His smile was tender. 'That's why you screamed, isn't it?'
'I was afraid for you,' she said. She kissed his chin, then fell back against him. 'You can't blame my brother. He didn't know I was there. He loves me, Royce. He would never intentionally hurt me.'
It all fell into place now. Thurston must have realized what he'd done after he dispatched the arrow. Nicholaa's white-blond hair must have been visible to the Saxon warrior. Royce remembered the anguished bellow that came from the crest and mingled with his own outraged roar. Aye, Thurston knew what he'd done. That was the reason he'd ordered the retreat.
God help Nicholaa. She'd had a hell of a time since she'd met him. He kissed the top of her head and then stood up, cushioning her in his arms.
'Do you doubt that Thurston loves me?' she asked.
'No, I don't doubt his love,' he answered. 'I do doubt his eyesight,' he added in a mutter. 'He damn well should have-'
'Thurston has wonderful eyesight,' she announced. 'I've better, though. Do you know I can hit any target with my sling?'
She reached up and touched the small jagged scar on his forehead. 'That's exactly where I meant to hit you, husband.'
He couldn't help noticing how cheerful she sounded. 'You do not regret injuring your husband?' he asked, his amusement obvious.
'You weren't my husband then,' she answered. 'I use arrows, too, sometimes.' She kissed his chin again, then whispered, 'I'm always accurate. The first knight your William sent to seize my holding took one of my arrows home with him.'
Royce had just started carrying her up the steps. He stopped and looked down at her. She was looking thoroughly pleased with herself. 'You're the one who put the arrow in Gregory's backside?'
Since he wasn't going to remember much of anything in the morning, she felt it was safe to boast. 'Just below his backside, in his thigh. It was just a flesh wound, Royce, meant to stop him from taking my home.'
He shook his head. 'I thought you said your brother's second-in-command was in charge of the defense. Are you telling me you lied about that, too?'
'No, John was in charge some of the time.'
'But you interfered?'
'Just a little.' She slumped back against his shoulder. 'You smell nice, Royce.'
She'd obviously forgotten she'd already said that. He continued on up the steps and walked down the long corridor past her own chamber and on to his own.
His squire, a dark-haired lad named Trevor, waited inside to assist his lord. Royce dismissed the boy with a quick motion of his head, then shut the door behind him.
A fire blazed on the hearth. The room was as warm, as inviting, as the woman cuddled up in his arms. Royce walked over to the bed and sat down with Nicholaa in his lap.
He thought she'd fallen asleep until she said, 'Have you noticed how sweet-tempered I've been this evening?'
Her voice was a sleepy whisper. 'I noticed,' he said.
'Mama used to say you can catch more vermin with sweet than with sour.'
That statement baffled him. 'Why in God's name would you want to?'
'Want to what?'
'Catch vermin.'
'I don't want to catch vermin,' she muttered. 'I want to catch you.' Lord, how she wished her husband would quit tossing her about in his arms. She grabbed hold of his shoulders to steady herself. Her head was spinning, and her stomach was fighting waves of nausea.
'Nicholaa?' he said. 'About this plan of yours…'
'What plan?'
He gave up. He continued to hold her until he was certain she'd fallen asleep. Then he set about the task of undressing her.
He couldn't stay irritated with her. She was a master with her games of manipulation, but he understood her motives now. She was trying to hold her family together, any way she could. Aye, she was trying to survive.
It was going to take her time to learn to trust him completely, he knew, and then perhaps they would be able to settle down to a peaceful life together. He wanted her to be happy. He didn't know how he was going to achieve that goal, though, until the problem with Thurston was solved. Hell, he might have to kill the bastard. That certainly wouldn't win Nicholaa's heart.
Royce felt that he was in an impossible position
But then, so was Nicholaa. She was desperately trying to protect her brother from him and, at the same time, protect him from her brother.
There was much to consider before he formed his plans, he decided. Nicholaa wore only her chemise now, and he was about to pull the covers up over her when he changed his mind. He slowly reached for the silk ribbon that held her chemise in place. His hands shook when he touched her bare skin.
Lord, she was exquisitely formed. Her breasts were full, her waist incredibly narrow, and the gentle flair of her hips couldn't have been more pleasing to him.
He stripped off his own clothes. Then be stretched out next to his wife. If she didn't touch him, he might be able to stand the torment of having her warm body so close.
It took Royce a long while to fall asleep. All of Nicholaa's worries filtered through his mind.
And then his mind returned to the one remark she'd made so matter-of-factly that he knew it was true.
She wanted to seduce him.
A man couldn't ask for more than that.
Chapter Eleven
Nicholaa awakened to the sound of a waterfall thundering in her ear. It took her a long time to realize what the noise was, and she didn't have any idea at all until she tried to move.
She felt Royce then. His arm was wrapped around her waist. They both slept on their sides. She was in front, with her backside snuggled up against his groin. The noise was her husband's snoring.
Her feet were tucked between his legs. She slowly edged away from him and was about to roll onto her stomach when he tightened his hold and pulled her back up against him.
The movement almost killed her. Her head felt as though it might split in half. She went completely still. Her stomach immediately calmed down. Her mind didn't. Dear God, what had happened last night? She couldn't remember.
She'd slept with her husband. That was the only fact she was certain of. She had no idea what else had happened.
Had she gotten him sotted or had she gotten herself sotted instead? Nicholaa closed her eyes. It was too much to think about with her head pounding. Perhaps if she went back to sleep for just a little longer, she'd feel refreshed enough to remember.
Royce awakened just a few minutes later. Morning light filtered through the window he'd left uncovered. He lifted his head to look at his wife. Her eyes were closed. He thought she might be pretending sleep just to avoid him.
He gently nudged her. She groaned. 'Nicholaa?' He whispered her name. She reacted as though he'd roared it. Her hand flew up to cover her ear.
'Are you still sleepy?' he asked. He rolled her onto her back and leaned over her.
The movement made her want to gag. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her first thought was that he didn't look ill. Nay, he appeared fit. Happy, too. A lock of hair had fallen over his forehead, giving him a
