Through a Dark Glass

by Barb Hendee

  “No, she’ll pay,” he said finally. “I haven’t decided quite how yet, but she’ll pay.”

  “How long will you leave her in there?”

  Angrily, he turned to me. “Stay out of this, Megan. I know none of this is your fault, but don’t interfere now.”

  It was an odd sensation, being afraid of Sebastian. Though I wasn’t afraid of him hurting me, what would he do to Lavonia?

  “Come to bed,” I said quietly. “Let me clean up your hand.”

  Slowly, he exhaled and sat on the bed. I fetched a rag and the basin of water on my table.

  “Father won’t forget,” he whispered. “If he lives to be a hundred, he’ll never forget that I ruined his first attempt to hold a formal dinner.”

  At the pain in his voice, I drew his head against my shoulder.

  * * * *

  Late in the night, as he finally slept beside me, I listened to him breathe. Nothing would make up for what happened tonight, and he was most likely correct in his assessment of his father: Jarrod would never forget and never forgive.

  Of course, Lavonia was to blame, but Sebastian’s talk of punishing her seemed far beyond the crime. The kitchen girls had been allowed to wax lazy for years, and then one day, they’d been expected to work much harder.

  Some of them blamed me for this turn of events.

  Lavonia probably saw herself as justified in attempting to discredit me.

  She wasn’t suited to work in the kitchen, and she’d betrayed the family she served, but the proper punishment for that was a dismissal.

  As Sebastian slept, I slipped from the bed and donned my silk dressing gown. Going quietly to my dressing table, I took up a small pouch of money I’d brought with me from Chaumont. Then I tiptoed to the door and opened it, desperately hoping he wouldn’t awake. He didn’t, and I left the room.

  I went down to the main floor, to the west passage, and I paused in front of Ester’s door. After gathering myself, I knocked softly.

  A moment later, she opened it and peered out. “My lady?”

  “Where did he lock Lavonia? Do you know?”

  Her expression was strained, and she didn’t appear to have been awakened. Perhaps she couldn’t sleep either. “Foolish girl. I was so busy with the tarts I didn’t even watch what she was doing. If I’d known, I’ve have stopped her.”

  “I know you would have, but do you know where she is?”

  She nodded. “He made me lock her in myself.”

  “You have the key?”

  Again, she nodded.

  “My husband is angry beyond cause,” I said, “and I fear for Lavonia’s safety. If you give me the keys and tell me where to go, I’ll let her out, but she’ll have to leave the grounds tonight.”

  After a brief hesitation, Ester opened the door all the way. She put a robe over her nightgown and lifted a set of keys from the wall. She took up a candle lantern that had been glowing on her nightstand. “I’ll come. He left her in quite a state.”

  Though I had no wish to involve Ester, I wasn’t about to refuse her help. Together, we went downstairs into the cellars and down a passage with a dirt floor. Ester stopped before a stout wooden door and unlocked it.

  When she held the candle lantern high, we both looked inside. Lavonia was huddled back against the far wall, but I could see her face. Her mouth was split on one side and her eye was swollen shut. There was no food, water, or even a bucket in which she might relieve herself.

  “Ester?” she said in what sounded like hope, and she started to rise. Then she saw me and balked.

  “Come on,” Ester said. “We need to get you out.”

  I held up the pouch of money. “You have to escape the grounds tonight, and you must hurry.”

  “Escape? No. This is my home.”

  She still didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.

  Ester shook her head. “There’s nothing for it now. I think Lord Sebastian means to leave you in here, or worse.”

  “Take this money,” I said. “Can you sweet talk one of the guards into letting you out?”

  “She should be able to,” Ester answered. “Shanyel is on watch tonight, and he’s always been partial to her.”

  “Lord Sebastian would leave me in here?” Lavonia asked. “With nothing?”

  “You crossed him,” I answered, and then I couldn’t help asking, “Did you really think I would be blamed?”

  Her battered face turned sullen. “Everyone in the kitchen heard me tell you the fish was bad, and you ordered me to cook it. Of course, they’d blame you.” Her voice broke. “I just wanted things to go back to the way they were.”

  With a sad shake of her head, Ester took the pouch from me and pressed it into Lavonia’s hand. “Run. Go to Shanyel and have him let you out the gate. Walk south to Cerantes, that’s the nearest town, and try to find work. That’s the best we can do for you now. Whatever you do, don’t let Lord Sebastian find you.”

  This last piece of advice had an effect, and Lavonia finally seemed to realize she was in danger. With one last hard look at me, she hurried for the stairs up to the main floor.

  Ester sighed and relocked the door.

  Both of us stood in silence.

  I had no idea how this would play out now or what the repercussions might be, and I was anxious. If there was one thing I’d learned tonight, it was this: Don’t ever cross Sebastian.

  Chapter 11

  The next morning, I woke up alone. I hadn’t even felt Sebastian rise and leave the room. I agonized over my actions in the middle of the previous night but didn’t regret them. I simply wondered what would happen when Sebastian learned of my interference. Ester was the only one with a key, and I wouldn’t let her take the blame.

  Pushing such worries aside, I dressed without Miriam’s help and went downstairs to check on our guests. With Betty’s assistance, I got Rosamund and Phillipe to both eat some boiled oats and drink a little tea, and then the Monvílles announced they wished to go home.

  I understood this and walked out with them to the courtyard.

  By the time Jarrod, Rolf, and Kai joined us, Sebastian still hadn’t made an appearance, and I wondered where he was. Was he too embarrassed to face everyone?

  The Monvílles had brought a wagon for their luggage, but it was full. I even noticed the bottom of a half-covered harp near the end of the wagon’s bed. Why would they have brought a harp? I didn’t ask.

  Concerned about Rosamund riding a horse though, I suggested that Jarrod loan them another wagon—which he gladly did. I piled blankets in the back and made a bed so she could rest for the half day journey.

  This morning, Lord Allemond had thawed a good deal and was surprisingly friendly to Jarrod and Rolf.

  “Tomorrow then?” Allemond asked.

  “Yes, we’ll meet you at the old hunting lodge in the north quarter,” Jarrod answered.

  “Good. I’m sure you’ll find everything in order, but I think it’s best you check for yourself.”

  With that, our guests rode out.

  Jarrod wasn’t happy, but he didn’t seem angry anymore. At least the land deal was progressing. I turned and went back into the keep before he could say anything to me, and I found myself walking down the passage toward the kitchen. Though I still fretted over the situation with Lavonia, I had a duty to perform today.

  As I entered the kitchen, Cora was the first person I saw, and I stopped upon seeing the dark bruise on the left side of her face. I could only imagine the scene that had taken place in here last night.

  “Are you all right?” I asked instantly.

  “Yes, my lady.” She sounded on the edge of tears.

  Ester was making bread, and we locked eyes for a few seconds. Two women in a conspiracy.

  “I assume there is a good deal of food left since so little of it was serv
ed,” I said. “How many of us will be needed to carry it down?”

  Ester frowned slightly in puzzlement. “Carry it down?”

  “To the village.”

  It was common practice for the lady of any noble household to have all the leftovers collected the morning after a banquet and then help take them down to the nearest village to be given to the poor. Ester didn’t appear familiar with this custom, and so I explained it.

  “Oh, no,” she said, shaking her head. “The master wouldn’t like that, and I wouldn’t ask him about it today.” She paused. “Did you ask Lord Sebastian?”

  I hadn’t, and considering his probable state of mind, I decided not to try.

  Leaving the kitchen, I felt the need for fresh air and walked out the back door into the garden. This place always cheered me with the vegetables, berries, and herbs.

  Slowly, I made my way toward the hen house, and then I heard a familiar voice: Sebastian.

  “This is where she hid them, out here so they could further spoil. You should have seen my father’s face. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to recover from this.”

  “Well, at least one thing has come of it,” a male voice answered. “You’re finally spending some time with me.”

  “Daveed, don’t push me,” Sebastian warned. “Not today.”

  I paused in mid-step. Sebastian was out behind the hen house with Daveed, his handsome friend from the guards, the one who didn’t like me.

  “When should I push you?” Daveed asked, sounding petulant. “I never see you anymore, and you spend every night with that slip of a girl.”

  “She’s my wife. What would you have me do?”

  “You said she’d never choose you.”

  “Because I didn’t think she would! What young noble woman wouldn’t choose Rolf? He’s the eldest son. But for some reason, she did pick me.”

  “Then don’t pretend you’re not enjoying it.”

  “Daveed! Not today. I mean it.”

  They both fell silent

  A feeling of discomfort grew in my stomach. I didn’t understand this conversation. What did Daveed mean by accusing Sebastian of spending his nights with me, as if this were something wrong?

  Footsteps sounded, and Sebastian came around the side of the hen house. At the sight of me, he didn’t even break stride.

  “Megan, where are the Monvílles?”

  “They’ve gone.”

  “Are you looking for me?”

  “No, I was just walking, but I’m glad to see you.”

  Reaching out, he grasped the back of my head. “You’re the only one who never asks anything of me. Why is that?”

  “I love you,” I answered simply.

  “You do, don’t you?”

  Letting go of my head, he offered me his arm, and I took it. But as we walked back toward the keep, two things troubled me. First, he hadn’t even mentioned checking on Lavonia or letting her out. This was both a blessing and a concern to me. Second, I couldn’t stop thinking on his strange conversation with Daveed.

  * * * *

  The following morning, Jarrod and Rolf prepared to ride out. Apparently, the night of the disastrous dinner, they’d made a plan to meet Lord Allemond to inspect some trees in regards to the upcoming land deal.

  Sebastian, Kai, and I walked out to the courtyard with them. Ten of our guards were already mounted and waiting. Daveed was among them.

  Wearing their chain armor and swords, Jarrod and Rolf looked every inch the hardened men I thought them to be. I hoped they might find some middle ground to form at least an outward-appearing friendship with a man like Lord Allemond, but it didn’t seem likely.

  Jarrod swung up onto his horse, and I stood below him.

  “Should we wait dinner for you or should I just have Ester keep something warm?” I asked.

  “We’re meeting in the north sector of his lands,” he answered. “It’s almost a half day’s ride out and then back again. If we’re not home by dinner, go ahead and eat.”

  I nodded and stepped back, but as I turned, I saw Sebastian standing beside Daveed’s horse. He had one hand on the horse’s shoulder, and Daveed was leaning down so they could speak without being overheard.

  There was nothing unusual about this. It was common for a lord of any keep to speak with one of the house guards. Still, the discomfort in my stomach rose up again. They both looked so intense.

  Finally, Sebastian patted Daveed’s leg and stepped away. “All right,” he said. “I’m sorry again, and I’ll see you tonight.”

  Rolf was watching them. Then he looked at me. I held his gaze without flinching.

  Jarrod wheeled his horse and the entire contingent cantered toward the gate.

  Kai, Sebastian, and I remained in the courtyard until they were out of sight.

  “Well, we have the place to ourselves,” Sebastian said. “Rather a pleasant thought. What shall we do with our day? How about a game of cards?”

  I smiled. “You two play. I thought I’d see about hanging some wildflowers to dry. That way, next winter we can have a little color on the table when we need it. Also, I need to make sure Betty and Matilda have seen to cleaning the guest rooms.”

  “Industrious thing,” he teased.

  He and Kai headed off together, and I went to my duties.

  The day passed slowly for me as I alternately dreaded and expected Sebastian to give an order regarding the fate of Lavonia. He never said a word. Even though I’d already ensured her safety, it troubled me that to his knowledge, she’d been locked in a room without water since the night before last. Had she still been in there, she’d be suffering terribly. How long could a person live without water?

  Not long past dusk, I met Sebastian and Kai in the great hall.

  “Your father said we should go ahead and eat if they hadn’t returned yet, so I’ve ordered dinner be brought in.”

  Kai nodded. “I am getting hungry.”

  I was gratified that relations between him and myself had improved somewhat, though we still seldom spoke. When we were in a room together, he often followed me with his eyes, but he was no longer hostile. I believed in time, he and I could be friends.

  The three of us sat down at the table.

  Betty and Matilda carried in trays of beef, potatoes, and carrots. As the beef was left over from the dinner party, I thought it might jog Sebastian into mentioning Lavonia. It didn’t.

  “Betty, is there bread?” Kai called.

  “Yes, my lord. I’ll fetch you some.”

  She had just turned away when a loud crashing sounded from somewhere at the front of the keep. It took me an instant to realize it was the front doors being opened hard and fast enough to slam against the walls.

  “Sebastian!” a male voice nearly screamed. “Sebastian!”

  Everyone in the hall froze for a second or two, and then Kai was running. Sebastian was on his heels and I ran after, down the passage for the front doors.

  We reached the open doors to find Daveed on his knees panting for breath. He was bleeding from a wound on the side of his head, but he saw us coming.

  “Kai . . .” he managed say. “Your father . . . get your father.”

  Kai ran past him as Sebastian skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees. “Daveed, you’re bleeding.”

  I hurried after Kai, thinking to find the contingent in the courtyard and learn what had happened. But there was only one foaming horse waiting, with Jarrod draped over its back. Other guards from the barracks were running out by now.

  Kai got to Jarrod first. “Father!”

  Reaching up, he struggled to lift Jarrod’s prone form off the horse. Once he’d done this, he dropped down while holding his father in his arms. Jarrod was unconscious and his skin was nearly white. There was an ugly slash across his stomach. His chain armor hadn’t p
rotected him.

  As the other guards reached us, several knelt to see if they could help Kai with Jarrod. I knew a few of them by name.

  Captain Marcel swung his head left and right. “Where’s Lord Rolf? Where are the rest of our men?”

  “We need to get Lord Jarrod inside and into a bed,” I said.

  Kai’s face had turned nearly as white as his father’s. “Captain, take him. Do as your lady says and get him inside.” He jumped up and ran back to the open doorway. “Daveed, where is Rolf?”

  I came up behind Kai to see Daveed’s anguished expression.

  “I’m sorry,” Daveed choked. “He’s gone. They’re all gone. We were ambushed.”

  “Gone?” Sebastian repeated.

  Several guards came up behind us carrying Jarrod, and I moved forward, going with them to the tower and then up to Jarrod’s room.

  “Lay him on the bed,” I said.

  Events were happening too rapidly for me to take in, and I’d not fully absorbed the announcement about Rolf, so I focused on the matter at hand: Jarrod’s wound. It was still bleeding. Had it penetrated his stomach though, he would already be dead.

  “Send for water,” I ordered Captain Marcel.

  I was no physician, but I needed to clean around the wound to better see with what we were dealing. Kai, Sebastian, and Daveed entered the room.

  “Sebastian, help me with this armor,” I asked.

  As my husband moved to assist me, Kai looked down at us. His entire body was rigid.

  “Daveed,” he said. “Where is Rolf?”

  The room fell silent, and Daveed wasn’t looking at anyone. “Dead, back where he fell. Right as we rode up to the lodge to meet Lord Allemond, men came out of the trees . . . maybe thirty of them. We were outnumbered. They struck Rolf down first. Six of our men were dead before I got my sword from its sheath, but then I saw Lord Jarrod fighting, and he took a wound across his stomach and fell backward across his horse . . . but he didn’t fall to the ground. I dropped my sword, jumped off my horse, and ran to him. I got up onto his horse with him in front of me. I grabbed the reins and tried to get him out. Somehow, we broke through and I just kept pushing the horse.” He dropped his head. “I left everyone else behind.”