“Mmm?” Ash’s grip tightened on the parchment. If Edric wanted to claim the ancient gold…
“You promised to fight for Rosetta, Uncle. You promised to protect her.”
“Justin—”
“Why did you not stop Edric from taking her away?”
Ash dragged his free hand through his hair. He couldn’t tell Justin that Rosetta had chosen to leave, or the reasons why; the boy simply wouldn’t understand the complexity of the situation, and he might get upset.
And yet… If Ash shared all of his suspicions with Lord Montgomery, including Edric’s connection to traitors plotting to overthrow the King, his lordship would most likely agree that the marriage should never go ahead.
Ash snatched up the other relevant parchments and pushed to his feet, anticipation spreading through him like wildfire.
“I thought you loved Rosetta,” Justin said. “You told me you did.”
Crossing to the boy, Ash said, “I do love her. Very much. I always have.”
Justin looked bewildered. “Then—”
Ash set his hand on the lad’s shoulder. “We will continue our discussion later, all right? I have an important meeting to attend. I will return as soon as I can.”
Justin’s eyes brightened. “Does the meeting have to do with Rosetta?”
“In some ways, aye.”
The boy hopped down from the bed and snatched up his weapon. “I am coming with you.”
“Nay, Justin.”
“I want to help. Most of the knights in the stories have squires. I will serve as your squire for the afternoon.” The boy’s smile turned cheeky. “I will practice with my bow all day tomorrow, Uncle, if you let me come along.”
Ash’s brows rose. “All day?”
Justin nodded. “I promise. ’Tis not just any old promise, either, but a solemn one.”
Trying very hard not to chuckle, Ash said, “Very well. Gather what you need for our journey, Squire. I will await you in the bailey.”
***
“What do you mean, Father Stephen is not here?”
The wiry little man behind the open church door shrank back at Edric’s brusque tone. “I am sorry, Lord Sherborne. I injured my arm and could not drive the wagon, so he went in my stead. He has gone to buy candles and beeswax polish from the next town.”
Edric looked angry enough to kick down the church wall.
Standing on the portico beside Edric, Rosetta exhaled a sigh of relief. Without the priest to conduct the ceremony, there could be no wedding. Now, she just had to find a way to escape Edric, but he and his men were watching her every single moment.
She still had the dagger that Ash had given her, but she hadn’t drawn it. There hadn’t been a good opportunity to try and flee. There was no point in attempting to escape unless she had a chance of succeeding. A failed attempt would mean she’d lose the weapon to the men—and Edric might follow through on his threat to kill Ash and Justin.
As Edric swore under his breath, she dug her nails into the back of his hand—he was clutching hers so tightly he might crush her fingers—and forced a smile. “What a shame that we cannot wed today.”
He scowled and glanced back at the man inside the church. “You said the priest went to the next town?”
“Aye, milord. He should return by dusk.”
“This marriage cannot wait.”
“Of course it can,” Rosetta said.
“Nay, it cannot, my love. We must find the priest and bring him back here.”
Rosetta battled a flare of anxiety. “You have no idea what roads he took, Edric. You will never find him.”
A calculating smile ticked up the corner of Edric’s mouth. “The church roof still needs repairs, does it not?” he asked the man.
“It does, milord. Father Stephen is worried that we will not have it fixed before winter, because we still have not raised all of the funds.”
“I will pay for a brand new roof,” Edric said, “if you tell us how to get to the places that Father Stephen has gone to visit.”
The man’s eyes widened. Glancing nervously from Edric to Rosetta, he said, “’Tis a very generous offer, Lord Sherborne—”
“Good, then ’tis settled.”
“Edric,” Rosetta snapped. “The wedding is not going to happen.”
“My love, I realize you do not want to inconvenience the priest. However, I am sure he will be happy to wed us when he remembers we were denied our marriage days ago due to unexpected circumstances.” Edric signaled to two of his guards. “Get the details from this man and go find Father Stephen. Get him here as swiftly as possible, and you will each receive ten pieces of silver.”
Rosetta fumed. “Edric, I will not—”
“Hush, my love.” He released her hand for the barest instant, slid his arm around her waist, and turned her to step down off the portico—so quickly, her head spun. The remaining two men-at-arms followed.
“Edric!” She dug her heels into the dirt, raising a small cloud of dust.
He halted abruptly. As she straightened, he said, “Continue to protest, and I will send my remaining men to Damsley Keep. Is that what you want, Rosetta?”
“You would really murder Ash and Justin?” she asked, refusing to temper her biting tone.
“I really would.” For an instant, regret flickered in his eyes. “Their being harmed would not be my fault. ’Twould be entirely yours, for forcing me to take such action.”
She gaped, stunned by the twisted logic. “My fault?” She tried to find a quelling retort, but he propelled her onward to the wattle-and-daub tavern located close to the church in the town square—a place that rented rooms upstairs to travelers.
Mother Mary, but she had to get away!
The scents of tallow candle smoke and frying fish filled her nostrils as Edric pushed her through the front door. In the shadowed interior, folk seated at tables near the polished wooden bar or the hearth glanced their way, but soon returned to their conversations and drinks.
The tavern owner approached, smiling. “Lord Sherborne. ’Tis a pleasure to see you.”
“Is the room ready?” Edric asked.
“Aye, but we were not expecting you so early.”
Reaching into the bag tied to his sword belt, Edric took out a few coins and dropped them into the man’s palm. “Her ladyship wanted somewhere quiet to rest for a while. I did not think you would mind.”
“Not at all.” The tavern owner fetched an iron key and handed it to Edric. “Would you care for some wine, milady? Something to eat?”
Rosetta held his kind gaze. If she could secretly ask him for a quill and ink—
“She wants only to rest,” Edric answered. He urged her forward, causing her to stumble.
“You are going to break my ankle,” Rosetta groused.
Pulling her in closer, he murmured, “Then you cannot run away.”
Her stomach clenched at the feel of his breath against her hair. She longed to grab her knife, but the armed men were too close behind. They would overpower her as soon as she drew the dagger. Forcing herself to be patient, she climbed the stairs with Edric to the upper level. He unlocked a door at the far end and pushed her into the room.
Her heart pounding, she glanced about the chamber, dominated by a large bed. Unlit candles were clustered on the bedside tables, the hearth tiles, and on the small trestle table by the door. The floorboards and bed linens were scattered with pink rose petals: the petals of wild, briar roses, just as Ash had promised her for their first romantic night together.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
Bile scalded the back of her mouth, while the door clicked shut behind her. “I remembered that Ash used to call you his Briar Rose. ’Tis why I chose the rose petals,” Edric murmured, walking up behind her. “Do you like the way the room is decorated for us?”
Tears burned her eyes as she put several paces between them, bringing her closer to the shuttered window. “I will not lie with you.”
“Our marriag
e will be consummated tonight, Rosetta—whether you are willing or not.”
Her trembling hand touched her sleeve, felt the solid weight of Ash’s knife beneath the silk. If she was left with no other choice, she would use the dagger to stop Edric from consummating their union.
“I have gone to a lot of trouble for you, my love,” Edric said, anger hardening his gaze. “You would be wise to cooperate with me, not fight me.”
“I do not love you.”
“Rosetta—”
“I will never love you the way I love Ash.”
Edric laughed bitterly. “So I was right. You do still have feelings for him.”
“Stop this madness, and let me go. I will not be your wife.”
He smiled as if her defiance was pointless. “You do not have any other choice.”
Rosetta struggled to remain calm. She would not give up on escape. If she was clever, she might be able to use the dagger to break the lock on the door.
“In case you are planning to flee, you cannot leave this chamber. The men-at-arms are standing guard outside the door.” Edric gestured to the window. “Try to climb out, and you will be gravely injured or die in the fall to the ground.”
Her rage kindled anew. Fighting the blinding urge to lunge at him, she said, “You have obviously thought this through.”
Edric shrugged. “I know what I want. That, my love, includes you.”
Purely on instinct, she grabbed the nearest candle and hurled it at him. He ducked, ran for the door, and slammed it behind him. His laughter, drifting in from the corridor, mocked her as he turned the key in the lock.
“Ash,” Rosetta whispered, tears slipping down her face. “I am sorry.” By the time he learned that she hadn’t returned to Millenstowe Keep, she’d be married to Edric.
Sobs wrenched up inside her, and she longed to curl up on the bed and weep.
She mustn’t. The wedding hadn’t happened yet. There was still a chance that she could get away.
If she loved Ash—and she did, so very much!—then she mustn’t stop fighting for that love until the very last possible moment.
Sucking in slow, steadying breaths, she drew the dagger from her sleeve. The metal glinted in the sunlight streaming in past the closed shutters. As she tucked in the edges of the linen strips tying the knife’s sheath to her arm, her gaze shifted to the bed, and then the window.
Hurrying to the shutters, she threw them open and leaned out over the window sill as far as she could. She studied the surrounding exterior wall and the distance to the ground.
Edric was right; ’twas a fair way down to the ground.
That wouldn’t stop her, though.
Chapter Fourteen
Astride his black destrier, Ash looked down at Justin as they passed the two-story townhomes on the outskirts of Clipston. “Remember, you must stay with me or the men-at-arms at all times.”
Justin guided his brown and white pony around a rut in the road; the two armed guards riding in the rear followed the boy’s lead. “I know, Uncle. You have told me three times already.”
Ash grinned. “I wanted to make very sure you understood.”
Justin rolled his eyes.
Turning his attention back to the street ahead, Ash noted how quiet the town was, compared to the last time he’d visited. Without a noble wedding to bring crowds out into the street, folk were either busy indoors or going about their daily chores. A short distance ahead, children shouted, laughed, and tossed wooden blocks into a bucket; Ash spurred his mount ahead of Justin’s and then guided it to the side of the street, so as not to disturb their game.
“I am starving,” Justin said, his voice carrying over the echoing clip-clop of the horses’ hooves.
“The men-at-arms can take you to buy a meat pie,” Ash said over his shoulder. “Then, they will escort you to a spot where you can practice with your bow.” While Ash had allowed Justin to come along, he didn’t want the boy at his meeting with Rosetta’s sire; the information Ash had to share was far too dangerous.
“Can I get the pie soon?”
“Aye. In a few moments, when we reach the town square, we will go separate ways. The baker’s shop is in the square.”
“Good. I did not realize that being your squire would make me so hungry.”
Ash chuckled. Justin had done an admirable job as squire so far. Mayhap the boy was more ready to begin his training as a page than Ash had thought.
The road opened into the town square, the old stone church directly ahead. In his missive, Ash had advised Lord Montgomery to meet him under the towering oak at the far corner of the church cemetery. They would ride on together from there to the meadow by the river, a suitably remote spot to have their discussion, and, if his lordship desired, Ash would take him to the site where Rosetta had found her ring. Ash had already forewarned his guards that they would be responsible for Justin for a while.
Ash headed for the side of the church, where he would have a clear view of the oak. Lord Montgomery was there, waiting. Ash raised his hand in greeting. His lordship answered in kind.
Halting his destrier, Ash turned it to face his men and Justin. “We will meet up outside the baker’s shop later this afternoon.”
“Aye, milord,” the guards said.
Justin, however, wasn’t paying any heed. He was staring at the tavern.
“Justin,” Ash said.
The boy didn’t immediately face forward. “Uncle—”
“Squire,” Ash said, more sternly. “You are supposed to listen.”
Frowning, Justin pointed to a window on the building’s upper level. “Why is Rosetta in the tavern?”
***
Rosetta turned away from the window, hurried to the bed, and yanked aside the blankets, sending wilting petals flying to the floor. A shame to ruin perfectly good sheets, but she would ensure the tavern owner was paid for his loss.
With the dagger, she cut wide strips of cloth from the top sheet. Her hands shaking, she braided the fabric, working as quickly as she could. There was no telling when Edric would return. When he unlocked the door, she wanted to be long gone.
Raised voices carried from down in the town square. Was Edric railing at the poor man at the church again, or had he found someone else to scorn?
She tied the lengths of braided linen together, realizing as she did so that she hadn’t made the makeshift rope long enough. Cursing under her breath, she cut more cloth.
Hurry. Hurry!
Again, cries rose from outside. The rumble of a passing cart distorted the sound, but still, one of the voices sounded like Ash’s.
Hope bloomed inside her, urging her to run to the window. She crushed the foolish emotion. Ash wouldn’t be in the town; he was at Damsley Keep. Her frantic mind was playing tricks on her.
Exhaling an unsteady breath, she grabbed her linen rope.
A dull thud came from outside the window. Was someone throwing stones?
She moved to the window, just as an object sailed through. She squeaked and stumbled back, as an arrow landed on the floorboards.
She recognized the arrow. ’Twas one of Justin’s.
***
Ash stared up at the woman leaning out over the sill. Justin was right; ’twas most certainly Rosetta, still garbed in the cloak and gown she’d worn when she’d ridden away with Edric.
What in hellfire was she doing in Clipston?
“Uncle, why is—?”
“I do not know, but I will find out.”
Rosetta disappeared back inside the tavern. Misgiving roiled inside Ash as he spurred his horse closer to the building, for his gut instinct, which had never failed him, told him she was in trouble. “Rosetta!” he called.
“Rosetta!” Justin shouted, his voice blending with Ash’s.
She didn’t reappear. Mayhap she hadn’t heard them?
“Rosetta!” Ash cried again.
Still, she didn’t come to the window. Someone—likely Edric—could be preventing her from answering,
or she could have left the chamber. Fury welled up inside Ash in a violent tempest. Even if it turned out that his instinct was wrong, that all was well, he wanted to know why she was in the tavern and not on her way to Millenstowe Keep as arranged.
Justin swung down from his pony. “Since I am your squire, I will go inside and—”
“Wait.” Ash dismounted to stand with the boy. “’Tis a gallant offer, but we cannot just barge into the tavern. We do not know who else is inside, and we might put Rosetta in danger.”
The boy’s eyes lit with understanding. “Chivalrous knights must always put the lady’s safety first.”
“Exactly.”
Remembering that Lord Montgomery was waiting for him, Ash turned to his men. “Go to the church cemetery and fetch his lordship. Tell him to bring his guards.”
As his men-at-arms rode off, Ash studied the window again. If he could somehow climb up the outside wall and peer in, to see what was going on inside—
“I have an idea, Uncle.”
“Mmm?” Ash scratched his chin while his mind calculated the best way to scale the wall.
“I can fire an arrow through the window. She will know we are here.”
God’s bones!
“If anyone besides Rosetta is in the room, they will likely come to the window. I will act as though I am just a witless six-year-old who has no idea how to use a bow, and that I fired the arrow into the building by accident.”
“’Tis a brilliant idea. Do it,” Ash said.
Justin nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired. The arrow hit the wall near the window and dropped to the ground.
Damnation! Ash bit the inside of his cheek and fought the urge to take the bow and fire it himself.
Justin growled with frustration and nocked another arrow.
“Lower your right arm,” Ash said as the boy aimed. “A little more… Fire!”
The arrow sailed through the open window.
***
Rosetta picked up the arrow and ran to the sill. Ash stood below, Justin beside him.
Oh, thank God!
She smiled, fighting tears. “I am so glad to see you.”
“What are you doing in Clipston?” Ash called up to her.
A Knight's Desire--World of de Wolfe Pack Page 14