The Bargain Read Online Free Page B

liquor onto the wound.
    Renaud closed his eyes and took a deep breath, before letting it out slowly. The old man stepped over to a hearth and grabbed a red-hot iron.
    To her surprise, de Wulf reached out and took hold of her hand. For a moment she almost pushed it away, but then the old man brought the iron down on Renaud's shoulder.
    The Norman's jaw tightened, his stomach clenched, defining the rigid planes of muscle there.
    Aleysia winced as the smell of burnt flesh surrounded them. Sweat poured off Renaud's forehead, and she was hard-pressed not to wipe it off with his tunic, but she refrained. Ironically, she felt a pang of remorse for having been the one to cause his pain. She ran her thumb along his and watched his color slowly return.
    "My lord, how do you fare?" the surgeon asked with obvious concern.
    Renaud opened his eyes and smiled, and to Aleysia's chagrin, her heart gave a fierce tug. "I shall live to see another day, Henry."
    "That is welcome news," someone said from the doorway. Aleysia looked up to find one of Renaud's men who had been on the ramparts, coming toward him.
    De Wulf smiled up at the younger man. "I am well, Galeran. Have no fear. I shall be in fine form on the morrow. I had thought to keep you all from drills, but I think that would only make the men grow restless."
    "I agree, my lord," Galeran replied, his gaze skipping to Aleysia. He did not look very happy to see her.
    "Have you grown tired of tonight's amusements already?"
    "Nay, I was concerned when I did not see you in the hall, and decided I had best check on you," Galeran replied.
    "I am fine, but since you are here, you can do me a favor."
    "Anything, my lord." Galeran glanced at where Aleysia still held Renaud's hand. Surprisingly, the Norman did not release it.
    "Take Aleysia to the lord's chambers. See that a bath is prepared, and I shall be along shortly."
    Aleysia released his hand and gave him his tunic, relieved to be escaping the room... and de Wulf.
    "I shall see you soon, Aleysia," Renaud said, not moving to let her out of the entrapment of his solid thighs. Rather than climb over him, she slid by him, the front of her thighs brushing against his knees.
    More than happy to get away from him and the stifling armory, she followed the young soldier out of the building, feeling de Wulf s gaze on her the entire way.
    Renaud watched Aleysia follow Galeran out of the armory, as did every other man being tended to. What a find she had been.
    Who knew such a treasure had been tucked away in the north country? A woman dressed in men's clothing, who could best any man with bow and arrow. God knew what other skills she possessed.
    He looked forward to finding out.
    He smiled, remembering her expression earlier in the hall when she had watched him fondle the wench. It had been cruel to do so.
    Little did Aleysia know he had no desire to be with the woman who had serviced his troops for the past eight weeks, since they had burned her small village. In truth, the wench had seemed overjoyed to leave behind an overbearing father to travel with them, spreading her legs for any who would give her coin and attention.
    But Renaud had never had the woman, nor did he want her tonight. He merely wanted to see Aleysia's reaction. He had thought the Saxon would blush and look away, or mayhap even cry, regretful of her rash decision to offer her body for her brother's safety. But she did none of those things, and instead stared boldly as though to say, Do what you will, Norman!
    Even more, he thought he'd recognized curiosity in those haunting green eyes.
    But then she had unexpectedly left the hall, and he had followed, much to the wench's displeasure.
    Aleysia had trembled when she sat by him just now, trying everything in her power not to have her body touch his. He had trapped her between his thighs just to see how she would react, to see if she would flee as she had done earlier. But she had not fled. In fact, she had tried in her own way to soothe