by Emily Ward
She didn’t comment on the smile, instead of focusing on the words that he was using to needle at her. “You mean the humor that everyone seems to curse.”
“I’ve never cursed it.” He countered.
She thought about it. He was right. He had teased her about many things but had never insulted her ability to snap right back at him. She shook her head, changing the subject. “I shouldn’t be alone in a room with my brother in law. What would they think of us?”
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“This could ruin this entire plan. And I can’t let that happen.” She tried to fight from showing how nervous she was about this entire ordeal. She was in a situation that was far beyond her capabilities to answer
“What plan is that?”
“To marry your brother.”
“Why did you even agree to this?”
“Because my family needed me to.” She was determined not to answer any more questions. “You need to leave.”
“You honestly think I’d do anything to damage your honor?” He shook his head. “I won’t be caught here. No one will know except you and me. And if you don’t say anything, I won’t say anything. And no one ever has to know what happened in this room.”
“Are you trying to make me feel better?”
“Is it working?”
“Not at all.” She shook her head.
He chuckled softly. He was keeping his voice low at least. That way he didn’t attract attention to the room. She could be grateful for that. “I would never do anything that would actually hurt you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re going to do at any given moment.”
“I’ve never done a thing to hurt you, milady. I’m insulted.” He put his hand to his chest in mock offense. But he still didn’t get rid of that damned smirk. She had the sudden urge to slap that smirk off of his face, make him stop smiling at her like that.
“Don’t start with me.” She snapped at him. “All I have to do is scream.”
“And then what?” He taunted her a bit. “The servants and the guards come running to check on you.”
“Yes, and you get caught in here.”
“In a room, alone, with my future sister in law.” He smiled. “It would quickly get covered up.”
“Perhaps not. Can you risk it?”
He shrugged, trying to look uninterested. But she knew that he was. He had no desire to hurt her. He wasn’t going to damage her honor. But that didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to scream. She was sure he already knew that as well but was ready to continue the debate. “Can you risk them thinking that you’ve lost your honor.”
“I don’t know.” She stomped her foot. “You’re still just as infuriating.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since you’ve been back in town.” He tipped an imaginary hat in her direction. “Don’t worry, your honor is safe with me.”
The knock on the door came right after he spoke. “Milady? Are you alright?”
He dove under the bed.
She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m fine. Just mumbling to myself.”
“I thought I heard voices; do you need some assistance?”
“No. No, I don’t.” She shook her head even though the maid on the other side of the door couldn’t see it. “Everything is fine. Thank you for checking on me.”
“I’ll let you rest then.”
“Thank you again.” She nodded automatically as she heard the footsteps draw away from the door.
Liam climbed out from under her bed. “See? Never at any risk.” He still had that damned smirk on his face. She had yet another urge to slap it off of him.
“What if she had come in here?”
“That’s why I was under the bed.” He smirked at her. “I didn’t want to be caught here any more than you want me caught here.”
“Then why did you even come in here?”
“Because I missed my friend.”
“I’ve half a mind to slap that smug look off of your face.”
“That wouldn’t be very lady-like would it, now?”
“What do you care about that?”
“Nothing really, just curious why you seem to care so much about what people think about you? I remember the little girl with stained dresses and maids that lectured us for getting into trouble.”
“I’m not that little girl anymore.”
“I’ll make a wager that she’s still in there at least a little.”
“She died a long time ago, Liam.” She shook her head.
“What does that mean?” He tilted his head curiously.
“That I grew up. I see you haven’t done that yet.”
“I like to think that I’ve grown up, not grown boring.”
“That’s a nice way to think when you have the freedom to think that way.” She snapped at him. It was a comment born out of her pure frustration.
He frowned slightly, thinking for a moment. “I can help you get out if that’s what you want.”
“I don’t want that.” She shook her head. “I have to do this.”
“I have no idea why you would even want to do this.”
“I need to, it’s to help my family.”
“What does your family need? Are you in trouble?”
“Just leave it be, Liam. It’s nothing to do with you. I’m marrying Reginald and there’s nothing to be done about it.”
He sighed. He actually looked slightly sad. That bothered her a little bit, to see that look on his face. “You really believe this will help your family?”
“It will.”
“And you won’t tell me what’s wrong so I can help you more?” He stood up to pace a little. “I hate to see you look like that.”
“That must have been the most real thing you’ve said to me.”
“I can speak about real things.” He smiled.
“Please, just stop. I’ll be fine. Reginald is nice enough.”
“He is, but he’s just dull.”
“Dull doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine. You don’t need to save me.”
“I’m not saying that I need to.”
“I don’t need saving, Liam.”
“Clara. I think there’s something wrong and you’re not telling me about it.” He wasn’t smiling now. He seemed worried. And she couldn’t blame him. She was worried about it too, but as soon as this wedding was over her life would become much easier.
“You can’t help me other than to just let me do this, Liam. I hope you understand.”
He looked a little pained as he walked back towards the window. “Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t like hurting him, but she was grateful for him walking away.
He didn’t say another word, slipping out of the window and climbing upwards. He must have dropped a rope down from his balcony. She frowned at the thought of that. He must have a room directly above hers. That meant he would be close by.
There was a brief moment that she wondered if he could actually help her out of this mess, but there was no way that she could breathe a word of the troubles until after the wedding. And that wedding had to happen quickly.
Chapter Three
Liam awoke with a start. Alarm bells were clanging all around him. Squinting out the window he could see that it was still dark outside as his room flooded with guards. “What’s going on?” He was on his feet quickly, ready to act as he reached for the sword that hung on the wall.
“There’s been some trouble, sir. We’re here to guard you.” Four men came into the room.
Liam checked his weapon. “I don’t hear any combat.”
“I’m not entirely certain how serious the situation is.” The man shook his head.
“But there must be some kind of trouble.” Liam frowned heavily, taking on a look very much like his father.
“What kind of trouble is it?”
“Assassins.” The guard frowned.
“Assassins?
We’re not even that powerful. This shouldn’t be a concern.”
“It seems to be a concern now, sir.” The guard was painfully professional while Liam was trying to fight against his world falling apart.
“After who?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“What about Clara?” It was the first thought in his head. He couldn’t help it. “What about Reginald or my father?” He added them as an afterthought, hoping that no one would notice.
The men shook their heads. “Guards were sent to Clara and your brother when your father was found stabbed to death in his bed.”
“Stabbed?”
“Yes.” The guard looked sad as another alarm sounded. “We should wait for more news.”
“Why aren’t you answering me?”
“Because we still have to assess what’s really happening. How far the assassin got. If he has any other targets. Whoever he may be.”
“How did this happen?”
“I don’t really know. We were told to go secure family.”
“Are we under attack?” He fought the urge to run out of the room, sword at the ready. He knew what he was supposed to do. How he was supposed to behave.
The behavior expected of him was to listen to the professionals. The men that knew what they were doing. “The walls have been breached.”
“By who?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“How many dead?”
The guard, an older man that had been a loyal soldier since Liam had been very young, sighed heavily. “We don’t know for sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“We don’t seem to be under direct attack, just one murder has been discovered as of yet.”
The bells started blaring once again.
“What happened?” Liam felt the panic well up in his chest.
“We need to move out now. Meet with the other guards.”
“Where are we going?”
“Secret exit. The keep has been breached.” Two guards opened the door and stepped out of the room.
Liam grabbed a cloak for himself as he stepped out of the room. Wrapping it around his body. It would be cold to be barefoot in his pajamas so he slipped into some simple slippers before following his escort out into the hallway.
The keep hallways were silent except for the clanking of the armored guards. “Don’t you think someone would have said something by now?”
The guards shook their heads. “There’s no way to know.”
He frowned, motioning for the men to start on the way. “Let’s move quickly.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Are we meeting with others?”
The guard nodded. “Everyone is heading to the exit.”
He sighed. “You haven’t found the killer?”
“Not yet, no.” Liam watched the other man’s pain. He felt the same pain.
“And no idea what the damage is?”
“Not yet, no.” The guard shook his head as they started to down the hallway.
His frown deepened. “This isn’t a good sign for our guests to see.”
“Unless our guests are involved.”
“Clara would never hurt any of us.” Liam discounted the idea.
“No offense, but it’s been a lot of years since her family has lived here.” The guard made his point cautiously as if he was worried about how Liam would react.
It was a natural worry because Liam had to fight back the rage that came from that suggestion. “Clara would never do that.” His voice was thin and barely covering the anger at the accusation being pushed.
“I’m sure you’re right, sir.” The guard backed down, but the group of guards shared a knowing look between them.
Liam chose to ignore it.
At the bottom of the stairs, another group of guards was waiting for them. Shivering in the middle of them was Clara, looking around confused and half asleep.
“Clara!” He rushed over to her and wrapped the cloak he was wearing over her shoulders.
She hugged the cloak over her nightshift and let him lead her down the second set of stairs and down to the ground floor. From there they were led into the kitchen and through the pantry. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to be taken somewhere safe.”
“That’s not exactly specific.” She frowned.
“Most keeps have a secure place for the family in case we’re breached. We’re no different.”
“Are you attacked often?”
He shook his head.
“To the secret exit. Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.”
“They couldn’t find my maid.” She frowned heavily. “I had sent her away, but she wasn’t in the servant’s quarters.
“The one that came with you?”
She nodded. “I don’t know where she is.”
“She may be caught up in the chaos of the night. I’m sure that everything will be just fine.”
“She’s been with me for years. What if something happens to her?”
“I’m sure she would want you to be safe. The guards will keep an eye out for her.”
“I’m sure they’ll find her. Right now, we have to get to safety. Just stay with me and it’ll all be alright.”
“Do you even know how to use that sword?” She glanced at the weapon in his hand.
“I’ve fought a few duels and trained.” He scoffed with a teasing grin. Right now, his focus had to be on keeping Clara from getting too scared. And a little bit of laughter should work in this situation. At the very least it was something that might keep her mind off the fact that the maid could very well be dead.
He tried not to think about the fact that he hadn’t seen his brother yet. And the news that his father had been found dead in his bed. He shook his head, taking her hand and shifting a shelf out of the way.
The guards pushed the door closed behind them, spreading out the guard the bottom floor.
Liam lit a small lamp that they kept down here for this occasion. He was grateful that there was still some oil in it. “I’m certain they won’t find us.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“We’re going to head down to a secret part of the dungeon. It’ll be safe there. They would have to look long and hard to find this place. Don’t worry.” He brushed his hand over her arm, trying to offer some small comfort to the woman.
“You do realize that telling someone not to worry never works, right?”
He laughed softly. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to do the right thing here. It’s not easy to deal with this, I’m sure. You just got here today, and for some reason, we’ve got assassins in the keep.”
“What makes you think that there are assassins?”
“The guards say my father was found dead in his bed.” Liam frowned. “And I haven’t heard anything about Reginald.”
“Nothing?”
“I think they would bring him here. I don’t know what’s going on. They haven’t said anything about it.”
“Should we have sent some guards to find him?”
“I’m sure guards will have found him by now.” Liam was trying to reassure her, but she just kept asking questions. Questions that he didn’t really have any sort of answer to.
The only answers that he had were swimming in a sea of doubt in his head. Worries that danced before him in an impossible flash of insight into the mind of a killer.
“Do you think he’s still living? Or did they find him too? Kill him?” She looked worried. He would have been given anything to strip that worry from her face. She deserved so much better than her first night in his family home in years to be one of pain and fear.
“I don’t know. He may have had to leave a different way. We’ll find out once the guards make sure it’s safe in the castle.” Liam was trying his best to be comforting and not show the fact that he had the same thoughts running through his head. A thousand scenarios. A thousand pictures of his family and the worst possible ways that his
life could have ended up.
“I hope he shows up.”
“Yeah, me too. We fight a lot, but he’s still my brother.” Liam sighed. He felt the exhaustion starting to kick in, but it wasn’t enough to battle the worry. There would be no way that he would sleep that night.
“And you lost your father.”
“I’m trying to take care of this. I can deal with that after we finish with all of this.”
“Do you need some time?”
Liam snapped. He didn’t mean to, but it happened anyway. “I don’t have time to mourn right now. I need to make sure you stay safe.”
She froze, staring at him.
He sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I’m just dealing with one thing at a time. Would it be possible to discuss this later?”
“Yes, of course. I apologize.”
“I need to focus until the guards tell us it’s going to be safe.”
“What makes you think it’s going to be safe?”
“Our guards are well trained, you shouldn’t worry so.”
“What if they find us?”
“Then I have a sword that I know how to use.”
“You managed to actually study something for more than a few days?” She teased him lightly.
“I have always been well studied.”
“You used to run from school work like it was a plague.”
He laughed. “I don’t recall being as bad as you tell it to be.”
She shook her head, laughing softly. “How long did you actually study swordplay?”
“A few years actually.” He smirked at her. She must have been feeling better to snap at him like that. He appreciated it. It made him feel like something was normal in his world at the least.
“Is that the truth?”
“Why would I ever lie to you?”
“Do you have a way out if they find us?”
“There’s a path out of the keep and someplace we can run too. But this doesn’t sound like a full attack. Likely just an assassin.”
“Will we be able to hear if we’re actually invaded?”
“I believe so.” He walked down to the bottom of the stairs.
The dungeon was damp and lonely, not the place he was expecting to spend the night. No bed and he had his future sister in law in his care, so a bed wouldn’t be a good idea. “This is probably the only time it would be acceptable for us to be alone together.” He held the lamp around the room. The only other exit was a tunnel that seemed to angle upwards, an escape if they had to take it.