Ralph took a seat beside her and indicated to William’s captors that they should bring him forward. They tied him to a chair. After he was secured, Ralph dismissed his men.
Alice’s hopes lifted. Ralph was underestimating William. She saw William flex his muscles against the bindings.
“What do you hope to gain from marriage to Lady Alice?” asked William.
“Hope? I need no hope. I can tell you what I’ll gain. I’ll have the de Courcy castle and lands which I have long coveted. And I’ll have put one over you, which my friends the de Montmorencys will appreciate as your brother, Rufus, murdered their father.”
“Aye, and he deserved everything he had coming to him.”
Alice gasped as Ralph slammed a fist into William’s mouth. William turned and spat blood into the already soiled rushes. Ralph stepped back, shaking his hand as if he hadn’t anticipated how much the blow would hurt him. “Keep quiet, man.”
Alice could feel the primitive growl William emitted. She jumped up and turned to Ralph, taking William’s earlier lead. “If it’s wealth you want, take it. But don’t take me.”
Ralph looked from one to the other of them. “You want to go with William? You wish to wed him?”
She looked at William, who nodded encouragement. But she couldn’t lie. She turned back to Ralph, not wanting to see William’s reaction to her words. “I wish to marry no one.”
Ralph laughed and repeated her words in a high voice, mimicking her. “And who cares what you wish for?”
“If it’s my lands you want,” persisted Alice, “I will make them over to you. I will give you what I have if, in return, I am allowed to go free.”
Ralph was tempted. Alice could see that, but then he turned to William, and a different light lit his eyes. “It was what I wanted. But not now. Sir William’s presence has given me a better idea.”
He pulled up his chair, so he was seated in front of William, and if it hadn’t been for William being tied to the chair, it would have looked as if they were in earnest discussion.
“Tell me,” said William in a deep threatening voice.
“What say you to leaving here this evening with the Lady Alice?”
William nodded.
Ralph pretended he didn’t understand. “I’m sorry?” He cupped his hand around his ear as if to hear better. “What did you say?”
“That,” ground out William, “is my intention.”
Ralph sat back, pretending to be satisfied. “Then, you can. Go. Both of you.”
Alice and William exchanged looks. It could not be that easy.
“No conditions?”
Ralph shrugged. “There wasn’t going to be one.” Alice knew that he was lying; that he was playing with them both. There was always going to be a condition. “But now you mention it, I will give you one.” He looked from one to the other. William’s eyes were dark and narrow.
“What is it?” William growled. “What is your condition?”
Ralph no longer pretended he had any interest in Alice. His attention was focused on William. “You can have Alice. If…” His lips tweaked at their corners, and Alice could feel Ralph’s self-satisfaction. “If, you give me your lands.” Ralph rose, his blood heated by this new idea. “Yes, your lands. The de Vere lands. Wanham Castle and all the de Vere estates. You give them all to me, and you can have Alice.” He stepped back, triumphant. “What say you?”
William ground his teeth and looked at Alice, then back at Ralph. “It is done.”
Alice gasped. “No, William. You cannot.”
William didn’t turn to look at her but simply repeated. “It is done.”
Only Alice knew what the lands meant to him, and she couldn’t bear to see him thus tortured. “I don’t wish to marry William. I will not marry William.”
For the first time, Ralph looked at Alice and frowned. “You will not marry him?” He walked closer to her and raised his hand. She heard William growl again and struggle with his bindings. She didn’t move but closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, Ralph’s hand was still raised, and his mouth had curled into a smile. He liked to see her frightened. She vowed never to allow that to happen again.
“I will not marry him,” she repeated. She daren’t look at William.
“You will marry me, Alice,” said William. She looked at him and shook her head.
“No, I cannot.”
“Think of the alternative, Alice.” She could hear the pleading in his voice.
She looked at Ralph. He might be past middle age, but he was big, strong, and cruel.
Suddenly the door opened, and a tall, handsome young man entered the solar. He strode in, his brow furrowed as he looked around. He came and stood beside Ralph. “What is this, father? What’s afoot?”
It was the younger son, Adam, to whom Lora had been briefly affianced.
“Nothing to concern you, Adam.”
Adam opened his mouth to speak but evidently thought better of it.
“Go, and take the guards with you. I’m about to teach them both a lesson.”
Adam hesitated and gave William a long hard look and then a softer one at Alice.
“Then, I will stay.”
“No, you will not. Take the guards and leave.”
Alice hoped that Adam would stay. She sensed in him a decency which was entirely lacking in his father. Adam tore his uncomfortable gaze from his father, settled briefly on Alice, and then left the room, followed by the guards.
Ralph turned to Alice.
“You will marry William because I want—not only your lands—but the de Vere lands.” He grunted a laugh as he glanced at William. “I had not thought your lands would be surrendered so easily, Sir William.” He turned back to Alice. “The fool must be in love with you.” He huffed another, sinister laugh. “I wonder why.” He tilted Alice’s face first one way and then another. “You are certainly beautiful in a chilly kind of way.”
Alice struggled to be free of his hand, but Ralph’s grip slipped and went around her throat. Suddenly she found it hard to breathe.
“Leave her be!” William roared.
But Ralph didn’t bother to respond. Instead his hand gripped her behind. “I think I’ll try you out first. Put a de Gant brat in your belly and allow William to watch.”
Alice struggled, and Ralph withdrew a knife and held it against her throat. “I suggest you don’t struggle. It’ll go better for you that way.”
Alice tried to cry out but received another slap for her trouble before Ralph tore the front of her gown. She struggled against him, feeling the cold blade of the knife slice into her neck and a trickle of warm blood descend her throat, onto her exposed neck, pooling between her breasts. She twisted away and looked straight into William’s eyes.
With a silent roar William rose, twisted his hands in their loosened bindings, and brought the table crashing down on Ralph, freeing him from his bonds and sending Alice flying across the room. She sat up in a daze, holding her head, which had banged against the wooden floor, hardly buffered by the scanty rushes. She saw William fighting Ralph. Ralph had the knife poised above William’s eye, but in one swift move, he’d overturned Ralph.
Ralph lay on the floor with his arms splayed either side in a gesture of submission. He glanced at the door, but his guards and son had taken him at his word and had left them quite alone and hadn’t heard the fight.
“You win, William. Back off now, and we’ll forget this little episode.”
William didn’t move. He still brandished the knife at Ralph. “Why should I trust you?”
Ralph raised himself carefully, his eyes never leaving William’s. “Why? Because you are an honorable man, are you not? And I say to you that I promise to honor your lady and abide by your wishes. There. From one honorable man to another.” He held out his hand as if he wished to be helped up.
“No, William,” said Alice. She’d learned that honor was rare and trust even rarer. She trusted no one. Particularly not Ralph
de Gant. “You cannot trust him.”
“I either trust him, Alice, or kill him.” He placed the blade on the table. “And I’m in no mood for killing.”
Alice groaned as she watched Ralph rise. She knew Ralph was not honorable, and as the men eyed each other warily, Alice stepped unnoticed to the table where the blade lay.
“Ah, you are truly a man of honor,” said Ralph standing up, his hands on his hips, surveying William.
“And now you must prove to me that you are also a man of honor,” said William, his brow lowered, his eyes narrowed and fixed on Ralph. The slight flicker around Ralph’s lips made Alice move more quickly toward the knife. William was strong and reliable, and he was honorable and loyal. Alice knew these things like she knew herself. She also knew where William’s weakness lay. He believed the best in people. Lucky that she believed the worst.
“And how might I do that?” asked Ralph.
“Allow Alice to leave here, now, with me. Lay no further claim to her lands, or to mine.”
Ralph grunted in grim amusement, and William’s eyes narrowed further. “Anything else? Would you care for me to lie down and let you fuck me?”
William tilted his head to one side and then made the mistake of looking at Alice, who had made the most of the intense exchange by crouching by the table. One swift movement and the knife would be hers. It came sooner than she imagined.
Ralph launched himself at William, as William was still looking at Alice. With a cry, she leaped up, grabbed the knife, and threw herself on Ralph, thrusting the blade into Ralph’s arm as he grasped William around the throat. She withdrew it quickly.
With a roar of pain, Ralph released his grip on William, and for the first time, Alice noticed Ralph had another knife on him. William and Ralph struggled on the floor. Ralph had his knife over William once more, and Alice screamed.
Immediately the door burst open, and Ralph’s son, Adam, leaped in the room, closely followed, much to Alice’s relief, by Warin, who, with one quick movement, tossed William a dagger while deftly holding another to Adam’s throat.
Ralph roared and he and William thrashed briefly before becoming suddenly still.
Silence hung heavy in the air. It was Adam who broke the eerie quiet first. “Father!”
At the same time, Alice called William’s name. For one long moment, she thought they were both dead. She cried out and rushed to them. She put her arm over William, and he gave a deep, shuddering breath and turned to her. Blood was spattered over his face, but he was alive and breathing. He rose and took her away from the man that was once Ralph de Gant, who now lay, lifeless on the wooden floor in a pool of blood.
Adam struggled in Warin’s arms.
“Let him go,” William said to Warin. “He can do no harm. He is but a boy.”
Warin released Adam, who staggered across the floor and crouched by his father. Alice thought she heard a sob, but when Adam turned to face William, hatred was the only emotion showing on his face. He spat at William.
“Even a boy can kill.”
“Not without a weapon, lad,” said Warin with a laugh.
“And boys can get weapons, and boys can grow.” Adam rose and Alice suddenly felt frightened for William. “I will come for you and your family, and you will know the pain of loss.”
“Too late, lad. I know that well enough already.” William turned to Warin. “The others?”
“I’ve dealt with them.”
William nodded. “Good. We’ll tie this lad up, and then we’ll leave.” He turned to Alice. “Are you ready?”
Alice nodded and ran and retrieved her fur-lined cloak. When she returned, Ralph lay as William had left him, and Adam was bound and gagged beside him, his eyes shooting daggers.
Without a backward glance, the three of them slipped into the rear of the castle and out through the postern gate and into the dark wood before anyone could sound the alarm. There they found their horses and were soon galloping through the night.
Alice’s last glimpse of the castle was its ominous outline, stark against the moonlit sky. She looked ahead once more, William’s arms tight around her as if he’d never let her go.
The thunder of the horse’s hooves resounded through her body, driving home to her the horror that they’d left behind. What had they done? She felt safe within William’s arms, but for how long? Because, whether William knew it or not, she’d meant what she’d said to Ralph about not marrying William. And she felt its truth deep in her soul even more now. Because he’d killed for her, and she owed him everything. If she married him, she’d be robbing him of a future he desired beyond everything—a loving wife and family. And she couldn’t do that to him.
Chapter 5
The ride passed in a blur of freezing wind, which made Alice’s eyes water, and her body slowly stiffen as she held onto the saddle, cradled in William’s arms.
From time to time, she’d glance at his face, which looked steadily ahead, eyes narrowed against the cold, mouth grim, and shadowed in the gray starlight, like a stone carving. Like someone she didn’t know. A stranger. In those moments, she’d close her eyes hard but, still, the memory of William killing Ralph filled her mind. Then she’d open her eyes once more and focus on the unvarying landscape—mile after mile of flat land punctuated by poor dwellings huddled atop the few raised islands in the boggy landscape. At least the bleak land was better than the terrors of her mind.
Still, they carried on, their horses pounding along the only road through that most northerly part of The Wash, aptly named for the vast water-logged land which divided Lincolnshire from Norfolk. The road was slightly raised, and, as the moon rose further, the silver light cast its uncanny sheen over the watery fields and meres, shedding more light upon them, making them more of a target.
Eventually, they came to a small village built around a wide-spanned bridge and, after a quick exchange with Warin, they led their horses into a nearby Inn.
While Warin roused the innkeeper, William helped Alice from the horse. She felt frozen to the bone, and her body was awkward as she slipped to her feet, stumbling before William caught her in strong arms. But her mind was playing tricks on her, and she had the feeling that he was a stranger.
William frowned and called Warin over who took the horses and led them into the stables.
“We will be safe here?” she asked.
“As safe as we can be. But we must stop for the horses. A few hours rest, and we’ll be on our way again. But there’s no sign of anyone following us.”
“There’s only one room free,” said the old innkeeper, eyeing Alice carefully. “We’re the only Inn for miles around here,” he added by way of explanation.
He didn’t need to. It would also account for the soiled rushes and rough furniture. Alice tried to contain a shudder at the thought of the bed. But one look at William’s gray face decided her. “We’ll take it,” she said.
“All three of you in the room?” The man’s shaggy white brows raised in surprise.
“Aye,” said Alice. “The men are exhausted.”
“Nay, Alice. The room will be for you.” William looked as shocked at the innkeeper.
“No,” she said firmly. “We all need to sleep, and the taproom is too crowded.”
“I can place a pallet for your man if you like?”
“Two pallets,” said William firmly.
They followed the innkeeper up the stairs, as he barked out instructions to a sleepy lad who he’d awoken from before the fire.
Warin dropped the saddlebags on the floor, flopped down on the pallet, and immediately fell asleep.
Alice sat on the bed, suddenly more awake than she had been, warmed by the heat from the downstairs fire which filtered up into the top-most rooms. Suddenly William looked less of a stranger and, here, in the intimacy of this room, the thought wasn’t comforting.
They held each other’s gaze for one long, awkward moment before William turned away and lay on the pallet. It was too short for him by
far.
“William,” she said hesitantly. “Please, there is plenty of room on this bed. Lie here and sleep.”
“Nay, it would not be right.”
She huffed a laugh. “And what is right in our lives? We’ve killed a man and are on the run. No, I think lying beside me to sleep is the least of our worries.”
He gave what passed for a smile and lay beside her, the bed creaking as his large frame lay on it. He left a space between them in which Warin could easily have fit.
She lay, unmoving, looking at the ceiling where the thatch was disturbed, and she could hear the sound of rats moving. “What have we done, William?” she asked softly. “What have we done?”
“You haven’t done anything, Alice. Nothing. You’re an innocent in all of this. And you’re safe now.”
She looked at him. “Do you truly believe that?”
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words emerged. She knew what that meant. Instead, he took her hand and squeezed it. “Get some sleep. Things will look better in the light of day. And we’ll soon be home, and everything will be back to normal.”
“Normal? I hope not,” she whispered.
He touched her shoulder, and she turned to him. In the gloom all she could see were his eyes, dark and intense with a longing he rarely showed.
“I don’t know what happened to you, Alice, but I promise you will never have to suffer again. I’ll make sure of that.”
“But how can you, William?”
“Because I will make sure you don’t leave my side ever again. I will protect you; I will honor you.”
A shiver ran down Alice’s back, whether from proximity to William or from fear, she couldn’t tell. The feeling settled in her gut. She swallowed.
Honoring his Lady: A Medieval Romance (Norfolk Knights Book 5) Page 5
