Lady Deception

by Rizzo Rosko

  Panic tightened the muscles in his neck and shoulders. Marianne did not seem to notice.

  “Edward asked me when she shall return yesterday."

  Blaise slapped his hand over his eyes, having heard this a thousand times before already. "And ye filled his head with hopes of her soon living back within this castle I suppose?"

  She shook her head. "Nay, I told him she would never return."

  Blaise stared at her with an open mouth. "Ye said that?"

  She shrugged a single shoulder. "I had to, since ye are going to travel to the bishop's to get an annulment. Edward will need to know why the next wife ye bring home is not Eliza."

  Blaise's face burned, and so did the lonely hole in his chest. "I may have changed my mind about finding a new wife."

  Marianne's face turned to mildly interested. "Oh? Then ye shall go and ask Eliza to return?"

  He shook his head. "I do not know. I do not know why I even thought of getting a new wife. There is only one I wish for and she is unsuitable."

  "Just because ye think someone is unsuitable, does not make her unsuitable." Marianne huffed. "Ye thought I was unsuitable, but ye were wrong."

  Blaise rolled his eyes at the reminder of his near engagement to Marianne before he called it off. "Nay, I was correct. Ye were unsuitable, for me. Simply because ye happen to fit well with my father does not mean I am wrong in this."

  "It does not make ye correct either."

  Thoughts of James and Olma came into his head. He certainly thought that was a match doomed to fail, but the annoying grin James sprouted whenever Blaise saw him told him otherwise.

  Eliza had thought they were a perfect match for each other, and had encouraged it when she should not have. Now the pair seemed uplifted and joyous, the same as Blaise had been when he married Eliza.

  But Eliza was gone, and his joy had fled with her.

  "What do ye think of James' marriage to a servant?" He asked.

  Marianne halted her bouncing of Henry in her lap and looked at him, then up at the ceiling, as though thinking. "'Tis odd, but I love Olma and James. They were with me when I first came here. I am grateful that Eliza has made them happy."

  "Even if their happiness will likely end in bitterness when James' wits return to him?"

  She shrugged, and Blaise's irritation peaked at her constant disregard of the problems around her. "'Tis his choice to make, and as I see it, if he marries her, then he will not go the remainder of his life regretting that he had not."

  Blaise hated that, even though they spoke of two separate people, she seemed to be speaking of him. Ever since Eliza left Graystone, his regret over throwing her out of his bed and castle were turning into clawing fears.

  He hated looking years ahead and not seeing her with him. If he did not return her to his side, would he regret doing nothing for the rest of his life?

  He growled. “It has been months! If I go to retrieve her Nicholas will have me shot!”

  Marianne’s face lighted like a torch. “I knew there was still some sense in ye!”

  A knock on the door halted anything further she would have said.

  Olma entered. She stopped abruptly at the sight of Blaise before clearing her throat and announcing, "Sir Godwyn has just arrived, milady."

  Blaise abruptly stood. Dear God the man had finally decided to kill him.

  Marianne’s mouth fell open. "Nicholas? Now? I thought we would never have him back after—"

  She stopped suddenly, and Blaise glared at her before she moved on. "Never mind. Where is he? Is Eliza with him? Have they been given any food or lodgings yet?"

  "He came alone, milady. I asked 'im if he would be wantin' something to eat or drink, but 'e went straight to Lord Gray's solar, then they shut the door."

  Blaise took in the information, his gut churning with conflicting emotions. Whether he should be worried for Eliza or angered that the man had obviously come to speak about him behind his back.

  Olma waited for Marianne's reply, but she seemed to be having similar thoughts as Blaise due to her lack of response. "I thought to tell ye milady so that ye would tell us what to have done."

  Marianne nodded. "Perhaps, 'tis best to wait until we know whether he will be staying or not. Blaise, where are ye going?" She called as Blaise stood and left the bedchamber.

  He ignored her call. His gut settled on anxious fear for Eliza and he could think on naught else. He would discover what had happened to her and why Nicholas felt the need for a private audience with his father.

  He quickly travelled to the solar, keeping his pace at a brisk walk so as to not attract the attention of any servants.

  Several servants were outside the door, sweeping, dusting, and standing near enough as they did so that ‘twas obvious they were spying.

  Blaise growled and cleared his throat, though he did not raise his voice to them as he had no wish for the men on the inside of the solar to know of his approach.

  The maids raised their heads and scattered fearfully at the sight of his twisted scowl. Blaise waited for the lot of them to be gone before standing before the door, his fist raised to knock.

  He stopped. Even if he did get in, Nicholas would not allow him to know of any news regarding Eliza. He turned to his right, and then to his left, searching for any sign of the spying servants.

  He heard not a sound but the muffled voices on the inside of the room. Satisfied that he was alone, he put his ear to the door and stilled his breath.

  He heard his father's voice. "To think the poor girl has suffered with this alone all this time."

  Nicholas' angry voice seemed to spit through the door. "She has not been alone. I have been tending to her, unlike yer selfish brat who forgets she even exists. 'Tis his fault! And with her tender condition 'twas a huge blow to hear that he was arranging for an annulment."

  The inside of Blaise's chest twisted guiltily. Eliza had heard of his plan, and whatever illness she had seemed to worsen upon hearing the dour news.

  "Why did ye tell her then? Surely ye must have known she would not take it well." William asked.

  "I cannot keep secrets from her when she looks at me with those injured eyes,"

  Injured eyes? What happened to her?

  "Besides, she did take the news better than I anticipated, which is why I am here now." Nicholas said, Blaise heard him drawing in a breath. "As her condition moves along her sickness' are becoming worse, rather than better. She barely eats anything put in front of her."

  That did it. Injured eyes could be attributed to hurt feelings, but her condition? Sickness? Blaise burst into the room without an invitation, shocking both the men inside who spoke leisurely to each other as though they hadn't been discussing the failing health of Blaise's wife.

  "What are ye—"

  Blaise took Nicholas by the neck of his tunic and lifted him from the stool where he sat, forcefully backing him into a wall. "Ye will tell me this instant what is wrong with Eliza!"

  William's hand gripped his shoulder in a tight warning, but Blaise did not acknowledge it. "Blaise, release him now. The only thing that ails her is—"

  "Quite serious." Nicholas interrupted. "Her condition worsens with each day. She's swelled out like a cow that has eaten too much, can barely stand for more than minutes at a time due to the pain, and cannot bring herself to eat a thing for fear 'twill come back up."

  Horrified, Blaise's hands came undone from their grip in Nicholas' tunic. The man shoved him away the moment he was freed. Blaise stumbled but did not retaliate.

  "'Tis all yer fault." Nicholas hissed.

  "Mine?" Rage rose inside of him like a rabid animal. Thoughts of Eliza, laying in bed, her beautiful face and body swollen beyond recognition as she suffered fuelled his anger. "She only contracted this illness when she left with ye! She was in perfect health when she left Graystone!"

  He nodded. "Aye, if only heartbroken and weeping yer name at any given chance. She worsens without ye there, and now that she has discover
ed yer need to be rid of her forever I fear 'tis the last she can take before she succumbs."

  William sputtered. "Nicholas, what are ye—"

  Nicholas glared at his friend, stopping William from saying anything further. "The boy needs to know so that he may take his share of the responsibility." His hard eyes returned to where Blaise stood, though he didn't think he could stand for much longer with the way his knees shook as they did.

  "Ye broke her heart and it has caused her this pain. Ye may try to blame me all ye like, but remember, 'twas ye who sent her to me."

  His legs could stand no longer. Blaise sank into the stool he'd plucked Nicholas out of before staring up at the man. With the way they spoke, 'twas as if they did not expect...

  "How long does she have?"

  William raised a brow at Nicholas. When the other man nodded his head, he spoke. "From what Nicholas has already told me, a matter of days."

  "If that." Nicholas muttered.

  Blaise nodded, then forced strength into his legs so that he could stand. "I must go to her."

  Nicholas drew himself up to his full height. "Ye shall do no such thing!"

  "I am her husband and I demand to see her!" Blaise shot back.

  "Husband now, eh? What happened to yer wish for an annulment?"

  Blaise clenched his jaw. "I have spoken of it, but have not made the effort to obtain one. We are still married and I will not be denied access to my wife."

  Blaise waited a gnat’s breath for Nicholas to protest. When he did not, Blaise rushed out of his father's solar, refusing to give the older man anymore of an opportunity to deny him again.

  Not that he could in this situation, but he didn't need Nicholas on his heels, guilting him with his actions and demanding that he turn back.

  Blaise rushed to the stables where his father's fastest horse was being fed and groomed.

  "Get him ready to ride." Blaise demanded. “I wish to leave immediately.”

  ***

  William cast Nicholas a curious glance. "Ye made it sound as though the girl were dying instead of simply carrying his child. Might I ask why?"

  Nicholas sat down on his stool, leaned against the wall and rested his hands behind his head. His smile spoke of satisfaction. "Ah, love is a foolish thing, old friend. The man is too stubborn to admit to any wrongdoing, yet he will rush to her side if he believes his presence will bring Eliza some comfort, or perhaps even spare her life."

  William shook his head. "The symptoms ye described—"

  "Are all true. Her belly is swelling, she has trouble eating for fear that she will be sick with it, and her body aches with the pains of carrying a child. I told the boy no lies. Now he is off to be at his love's side, and when he arrives and finds her with his child he shall scold himself for ever daring to be apart from her."

  William sighed. "Bryce always said ye were too romantic, and he was correct. Ye sound like a fool."

  "A wise fool." Nicholas corrected.

  "Well, oh wise fool, how is Blaise to enter yer keep without ye there to allow him entrance?"

  Nicholas' smile left his face, and he rushed out the door, heading in the same direction Blaise had gone off in so that he might get back on his horse.

  While his men knew Blaise by sight, there was no telling what their response to him would be if he tried charging into the castle while Nicholas was not there.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Blaise rode his horse faster than what could be considered healthy for the animal. He was not one to abuse his horses, but he could not stop his feet from constantly kicking for more speed.

  He would be lucky if the panting animal under his legs did not collapse as soon as he arrived. He would make amends for his treatment later.

  Nearly there. Do not stop! He inwardly begged.

  ‘Twas the last thing he wanted to do, but as soon as he finished the silent prayer another rider on a white horse leapt into his path.

  No time to slow! Blaise pulled back the reins and shouted the command to halt. The other rider leapt out of the way just before Blaise could crash into him. Both horses reared, kicking up dirt in the road and crying in fright.

  They missed each other but Blaise’s horse continued to rear and cry, offended at having been pushed so hard only to come to an abrupt stop.

  Blaise tightened his legs around the animal and gripped the reins with no intention of letting go. Finally, with enough soothing words the animal dropped back to all fours, but he continued to twitch his head and tail.

  “I’m sorry.” Blaise stroked his neck, hoping for peace. He doubted the animal would ever let him ride him again after this.

  Blaise spun in his seat. “Are ye mad—?”

  Everything he was prepared to say halted in his throat. Sir Ian stood next to the white horse, apparently having jumped off to soothe the beast once he had managed to calm it.

  Ian scowled at him with a face that was no longer perfect. A long scar ran down his left eye where the skin had split open during Blaise’s attack, in turn dulling that once dark eye so that it was a paler brown than his other. His nose was hideously crooked, and lower lip, which had once been as full as any lady’s, was scarred at a downward angle from where his own teeth had bitten through during his beating.

  “Ye.” They said at the same time.

  Sir Ian drew his sword. Though his face was badly scarred, his voice remained as strong and arrogant as it ever was. “What are ye doing here? Come to finish me off?”

  “I have a mind to do so with the idiot trick ye pulled. Were ye trying to murder me, or the both of us?”

  “I did not see ye,” Ian hissed. “Ye can blame yerself for that as my eye has never fully recovered.”

  “A fate ye can blame yerself for.” Blaise nudged against Reginald’s sides in a gentle attempt to renew the journey. The horse resisted.

  “Where do ye think ye’re off to?” Ian marched forward, his mind completely off his own horse which now roamed freely.

  He had no time to deal with this! “Come on, Reggie.” He pleaded. The horses ignored him.

  Sir Ian stepped in front of the animal. Blaise wished with all his might that Reginald would charge forward and trample him. He didn’t.

  “What do ye want?” Blaise groaned.

  “To scar yer face every bit as much as ye have scarred mine, ye filthy coward!”

  “Coward?” Blaise sputtered. “I am not the coward here.”

  “Ye attacked me while the odds were in yer favour! No true man would beat on a helpless drunk and continue to think so highly of himself.”

  “No true man would attempt to force himself on a lady.” Blaise hissed.

  Ian narrowed his eyes, the left one angrier in such a position than the right. “What do ye care? Ye threw her away days after ye had her.”

  His control shattered. Blaise lifted his leg and jumped down from Reginald’s back.

  Ian smiled at his murderous sneer. “Do ye deny it?”

  “Another word and yer right eye will match the left.”

  Ian shook his head. “Ye treat me so harshly. ‘Tis not as though forcing myself on women is a habit. ‘Twas an accident.” He pointedly glared at Blaise. “At least I didn’t wed the girl before tossing her on her ear.”

  Blaise drew his sword and lifted it above his head. Ian lifted his own blade, allowing Blaise’s attack to strike against the metal before he kicked Blaise in the stomach.

  The wind blew straight out of him. Blaise dropped to his knees, clutching his gut and attempting to breathe. He vaguely heard a slapping sound echo behind him before pounding horse hooves faded in the distance.

  He should not have lowered himself from Reginald. While the animal was intelligent enough to return to Graystone, Blaise was trapped where he was without him.

  “Ye shall not have an easy match against a drunk this time.” Ian said from behind.

  Blaise rolled out of the way as Ian’s hands reached out to grab him.

  Blaise twisted his swor
d so that the heavy end of the handle became his primary weapon. He threw his weight into smashing the blunt handle into Ian’s temple.

  The man flew backwards, landed on his back in a muddy ditch, and did not get back up.

  Blaise sheathed his weapon and stood, wincing at the pain in his stomach. He glared at Ian’s unmoving form. “I once promised to kill ye should I see yer face again. Consider yerself fortunate I have no time for ye.” He hissed, clutching his bruised ribs.

  Had he known he would have faced a battle, he would have put some armour on over his hose and tunic before riding off.

  Horse hooves sounded in the distance. Blaise turned his head towards the sound. Was Reginald returning?

  His heart sank as a brown coloured horse that could not Reginald came into sight. As it closed in Blaise recognised Sir Nicholas riding the animal. He groaned.

  Nicholas slowed his horse to an elegant halt, looked at Ian’s white horse, which still grazed peacefully as though no battle had taken place, then at Ian who lay in the ditch.

  He raised a single brow at Blaise, opened his mouth, then shook his head. “Never mind, I do not believe I want to know.”

  “Are ye here to stop me?” Blaise gripped his sword tighter. Would he be able to use it against this man if he had to?

  Thankfully, Sir Nicholas shook his head. “Nay. I want ye to see her. I came so that ye can get passed the gates and not simply stand outside them when ye reach yer destination.”

  Blaise rocked back on his feet. “Is that the truth?”

  Nicholas nodded. “Aye.” His eyes found Ian again. “I should have suspected ye would run into him. He has been making a fool of himself for months.”

  “How has he been doing that? He makes a fool of himself so often I suspected no one noticed anymore.”

  “Hugh has told me that he no longer sees the boy as his nephew. Ian’s parents are considering disinheriting him unless he makes amends for his actions. He is an only son, however, ‘twill likely not come to that.”

  “Ye haven’t been allowing him near Eliza, have ye?” A chuckled rose out of Blaise’s throat. For once, pleased with the man’s over protective nature towards his daughter.