The Barbarian Read online

  Her eyebrows lifted in concern. He held up his hands. “On my honour nothing untoward occurred your virtue is intact.”

  Could it have been so bad?... had she been so stupid? She wondered. Eldron? She knew that name.

  Her eyes flared wider, her hand going to her chest in shock and fear.

  “The Lord of the West?” He gave her a piercing nod. “The…. Barbarian?” she asked.

  He was making a mess of this…. “I am called that yes.”

  She looked about to bolt. His anger at seeing it rose sharply. He held up his hand. “You have nothing to fear,” he told her impatiently, then calmed himself.

  “We left once they’d returned. We are at my Keep now.” He turned and left her closing the door behind him.

  Eleanor watched him go. He looked….. worried.

  Why were they at his Keep?....

  The Lord of the West….

  So it had been him they’d worried about that day, she’d been right. But what was she doing here? She didn’t really understand any of what he’d said and pulled the furs and blankets from her once more.

  Had her father made the contract with him for Olivia as intended?

  She needed to stand, get the blood flowing in her limbs. Her body ached and was tighter than she’d ever remembered it being before. There was more to this discussion and something was very amiss.

  Why would her parents be annoyed at his care of her having saved her life and why was she here and not at the castle?..... Why would the Lord of the West, the renowned Barbarian, have cared for her at all?.... None of it made sense.

  The door reopened pulling her from her thoughts, her sisters came rushing in, followed by her maid closely behind. Eleanor burst out in a smile so happy to see them as they rushed to her and hugged her. Chatting wildly about how happy they were that she was finally up and awake her fever gone. Any thoughts of her condition having been exaggerated disappeared. It was clear to see by their fears had been real, they had been scared for her.

  Had it been that bad?.....

  She sat listening to their chatter while a tub was dragged in before the fire and hot water placed in it. Screens were drawn around the fire and tub, as her sisters battled to speak to her at the same time. Eleanor laughed glad that some things did not change, that she had something normal to cling to in this strange place and held up a hand.

  “I am glad to see you both too, but I am confused and not sure what is going on here. Are you betrothed Olivia? Are we here for your wedding?”

  There was a worrying silence. Oliva patted her arm. “There is plenty of time to discuss all of that. Now you need your toilette, bath and clean clothes.”

  Suddenly tired she nodded. They took turns telling her their versions of what happened to her while the tub was filled. Their story although she was sure had a romantic twist to it, it resembled what the Lord had told her.

  Her bladder ached as the story became more and more incredible. At the point she thought she’d heard enough of the wild story, she stopped them and asked for the chamber pot. Asking her forgiveness, they assisted in her ritual and helped her undress and enter the tub. The lavender herbs in the water soothing. The salts assorting her senses.

  Dismissing the maid, they helped to wash her hair, body and teeth, the actions invigorating her. Closing her eyes, she listened to their chatter about the Keep and its people as she lay in the tub enjoying the sensations and a memory came to her. A similar tub, lots of hot water, her feeling numb with cold and a man holding her.

  She sat up quickly. They stopped talking about their adventures and stared at her.

  “Who was in a bath with me?”

  “You do not remember?” Olivia asked. Eleanor shook her head. “It…. was the Lord here. He trusted no one else with your care and lucky it was that he was there. When he found you and brought you down from the tower, we were going to remove your clothing and boots and he stopped us. We did not know that they would be stuck to your body and taking them off, could have caused serious damage to your skin and body but he did and prevented it. He was sure our ignorance would have damage you. He was probably right too. We’re not exaggerating Eleanor, you were frozen solid, near death. The Friar told us that his quick actions saved your life. Anything less and you would have passed or been damaged for life if you had lived.” Tears were in both her sister’s eyes as they held her hands.

  Eleanor could no longer ignore that it had been grave indeed. “You failed to mention he was in a bath with me.” She looked at them directly and smiled a little knowing they would not like her upset.

  “And the bed,” Asa told her. Eleanor’s mouth dropped open. “Don’t forget the bed. Father and mother went ballistic over that.”

  Eleanor swallowed. He’d been in her bath and bed?.... Who was this male?....

  She jumped at the sound of the room door opening. “There is no need to fear,” Asa told her reaching for her hand and squeezing it once more. “They are honourable people here.”

  Eleanor wasn’t so sure or knew what to think as Olivia took the tray from another maid who’d just entered, who then retrieved the chamber pot with a cloth over it, another coming in to strip and change the bed and taking it all from the room. Her door closing once more.

  They fed her in the bath. Speaking of the wonders of this Keep. If they’d ever been in any doubt at being in this place, the Barbarians home, it was clearly now gone.

  Only one thing kept going around in her mind.

  Knowing all that why had her father allowed them to come?......And having shared her bath and bed, how was this Lord still living?...

  “Are our parents dead? The castle ransacked?”

  They both looked at her strangely. “No Eleanor they are both well.”

  She finished the food and tea and was helped from the tub and wrapped in warm blankets before the fire dying off with her sisters rubbing at her hair and body. Then combing her hair. She felt like a child again being comforted, not the eldest.

  She heard the soldiers came in and remove the tub on the other side of the screen. The fire was banked, and more hot tea given to her. All the while she took in the kindness of the people around her. People she did not know.

  The bed pans were refilled with coals from the fire and placed in the bed. Her long hair drying as they combed it before the fire. For all her misgivings, she was comfortable here. Her sister’s relief, their joy and excitement at how glad they were to see her up and walking around was far from hidden. It was difficult to ignore the familiar as well as the unknown and things were not clear in her mind.

  They helped her dress in finer clothes than her everyday work attire. Added fine woollen stockings to her legs with slippers of fine silk and wool and a wrap of the softest furs around her shoulders while making up her hair into an elaborate fashion she did not normally bother with. Eleanor sipped her tea letting them have their way as the stress of washing, eating and dressing crept over her body.

  There was more to this story, than she knew. Things were far from clear in her mind and that bothered her. She’d always prided herself on her mind and it was failing her here. She took some comfort in the fact that her sisters would not be so happy if danger were present or if they were being deceived or manhandled. They were both gentle souls but not stupid.

  In truth, it was clear they felt no danger here at all and Eleanor had not sensed any herself. It was troubling in its own way. This was not what she’d heard of the Lord of the West. The Barbarian that killed all that threatened him, the man who dominated the West with an iron hand. The man who raped and pillaged for years.

  Had her father lost his mind?.....

  What were they doing here?....

  She closed her eyes trying to make sense of it all. The tea was taken from her. Her feet lifted onto a stool and a blanket wrapped securely around her. She smiled at her sisters as they took up needle point and chatted quietly happy to be in her company once more.

  Eleanor sighed as she drifted,
knowing sleep was pulling her under. She had far too many questions and not enough answers.

  ***

  “How fares she?”

  Eleanor stirred and yawned her hand naturally covering her mouth. She hadn’t heard anyone coming into the room. There was the rustling of clothing. They were standing.

  “She is well Lord as you can see.” Olivia….

  Shaking the sleep from her eyes she opened them and looked at the voice.

  She recognised the male and voice and gazed on him. The Lord of the West.

  Her frustration showed in the frown of her face. She’d seen many warriors and Lords over the years, many full of their own self-importance. This one was different. Striking, self-assured yes. One of the biggest men she’d ever seen and such beautiful green eyes. With his long dark hair in braids and partly bare chest, he was every bit the Barbarian. Her mouth watered. You couldn’t fail to miss the packed muscle beneath his open vest.

  Was that deliberate?.....

  He stared at her and she held his gaze. Eleanor had had enough. Her patience was never long, and she needed answers.

  “Lord Eldron?” she asked. He acknowledged her. She inclined her head back, then looked at Olivia. She intended to be direct. “So, when’s the wedding?”

  The uncomfortable silence held once more. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at each of her sisters in turn who would not look at her. Then she looked at the male. He gave nothing away. She looked back at Olivia questioningly. Her cheeks were flushed, and she stood awkwardly, flashing her eyes up to her own and away again.

  Something was wrong here…..

  Olivia knew her father was offering her in tribute in the alliance to the Lord of the West and she’d happily agreed feeling it all so very romantic so what was the problem.

  Why was she uncomfortable now?... It made no sense.

  She stared at the male. Her anger rising. “We have a contract do we not?”

  “Leave us. I would speak with Eleanor.” The Lord barked much to her surprise and everyone left.

  Eleanor narrowed her eyes once more to look at Lord Eldron. He’d taken a seat vacated by one of her sisters who’d curtsied and left. The door closing behind them left them alone. Something else that would never have happened at her father’s castle. Eleanor had the feeling she wouldn’t like what was coming and watched him warily as he stared into the fire.

  Never one afraid to speak her mind she wasn’t inclined to beat about the bush here.

  “You were in my bath and bed Lord. Is that normal in this house?” she asked with some bite.

  As the words left her mouth, they should have shocked and embarrassed her female sensibilities, but they didn’t. Answers were more important right now.

  He wiped a hand down his face.

  He was a fierce warrior and yet feared this conversation? He was the jester of his own destiny.

  Her accusation unsettled him. Pricked at his pride. “No.” He told her brutally.

  “It is not normal practice. I generally fuck women; I do not take them to my bed or share their baths.” He saw her flinch and toned it down. He’d not meant to hurt her. Or had he?

  “I do not apologise for my actions. Both were necessary to save your life and I am not sorry about that. You dying because you perceived me as a threat would have put the alliance contract in jeopardy. I did what was best for all.”

  She understood that. “Then I thank thee. Between your story of events and my sisters, I have a good understanding of what happened. But there are blanks still. I do not understand why I am here, or indeed how I come be to here at all. Your alliance with my father was to bind Olivia who welcomed it, but it is clear, no such binding has taken place and by their silence both times I mentioned it, nor is it intended. So once again Lord, why am I here?”

  Eldron accepted they were fair and reasoned questions well thought out and rational. She had the right to answers. He leaned forward towards the fire. Like the coward he was at that moment, he could not look at her and was wary to give voice to her questions.

  A man of his statue afraid to speak the truth! He had created this. He was a laughingstock, a fool.

  He swallowed. He needed to own his actions and she deserved the truth.

  “You were near death as I explained. We’d had similar experiences with our men battling in the north of my lands. The weather would come in overnight and those not prepared, were lost before we knew it. So many good men gone before we found that hot baths and warm bodies could prevent death if used correctly.” He chuckled. “It was the first time I’d paid for whores to just sleep with my men.” Then realised that that was probably not what she wanted to hear.

  “Your people had no idea how to treat it, some of their actions could have killed or maimed you for life. Had I not supported you in the tub, you’d have drowned under the weight of your own clothing and boots. Your body was unable to support itself and you needed body heat to help the process along. I simply did not trust anyone else to do it right and thought you’d have preferred me do it than one of my men. Never at any time were you in any danger from me. You were clothed and I was as…. careful, respectful as I could be.”

  She waited for him to go on. This was not in his story the first time.

  “We were in the bath for more than half a day before your body would hold its temperature as your sisters have probably told you. The water was cold to start with so as not to shock your system too greatly. Then water was slowly drained off and warmer water added. Over time, your body temperature started to rise. We gave you broth and the herb tea your Friar recommended to warm you inside as well as out. Once your limbs were able to retain the heat, you were taken from the water, dried by the maids, given dry warm clothing and they put to bed, with the hottest bed pans we dared use. Tea and broth were given to you constantly and you slept over many days.”

  He took a drink from the goblet next to him.

  “You couldn’t be left. You had to be checked regularly to ensure your temperature remained high. I slept in a chair in your room not trusting your care to any other. One slip and you would be gone. Only the Friar seemed to have some awareness of how important it was that your temperature never dropped and gave me a break to see to my own toilette and eat.”

  She watched him rub his forehead. She knew the movement. He was gathering his thoughts. She was right, this had been serious indeed. She was lucky to be alive. She’d been so stupid and he had saved her.

  “You would wake during that time. Cry out. Murmur. Reach for something invisible and every night, sometimes more than once, your temperature would plummet for no reason. Your whole body shaking with cold although the room and bed were warm. Bed pans were not enough to keep you heated and there was little choice but to give you more heat. Body heat.” She glared at him.

  He could feel the heat of her eyes boring into him.

  “Don’t look at me like that, I am not thief in the night. A woman gives me her body willingly or not at all. It was needed. There was no choice. So I would join you wrapped in covers and furs, rubbing heat back into your body, as you would a child, until you were warm again and I would leave you to rest thereafter.”

  He looked at her then. His face intense. “I’d been carrying that load for nearly two weeks day and night, and you were improving. I was beyond exhausted. Your sisters and staff had little clue. My men offered to take the responsibility, but I would not allow that. I felt sure you would not appreciate multiple men in your bed and it seemed my responsibility and no one else’s.”

  He seemed a little uncomfortable before he went on. “On that last occasion, I was simply too tired, near exhaustion and unable to leave the comfort of the bed soon enough. I was stupid and weak, lack of sleep pulled me under blurring my better judgement. Your parents returned unbeknown to me while I slept. My men were loath to wake me knowing how little I’d been sleeping and my temper was not so….. mild. Your parents arrived early, entered your room on hearing you had been ill, near death and
found us. They did not take it well.”

  Eleanor snorted more than a bit shocked. “I expect not.” She knew her parents only too well.

  Eldorn smiled slightly at her. “No, it was poorly done. I apologise to you and I did them at the time, but, it was the right thing to do. By that time, your temperature was becoming stable for longer. Unfortunately, your mother was fraught and your father angry.”

  He gritted his teeth before saying; “She stated I’d ruined your reputation, that no man would have you now.”

  Eleanor flinched. Her mother was likely right….

  “That was not my intent and I got angry.” He told her. She could see the honesty in his eyes and gave a sigh and slight nod reconciled to the truth of it.

  He took another drink. “Anyway, both your parents were angry. Your mother in particular. I take part blame for your condition, had we come a month later as your father had requested in his missive, it is likely things would have turned out differently but I was eager to see why Lord Aimar would offer his child in tribute when he’d never done so before. Curiosity and I dare say some ambition made me act rashly. But it was what it was. Your mother,” he looked at her again. “Can be quite…. intense.”

  Eleanor laughed. “O… Yes she can.”