by Anne Herries
‘And what were they arguing about?’
‘The cardinal said he must have proof of your death before Lord Stornway could wed Lady Elaine—but the King’s Marshal said that your marriage was not a true one, that it was never consummated and could be annulled by the Church. The cardinal was reluctant, but in the end he took gold from Lord Stornway and agreed the wedding would take place before Christ’s Mass—as soon as he received word from the bishop that the marriage was annulled.’
‘The devil!’ Zander glared at him. ‘For an annulment Elaine would need to consent.’
‘She could be made to seem as if she consented,’ Bertrand said. ‘Lady Anne is clever with drugs, my lord. For a while after you were reported dead my lady did not care whether she lived or died…they controlled her mind then and might again.’
‘What proof of this have you?’
‘None but what I have seen and heard.’
‘Yet I believe you.’ Zander’s hand clenched on his sword hilt. ‘We must get her away from that devil…but how?’
‘You could not take the castle by a frontal assault,’ Bertrand said. ‘The only way is if a few of us could enter the castle secretly and snatch her.’
‘Could you get us in without raising the alarm?’
‘If you were willing to accept a disguise,’ Bertrand said. ‘Every morning the side gates are opened to allow villagers to bring in food or come to their work. We could mingle with them, hiding our weapons, and make our way to Lady Elaine’s chamber.’
‘Your face is known.’
‘Aye. I shall drive the cart in which you and two of your best men will hide. If we are to succeed, we cannot risk a larger force.’
‘If we fail…you know it would mean certain death?’ Zander glanced about him. ‘Who will follow me?’
Every man present stepped forwards.
Zander smiled. ‘I thank you all. Sir Robert, Sir Henry, you will accompany me. The rest of you must stay here to protect the manor and wait for us to return.’
‘And if you do not, my lord?’
‘Then you must ask my uncle to avenge us and to free my lady.’
‘She drank the tisane you took her?’ Philip looked at his sister through narrowed eyes. ‘She almost died the last time—she will not be ill this time?’
‘I have given her just a small measure of the cure. It will make her sleepy, but she will not be harmed. Tomorrow I will give her a little more and she will feel tired, hazy in her mind, just as when she lay ill before—but in a few days she will do everything you tell her without question. The priest will not notice that she seems odd—even if he cares.’
‘I have paid him well enough, but there must be witnesses to the marriage so that she cannot protest she was tricked.’
‘You worry too much, Philip. I do not know why you want this woman so much. She is beautiful and she has some land—but you might take her lands anyway.’
‘Yes, she is beautiful,’ he agreed. ‘I coveted her as soon as I saw that Zander wanted her.’
‘You hate him as much as I, do you not?’
‘More…’ Philip’s eyes went cold. ‘His father threatened me…he threatened to have me disgraced and exiled by the king.’
Anne inclined her head. ‘That is why you had him beaten to death,’ she said. ‘Because he threatened you?’
‘Because he knew…’ Philip’s mouth was hard. ‘He knew that I had murdered my uncle, as he lay sick in his bed. I did not know that he had witnessed my act until he accused me of murder.’
‘You murdered our uncle to become Lord Stornway and the King’s Marshal?’
Philip smiled queerly. ‘He was old and weak. I wanted the power that was his—and I did not wish to go to the Crusades with Richard. Such adventures are for fools like Zander de Bricasse. He was so proud to take the Cross—and look where it got him.’
‘He came back scarred but rich, richer than you,’ Anne said. ‘Why did you not keep his jewels while you had them? He trusted you with his fortune.’
‘He is a favourite of the king,’ Philip said. ‘Richard’s ransom has either been paid or will be paid soon. He will return to England and if Zander had lodged a complaint against me…’
‘So you plotted to make him believe that Newark was his enemy.’ Anne laughed. ‘You are so clever, Philip. I admire your ruthlessness—but you promised me Zander’s head. I still have nothing to prove he is dead.’
‘You complain too much,’ Philip said. ‘I tell you he was slain. If he lives—where is he? Why did he not send word to Elaine or to me?’
‘Perhaps he plays a deeper game than you think, Philip? Mayhap he no longer trusts you.’
‘I tell you he is dead,’ Philip replied. ‘Go up and give Elaine another of your foul potions—but take care you do not make her ill.’
‘What would you do to me if I did?’ Anne asked and shivered as she saw the truth in his eyes, though he gave no verbal answer.
Turning, she walked away, her head bent and deep in thought.
She had always known her brother’s devious nature—the streak of evil that he kept hidden behind a charming smile. As a girl she’d come across him torturing a puppy. When she’d tried to rescue it, he had slapped her and made her cry. Afterwards, he’d given her a fairing and begged her pardon, but she’d learned not to cross him again.
She’d been fond of her uncle, who had brought them up when their father had died in battle. Anne had not loved many people in her life, but she’d cared for Sir Jonquil and for her Uncle John. She had been careful not to reveal her shock at her brother’s casual revelation. Because she had wanted Zander de Bricasse dead, and because she’d helped him subdue Elaine, he believed that she was completely on his side—but now she felt a strange revulsion. Her bitter disappointment that the only man she’d ever wanted to wed had been killed in combat with Lord Zander had made her strike a bargain with her brother—but she had not known then that he’d murdered their gentle uncle.
Anne was not sure how she felt, but one thing was certain. She must be very careful—once Philip had what he wanted, he would no longer need his sister.
‘We must go now,’ Marion urged. ‘You need take nothing with you, but we must leave before Lady Anne comes to see if you are still sleeping.’
‘Yes…we must go,’ Elaine said, then stopped as she heard a noise outside their door. ‘Someone comes. I shall lie down and pretend to sleep. You must leave me and wait for me in the courtyard.’
‘But, my lady…’
Elaine put a finger to her lips and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes. A moment later the door opened and Lady Anne entered. She frowned as she saw Marion.
‘Is your lady well?’
‘She seems very sleepy,’ Marion answered. ‘She was awake a few moments ago, but seemed lethargic—as if she had no energy. I asked if she needed anything and she told me to let her sleep.’
‘I see…’ Anne’s eyes travelled round the chamber, but everything was as normal. ‘I shall let her sleep—and you must come, too. I would have you fetch Lord Stornway to my chamber. Tell him it is important.’
‘Yes, my lady. I shall go at once.’
Elaine heard them go out and close the door. She tensed lest Anne decided to lock the door, for Elaine had heard an odd note in her voice that made her think she might suspect something. The door remained unlocked. Elaine waited a moment, then rose, took her cloak from the closet and pulled it on, bringing the hood up over her face. She went softly to the door and looked out. The stair was in darkness, but she could see lights in the hall below. Some were still at their supper.
Her heart beating wildly, Elaine crept down the worn stone steps to the bottom. If she could reach the side door to the courtyard without being seen…Her breath caught in her throat as she heard a man’s laughter, but no one called out or asked who she was or where she went. The corner of the hall where she stood lay in shadow for the torches were flickering low. She heard Lord Stornway’s voice saying that
he had been summoned to his sister and dug her nails into her hand. Would he glance her way and see her?
Elaine was sick with fear, but there was no warning shout and no one ran to stop her as she softly lifted the latch and went out into the frosty night air. A moon was in the sky and it was light enough for her to see Marion waiting for her.
‘Thank God you are come,’ Marion said and caught her arm. ‘I thought Lady Anne suspected something. Pray God she will not tell her brother. The night is too light and if they look for us there is nowhere to hide until we reach the woods.’
‘Lord Stornway was called away to her. I feared he would see me, but I stood in the shadows of a pillar and he did not.’
‘I did not summon him so she must have sent to him again,’ Marion said. ‘We must hurry, my lady. I am afraid she knows something.’
‘If we reach the woods there are places we can hide. We must try to get home before the morning, because once they know I’ve run away they will come after us.’
‘Why did you summon me at this hour?’ Philip asked when he walked into Anne’s chamber. ‘Is Elaine ill? Have your foul potions made her sick again?’
‘You blame me for her illness,’ Anne said. ‘I only did what you asked, Philip. You wanted her docile so that you could persuade her to wed you. I told you she would be difficult to persuade, but you would not listen to me.’
‘Damn you, Anne,’ he said and glared at her. ‘I do not want a lecture from you. Be careful or…’
‘Or what?’ Anne asked, looking at him defiantly. ‘You know that you need me, Philip. She will never wed you if I do not make her subdued and easy to control. It might be years before you could have her.’
‘Damn you, you witch. The priest will do as he’s told or I’ll have him beaten. As for you—if you harm her…’ He advanced on her and Anne shivered. ‘Tell me she is well or I shall wring your scrawny neck.’
Anne smiled. ‘She is sleeping peacefully, brother dear. I gave her another small dose of poppy juice. Leave her to me and in a few days she will do whatever you wish.’
Philip nodded. ‘You will do as I want if you know what is good for you.’
‘When have I ever defied you?’ Anne went over to her window and glanced out. She was in time to see two figures wrapped in cloaks disappearing through the side gate of the courtyard. She turned and smiled at her brother. ‘Go and look at her if you will, but I dare say her woman is sitting with her.’
‘The sooner that wench marries and leaves us, the better,’ Philip muttered. ‘You may tell her that she is dismissed in the morning. I want no one to serve Elaine who is not under your control.’
‘Of course, Philip,’ Anne said sweetly. ‘I shall serve her myself—and one of my women may care for her bodily needs. You may rest easily, brother. In a few days everything you ever wished for will be yours.’
‘It will be the worse for you if you do not keep your promise.’
He turned and strode from the room, shutting her door with a heavy snap.
‘I shall keep my promise to you, as you kept yours to me, brother,’ Anne said. She looked about her room, deciding what she would take with her. There were jewels enough of her own, but she knew where Philip kept some of his treasures. She would wait an hour or two until all was quiet and then she would go, using the same gate Elaine and her woman had used to escape. Once Philip knew they had gone, he would kill her, because he would know that she had lied to him.
Anne had only ever wanted to wed one man. That man was denied her, but she no longer craved revenge. Indeed, she cared not whether Zander de Bricasse was alive or dead.
Her brother Philip was a murderer and more than that she suspected that his mind was twisted—that he was insane. She had never been certain of it until now, but she could not forgive him for the terrible sin of murdering their gentle uncle. His sin was her sin, because without knowing it she had condoned what he did—she had schemed with him to murder and to force an innocent woman into a marriage that She now believed would have been hateful.
She would go to a nunnery and offer her life to Christ. She would pray for forgiveness and for the redemption of her soul….
Chapter Thirteen
‘Can we stop running now?’ Marion asked. She doubled over, her chest hurting so much that she could scarcely bear it. ‘I have not heard anything since we left the castle. I do not believe they have discovered our escape.’
‘Do not talk,’ Elaine said, breathing deeply. ‘We have escaped detection so far, but the sun will be up soon and we still have some way to go. We cannot rest long, because they will come looking for us as soon as they discover we are not in the castle.’
‘At least Lady Anne did not alert her brother last night.’ Marion sank down to the ground, her back against a tree. ‘Have you any idea where we are—or how far we are from the manor?’
‘I think if we keep going we shall soon be through the woods,’ Elaine said and sat down beside her. ‘I do not recognise anything here—but once we leave the woods we may see a milestone or perhaps a church that we know. If not, we must ask the way.’
‘We’re lost, aren’t we?’ Marion said, her throat catching. ‘We ran in such a blind panic that I did not take note which way we went.’
Elaine smiled at her. ‘We must just keep going. In the morning we may see a farm cart and ask the way. Mayhap some kind soul will give us a lift home.’
Marion nodded and stood up. ‘Yes, we must keep going. I wish Bertrand were with us, as he was when we left Howarth.’
‘He was a good guide and I, too, wish he were here,’ Elaine said, smiling at her. ‘Have courage, my friend. I think God is looking after us. I was certain Lady Anne knew I was faking my sleep, but she did not betray us. Luck is with us thus far. We must go on. When we are home we can pull up the drawbridge and resist all comers until my husband’s uncle comes to help us.’
‘I am ready to go on,’ Marion said and reached for her hand. ‘Forgive me for ever thinking of leaving you, my lady. If I had not been so deceived in Lord Stornway, we might have escaped before this.’
‘His manner is always pleasant. Even now I find it hard to believe that he could be so wicked…and his sister…’
‘You must believe me. If he were to recapture you…’ Now Marion was urgent. ‘We must hurry, my lady. We have to reach your manor before he comes after us.’
‘What time do they open the gates?’ Zander asked. ‘We must do nothing to arouse suspicions.’
‘Just after seven bells,’ Bertrand replied. ‘It is six bells in the summer, but at this time of the year it is later to allow for the sunrise.’
‘Then we must make haste,’ Zander said. ‘We have yet to make our way through the woods.’
‘Get beneath the sacks, my lord,’ Bertrand said. ‘There are others stirring already.’ He pointed down the road towards two women. ‘If you are seen…’
Zander was about to obey when Bertrand gave a startled cry. ‘What is wrong?’
‘My lord, I think…’ Bertrand began to sprint towards the women and one of them ran forwards. He caught her in his arms and held her. Zander looked beyond them to the second woman. His heart thudded to a halt and he was turned to stone, as he knew her, his feet unable to move. ‘My lord…’ Bertrand beckoned to him. ‘’Tis Marion and my lady.’
His voice broke the spell that held Zander rooted to the ground. He took a step forwards as Elaine suddenly came flying towards them. She stopped as she reached him and he saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
‘Zander…you are alive?’ Her voice caught with emotion and he saw the tears trickle down her cheeks. ‘I thought…I thought you were dead.’ She was trembling, uncertain, staring at him in disbelief.
Zander’s mouth was dry and the words he wanted to say would not come. How could he speak of all he felt? How could he explain the uncertainty that had made him linger with Janvier for weeks? How might he tell her that he had not believed himself capable of loving her as she deserved,
but had fought his devils and won?
‘What happened to you? Why did you disregard my message to stay inside the manor and draw up your bridge until I came?’ His voice sounded cold and angry to his own ears, but he could not smile and, though his arms ached to hold her, he made no move towards her. ‘We thought you might be a prisoner.’
Elaine lifted her head, a look of pain in her eyes. Zander knew that his cold manner had hurt her but he could not let himself tell her how much he had feared for her. Instead, he felt a roaring anger in his head. She had gone to Stornway of her own free will…and she had promised to wed the earl if there were proof of Zander’s death—did she care for him? Had she come to realise that Zander was not worthy of her after all? He knew his suspicions were unfair, yet jealousy made him look at her with cold reserve.
‘I never received your message, my lord,’ she said and now there was pride in her eyes. ‘There was a wounded man at Stornway Castle who claimed you had sent him to tell me you had been betrayed—but he said nothing of remaining at the manor. When we had no message for weeks I was anxious and feared you dead. I sent to Lord Stornway for help.’
‘You went to him and then what happened?’ His expression remained icy and he saw her look of pain, yet still he could not relent. Philip had sworn eternal friendship, but he had lied. Zander had trusted him—could he now trust her despite her avowal of love?
‘My lady was very ill,’ Marion said, speaking because Elaine was silent. ‘Lady Anne nursed her and gave her potions that were meant to cure her, but I believe they sought to steal away my lady’s will.’
‘I will speak for myself,’ Elaine said and now in turn there was anger in her lovely eyes. ‘Lord Stornway told me you were dead. Your soldier saw you fall and it seemed certain that you were hacked to death. I became ill and when I recovered Lord Stornway said that I must marry him, because I should never be safe at the manor as a widow.’
‘And you were content to wed him? You consented to marry him before Christ’s Mass?’
‘I said that I did not wish to marry at all—and I told him that I could not marry for there was no proof that you were dead. He said that our marriage was no true marriage and he did not need proof—that he would have it annulled. I told him that I must have time to grieve.’