the time comes, Estel e. I know you would protect her with your life. For now, make yourself comfortable. If there is anything you wish, you know you need only to ask. I must go to the chapel and pray for Richard's soul," Wil iam said with a catch in his throat.

Later, at supper, Falcon de Burgh looked in vain for Jasmine but of course she did not appear in the dining hal . Wil iam singled him out for a private word and told him of Dame Estel e's prophecy. Falcon was incredulous that a man of Wil iam Longsword's stature would place any weight on the words of a superst.i.tious old woman. He tried to lighten Wil iam's somber mood and dismiss her as an eccentric, but Wil iam only shook his head sadly and said they would have confirmation soon enough.

De Burgh took himself off to bed where he would be free to indulge his fantasies of Jasmine. He wanted to pursue his thoughts of her, his mind lingering upon each remembered detail. His thoughts of her were persistent and involuntary. She intruded herself upon al his senses. When he closed his eyes, he heard her whisper his name. His recol ection of the sight, smel , and touch of her were vivid and disturbing . . . physical y disturbing!

He stripped and washed himself. The heat of the day had been oppressive, but as he stood before the open window a cold blast of air swept into the chamber, accompa-nied by a flash of lightning and healthy crack of thunder, He opened Wil iam's ma.s.sive oaken wardrobe and selected He opened Wil iam's ma.s.sive oaken wardrobe and selected a handsome black, velvet bedrobe, then he stretched out ful length on the bed to ponder the strange predictions Wil iam had foretold. Try as he might, he could not prevent Jasmine from intruding upon his every thought. Without his noticing, as darkness descended the room was periodical y lighted with bril iance as the light.

ning flashed and the thunder crashed directly above the castle.

Suddenly the door flew open. "Father ... I need your wardrobe," cried a lovely yet terrified female voice. Al at once the lightning flashed its bril iance about the chamber and its occupants saw each other clearly. Jasmine looked wild-eyed at the black-visaged man before her and, opening her mouth, screamed her lungs out.

The crash of the thunder drowned out her scream, and once more the chamber was plunged into blackness. Fal- con heard a door slam. By the time he had lighted the candles he found himself alone.

"Jasmine," he breathed. She had been so close and yet so far away. She had gone as quickly as she had come, and yet her presence lingered in the room in a most tangible form.

Obviously she had come to her father's chamber for protection from the storm, not knowing that Wil iam had given his chamber to his guest. Regrettably her fear of him had been stronger than her fear of the storm . . . unless ... he careful y opened the heavy wardrobe door a crack and looked inside.

She was huddled in a white velvet bedgown with her arms wrapped protectively over her head. The lightning struck again and she screamed, "Shut the door!"

He slipped inside the ma.s.sive wardrobe and pul ed the door closed on them. Silence. Blackness. His excitement threatened to overwhelm him. Final y he whispered, "Jasmine . . . take my hand." Blackness. Silence. "Do not fear me," he commanded softly. "Whose heartbeat?" he asked, then answered, "It's ours," in wonder. He wanted to laugh at her for being afraid, but he could not. He wanted to carry her from the wardrobe and show her how irrational was her behavior, but he could not. He wanted her to talk to him so he could explain away her fears, but he knew she could not. Somehow without speaking they were communicating. Jasmine tried to re- cal Isobel's words about the dark knight. Hadn't she said she hoped to marry him? Obviously he was not the Devil. She had seen his face in the crystal because he was to be part of her family's destiny. Silence. Blackness. The minutes stretched out until the tension between them became unendurable, then suddenly he reached out decisively and a tiny hand was in his and he felt a ridiculous desire to stay thus handclasped through eternity.

"Ja.s.sy . . ." he whispered softly, his heart fil ed with tenderness.

"I'm sorry I cal ed you the Devil," she whispered. "You must think me ridiculous."

He lifted her hand to his lips and bestowed a kiss upon it. She pul ed away with a gasp. "We shouldn't be here . . . alone together."

"Why not?" He reached out to retrieve her hand, but instead he brushed across her breast and she jumped as if she had been burned.

"Because you are wicked . . . and because lam undressed.

You've already forced me to kiss you . . ." She felt herself blus.h.i.+ng profusely in the darkness. She cursed herself for a coward. If she weren't absolutely terrified of thunder and lightning, she would make a run for it from the wardrobe. The journey from Winwood Keep, the encounter with this man who had made her faint, topped off by the fierce storm had somehow exhausted her. Her legs felt weak and trembly and she was short of breath.

Suddenly he wanted to al ay al her fears. "Little sweeting, don't be afraid. I vow on my knighthood I won't let harm come to you. Here, take my hands, share my strength." The long minutes stretched out, then final y she placed her hands in his and gradual y she relaxed, closed her eyes, and drifted to the edge of sleep. They had been in the silence and blackness for almost two hours before he felt her hands total y relax into his and knew she was asleep. Very gently he lifted her from the wardrobe and tenderly placed her in his bed.

He was wildly curious about her, needing to know the color of her eyes, the feel of her skin, the size of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He had entered a sublime state where her image pushed al other thoughts out of his head. Being as quiet as he could, he lighted a bedside candle and sat down to gaze at her. She was so unearthly fair. Her silvery hair spread across the pil ows was the most beautiful he'd ever seen. Of their own volition his fingers stole out to feel a silken tendril, then careful y he opened her white velvet bedgown to see what lay beneath. His breath caught in his throat. She was extremely slender and fragile, yet her b.r.e.a.s.t.s rose high and pointed, her tiny waist emphasizing their ful ness. Her legs were slim and pretty and her tiny mound of Venus was covered with delicious golden ringlets.

His maleness throbbed with need. Lord G.o.d, he was hard. He wanted her, but knew that if he let his hands have their way she would awaken and scream. He could not dishonor Salisbury's daughter, yet he refused to give up the idea of possessing her. As he gazed at her he felt linked to her by an invisible thread. This was the one he would choose! Gently he drew up the furs to cover her nakedness and sat down in the chair to daydream of her becoming his bride.

When Falcon awoke it was ful daylight and the huge bed was empty. For a moment he feared it had been only a dream, then with relief he realized that he would have awakened in bed if he had been dreaming.

He cal ed for hot water to bathe and shave. He took great care in his dressing that morning, then with great deliberation he sought a private audience with Wil iam.

He waited until Wil iam's squire withdrew and even made sure the young pages were on the other side of the closed door before he spoke.

"Wil iam, perhaps my timing is poor when you are so worried about Richard, but I feel I must speak."

A slight frown creased Wil iam's brow at the young knight's serious tone. "What is amiss?"

"Nothing ... I hope," said Falcon, gathering his courage.

"Wil iam, I want to formal y request the hand of your daughter in marriage."

Wil iam's face lit up. "My boy, it is exactly what I hoped for. Is it to be Ela or Isobel?" He beamed.

"Wil iam, I want to marry your daughter Jasmine."

Wil iam's brows drew together again. "Jasmine?" he said incredulously. "My boy, that is impossible. Jasmine wil not inherit my lands or my castles "

Falcon stopped him. "I don't want your lands or your castles, Wil iam, they are as nothing compared to my desire to have Jasmine."

Wil iam sighed. "You don't understand, my boy. She has not been trained to be a wife. Both Ela and Isobel have been in training al their lives to run many castles. Jasmine knows only music and painting and how to grow pretty flowers."

"I care naught for any of that. I wil have stewards and castel ans to run my households. I want Jasmine and no other for my wife," Falcon insisted.

Wil iam shook his head sadly. "She could never bear you strong sons . . . she is far too delicate. Let me tel you about her mother. I fel in love with her because of her fragile beauty, but my seed kil ed her! The baby was so puny she would have died also had it not been for the superhuman efforts of Dame Estel e, her grandmother."

As Falcon listened he realized incredulously that Wil iam was going to refuse him! This was a total y new experience for de Burgh and one that was just as total y unacceptable. He would have her!

He waited with quiet patience while Wil iam explained in detail why marriage to Jasmine was impossible, then he said straight out, "Jasmine came to me last night in the storm. She spent the night in my bed. I ... comforted . . . her. I am sorry, Wil iam, but she is compromised beyond repair!"

Wil iam's first reaction was outrage, and yet it was tempered by the respect he felt for the man before him. De Burgh had wasted no time in coming to him and bluntly laying out the situation before him. His motive was obviously not greed; therefore his genuine affections must be involved. And, Wil iam grudgingly admitted to himself, it was almost always the female of the species who did the choosing. If Jasmine had stayed safely in the women's quarters, she could never have al owed herself to be compromised. The surprising element in al this was that Isobel or Ela hadn't gone to de Burgh nights ago. Wil iam sighed, letting his breath out in a rush of relief as he told Falcon truthful y, "It is not my decision to make. I gave Jasmine to Dame Winwood, her maternal grandmother, who saved her life and has had the responsibility of her." He pressed his lips and admitted grudgingly, "If it were my choice alone, I'd be tempted to give you the girl. I want a blood tie with you and if Jasmine is the price, then I'd pay it. But be warned, de Burgh, the dame wil prove a worthy adversary even for one as strong as you.

Never underestimate her power."

Falcon's brow cleared. "Then I have your blessing if her grandmother agrees to the marriage?"

Wil iam shook his head and chuckled. "Lad, ye make it sound like a fait accompli. Dame Winwood is impossible, implacable, immovable, impregnable; she's also a witch."

Falcon de Burgh licked his lips. He loved a chal enge; besides, no woman had ever said nay to him in his life.

Wil iam laid his cal oused hand on de Burgh's shoulder.

"Whatever the outcome, wil you look after things here for me?

My s.h.i.+p is being readied in Southampton; I leave tomorrow for the coast. Once word is out that England has no king, lawlessness wil reign here."

"I wil keep Salisbury safe for you and yours, my friend. I agree with you that the barons think might is right and Richard's death wil leave them free to rape the land."

Falcon de Burgh wasted no time seeking out Dame Estel e Winwood. He had decided to finalize matters before the Earl of Salisbury departed for France. However, he had reckoned without Estel e's habits and whims. She could not give him audience until after her ablutions, then of course it was time for her devotions. In quick succession fol owed her tending the sick, concocting her herbal medicines, and taking her exercise. The third time de Burgh went to her quarters to seek speech with her he was informed she was taking a bath. He took a threatening step toward the servant who dared deny him repeatedly and said firmly, "Then I shal see her while she bathes." The woman could see that the knight was easily capable of such outrage and fled the room.

Within five minutes the resolute figure of Dame Winwood confronted him, erect and unbending as a ramrod. "You have bul ied my servant, but you cannot bul y me, sir," she chal enged.

"Dame Winwood, I am not here to bul y you, my lady; rather I would beg you grant me my heart's desire," he began in what was for him an exceeding flowery speech.

"Ah, you need a magic potion for impotence," she stated with studied contempt.

For one brief moment Falcon saw blood-red fury, then he realized the wily old b.i.t.c.h was very deliberately goading him.

So, he thought, what I am after comes as no surprise to her.

She has sniffed what is in the wind. Without further preliminaries he stated his purpose. "I wish to marry the Lady Jasmine."

She laughed in his face. "As wel ask of me the moon and stars. The answer is no; it is impossible."

"Nothing in this world is impossible, madame, to one as resolute as I."

Estel e changed her manner and spoke frankly as if taking him into her confidence. "Jasmine is too fragile to be wife to any man, let alone one as obviously virile as you. Frankly, sir knight, you would be too venal, too l.u.s.ty, too demanding in bed for one so delicate."