Chapter 105

THAT NIGHT, I LAY with Emilie by a fire. I felt her nervousness as I wrapped my arm tightly around her.

Don't be worried for me, I said.

How could I not? You are walking into a lion's den¹.... And there are other things on my mind.

What things? The stars are out. We are here. I can feel the beating of your heart....

Please, do not mock me, Hugh. Emilie turned in my arms. I cannot help myself. My mind has been returning to Bord.

Bord... ?

Anne. Emilie rose up on an elbow. Stephen's wrath² will be great now that his men have failed. He'll want this lance more than ever. I am worried for her.

I don't share your concern.

I know you have no love for her. She stroked my face. But Anne is a prisoner too, just as surely as if she were behind bars. You must understand that. I am pledged to her, Hugh. It is a bond I simply cannot run away from and break.

You are pledged to me now. I tickled³ Emilie's ribs⁴. Can you break that one?

No. She sighed and kissed me on the forehead. That I will never break.

I leaned down to her and kissed her. She opened her mouth to me, but showed a little hesitation⁵. A thousand other people were about. Her breasts came to life at my touch, hard and willing through her robe. I felt my cock spring alive too.

Come with me, I said.

Comewhere? We are in the forest.

A country boy knows. I winked⁶ a bit mischievously⁷. I have a spot. Just for us.

I pulled her up, and in the dark of night, with the glimmer⁸ of campfires and the forms of sleeping men all around, we sneaked⁹ off.

How can you be so impressively aroused, Emilie asked, pretending to pull away from me, with what lies before you in the morning?

In a small clearing, we threw ourselves into each other's arms, cushioned by a small bed of leaves. Without speaking, we lifted our clothing and felt our bodies warm to the touch of each other-still new, a gift I could not believe was mine.

There was a deeper, knowing look in Emilie's eyes. She put my hand on her breast and took a breath. I felt her heart beating like a doe's. Her nipple grew tight and firm at my touch.

Is my spot to your satisfaction? I asked.

That depends. She grinned. Just which spot is that?

She kissed me, her tongue searching mine with an ardor¹⁰ I had not felt from her before. She climbed on my lap and I buried my head in the softness of her breasts. I was aching for her and I could see in her eyes that she felt the same for me.

I moved inside Emilie. Her breaths became heated and purposeful. Her eyes did not leave mine. Iloved that. I felt as if every thrill and instance of her passion, each tremor¹¹ and jolt¹² shooting through me, narrowed into one enormous burst.

At the moment of climax¹³, we cried out. Then we muffled¹⁴ each other and laughed.

Emilie rested with her head on my chest, the distant camp-fires lighting¹⁵ up the night. She sighed, so I knew she was happy, but then a shiver rippled¹⁶ across her shoulders. What happens, she said warily¹⁷, once Baldwin is defeated? Things cannot just go back. These lands have been in his family for generations.

I have been thinking that too, I said. I have no wish to govern. Only to right this wrong. I was thinking I would write to the King. I have heard he is a fair man.

I have heard he is fair. Emilie took a breath. But is he also noble.

I turned her face to me. You said you know the King. You said your father was a member of his court.

Well, yes... I have met him, but...

Then you could intercede¹⁸, I said. You could tell him we are only humble¹⁹ men who want to return to their lives and work in peace. We have no thought to stealing anyone's title or territory. He will have to see.

I felt Emilie nod, her chin upon my chest, but distantly, as if she was not convinced.

Do not be so worried for me. I held her tightly. You have made me strong.

I do not worry just for you, but for all that will follow. For you, I have a secret charm.

And what is this charm that will protect me? I laughed, stroking her hair.

I'm coming along.

What? I raised her up. There is no way, Emilie. I can't allow it.

There isevery way, she said, her eyes unwavering. I am in this as deeply as you, Hugh De Luc. I told you, we are together, our fates entwined. I am going with you. That is all.

I moved to argue, but she stopped me with a finger to my lips. Then she put her head back on my chest and held me as if she would never let go.

1 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

2 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

3 tickled   

（使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐

参考例句：

• We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友，我们高兴极了。
• I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚，使她发笑。

4 ribs   

n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

5 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

6 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

8 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

9 sneaked   

v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状

参考例句：

• I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
• She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。

10 ardor   

n.热情，狂热

参考例句：

• His political ardor led him into many arguments.他的政治狂热使他多次卷入争论中。
• He took up his pursuit with ardor.他满腔热忱地从事工作。

11 tremor   

n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震

参考例句：

• There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
• A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。

12 jolt   

v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸

参考例句：

• We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
• They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.他们拼命地干着，担心余震可能会使房子再次受到震动。

13 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

14 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

16 rippled   

使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
• The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田，泛起一片麦浪。

17 warily   

adv.留心地

参考例句：

• He looked warily around him,pretending to look after Carrie.他小心地看了一下四周，假装是在照顾嘉莉。
• They were heading warily to a point in the enemy line.他们正小心翼翼地向着敌人封锁线的某一处前进。

18 intercede   

vi.仲裁，说情

参考例句：

• He was quickly snubbed when he tried to intercede.当他试着说情时很快被制止了。
• At a time like that there has to be a third party to intercede.这时候要有个第三者出来斡旋。

19 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。