'I see the way Duncan watches you. And you did save Gilard's life. I heard him tell Edmond the story. Remind
Duncan of that and he wouldn't be able to deny you anything.'
'Go to sleep, Adela.'
Madelyne was just about to pull the door closed, when Adela's next words caught her. ' Duncan never looks at Lady Eleanor the way he looks at you.'
Madelyne couldn't resist. 'Who is Lady Eleanor?' she asked, trying not to sound too interested. She turned and looked over at Adela, and from the way the sister was smiling at her, she thought she might not have fooled her.
'The woman Duncan is thinking to marry.'
Madelyne showed no visible reaction. She nodded, indicating she'd heard Adela.
'Then I'm good and sorry for her. She'll have her hands full living with your brother. Do not take offense, Adela, but I believe your brother is too arrogant for his own good.'
'I said he was thinking about marrying her, Madelyne. But he won't.'
Madelyne didn't answer. She closed the door behind her and made it across the landing before she burst into tears.
Chapter Eleven
'He is best who is trained in the severest discipline.'
Madelyne didn't want anyone to catch her crying. When she left Adela, she really didn't have any clear destination in mind. She only wanted to find a quiet place where she could sort out her emotions.
The hall was her first choice, but when she approached the entrance, she heard Gilard talking to someone. She continued on, down the next flight of stairs, collected her winter cloak from the peg adjacent to the soldiers' keep, and then struggled to get the heavy doors opened just enough for her to squeeze through.
The air was cold enough to make a bear shiver. Madelyne pulled her cloak around her shoulders and hurried on. The moon gave sufficient light for her walk, and when she'd circled the butcher's hut, she leaned against the stone fortress wall and began to weep like an infant. She was loud, undisciplined, unfortunate too beacuse she didn't feel the least bit better afterward. Her head hurt, her cheeks stung, and she was consumed with hiccuping.
The rage wouldn't go away.
Once Adela had begun her story, she told every bit of it. Madelyne hadn't shown any visible reaction to the horror, but her heart felt close to bursting with pain. Morcar! The bastard was just as guilty as Louddon was, yet no one would ever know of his involvement.
'What are you doing out here?'
Madelyne let out a gasp. Duncan had frightened the breath right out of her, appearing out of nowhere to stand next to her.
She tried to turn her back on him. Duncan wouldn't let her. He took hold of her chin and forced her to look up at him.
He'd have to be blind not to notice she'd been crying. Madelyne thought to give him a curt excuse, but the moment he touched her, she started weeping again.
Duncan pulled her into his arms. He seemed content to hold her until she gained control of herself. He'd obviously just finished his swim, as he was dripping from head to waist. Madelyne wasn't helping him dry either, she was crying and gasping and hiccuping all over the soft mat of hair covering his chest.
'You're going to freeze to death walking around half naked,' she told him between sobs. 'And I'll not warm your feet this time.'
If Duncan answered her, she didn't hear him. Her face was pressed against his shoulder. She was stroking his chest too. Duncan thought she didn't even realize what she was doing, or understand the effect she was having on him.
Madelyne suddenly tried to push away from Duncan. She bumped his chin, muttered an apology, and then made the mistake of looking up at him. His mouth was entirely too close. She couldn't quit staring at it, remembering all too clearly the way he'd felt when she'd blatantly kissed him that night in the tent.
She wanted to kiss him again.
Duncan must have read her intentions, for he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
He meant only to give her a gentle kiss. Aye, he meant to comfort her, but Madelyne's arms went around his neck and her mouth immediately opened to him. His tongue took advantage, mating with hers.
God, she was good. She could make him so hot so quickly. She wouldn't let him be gentle either. The sound she made, way in the back of her throat, pushed all thoughts of comfort aside.
He felt her shiver and only then remembered where they were. Reluctantly he pulled away from Madelyne, though he fully expected an argument from her. He'd have to kiss her again, he decided, and then went ahead and did just that before his soft, sensual woman even had the chance to ask.
Duncan was making her burn. She didn't think she had the strength to stop, until his hand brushed the side of her breast. It felt wonderful, and when she realized how much more she wanted, she pulled away from him.
'You'd best get inside before you turn to a block of ice,' Madelyne said. Her voice sounded ragged.
Duncan sighed. Madelyne was at it again, trying to order him around. He picked her up into his arms, ignoring her protests, and started to walk toward the castle. 'Did Adela speak to you about what happened to her?' Duncan asked when his mind could focus again.
'She did,' Madelyne answered. 'But I'll not retell a single word, no matter how insistent you become. You can torture me if you've a wish to, yet I'll-'
'Madelyne.' His long-drawn-out sigh stopped her.
'I promised Adela I wouldn't say anything to anyone, especially you. Your sister is afraid of you, Duncan. 'Tis a sorry state of affairs, that,' she added.
She thought her announcement would anger Duncan and was surprised when he nodded. 'It's the way it should be,' Duncan said, shrugging. 'I'm lord as well as brother and the first must take preference over the second.'
'It isn't the way it should be,' Madelyne argued. 'A family should be close. They should eat all their meals together and never fight with each other. They should-'
'How the hell would you know what a family should or shouldn't do? You've lived with your uncle,' Duncan said, shaking his head in exasperation.
'Well, I still know how families should act,' Madelyne argued. Madelyne, don't question my methods,' Duncan said in a low growl. 'Why were you weeping?' he asked, swiftly changing the subject.
'Because of what my brother did to Adela,' Madelyne whispered. She rested her face on Duncan 's shoulder. 'My brother will burn in hell for eternity.'
'Aye,' Duncan answered.
'He's a man in need of killing. I don't condemn you for wanting to kill him, Duncan.'
Duncan shook his head. 'Does it make you feel better not to condemn me?' he asked.
She thought she heard amusement in his voice. 'I have changed my views on killing. I was weeping because of that loss,' she whispered. 'And for what I must do.'
Duncan waited for Madelyne to explain. They reached the doors. Duncan pulled one open without unsettling her. The strength in him amazed her yet again. It had taken all her determination, both hands, too, to work one of those doors open enough to slip through without catching her backside, yet Duncan hadn't shown the least bit of strain. 'What must you do?' Duncan asked, unable to contain his curiosity. 'I must kill a man.'
The door slammed shut just as Madelyne whispered her confession. Duncan wasn't sure he'd heard her
