Wish Upon a Star
By Kimberley Comeaux

CHAPTER 4 Books  romance  fiction  harlequin   audio  video  clothes  designers  dvd   music   amazon
sale  seller  ebay  christian books  love  stories  story  book  book   book

As the serfs were loading up the large wagon with Christiana's things, along with the coveted journals and the contents of her dowry, several guests had started to arrive at the castle. Most were dressed in elaborate costume and many were surrounded by knights and servant women. And all were more than a little put out at having missed the marriage ceremony. Lord William, however, was able to sooth there feathers with the promise of feast and wine. There was no doubt that food and drink, in this century was right up there on the 'important things in life' list right along side of friends and family.

Nan, Kristy soon learned, as well as four other women would be going with her to Greystone. It amazed her that one person needed five other people to see to their needs. And to think Kristy had thought herself extravagant when she had hired a cleaning lady to come to her apartment twice a week! She then thought of Christiana, and knew the girl was in for a few surprises!

Darian was making it quite clear to the servants that he wanted no more time to be wasted. He turned down Lord William's invitation to stay for the feast and informed him they would soon depart.

Lord William, Kristy thought, looked a little teary-eyed when he enveloped her within his large arms. Kristy felt sorry that she would not have time to get to know this kind man, as she returned his embrace and kissed him softly on his weathered cheek.

***************************

It was not going to be a pleasant trip. She should have realized that after she had said her good-byes to Lord William and had started to get in the wagon beside Nan. The moment she'd lifted one foot up, a loud barking voice that could only belong to her 'darling' husband, informed her that she'd be riding at his side. "At his side" of course meant riding on that stupid horse again, only this time there was the strangest saddle she'd ever seen laying across it's backside. A side saddle. And how long had he said the trip was? A half a days ride? That would be REAL comfortable!

She rolled her eyes and shut them for a moment as if to gain strength, then looked boldly up at Darian, fist clinched tightly at her side. "I'm NOT going to ride that horse. I want to ride in the wagon with Nan and the other women." She heard his knights draw there breaths sharply at her defiant words. No one, but no one talked to his earlship in such a way. Unless, of course, they were prepared to die for it.

His jaw was visibly clinched tightly and his nostrils flared at her words. But then something flickered in the depths of his steely gaze. Good God, if all the kings men had backbone such as she was now displaying they would be unbeatable! She, a woman! He did not forget the fact that her boldness was directed against him, mind you, but he could not help but admire her courage.

Then to the utter amazement of his men and to the ladies, he threw back his head and shouted a loud laugh. Then he swung from his stallion and stood before her, staring at her through narrowed lids, his great arms crossed over his chest.

Don't back down, she warned herself. Back down? She wanted to run and hide! Mustering up every scrape of courage that she possessed, she lifted her chin to meet his stare. She couldn't imagine what he would do. Would he hit her, curse at her...Kill...No! Surely not! Jubal! she silently pleaded.

But he didn't kill, hit, or even say one mean word to her, instead, he smiled. It was such a beautiful dazzling smile that for a moment Kristy couldn't seemed to breathe.

He reached for her hand and held it with a tenderness that she had no idea he possessed, and spoke with the refined tone of an English gentleman. "Let me then rephrase my words, my lady. It would me my most profound pleasure, if you would grace me with your lovely presence, at my side, on the long ride to our home."

Kristy didn't answer right away. She was too busy standing there gaping at his smile and his pretty words to utter anything coherent. And she wasn't immune to the large warm hand engulfing her own that seemed to send shock waves to her heart, either.

"Christiana?"

"Oh!" she gushed and then her cheeks reddened as she realized she been staring like an idiot. "I...uh...yes, I'll ride with you." she answered breathlessly. If he'd asked for the moon while smiling at her like that, she would have built him a rocket.

When she turned her back to walk to her horse, she missed the smug smile that thinned the earl's lips. All women were the same. Give them a smile and some tender words and you could bend them easily to your will. And this she-cat was no different. A part of him felt a little disappointment at his easy victory. He had expected and maybe even desired more of her fiery tenacity.

She let him help her mount the mare and after an awkward moment, she figured out just where one puts their legs on the offending sidesaddle. She turned and watched Darian mount also and immediately noticed that his hard-faced mask had been once again been pulled over his features. He looked at his men and didn't even bother to glance her way as he nodded to them to go ahead.

She knew right then what a fool she'd been taken for. Gee whiz, Kendrick! How could you be so dense? Hadn't she learned her lesson with Cory? Now she was stuck riding on a saddle that was clearly not meant for comfort, riding in unfamiliar clothes, draped with a heavy fur-lined cape and doing something she had not done in years - horse riding. All because she had been taken in by his false smile and deceiving words. She was disappointed in herself.

But three hours later, with her butt sore as all get out, her back aching and stiff, her stomach growling unmercifully, she was no longer disappointed.

She was down right angry! Angry not only at herself, but at the barbarian who hadn't so much as uttered two words to her the whole time they had been riding.

"Darian, I know you're in a big anxious hurry, but do you mind if we stopped to eat?" she asked tiredly.

His hooded gaze looked her over and then he replied with a grunt, "We cannot stop. If we are to reach Greystone by nightfall then we must keep moving." He then called out to one of his guard, "Tilden, see that Lady Christiana has something to eat."

The tall fair guard circled around and came riding up beside her as Darian rode on up ahead. "Milady, we have only but bread and cheese with us. I am sorry that it is not a fitting meal for a lady such as yourself but I do hope it will suffice," Tilden replied with a smile, while holding out the loaf and a hunk of aged cheese. He had taken off his helmet and Kristy noticed he was a nice looking guy. Kristy placed him about twenty-seven years of age.

She r turned his infectious smile and took the food he offered gratefully. "It will suffice just fine, er.. .Is it Sir Tilden?"

"You, milady, may call me Tilden. Not only am I one of the earls guard, I have also been a friend to your husband and his family for many years. 1 hope to we shall be friends also," he replied pleasantly.

The anger that she' d been harboring started dissipating. It was just SO nice to talk to a friendly human being. She had begun to think that they didn't exist in this century.

Still smiling, she nodded her head to him and said. "I believe we will be friends, then." After taking a bite of bread she looked back over to the knight and remarked, "So have you known Darian, all your life?"

"Aye, that I have, milady."

She wasn't one to beat around the bush and so she thought she' d get right down to the thing that had bothered her since this morning. "Then maybe you can tell me, Tilden, why is Darian so unhappy? Who was the one that hurt him so badly that he hides behind that mask of coldness and hardness?"

He looked for a moment as if he was surprised at what she asked. "1 am sorry, my lady, but you're words have taken me back a bit. You see, I am often asked how many has he slain, how many villages has he plundered, how many women has he ravished.... but none have ever seen him as being unhappy and hurt."

Kristy swallowed hard. Slain? Plundered? Ravished!? "Uh...Tilden? Does he...uh...ravish women?" she asked hesitantly.

Tilden laughed at her terrified expression. "No, tis only a rumor."

Kristy sighed with relief.

She looked ahead and studied her husband from the back. He was a real hunk-a-rama if she ever saw one. But a very complex one. She couldn't quite understand her intuition concerning him, but she did trust him. There was a goodness buried deep within him that was barely noticeable. But she could feel it, past all his coldness

She turned her attention back to Tilden and asked, "But he is hurting, isn't he?"

"Yes, that he is," his voice weary and filled with worry.

"Why?"

Tilden looked up to find Darian glancing back at him. It was a look that said 'Take your eyes off my wife and get your arse back up here!' A mischievous twinkle lit Tilden's eyes and with a crooked smile he took the soft hand of the new countess and placed upon it, a whisper soft kiss.

A kiss that did not go unnoticed by the earl nor did the pleased smile that lit his wife's pretty face.

Tilden answered her question softly, "That, my lady, is something Darian himself will have to tell you. Now I must return before he embarrasses himself with his jealousy." And with that he returned to his post beside the other guard, Vachel and after a few exchanged words, Darian looped back around to her side.

Without looking over to her he expressed in cold, clipped firmness, "I think that I should make it quite clear to you, Christiana, that you are mine. My property. I have shared many of my things with my men but you can be assured, my lady, that I will not share you." He turned his sharp gray glare to her and warned explicitly, "You would do well to pray to God that not even the thought of betraying me enters your mind. For if I find out that you have taken another man into your bed, you will sorely regret it."

She supposed that she should be quaking with fright as his threatening words but she was not.

What she was, was indignant. "'You will regret it,'" she mocked in a perfect Norman accent. "Is that all you can threaten me with? Surely you can be more creative than that. Let's see..." She paused while dramatically stroking her chin. "How about that you'll cut out my heart and slice it into quarter inch squares and feed it to the dogs. Oh! I know! You will throw me in the dungeon and let me starve to death, while the big rats nibble off my flesh." She smiled teasingly at him but he refused to acknowledge it.

From behind her she heard a choking cough that sounded strangely like a laugh coming from her maid. But the stone wall beside her remained as unreadable as a blank page.

He didn't respond to humor, but he would respond to her defiance. "Okay. If I am to remain faithful to you, then I will demand the same from you."

He snorted good and loud. "You are hardly in the position to demand anything of me. I will do bloody well what I please."

"Are you saying that you'll take up with other women if the urge happens to hit you?" she asked lividly.

"As I have told your father, Christiana, you will be well taken care of. You'll want for nothing. What I do should be no concern of yours. We hardly even no one another," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

She blinked a couple of times at him not believing what she was hearing. "I'll want for nothing? What if I happen to want a husband who is faithful to me? Do I get that?" He remained silent and she blew out a frustrated breath of air.

That was that. If he was going to be unfaithful to her, then she couldn't allow herself to fall in love with him. That wouldn't be hard, She thought sarcastically. There wasn't much there to love!

They rode side by side in silence for at least a mile, while she mulled over his words and their strange relationship. Then she looked over at his profile.

"I know that we are not in love, Darian, but you are my husband and that bonds us," she spoke softly after much thought. She turned away from his gaze, and lifted her chin with dignity. "I am asking that you remain faithful to me because I know how it feels when you find out that you've been betrayed. I'd rather not have to go through that again," she finished dully.

Darian looked at her skeptically, "You? What would you know of betrayal?"

She didn't miss the pain behind his otherwise flat words. "I know a great deal about it, although you are determined not to believe me. But you've known betrayal, haven't you?" The question was more of a statement of fact. She was surprised when he answered her.

"Aye. I've known it," came his grim reply.

She smiled bitterly. "And you are not going to even give me a chance, are you."

He wanted to. Oh, how he wanted to. He couldn't - wouldn't do it, though. "You are my wife. And I will protect you with my life, but that is all I can offer."

She looked at him with a touch of pity in her lovely blue eyes and whispered as soft as the breeze, "That's sounds real lonely, Earl Greystone."

Again he answered her with his cold silence.

She took a deep breath and spoke with a strong determination in her silky voice. "Well, Darian, the way I see it is that we are stuck with each other. We're not in love. We are total and complete strangers - in more ways than you could know. But we might as well make the best of this situation, and I for one am going to do just that." There. She had said it. The ball was going to be in his court from this point on.

Darian didn't like what he was feeling. It was the same feeling he felt as a boy. The need to want to believe. The need to trust in something.

It was that same need that always lead to hurt, always lead to disappointment.

And there was the other feeling that was coursing strongly through his body. It was desire. He couldn't remember a time when looking at a woman would almost make him break into a sweat. He ached with wanting her, and it was an ache that need not go unmet.

He reigned his horse nearer to her and reached out and cupped her chin in his palm. He gave her a searing look that made her tremble and spoke softly and assuredly, "Tonight, my wife, you will truly belong to me. And believe me when I tell you that there is no other woman that I wish to share my bed with this night. Only you. That is one promise that I intend on keeping... and enjoying." He then withdrew he hand and turned his attention back to the road.

Kristy tried her best not to look shocked but she was. Somehow she had unconsciously forgotten about that. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her nerves.

A twenty-year-old girl who was still a virgin, living in New York City, was a rare thing indeed. But Kristy's parents had brought her up with strong moral values. She had wanted to save her first sexual experience for the man she would marry. It, however, never occurred to her that she'd marry someone she didn't know, much less love. And what if she was did go back to the year 1999? Once she gave herself to this man would she be able to leave him forever?

But none of that really mattered. Tonight, whether she wanted it or not, she would share his bed. What Darian of Greystone wanted, he usually got. And Kristy had no doubt that he wanted her.

***************************

The brilliant orange sun had just fallen below the horizon, and the sky was beginning to dim as an array of fuchsia, violet and gold hues streaked upon Heaven's canvass. And there on in front of them on a raised plane, was the biggest, monstrosity of stone walls that Kristy had ever seen.

It was quite something for a gal from the good ole U.S. to behold. And this was now her home. She almost smiled when she thought of what Danni's face would look like if she could show her, her new 'house'. But then she remembered that she may never get to show Danni anything ever again and her joy faded.

When they rode into Greystone's vast lands they were met with a resounding cheer. For there all along the rode way were the peasants and serfs of the village all gathered to together in hopes of seeing their new countess and welcoming them home.

It reminded her of the last Macy's Christmas parade she had ridden in. And so she did what came natural and smiled and waved at their friendly faces.

Darian face noted surprise at his wife's actions. She was waving and greeting the serfs as if they were all long lost friends and, he noted, that they all wore expressions of complete awe of their beautiful countess. He nearly called out at her that she must not appear to friendly to the commoners but then he stopped himself.

He realized that she was not trying to be on their level, rather she was showing them that they were her people now and that she cared about them. He felt a shot of pride of his young bride. And it made him rest a little easier at having to leave her on the morrow. It would only be for seven days and he was sure that she would be all right.

When they reached the castle bridge, Darian dismounted and help her down from the mare. His firm touch at her waist spread awareness through her. But he didn't linger. As soon as she was on the ground he grasped her elbow and led her into the castle.

The great hall was somewhat similar to that of Cranbrook but on a larger more lavish scale. Yards of purple velvet edged with golden ropes draped elaborately on the castle walls. Great pieces of fur were strewn like rugs over the cold stone floors. Several large, wooden tables were placed strategically around the room to accommodate the many that dined and entertained there.

And there, hanging above them, was a large chandelier that contained so many candles that Kristy couldn't image how they accomplished lighting them all. The other source of light came from the fireplace at the back of the hall and hanging above it was the portrait of man that was devilishly handsome and looked remarkably like her new husband. Only there was something different about this man's face. There seemed to be a twinkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin danced about his full lips.

If the artists rendering of the gentlemen was a true one, this man had probably been quite the rogue, albeit a very happy and content one.

That's where Darian and the portrait differed. He possessed no happiness or contentment. In their place was cold indifference.

"Darian!" came a happy, female cry from up above them. Kristy lifted her eyes to the top of the staircase that led into the hall and there she saw a golden haired young woman quickly descend the stairs, a wide smile lit her beautiful features.

She looked over to Darian and couldn't believe her eyes. She saw warm a smile on his face and his body relaxed its normal ridged stance.

"Sidra..." he murmured softly as the golden beauty threw herself into his arms and planted a kiss right on his lips.

Sidra leaned back and smoothed her dainty hand over Darian 's rough cheek and spoke lovingly to him, "Oh Darian, I didn't think I would ever so your handsome face again. When they told me you had come and gone before I arrived home, I was in tears!"

Darian clasped the hand that caressed his face and squeezed gently, "Did they not tell you that I would be gone but only for a day? King Richard himself could not stop me from seeing you, my Sidra. You should know that."

She looked at him doubtfully and retorted, "He kept you from me for two years!"

He folded her in his embrace once again and relented, "That is true, only it was also my wish to be there."

"Now tell me how have you been since Father and Aron's deaths. Were you here when the attack came? I thank God that you were not hurt also."

A sad expression crept into Sidra's light gray eyes and shook her head, "Nay, I was not here or I fear that I would not be here with you now. It has been difficult, but I am doing better every day that passes."

Kristy stood frozen where- she was as she witnessed this very touching scene between the woman and her husband. She didn't know whether to be outraged or not. Hadn't he told her that he wouldn't be faithful?

Sure. But she had never - in a million years - imagined that he had a mistress already set up in his castle, waiting for him. And how dare he flaunt her in front of his men and the servants!

Kristy folded her arms and cleared her throat as loudly as she could. If this woman was bold enough to throw herself at him while his new wife was standing right by him then she could darn, well let her know that she wasn't going to take it.

Sidra's head turned toward her at the sound of her cough and a shy smile arose on her lips. "Forgive me for my rudeness, my lady." the woman apologized much to Kristy's surprise. Then grasp her hand. "You must be Darian's new bride, Christiana. I am Sidra."

Kristy didn't do anything but stare at the woman for a few seconds with a dumbfounded expression. What kind of woman was this? Had she no shame? Her questioning gaze tore away from Sidra and sought out Darian's.

A sardonic eyebrow lifted as he started to understand just what was going through her mind and answered her confusion with a dry tone, "Christiana, Sidra is my sister."

Kristy's eyes widened and a pink tint began surfacing on her smooth cheeks. "Oh...Oh! I didn't know.... I mean...You have a sister?"

Sidra looked back at her brother with hands on hips and chided him, "Darian! What have you said to this poor girl that would make her even think that I could be anything other than your sister?"

He just shrugged and looked uninterested in her question. Sidra narrowed her eyes at him and then looked back to her sister-in-law. "I can well imagine that you have been exposed to my brothers 'charming' personality." She rolled her eyes at him then took Kristy's arm. "Just pay him no attention and don't let him scare you. His bark is much worse that that of his bite! Now let me show you up to your room and get you all settled in." They started up the stairs.

"Make sure that you put her in MY room, little sister. Christiana will share my bed, tonight and every night that I am here." he emphasized.

Sidra sent her brother a look and said, "I think we all well understand your point, Darian." Then to Kristy she laughed as she shook her head. "Men!" Then bounded on up the staircase.

After the ladies disappeared from sight Darian settled himself into a large arm chair and took a big gulp of ale from the fancy gold dipped mug. He turned his attention to the tall graying knight at his side. Will was one of the castle guards and had been present the night that Greystone was attacked.

"Will, have you had any news from the inquest you have made?"

The middle-aged guard looked thoughtful for a moment and replied carefully to his lord. "Lord Darian, the men have found something on the boundaries of your land that could prove to be the answer that we have been seeking."

Darian sat up quickly in his seat and looked expectantly at Will. "What have you found."

"This, my lord." Will took a folded black cloth from his tunic and carefully unfolded it to reveal within its folds a golden dagger. Darian took it carefully and ran his fingers along the blade and up onto the jewel encrusted hilt. When his finger and eyes reached the end they immediately stopped their search.

His eyes were like splinters of glass and his face, hardened as he quickly identified whose crest the dagger bore.

"Worthingham," came the chilling answer.

It now made sense. It made sense that even though his father and brothers were killed, along with a great deal of their guard that Greystone had not been captured, nor had anything been stolen. They were looking for something...someone. And Darian felt a dread in the pit of his belly as he realized just who Worthingham had been after.

His sister. Sidra.

 > Go to Chapter 5

Back to the Romanzwriter

Back to Wish Upon A Star

Books  romance  fiction  harlequin   audio  video  clothes  designers  dvd   music   amazon
sale  seller  ebay  christian books  love  stories  story  book  book   book