“I promise.”
He left the room and she covered her face, shaking with more heavy sobs.
Chapter 4
Just before the sun crested the mountains to the east, Judith dressed and crept down the hall to the rear of the manor. She recalled how the stable met the exterior wall. By climbing an old ladder by the stable, she was able to reach the ivy and climbing weeds that snaked over the top of the manor wall. She used them like ropes to her lower herself to the safety of the opposite side.
Her palms burned and bled by the time her feet met the underbrush. She turned around to find herself in the mouth of the peaceful Caldwell forest, a place she once sought comfort, now felt dark and foreboding. She wandered helplessly through the forest, stumbling through the thick trees until she found a path. It was the road to Caldwell. She turned back in the direction of the manor and tears choked her. She would miss him.
As she walked along the road, the dangers of bandits and hungry animals watching her kept her almost as uneasy as going back to Garreth and his parents. Before long, she was standing before the cottage.
No one will ever hurt you again. His voice rang out in her memory. That promise had been made to Lora Noire, not to her.
She grabbed her chest as the door opened suddenly and her husband stood before her, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
She did not know whether to smile or frown. “Garreth.”
“Judith, my Judith, you’re alive!” He squeezed her against him. “You are truly alive. Thank God! Where have you been?”
She grasped onto him and closed her eyes, unable to speak. Where had she been? The truth sounded too surreal to be believed.
The shrill scream of her son as he came running at her with his arms outstretched interrupted her answer.
“Mummy!”
She knelt and took Sam into her arms. “Sam!”
The thought of the sorrow she put her son through made her heart heavy.
“Mummy, I missed you so much. Are you hurt?” he asked against her ear.
She kissed his dirty cheeks. “No. I am quite all right, Sam.”
“Where were you Mummy?”
Looking into her sons innocent eyes made her all the more guilty.
“Lost,” she whispered. “I was lost.”
***
Her welcome was short. She sat down to the morning meal and was greeted with a sneer by her father-in-law.
“We thought you had up and died on us. You were probably hiding in the woods this whole time, wanting us to worry, you little witch.”
She looked to Garreth, who ignored his father’s comment.
“I was lost in the woods.”
“Lost.” Her mother-in-law snorted. “You’re lucky to be alive. I have fallen behind on just about everything without you here, Judith.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We’re out of flour,” she complained, ladling some watery pottage into Judith’s bowl. “We won’t have any bread tonight.”
After eating such wonderful food at the manor, the pottage tasted like pig slop.
“How did you get lost, Mummy?” Sam asked, slurping his pottage.
Judith took a deep breath and glanced down at her spoon. “I ran into some bandits.”
Garreth lowered his bowl. “Bandits?”
“Yes. They were passing through the wood. I went to fetch water and they tried to kill me but I ran.”
“Shame they didn’t catch you,” Bart grumbled in his bowl.
Judith shot him a glare.
“Did they harm you?” Gertrude asked.
“No. They wanted my possession, so I gave them all I had.”
“I’m sure you gave them that and more,” her father-in-law chuckled.
“What did they look like?” Sam asked.
“They were ugly dog-faced men, with fat bellies and rusty daggers,” she answered.
Sam’s eyes grew wide and pottage dribbled down his chin.
“That’s a fine dress you’re wearing, Judith,” her mother-in-law observed.
“It was given to me by a stranger in the wood. The bandits took my clothing.”
“It will fetch a fine shilling in the market. Hurry and take it off, so we can sell it.”
“I would like to keep it.”
“Nonsense! That will pay for our food and more. Take it off.”
Judith swallowed her anger and left the table to change.
She climbed up to the loft that reeked of molded hay.
As she untied the lace bodice of the dress, silent tears trickled down her cheeks. Why had she chosen to return? Was it because she could not face the baron, or face the truth of what she had done? The truth seemed less frightening as she stood in the barren loft. The baron might have been angry with her, but she would have rather faced his anger, or lived a life in servitude, or died in a dungeon cell rather than live in servitude to the Timbolt family. She wished she would have run away from Caldwell, perhaps to another town, but the thought of her son drew her home. She could not bear to leave Sam.
She laid the beautiful dress aside and changed into one of her old dresses, quickly reacquainting herself with the discomfort of the scratchy wool.
Climbing back down from the loft, she was greeted by a table with dirty bowls left for her to clean. She tended to them and then took the leftovers to the pigs.
They grunted and snorted as they feasted on the molded bread, stale pottage and rotting vegetables. She covered her mouth as the scent of defecation gagged her.
She wandered away from the pigsty and saw her husband chopping firewood.
He held the axe in mid-air when she approached as if he expected her to say something. She wondered if he really cared about her safe return.
“Judith, I’ve been meaning to speak to you.”
“Yes?”
“They found a woman’s body in the woods, near the stream. Everyone thought it was you at first, since you had gone missing. She was wearing your dress. But it was not you; she was beautiful, a true flawless maiden. How did she get your dress? Did you… kill her?”
Insulted, Judith stammered, “K-kill her? How can you think I could be capable of killing anyone? It must have been a dress similar to mine.”
“She wore your dress. I know it was your dress, the stains were the same.”
Heat burned her cheeks. “I told you, I know nothing. My clothing was stolen. Your mother is going to have a fit if I don’t get back to my chores.”
He sighed. “Fine. Go, then.”
She fled to the house, her nerves strung tight. Perhaps the truth was going to be as difficult as the lie.
That afternoon, Judith stood over the hearth stirring the large pot of stew. She rubbed the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve and looked towards the front door, hearing a commotion outside.
Her mother-in-law, standing beside her, threw her knife down. “What is going on out there?”
Judith watched her waddle to the window and peer out with a skeptical eye. Her back straitened and her jaw dropped. “Bless my eyes. It’s Baron Blacwin.”
Judith dropped the spoon into the stew.
She ran up next to Gertrude and peeked out the window for confirmation.
“What is he doing here?” Judith asked in horror.
“I don’t know, but you better hurry up and get the table set for him!”
She peered out again to see Roger and personal guard with the baron.
Her head spun. “We’re not having him in, are we?”
“Are you daft, child? Get that table set.”
She watched in distress as her mother-in-law joined Garreth and his father to greet the baron. They kissed his ringed fingers and begged him to come inside. She prayed he would deny their request.
To her dismay, she heard him agree and they all headed for the door.
Judith was fear stricken and her heart begged fight or flight.
Flight won and she scrambled up the ladder to the loft. She backed into the corner, b
iting down on her knuckles and praying this was all a nightmare.
“Baron Blacwin, we insist you share our table,” Garreth urged.
“Thank you,” she heard the baron reply. “but, I do not wish to intrude. I just have some questions for you. It will only take a moment.”
“Intrude? Nonsense,” Gertrude said. “We will get you a nice bowl of stew. Judith! Where has your wife gone, Garreth?”
Judith cursed them all and slid down the wall to her knees, hiding her head in her hands. If only she could climb out of the window and escape. She knew her legs would break from the fall.
The ladder shook.
Someone was coming for her.
“Mummy? Are you up here?” Sam’s head of marigold hair popped up to greet her. “Mummy, there you are! Baron Blacwin is here!”
“I don’t care. Shush now and get back down stairs.”
Confusion filled his big hazel eyes. “But Mummy, he has a big black carriage and a horse and a big feather in his hat! Don’t you want to meet him?”
“No. Now go. I am not feeling well.”
“Judith!” Gertrude yelled. “I need help serving the stew!”
“I cannot go down there. Please Sam, tell her I am ill.”
“Come on Mummy, don’t be scared. He is not frightful. He’s not a bat.”
“I know he isn’t a bat!” she said, trying to wrangle her emotions of excitement and utter terror.
“Judith, get down here, you worthless witch!” Bart yelled.
Judith swallowed hard. What would happen if she didn’t go down might be worse than facing the baron. Perhaps he would not recognize her in her drab rags.
“Better come Mummy,” Sam said, frowning at her.
Reluctantly she stood up and followed Sam down the ladder.
“Good eve,” she whispered with a bow, keeping her gaze to the ground.
She crossed the room to the hearth. Her hands shook as she ladled stew into each bowl.
She served the baron first, resisting the urge to look at him. When he took the bowl from her, their hands brushed. Everything in the room faded away as their eyes met. His lips parted in surprise. Dread crept over her. He recognized her.
Before he could speak, her mother-in-law interrupted.
“Are you going to stand there and stare at him all day, Judith? There are other hungry people at this table, too!”
She backed away and went to get the other bowls of stew.
She could feel his eyes on her as she ladled the stew and served the others at the table.
Sam dunked a handful of bread into his stew and chomped on it, looking up at the baron admiringly. “I like your feather.”
“Thank you,” the baron replied.
“My mummy collects bird feathers for me when she goes to the forest to find berries. She was kidnapped by bandits and she just came back home.”
Judith winced and walked back over to the stew pot.
“Is that so?” the baron asked in a skeptical tone.
“She got lost and ran into bandits,” Garreth added. “She is lucky to be alive. Isn’t that so Judith?”
“Yes,” she whispered without turning around.
“They were fat bandits with big swords,” Sam added.
“Very interesting,” Baron Blacwin answered.
Judith wished she could flee out the front door and never return.
“Mummy, tell him the story.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I’d like to hear it, if you don’t mind,” Baron Blacwin said, his voice as smooth as silk.
Judith slowly turned around and looked over at the table, her eyes finally settling on him.
He leaned forward, his lips pulled tight in displeasure. “I’m sure it was a dreadful experience.”
“It was humbling.”
Her eyes pleaded with him.
“These bandits, did they assault you?” he asked, ignoring her distress.
“No, I ran,” she answered, on the brink of tears.
“You ran, did you?”
“She ran, all right!” Bart chuckled. “Don’t believe a word that comes out of her lying’ lips, Baron. I’m sure she enjoyed whatever torture they gave her. Refill my ale, wench.”
Judith obediently grabbed the ale pitcher and carried it to her father-in-law. She gripped the handle tightly in fear of spilling. As she drew it back, her unsteady grasp caused her to spill some down the back of her father-in-law’s hand.
“Wasteful, stupid girl!” Bart threw his fist up, backhanding her across the face.
She stumbled back, dousing ale all over the floor as she fell into a pile of chopped firewood.
“Foolish child! Look what you have done!” Gertrude yelled.
She heard nothing but the ringing in her ears. Fiery pain seared her backside where she landed on the logs.
A teary blur came into view over her. The Baron. He held his hand out to her and pulled her to her feet.
She stood up, shaking, and looked at her son, pressed against his father’s shoulder in fear.
Her husband, the coward, bowed his head in shame.
“What the hell is going on here?” the baron whispered against her ear.
“Thank you, Baron,” Judith said, pulling out of his hold. She went to fetch a rag to sop up the ale from the floor. As she knelt down over the mess, she found it hard to hold back the tears.
“She is ignorant, my lord,” her mother-in-law said.
The Baron was obviously disturbed. “It’s fine. I need a private word with Judith regarding her disappearance.”
“She is fine now,” Garreth said, “Don’t bother yourself, Lord Blacwin. I’m sure you have much more important things to worry about.”
“I have a berry pie waiting,” Gertrude said, enticingly.
“I have no need for dessert. Thank you,” he answered in a cold voice.
“Judith, get the baron’s cloak,” her father-in-law said, bowing his head.
Judith wiped her tears away and went to retrieve the baron’s cloak. She followed him to the door and looked up into his eyes, guilt stricken.
“Forgive me,” she whispered.
“Come outside,” he replied, holding the door open.
She stepped out obediently. Judith knew her family would be at the window listening, so she led him to the opposite side of the carriage.
The baron ordered his men to step aside until he was finished speaking with her.
Once everyone was out of sight, Judith wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his black doublet.
“Forgive me, please. I meant you no harm, I swear to you.” She sobbed.
He ripped her off him and stared into her eyes with distain. “What the hell is going on here? Who are you, truly?”
She took a deep breath. “My name is Judith Timbolt.”
“Why have you deceived me?”
“I did not mean to. I just wanted to escape this life.” Tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
“Where is the true Lora Noire?”
Tears obscured her vision of his face. “She is dead, my lord. I found her dead in the forest and I took her clothes. She poisoned herself.”
“You found her dead? This is preposterous. You expect me to believe you did not take her life?”
“Yes! I swear to you I did not. I found her dead.”
“You assumed her identity. You might as well have killed her.”
“I did no such thing. I found her face down near the stream when I went to fetch water. I only wanted her dress but then a man came and he assumed I was her. He brought me to you… I didn’t know what else to do!”
“Why did she kill herself?”
“Because she was being forced to marry you.”
He looked surprised by that revelation and looked away, his jaw tightening.
“I wanted to marry you,” she pleaded.
“Everything you told me was a lie,” he scoffed. “You wound me deeply.”
&n
bsp; “You must find it in your heart to forgive me, please! I cannot live with myself otherwise.”
“Forgive you? You do not deserve forgiveness. Do you know what you have done?”
His words pierced her. “I do, and I am sorry. I wanted to tell you, but there was no way, so I ran.”
“This is treasonous!” he snapped. “What do I tell her father?”
“Tell him she killed herself. She is dead.”
“She’s more than dead. She’s an imposter!” He looked off into the distance.
“I’m so sorry, Cal.” She clutched at the front of his doublet again.
He tore her hands away. “Does your family know what you have done?”
She shook her head. “They know only what they told you.”
He moved away from her. “I would reveal you, if it did not make me look the fool.”
“Don’t leave me here,” she begged, her remorse becoming too much to bare.
“Where do you want me to take you?”
“Anywhere but here. Please!”
“You don’t deserve to be saved after what you have done. I gave you enough,” he said, his eyes cold.
She lowered her head into her hands and sobbed.
“Ready the carriage. I am through!” he yelled to his men.
“Baron Blacwin, please!” she called, reaching for him in a last attempt. “Don’t you see why I am bruised? Why I ran?”
He glared down at her. “All I see is a liar who made a fool of me. Good day.”
“She left a note!” Judith yelled. “She said that if she had to marry you then she would rather give herself to God than to be your baroness. She drank poison!”
His jaw tightened. “Quiet yourself!”
“No! You must believe me. You must!”
He took her by the shoulders and straightened her. “Stop this. You’re making a fool of both of us.”
“I don’t care…I love you!” she wept.
A look of disgust crossed his face. “You love no one but yourself.”
Sobs wracked her body. “Cal, please.”
“Do not use my name, peasant.” he let her drop to her knees before him.
Her lower lip trembled as she grabbed his knee, and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Red Deception Page 4