Velvet Song (Montgomery/Taggert 4)

“Thank you,” she said, smiling up at him. “Are you new in the camp?”

At that he laughed and his brown eyes sparkled. “I was here before Raine, was here when you were a boy. You’ve changed some,” he teased, watching her.

“I don’t . . .” she began before looking away.

“I don’t guess you looked at any of us. It was always him you watched.” He jerked his head toward Raine’s tent. “I don’t guess I blame you, seein’ as how he’s a rich nobleman and you are—were—a . . .” He stopped.

“Is that how it looked?” Alyx said, mostly to herself.

“It did explain a great deal when Lord Raine told us we were to rescue you.”

“Told you, did he?” she asked. “No doubt everyone was quite cheerful at the prospect of saving me.”

The young man cleared his throat and shifted his burden. “I’ll take this to the camp for you.”

“Wait!” she called. “What is your name?”

“Thomas Carter,” he said, grinning.

Thoughtfully, Alyx finished unloading the horse. She’d spent months in this camp and to her knowledge she’d never even seen Thomas Carter, yet he’d been here all along and had even risked his life to rescue her.

Frowning, she went back to the camp and was very pleased when Thomas smiled at her.

Joan and the young men had the tent erected in a very short time and the goods stored inside. Outside blazed a warm campfire.

“Come up in the world, ain’t ya?” asked a woman from across the fire, her eyes glaring at Alyx. There was an enormous goiter on her neck, making her hold her head to one side.

“Could we share what we have with you?” Alyx asked quietly, then turned to glare at Joan, who’d gasped in protest.

The woman shook her head, her eyes wide, and left them.

“You can’t let that diseased scum near us!” Joan hissed. “Would you like to have one of those things on your neck? All she has to do is sit by us and—”

“Quiet!” Alyx said, seeing herself in Joan. “I’ll not have you snubbing these people. They saved my life and for all their filth and disease they deserve more than I can repay. And as for you, you will treat them well—and not just the men.”

Joan set her jaw firmly, muttering something about Alyx betraying her class, that she was becoming more like Lady Judith every day. Without a sound, she slipped off into the darkness.

Like Lady Judith, Alyx thought, and knew she’d never had such a compliment before. Smiling, she stood and went into her tent. Alone on the little cot, she was reminded of her nights with Raine. At least now she was close to him, and for the first time in months she was able to sleep well. Her last thoughts before falling asleep were of Catherine.

In the morning, Alyx awoke refreshed, smiling. The clean, cold, forest air felt good to her and even somewhat like home. Joan was not in sight, so Alyx dressed alone in a dress of emerald green wool trimmed with gold braid. A little cap on the back of her head did nothing to conceal the curls about her face. Her hair was longer now, and no longer did she hate the unusual color that made every strand seem to be an individual.

Outside the tent, she was greeted by an exhausted-looking Joan sitting lifelessly on a tree stump of a stool. Her hair was down her back, the shoulder of her dress torn. There was a bruise on her neck. She looked up at Alyx with bright eyes staring out

of bluish eye sockets. “They are lusty men,” she said wearily, yet so happily, that Alyx worked to keep from laughing.

“Go and rest,” Alyx said sternly. “And when you awaken we’ll talk of your disgusting conduct.”

Heavily, Joan rose and walked toward the tent.

Alyx caught her maid’s arm. “All four of them?” she asked curiously.

Joan only nodded, her eyelids drooping wearily, as she went inside the tent.

Alyx was contemplating this—four men at once?—when Raine presented himself before her, his eyes blazing angrily. She gulped twice. “Good morning,” she managed to say.

“Damn your mornings!” he growled, glaring at her. “That harlot you brought with you has worn out four of my men. They’re no good to me at all this morning. Can’t even lift a sword. I don’t know why you came here, but I think it’s time you returned.”

She smiled at him sweetly. “What a charming welcome, my husband. I apologize for my maid, but as you may remember I haven’t had much practice in handling underlings. We can’t all be born to the nobility. As to why I came here, I have a debt to pay.”