Page 24 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“You understand the Welsh tongue—of what do they sing?”

“’Tis a traveling song. She sings of the beauty of the hillsand valleys and the adventure of the road. He joins her, but sings of the loveleft behind.”

Renaud could not dismiss the thought that troubled him. Whatservant would understand the Welsh tongue well enough to sing it? Had the bardtaught her whilst their heads rested on the same pillow? He frowned. “It seemsthe Welshman taught the people more than the bow.”

“‘Tis a bit of talent he has,” said Geoff. “I have neverheard the ballad sung so well.”

Renaud’s eyes narrowed as he continued to gaze at the twosinging, their heads close together like two lovers exchanging endearments. TheWelshman gazed intently at Sarah, and she returned his regard. Clearly theyshared a great affection for each other. So it was not only the old lord’s sonfor whom she made room in her heart. Did she also make room for the Welshman inher bed? Notwithstanding her protests, he wondered if she was a maiden still.How could a woman so lovely be left alone for so long?

As her voice rose with the song, Sarah smiled at thechildren sitting at her feet. He had never seen her smile like that. It was adazzling smile. She was beautiful, bewitching—happy. The lovely sound of herclear voice wrapped around him like a warm cloak, filling him with a suddendesire to possess her.

Renaud’s body tensed like hard steel when he looked at thefaces of his men. They were enthralled with the English servant girl, whoseskin glowed in the firelight, and whose eyes danced with the song. A wave ofjealousy flowed over him.

When the song ended and another began, Renaud set his facein firm resolve and turned to Geoff. “Ask the seneschal to send up my bath andsome wine. When the singing ends, have Sarah sent to my room. I would have aword with her.”

“Aye, Ren. I will see it done.”

Geoff turned to carry out the orders, and Renaud said overhis shoulder, “See that none of the men touch her.”

* * *

Serena paused at the bottom of the stairs leading to thechambers above…to his chamber. It was late and she had never gone to hischamber at night. But refusing his command would only arouse suspicion. Aservant was bound to obey. Her heart raced and she wiped her damp palms on hertunic. What did his summons mean?

She had been dismayed when they’d asked her to sing, awareit would put her in front of the Norman men and remind the people their ladywas still among them. Soon one of them would make the mistake of calling her byher real name. It had almost happened with the children. Though singing withRhodri presented risks, in the end she was glad she had done it for it remindedher of happier times when she and Rhodri had sung for her father and Steinar,when such evenings were common at Talisand.

Her father had loved the music of the Welsh bard and hadencouraged the people to embrace the songs Rhodri brought to their hall. Thesongs and languages of many cultures had found a place at Talisand. Even theNorman food and language had been of interest to the old thegn since the timewhen King Edward had invited Normans to England. Her family had never seen themas enemies, not until the Bastard Duke decided to assert his claim to thethrone.

Serena had not seen the Red Wolf in the hall while she andRhodri sang; she hoped he had missed the performance. She did not wish to bethe object of the gray eyes that increasingly followed her every movement,desire reflected in their depths.

Within her, hate warred with reluctant respect. Resistancewarred with desire. Though he was one of the dreaded Normans, he was a fairmaster and a defender of women. She was drawn to him, albeit against her will,whenever he was near. Now summoned to his chamber, her heart leaped within herchest. What did he intend?

Resigned, she slowly ascended the stairs.

Her knock sounded softly on the wooden door, the door thathad once led to her father’s chamber.

“Come.” At his deep voice, she nearly jumped.

Carefully, she opened the door and stepped inside, closingit behind her. She scanned the room looking for the tall knight with thechestnut hair. At first she did not see him but a movement drew her gaze to thelarge bathing tub on the floor. He was sitting in the water with his back toher, his knees drawn up to his chest. The dark rust of his hair captured thelight from the candles causing it to glisten with streaks of amber.

“Please forgive me, my lord. I did not realize you werebathing.” She turned to leave.

“I would speak with you, Sarah,” he said without turning.“You can wash my back while we talk.”

Serena’s heart sped. While it was not unusual for the lordto ask a servant girl to assist with his bathing, her father had never allowedher to undertake such a task with any of their guests. She did not want to beclose to the man, especially knowing he was naked, but a servant could notrefuse her lord such a request.

“Yea, my lord.”

Taking up the cloth and soap, she knelt behind him, dippedthem both in the water and, working in the soap, began to scrub his back. Themuscles of his broad shoulders rippled as she dipped the soapy cloth in thewater and ran it over his bronzed skin. His was a knight’s body, one that hadwielded a weapon against her people. Despite all that, she wanted to touch him,to smooth her hand over his muscles and the jagged scar on his shoulder. Ittroubled her that the body of her enemy could arouse her senses so.

Her hands continued to work the soap into his skin,scrubbing with force lest she be lulled into touching him with gentle strokes.She tried to erase the thoughts that swirled through her mind. She supposedmany women would want such a man. Aethel had wanted him. While his mentold ribald jests at the evening meal, some had spoken of the many women whosought the Red Wolf’s bed. It was easy to see why Aethel had desired him. Thescene she had witnessed that night in his chamber when she had found themtogether was still vivid in her mind. Her hand slowed when his right handgripped the side of the tub. A jagged scar slashed across the skin of hiswrist. Was it the mark of the beast he had killed?

The Red Wolf let his head drop forward and he uttered a softmoan, causing her to lift the cloth from his back.

“You have a beautiful voice, Sarah,” he said in a lethargicvoice. “Did the Welshman teach you the songs?”

She forced a thank you from her lips, and resumed scrubbinghis back. “Yea, Rhodri taught me his music.”

He reached back, took her hand that held the cloth and drewit to his chest. “Sarah, I would have you also scrub my chest.” He wasdeliberately forcing her to confront his maleness, to put her hands on the darkhair that covered his chest. She kept her eyes above the water even as herbreathing became more strained. She had to fight her own attraction for him inorder to keep her distance.