She wiped away her tears, for she’d already shed enough of them. Then, she rose to remove her wet clothing, trying to summon the energy she needed to deal with Gerard. Before she’d done more than take off her cloak, a knock sounded at the door. Surprised, she opened it to find Mary and two other maids carrying a bathing tub and buckets.
“Lord de Bremont said you’d be needing a bath, my lady,” Mary said with her customary cheerful smile.
Confused, Elizabeth simply stood staring at the women and their buckets of steaming water.
“Do you want us to come back later?” Mary asked.
Warmth filled Elizabeth at her husband’s thoughtfulness. “Nay. Now would be lovely.” She opened the door wide to let them in.
Mary and the other maidservants soon had the small tub filled with hot water, and Elizabeth immersed in it. She sighed appreciatively as the water chased away the chill.
What could Nicholas mean by this gesture? Unable to come up with any sort of reasonable explanation for his behavior or odd mood swings, she resigned herself to enjoy the bath.
The other two maidservants left while Mary remained to help wash her hair, her touch firm but gentle as she worked the soap into Elizabeth’s long tresses.
The maid chatted, pulling Elizabeth’s thoughts away from Nicholas. “Edith is sitting with Sir William, my lady. I’m sorry to say we haven’t seen him move one bit. I can’t imagine what’s keeping that man asleep.”
“Nor can I,” Elizabeth mumbled, pleased to know she wasn’t the only one frustrated with William’s lack of progress.
Mary stepped to the side to lift a bucket of clean water to rinse Elizabeth’s hair. “Edith got a bit of broth into him, drip by drip. Thank the Lord the woman’s got the patience of a saint.”
“’Tis good that one of us does,” Elizabeth added from beneath the folds of a linen cloth she held over her face to keep the water out of her eyes.
Mary laughed. “You have more than enough for all of us, my lady.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I wonder if that’s part of the problem. Perhaps ’tis time for us to get a bit angry with William.”
“How would we do that, my lady?”
“I’m not sure, but I do know my patience is nearly at an end.”
Mary continued to visit as she looked through Elizabeth’s gowns while Elizabeth soaked. Mary found a saffron gown with dark brown embroidery decorating the neckline. “Will this be satisfactory, my lady?”
After a brief glance, Elizabeth nodded. She didn’t care what she wore to greet Gerard, but she didn’t want to look a pauper. Otherwise her cousin would assume her marriage had not been a favorable one. The last thing she needed was for Gerard to make any sort of trouble.
Mary set out a pair of soft, leather slippers as Elizabeth finished washing.
Elizabeth didn’t dally overlong, for she worried what Nicholas and Gerard might be saying to each other in the hall. She couldn’t imagine the two men chatting amiably given their different personalities.
Feeling more prepared to speak with her cousin, Elizabeth dried off, donned her undertunic followed by her gown. Mary combed her hair and with quick fingers, plaited it with a ribbon.
All too soon, she was ready to go down to the great hall to see Gerard. Could the day get any worse? She hoped he didn’t wish to stay the night.
*
Nicholas tapped a finger against the table idly as he sat in the hall, wondering how Stephen had managed to detain Elizabeth’s cousin this long. However he’d managed it, Nicholas appreciated the delay. He doubted this meeting would be a pleasant one.
After taking time to clean up and change, he now sat with a flagon of ale before him, a cup already poured. Waiting. Though he wasn’t thirsty, he drank since it was there. Surprised at the taste, he took another sip. He rolled the brew in his mouth for a moment, enjoying the flavor. Rather than the bitter, watered down ale normally served, this was smooth and tasted faintly of apple.
Another improvement for which to thank his wife. He shook his head. She’d affected every aspect of his life in a short time. After the events of the afternoon, he wasn’t certain how to proceed with her. His desire and protective instincts had both been aroused, and neither was easy to set aside. What he’d believed to be right or wrong no longer seemed to apply when it came to his wife.
What he wanted had changed.
He wanted Elizabeth.
Before he could consider the matter further, he heard voices from the entrance, one of them Stephen’s. His man-at-arms led a tall, slender, dark-haired man into the hall with another man trailing behind.
Nicholas drew a sharp breath. There had been no need to send Brom anywhere, for here was the man from his vision of a week past. His dark hair was combed neatly now, but his straight dark brows made him recognizable.
The stranger’s attention caught on the weaponry displayed above the huge hearth. Nicholas’s gaze dropped to the sword strapped to the man’s side, but his hand covered the hilt. It mattered not. Nicholas was certain a dragon curled around the handle.
As he neared, Nicholas rose, trying to assess the situation. Why had this man been in his vision? At a glance, he didn’t seem threatening. It appeared as though the injury Nicholas had seen, if it had existed, had healed for he moved with no evidence of pain.
Nicholas stayed where he was as Stephen led the man toward him.
“My lord, may I introduce Lord Gerard Perry,” Stephen announced.
“Greetings, Lord Perry.” Nicholas gave him a nod. “Welcome to Staverton.”
Perry nodded in return, those dark brows drawn together over cool, brown eyes. “My thanks for allowing me admittance.”
Nicholas frowned at the man’s sarcastic tone before looking in askance at Stephen.
His man-at-arms shrugged, a sheepish expression on his face. “I fear we experienced a bit of a problem raising the portcullis. Again, I’m terribly sorry for the delay, Lord Perry.”
Nicholas hid his smile. Well done, Stephen, he thought. He returned his attention back to the lord. Slightly shorter than Nicholas with dark brown hair, he held himself proudly. He was clean and dry despite the recent rain. Even his brown chausses and dark boots were free of mud.
Lord Perry sent Stephen a glare and gestured to the man who accompanied him. “This is Sir Matthew Alred, one of my knights.”
“Welcome, Sir Matthew.” Nicholas nodded at the other man.
The knight was burly with a cruel set to his mouth that Nicholas didn’t care for. He dipped his head in a brief version of a bow.
Lord Perry summoned a smile as he turned toward Nicholas. “I’m anxious to see my dear cousin, Izzie.”
Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. The endearment coming from this man’s lips did not sit well. “She’ll join us soon.”
“I’m very close to Lord Crefton, so you can imagine my surprise to learn Izzie had married without my...knowledge.”
Nicholas was sure the lord had nearly said ‘permission’ instead. “How is it that you’re related?”
“Our fathers were cousins. My own sire passed away when I was young, so Lord Crefton served as a father to me.”
Nicholas wondered if Crefton felt the same way. He gestured to the table where the flagon of ale sat. “Please, relax and have something to quench your thirst.”
“A drink would be welcome,” Lord Perry said as the two took a seat at the table.
Stephen poured ale for each of the men before sitting beside Nicholas.
“What brings you our way?” Nicholas asked as he watched Lord Perry carefully to see if he favored his right shoulder. To his disappointment, the lord reached for the ale with his left hand.
“Since we were passing through the area, I thought we would visit Elizabeth and offer our best wishes,” he responded before taking a long draught.
Which was really no answer at all, Nicholas thought. He didn’t respond, but let the silence draw out.
The long moment filled quickly with tension unti
l at last, Perry cleared his throat. “I wasn’t aware plans were underway for Elizabeth to marry.”
“It was rather sudden.” Nicholas knew the man fished for information, but he had no intention of providing any.
“Gerard,” Elizabeth said as she walked across the hall.
The lord rose immediately to greet her.
A sharp pang of longing filled Nicholas as he stared at his wife. She looked once again like her cool, elegant self. Her saffron gown suited her. Ribbon was woven in her golden brown hair. Gone was the passionate woman he’d held earlier, and in her place was a stylish lady who seemed far too distant and reserved to be his wife.
She offered Gerard her hand, but he ignored it in favor of an embrace. An overly long embrace in Nicholas’s opinion.
The only advantage was that it allowed Nicholas a view at last of the hilt of Gerard’s sword. The dragon’s green eyes sparkled in the sunlight streaming in from the upper windows of the hall. No doubt remained that this was the man from his vision. Could he be the one who intended to threaten Elizabeth as well?
“To what do we owe the honor of your presence?” Elizabeth asked, her smile forced as she pulled away from him.
“I heard news of your...nuptials and wanted to offer you my congratulations,” Gerard said, continuing to hold her hand despite her attempt to withdraw it. “I must say I was disappointed to learn of it third hand.”
Elizabeth at last looked at Nicholas, and it seemed as though the tight band across his chest eased.
Hoping he read her expression properly and that she needed his assistance, Nicholas drew nearer. “It happened quickly. I stopped to request lodging for the night, met Elizabeth, and swept her off her feet.”
A bewildered expression filled her face at his version of their hasty marriage.
“Isn’t that right, my dear?” he prompted her. The endearment felt odd and clumsy on his tongue.
“Ah...indeed. In the blink of an eye.” Elizabeth gave a quick nod as though to confirm the truth of their story.
Perry scrutinized Elizabeth’s expression, his eyes narrowing. “That’s quite the tale.”
Anger shot through Nicholas, but he held back a retort.
“How did you learn of our marriage?” Elizabeth asked.
Nicholas realized at once what she wanted to know. Had Gerard spoken with Robert or Margaret or someone else from Amberley who’d told him the truth?
Gerard gestured toward the table, and Elizabeth took a chair beside Nicholas. The other men settled in place as Gerard responded, “You know how news travels. Especially good news. How is your father? I’m certain he misses you terribly.”
Elizabeth bowed her head for a moment before answering with a false smile. “He was quite well when I last saw him.”
“Really?” The disbelief in his tone seemed insulting to Nicholas. Gerard obviously knew her father’s condition was less than stable.
Elizabeth glanced at Nicholas, before continuing, “Aye. Quite well.”
If he didn’t know her, he’d have believed her. The question was, how well did Gerard know her? Why did she want to convince her cousin that her father was in such good health?
Or did she mean to convince him of the soundness of her father’s mind?
*
Gerard looked back at the gates of Staverton, a variety of ideas playing through his mind. “Interesting visit.”
Matthew snorted. “It seemed a waste of time. We should’ve just added something into her new husband’s ale, or perhaps put a knife in his ribs. We could be riding away with the lady right now.”
“Far too risky. No need to murder him in his home. Too many witnesses. We’ll draw him out to a place where we’re not outnumbered fifty to one.”
“And where would that be? I doubt you can convince your dear cousin, ‘Izzie’, to visit your holding with her husband.”
“True. She wasn’t overjoyed to see me, was she?”
Matthew chuckled. “She seemed a trifle suspicious.”
“The bitch. She’ll soon learn to welcome me with open arms each time she greets me.” Gerard could envision the lesson only too well. He smiled in satisfaction.
“I think you’d best remove her husband first. Let’s hope he’s easier to kill than his brother.”
Gerard lost the urge to smile. Somehow his assault on the younger brother seemed to have brought Elizabeth and the older de Bremont together. “If I’d have known William was staying there when we first arrived, I would’ve insisted on lodging for the night. It would’ve been my pleasure to slip into his chamber to finish him off. No matter though. I’m certain he remembers nothing of our encounter. He never saw me.”
“Take them from the back. That’s what I always say,” Matthew said.
Gerard turned to look at his companion. “Where is your sense of honor?” he asked in a mocking tone.
“Right beside yours.” Matthew tipped his head back and laughed heartily at his jest.
“Humph.” Gerard wasn’t bothered in the least by Matthew’s joke. Honor held little value to him. It hadn’t paid for the clothes on his back, nor the horse on which he rode. “Let us find Lord de Bremont’s weakness. It might aid us later.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. All men seem to have one or another. I’ll see what I can discover.”
“Where shall we do away with him? We need to convince him to meet us at a location where he won’t be suspicious.”
Matthew shook his head. “Any suggestions?”
The silence drew long as they rode in the dusk until at last Gerard’s smile returned. “I know just the place.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Blast it!” Elizabeth stared in dismay at the large red spot of bistort root tea on the front of her gown.
Irritated at the dark stain, Elizabeth slammed the cup and rag down on the narrow table, suppressing the urge to throw them at the wall.
Walter, who’d been slumbering in a chair in the corner of the room, jumped at the sound.
“What is it, my lady?” Mary asked from behind her.
Elizabeth sighed. The day had been a long one, most of which she’d spent in William’s chamber. She’d wanted to make amends for being gone most of yesterday, but she also thought it to be the most likely place to encounter Nicholas. They had much to talk about.
The man had watched over her like a hawk while Gerard had been visiting, but disappeared after her cousin’s departure. She’d hoped Nicholas would come to their chamber the previous night so they could discuss what had happened, but nay. Where had he slept? He hadn’t stayed in William’s room. The idea of him finding a warmer bed elsewhere hurt too much to consider.
Walter had been her shadow most of the day, and she suspected Nicholas had ordered him to stay with her. Why, she couldn’t pretend to know. Now the day was turning into evening, and Nicholas had yet to make an appearance.
Frustrating indeed.
Not to mention the fact that William had yet to move.
No change.
Nothing.
Was it any wonder she wanted to throw the tea against the wall? Mildred even seemed at a loss as to why William remained unconscious. His wound looked better now, and though the only sustenance he’d had was the tea and broth, he should have the strength to awaken.
“I dripped tea on my gown.” She turned to face Mary and Walter, well aware of how grumpy she sounded.
“Don’t look so bad to me,” Walter said with a hopeful tone.
Mary eyed the spot, obviously confused by Elizabeth’s anger. “I believe it will come out, my lady.”
“Aye, but that’s hardly the point,” she said with exasperation.
“Then what is?” Nicholas asked from the doorway behind her.
Her spine stiffened of its own accord. She closed her eyes, praying for patience. It was a good thing she’d set down the cup and rag, for the urge to throw it had returned. Why did the man always see her at her worst?
She turned to face him, h
ands on hips, ignoring the way his gaze fell to her breasts where the stain marred her kirtle. “I don’t believe you’d understand.”
“Perhaps you could elaborate.”
Unwilling to explain her illogical frustration, she picked up the rag and cup, walked over to where he stood, and handed both to him. She rather enjoyed the bewildered expression on his face. “I believe it’s your turn.”
Nicholas frowned as he looked from her to the things he now held. He raised a brow, which only irritated her further.
Leaving him behind, she sailed out of the chamber with no small amount of satisfaction at having the last word. Never mind that she’d been hoping he’d appear all day so that she could speak with him. Now was not the time.
She entered their bedchamber to change her kirtle. After shutting the door firmly behind her, proud that she didn’t slam it, she unlaced her gown and removed it, standing in her thin undertunic as she examined the stain.
The door opened to reveal her husband.
Gasping in surprise, she held the soiled kirtle before her. “What are you doing?”
Nicholas tilted his head to the side as though considering her defensive gesture, then closed the door and leaned against it. “I don’t think you need bother covering yourself.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat at his sarcastic tone, and she lifted her chin in response. “I realize you’ve seen the...details for yourself, but I’d prefer to remain decent.”
“Your choice, of course,” he added.
An odd urge overcame her, a boldness that felt unfamiliar, yet welcome. Without allowing herself time to consider the consequences, she let the hand protecting her modesty fall to her side, and the kirtle dropped to the floor. Her sheer undertunic would hide little from his view. “Unless you’d like to finish – ”
Nicholas clenched his jaw and held up his hand. “I merely came in here to find out what’s upset you. Did Gerard’s visit yesterday bother you?”
Elizabeth stared at him, unable to believe what she’d just done or his reaction. Or rather, his lack of reaction.
Vengeance 02 - Trust In Me Page 17