His Rival's Daughter (Stafford Family Book 1)

by Catherine Woodville

  “Don’t let them leave,” William cried as loud as he could.

  Humphrey’s men turned their horses, trying to find ways to escape, but it was damned hard to do in the darkness. The wood around was too thick for the riders. William’s men slaughtered them without mercy.

  Still, the majority managed to disappear in the forest.

  “Mount your horses,” William commanded and rushed to his own stallion, “We need to get them before they reach the castle.”

  The chase started and continued till they reached Torpin castle. The riders of the two armies were mingled by that time and it wasn’t clear where William’s men were, and where were Humphrey’s. The swords clanged, blood was shed, dead bodies fell from horses, and were smashed by hooves.

  The gatekeepers opened the gates for Humphrey and his men, but before they realized, William’s men slipped in and the massacre continued in the castle yard.

  William was riding not far behind Humphrey and managed to get into the castle with the first lot.

  “Kill the gatekeepers,” he commanded to his men riding slightly behind him. “Keep the gates open until everyone is in.”

  He looked around, seeking Humphrey. The bastard would not get away easily.

  ***

  Jane was standing by the window, watching the fight below. William had come for her. Joy ran through her veins. Finally. She would be free soon.

  But her joy was overshadowed with one thing. Elizabeth. If Jane wanted William to belong to her, she had to kill Elizabeth before he won. Otherwise it would be too late.

  Quickly, Jane put on her dress, not bothering to comb her hair. She could waste no time.

  She opened the door, ready to race past the guard, but there was no one. Apparently, he had joined the fighting in the yard. Jane quickly went down the stairs, hoping that the great hall would be empty. It was, indeed. Cries and the clash of metal sounded from the outside. But inside everything was quiet. Only frightened servants were hiding in the corners, crying.

  Jane did not bother to look at them. Their sobs annoyed her. She looked around carefully, then crossed the great hall and ran through the door that would take her into the tower, where she suspected Elizabeth had been held.

  Jane went up the stairs, checking each door on her way. Thus, she reached the top floor and, to her utter surprise, found a guard at the door. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man, who should be fighting, not guarding some wench. The man looked to be nervous.

  Apparently, Humphrey cared about Elizabeth much more than about Jane, she thought with a hint of jealousy.

  “Sir Humphrey is calling for you,” Jane said, out of breath.

  The man narrowed his eyes on her. “My lady, sir Humphrey told me to stay on guard whatever happens.”

  Jane frowned and crossed her arms on her chest. “Should I tell him that you disobey his orders?” she tried to sound angry, so that the man would believe her.

  “No, my lady,” he said and made a hesitant step towards the stairs. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the door, as if trying to decide. Then he sighed heavily and ran down the stairs.

  Jane listened until his steps faded to nothing below. When everything was quiet, she opened the latch on the door with ease, grabbed a torch from the wall, and stepped into the chamber.

  Elizabeth was fully awake, sitting by the window and looking down to the yard. The perfect time to make her fly. But the windows had been positioned too high. Although, Elizabeth was thinner than at the wedding, Jane would not be able to lift Elizabeth high enough.

  But there was another option.

  The door closed behind Jane and Elizabeth turned at the sound. Their stares met. Jane closed her eyes for a moment, scared, that Elizabeth could see hatred there.

  “Jane,” Elizabeth cried with joy, got up and rushed to give her an embrace.

  Was she really happy to see Jane? What a fool. Well, it would be easier to kill her if Elizabeth was so trustful.

  “I am so happy you are well.” Elizabeth whispered, breaking the embrace. “I worried about you.”

  “We need to get out of here,” Jane said and took Elizabeth’s hand. “Come with me.”

  Elizabeth obeyed without doubts. Once outside the chamber Elizabeth made a step to go downstairs, but Jane stopped her. “We cannot go there now. Not until William wins. If Humphrey or his men catch us, they will kill us.”

  Elizabeth hesitated.

  “The only place where no one will be searching for us is the roof.” Jane said. “Believe me. I want to get out of this castle as much as you do, but I don’t want Humphrey to catch me in the last moment.”

  “You are right,” Elizabeth nodded. “I don’t want to stay here a moment longer,” she said, and followed Jane to the roof.

  ***

  William caught up with Humphrey on the wall.

  “Stop and fight, coward,” William cried to Humphrey’s back.

  Humphrey stopped abruptly and turned to face William, a mocking smile on his lips.

  “You know,” he grinned and attacked William, “Elizabeth is so passionate in bed.”

  William repelled the attack and stepped aside. The words wounded him deeply and woke his anger. He started breathing deep, his eyes dark. How dared the bastard to speak this way about his wife?

  “It’s a shame you came so early and spoilt everything. We spent so many passionate nights together.”

  William lost control. His rage was in charge. Images of Elizabeth in bed with Humphrey tore his soul apart.

  Blinded by rage, William roared and attacked Humphrey fiercely, but Humphrey was nimble enough to fight him off. He easily avoided William’s blows. William stopped. Calm down, he told himself. He couldn’t win, while he let his emotions take him over. Even if Humphrey had bedded Elizabeth, William could do nothing about it, but he would make the bastard pay with his own life.

  It worked. William calmed down and started thinking more clearly. His reaction, too, became more controlled.

  Humphrey swung his sword and charged at the enemy. William waited for the sword to be swung high, then repelled the blow.

  Humphrey’s eyes sparkled with hatred, his mouth like an animal’s grin.

  Humphrey stepped away and the fight stopped for several seconds, giving them both a chance to rest.

  “She was never as passionate in bed with you as she was with me,” Humphrey grinned, swung his sword, and attacked William.

  The short break was exactly what William needed. He looked at Humphrey, studying his weak spots.

  Humphrey was a few steps away, when William lifted his sword, ready to attack the enemy.

  “She never slept with you, bastard,” William said coldly and, before Humphrey realized what happened, William ran through Humphrey’s stomach with the point of his sword.

  Abruptly, Humphrey stopped, looking with confusion at the sword in his body, then he looked at William, and fell, dead.

  William took his sword out of Humphrey and wiped the blade on his defeated enemy’s tunic. “I always keep my promises.” He said and spat on the dead body at his feet.

  The battle was still raging on both sides of the wall, but it was clear who would win.

  William no longer thought about the battle. All his thoughts were engaged with Elizabeth. Where could she be? He watched the yard with great attention, but she was nowhere to be seen. She had to be inside the keep. William looked at the dark massive silhouette of the keep in front of him and, to his surprise, he saw two women on the roof of one of the towers. Elizabeth and Jane.

  “Elizabeth,” he cried at the top of his voice, but the wind and clashes of metal below silenced his cry.

  What the hell were they doing there? He stormed down the stairs from the wall into the yard, and further, to the keep.

  ***

  Elizabeth followed Jane to the roof. This idea seemed strange from the very beginning, but Elizabeth trusted Jane. They were both prisoners here, and both wanted to get free.

  The nigh
t wind made Elizabeth cold. Here, on the roof, it was particularly strong. Elizabeth wrapped a wool blanket around her shoulders, trying to get warm.

  Hesitantly, she walked to the centre of the roof, too scared to go near the edge. Each step she made cost her a lot of willpower. She would prefer to be on the ground, but it was too dangerous.

  Jane followed Elizabeth from behind.

  Despite the dreadful situation and her fear of heights, Elizabeth found the view magnificent. The night was almost over. The first sun beams lightened the horizon, making it possible to see everything happening below. But Elizabeth did not dare look down.

  “You know,” Jane almost shouted, as the wind swallowed her words, “William and I were happy together until you appeared in his life.”

  Elizabeth turned around, frowning, and looked at Jane in disbelief.

  “’Tis your fault, Jane. You married my father for his money and ruined your relationship with William. He wanted to marry you, but you preferred money to love.”

  “Shut up,” Jane slapped Elizabeth, leaving her startled. “You know nothing. William didn’t have to marry you. Your father was an old man. I knew your father would die soon, and I would marry William after inheriting your father’s wealth. We wouldn’t have to wait long. But you ruined all my plans for a happy future with him.”

  Anger sounded in every word she said. Her face was twisted, displaying every emotion she felt.

  “’Tis too late now, Jane. He has married me.” Elizabeth said, her voice calm as she stepped back. She wanted to calm Jane down but had not the faintest idea how.

  “’Tis never too late,” Jane said. Her voice suddenly became too quiet, sending chills of fear down Elizabeth’s spine.

  Only now Elizabeth realized that there might be another reason why they were on the roof, and it had nothing to do with their safety. Jane’s eyes lit up with a dangerous gleam.

  “What do you want?” Elizabeth asked her.

  “I want you to jump.” She said boldly. “Can you fly?”

  Elizabeth’s heart squeezed with fear. She was trapped. All she could think about was the death that was waiting for her and her baby down below.

  Elizabeth gathered all her willpower and started walking toward the door to the stairs, but Jane blocked her path.

  “You are not leaving this way,” she said. “The only way you can leave is down there,” she pointed to the edge of the roof.

  In the dim light of dawn Elizabeth looked around, searching for some weapon to protect herself and her child, but there was nothing.

  “If you don’t want to jump, I will help you,” Jane screamed and attacked Elizabeth.

  Taken by surprise, Elizabeth accepted the challenge and fought back. She had to survive. Her child’s life depended on her.

  ***

  William was rushing up to the roof, taking two stairs at a time. When he reached the last door of the tower, he kicked it open, and saw a horrifying sight. Elizabeth was on her back at the very edge of the roof, Jane sitting on top of her, both of her hands at Elizabeth’s throat. The rage contorting Jane’s face made her intentions clear.

  Elizabeth was pushing her away, but with no luck. Jane was too strong for her.

  William rushed to help his wife. Suddenly, when he was a couple of steps away, Elizabeth pressed her thumbs into Jane’s eyes, making her cry with pain. Jane released her grasp, instinctively reaching for her eyes, and Elizabeth pushed her away.

  Jane straightened up, one hand covering her eyes.

  “You will pay for that,” she screamed and stepped back.

  Suddenly, she tripped over a low bar and, before William understood what was going on, Jane stumbled over the edge of the roof. A scream of horror cut the silence.

  Elizabeth was still lying on her back, trying to catch her breath. Her face was wet with tears. William sat down by her and pulled her into his arms, covering her face with kisses.

  “I killed her,” she sobbed into his chest.

  “Don’t think about it. She deserved that,” he said. “The most important thing is that you are alive. Nothing else matters.”

  Elizabeth pulled away and looked into his eyes, hiccoughing as her sobs subsided.

  “But you loved her. You came here for her.”

  “No,” he shook his head. “I thought I loved her, but when you left me, I realized that you were the only woman I need. I love you, Elizabeth Stafford.” he kissed her lips. “I love you and our child.” He gently touched her flat belly. Soon enough it would be round, and he would feel the baby’s kicks. “You are, and will always be, the only woman I need.”

  Elizabeth smiled and tears flooded her eyes once again. She gave him a long gentle kiss. “I love you, William Stafford.”

  “Say it again,” he asked. “I can listen to you say it forever.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I love you.”

  William got to his feet and lifted her in his arms. “Now, my precious wife, I will take you downstairs, to prove that my rival’s daughter and I are alive. And happy.”

  Elizabeth kissed his neck and leaned closer to him. “Very happy.”