Two warriors eyed each other, breaths coming fast, exertion and injury clearly marked upon their bodies. A display of teeth broke across Tibald’s face as Gabriel stalked his prey, circling him, ready to deal the final blow.
“Looks like neither of us will have her now,” Tibald snorted, motioning in the direction of Evelyn’s prone body.
A thick red stain blossomed behind her head, soaking gratefully into the dry earth, her face ashen and heart achingly serene. It brought a string of obscenities to his lips. In stalking his quarry, Gabriel hadn’t even noticed the stomach churning sight of his love perishing. Tibald used the distraction to his advantage and hit out with his fist, delivering a bone splintering punch to the face. Blood gushed from Gabriel’s nose and he reeled from the shock of the blow as Tibald kicked at his hand, sending his sword across the dirt.
Powered by a thirst for revenge, Gabriel ran at Tibald, barrelling into the larger man, sending them both sprawling to the ground. They grappled in the grime, powdered earth coating their sweat slickened body, wounds wrenching, painting clothes and skin with crimson streaks. Curses and insults befell their lips in their battle for supremacy as they clawed and snatched at each other, rolling across the muddy floor.
Fists flying, the two men were locked in a vicious battle, both suffering from injury and exhaustion. Pinning Tibald underneath him he brought his fist down at his face, a gratifying eruption of blood answering his assault and he repeatedly smashed his fist into the pulpy tissue. Tibald ineffectively blocked the barrage with slowly weakening blows.
The body in his hands became lifeless and he fell back in exhaustion. Tibald’s battered face gave a choking laugh, red coated teeth grinning. Gabriel grabbed at his collar, fist drawn back, ready to destroy the man that had set him on his path to sin.
“You think she’s your salvation, Gabe?” Tibald’s voice strangled under the gagging flow of blood and he spat, the bloodied saliva, dribbling down his swollen jaw. “Redemption is far beyond your reach, as you have so justly proved.”
His head lolled back, becoming limp under Gabriel’s hand and he dropped him as if he were aflame, the spectacle before him transporting him to a long buried past. A feminine whimper brought him out of his trance and he scrabbled desperately to Evelyn’s side. Placing a hand under her head and feeling the stickiness matted in her hair, he cradled her to his chest. No more sounds could be heard and he waited for a sign, a breath, a whisper of a pulse, and for the first time since he was a boy, he wept, begging the fates to take him instead.
Chapter 12
The happenings of that day sobered the mood of the locals and a melancholy atmosphere hung in the air. What should have been a day of celebration had rapidly turned into one of reflection and despondency. The news of Lady Evelyn was spread quickly by those that had witnessed Gabriel carrying her limp body to the keep and, as her charitable nature had inspired much affection, sadness was felt in many a home that night.
The mood was no more jovial in the castle that night, as the servants tip-toed around two grief stricken men. They sat in the hall at that late hour and nursed their sorrows with wine, their shared anguish creating a quick bond between the unlikely pair.
It turned out William had very nearly been killed on his way back to Beldersert from the Holy Land but had managed to escape. The hired mercenaries had injured him so badly it was assumed he would never survive but he had made his way to Beldersert and had spent much time recuperating. His return was kept quiet due to the fear of another attack and his men spent many hours hunting down the would-be assassins.
Upon recovery, and now knowing of the man behind the murderous plot, he had travelled with a selection of his men, intending to have Tibald arrested. His shock upon discovering his sister married was palpable but quickly forgotten upon Tibald’s order to attack. Thankfully William’s riders had the advantage and the skirmish was short lived.
Although the two men had struck up a comradeship, William’s initial reaction to Gabriel was not one of friendship, having heard of the man that took his beloved sister into the clutches of Tibald. However, upon seeing the man’s heartbreak, he had relented and together they aided one another through this grievous time.
Gabriel jumped up as the physician entered. He didn’t say anything, almost unable to ask the question for fear of the answer.
“Lady Evelyn is stable.”
Gabriel slumped back down in his chair, feeling as though he had aged a hundred years, and placed his head to the table. William patted him on the back and looked to the physician questioningly as he wrung his hands awkwardly
“But…?”
“She is still in danger. ‘Twas a heavy blow. If there is internal bleeding then there is little to be done. There is also risk of infection but I have treated it as best I can.”
Gabriel’s head remained motionless as he listened to this and a cold hand clenched at his heart. He was being punished for his sins, he was sure of it. Why should this happen to his Evie? There was no-one as kind hearted or as virtuous as she. He wished with all his might that he had received the blow instead.
The physician continued, “I suggest you settle any business now, in case she worsens.”
Gabriel motioned for William to go. He was desperate to see her but he needed a moment to compose himself. He felt bitterly his failure to protect her from harm yet again and his demons spurned on his belief that this was his fault and it would not have happened had he been a better, stronger man.
He knew he was selfish and weak when he traipsed upstairs to see her. She would be better off without him but God help him, he could not continue without her.
They had placed her in Tibald’s solar, knowing she would get the most comfort there but he shuddered at the thought of having her in the room of the man that may well have killed her. It took all his strength to step over the threshold, barely able to look toward the bed for fear of what he would see.
William watched him enter and placed a kiss to Evelyn’s head before exiting the room, putting a reassuring hand upon Gabriel’s shoulder as he moved past him.
Trembling legs carried him to her bedside and he knelt beside her, observing her ashen face. For a moment he thought he had waited too long until he saw the flicker of a pulse in the arch of her neck. He grabbed at her hand, placing fevered kisses to the back of it.
Stroking a finger across her pale cheek, he was rewarded with a flutter of lashes and she opened her eyes to him. Her unfocused gaze finally secured on his face and she gave him a weak smile, love still able to shine through her pallid face. Gabriel’s heart clenched and he moved forward to place a kiss on her forehead.
“Forgive me, Evie.”
She looked at him drowsily and would have scowled if her head hadn’t ached like the devil. Her voice came out a mere whisper, “There is naught to forgive.”
She saw the pain and guilt written all over his features and she wished she could offer him more comfort but her injury had drained her to the point of barely being able to lift a limb. Her heart ached for the man who believed he had no soul yet took the blame of her injury upon himself. If only he could see himself as she saw him, a damaged soul indeed, but not irreparable.
Her last thought as she drifted into a blissful oblivion, free from pain, was of hope. Hope that she would get the chance to show him.
***
“Evie, you look a little pale. Are you well?” He touched a hand to her cheek.
She smiled up at him, radiant and heartbreakingly beautiful. “I am very well, my love.”
His heart jumped at her words, still unable to quite believe that she was his. He still felt unworthy, but with every kiss, every touch, his heart began to heal and the voices of the demons that drove him began to quieten. He was now determined to make amends, to become a better man.
“One might say blossoming…” She gave him a secretive little smile as he frowned at her in puzzlement, and kissed him tenderly.
He looked at her in admiratio
n, her figure neatly displayed in a simple but elegant cream gown, trimmed in blue with a gold circlet adorning her head and a matching girdle. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed his favourite part of the outfit – a delicate gold ring. Their wedding had been one of pure unadulterated joy, the events of the previous months well and truly forgotten along with the tyrannical lord.
He had been full of nerves, utterly convinced she would change her mind and he managed to greet her with such a scowl that she had burst out laughing at him. Filled with pride as she walked beside him to the church, he could not help but wonder what he had done to deserve such a woman.
As they had exchanged vows in front of the people of Beldersert, a feeling of utter contentment settled over him and he thanked God for letting his Evelyn live. It had taken many days of worry before they knew if she would live and Gabriel knew without hesitation that if she survived he would marry her.
After many anxious days the physician finally pronounced her well and Gabriel, who had spent almost every hour keeping vigil by her bedside, grabbed the man and almost kissed him. William laughed hysterically at the poor man’s bewildered face and Evelyn was roused from her slumber. They were betrothed immediately, Gabriel unwilling to wait any longer to ask and Evelyn saying yes without hesitation. William had looked on with interest at the couple, having already given his consent.
Lord Tibald’s land had fallen to the crown and in return for his service to the King, it was bestowed to William. In his time spent with Gabriel, he had recognised the same qualities that his sister had, so when he became aware of Gabriel’s plans to marry he offered him Beldersert as her dowry. Gabriel had hesitated initially, insisting he needed no financial incentive and was no longer driven by a need for power or land, but he knew Evelyn loved Beldersert and, with some persuasion from William, he relented.
There had also been talk of restoring his family land and, in spite of it being something he had yearned after for so long, the memories that lay behind them prevented him from claiming them. His future lay with Evelyn now.
He was snapped from his reverie by a scolding look from his wife. “I hope you have good reason for that scowl, husband.”
Smiling at her words and relishing the sound of them, his scowl vanished.
“Sorry,” he muttered. She still looked a little wan to him and he said as much.
Her eyes glinted as she trailed kisses up his neck towards his mouth and he shuddered under her ministrations.
“I am with child,” she whispered against his lips.
Gabriel jumped back in shock and Evelyn looked at him with slightly less confidence than before.
“You are sure?”
His heart jumped with joy as she nodded and relaxed as his face broke into a smile.
“May I?” He looked at her belly and, although her body was yet unchanged, she moved towards him and allowed him to place his hand tentatively on her stomach as he looked at her in awe.
“My babe,” he whispered.
He leant down and rested his forehead on hers, knowing she had given him his chance to atone for his mistakes. Gazing down at his wife and imagining the new life growing inside her body he uttered a prayer of thanks before she pulled him down for a searing kiss.
“Demanding wench,” he muttered as she laughed and he swept her up in his arms, carrying her over the threshold.
It would take him many years to ever believe he was truly worthy of her and many more to overcome his demons, but together with their growing family, they worked to repair the damage of his actions throughout the years and gradually he became whole.
Their dramatic tale of love nearly lost became a favourite bedtime story for their children and Evelyn loved to watch Gabriel’s face as he told them of their adventures. They knew the story by heart and never failed to nag their father to get to the part where he had saved their mother’s life from the outlaws. At which point Gabriel would turn to her with a smile filled with gratitude and love and every night, as they settled in each other’s arms, Gabriel would insist that indeed Evelyn was the one who had saved him.
Author’s note
The Crimson Castle is set in my home county of Warwickshire. The town of Etone and the village of Beldersert were settlements that existed in the 12th century and are now known as Nuneaton and Beaudesert. Etone Castle is based loosely on Kenilworth Castle, in Warwickshire, which was made out of local red stone. The great lake was artificially created and was a kilometre long and half a kilometre wide. Unfortunately, during the Civil War, Cromwell ordered the lake drained and the Norman Keep destroyed to ensure it could not be used as a defensive fortress again. The ruins are best known for once being the home of Robert Dudley and the recently restored Elizabethan gardens are well worth a visit.
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Also available on Kindle:
A Summer Siege
One Knight
The Crimson Castle Page 16