The Maid's War(60)

“And why to you?” Ankarette pressed.

“I thought it was because she wanted me to rescue her,” he replied. His eyes twinkled. “And so I tried. You already understand, Ankarette, that my wife was having a difficult pregnancy. I hadn’t forgotten Genette’s warning that the heir of La Marche might need the same magic she’d used to save Brendin. I needed to free the Maid from that awful dungeon—for her and for my family. I disobeyed my king’s orders. I was willing to risk anything to set Genette free.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Risk





Alensson’s stallion was wearied by the pressing ride, but the duke was impatient to arrive. The lush valley spread before him, the air full of gnat clouds and the pleasant odor of honeysuckle. His heart started pounding faster when the roof of the cottage came into view from his vantage point on the road. The stallion wanted to linger and crop grass, but he gave it an encouraging nip with his spurs, and it continued to labor down the gravel road, bringing up puffs of dry dust. A meadowlark trilled from the nearby trees, and Alensson was lost in its beautiful song for a moment.

The beast managed the final agonizing steps to the cottage door. Before the young duke was out of the saddle, the door flung open and his wife emerged from within, holding her swollen belly. Alix Felt looked worriedly from the doorway, but her face melted into relief upon recognizing him.

“Alensson!” Jianne gasped. She leaned against the door frame, looking as surprised as a child who’d seen a jongleur’s trick. The smudges under her eyes wrenched his heart.

He had left his armor and royal tunic with his captain, Jeremy, so he could conceal his identity while he traveled. He wore a hunter’s garb now, clothes that would be comfortable for living off the land, which he intended to do until he succeeded.

“Hello, my love,” he said, reaching her in moments and sweeping her into his arms. Her growing womb was as taut as a melon, and it felt strange and exciting when it pressed up against him. He kissed her ear, then her neck, then her mouth, and she responded with a fiery vigor that proved they’d been away from each other for too long.

“What are you . . . doing here?” she tried to get out amidst the flurry of kisses. Alix discreetly slipped away to give them some privacy.

“I had to see you,” he answered huskily. “Let’s go inside.”

“What about the horse?”

“I don’t give a badger about the horse! It’s half lame right now. It won’t wander off.” He waved at it with his arm. “Go find a water trough, beast! Off with you!” He grinned at Jianne, his heart swelling inside his chest as he walked back into the cottage with her, one arm around her shoulders to support her.

“I’m not made of glass, you know,” she said, her arm squeezing around his waist.

“I wish Izzt were not so far,” he said, turning to shut the door behind them. The small kitchen smelled of bread, baked squash, and there was a pile of greens she’d been in the middle of cutting. Again he felt the lack of coin and thus the lack of servants who could have tended to her needs. “It cost me dearly to come this way first, but I had to see you.”

“I wouldn’t be comfortable at Shynom anymore,” she said shyly.

“What do you mean?” he pressed, leading her to a bench at the table and helping her to sit.

She looked down at her hands and then up into his eyes, giving him a knowing look. “The court has changed, Alensson. It has always been a hive of scheming and plotting, but recent developments have altered the tone. The women are more . . . brazen. I suppose that’s the word. More haughty. You should see what’s fashionable now. The gowns, I mean.” She shook her head. “I would blush wearing something like that. We lack money, Husband. There are those who are willing to lend, but they wanted certain . . . favors.”

Alensson’s face went tight with anger. “Who?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to worry, Husband. I made it very clear that I wasn’t needful of money.” She sighed. “The court has changed so quickly. But that is not why you’re here. You didn’t come because you were worried about me.” It wasn’t stated as a question.

Alensson rose from the bench and began to pace restlessly. “It is not the only reason.”

“Tell me,” she pleaded. “When I heard that Genette was captured, I feared you might do something rash.”

He chuckled under his breath. “I am doing something rash,” he said. Then he looked at her. “So I needed to forewarn you.”

Her eyes closed and she began to tremble with fear. “What are you saying, Alensson?”