Peter’s heart plummeted into the pit of his stomach and rolled around, making him want to throw up. He did not want to hear more. It was his mother all over again.
Richard cleared his throat. He took a step closer to Peter and looked him in the eye, catching his gaze and holding it. “I have spent time with your wife. I have been with her alone and done things that I should not, with the Lady of the castle.” He lifted his hand when Peter moved to speak. “I do not know how to explain it. I am drawn to her, and although she is attractive, my attraction is not sexual.”
Peter’s breath began to slow and he clenched his fist tightly at his sides.
“I look at her and think I know her, think I have seen her somewhere and then she talks to me.” Richard smiled in wonder and Peter wanted to punch him once again. “She treats me like I am her second-in-command and the men that came with me, hers.”
“I have seen,” Peter growled, but his anger was calming and in its wake was more confusion. He did not want to believe his friends or his wife would betray him, but he could not stop the doubts.
Richard reached for his arm and Peter pulled away. “I should have put a stop to it. I just did not know how.” Richard said quietly and shrugged. “Honestly, I did not want to. I feel like she is my friend.”
Peter began to really listen and more, he could understand. He looked at the men who shuffled uneasily. He could see on their faces that they too felt the same. He felt the same recognition, the same familiar tugs at his conscious when he looked at her as they all did. This was not the first time it had been spoken of.
Richard looked back at the other men and then focused on Peter again. “I felt out of place here until she came along. It feels right that I stand at her side, and that I give her my loyalty, but above all else I am your friend.”
This time when Richard reached for his arm, he stood his ground and allowed Richard to grasp his elbow firmly. “I am loyal to you as I have only been to one other, the Dark Knight.” He shook his head. “I do not know why he felt he had to go, but I am grateful you took me in. I would not risk our friendship for even a woman as amazing as your wife.”
“How am I to believe that?” Peter could hear the pathetic whine in his own voice and he cringed.
The doubts were deep seeded by his insecurities and jealousy. The confirmations by his loyal men had made those seeds sprout and take firm hold, reaching through his soul like weeds and strangling out the flowers of love that had begun to bloom there.
He wanted to believe that his friend of so many years would not betray him, but the evidence seemed overwhelming.
Turning to Gary, he asked him. “What of you, have you been alone with my wife as well?” He was sure he would get a denial.
“Aye, my lord,” he said softly, keeping his gaze firmly on Peter’s face.
Peter clenched his teeth and hissed softly with a sharp intake of breath. Before he could speak Gary continued.
“I went to see her in the garden to speak to her of Anna. She is close to my sister. Anna has been seen with Douglas Sheire.”
Peter relaxed his jaw and waited.
“Since our mother is gone and Anna seems to look up to Lady Vanessa, calling her what has seemed to have stuck from the day she saved Joseph, the Dark Lady, I went to speak to her.” Gary smiled softly. “I did not want anyone to overhear my conversation so I spoke to her in the garden one day before supper.”
Peter watched him shrug and forced himself to relax. Peter was an only child, but he understood the love of family and the concern for those you are responsible for.
“She promised to look after Anna, to protect my sister and to talk to her about things a mother should tell her. Things a brother cannot.” His face tinged in pink and he cleared his throat. “Things I would not even know where to start with.”
Having nothing to say to argue with that, Peter just looked to Devon, what would be his innocent excuse. “And you?”
Devon took a deep breath and cringed. His face darkened and he looked at his boots as he ran them back and forth across the floor. Peter saw the guilt wash over him but waited, anger blossoming behind his eyes, making him see spots of red. “Well?” He finally asked when Devon remained silent.
Devon looked up, his eyes twitched from side to side and he would not meet Peter’s gaze. “I am sorry, my lord.”
The blood pounded in Peter’s ears. His teeth bit into his bottom lip so hard he tasted blood. He was right, she had betrayed him. He stepped forward with clenched fists. “Tell me now.”
Devon’s face turned white, but he did not drop his eyes. “I went to see Lady Vanessa about Amy.” His words came fast and low. “It was Amy who told me to and—” He shook his head. “—nay, I will not involve her, I could have told her no, I just...” He took a deep breath. “I went to her to ask for permission to marry Amy.”
Peter’s mouth dropped open, and he slammed it shut so fast he hurt his teeth. “Why would you ask her? I am the one you should have come to?” Peter’s brow furrowed with surprise and distrust. He was sure he had caught the young man in a lie.
“I told Amy that. That it was my duty to come to you since you were my liege lord.” He grunted and shook his head. “She told me you shouldn’t be.”
Peter sucked in a deep breath. Anger blossomed and his voice echoed through the large and mostly empty room. “She said what?”
Grant laid his hand on his shoulder and Peter shrugged it off. The men beside him shifted nervously.
Devon went on. His words now came out in a rush, growing faster and faster until he didn’t seem to breathe. “She said I had to ask her. Lady Vanessa is responsible for Amy, and I would have asked you, but Amy said she would not marry me if I did not ask Lady Vanessa.” His breathing had gotten ragged and his face was almost purple. “She said Lady Vanessa would think it her place as the one in charge of Amy and—”
It was concern for him that caused Peter to touch his arm. “Calm down. Breathe.”
Taking a long breath, he held it until Peter thought he may pass out, his face going from almost purple to a deep red.
He let it out in a whoosh. “I cry your pardon. I should have come to you.” Devon grasped his hand tightly and bowed over it. “Please my lord, I love Amy and would do nothing to hurt her.” He straightened this time, holding Peter’s gaze without guilt. “You have my loyalty.”
Peter pulled his hand away. “All of you leave me be.”
He turned his back on them as they shuffled from the room, but he could hear their soft mumblings. They were probably discussing his insanity, he thought bitterly.
He had to find a way of putting his doubts to rest one way or the other. He considered his choices as he made his way to his chambers and his big empty bed.
The only one of the men that he was sure was not lying was Devon. Not because he trusted him more, but simply because going to her as if she was the liege lord was as much a betrayal to Peter as if he had lain with her. He knew the boy well enough to know if he was going to lie, he would have chosen a safer one.
Options for discovering the truth flew threw his mind and were immediately dismissed as useless. The only one that kept resurfacing was to find someone that Vanessa had showed particular interest in and see if she would betray him.
It had to be someone he could trust to tell him the truth. His first thought had been Hestlay, but he did not think Vanessa showed any signs of being interested in him. She showed him respect, but that was all.
He went through the list of those she appeared close to. Some of which, like Gary and Richard were dismissed for obvious reasons. One name crossed his mind and stuck—Telpher Constaire—and he was a man Peter trusted. He had been with Peter for many years and was loyal without fault.
Telpher had also spent much time with Vanessa. Peter had seen them on several occasions. Vanessa acted like she knew the young man, asking him questions of his family, his life and the changes in it over the last few years.
Peter
had been jealous of the time they spent together, but Telpher was happily married and had turned down many women because he would not betray his wife. So Peter had pushed the unwanted emotion away easily.
Peter tossed and turned that night, pain and confusion, stealing sleep from his grasp. An empty side to his bed was not the only thing on his mind as sleep eluded him. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the men and his wife.
Long before morning, he gave up the pretense and left his bed.
Sitting with the brandy in his library, he tried to keep his mind blank and as the sun was beginning to come through the trees he searched out Telpher.
Once found, Peter led him to the servants’ entrance at the rear of the castle. The candle in Peter’s hands threw trembling light across the wooden beams that ran through the stonework of the thick walls. The cobwebs he had seen so many times before had been washed clean, probably from his nice little, well, big wife. She could not be construed in any way as little. Not in stature or in attitude, he thought with a snort.
He turned his attention to the man who followed silently behind him. “I need to ask you something. Can I trust you?”
“Of course, my lord,” Telpher said, an arched brow marring his high forehead with wrinkles.
Peter sat the candle in a crook in the wall and turned back to him.
“You can still say nay.” He began but Telpher shook his head. “Don’t shake your head until you hear it. I have heard several people tell me Vanessa is not faithful—”
Telpher’s questioning look turned angry. “My lord, Lady Vanessa would not—”
“I know. I have heard that also. What I need is peace of mind. I want you to seduce my wife.” Peter ignored the shocked look that rippled through Telpher’s chocolate brown eyes and pushed onward before he could talk himself out of it. “I know she likes you and if anyone can get her you can.”
Telpher arched his brows and smirked. “I don’t think that is—”
Peter continued without waiting for him to finish. “I also trust you to tell me the truth and not take her all the way. Just far enough to know that she will.”
“I do not think this is a good idea, my lord. I know she will not be happy...” His features took on a worried almost frightened look.
Peter felt anger spread through his features, heating his face.
Telpher looked at him and then sighed. “I will do whatever it is you need of me, my lord. I pledged to give my life for you.” He shuddered. “Even if it is to the lady of the castle when I anger her.”
“You will be fine. She is not violent.”
Telpher gave a snort of laughter at this and a quick vision of the bloody mess she had made of the guards posted outside her door flashed before Peter. He pushed it away. If she hit Telpher, Peter would make it up to him.
“She should be home any day now. Just find her alone. See her in the garden. That seems to be where she likes to take the men.” Painful anger tightened his throat, leaving a lump behind. He cleared his throat and tried to speak around it. “Tell her whatever you need to, to get her to betray me. Then let me know how it goes. I want to know, no matter what.” Peter really did not really want to know, but he needed to. “Do you understand me?”
“Aye. I understand.” Telpher looked as though he wished to say more, but held his tongue.
“Good,” Peter said. It would be settled one way or the other soon and he would know the truth.
They turned away from the door and toward the dining hall where breakfast would soon be served. They had just rounded the corner into the shadows when the servants’ door burst open.
Peter glanced back to see Vanessa pushing it closed. He stepped into the shadows and pushed Telpher toward her. Only after he had done so did he wonder what she was doing home so soon and why had he not heard a carriage. He pushed away the worry that things had not gone well with her father. One problem to solve at a time, he thought as Telpher approached her.
CHAPTER 22
Startled at the noise of scraping feet behind her, Van’s breath caught. She turned, putting her back against the wall. “Telpher, what are you doing here?” As she relaxed her breath became even but shallow. Dust from the road wafted off of her and tickled at her nose.
He stepped close to her. “I saw you coming. I want to speak with you.”
“What is it that you want?” Her voice trembled. She only wanted to go to bed, maybe stay there till next spring.
“I want you. I know you have been with some of the other men.” He ran his hands up her sweat moistened arms.
She looked down at his trailing hand and then stared up at him. Her weary mind was unable to understand what he meant. “What are you talking about? Get away from me.” She pushed him, only to have him grab her arms tightly and pull her close to him.
“I know you are with the others. I only want to get in on the fun. Give me what you give them.”
He pressed into her trying to kiss her. She jerked her head to the side.
Anger began to peak through the confines of exhaustion. “I have never betrayed my husband and I am not about to start now. How can you say these things? Let me go.” She tried to push past him, tried to remove his tight grip, but she could find no will to fight. “I thought you were my friend,” she said weakly as she pushed at his arms and hands.
It seemed all her strength was gone, drained from her slowly ever since her mother had died and her life had been torn apart. All she wanted was to get to Peter, tell him the truth, and to go to bed wrapped in his arms with no secrets between them.
Telpher pushed her up against the wall. “You should not give Peter much thought. What loyalty do you owe him? He is not someone you chose to marry. Everyone knows you are unhappy.”
The anger burst through the clouds in her mind, shining brightness across her thoughts. Her mind cleared. Her long night was forgotten, her body no longer weary. She pushed against Telpher’s chest, but he leaned against her using his full weight to pin her to the wall.
Surprise and weariness had allowed him an advantage, but it was not one she planned to let him keep for long. She ran her hand across the slit in her skirt toward her dagger.
Telpher pulled at her skirt. It billowed around her legs and made the dagger slit bunch and become useless to her. He lifted it farther up her legs. She could feel the coolness of the castle across her bare knees.
Her eyes narrowed at the man who had claimed to be her friend. “You should be ashamed. How can you do this to me, to Peter, or to your wife?” He had claimed to love his wife fully and faithfully. How could she have misjudged him so bad?
Telpher cringed at the mention of his wife, but continued to rub at her arm and raise her skirt. She twisted trying to get loose, or at least get the skirt lowered to where she could use her dagger.
She felt disappointed in herself for trusting him. She used to be a better judge of people than that. She shook her head angrily. She used to be a lot of things she no longer was.
Mostly she felt anger for Peter as his friend and loyal man pushed her skirts up to her thighs. Peter was the one most betrayed and it was an affront to her husband she would not allow.
She slipped her hand toward the bottom of her skirt which was almost to the point that she could reach her weapon. Almost to the point where she would make him regret his decision to betray Peter.
Telpher then stopped raising her skirt. He looked up at her and opened his mouth as if to speak.
Van did not want to hear anything come out of his mouth. No more sweet talk or pleading for her to lie with him.
Van forced herself to relax and stop fighting. She ran her left hand up his arm and smiled. “You want me that bad?” she asked in what she hoped was a seductive voice.
Telpher looked bewildered for a moment as she wrapped her left foot intimately around his ankle. She ran her foot up and down his calf, caressed his neck, and threaded her fingers into his hair. She pulled his head close to hers. She spoke directly against his li
ps, feeling his tremble as she spoke. “Tell me what you want to do to me?”
He only groaned.
She pulled his face close to her shoulder and ran her nose along the length of his neck. She pulled the skirt higher with her right hand. He began to pull away from her as her hand closed around the jeweled hilt of the dagger.
Relief had washed over Peter as she had denied Telpher’s advances. Now he watched with mounting rage as her foot massaged the back of his leg and her hand pushed through his dark brown hair.
As she pressed her face closer to his, a knot started in the pit of Peter’s stomach and wormed its way to his throat. Angry that she had actually betrayed him, he stepped out of the shadows and opened his mouth, but the words froze.
Vanessa suddenly balled Telpher’s hair into her clenched fist and jerked his head back. At the same time she hooked her foot around his ankle, jerking his leg forward. Off balanced Telpher fell hard onto his back. Vanessa kept her hand firmly planted in his hair and landed with a thud on top of him, a dagger held firmly against his throat.
Peter’s heart lurched. His breath stopped short and he gasped soundlessly.
Vanessa pulled tightly on Telpher’s hair and pressed the tip of the dagger into the delicate skin beneath his chin.
“Wait,” Telpher pleaded.
The sight of the small trickle of blood running down Telpher’s throat as the steel tip broke skin tore through Peter’s shock. He stepped closer to them, but neither seemed to notice.
“You are wrong. I do have a reason to show him my loyalty. I may only have one, but it is a good reason.” Vanessa’s voice shook with outrage and Peter feared for Telpher’s safety. “I do it because I love him.”
Peter’s heart stopped, all doubts of her virtue dissipated.
“You on the other hand, one who is supposed to be his friend? You have lots of reasons to give him yours. I should just kill you now for the betrayal that you have committed.”
The Dark Lady Page 35