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.But Pierre."And if I make such a promise?""I will allow you to remain unfettered and at DuBois.for a time."Her heart leapt."How long?""Until the fall.""Why the fall?"His eyes narrowed."You are too curious, my lady.You are dangerous whether you stay or leave.You diminish my options." He released her hands and stepped back.Diminished.to what? The dungeon? Torture? Then death? She longed to ask what would happen to Pierre after she died, but knew not to bring up the subject.She nodded."I vow not to betray you."He lifted his gaze as if surprised, but victorious."Another stipulation.Ask no questions about aught that is none of your affair."She would merely have to delve into his secrets without querying.And yet, all appeared too easy.She nodded again."Agreed.And my punishment?""You will obey me."Rochelle felt her eyes widen and her mouth drop open."In what way?""In whatever I demand.""But why that?""'Tis the most disagreeable punishment for you I can surmise.And the most agreeable to me."She gave him her back as her mind raced for an answer.Obey? He obviously didn't want her body, nor would he throw her to his knights.What did he want? To manage the household? She would love such a duty.To work as a servant? She already did.To humiliate her in public? He already had.Torture her? Beat her? Marcel had done as much.What might he require that she would refuse to honor?The sliding sunlight burnished the row of bridles that hung upon pegs in front of her.Like Becket did with Satan, he bridled her, controlled her.And like Satan, she refused to relinquish her strong will.But at least Becket spared her life.for now."I know I have no say in my punishment, knight, but I beg you not to separate me from Pierre.He is all I have.Also, I will not reveal my every secret.Other than those stipulations I will obey you.I give you my oath.""Acceptable.For now.But I warn you.I will know your secret before the day fades."And I, yours, knight.Rochelle heard movement, felt the whip handle dragged across the back of her neck beneath her wimple.A shiver rippled up her tensed spine."Despite your oath, my sly falcon, I have the feeling you haven't surrendered.Do you hope to bedevil the devil?""I but seek the solution to my dilemma." Rochelle reached over her shoulder and grabbed the handle, the leather woven as tightly as the knots in her stomach."How do I tempt the Fallen Angel?""Satan is beyond temptation.""And yet, Satan is tempted by Falcon." She tugged on the handle, pulled him toward her.Although he outpowered her, he allowed the pull, moved closer, pressed his body against her back, bathed her with his heat."Au contraire, Lady Rochelle, Falcon will carry Satan's seed.You failed.Remember?""The moments are branded upon my pride.Even so, I request another chance.""All losers do."Her face burned with humiliation.Anger filled her like molten metal barely set.Hot.Strong.She spun to face him, bowing in mock obeisance."Congratulations, mighty conqueror.You have won.""You play the part of the vanquished with too much ease, demoiselle.Methinks I'd best watch my back, and my wine.But as for now, satisfy my curiosity.Why your meager possessions? Unlike Lady Angelique, you had packed only your embroidered bed-covering, your tapestry, a faded gown and a brooch.""The fabrics, I worked with my own hands.Take them.May they remind you of your treachery.The gown is fit only for rags.The brooch I wish to keep.""A gift from your lover?""God must have formed you from suspicion instead of clay."’Twas my mother's.The only material possession I have that means aught to me."In a blur of speed he swiped the bag of gold from the rushes and held the measly amount in front of her face."And yet you have coin.For Gaston?""For grapevines, knight.For DuBois.What sous I had left after heavy taxes I hid from men like you who would spend them on whores and tournaments, on vanities and luxuries.""Surely not on DuBois.I've witnessed with heartache the estate's disrepair.""Where have you been for the last half-decade, knight?"He tightened his grip on the bag of gold."I told you, no questions of aught that is none of your affair."Another secret.She shrugged, she hoped the image of nonchalance."I meant the question rhetorically, knight.The Black Death decimated us five years past, the disease taking noble and servant alike, my mother included.""Is your mother also Pierre's?"Her heart jolted."Non.I told you---""That his mother died in the plague.""Pierre's mother was of the village." Her fingers trembled at the too-close question.To hide her discomposure, she ambled along the aisle, then leaned her back against the tack room door-facing, her hands tucked behind her hips, safe from his view, her heart tucked behind her newly reconstructed defense-wall, safe from his allure.Becket flicked the whip as if in idle concentration, repeatedly snapping the tip into a slithery coil."Enlighten me, demoiselle.How did the landless Lady Angelique garner so much wealth? From bribery? Collusion?""She has her own way of appearing with new and wondrous treasures.I don't interfere.""Whom did you send to take a horse to Gaston?"She pushed away from the facing."Your head is as hard as your armor.I sent no one.You are the one with spies.Besides, how would you know of this?""The men found blood on the other side of the waterfall, then two sets of hoof prints.You knew of the hidden exit." He glanced along the row of animals' rumps and switching tails." I will check the shoes of all horses." Then he slid his attention to the light-drenched opening."Including those of your mare.But for now."He faced her, the image of victory eager to test his dominance, smug grin, confident stance, cocky demeanor.Expectant hunger.And yet despite all his demands, she still had her self-respect, her pride, and the coins"Open your bodice, Lady Rochelle."Her heart thudded to a halt."Pardonez-moi?""Obey me." He ran his finger down the handle of his whip as if contemplating its use."But." She stiffened, appalled.His eyes darkened in anticipation, stirring her wrath.She straightened her wimple along with her dignity."And why, may I ask?""No questions, remember? Now show me the treasures you hide beneath your gown."Did he refer to her body? Or the gold?Hands on hips, she stormed to a halt by the haystack, close to the pitchfork in case she needed a weapon."I've changed my mind, knight.I'd rather be imprisoned or tortured.Use that whip on me you so tauntingly stroke.I reclaim my word.""Too late, cherie.'Tis given.And cease that raillery.""Cease that.You expect me to obey you.and not complain?"He grinned.She closed her mouth, shocked.Dear heaven.She had given her word to this lunacy.Cursing beneath her breath, Rochelle struggled with the top button, but between Becket's too-near disclosure about Pierre, and his---she sneered---his command, her fingers trembled like moth's wings after a lengthy flight.She released the first button, and then another.Although he pretended indifference, Becket's attention focused on her fingers like a thirsty man at a well.By the stars, she would exact revenge for such an order."Soften your expression, fair demoiselle.Smile as if delighted to obey me.Play the part of temptress."She narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth."You will burn for this.""Bravo." Rage exploded, fanning the flames of revenge in his eyes.He clapped his hands in slow applause, the thin lash swaying with each pop of his palms."Spoken like the true seed of Reynaurd.You only reaffirm my determination to make certain his bloodline dies with you.""I didn't mean, literally.""But your father did.And my father burned
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