Unarmed (Unarmed Trilogy)

by Nina Monroe

“I don’t know for sure, but your lady is the first person to come to mind. If she becomes with child and there is a single bloodline for Thurston and Roth families, it will certainly throw a wrench into the plans of our enemies,” Garrett continued to whisper as he looked at Tamzin. “The whores have said that they’ve seen an influx in out-of-kingdom men who ask a lot of questions about our Princess.”

  “Are they Johansson men? Are these girls being harmed by the men?” Will asked as his eyes scanned the room quickly for anyone who seemed unfamiliar. He took a deep breath when he saw Tamzin talking animatedly with Kendall and Lucy. “I know the girls like Tamzin.”

  “Everyone likes Tamzin,” Garrett explained. “She wears dresses from local seamstresses and is recruiting local educators to teach the bastard children of the whores to read. There are rumors of her wanting to pass laws to help women and help feed more children. She’s practically a saint to the townspeople,” Garrett continued as he watched Tamzin and Kendall. “I’m not saying she’s involved, but I have my suspicions about Lucy.”

  “You clearly know something I don’t,” Will countered as both men watched the women. “Lucy is a bit extravagant; I don’t appreciate receiving invoices from the townspeople and find out she spends more of Tamzin’s allowance than she does. It doesn’t make her a bad person, but she thinks of herself as royalty when she’s not. Tamzin tells me she rarely sits with her and Kendall to sew and isn’t awake early enough to help her prepare for formal occasions.”

  “So you brought her into the territory so Tamzin would have her friends, but Lucy isn’t much of one?” Garrett asked as the doors to the Throne Room opened. Will didn’t move from his spot as he watched Tamzin, Lucy, and Kendall walk into the room first, followed by the higher-ranking nobles. “Like I said, I have no concrete evidence that Lucy is involved but I think it’s worth keeping an eye on. We leave in the morning for your aunt’s territory?”

  “We do, and Lucy is coming. We are bringing an official entourage. Besides you, I’m bringing twenty-five men from different bannermen. I have no worries for safety with my aunt’s court, but traveling to the Johansson court with two crowned Princes, a crowned Princess of two territories, and a Queen makes me nervous.” Will steered Garrett towards the Throne Room. The nobles stood instantly at his arrival and Will kept his eyes locked on Tamzin. “This conversation stays between us,” Will whispered to Garrett as they walked around the table and to their designated spots: Will in the center between his father and Tamzin, while Garrett sat on the other side of Kendall, who was directly next to Tamzin.

  “What was so important? New tactics to woo Kendall?” Tamzin smiled as she watched Will pour himself some wine. “Pour me some?” she asked as she held out her golden goblet.

  “You know Garrett. He was curious about what time we have to leave in the morning. He plans on having a late night and then gave a graphic depiction of it,” Will lied easily as he poured the wine into her goblet.

  “Did you learn anything new?” Tamzin asked with a raised eyebrow. Will smiled when he felt her foot run up his leg and pushed his pants out of his boots.

  “Am I boring you already? Does my tongue not bring you the pleasure you so desire?” Will responded in hushed tones as he brought the goblet to his lips. The smell was too sweet and he scrunched his nose from the aroma. Tamzin laughed as she took a sip of the wine and mewed lightly.

  “Blueberry wine, my favorite,” she said with a smile as she took another long sip. “You may get to have your way with me tonight with this wine.”

  “Something tells me I don’t need to have a drunk wife to make her a lusty wife,” Will smiled as he took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “I want to continue our conversation about the Johanssons. Will you join me after dinner?”

  “Of course,” Tamzin smiled as she reached for the large fork to put the meat onto her plate. She looked like she was going to say more when Jacque interrupted her.

  “Your Grace, I’m sorry to interrupt but I need to speak to your husband. I’m sorry to take up your dinner, Your Highness, but I have something for you,” Jacque smiled as he held up a vile. “Won’t you come with me?”

  Will rolled his eyes as Tamzin slapped his arm. He pushed his chair back and followed Jacque to the corner of the Throne Room. The older man held up the vial again, filled with a light pink liquid.

  “This is the combination of many herbs that have fertility potency, Your Highness. I don’t mean to insult, but I think it’s a good idea for both you and the Princess to both be increasing your fertility in order to conceive a child. It’s best to take it with food,” Jacque said as he handed over the vial. “I didn’t wish to embarrass you or to question your virility in front of the Princess.”

  “You delivered Tamzin, didn’t you?” Will asked as he held the vial up to the light. The pink liquid brightened in the light before Will returned his eyes to Jacque.

  “Yes, I did, your grace. I’ve helped take care of her her whole life.”

  “Promise me, when it’s time for her to give birth, that you do everything you can to ensure her survival. Our families seemed to be cursed when it comes to birth,” Will said as he turned to look at Tamzin. She rested her head in her hand and Will watched as she lost her balance and fell to the ground. “Tamzin!”

  Will felt his legs carry him faster than ever before as his father and Kendall stood quickly and watched in horror as Tamzin’s body hit the floor. Behind the table, Will fell to his knees and turned Tamzin’s body over. Her chest, neck, and face were flushed and covered in a thick sheen of sweat; her brown eyes were large and dilated as her chest heaved for breath. “No,” Will cried as he lifted her head with his hand. “No.”

  “Your Grace!” Someone called his name as he watched Tamzin’s eyes become bloodshot and someone shook his shoulder. “Your Grace! What did she eat?” Jacque asked as he removed Will’s hand and turned Tamzin to the side. She cried out in pain when Jacque turned her over and a slap from Jacque jolted him from his pain.

  “Wine, wine. She only drank wine. It smelt too sweet and she said it was blueberry wine. She loves blueberries,” Will groaned as put his hand under Tamzin’s waist and lifted her off the ground. “Tamzin, it’s alright. Jacque is going to help you.”

  “Will, I need you to pick her up and bring her to your room. She’s been poisoned by what I believe is nightshade. They are berries that look and taste similar to blueberries. Kendall!” Jacque barked. “Go and retrieve cold water from the servants quarters.”

  “Garrett!” It was now Gregory’s voice that Will heard as he cradled Tamzin close to him. Her breath was coming out in wheezes and she was too weak to return his embrace. “Get your men and question the kitchen servants. Someone knows who brought in the wine. The kingdom is shut down; we will not open the gate to let anyone come in or leave.”

  Jacque pulled on Will’s arm as he stood up with Tamzin in his arms. Will’s instincts returned to him as he listened to her short breaths; with her in his arms, Will pushed through the people and ran up the closest stairwells.

  “Will,” she slurred as she buried her face in his chest. “I think I’m going to die. I feel like I’m going to die.”

  “You’re so dramatic,” Will teased sadly as he sprinted up the final stairwell and nearly fell into their bedroom. “A little nightshade can’t kill a Roth girl.”

  “Will, you need to remove her dress. Leave her in her chemise,” Jacque said as Kendall and some of the kitchen servants, who carried in cool water, followed him in. Will removed the knife from his boot and quickly sliced the laces of Tamzin’s bodice. She took a deep breath when the pressure was released and Will nearly tore the silk dress off of her.

  “So eager to see me naked,” Tamzin continued to slur her words as she moved to lie on her stomach. Will saw that she had nearly sweated through her chemise and the material was now sheer.

  “Nightshade stops the body from flushing out toxins. She’s sweating so profusely as a way of her body to purg
e the poison. Your Grace, I need you to hold her over the tub. She is very weak and can’t do it herself. I’m going to make her vomit and when I’m finished, she needs to drink as much water as possible. Do you understand?” Jacque asked as he and Will hoisted her head over the tub. Will pressed his body behind Tamzin’s and pushed her sweaty hair out of her face.

  “No, no,” Tamzin cried as she felt Jacque push two fingers down her throat. Her gag reflex contracted and she felt the bile rush up her throat like lava and she retched into the tub. Her throat was raw and sore, but Jacque continued and wouldn’t stop. “Will,” Tamzin sobbed as bile began coming out of her. This was what agony felt like; it felt like her stomach had been flayed and her throat was burning.

  Will felt the tears drench his cheeks as he watched Tamzin in pain. Jacque dipped a clean goblet into the first bucket of water and nearly poured it down her throat. The water cooled the fire in her throat and belly, but it was short lived. Like before, Jacque forced the water down her throat and shortly, she had finished nearly two whole buckets before he stopped.

  Her stomach was painfully tight as the gallon of water sat in the bowels of her stomach. Will cradled her in his arms as Will tried to hide his tear stained face from her as Jacque spoke to him. “If she survives the night, she will be fine. Soon, she will need to relieve herself and when she does, have her drink some more water. I need to see if anyone else has been poisoned.”

  Will yelled at everyone to clear out of their bedroom, and Tamzin watched Kendall, whose face was pale and her eyes red-rimmed, darted out of the room when she heard Will’s callous voice. When the room was empty (and it emptied quickly), Tamzin felt Will pull the soaked chemise from her body. She felt her eyes roll back as the rough material of a towel ran across her body. Tamzin shivered from the cool air but she was not cold for long; when he finished wiping her down, Will lifted Tamzin and wrapped her in his fur-lined cloak. With her still in his arms, Will carefully lifted Tamzin and deposited her gently on the bed.

  Tamzin groaned as her entire body ached. Will pushed her hair out of her eyes as she turned to lie on her side to face the candle resting on their nightstand.

  “I’m in so much pain,” she cried softly as she huddled into the fur cloak before Will tucked her in with more furs. “Why would someone do this?”

  “Garrett told me he was convinced there was an enemy of Thurston Court that would try to harm you,” Will said as he rubbed his hand into her back. “I am going to find who did this to you and they will beg for me to kill them after what I put them through.”

  Tamzin didn’t answer as she felt her eyes slide shut. She felt the bed dip and Will wrapped his arm around her waist. He kissed the back of her neck and whispered, “I’m sorry.” She didn’t remember what happened afterwards.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “We are not leaving,” Will ordered as he stood next to his bed. It was only hours after her poisoning, but Tamzin rose slowly, and shakily, from their bed. It was well past midnight when she awoke and the poison had been expelled from her body. Will stayed awake as she collapsed back onto their bed and slept only a few more hours, until the sun dawned and made her open her eyes. “You need to recover.”

  “I am recovered,” Tamzin smiled before she groaned as she stretched her aching muscles. “The person who did this, they expect us to be weak. If I stay in bed, then we are weak.”

  “I care more about you recovering than appearances, Tamzin,” Will said as he drew a fresh chemise from their vanity to cover her nakedness. Her pallor was still flushed and dark circles framed her eyes. Tamzin raised her arms and felt the smooth fabric slide over her skin. Will tugged the fabric to her thighs. “You and I both know who did this.”

  “Your Uncle,” Tamzin spoke softly, as if in fear of someone listening. “Why me? Are we even sure I was the intended victim?”

  “Garrett is almost certain we have a spy among us, who may double as an assassin. Someone who has been with us as long as you have, and knows your affinity for blueberries,” Will continued as he trailed a finger down her chest and stopped against her smooth stomach. “Someone who doesn’t wish for me to place an heir in your belly.”

  Tamzin eyed him fiercely as she placed a hand on her empty womb. “If I become with child?”

  “Then it will be an occasion to celebrate,” Will replied with a false grin. He wasn’t at all upset about the prospect of becoming a father, especially with Tamzin, but he worried greatly about her becoming with child at such an inconvenient time. Her chances of losing the pregnancy increased with fear and the potential of another poison attempt.

  “You sound uncertain,” Tamzin pressed as she watched him pull out a simple dress for travel. “Yet you pick a dress for horseback.”

  “I’ve learned that it is better to listen to my wife when she has her mind set on something. It will also be a fantastic time to teach you to ride a horse properly, now that there is no doubt your maidenhood is no longer intact. After you’ve rested longer,” Will smiled as he kissed her cheek. He placed the dress low to the floor and brought the simple, white dress up to her shoulders. Tamzin turned and felt him tie her laces.

  “You would make a fine lady in waiting,” Tamzin teased, though her body ached like nothing before. She thought her body ached after her sparring lesson and subsequent loss of her maidenhood, but last night, Tamzin had been convinced she was near death. She swore she felt Death’s cold fingertips touch her face when her dress made it difficult to breathe. Will pressed his lips to her shoulder and ran his hands across her tense shoulders.

  “I only serve my Queen,” he whispered in her ear as he finished the laces of her dress. “Sleep a bit longer, my love. I still need to ready myself and our horses.” He continued as he led Tamzin back to their bed. “I will have a carriage ready as well, in case you become tired.”

  “I am not a delicate flower, Will,” Tamzin half joked and half scolded. “I thought the men of Thurston had the utmost respect for the strength of women?” Tamzin asked as she watched her husband pull his tunic over his head. “I think you would need the carriage more. Did you sleep at all?”

  “I’ve slept enough,” Will said as he stripped naked and left his clothes on the ground. He changed his tunic and breeches, along with his riding boots. Tamzin pulled her hair back as she laid down on the bed. As she closed her eyes, she listened to Will walk around their room. She felt like she had only just shut her eyes when she felt Will touch her face.

  ~~~

  “Wake up, love,” Will said as he kissed her brow. “Do you want me to carry you to the carriage?” He asked as Tamzin felt herself nod. She would never admit to Will that he was, indeed, correct; she needed to recover and had no business traveling. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her effortlessly. Tamzin tangled her fingers in the curls around the nape of his neck as she closed her eyes again. Before long, she felt him slide her across the velvet warmth of the carriage seats.

  “Stay with me,” Tamzin moaned as she grabbed his tunic. She listened to Will chuckle as he slid into the compartment and shut the door. “Angus,” he called out as Tamzin listened to the heavy hooves come closer. The carriage began to move as Tamzin felt Will’s fingers run through her thick tresses. She listened to the slow moving hooves that belonged to Angus and the other horses as they lulled her to sleep.

  She didn’t feel Will pull away or wrap her tighter in her cloak as he exited the carriage and lifted himself onto Angus’ back. Will continued to ride next to the carriage as Garrett came to ride next to him. Tamzin’s ladies were on their own horses, closer to the front of the carriage as Garrett began to speak in whispers. Lucy and Kendall had been permitted to learn to ride horses before their wedding.

  “How is she?” Garrett asked as he nodded to Tamzin in the carriage.

  “She’s alive, but exhausted. I didn’t want to travel today but she demanded it,” Will remarked as he kept his eyes locked on Lucy’s back. Kendall’s shoulders were slouched as Lucy
talked animatedly. “Did you find anything?”

  “No,” Garrett bristled as he gripped his reins tighter in his leather-covered hands. “No one in the kitchens have any idea how that type of wine came into the kingdom, let alone in front of you and the Princess. I didn’t get a strong vibe from anyone.”