The Overlord's Bride

by Margaret Moore

  She spoke with bland and faultless courtesy, yet her tone was very different from the friendlier one she had used when she addressed the earl.

  He knew the distinction was not lost on the attentive earl, either, despite the jovial smile that never left the man’s face.

  The earl held his arm out to escort Elizabeth into the hall, while Raymond took the arm of Lady Chesney.

  As he led the earl’s wife into his hall, he was struck again by the results of Elizabeth’s efforts and his companion’s gasp of delight told him that he was not alone in his appreciation.

  Elizabeth had found some larger tapestries stored in the far corner of a storage room. They had been dusty and full of tiny moth holes. After helping to beat out the dust—sneezing and laughing with the maidservants the whole while—she had set Rual to repairing them. They now graced the walls, while the plain furniture shone in the candlelight. Elizabeth had helped polish it with beeswax until he thought her arm would fall off. The rushes had been replaced that very morning, and sprinkled with sweet-smelling herbs. Not the most exotic or expensive, to be sure, but pleasant nonetheless.

  The food they would have would also be not the most expensive or exotic, but ample. Elizabeth had assured him that the type of food was not so important as long as what they had was well-prepared. “Better to have plenty of good plain food than a scarcity of rich,” she had decreed.

  Despite his pride and pleasure in his wife and his hall, however, Raymond was also very aware that Montross was behind him.

  And it wasn’t long before he knew what Montross thought of his wife’s efforts.

  The moment they were all gathered round the hearth, Montross said, “Well, Raymond, I see the difference a wife can make to a wolf’s den.”

  He didn’t reply, and Elizabeth addressed the earl. “My lord, I met your sister once, at Lady Katherine DuMonde’s.”

  A smile of delight spread over the earl’s face. “Did you indeed?”

  “Yes, but briefly, I am sorry to say. My cousin knew her better, and speaks most highly of her.”

  “She was very well-liked.”

  “And an excellent dancer, Genevieve says. The best she ever saw.”

  The earl’s chest puffed out with pride, and his eyes seemed a little shinier. “She was the best dancer I ever saw, too. Perhaps, my lady, you will dance with me later?”

  Elizabeth modestly glanced down at her stomach. “I shall be as clumsy as an ox.”

  “Oh, I do not believe that,” Montross interjected.

  The earl gave him a sour look, obviously not pleased with his interruption. As Montross flushed, Raymond gave Elizabeth a small smile of approval.

  “I do not believe that, either,” the earl said to Elizabeth, “and if your health permits, I would be most pleased if you would join me in a round dance.”

  “I would be delighted, my lord,” Elizabeth said. She looked at Raymond. “My husband can play for us.”

  If she had punched him in the stomach, Raymond could not have felt more winded. Play? For the earl? And dancers? “Elizabeth,” he growled warningly.

  She came to him and took his hand, then faced the earl.

  “He is too modest, my lord. He plays very well.”

  “So I recall,” Montross muttered.

  Raymond had met many men in battle. Seen the challenge in their eyes. Saw it in their stance.

  This was a challenge, too. “If the earl requests it, I would be pleased to play.”

  Elizabeth’s proud and happy smile made him glad he had agreed. “As I would be to dance. Now, come, my lord, let me show you and your wife to your quarters, so that you may refresh yourselves before the feast.”

  She led the couple off toward the east tower, leaving Raymond with his enemy.

  Chapter Sixteen

  They were not exactly alone, of course, for Cadmus sat nearby, and the earl’s guard was coming into the hall, as were the servants.

  “I daresay you are taken aback to see me,” Montross declared.

  Still challenging, and beneath the bravado, fear and uncertainty. “I knew you were rude enough that you might not answer my invitation,” Raymond replied evenly.

  “I was summoned by the earl.”

  Raymond merely raised an eyebrow at that, for that was not what Aiken’s whore had said, and he would sooner believe a whore than Fane Montross.

  “You may have gone too far with this marriage, Raymond. You have allied yourself to powerful men, and the earl has cause to wonder where your allegiance lies.”

  “The earl wonders, or you?”

  “What do I care who you marry and to whom you are connected? I have allies of my own.”

  “You cared enough to meet her in the wood.”

  Montross squared his shoulders. “She told you what she thought I was after, obviously.” He smiled, but it didn’t extend to his eyes. “It was purely by chance—and you must think so as well, or I’m sure you would have ridden to my castle in high dudgeon and called me out.”

  “So that was the rest of the plan. I thought as much.”

  “There was no plan. You and that wife of yours—”

  “You will speak of Elizabeth with respect, or you will leave, and I will tell the earl why I cast you out of my home.”

  Montross’s gaze faltered. So, he was not sure of his footing with the earl. Otherwise, this warning would have meant nothing to him. “Your wife was mistaken,” he repeated.

  Raymond decided to take another tack. “I assume you have voiced your concerns about my ties by marriage to the earl.”

  “As I am his loyal vassal, of course I did.”

  “And he was so angered, he readily accepted my invitation and speaks of dancing with my wife.”

  “She has charmed him for the moment.”

  “She is very charming,” Raymond agreed.

  “His affability will not last.”

  “You still seem to find her fascinating enough to stare at with lust in your eyes,” he noted, his voice lower and more menacing.

  Montross thrust out his chin. “You can’t deny she is a beautiful woman.”

  “She is my beautiful wife.”

  Montross came closer, and it was clear his self-control was slipping. “A wife you don’t deserve, as you didn’t deserve my sister.”

  “You speak the truth. I didn’t deserve her. I deserved better, but I didn’t know what better was until Elizabeth.”

  Montross’s eyes widened. “God’s wounds,” he whispered. “You love her.”

  His heartbeat quickening as the old fear of vulnerability came over him, Raymond said nothing.

  He should have said nothing before, shown nothing, been a cipher to his enemy.

  “You took my sister from me and then you killed her,” Montross cried. “You don’t deserve love or happiness. By God, you sicken me. You and that bitch both!”

  Raymond took a step closer. “Leave Donhallow.”

  “I will not—not until I speak to the earl again and warn him that he is in a viper’s nest here.”

  Raymond’s anger surged, but he fought to control it. “Tell me, does the earl know that you are hiring mercenaries?”

  “I am allowed to hire soldiers.”

  “So am I, if I feel in need of them,” Raymond replied. “But not the kind of brigands you are employing.”

  “The earl will understand that I need protection.”

  “From me, or from him?”

  Montross’s face flushed. “Oh, is that how this will play out? You will tell him not to trust me, when you are the traitorous one? We shall see who he believes!”

  “Yes, we will.”

  Montross glared at him a long moment. “No, I will not stay,” he snarled at last. “I won’t stay here to watch you bill and coo like lovebirds, you disgusting murderer. As for the earl—”

  He fell silent, perhaps realizing that he dare not disparage his overlord, no matter how upset he was.

  Instead, he whirled around and marched toward t
he door. Every eye in the hall followed him, then the people turned their regard to Raymond, who made no sign of the unrest within.

  He did not regret the confrontation. It was time Montross understood that Raymond knew about the mercenaries and so would be prepared.

  Nevertheless, he was worried, too. If Montross thought he had lost the earl’s favor—the one thing that had kept him in check all these years—there was no telling what the man might do.

  Sitting in bed, glad to have her feet up and yawning with fatigue, Elizabeth waited for her husband to join her. He was still below, talking with the earl.

  The sudden departure of Montross had caused many a raised eyebrow and whispered speculation. Elizabeth herself didn’t know the exact reason why Montross had gone, but she assumed it must have been another eruption of their old enmity.

  The earl had not asked any questions, suggesting to her that he likely thought the same—or thought it best to save his questions until he could be alone with Raymond.

  She, too, had questions for her husband. He had not been at all surprised to see Montross ride in beside the earl. She was not surprised that Montross had come, but she was shocked to see him in the earl’s cortege, which bespoke an intimacy she didn’t like.

  She suspected someone had forewarned Raymond, and beneath her curiosity, she was hurt. She had dared to believe that her beloved husband had come to trust her, as well as care for her. Yet if he trusted her, why would he keep secrets from her, and what else had he not told her?

  At last she heard his familiar footfalls, and Cadmus panting. Deep in thought, he entered the bedchamber, while Cadmus took his place outside the door.

  “Raymond?”

  He started. “You are not asleep?”

  “No.”

  “You should be,” he said, coming to the bed and sitting on it. He studied her. “You look tired.”

  “I am tired, but I couldn’t sleep until I spoke with you.”

  He rose and began to disrobe.

  “I have to speak with you.”

  “About Montross,” he agreed as he pulled off his tunic.

  “Yes, about him. You weren’t surprised to see him arrive with the earl.”

  He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he continued to undress, sitting on the bed and pulling off a boot.

  “Raymond?”

  “I knew he had gone to meet the earl in London, and that he would probably journey here with him.”

  Elizabeth shifted toward him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want to alarm you,” he replied without looking at her as he drew off the other boot, “especially since you are with child.”

  “Do you think I am so easily frightened?”

  He straightened. “I saw no need to worry you over something that might not happen.”

  “You worry a great deal over my safety in childbirth, and there may very well be no need for that.”

  “This is different.”

  “No, it isn’t, and for a man so concerned about my health, I am surprised it did not occur to you that a shock like that could send me into labor.”

  He twisted toward her, and on his face was an expression of such horror, she instantly hastened to reassure her. “It didn’t.”

  He shifted so that he faced her and gently cupped her chin in his hand. “I should have thought of that.”

  She took hold of his hand and regarded him steadily. “I was more hurt to think you would not tell me something so important.”

  “Truly, I didn’t want to upset you.”

  “But it must have worried you, knowing that Montross was with the earl and likely spreading malicious lies. I am your wife, Raymond, and I want to share your worries. You don’t have to bear them by yourself any more.”

  “It is a habit hard to break.”

  “It is not a habit,” she replied. She lifted his hand and pressed a kiss upon his palm. “It is fear.”

  He pulled his hand away.

  “An understandable fear. You trusted Allicia, and she betrayed you. I had hoped that you had come to trust me and to believe I would never betray you. Was I wrong to have that hope?”

  “I do trust you.”

  Such simple words, and yet she thrilled to hear them, especially accompanied as they were by the look in his eyes which told her he meant what he said.

  “If you are not too tired to come with me, I shall prove it.”

  “Where?”

  “It is a secret.”

  “Is it far?”

  “No.”

  “Then I am not too tired.”

  He rose and helped her to her feet, then went to the chest, pulling out their cloaks. Silently, she took hers and wrapped it about her, as did he.

  “What will we say to the sentries?” she asked as he took one of the candles from beside the bed.

  “We are not going outside,” he replied, taking her hand. He broke his grasp to open the door.

  Cadmus lumbered to his feet, looking at his master expectantly. “Stay, Cadmus,” Raymond quietly ordered.

  “He looks disappointed,” Elizabeth noted as the dog settled despondently on his haunches.

  “Shhh,” Raymond cautioned as he started down toward the hall.

  When they were halfway there, he stopped and scanned the wall. She had no idea what he was doing, until he pointed to a small nick in one of the stones at waist height. “Remember that mark,” he whispered. Then he pushed on the stone, and it, as well as the three beside it and those reaching to the floor, swung open.

  “It’s a door,” Elizabeth gasped as a cold draft of air hit her. She peered inside and saw a very narrow set of steps leading downward into total darkness. The rough walls glistened wetly in the feeble light of the single candle.

  “A secret passage. Where does it lead?”

  “It runs along the outer wall down to the moat, then under it. It opens in the wood on the other side.”

  “So far!”

  “The door in the wood is concealed by a holly thicket.”

  She straightened. “It is amazing.”

  “It is for escape. My father showed it to me shortly before he died. I have never told anyone, not even Allicia.”

  Elizabeth’s heart swelled with joy and gratitude. What more proof of his trust could she desire? For she realized that, although he did not say it, a man could enter Donhallow by this route, too. Or a troop of men, and take it from within. “Are you certain Allicia didn’t know about this? A lover could sneak inside this way.”

  “I did think of that, and as soon as I could go out alone, I checked the other door. It didn’t look as if it had been opened.”

  “Oh.”

  “But that does not mean I am absolutely sure it was not.”

  She nodded. “I will keep this secret, Raymond.”

  “I know,” he said. He reached into the opening and pulled on the door, removing his hand quickly as it swung shut with a dull thud. He ran his gaze over her. “You’re cold.”

  “Yes, I am,” she admitted, wrapping her arms about herself.

  “Let us go back to bed.”

  She took his hand and together they returned. When they were underneath the warm coverings, he rolled on his side and looked at her, his gaze intense. “I am going to tell you something, Elizabeth, that I have never told another soul. About Allicia and her brother.”

  Elizabeth’s brow furrowed with puzzlement.

  “They were always close—too close. I should have paid more heed to that, and other things, before we married.”

  “What are you implying, Raymond?”

  “What you think,” he answered softly. “There were hints, signs, warnings that their relationship was an unnatural one, but I was blind—willfully so, I think. I thought I loved Allicia, and wanted to believe her perfect.”

  “Until the day she tried to kill you.”

  “Yes. We were hunting that day, Fane and Allicia and I, with a troop of my men. They shared a secret joke, one of many,
and I was annoyed at being ignored. When we returned home, I said something about them being more like lovers than siblings. It was half in jest, but I have wondered since if a part of me did not want to find out the truth.”

  Sighing, Raymond rolled back and looked at the ceiling. “Perhaps I wanted her to deny it. But she didn’t. She didn’t say a word. That night, she tried to kill me. I believe she was afraid I was going to tell people, perhaps even demand an annulment.”

  “She would do murder to cover up her sin? She would have been accused and tried.”

  “She might have preferred risking that, or assuming such risk as it was. Her brother would have stood by her had she claimed self-defense. I do not doubt that whatever story she told would have softened the hearts of any man who heard her, too,” he said bitterly. “As you have seen, I have a temper. She would have used that in her defense.”

  Despite the warmth of the covers and Raymond’s body, Elizabeth shivered. “It sounds so…so disgusting.”

  “Yet it is the only explanation I have for what Allicia did.”

  “Why have you never accused Montross?”

  “No proof. It would be my word against his, and until I married you, he had more influence than I.”

  “You could tell the earl now.”

  He shifted and looked at her sorrowfully. “Although I never loved Allicia as I do you, Elizabeth, I did care for her. Montross is ruining his own life, for he is fast losing the earl’s support, and when that happens, he will lose all. I don’t want to drag Allicia’s memory through the mud if there is no need.”

  Elizabeth caressed his rough cheek. “You are a chivalrous man, Raymond—another reason I love you.”

  He turned his head and kissed her palm, causing another kind of shiver to run through her body.

  But she had more questions yet, she reminded herself. “Why did Montross leave so suddenly?”

  “We quarreled.”

  “What about?”

  His gaze searched her face. “Are you certain you wish to know all?”

  “Yes, Raymond, I am.”

  “He is hiring mercenaries, battle-hardened, Aiken tells me, and more like brigands.”