The Centurion

by Kathryn Le Veque

  “She is also the reason you wish to break this betrothal. Stay away from her or the minders will send you pieces of your son. For every act of disobedience with regard to Lady Alyx, your son will pay. Do you understand?”

  He frowned. “You would cut the boy up to threaten me?” He was back to being angry. “Send me pieces of him, and I will send his minders pieces of you. I am smarter than you and far more brutal. I will not hesitate to carve you up. Do I make myself clear?”

  Antonia stiffened. “You will not touch me.”

  “Try me,” he growled.

  Quickly, they had come to a stalemate. Truth be told, Antonia was quite intimidated by Torston because she knew, simply by looking at him, that he meant every word. Suspecting she had overstepped her bounds, she headed for the armory door and safety.

  “You have your instructions, Sir Torston,” she said. “Disobey them at your son’s peril.”

  With that, she departed the armory quite quickly, heading out into the sunlight as Torston remained behind, twitching with anger. He could hardly believe what had just happened, yet in the same breath, he realized just how high the stakes were now.

  But, God, he had Alyx to consider…

  She was with Douglas even now and he had not changed his mind about going for her. He wouldn’t let that shriveled old bitch dictate what he could and could not do, especially when it came to Alyx. He was going to retrieve her and then he was going to tell her about this whole sordid mess.

  Truthfully, he was still reeling about the whole thing.

  It was a struggle to focus. Turning back to the weapons he had been inspecting, weapons to take to Luckenburn Tower, he forced himself to think of the immediate situation, of Alyx’s rescue. He forced his mind away from the threats against the little boy he’d only seen once, when he was born, and on to Alyx.

  He could only imagine how terrified she was.

  Frankly, he was terrified, too.

  He set aside short swords, two crossbows, and other weapons. He was certain Alyx hadn’t been harmed because he couldn’t imagine Douglas doing such a thing to a woman he’d made a marital offer for.

  Truth be told, Torston was angry. Angry that she’d wandered out of The Lyceum when she knew full well that it was dangerous. He was going to rescue her, hug her, and then he was going to spank her until her soft, white buttocks were red with his handprints all over them.

  But there was also the matter of telling her that her father had passed away.

  God, this situation just got more and more complex.

  With weapons set aside and inspected, he was becoming restless, eager to get going. The afternoon was waning into dusk now and the sky was turning shades of purple and pink. As Torston quit the armory, he could see clouds gathering off to the east. That’s where the storms usually came from. Suspecting they might have foul weather by the morning, Torston turned for the gatehouse with the intention of selecting some men to go with him. As he took a step in that direction, he heard someone hissing his name.

  “Sir Torston!”

  Pausing, he looked around before spying a woman tucked back in by the great wood pile that was meant for the hearths of the gatehouse. She was hidden back in the shadows and as he moved toward her, she came out into the light.

  It was Lilia.

  Torston turned to stone.

  “You,” he hissed. “I have nothing to say to you.”

  Lilia looked utterly terrified. “Please,” she begged. “I must speak with you. If she sees me, she will kill me. Please… may we go someplace safe?”

  Torston was about to bark at her and tell her to go away, but something stopped him. “Who will kill you?”

  “Antonia.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You know what she just came to tell me. I do not need you telling me the same thing.”

  But Lilia shook her head. “Please, my lord, I beg you,” she said. “I must speak to you. It is a matter of life and death.”

  He was going to turn and leave her there. He didn’t have time for the subversion and threats that the House of de Weese apparently liked to dabble in, but something in her face gave him pause.

  Terror.

  It was real.

  “What do you want?”

  She was looking around like a hunted animal. “May we go someplace where we will not be seen? Please?”

  With a heavy sigh, he motioned to her and headed back toward the armory. He stood by the door and she dashed in. Slamming it behind her, he turned to her with clear impatience.

  “Well?” he demanded. “What do you have to say to me that your nurse hasn’t already told me?”

  Lilia tried to speak but ended up coughing. She was horribly nervous. “She is not my nurse,” she said. “And I am not Lilia de Weese. The real Lilia died years ago. I was groomed to take her place.”

  Torston forgot all about his anger. Suddenly, he was quite interested in what Lilia had to tell him. “What are you saying?” he demanded, but it was far less harshly than before. “If you’re not… and she’s not… what in the hell is going on? Who are you?”

  Lilia moved forward, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Lady Antonia is none other than Lady Bridget de Weese, the mother of Lady Lilia. Lilia died of a fever right after the betrothal contract was signed, but rather than forfeit the contract, Lady Bridget was determined to make sure it was executed. You see, the House of de Weese is destitute. She needs the de Royans money to survive, which is why she is determined to make sure this marriage goes through.”

  Torston was flabbergasted by what he was hearing. “Lilia died?” he said, astonished. “Then who are you?”

  Lilia shook her head. “A servant she found at St. Anthony’s parish in Elmington,” she admitted. “I apparently look a good deal like Lilia. She took me into her home, taught me how to behave, educated me, gave me food and clothing… and promised me I would be married to a knight of the realm. Given that I had come from poverty, you can imagine that it was an attractive offer.”

  Torston struggled to overcome his shock. “Then there is no Duc de Boussac, either?

  “Nay. Lady Antonia invented a brother to make the marriage seem more… attractive.”

  That explained away the brother Torston had never heard of, but Lady Antonia was still the heart of this entire problem. “She said that she will kill my son if I do not marry you,” he said. “What do you know about that?”

  Lilia looked at him with a great deal of sorrow. “It is true,” she said. “The boy is being held in Byrness.”

  “Where in Byrness?”

  “I do not know. All I know is that he is at a tavern and being held by one man. The man has orders to kill the boy if anyone comes for him.” Lilia’s sorrow grew. “I know your son, my lord. He is a sweet lad, very kind and bright. What Antonia is doing to him… it is not right. I care not for myself any longer. I am tired of being threatened and beaten by the woman, forced into her evil scheme. But the boy… you must save him. He is so helpless.”

  Torston was calming now, thinking on everything Lilia was telling him. He could hardly believe it, but in the same breath, he could see now that the betrothal was void. The moment the real Lilia died, it was broken. But Lady Antonia, or more rightly, Lady de Weese was trying to ensure her family’s survival by trying to pass off an imposter as her daughter.

  It was all so much to absorb.

  “Lady Antonia told me that if I had any involvement with Lady Alyx that she would have my son cut to pieces,” he said. “Do you think she means it?”

  Lilia nodded before he finished his sentence. “She will do it,” she said. “She is capable of such things. And do not trust Morley, either, for he is part of the scheme.”

  That gave Torston pause. “Morley is involved?”

  “Aye, my lord. He is her half-brother.”

  That gave Torston a distinct measure of shock. “Damn,” he hissed. “He’s the one who arranged for my son to go to Elmington in the first place.”

  �
�I know, my lord.”

  Torston was genuinely reeling from news of Morley’s involvement, but he couldn’t linger on it, not now. He had more important things on his mind.

  “Lady Alyx has been abducted by the Scots,” he said. “I am planning on going to rescue her, even now. But what you have told me… if I do that, Antonia will hurt my son.”

  “She will, my lord. She has no heart or soul.”

  “Then it would stand to reason that I need to go rescue the lad first.”

  Lilia nodded. “The boy cannot defend himself, my lord,” she said. “I have spoken to Lady Alyx. She is strong and smart, and I am sure she can fend off the Scots until you come for her. It is a terrible choice for you to make, but if you go to rescue Lady Alyx first, I fear what injury will befall your son.”

  The thought made Torston sick to his stomach. A terrible choice, indeed. Leave Alyx with Douglas Kerr longer than he’d anticipated or risk his child’s welfare. With a grunt of disbelief, he turned away from Lilia, lifting both hands to rake his fingers through his hair.

  There was no choice, really.

  He had to go save the boy.

  “In Byrness, you said?” he finally muttered.

  “Aye,” Lilia said. “More than likely, he’ll be kept locked up in a room with the man watching over him. I do not think you would find him in the common room of a tavern or out on the street. He would be locked up.”

  “Do you know the man?”

  “He is one of Lady Antonia’s servants. Her cook, in fact. That means he knows how to butcher.”

  The implication was obvious and Torston looked at her, feeling more disgust than he could stomach. “I understand,” he said. “And you… you have risked yourself to tell me all of this.”

  Lilia nodded. “I… I cannot return to Lady Antonia, not after this. She will know I have been up to something. She is not beyond beating it out of me before she cuts my tongue out.”

  Torston shook his head. “You are my witness to her evils,” he said. “I will protect you with my life. You need not return to Lady Antonia at all.”

  Lilia closed her eyes, weak with relief. “Thank you, my lord.”

  “You gave up the opportunity to marry a fine knight, you know. And you will never know how grateful I am.”

  Lilia wasn’t ready for his praise. “I have perpetuated this lie for too long,” she said. “I… I suppose I simply wanted to be married, to have a good husband to tend to and children at my feet. Every woman wants that and I clung to it. I can only ask your forgiveness for my selfishness, my lord. And… and do not ever tell Lady Antonia what I have told you.”

  “She is going to know that you told me everything when you testify before the priests of her scheme,” he said. “I will take you into Newcastle, to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, and the bishop shall know everything. The betrothal is already broken, but Lady Antonia – or Lady de Weese – will pay for this. I will not let this go unpunished.”

  Lilia nodded as she lowered her head. “I am willing to accept my punishment, too. What I did… it was wrong. I know that.”

  Torston looked at her. He could see how shaken she was. “What is your real name?” he asked gently.

  She looked up at him, then. “Nell,” she said. “My real name is Nell Talbot.”

  “Nell Talbot,” he said. “Do you have any skills other than scrubbing floors?”

  She nodded. “I am very good in a kitchen. I can cook.”

  “Good,” he said. “I am going to send you to Bowes Castle where you shall be a valued kitchen servant. You will have a good position, a roof over your head, and you shall be taken care of for the rest of your life. And you will not have to worry over Lady Antonia ever again.”

  Nell smiled timidly. “You… you are not going to punish me?”

  He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “Because in confessing all of this, you saved my life. I will return the favor. For now, I will take you to a place that is safe and removed from the keep. Neither Morley nor Antonia will find you, I promise. You’ll be safe there while I go about my business. When I return, we’ll take care of Lady Antonia and Morley so that their evil ends for good.”

  Nell nodded, feeling more relief than she ever imagined possible. After living for years in fear, the concept of being free, safe, and comfortable was rather foreign.

  “Thank you, my lord,” she said. She meant it. “If… if I could help you in saving the boy or Lady Alyx, know that I would.”

  Torston took her by the arm, leading her over to the armory door and peering out into the yard, making sure Lady Antonia was nowhere to be seen.

  “You have done enough,” he said. “As I said, you have saved my life and my future. I will make sure you are taken care of. For now, come along with me.”

  “Where are going?”

  “To a little cottage in the stable yard,” he said. “I hope you like goats.”

  She looked at him curiously. “Goats?”

  He smirked. “Never mind. You will stay there and you will not open the door for anyone but me. Is that clear?”

  “It is, my lord.”

  “Good. Because I need you alive and well.”

  Nell intended to stay that way, too. When Torston hurried from the armory, heading toward the distant stable yard, she scampered alongside him. She may have given up a marriage to the man, but it didn’t matter in the end. She did the right thing and would be forever free from Lady Antonia’s evil.

  Torston, on the other hand, wasn’t free yet.

  There was the little matter of a son to save.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Luckenburn Tower

  A storm was blowing in.

  Alyx could see it off to the east, pewter-colored clouds that carried wind and rain with them. Sitting in the window of the same chamber where she’d bathed and slept and ate, she leaned on the windowsill as she watched the clouds loom closer and closer.

  The land below was rocky, the grass turning shades of pale green and yellow because they’d not had much rain, so a storm would be welcome. Alyx could smell the coming rain and it reminded her of Makendon.

  She wanted to go home.

  She wasn’t exactly a prisoner in the keep. Edna had been in and out all day, inviting her to come along with her and walk about, but Alyx refused. She knew she couldn’t simply walk out of the gates and that was exactly what she wanted to do. Edna had sworn she would make sure Douglas would release her but, so far, that hadn’t come about yet. Finally, the last time Edna came into the chamber to see to the baby, who had barely made a sound all day, Alyx asked Edna to send Douglas to her.

  Alyx had a few choice words of her own for the man.

  But that had been some time ago. Alyx was coming to think that Douglas might never make an appearance when the door to the chamber opened again and in walked Edna and Douglas.

  Realizing that Douglas had finally arrived, Alyx came away from the window with the intention of making demands to be sent home, but Douglas spoke first.

  “M’lady,” he greeted, his gaze raking her appreciatively from top to bottom. “I see my mother has tended ye sufficiently.”

  Alyx glanced down at herself. She was still in the muslin gown that gathered at the neck and the wrists, billowy and comfortable. Her long hair was still twisted on top of her head, held in place by heavy pins. But she didn’t care how she looked and the way he was sizing her up made her feel the least bit uncomfortable.

  “Your mother has been very kind,” she said. “But I did not ask to see you to discuss her. I want to go home. You have no right to hold me here. Am I a prisoner?”

  Douglas shook his head. “Nay.”

  “Then I want to leave right now.”

  “Ye canna.”

  “You said I wasn’t a prisoner.”

  “Ye are not,” he said. “But have ye looked at that sky? It’s going tae let loose on us any moment. Ye dunna want tae be caught in the storm.”

  Alyx shook her head with disgust.
“That’s just an excuse,” she said. “You said I was not a prisoner, but it is clear that I am. If that is the case and you are keeping me here with the intention of marrying me, let me tell you how this will go. I will kick and fight, bite and scream, and I will not make it easy in the least. I will tell the priest performing the mass that I do not agree to this and that you have abducted me. I will make it clear that you are a beast and a liar. Shall I go on?”

  Douglas’ expression suggestion both remorse and defiance. “Ye’ll change yer mind after ye’ve been here for a time,” he said quietly. “Ye’ll see that we are good people. My ma already likes ye and she doesna like anyone.”

  Alyx looked at Edna, who was standing behind her son with a rather sad look on her face. “And I like her,” she said, returning her focus to Douglas. “But I do not want to marry you. Please, my laird… I want to go home.”

  “Doogie,” Edna said quietly. “I told ye that. I told ye that it’s not right tae keep the lass here against her will.”

  Douglas waved a sharp hand at his mother. “Enough, Ma,” he snapped softly. “This doesna concern ye.”

  Edna frowned. “So ye’d rather have an unwilling bride because ye think ye can convince her that she’ll love ye? Are ye so stupid that ye really believe that?”

  Douglas whirled on his mother to bark at her, but Alyx intervened. “She’s right,” she said. “Are you so desperate for a woman that you’d marry a woman who is in love with another man? Torston will always come between us, Douglas. Only if you marry me, he’ll become my martyr. You cannot compete with a martyr.”

  Douglas looked at her, his brow furrowed. “Ye mean the man who promised tae marry ye but is betrothed tae another?” he said, shaking his head. “If ye make him into a martyr, then ye’re the desperate one. Dunna ye see what I’m offering ye? A husband who doesna have an obligation tae another woman. Ye’ll be my queen, the lady of the house, and everything ye see will belong tae ye, including me. I’m offering ye a real life, lass, but ye’re living in a dream world.”

  His words were harsh but true. Alyx had meant to do the scolding, but he’d turned it around on her.