Johanne would not be deterred. She lifted her skirt and straddled Edmund’s leg, bumping her Venus Mound against his thigh. “There was never any doubt that the old man would take to her,” she replied. “What did you tell him of Micheline?”
“That she threw herself from the tower.” He was thinking on pushing her away again but his physical reaction was difficult to ignore. “He did not believe me, I could tell. Now, why on earth would he be speaking to Valdine and Wanda?”
The change of subject captured Johanne’s attention and she stopped rubbing against him long enough to peer from the window, following his gaze. After a moment, she shrugged and returned to masturbating.
“I suppose they want to find out if Spencer knows anything about the conflict in Ireland.” She licked her brother’s ear. “On your desk, dear. I need you now.”
Edmund ignored her, watching curiously as Valdine and Wanda suddenly rushed away from Spencer. The knight mounted his horse and bolted from the inner bailey, leaving Edmund thoroughly puzzled by their behavior.
“Not now.” He moved away from his sister. “I want to see what Valdine and Wanda are up to. Something is not right; they were acting very strangely.”
“They always act strangely.” Johanne followed her brother as he quit the solar. “Where are we going?”
Edmund gestured to the door leading to the bailey. “Where they went.”
“And if they went nowhere?”
Edmund paused by the door, the dust from the bailey filling his nostrils. “They are up to something, Johanne. And I must discover what it is. They had no valid reason to speak to Spencer, and suddenly they dash away from him as if he has sent them on an errand. Though I cannot imagine what that would be.”
Johanne pursed her lips irritably. “Something subversive, I am sure.”
“Do not mock me. The man stood in my solar not five minutes ago accusing me of killing my wife. There is no way of knowing what treachery he is up to. Enlisting Valdine and Wanda to help him, no less!”
Johanne was impatient. She did not believe her brother’s suspicions and was impatient for him to take her. Throwing up her hands, she agreed. “Fine. Let’s discover what they are all up to. And then I demand you pay attention to me.”
“Later.” He pulled her after him.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Micheline found that the garments worn by the serving wenches were hardly different from her own clothing. Coarse, simple, without flair. But her surcoats were clean, whereas the rags Valdine and Wanda had brought her were filthy and louse-ridden. But she put them on, willing to subject herself to such squalor if it would help in her escape.
There was no time frame for her break to freedom; day or night made no difference. When Valdine and Wanda deemed the conditions safe, they would escort Micheline through a secured route. But what had been most disheartening was the fact that no one seemed eager to help. Aye, everyone knew of Micheline’s predicament. But when the twins went about soliciting assistance, no one was willing to involve themselves in a risky situation. No one but the children, that is.
Robert, Fiona, Gilly and George. They had stolen the peasant clothing, and they pestered people to aid Micheline’s cause. Determined little buggers, they had gone so far as to steal one old soldier’s breeches in an attempt to force him to their will. But the ploy had only managed to get Robert a whipping, from his mother no less, who was helping in her own right by giving Valdine and Wanda food to take to the baroness.
Micheline could have very easily been discouraged by the fact that the servants who hated Edmund were likewise unwilling to go against him. But she wasn’t, for she could understand their fear of a man who held their lives in his demented hands. Still, she had Valdine and Wanda and four little peasants who were determined to aid her. And for that, she was grateful.
It was just prior to the nooning meal on the ninth day of her incarceration. Micheline was standing by the window, itching her bug bites, when the rusty latch was thrown. She rushed to the door to be met by the twins, more pleased than she had ever seen them.
“It is time!” Valdine announced.
Micheline’s stomach twisted in knots of excitement and terror. “Then you have managed to find me an escort to Crosby?”
Valdine and Wanda were grinning. “Better than…”
“… that, my lady. A very powerful knight…”
“… has come to your rescue.”
Micheline was puzzled. “A knight? I do not understand.”
“Sir Spencer de Shera, my lady,” Valdine said, pulling a scruffy scarf over Micheline’s head. “He is pledged to Lord Lionel le Vay of Quernmore.”
“Where Mara is?” Micheline stood still as the sisters’ fussed with the scarf. “Did Mara send him?”
The twins’ smiles faded. “Nay, my lady, Lord le Vay sent him.” Valdine passed a long glance at Wanda, who finished the sentence. “He came to announce the marriage of Lady Mara to Lord Lionel le Vay.”
Micheline’s eyes widened. “What?”
The twins hustled her to the landing just outside the door. Wanda closed the panel as Valdine began their reply. “We saw him ride in and…”
“… listened outside the door as he spoke with Edmund. ’Twould seem…”
“… that Edmund sent a missive to le Vay proposing a marriage with your sister. Of course,…”
“… Kirk does not know this. We would suspect that…”
“… Edmund is grateful for the convenience of the Irish uprising to put Kirk far, far away while…”
“… the marriage is carried out.”
Micheline was in shock. “Mara is to marry this… this le Vay? My God, she must be devastated!”
The tower was cold, musty, as Wanda took the lead, taking the ladies down the stairs.
“One thing is certain, my lady.” It was the first time Micheline had ever heard Wanda speak before her sister. “The urgency to remove you is greater now than ever.”
An entire sentence by herself! Had Micheline not been so consumed with distress over Mara’s marriage, she would have given praise to Wanda’s individuality.
“Why?” she asked quietly, jumping aside as a rat scurried past her feet. “Why more so now, Wanda?”
Wanda remained silent as they neared the second floor landing. Down the hall, a flight of stairs used only by the servants would take them to the kitchens. Once through the kitchens where Gilly and George were standing look-out, it would be to the kitchen yard were Robert waited to make sure the iron gate was open. And Fiona, positioned just outside the outer wall where Spencer should be waiting, carried a bundle of food for the trip.
“Because we saw Johanne near the tower entrance yesterday,” she replied belatedly. “She was aware…”
“… that we have been in the tower and no doubt she is curious. It is quite possible…”
“… that her curiosity will cause her to search in places that are better left undiscovered.”
Micheline gasped softly. “Why did not you tell me this before?”
“Because we discouraged her with tales…”
“… of my cat lost in the tower. She hates cats.”
The second floor corridor was dimly lit, a heavily smoking torch the only light. Wanda grabbed Micheline’s hand as the three of them slipped down the hall, silent footfalls to the narrow flight of steps.
The stairwell was dark but Wanda plunged forward. Micheline steadied herself by gripping the stone wall, fearful that she would fall at their fast pace. Smells from the kitchen grew stronger and Micheline was nearly able to breathe a sigh of relief; she was closer to freedom than she had been for days.
Aye, she almost felt a sense of peace. But not yet. The sharp heat of the kitchen slapped her in the face as she emerged into the large, smelly room. And the first thing she saw was a little girl’s pale face.
Micheline smiled, suspected it was one of her rescuers. There was a boy standing next to the young girl, a bit older, his dirty face ashen an
d strange-looking.
“Are you to help me?” she asked gently. “What are your names?”
“Edmund,” came a voice from behind. “And I believe you know my sister, Johanne.”
The three women whirled about, gasps of fright echoing off the kitchen walls. Edmund smiled lazily as Johanne stood next to the fat cook and her equally fat assistant, both women bound and gagged. Micheline and the twins watched in horror as Johanne took a roasting spit from the wall and jabbed it into the cook’s arm, drawing a stream of blood.
“So good of you to join us for supper, Baroness Bowland,” she said, running her finger along the rivets of blood and licking it. “We are to have a great feast tonight. Roasting those who have betrayed the House of de Cleveley.”
Micheline heart sank, trembling so badly that she could hardly speak. “If you are referring to those who would aid an innocent woman, then I believe you are mistaken. They have done nothing wrong.”
Behind her, Gilly suddenly bolted, racing from the kitchen and out into the yard. Edmund made no move to stop the girl, instead, retrieving an object behind him. Micheline noticed he had leaned a massive broadsword against the stone wall and, with a sinister smirk, glanced pointedly at his wife.
“You are supposed to be dead, baroness.”
He was almost scolding her. Micheline swallowed hard, trying to shield both Valdine and Wanda from what was sure to come. “But I am not. And I do not plan on dying for a long, long time.”
Edmund ran his finger across the edge of the sword, a disturbingly deliberate gesture. “Plans are meant to be changed, baroness. I can see now that I must finish Corwin’s duty. And when I am finished with you, it will be my pleasure to make Lady Martin and her sister pay for the crimes of my disobedient knight.”
Micheline ran cold, taking a step back. In fact, all three ladies were stepping back. “Why would you do this, Edmund? We have done nothing wrong.”
Edmund seemed not to hear her words as he continued to inspect the sword. “In truth, I never suspected that Corwin disobeyed me. Not until this very day. When I saw Valdine and Wanda in the yard speaking with Sir Spencer, I thought the knight was somehow coercing them to move against me and I was wise enough to follow them as they fled to the tower. But I never expected to discover the great secret between the knight and the ladies to be my supposedly-dead wife.” He looked at the pale faces of Valdine and Wanda. “Isn’t that what you were discussing with him, ladies? The woman my loyal knight was supposed to do away with?”
Micheline would not let them further endanger themselves with an admission. “To spare a life is never wrong, Edmund.”
Johanne moved away from the captive servants, still clutching the spit. “But to disobey one’s liege most certainly is. A conspiracy of lies that is punishable by death.” She fixed Micheline in the eye. “This is your fault, Lady Micheline. If you had remained obedient to your husband, we would not have been forced to do away with you. You have your own foolish behavior to blame for the deaths of these people who have helped you.”
Micheline turned to Johanne, hating the woman more than she could express. “My behavior may have been foolish, as you put it, but at least it was innocent and pure of heart. Something you yourself can hardly claim.”
Johanne flared, the flicker of madness in her eyes. “But I am an innocent, my lady, referring to the relationship of which you no doubt speak. To learn the art of passion from a man of the same flesh has kept me pure for my husband. My flesh has not been polluted by the touch of an outsider. If you had understood this, we would not have had to do away with you.”
Micheline was baffled. Terrified and baffled. “That’s nonsense. Incest is the very worst of sins and certainly you cannot claim purity. And where on earth do you suppose you would find a husband who would agree with your reasoning?”
“The one man who is worthy of me!” Johanne exploded. “I have waited years for Kirk to realize I am the only woman in the world for him, not those foolish wenches who whisper sweet words or taint him with their crude touch!”
Micheline continued to back away, pushing Valdine and Wanda along. “That’s madness, Johanne. Kirk can never love you. He loves Mara!”
The taut expression on Johanne’s face slackened, melted, drained away. She stared at Micheline, her frail chest heaving unsteadily. Slowly, with the flame of insanity in her eyes growing brighter by the moment, she turned to her brother.
“Is this true?”
“Johanne, I….”
“Is this true?”
Edmund’s attention was diverted from Micheline. “I sent her away, love. She’s no longer a threat to you or to Kirk.”
Johanne clutched the spit tightly, the flesh on her face tightening until she was hardly recognizable. As the three ladies continued to shrink from the volatile confrontation, Johanne took on the madness of the Devil himself.
“You bastard,” she hissed. “You have known all along. Why did not you tell me?”
Edmund struggled to maintain control. “Because it doesn’t matter. She is gone now and you do not have to worry over her.”
“But…!” Spittle dropped from Johanne’s lips. “Why did not you let me wish her away? I should have wished her away!”
“It doesn’t matter…”
“It matters!” Johanne shouted. Against the wall, the cook and Robert’s mother were weeping with fright, growing louder as their mad mistress bellowed. “Of all the women I have wished away, Mara matters most. If Kirk loves her, then she cannot live!”
Beads of sweat peppered Edmund’s brow. The woman he controlled so easily had turned the tables on him and he saw clearly that he was no longer in control. Johanne was lord and master, dominating him, bending him to her will. All of these years Edmund thought it was he who had reigned supreme over the realm of The Darkland, but he could see, simply, that Johanne was the ruler of their world. And it was he who had always submitted to her every whim.
He realized that now. He did not know why he hadn’t seen it before. The more Johanne raged, the more frightened he became.
“She’s gone, Johanne,” he said quietly. “She’s le Vay’s wife now and you cannot harm her. Nothing can.”
Johanne continued to stare at him, her pale eyes twitching ominously. Suddenly, she lifted an eyebrow. “I see now, Edmund,” she murmured, a bitter smile coming to her lips. “Oh, yes. I see quite clearly now. You did not want to kill her. You love her, too!”
Edmund shook his head. “Nay, Johanne, I do not.”
Johanne nodded wildly, her lips hanging open and oh-so-sure of her demented conclusion. “You would not permit me to kill her because you loved her beauty and spirit. You sent her away so that I would not discover the truth!”
“Nay, Johanne!”
“She has taken both you and Kirk away from me!”
“Johanne, listen to yourself!” Edmund pleaded. “You’re mad, love, simply mad!”
Johanne growled deep in her throat, bringing the spit up and wielding it like a spear. Edmund screamed but was unable to evade the weapon as she plunged it deep into his belly, twisting the rod brutally and loving every moment of his suffering. Micheline, jolted with horror, shoved Valdine and Wanda toward the open kitchen door.
“Run!”
The women obeyed. Leaving the screaming and grunting behind them, they raced from the kitchen in the same direction Gilly had taken. Emerging into the yard, they were immediately confronted by Sir Spencer. Having been summoned by the terrified young girl, the man was fully prepared to do battle. Micheline pushed the twins in his direction.
“My lord, save us!” she cried. “Johanne has gone mad!”
Spencer recognized the twins, assuming that the frantic woman behind them was none other than Lady Micheline. He charged forward, placing himself between the terrified ladies and the open kitchen door.
“Where is she?”
Micheline and the twins were huddled by the tunnel entrance, trembling with fright. Robert, Gilly and Fiona j
oined them, creating a fearful flock.
“Inside,” Micheline gasped. “She stabbed Edmund and I fear she comes for us!”
Sword raised defensively, Spencer turned to the darkened doorway. It was difficult to see anything but he could hear faint whimpers emitting from inside. Moving slightly to gain a better look, he kept his weapon leveled in front on him.
A long metal spit suddenly came hurling out of the darkness, striking Spencer’ sword. He grunted with surprise as the weapon went flying, taking a step back as Johanne emerged from the kitchens. She collected the spit from the ground before the knight could reach it and Spencer raised his armored forearm in time to fend off two heavy blows.
Taking another step back, he slipped on a pile of animal dung and nearly lost his balance. Howling like a fiend, Johanne took the opportunity to thrust the spit at his groin and Spencer could no longer deny the fact that his life was in serious jeopardy. The woman was determined to kill him and he was equally determined to defend himself. But he needed his weapon.
It was several feet away. Robert, seeing that Spencer was in trouble, broke from the frightened cluster of women and children, hurling himself toward the steel blade. Losing his footing, he ended up on his buttocks, spinning wildly through the mud. But the slick motion deposited him next to broadsword and he grabbed the thing, using all of his strength to toss it in Spencer’ direction.
“Sir Knight!” he shouted. “Your weapon!”
Spencer’ hand was up, catching the clumsy toss. Instantly, he lifted his sword in the path of the screaming lady, knowing that very shortly it would be life or death for one of them. Johanne jabbed the spear again, this time at his neck, and Spencer had no choice but to respond. Without regrets, he deftly parried her thrust and drove his broadsword deep into her fragile chest. Gasping and twisting, Johanne fell to the ground in a dying heap of blood and foam.
Spencer stood over the woman as she cursed him soundly and breathed her last. Raising his visor with a shaking hand, he turned to the huddle of women and children behind him.
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