Destined for Love

by Aston, Alexa

  “Oh, you won’t, Faylinn.” Sabelina looked to Sir Drake. “Why don’t you prepare the herbs necessary for my stepmother’s recovery? I’ll stay with her while you do so.”

  “My lady!” a frantic voice called from the doorway.

  Faylinn saw Resa enter, the color drained from her face.

  “What is it, Resa?” she asked, knowing the servant was troubled.

  “It is Karys. She has died,” Resa revealed. “Sir Drake sent me to find her and bring her to you. I found her in her bed. She must have passed during the night.”

  For a moment, Faylinn wondered if Sabelina had anything to do with the healer’ death.

  The knight said to Resa, “I am to prepare some herbs to aid Lady Faylinn in her recovery. Will you remain with the baroness? I may need your assistance once I return.”

  “Of course, Sir Drake.”

  “Lady Sabelina, you might wish to speak to Father Martin regarding Karys’ death and see that she is prepared for burial.”

  The younger woman appeared annoyed at the suggestion. “I will do so shortly, Sir Drake,” she said sharply. “I wish to visit with my stepmother for a few minutes before I do so.”

  “Of course, my lady.” The knight bowed and left the room.

  Faylinn squelched the panic rising within her. Amaury had always told her she was composed in a crisis. She took slow, soft breaths, trying to calm her racing heart as Sabelina drew a chair close to the bedside and took a seat. She told herself that her stepdaughter wouldn’t try to do anything harmful to her with Resa in the room.

  “Wait for Sir Drake in the solar,” Sabelina commanded Resa.

  “Yes, my lady,” the servant said, withdrawing from the bedchamber.

  Again, Faylinn attempted to tamp down the fear roiling within her. If Sabelina made a sudden move, she would call out to Resa.

  “You don’t recall how you fell?” Sabelina asked sweetly.

  “No, not at all,” Faylinn assured her. “I can’t even remember why I would be going downstairs so late at night. It must have been late for Sir Drake to have been making his rounds. It’s a good thing he found me and tended to me so well.” She touched the goose egg on her temple. “He said I may not remember why I fell.” She shuddered. “I hope I never do.”

  “You are lucky, Faylinn, that Sir Drake discovered you and ministered to you so well.”

  “Yes, he seems a capable knight. I do recall your father liked him.”

  Sabelina shrugged. “I don’t think we’ve ever known much about his past. As long as he can defend Mallowbourne, that’s all that matters.”

  A sudden thought came to her. If she didn’t remember her fall due to the head injury, could she convince Sabelina that she didn’t recall being with child?

  “I’m still worried about my duties falling to you,” she began, testing the waters.

  “You must rest,” her stepdaughter quickly said. “I can handle everything. I’ll write to the king about Father’s death.”

  Faylinn frowned. “Oh, I hadn’t done that yet?”

  “No.” Sabelina studied her and then asked, “Do you remember anything about Father’s death?”

  “Yes,” she said carefully, wanting to lay the groundwork. “I remember Amaury had been ill. Forgetful. And then he . . . I think he collapsed. Yes, I believe that’s right. I can picture Father Martin performing the last rites.”

  “Anything else?” her stepdaughter asked.

  Faylinn shook her head slowly, aware that the movement caused her head to ache. “No. Only the great loss I feel with his absence. The sadness that there is no one to carry on the d’Albert name. You will wed and take your husband’s name. Amaury is gone—but I will never forget him.”

  Tears filled her eyes. She would refuse to mention the babe. Only her husband and Sabelina knew of its existence. Father Martin had arrived to administer last rites only after she and Sabelina had quarreled about whether or not Faylinn carried Amaury’s babe or another man’s.

  Sabelina visibly relaxed. “I will write the king of Father’s death then.” She paused and Faylinn knew another test was coming. “You do realize that King Edward will have to name another as Baron of Gaynesford?”

  She sighed. “I do. I only wish your father and I had been blessed with a child.”

  “Where will you go?”

  Faylinn decided to lie because she still didn’t trust this woman. “I will return to Ashland, my childhood home in Essex, where my oldest brother now holds the title. He is head of my family and will take me in. Either he will find me a new husband or the king will.” She tried to appear sorrowful. “I only hope I will be allowed time to properly mourn Amaury’s death.”

  Instead, Faylinn planned to go to Ashby and Marielle at Newbury Manor and write the king from there, explaining her situation. If she birthed a daughter, it wouldn’t matter. If she had a son, however, she would return to her home and raise the new baron, making sure Sabelina was wed to a man as far from Mallowbourne as possible.

  *

  Drake returned to the solar with all he needed, including his mother’s case of herbs. It was the only thing he’d taken from Wakefield Castle, knowing neither Baldwin nor Gunnora would have missed it.

  It surprised him to find Lady Sabelina pacing outside the bedchamber. He would have thought the young noblewoman would have peppered her stepmother with questions while he was gone, trying to ascertain if Lady Faylinn remembered being pushed down the stairs. The baroness had been remarkable. She hadn’t reacted to what he’d whispered to her and pretended to worry only about her stepdaughter and not her own health. Drake suspected that Lady Faylinn had a core of steel running through her.

  Seeing he’d returned, Lady Sabelina went and closed the door leading to the baroness’ bedchamber and then came toward him.

  “I’m very concerned about my poor stepmother,” she began.

  “I don’t believe you should worry yourself unnecessarily, my lady,” Drake told her. “Lady Faylinn seems to be in good health despite her tumble down the stairs. True, it will take several days for the knot to decrease and she’ll need to wear the sling for a sennight or more but other than that, she is in good health. If you’re worried about the lapses in her memory, don’t be. I doubt she’ll ever remember the exact moment when she plunged down the stairs. That may be for the best, as I’m sure the memory would otherwise terrify her.”

  “That could be true but what worries me more is how volatile she was last night after you alerted me and I came to her.” She paused. “She wouldn’t quit ranting about wishing to do herself harm. She kept saying she wanted to be with her husband and that she had nothing to live for anymore.”

  Drake knew that to be a bald-faced lie. The herbs Lady Faylinn had ingested had quickly put her to sleep and he had remained outside the solar for hours. Hours in which Sabelina had never made an appearance. Pretending that the baroness wanted to kill herself was a cruel game Lady Sabelina played and gave credence to what Lady Faylinn had told him about her stepdaughter’s attempt on her life.

  “I’m sorry if she appeared that way when you sat with her last night but she seemed quite calm to me this morning,” he noted. “Being a seasoned knight, I’ve seen head injuries occur both on the battlefield and in the training yard. It’s not unusual for people to lose knowledge of events or their personal history. Maybe Lady Faylinn seemed mournful or agitated before but she isn’t now. It’s wonderful you are so concerned and have her best interests at heart. I’m sure you look upon her as a mother since she has been at Mallowbourne for so long.”

  The young noblewoman tried and failed to hide her contempt at his words.

  “You’re right,” she said brusquely. “I think she’s recovered from such a low mood. In fact, Sir Drake, I don’t believe you need to stay with her at all.”

  He knew she was trying to get rid of him. If he left, it would leave Lady Faylinn unprotected. Under no circumstances did Drake plan to allow this woman to harm the baroness.


  “No, I don’t mind remaining with her, my lady. I know it would give you peace of mind. Besides, you won’t have time to sit with her yourself. I know you’ll have to assume many of the baroness’ responsibilities for now and that will consume your time. Besides, I’ve already brought the herbs necessary to help Lady Faylinn continue to heal. Ingesting them, she will sleep quite a bit. I will fashion a sling for her injured wrist, as well. If for any reason she does grow upset or anxious, then my presence will ensure that no harm comes to her.”

  Drake smiled, knowing it was something that always worked on any female he bestowed it upon. “See to Mallowbourne and its people, my lady, especially as far as Karys is concerned. That is the best thing you can do to alleviate Lady Faylinn’s worries.”

  Lady Sabelina looked torn and then he saw she made up her mind. “Well, if she’s going to sleep so much, I might as well take advantage of you relieving me. My first task will be to write King Edward and notify him of my father’s death. Then I will deal with the healer and her death.”

  Drake smiled pleasantly again. He knew of no way to intercept the missive if he stayed with the baroness but he believed safeguarding her was more important at this point. Another missive could be sent to the king later by Lady Faylinn. Drake would deliver it himself, if necessary, in order to see it reach the king’s hand.

  “Thank you for your service to my family, Sir Drake.” With that, Lady Sabelina left the solar.

  Immediately, Drake went to the bedchamber and found Lady Faylinn sitting up in bed, Resa propping pillows behind her.

  Knowing he needed to speak in private with Lady Faylinn, he said, “I believe I can handle everything, Resa. I think Lady Sabelina needs your help, however.”

  The baroness picked up on what he did and said, “Yes, Sabelina is very young and probably has little idea how to deal with Karys’ death. If you could aid her in this matter, Resa, I would appreciate it.”

  The servant nodded. “I will do my best to help, my lady.”

  After Resa left, he closed the door and set down the tray he’d brought, along with his mother’s case. He perched on the bed and took her hand in his, finding it cold to the touch, yet powerful feelings surged through him at the contact. He felt protective of the noblewoman and what she’d already endured at the hands of her treacherous stepdaughter.

  “She tried to kill me,” Lady Faylinn said firmly. “Do you believe me?”

  “I do, my lady.” Drake squeezed her hand gently. “Did she question you after I left?”

  She nodded. “Sabelina was determined to learn if I remembered she shoved and kicked me—and if I remembered about the babe.”

  “What do you mean—shoved and kicked you?” he asked. “No, tell me everything you remember from the encounter. Did you argue? Why did your stepdaughter try to harm you?”

  The baroness took a deep breath. “I wrote to my brother, Ashby, telling him of Amaury’s passing and sharing my good news of finally being with child. I took the missive to the study downstairs to place it with the one I’d written to the king regarding Amaury’s death. I couldn’t find any trace of it, however. I returned upstairs and found Sabelina waiting for me.

  “We argued.”

  Lady Faylinn closed her eyes, her brow furrowing as if in pain. “She accused me of being unfaithful to Amaury. She said the babe wasn’t his. She . . . she accused you of being the father.”

  Her words startled Drake. The baroness opened her eyes, looking deeply into his.

  “I’m sorry, Sir Drake. I know you have been nothing but honorable since you’ve come to Mallowbourne and Sabelina’s words—if uttered to anyone else—will sully your reputation.”

  Instinctively, his palm went to her cheek. “I am not worried for myself, my lady, but for you.”

  They gazed into one another’s eyes for a long moment and he reluctantly lowered his hand. His other one still held hers, though.

  “Sabelina revealed she had the missive I’d written to the king. She ripped it up and told me that Mallowbourne was hers. That she would write the king and offer herself as a prize for the man who became the new Baron of Gaynesford. She said she would inform the king of the death of her father—and me.”

  He hissed. “She said that?”

  “Then she shoved me. I tried to grab on to something but all I caught was air. When I landed, she rushed to me. I can’t recall what she said then. I think the fall and my worries for the babe consumed me at that point. She did slam her foot into my head and everything went black. I suppose she thought that final blow might do me in.”

  “God favors you, my lady. He is watching over you and your babe. Lady Sabelina is already spreading lies about you, though.”

  She gasped. “What lies?”

  “I overheard her telling Sir Stephen that you were sorely agitated, deeply mourning Lord Amaury, and that you’d threatened to throw yourself from a parapet in order to be with him once again.”

  She gasped. “She’s trying to make it look as if I want to kill myself?” Her hand tightened around his. “That is far from the truth, Sir Drake.”

  “I know, my lady. Your first concern when I found you was for your unborn child. I know you would do nothing to harm the babe.”

  “Not only that, but I would never kill myself. It’s a sin. I would never reach Heaven if I did so.”

  Drake grimaced, thinking of his mother and how she’d done that very thing to be with her husband. She’d written to Drake that they would watch over him from Heaven—but was she even there?

  “I must stop her from writing to the king,” Lady Faylinn proclaimed.

  “She is doing that as we speak,” he informed her.

  He sensed the trembling that rushed through her.

  “Then she is writing to Edward of her father’s death—and mine. She will see to it that I am no more by the time the missive reaches the king.” She shuddered deeply and began to weep.

  Drake embraced her as she cried, guilt weighing on him heavily at the sudden emotions running through him. Lady Faylinn was a beautiful woman. He felt his loins stir. More than anything, he longed to offer her comfort. It would be wrong, though. She was his lady. The one he was sworn to protect. He could not violate the trust she held in him.

  Lightly, he grasped her shoulders and eased her from him. Even with tears running down her porcelain cheeks, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

  “I think Sabelina is mad,” she revealed. “She seems obsessed with Mallowbourne and not leaving the estate. She wants to kill me and keep my child, if a son, from inheriting. And she proclaimed she would wed the new baron and become the baroness.”

  “I agree that her father’s death has certainly twisted her mind. It will be difficult to stop her, though.”

  “Oh! I left the letter to my brother in the study. I don’t want her to find it or she’ll destroy it. She knows Ashby and I are close and that I wrote to him of the child. She won’t want that information getting to him.”

  “I’ll retrieve it now,” Drake promised. “I’ll also see to having hot water fetched for a bath. Food, as well. You’re not ill. You need to eat to keep up your strength.” He glanced to the tray he’d brought. “For now, only drink from the cup closest to you. Those are the herbs that will aid in easing your pain. You may drink the other and sleep once you’ve eaten.”

  He stood. “I swear on my honor as a knight of the realm that I will allow no harm to come to you, Lady Faylinn.”

  Through watery eyes, she smiled. “Thank you, Sir Drake. I feel I can trust no one but you.”

  With a brief nod, he turned and left her. Quickly, he ventured to the study, hoping that Lady Sabelina would have chosen to write to the king from own bedchamber. In case she was present, though, he needed an excuse for being in the room. Drake stopped by the kitchen and asked the cook to make up a tray for Lady Faylinn and for water to be heated for the baroness’ bath. Within minutes, he bore a tray with bread, cheese, and a leg of chicken. He made his way to the steward
’s study and entered, finding it empty. He went straight to the desk and found the rolled parchment bearing the Gaynesford seal and knew this must be the message to Lady Faylinn’s brother. He slipped it inside his tunic and turned.

  “What are you doing in here?” demanded Lady Sabelina standing in the doorway, mistrust in her eyes.

  Drake raised the tray in his hands. “I came downstairs to get a meal for Lady Faylinn—but I began to worry about you.” He gave her a charming smile.

  She softened immediately, even batting her eyelashes at him. “Truly?”

  “Oh, yes. I didn’t know if you’d eaten and so I brought this for you. I remembered you said you were going to write to the king and I assumed you would do so from the study.”

  She sidled up to him. “You’re so thoughtful, Sir Drake.” Her hand slid up his chest.

  The gesture repelled him—and worried him that she would feel the parchment beneath his clothing.

  A loud rap sounded on the doorframe and they both turned. A servant he didn’t know stood there.

  “My lady, you’re needed at once in the kitchen.”

  “Thank you.”

  The servant scurried away and Sabelina smiled at him. “We can speak later. For now, take this food to my stepmother. She needs it more than I do.”

  Drake watched her leave and gave a quick prayer of thanks to the Virgin for not being discovered. He proceeded to the solar and set the tray before Lady Faylinn.

  Pulling out the parchment, he said, “I was able to find your missive to your brother. Do you wish to keep it or should I find a rider to take it now?”

  “Send it at once, Sir Drake. Markham usually delivers my missives to my brother. Tell him this time it goes to Ashby at Newbury Manor, fifteen miles east of Stanbury, his usual stop.”

  Drake heard noise coming from the solar and stepped to the bedchamber’s door. He turned to Lady Faylinn.

  “Your hot water has arrived. I’ll see to the missive’s delivery while you bathe and then I’ll return as you eat. Then I want you to take the herbs in order to sleep.”