by Amber Dane
Like tonight.
The information he had overheard from Caroline and her Norman beast had him walking on his toes as he made his way back to the lower level to his room.
The burly guard he had bribed, he suspected was one of Halvard’s men, stood back and let him pass with a nod. Cedric could care less that the man was disloyal just as long as he stayed loyal to him.
His plans to escape needed to be adjusted after what he’d overheard tonight.
The ring on his finger alone was his ticket to a new beginning. But he sought more. Lots more.
His earlier plans and hopes the new king would have seen fit to wed his cousin‘s widow to him, now dashed, gone to hell with her marriage to the big Norman.
Had left him no choice but to resort to other measures, carefully and with haste. It bothered him not that he had lost the small fief his dead cousin had given him. He’d his eyes on a bigger prize.
He had to move quickly if he’d only a day to get Caroline alone.
He didn’t think he could get her to leave the brat behind. What did he care if the boy was his? The child was of no use to him now. Then a smile came to his lips with his next thought.
Ah, wait. He could use the boy after all.
Promise and leverage.
A weapon to get Caroline to give him what he wanted.
She knew what he wanted and he would get it. He could always replace her down the road. All women were the same.
He need only now win the loyalty of another guard and he could do so with the promise of riches as he’d done with the one he had now.
His power over Caroline excited him. He’d instilled such deep terror in her and Helen and the lingering effects of it she still suffered. He’d not only seen it in her eyes in the hall but in the yard when he’d looked at the boy. Even though she wanted to scratch his eyes out, he would still win. Cedric chuckled as his evil thoughts unfolded.
He would use her fear to get what he wanted from the wench.
Going up against Darc Renald was an entirely different matter.
Cedric knew that without an army of men behind him, ‘twas a dangerous move to make. He would have to tread even more carefully than he already was. But his hatred for the blasted Normans made him not see or think so clearly at times. He had very little time and lots to see to and get done.
He looked at the ring on his finger and with a renewed surge of hope, he grinned as a new idea came to him.
He’d let her believe they would take the boy with them and on the way; he would make it so the boy had an unfortunate accident.
That would do nicely. Cedric laughed coldly as he rubbed his hands together with relish.
He would make it so it appeared an accident. She would have no one to turn to except him in her grief and then he would have her. Cedric's grin spread as he moved the ring faster around his finger.
Aye, her deep grief, her vulnerability would be great and so distraught over the boy’s passing, she would easily tell him all he needed.
Then he would kill her as he had the other one and watch the life leave her eyes. Cedric fell backwards against the wall chortling and ignored the smear of blood where the ring sat on his swollen finger as he continued with his plotting.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
There was naught that could ruin her day today, Caroline thought as she hugged Kelbie to her. Not only had he’d eaten well again today, his skin had a healthy glow and she was beyond happy. And though she had not seen Darc since waking up in his bed alone and rushing back to her own before Kelbie had awakened, she felt relieved and almost burden free from their passionate night. That Cedric would be gone today or by the morrow left her deeply pleased.
‘Can I play now, Mama?’ Kelbie asked, twirling a strand of her hair around his little hand.
His cherubic face beaming and eyes wide as he waited for her answer. Laur and Mildred entered as if on cue, both women’s mutterings and grumbles directed at one another. Caroline shook her head. A time would come when the two would eventually get along she knew. She turned back to her son.
‘Aye, you may. Be a good boy for mama, Kelbie.’
He nodded and went to run off until he saw what Laur handed her. A comb. Mildred moved to take it so she could comb Caroline’s hair but Kelbie begged that he get a chance at it.
Caroline smiled and handed him the wide tooth comb. His excitement and jumping up and down got them all sharing the moment in laughter.
This is how Darc found the scene when he stopped as he was walking by and saw Caroline’s lips twisted in a grimace whilst Kelbie worked in earnest to free the comb of the big knots he’d made.
The heartwarming sight of mother and child struck him deep and he stood mesmerized for a moment, only coming out of it when Mildred’s loud voice broke the moment as she intervened to help straighten out the tangled wild mess the boy had created. Laur stood back with her hands on her hips ere she leaned down to console the little boy.
Darc let his gaze sweep over his wife. She wore a light colored kirtle which fit loosely, yet hinted at the nice curves she possessed beneath. Those curves that he’d caressed ever so longingly last night and that he had held pressed against him. He’d not slept that peacefully in a long time. Her long tresses fell loosely in thin waves about her slim shoulders. Darc curled his fingers against his right thigh as he thought about the feel of her soft silky strands sliding through his fingers. He suppressed a grin. She had the look of a satisfied lover after a good tupping. An enchanting sight and pleasant thought.
Caroline.
Then he grunted at the direction of his mind wanderings. He’d a busy afternoon, men to train, Cedric to ride out to one of his small fiefs and further investigation into the murders.
Caroline turned and looked up. Her breath left her at the sight of Darc in the door. His expression darkened, but not before she caught the smile on his lips. She inhaled deeply.
She had one more thing to ask of him that she had been too afraid to last night. Something she needed to ask before he sent Cedric away.
She lowered her gaze and prayed for the courage. When she looked back to the door, he was gone.
Frustrated at the missed opportunity, she sighed heavily.
‘Are you alright, my lady?’ Mildred asked as she raked the comb gently through her untangled hair.
‘Aye. I am fine, Mildred.’ Caroline replied.
Laur left the room with Kelbie and as Mildred braided her hair, Caroline told herself she would go in search of her husband as soon as it was done. She could waste no more time and needed to do what had to be done.
Later when Caroline went looking for Darc she found he had left the castle and still had not returned by the time the midday meal had been served. She moved around her chamber straightening up here and there now that she’d a brief moment whilst Kelbie slept.
She did not think Darc had ridden out with Cedric yet for word about the castle was the man was still within. Caroline shivered.
She did not dare chance going to see Cedric on her own again. She had made her decision, she would tell Darc about what she needed and that was that.
‘How fares your son today?’
Caroline spun around, her heart lodged in her throat to see Cedric standing inside her chamber where the two rooms split. Horror filled her veins. Nay! She struggled to breathe and with her hands shaking, she clutched her hands within the folds of her kirtle so he would not see.
She lifted her head and asked haughtily. ‘What did you offer the guard who is helping you?’
‘Ah, nay. I asked my question first. Mayhap I did not phrase it properly, let me give it another go. How fares my son today?’
He tilted his head to look around her but Caroline blocked his view by walking near him, keeping her body as a shield between his gaze and Kelbie’s sleeping form on his little bed.
Cedric’s leering grin made her ill at ease as he reached out and jerked her to him. ‘So you refuse to answer me? It matters not. Time
is of the essence. It should have been you who had my child, not Helen.’
Caroline bit back her cry of outrage and tried to jerk free. ‘Let go of me. What do you here, Cedric?’
He did not release her. ‘Did you forget you promised to leave with me? That time has come sooner than I expected. We leave tonight.’
Caroline tore at his hand. She did not like the glint in his eyes. He grabbed her with his other hand bringing a stop to her struggles. His offensive body odor made her gag. ‘You cannot be serious? I cannot leave with you now.’ She said on a shaky breath and wished she’d told Darc of his coming and goings when she’d had the chance.
He shook her hard, his lips pulled back in a sneer. ‘I knew you were lying. I should cut your throat.’
To her horror he pulled out a short and rough looking blade and pressed it to her throat.
Caroline was afraid but knew he would not cut her. He needed her. ‘Then how will you get what you seek? Your rough hands now will surely leave bruises that my husband will see. What then, Cedric?’
His reaction was not what she expected. He laughed in her face. His needs had made him mad.
Still, he dropped her arm and tucked the knife back into a fold of his tunic near his waist. A flash of unease briefly marred his features ere it was masked by the nefarious glint in his eyes.
‘Say anything and I will kill the boy. Understand?’
Though coldness and malice gleamed in his eyes, Caroline had glimpsed his brief moment of weakness. He would not kill her but she knew he would not think twice about harming Kelbie. Anger rose in her along with fear.
She swallowed and said ‘If you harm him-‘
He cut her off. ‘No harm will come to him as long as you listen to me. If you think my cousin made things difficult for you…’
Caroline slapped his hand aside when he touched a finger to the curve of her collarbone. She remained silent.
‘Ah, silence is a blessing with you wenches. I may be fond of you, Caroline, but you know me. Think of Helen.’
Caroline knew he waited for his words to sink in. He’d all but just admitted to killing her cousin. Not for a moment had she ever doubted it. The truth blaring from his eyes, said it all.
Taking her silence as his point being made, Cedric adjusted his clothing with the most vulgar of movements near his crotch. ‘I will not let anything or anyone stop me from what is mine. Your Norman’s ill-gotten and murderous gains belong to me. I am the rightful lord over them. Hence, making you mine as well.’
‘Nay!’ She said through gritted teeth. ‘His gains were no more ill-gotten than yours and Halvard’s were.’ Caroline felt the heat in her own throat. He’d scared her enough the other day and she was done with it. She had to fight back. ‘You make sick, Cedric. ‘Twill never happen.’
He chuckled, ignoring her remark as his eyes raked her from head to toe in a thorough peruse. ‘Won’t take much to clean you up after the beast’s leavings. Once I have at you, ‘twill all but erase any groping that disfigured monster bestowed upon you. Now get my son and bring him to me.’
Caroline’s horrified gasp filled the chamber. ‘Nay!’
He grabbed her by the throat. ‘Aye. Your Norman will not be back until after the moon rises. I need some assurance that you will keep your word this time. If the boy is with me, you will come. Ah, do not fret so. I will not harm my son if I do not have to, but I will if you even blink in thinking to say one word to your husband. Arrangements have been seen to, now bring him to me.’
Caroline coughed from the tight hold he had on her throat. Fury engulfed her as he shook her until her head spun.
When he released her she stumbled and clawed at him. He laughed and grabbed her and twisted her around, her back pressed against his chest as he whispered against her ear. ‘Scream and I will not hesitate to beat you. Do you know, I was this close to Helen when she took her last breath. ‘Twas sweet.’
Caroline brought her foot down hard on his toes. He licked the side of her neck. Time had come for her to reveal everything to Darc. She had to tell.
But would he believe her? To believe her he would have to believe one of his men had betrayed him and although things seemed pleasant enough between them…Would he take her word over one of his men? She did not know, but Cedric had gotten too close, coming to her chamber, too close to Kelbie…’twas too dangerous.
Caroline felt another chill run down her spine and she turned around, dread heavy in her chest. Darc stood glowering at them from the doorway. Cedric’s loud and ragged intake of breath broke the quiet.
By the storm brewing in his eyes, Caroline knew time was short for her to explain and that Darc had already gotten the wrong impression of what he’d walked in on. She opened her mouth, ‘Darc, I-‘
‘Silence!’ He was next to them in two strides.
Cedric tried to turn and run, but Darc’s fistful of his tunic stopped him as he spun the smaller man around. Cedric pleaded but it fell on deaf ears as Caroline watched her husband throw him across the room. Now real fear contorted Cedric’s reddening face. His arrogance and madness had made him err in the worst way.
‘Darc, please, wait! ‘Tis not what you think!’ Caroline grabbed at his arm, he jerked away from her. His burning glare stung. He was like a raging bull, his dark fury pushed him.
‘How long is all I want to know?’
Caroline stumbled back, feeling the color drain from her face. ‘Wh-What?’
He ignored her, walked to the door and called out for his guards. Three soldiers entered and had Cedric’s feet and hands tied, a gag shoved into his mouth to quiet him and a sack over his head. After Darc’s instructions, he was removed from the room.
Caroline watched her husband, stunned by his accusation, pain stinging her heart.
He glanced to where Kelbie lay still sound asleep. Then he came at her and pulled her from the room. In the hall he barked an order to a startled Mildred to attend Kelbie.
When they reached his chamber, he all but thrust her inside hard. Caroline whirled on him, her blood heating as she watched him slam the door behind them. Her sputtering did not help. She could not form any words as she watched him.
Darc wiped a hand down his face, he wanted to kill her. Red fury erupted in him. God’s thunder! He’d wanted to kill them both.
He needed to get away from her, but first he’d have his answers. ‘I will ask you again. How long?’
Caroline was angry too and his tone did not help matters. Her stomach churned.
He was accusing her of the wrong thing before she had a chance to explain. ‘If you mean being unfaithful with Cedric, I will not dignify that with a reply.’
He reached out and grabbed her elbow, and jerked her against him. ‘I don’t care about that. How long has he been meeting with you? What have you been conspiring?’
Caroline jerked out of his grip, stunned. ‘Conspiring? Are you mad!? That is the furthest thing from the truth, husband. If you would but listen I will tell you the truth of it.’
Darc scoffed and walked away from her. Were women Norman or Saxon capable of ever speaking the truth? ‘That’s the problem. Do you even know how to speak truth? Why did you not tell me when you first met with him?’
Caroline shrugged. ‘There were many reasons that do not matter now. ‘Tis useless. You mock me at every turn, disregard my words…’ her voice cracked and she crossed her arms over her chest.
What could she tell him?
No matter what she told him she could see in his eyes he would not believe any words that came out of her mouth. He was too angry.
‘What does this man hold over you besides Kelbie and that you suspect he might have had something to do with your cousin’s death? Tell me.’
‘He did murder Helen! He told me so himself. He has something in his possession that which belongs to me. To my family. I thought- I believed this was something I could do alone. And if I was kind to him, he might see…’ she stopped.
‘He might what?
See the error of his ways? See reason and give it back? Fool!’ Caroline trembled under his thunderous bellow. His face contorted with his rage made her take a step back as he towered over her. He looked like he did when she first met him. Dangerous. His stormy gaze held her immobile with the intensity in those stormy blue-green depths.
He continued. ‘What is it that he holds?’
Feeling like she could not breathe as she stared up at him, she swallowed back the unease that washed over her and wet her lips. ‘A r-ring. My father’s ring.’
He stared at her, an incredulous expression upon his face. As if she’d gone mad. ‘Is that all? Of course it is.’ He slapped a hand against his thigh and rolled his eyes up toward the wood beamed ceiling. ‘All this sneaking about behind closed doors over a piece of metal.’
‘Twas her turn to get angry. Caroline bristled at his sarcastic tone. ‘There is naught more.’ She said.
She watched him storm over to the private embrasure where he kept his broad back to her.
He spoke. ‘Are you sure about that?’
She walked over to him but stopped when he turned his neck, his dark look impaling her where she stood. ‘Of the ring? Aye, I am sure. Go see it for yourself. The ill-fit of it will prove it does not belong to him.’
He faced her fully now, his fingers scratching at his beard. ‘Nay. All it will prove is he wears a ring too small. Is there a mark on the ring that proves it belongs to your family? A crest mayhap?’
Caroline choked and her heart plummeted to her gut. He did not believe or trust her. ‘You do not trust me?’ she said in a hushed strangled voice more so to herself than him.
‘I do not give my trust to any so easily, demoiselle. Especially a wife.’
He may as well have slapped her right then for that was how much impact his words had.
Caroline blinked, retorting hotly. ‘Neither do I. Especially to a husband.’
‘What were you doing in his arms, Caroline? And do not dare tell me it was about the ring.’