Earth Song (Medieval Song 3)

The chamber door opened some minutes later, and for a moment Dienwald was silhouetted in faint light. He closed the door behind him. “Get back into bed and stretch your hands above your head so I can tie you again.”

He heard a deep hitching breath close to him, far too close, but he wasn’t fast enough. The chamber pot hit him squarely atop the head and he dropped like a stone.

Philippa stared down at him. He looked dead, and she felt the shock of fear and guilt. She dropped to her knees and pressed her palm against his chest. “Don’t you dare die, you scoundrel!” His heartbeat was steady and slow. She got to her feet and stood over him. Her mind began to function again as she stared down at the unconscious man.

Now what was she to do?

She’d thought with her feet again, only this time her actions could well prove to be worse than jumping into the Beauchamp moat.

Tancrid. She had to get the squire out of the way. Perhaps she could take him as a hostage. Yes, that’s what she’d do. And she could take his clothes and his shoes and . . . Her mind squirreled madly about.

A hand curled around her ankle and pulled hard. Philippa’s legs went out from under her and she went down hard on her bottom. Dienwald, his head spinning, threw himself on top of her, pinning her down with his weight.

She was larger than most women, but she couldn’t push him off her. His eyes accustomed themselves to the dim candlelight and he stared down into her face.

“I didn’t hit you hard enough.”

“Aye, you did. I’m seeing four of you, and believe me, wench, even one of your sort is too many.”

Dienwald became suddenly aware of her full breasts and her soft body beneath him. His lust sprang full-blown into life, and with it his manhood. Without thinking, he pressed himself against her.

“You’re a menace,” he said, hating the fact that he wanted to jerk up her gown and ride her until she was yelling with the pleasure of it and his own pleasure was washing over him. Instead he said, “You’re a foolish girl who hasn’t a thought for consequences, and I’m tired of it.”

“What are you going to do to me?”

Dienwald didn’t answer. His vision cleared, as did his lust. Cleansing anger took its place. He pulled himself off her and hauled her up with him. He strode to the bed, dragging her behind him, then pulled her down over his thighs. He held her down with one arm and lit the candle with the other. Then he yanked up her gown, baring a very lovely bottom. And brought the flat of his hand down as hard as he could on the white flesh.

For an instant, Philippa froze. No, he couldn’t be spanking her, not like this, with her buttocks as bare as the day she’d come from her mother’s womb. He struck her again, and she shrieked in rage and pain and tried to rear up.

He smacked her again, harder this time, then again and again. She was sobbing with pain and impotent fury, struggling with all her strength, when she felt his fingers pressing inward, pushing her legs more widely apart, touching her. She let out a small terrified cry.

Just as quickly, Dienwald flung her off him, onto her back on the bed. He wrapped her wrists again, tying her more securely this time.

She gave a pitiful sob.

“Don’t you dare accuse me of hurting you. Edmund would laugh at a hiding that tender.” He hated that word the moment it came from his mouth. It brought to mind the violent lust he’d felt for her moments before.

Her sobs died in her throat. “Your hand is hard and callused. You did hurt me.”

“You can’t even lie convincingly. Would you prefer a chamber pot on your head, you stupid wench? Thank St. George’s lance you hadn’t relieved yourself in it first!”

“Of course I hadn’t used it! I’m not a—”

“Quiet! You will drive me to lunacy and back! Enough. Go to sleep.”

Philippa’s bottom felt hot and her flesh was stinging. Her tears were drying on he

r cheeks and itching. There was nothing she could do about it.

Dienwald was so irritated he couldn’t remain silent. “I don’t know why I don’t simply take you. Why don’t—”

“My father would see to it that you were sent as a eunuch to Jerusalem if you forced me.”

“What know you of eunuchs and the Holy Land?”

“I am not an ignorant girl. I have learned much. I’ve had lessons since my eighth year.”

“Why would your father waste good coin to educate you, a silly female? That makes no sense at all.”