“I’ll be careful. Now, hurry and stop this chaos before everyone thinks there is still a thief amongst us.”
Willow hurried up the stairs and headed toward Sir Bedivere’s solar. When she got to his room, she saw Sister Adeline trying to talk to him and distract him, but Bedivere pushed her aside and entered his room, slamming the door behind him.
“Willow,” called out the nun, hurrying to meet her. “Hazel is still inside his room. She didn’t have time to leave, and now he is going to discover her.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him hurt her. Go down to the great hall and tell Conrad what happened.”
The nun ran in the opposite direction as Willow opened the door and stepped into the room. Bedivere had Hazel cornered, and the girl had her hands behind her back and was crying.
“What are you doing?” Willow rushed over and stepped in between Hazel and Bedivere.
“I think I just caught the thief,” sneered the man. “And there is no way in hell I’m going to let the wench get away with this.”
Chapter 18
“Leave her alone, she’s not a thief,” said Willow, putting her arm around Hazel.
“I’ll kill her, I swear I will,” snarled Bedivere. “No one steals from me.”
Hazel whimpered, and her body shook. She dropped the dagger she’d been hiding behind her back, and it clattered to the floor.
“My stolen dagger!” shouted Bedivere.
Willow saw the anger in the man’s eyes and needed to do something quickly to defuse it. “Hazel, go down to the great hall, now!”
“She’s not going anywhere,” spat the man.
“Go now, and close the door behind you.” She pushed Hazel who ran out the door, slamming it in the process.
“Now that wasn’t a wise thing to do, was it?” snarled Bedivere taking a step closer. He bent down and picked up his dagger, running his fingers along the blade. “She is a thief. I’m going to make sure she pays.”
“You told me you never hurt or killed a woman, or was that just a lie?”
“You know as well as I what is going on. I think Earl Alnwick and Lord Beaufort need to know there is a thief in their midst and that she’s got her brother, a nun, and even you helping her cover up her horrible deeds.” He turned and headed across the room with the dagger clenched in his fist.
“Go right ahead and tell them,” Willow challenged him. “And then I will tell them, as well as your new bride, that you are an assassin who works for the king.”
He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
He stalked forward, not stopping until he had her back against the wall. Leaning over, he brought his face close to hers. “Perhaps, you aren’t the only one with the power of persuasion. I have ways of changing someone’s mind as well.” He leaned over and kissed her hard, pulling her up against his body. Willow dug her nails into his shoulders, trying to push him away, but he was much too strong.
The door banged open. Conrad burst into the room with his sword drawn. “Get your hands off my woman, or I will sever them from your body,” shouted Conrad.
Bedivere spun around, holding up the dagger in front of him.
“What’s going on here?” Lord Beaufort rushed in followed by the earl and a crowd of men.
Willow had to do something fast, or their whole plan will have been for naught. “Isn’t it wonderful? Sir Bedivere found his missing dagger,” she announced to the crowd. “It seems he misplaced it after all.” She made eye contact with Conrad, silently begging him to lower his sword.
It took a moment, but Conrad must have trusted her because he went along with what she said. “Aye,” answered Conrad, lowering his weapon. “That is what happened.”
“Bedivere, what are you doing in here with Lady Willow?” The question came from the father of Bedivere’s newly betrothed. Lady Anabel and her mother poked their heads out from behind the men to watch. “I don’t like this at all. No man who is taking women to his chamber before he’s even married is going to make my daughter his bride. Come, Anabel, I will find you another groom.” He collected up his wife and daughter.
“Wait, it isn’t what you think,” Willow called out after them, but it didn’t look good for her or Bedivere.
“The strumpet is at it again,” mumbled one of the women as the crowd dispersed. Willow’s heart dropped when she heard this. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes. When would she ever rid herself of her horrid reputation?
“No one will call Lady Willow a strumpet,” Conrad shouted, stopping the crowd from leaving as he shoved his sword back in his scabbard. “I was in the room the entire time. She was never alone with Sir Bedivere.”
“I don’t care,” called out Lady Anabel’s father. “I’ve made my decision. My daughter will not marry Sir Bedivere after all.” He hurried down the corridor with his wife and daughter in tow. The marriage was off, and Willow felt as if it were all her fault.
“If that’s true, Lochwood,” said Sir Chester from the crowd, “then why was your sword drawn?”
“Aye. I would like to know the answer to that as well,” said Beaufort.
“Lochwood tells the truth,” said Bedivere, coming to their rescue. “We were comparing the craftsmanship of our blades.” His willingness to help her surprised Willow. “After all, I know a remarkable blade as well as a skilled swordsman when I see one, and Lochwood amazes me.”
“I do?” asked Conrad, confused.
“Sir Bedivere, I am happy that you found your missing dagger,” said Willow, taking control of the situation.
“Where was it?” asked Toby, stretching his neck to see over the crowd.
Bedivere exchanged glances with Willow and looked to the floor as he answered. “I was careless. It seems to have slipped behind my trunk. I found it when I was packing. I’d also like to apologize for my remark about a possible thief,” he told Lord Beaufort. “I didn’t mean for my comment to start such a ruckus. It seems after all that it was just a coincidence and none of the items were ever stolen.”
“There is no harm done,” said Lord Beaufort with a nod. “And since everything ended well, there is no need to discuss it any longer.”
“There is one thing I need to discuss,” said Conrad, making Willow’s stomach clench because she was certain Conrad wasn’t going to let the subject go that he’d seen Bedivere kissing her.
“What would that be?” asked Lord Beaufort.
Conrad released a deep breath and relayed the words he should have said long ago. “I want to reverse my decision.”
“What decision?” asked Earl Alnwick.
“My decision of not wanting to marry Lady Willow.”
“I don’t know, Lochwood,” said Lord Beaufort. “Now that Lady Anabel is no longer in the running, I feel it is only fair to ask Sir Bedivere once again if he’d like to marry Lady Willow. He was the first to win a competition, so the choice is his.”
“But Lady Willow already refused him,” Conrad pointed out, hoping to hell Willow wouldn’t change her mind and want to marry the man after all. Hadn’t he just seen them kissing? What if she had feelings for Bedivere and not him? He cursed himself inwardly for refusing to marry her in the first place. Because of his mistake, he might lose her forever to a man he despised.
“Excuse me for saying so, Lord Beaufort.” Bedivere sheathed his blade. “But I think Lady Willow would be better suited for someone like Lochwood.”
“Marry me, Willow,” said Conrad, not wanting the opportunity to pass him by again.
“Conrad? What are you saying?” asked Willow.
“I’m saying I . . . love you. I want you to be my wife.”
“He wants to marry the strumpet?” asked someone from the crowd.
“Stop calling her that!” he shouted. “Lady Willow is friendly and beautiful, and because of it, people have gotten the wrong impression. She isn’t a strumpet and has never been. She is a smart, witty girl with a big h
eart who is just as much of a virgin as that nun.” He pointed to Sister Adeline who stood at the door now with Hazel.
“Well, Lady Willow, what do you have to say about marrying him?” asked Lord Beaufort.
“I love Conrad as well. Yes, I want to marry him,” she answered, making Conrad very happy.
“Willow.” Conrad took her hands in his. “I said I couldn’t marry you before I had your father’s permission, and I still won’t go over his head. As soon as he returns from Scotland I will ask him for your hand in marriage. And if he agrees, I will not waste another moment. I will marry you immediately and make you my wife.”
He bent over and kissed Willow in front of everyone. Someone in the crowd started clapping. Everyone joined in.
Lord Beaufort raised his hand in the air to silence the crowd. “I say we all celebrate not only the discovery of our lost items but also the betrothal of Sir Conrad Lochwood and Lady Willow. Everyone to the great hall for a celebration drink.”
The crowd dispersed, leaving Conrad, Willow, and Bedivere alone in the room.
“Bedivere, you are lucky I didn’t take off your head for what I saw you doing. Don’t ever think of touching my betrothed again,” warned Conrad.
“Don’t worry, I know better than that,” answered the man. “And if you’ll pardon me for saying I won’t be joining in the celebration toast. I’ll be leaving Rothbury immediately.”
“Conrad,” said Willow. “I’d like to talk to Sir Bedivere alone for a moment before he leaves.”
Conrad hesitated. “It’s all right,” she told him. “You can leave the door open if you’d like. I’ll only be a moment.”
“There’s no need to leave the door open,” Conrad told her. “I trust you, Willow. And I will never doubt you again.” He left and closed the door behind him.
“Sir Bedivere, I am sorry that you will no longer be getting married to Lady Anabel. I feel it is all my fault.”
“It’s all right,” he said, walking over and opening his trunk, loading his things inside. “I don’t think she would have made a good wife for me after all. She isn’t what I was looking for.”
“What kind of woman were you looking for?” asked Willow curiously.
He stood up and turned around, perusing her before he answered. “I think when I marry, it will be someone more like you, Willow.”
“Like me?” She held her hand to her mouth in surprise.
“I respect you for what you did, protecting Lady Hazel.”
“And I thank you for keeping her secret when you didn’t have to.”
“Oh, but I did have to,” he said with a smile and a nod. “Because I have no doubt in my mind if I had said anything at all, you would have exposed my secret.”
“We all have our secrets,” said Willow, touching her heart brooch as she spoke. She headed to the door, stopping and turning back before opening it. “Would you really have forced yourself on me if Conrad hadn’t come into the room?”
“Nay,” he said, shaking his head. “I, too, have a horrid reputation that I don’t deserve. I have to admit, I only did it because I didn’t want to leave Rothbury before I knew what it was like to kiss you.”
“Hopefully, you can shed your reputation someday, too, Sir Bedivere. Since Conrad said all those nice things about me in front of everyone, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about being called a strumpet again.”
“My situation is different,” he said. “And because of my secret profession, I am afraid I will never be able to open up and be honest with any woman the way I have been with you.”
Willow laughed. “Now that, Sir Bedivere, I assure you only happened because I put my nose where it didn’t belong.”
“I’m glad you did,” he said, sadness showing in his eyes. “It’s a hard secret to keep and one I am not proud of, I assure you. I am almost glad you discovered it because it felt good to talk to someone about it.”
“I wish I could say I was happy to listen.”
“Lady Willow, you need to understand that I would do anything to protect my sovereign – the king – your cousin. But what I didn’t tell you, is that he is not the only one who hires my services.”
Willow raised her hand and looked the other way. “Please, I don’t want to know any more. I can’t say I understand why you do what you do, Sir Bedivere. But I am sure when the time comes, you will be able to change if you want to. I think I’ve changed since Sir Conrad came back into my life, and it is a good feeling. I only hope you can experience it, too, someday.”
Bedivere smiled. “If I didn’t think Lochwood would burst into the room and take off my head, I’d hug you and give you a goodbye kiss.”
“Perhaps it is better if we just say goodbye and leave it at that. I wish you the best, Sir Bedivere, in whatever choices you make in your life.”
“And I, the same for you.”
Willow left the room feeling good about herself. She hoped that her words would help Sir Bedivere to find his path in life. But what she really hoped more than anything is that her father would agree to her marrying Conrad. Because if he didn’t, she was going to have to use her powers of persuasion once again.
Chapter 19
A week later
“Willow, I canna believe ye’re married.” Fia rocked her newborn baby, Oletha, in her arms, standing at the bottom of the dais. Her husband, Alastair, was next to her. Along with them were Fia’s sister, Morag, and her cousin, Maira. Three days ago, Willow’s father had returned from the Highlands bringing them with him.
“I still can’t believe you traveled all the way here for my wedding.” Willow looked up at Conrad and smiled. They’d just said their vows and were now husband and wife. He looked so handsome wearing his best tunic that depicted his crest of a lion and a lamb. She almost felt as if it symbolized the two of them. Although, she wasn’t sure which one she’d be now that she’d changed. Although she wore one of her best gowns and her crown in honor of her late grandmother, the only jewelry she wore was her heart brooch. She wanted to show Conrad that she didn’t need all the baubles because when she was with him, she felt beautiful inside as well as out. She even braided her hair and wore it up, because she didn’t want anyone ever to call her loose or a strumpet again.
“Willow, you do realize that Fia didn’t know we were getting married until she arrived,” Conrad reminded her.
“You mean until I agreed to it,” called out Rook from behind them.
“Willow, since ye didna come to Scotland to see my firstborn, I decided to come to ye,” said Fia.
“I still think ye shoulda stayed put,” her husband told her. “It is too soon to travel after birthin’ the bairn. Here, let me hold Oletha.” Alastair took the baby from Fia and cradled her in his arms. He was such a fierce Highland warrior but didn’t look it when he cradled the baby and made silly voices, trying to get his daughter to smile.
“Kiss the bride,” shouted Toby from behind the girls.
“Didn’t I do that?” asked Conrad, teasing Willow, as if he’d forgotten about it.
Willow playfully hit him on the arm. “You heard him, Conrad. We haven’t kissed since we’ve said our vows.”
“Oh, you all want a kiss, do you?” Conrad had a devilish look in his eyes.
“Remember, I’m watching, Lochwood,” growled Rook from the crowd. Willow’s mother, Calliope, stood with him, having traveled here with Willow’s siblings from Naward as soon as she got word about the wedding.
“We’re watching, too,” called out her older brothers. Willow didn’t miss the fact Blaise and Jarin were really looking at all the pretty girls. Her younger brothers, Darwyn and Colton, had little interest in her wedding and were over by the well playing with a hound.
“Throw the flowers,” called out Morag, moving closer to the front of the crowd.
“First the kiss,” said Willow, looking up at her husband. Conrad kissed her passionately. It lingered longer than it probably should have.
“That’s enough,” ca
lled out Rook, clearing his throat.
“Rook, they’re married now,” Willow’s mother reminded him.
“She’ll always be my little girl,” said Rook, making Willow feel emotional. “She’s my only daughter so I can be protective of her,” he added.
“Someday soon, I’m sure Willow will have a daughter, and then you can spoil your granddaughter as well,” Calliope told her husband with a huge smile.
“She’d better not be having a baby too soon.” Rook’s eyebrows dipped.
Conrad chuckled and pulled Willow closer. “Don’t worry, Lord Rook. I assure you that you won’t have to worry. Your daughter is still a virgin.”
“Conrad,” said Willow, feeling exceedingly embarrassed that he said this aloud.
Willow noticed Hazel standing next to Sister Adeline. The girl was still shy and frightened. Willow worried about her.
“Conrad, I’d like to take Hazel to live with us back to your manor house in Scarborough.”
“Willow, we’ve talked about this. We just got married, and I don’t believe we’ll have the time to give her the proper attention she needs. Mayhap, it would be better for her to stay at the abbey just until we get settled.”
“Is that really what you want?” she asked.
“Nay, it isn’t,” he admitted. “I wish more than anything that she could live with us starting now. But I don’t want to put that responsibility on your shoulders. You will have enough to take care of being the lady of my manor.”
“Then I’ll ask Sister Adeline to come live with us to watch over Hazel until things get better. Would that be all right?”
Conrad looked out to Hazel and the nun. “She does seem to like Sister Adeline. I suppose it is all right if she wants to do it.”
“Thank you, Conrad.” Willow threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply.
“Throw the flowers,” Morag called out impatiently. She stood at the front of the crowd.
“Morag, leave them be,” scolded Maira. “Who cares about catching a bouquet?”
Seductive Secrets (Secrets of the Heart Series Book 2) Page 18