Out of the Dark

by JoAnn Smith Ainsworth

  Courbet stopped pacing and stared at Maximilian. The little bastard is devious.

  “Her parents will bundle her off to home,” Maximilian said. “She’ll be out of our hair.”

  “Count me in.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter Five

  Dispirited, Basil sat in the rundown tavern room and mulled over the lack of progress made the last two days. The Tower’s storage rooms were organized according to who would be using the supplies. The rooms were then padlocked and the duplicate key given to the steward in charge. The originals were held under the close eye of the guards in the Treasury Room.

  Trusted spies out among staff and soldiers listened for any hint of trouble. So far the effort had proved fruitless, but his best informant was due at any moment. Posing as a messenger, the man overheard a great deal of information useful to Basil with no one the wiser. The footsteps coming down the hallway were probably his.

  The door, slightly ajar, opened slowly and Nicolas stuck in his head.

  Basil waved him in.

  “Lock the door behind you.”

  When the informant was seated and ale was poured, Basil asked, “What’s the news?”

  Nicolas got right to the point.

  “There’s a rumor about dissatisfaction among some Norman nobility with the amount of political power being transferred into the hands of the Anglo-Saxons.”

  Basil’s stomach lurched. Nicolas was confirming his worst fears. He hated the murky mire of politics. He dealt more easily with crimes of passion or pure violence.

  “Go on.”

  “Some thought when the queen died that the king would come to his senses and stop trying to appease the Saxons.”

  “What do they think he should do?”

  “They feel the only way to rule is by force. Ruthlessly suppress any rebellion they instigate.”

  “And if they aren’t rebelling?”

  “Then make it appear as if they are.”

  “God rot their entrails.”

  Basil pounded his fist so hard on the table the goblets of ale rattled.

  He’d grown up believing Saxons inferior. These past days, seeing the gentility and intelligence of Lady Lynnet, his attitude was changing. He didn’t want Anglo-Saxons quashed. His duty to the king was to protect them, if innocent.

  “These men are antagonistic to Saxons, but are they loyal to the king?”

  “To the extent that he holds the crown,” Nicolas said before taking another gulp of ale. “I heard no rumors of treason. They are just trying to make it look as if Saxons are behind the beatings and robberies of the king’s tax collectors in the parishes and the thefts in the Tower.”

  “Who are these grumblers?”

  If they could be named, Basil could collect evidence against them and close this investigation quickly, thus taking Lady Lynnet out of harm’s way.

  “No names. I only know that they’re Norman nobility.”

  Basil grimaced, feeling as if a powerful black hand squeezed his heart. A cold morning wind blew, finding access through the cracks in the wall. It seemed to portend problems ahead.

  A great deal of his success as sheriff derived from the goodwill of the Norman barons flocking to London in the king’s service. The last thing he needed was to investigate them. Still, it was his duty and he would not shirk it.

  Basil paid Nicolas and sent him on his way. Alone, he relentlessly paced the dingy room, his hands clasped behind his back and his head hung low in troubled thought.

  Here was confirmation that what Lynnet overheard was not just her imagination. On top of that, the men in the basement were not soldiers, but noblemen. Men of power. Men with money to spend to achieve their own ends.

  “That female may have stumbled into a hornet’s nest.”

  Late that night, Lynnet pounded on her friend’s door loud enough to wake them should they be sleeping. Within a short period of time, the door was pulled open.

  “Lynnet, what are you doing here at this hour?”

  “Why are you alone?” Geoff asked.

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s late. I’ve been waiting up for Evelyn to help me prepare for bed. I just got word she’s been taken violently ill from eating bad food. It will be at least a week before she can return to her duties.”

  “How terrible.”

  “The man from the chamberlain’s staff who brought the news says a new servant will arrive in the morning, but I need some help tonight.”

  “You poor dear,” Matilda said.

  “My parents are long asleep and their servants dismissed. Besides, I’d rather not wake them and encourage another ‘I told you so’ lecture. Can you be a good friend and loan me your servant for tonight?”

  “I’ll do better than that,” Matilda said. “I’ll come help you myself.”

  “Are you certain you understand what to do?”

  Maximilian was speaking to the servant girl lounging against his bedchamber wall. Her voluptuous curves were blatantly displayed by a low neckline and a cinched-in waist. A sassy thing, he’d occasionally bedded her with pleasure.

  “Not only do I understand, but it’ll be fun.”

  “I’ll keep her personal servant sick as long as possible, but you’ll have to work fast. The apothecary is in my pay. He’s feeding her small amounts of poison and diagnosing the results as eating bad food. There’s only so long we can stretch this out without raising suspicion.”

  “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I handle you all right, don’t I?” She placed her hands on her broad hips and threw her head back provocatively. Maximilian ignored her.

  “I’ve arranged for you to take the servant’s place starting this morning.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “Do you think you can convince the lady she’s going mad within a week’s time?”

  She flipped her loose, curly black hair back from her face with her hand.

  “Give me that stack of coins we agreed upon and I’ll make certain of it.”

  “Have you worked with a blind person before this?” Lynnet asked the woman.

  “No, my lady.”

  “Until my companion recovers, you’ll need to do a great many services for me. I do as much as I can on my own, but there are certain things I cannot do.”

  “I’ll do my best, my lady.”

  “There are rules. For one thing, don’t move furniture around. I’ve memorized where everything is placed in this room. I’ll walk into it if something is moved. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “You’ll need to help me cut up my food and handle hot drinks.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “I will break my fast now.”

  “Yes, my lady. I’ll bring food from the kitchens. I’ll only be a short time.”

  Lynnet paced her bedchamber. She was getting increasingly annoyed.

  “Where is that woman? I’ll starve to death before she returns.”

  Lynnet was just about convinced her new servant was not returning, that perhaps she should follow her parents’ example and go down to the Hall for her morning meal, when she heard the door open.

  “Who’s there?”

  A shiver ran down her spine. She turned towards the door, ready to defend herself.

  She’d been skittish since the kidnapping. Evelyn and her parents were trained to announce their entrances. That way she knew right away it was someone who would not hurt her.

  “It’s Fleur, your new maidservant.”

  The breath Lynnet was holding released and her straining lungs filled with air.

  “Announce yourself when you enter. That way I know it’s someone friendly.”

  “I will, my lady.”

  Was there sarcasm in that voice? Couldn’t be. Why would Fleur chance getting caught being sarcastic and jeopardize her position? I’m being overly sensitive.

  She heard a noise. When she turned, Fleur was bending
over something.

  “What was that?”

  “I bumped the table. Don’t worry. Your food didn’t spill.”

  Lynnet’s knees still trembled as she made her way across the chamber to sit down. She was having trouble seeing outlines.

  It seems extra dark in my bedchamber this morning.

  She felt along the edge of the table, wondering why the chair seemed farther away than usual. When at last she found it, she sunk into it gratefully.

  “What took you so long? I thought you were going to hurry.”

  “Long? It’s only been a short while, my lady.”

  “Impossible. I must have waited an hour.”

  “You are mistaken, my lady.”

  Lynnet was shocked. Over the years since being blinded, she’d developed an excellent sense of time. Why would that skill fail her this morning?

  Her annoyance ratcheted up a notch.

  “Well, I won’t argue about it now. Put the food down, please.”

  As she heard the plates of food being set out, she remembered having trouble finding the chair.

  “I told you not to move the furniture around. This chair was shifted from its regular place.”

  “I moved nothing, my lady.”

  Lynnet frowned. This conversation was frustrating.

  “I don’t have problems finding things in my own bedchamber unless they’ve been moved.”

  “You must have moved it yourself, my lady. It was like that when I arrived this morning.”

  Lynnet thought her tone more saucy than subservient, but dismissed the thought as unworthy. She was comparing an untried servant to Evelyn who, over the years, had become a friend.

  “I’d never do anything as stupid as that.”

  “Perhaps your parents moved it. You said they stopped by this morning, but decided to go down to the Hall rather than wait for my interview.”

  “They know better.”

  “I don’t know what else to suggest, my lady. Why don’t you relax over your meal while I straighten up the room for you?”

  Lynnet touched the table in front of her. There was nothing there. Her stomach growled and churned out acid.

  “Where’s my food?”

  “It’s to your left, my lady.”

  “I should have told you I always eat facing the fireplace. The light makes it easier for me to make out the plates of food.”

  “The chamberlain told me that this morning when he gave me instructions. I placed your food facing the fireplace. I wondered why you sat in the wrong direction.”

  Lynnet swiveled on her chair. The fireplace was indeed to the right of her. How could she have been so stupid? Had the events of this past week gotten to her?

  “Do you want me to help you get to the chair that faces the fireplace, my lady?”

  “I’ll do it myself,” Lynnet snapped. She scowled as she stood and traced her fingers along the tabletop. Eventually, they touched her plate of food. No wonder it had seemed a long time getting to the chair. She’d been moving along the broad end of the rectangular table.

  “I’ve cut up your food for you.”

  Lynnet said a grudging “thank you” as she steadied the plate with her left hand. She reached out her right hand to the food.

  I could swear it is darker in here today. Eating is usually easier than this.

  “Are the drapes pulled from the windows?” She thought she remembered hearing that happen as her parents were leaving her bedchamber to go for their morning meal. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

  “Yes, my lady. It’s a dark day outside.”

  Lynnet frowned.

  “I’ll straighten the bed linen if you don’t need my help with your food.”

  She heard her new servant make her way around the bed, straightening bed linen and fluffing up pillows.

  “What’s on this plate?”

  “Cheese and bread. I cut it up for you.”

  The cheese and bread were in tiny little cubes.

  “There’s no need to cut my food this small. I have no trouble swallowing.”

  “I’ll remember that, my lady.”

  Lynnet reached out and picked up a grayed-out shape.

  “What’s in this bowl?”

  “Hot porridge, my lady. Be careful you don’t burn yourself. There’s a small pitcher of cream to cool it down.”

  Lynnet found the bowl barely warm. What was that woman talking about?

  “This is cold.”

  “I’m not surprised. You’ve been sitting there daydreaming such a long time.”

  Had her changing of chairs taken such a long time? It felt like an instant.

  She picked up a piece of bread to eat with her cold porridge and found it too hard to chew.

  “You’ve brought me the stale bread for the puddings. Be careful what you choose in the kitchens.”

  Fleur stopped what she was doing and came over to the table. Lynnet smelled Fleur’s body perspiration as she reached in front to pick up a piece of bread and eat it.

  “You’re right. It’s stale.”

  “You can believe me when I tell you it is.”

  “That’s strange. This bread was with the others being served. Someone must have mixed up the loaves. I’ll go down and get another one.”

  “Never mind. I’m losing my appetite.” Lynnet pushed the plate away.

  The new servant went back to working on the bedding as Lynnet chewed a piece of cheese.

  It’s a bad day in the kitchens. This cheese is almost rotten.

  Before she got around to complaining, something else caught her attention.

  “What’s that bad odor?”

  “What odor, my lady?”

  “You can’t smell that?”

  “Your nose must be better than mine. I can’t smell a thing.”

  “Well I do. That odor is making me sick.”

  The maidservant ostentatiously moved around the bedchamber looking behind and under things and obviously sniffing as she went. Lynnet sat rigidly on the chair. Am I going to be proved wrong again in front of this new servant?

  She heard Fleur at the far side of the bed, pulling up the bed covers and dropping to her knees to look underneath.

  “Here’s your problem. You left the lid off your chamber pot. The bowel movement in it stinks when you get close up. I’ll take this pot away and clean it for you.”

  Was she losing her mind?

  “I haven’t used the chamber pot this morning.”

  “You must be mistaken. There’s definitely one in here,” the new servant said as she replaced the lid, diminishing the odor.

  “I didn’t do that I tell you.”

  “If not you, who else?”

  Lynnet’s mouth clamped shut. It couldn’t have been anyone else.

  “I’ll take this away.” Fleur clucked her tongue in a manner to broadcast her revulsion. “I can’t imagine anyone sneaking in here and leaving this behind,” she mumbled loud enough for Lynnet to overhear as she crossed the room.

  Lynnet’s head pounded and her heart beat rapidly. It was ridiculous, of course. There had to be a logical explanation for the chamber pot. Perhaps she forgot she’d used it last night. After all, she’d been greatly upset when she learned Evelyn was ill. Lynnet touched her crystal.

  The maid servant went out the door, forgetting to close it behind her, leaving Lynnet vulnerable.

  “Fleur, close the door behind you,” she yelled.

  There was an unlocking noise and she heard the hinges creak as the door was pushed open.

  “What was that, my lady? I’d just closed the door when you spoke.”

  Lynnet felt like she was going mad.

  “Never mind. It was nothing.”

  Chapter Six

  “I’m sorry, Lady Lynnet, that your new servant does not please you,” the chamberlain said that afternoon. He came to her chambers upon summons. Lynnet had decided she didn’t want to go through another morning like this one. “I’m unable to provide another. Staff is sh
ort-handed. The king has many guests for winter court.”

  “There is no other servant?”

  “None. Perhaps you can exchange servants with your parents until your own is well.”

  The very idea of asking her parents to make such a sacrifice chilled her down to the ends of her toes.

  “I wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing my parents. I suppose I’ll have to make do until my own servant recovers.”

  Basil strode purposefully along the corridor. He was on his way to Lady Lynnet’s chamber to tell her he had corroborating evidence to her conspiracy theory. A short while earlier, he informed the man guarding the lady to be suspicious of Norman noblemen. He’d arranged for another guard for the evening hours and signed letters of authorization for free passage for them anywhere in the Tower.

  Just as he came abreast of Lord Geoff’s chamber door, it opened and the baron stepped out. They embraced and greeted each other.

  “My good friend,” Geoff said, “why are you prowling these corridors? No thievery on my floor, I hope.”

  Basil gestured down the corridor.

  “I’m on my way to Lady Lynnet’s chambers. I have discovered evidence for a possible conspiracy.”

  A worried look crossed Lord Geoff’s face.

  “Who’s involved?”

  Basil could not reassure him.

  “I have no names. Rumor has it they are Norman lords dissatisfied with the power being given to Anglo-Saxons.”

  “God’s wounds,” Geoff said. “Next thing they’ll be haunting me. Matilda is Saxon.”

  “I know. But I think you’re too closely allied to King Henry to be bothered.”

  Geoff grimaced.

  “We’re newlyweds. We’re still getting to know one another. This is no time to throw political problems into the mix.”

  Basil acknowledged Geoff’s concern with a nod. He had a Saxon woman problem of his own.

  “I understand Lady Lynnet didn’t believe I would follow through with an investigation.”

  He was surprised at how much that hurt him.

  “I’m an honorable man. She should have believed me.”

  A flash of anger increased his heartbeat.