The Pawn

by Aston, Alexa

  “I am surprised you are here,” she replied coolly.

  “And I was surprised to hear you were in the solar with my brother. Shall we retire there and talk—or are you embarrassed for me to see the rumpled bedclothes from your afternoon love play?”

  She knew he tried to upset her and would not allow herself to be goaded into anger.

  “It’s not any of your concern what goes on in my solar,” she said curtly.

  Bryce held his hands palms up. “Are we not family now? Of course, I have an interest in you. I supposed since you were raised with no family surrounding you that you do not understand how family members share with one another.”

  “When have we shared anything—other than hatred for one another, Bryce?” Nicholas interjected.

  Bryce’s mouth turned down. “Brother, I meant no harm. I got along quite well with Katelyn on the journey from Windsor to Northumberland. She’s been gone from the castle more than a week. I simply thought to check on her welfare.”

  “First, you charm me. Then, you wound me. Is that how family members are supposed to act toward one another, Bryce?” she asked.

  “I’m delighted to know I charmed you,” he replied smoothly. “I’ve always felt a special connection with you. Despite the fact that you were wedded to my father.” Bryce glanced to Nicholas. “I suppose you are charming Katelyn, as well. All the castle’s inhabitants know how you ride away to visit her each day, neglecting your duties to the estate.”

  “I neglect nothing,” Nicholas said evenly.

  “Especially not Katelyn,” Bryce said and chuckled. “I assumed because of your many visits to your new wife, you’ve reneged on your vow to leave her untouched for a month. I can understand why for she is a tempting morsel. Any man would be besotted with her. Even if she was first sullied by Father. It’s too bad you may never know if she’s with Father’s child—or yours.”

  Katelyn slapped Bryce hard. His head snapped, the neck making a loud crackling noise. Her palm stung as if she’d dipped it in fire but she would never give him the satisfaction to know how it much it hurt. She thought the pain worth it, seeing the shock in his eyes.

  “I did not ask you here, Bryce. I don’t ever plan to extend an invitation to you. Nicholas has been nothing but a gentleman toward me and that includes keeping his word. You, on the other hand, have displayed ungallant behavior. Leave. Now,” she ordered.

  A sudden wail distracted her. Katelyn looked over her shoulder and saw Bethany standing in the solar’s doorway. The young woman’s eyes were wide with terror as she pointed toward Bryce. Her howl began to die down into a pitiful whimper. Then she stepped back into the solar and slammed the door.

  Katelyn whipped around. “What did you do to her to make her so frightened of you?”

  Bryce shrugged. “Ask her.” He turned and strolled down the stairs.

  Katelyn and Nicholas rushed to the solar but couldn’t enter. Bethany had locked the door.

  “Bethany!” Nicholas cried, pounding against the wood. “Let me in. He’s gone. You’re safe.”

  When the door didn’t open, he told Katelyn, “I will break it down. Step back.”

  “Nay,” she said softly. “Bethany is already frightened enough. Tearing down a door will only add to her fear.”

  She knocked on the door, praying that the Virgin would give her the right words to say.

  “Bethany, it’s Katelyn. Come to the door and listen to me.” She waited, hoping the girl did as she asked. She saw Mary had also arrived, looking distraught.

  “I am sorry that Bryce woke you from your nap. It’s hard to wake and be disoriented and then find someone so scary nearby. I did not invite Bryce to my home. I told him he will never be asked to come. I don’t want him here. But I do want you here. I’m happy Nicholas and Mary brought you to see me. Won’t you open the door and let me in?”

  Katelyn held her breath and finally heard the latch scrape. The door opened a sliver.

  “Could I come in?” she asked. “Just me. I am so tired after all that digging that we did.” She yawned loudly. “I would love to curl up with you and Kit and rest for a bit. Would you let me do that?”

  Bethany’s hand appeared along the doorframe. The door opened enough to admit Katelyn. She looked to Nicholas. He nodded.

  Entering, she heard the door shut swiftly. Bethany turned, tears streaming down her face.

  Katelyn opened her arms and Bethany came to her, allowing Katelyn to wrap her in a close embrace. She let Bethany weep until no more tears came and then led her to the bed. They climbed onto it and Katelyn put an arm about the girl. Bethany rolled into Katelyn, clutching her cotehardie, while Kit jumped up and nestled at Bethany’s feet.

  They remained that way for a good hour. As Bethany dozed, Katelyn wondered what horrible thing Bryce had done to make his sister terrified to see him.

  Finally, Bethany stirred.

  “I want Mary,” she murmured.

  “I’ll bring her to you.”

  Katelyn slipped from the bed and went to the door. Opening it, she saw both Nicholas and Mary waiting patiently.

  “She asked for you.”

  Mary hurried inside the solar and Katelyn closed the door behind her. Suddenly, Nicholas was next to her, wrapping her in warmth and comfort. She leaned into his strength, peace radiating through her as she felt safe in his arms.

  “Is she all right?” he asked. When Katelyn nodded, he studied her. “Are you?”

  “Aye. Would you tell me what is between them?”

  “Come downstairs.”

  Nicholas didn’t rush her. He led her back to the great hall and a chair. Lucy brought her a cup of wine. One sip and warmth flooded Katelyn.

  “Bethany was a bright child. Full of curiosity. Ten years younger than I and eight younger than Bryce. He wasn’t happy when she arrived. Bryce was always a selfish child and wanted more than his fair share of attention. Mother had despaired of ever having more babes. After so long a time without conceiving, Bethany was a true gift in her eyes.”

  “Bryce was . . . jealous? Of a newborn?” Katelyn asked, shocked.

  “Aye.”

  She listened as he explained how Bethany had been kicked in the head by Lord Cedric’s horse, thanks to Bryce leaving her in the temperamental animal’s stall.

  “Bethany was a changed child after that. Quiet. Barely speaking. And panic-stricken anytime Bryce came near her.” Nicholas paused. “My heart tells me Bryce tried to kill our sister and failed. She’s no threat to him now but I wonder sometimes if he would ever try the same with me.”

  Katelyn gasped. “You believe Bryce would harm you?”

  “My brother has always wanted more than was his. He’s furious that he’s the second-born son and has no claim to the earldom or Northmere. He played what Father said were tricks upon me in our childhood but I think he hoped they would bring me permanent damage. Let’s just say that I keep a watchful eye on him.”

  “You should order him to leave Northmere,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to sleep with one eye open and worry about if Bryce plots to maim or kill you. I can understand your father allowing him to return to his home once he attained his knighthood but you are the earl now, Nicholas. You must make him leave. For your sake as much as your sister’s.”

  “I have given that consideration. It would allow Bethany to move about more freely. I think part of why she stays confined to her bedchamber so much is so that she doesn’t have to run into him. The times she and Mary roam outside the keep are when Bryce is gone.”

  Katelyn placed her hand on his arm. “You owe it to Bethany to protect her from that monster.”

  He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it gently. “You have convinced me that I have no other choice. I will return home now and tell Bryce he is no longer welcome at Northmere. I had hoped Bethany might be comfortable enough to stay the night with you. It would be better if she did. I don’t know how Bryce will react.”

  “He seems unstable to me. I�
��m sure he’ll lash out at you. Blame you.”

  “Or you,” Nicholas said. “He might think you, too, are being protective of Bethany and have convinced me that he is a danger to her.”

  “I don’t care,” Katelyn said. “Northmere will be better off without the likes of Bryce Mandeville.”

  *

  Nicholas unhitched the horse from the cart. It would take far too long to drive it back to the castle. Determination filled him to rid himself of his worthless brother before he could change his mind. Too many times in the past he had given Bryce another chance. This day would prove to be his brother’s last at Northmere.

  He only hoped Bryce wouldn’t hold this decision against Katelyn.

  Though he’d never liked Bryce, he supposed somewhere, deep inside him, that some love existed for his brother. As the oldest of the Mandeville children, he’d been tasked by his parents to look out for his younger siblings. He had done it all his life but he could no longer excuse Bryce for his words and actions. It was time for him to depart.

  Reaching the castle grounds, he took the horse to the stables.

  “He’s been ridden hard. Give him a good rubdown and an extra measure of oats,” he told the stable lad and then went to the training yard where he hoped to find his brother.

  Nicholas spotted Bryce sparring with one of the younger soldiers. He’d noticed Bryce always singled out those younger, shorter, and weaker than he was. All to make himself look better. Though he longed to order Bryce from Northmere now, he would not embarrass his brother in front of all of their men. Instead, he would speak to him in the privacy of the solar. That way, no prying eyes or ears would see or hear their conversation. Once Bryce left, Nicholas would not make any announcements. The men could think what they chose.

  He called a page over and told the boy to tell his uncle to come see him. The boy ran around the edges of the training yard and made his way toward the raised platform, where Rafe Mandeville stood assessing the men at their exercises. He bent and listened to the boy and nodded before calling over a knight to take his place. Rafe hopped from the platform and slipped from the yard, coming straight to Nicholas.

  “You wish to see me?”

  “Walk with me, Uncle.”

  Nicholas moved at a steady pace, keeping silent until they were out of sight from the soldiers. Turning, he said, “I have decided to ask Bryce to leave Northmere.”

  Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “I was afraid it might come to this. Think on it, Nicholas, I beg you.”

  “I have thought about it, Uncle. Long and hard. It was something Father should have done long ago but couldn’t because he favored Bryce so.”

  “Are you jealous of your brother?” the knight asked.

  “Never,” Nicholas said firmly. “He is a terrible soldier, though. Lazy. Inefficient. Unwilling to better himself. And he’s not been much of a brother to me. Or Bethany.”

  “Still, banishing him cuts you off from your past,” Rafe insisted. “Your father and mother are gone. With Bryce sent away, you only have Bethany. And me, of course.”

  Nicholas looked Rafe in the eye. “I have my wife.”

  “Do you?”

  “Katelyn will make an excellent countess. She will prove loyal to me. Something Bryce never has been.”

  “I rather thought she liked your brother. They seemed to get along well while we traveled north from Windsor.”

  “That’s before she knew him,” Nicholas snapped. “She even ordered him to stay away from the manor house this afternoon.”

  Rafe’s eyes gleamed with interest. “So, this is Lady Katelyn pressing you to expel Bryce from Northmere. Not you.”

  “It is my decision, Uncle. No one else’s. I am the Earl of Northmere. I alone hold the power to send Bryce away. For good.”

  “I hope you know what you are doing,” Rafe murmured.

  “What? Do you think Bryce would retaliate?”

  His uncle shrugged. “’Tis hard to say what Bryce might do. He’s unpredictable.”

  “Send him to the solar when you’ve finished with the men for the day.”

  Rafe expelled a long breath. “Sometimes, Bryce chooses to end his training earlier than the others.”

  “Then before he leaves the field, make sure he understands that I wish to speak with him.” Nicholas glared at his uncle, daring him to speak again.

  Rafe inclined his head. “As you wish, my lord.”

  The two men parted, going opposite directions. Nicholas returned to the keep and went to the solar to wait. It didn’t take long before a knock sounded and Bryce breezed through the doorway.

  “You wish to speak to me, Brother?” Bryce plopped down in a chair and poured himself a cup of wine. He downed it in a single swallow and slammed the cup on the table. “I would have thought we’d had enough talk between us for one day.” He crossed his ankle over his knee. “Go ahead.”

  “You are to leave Northmere immediately,” Nicholas said, keeping his tone even. “You may take your possessions and your horse. Don’t plan on returning.”

  Bryce’s face turned red. “You wouldn’t dare!” he exclaimed, leaping to his feet.

  Nicholas also stood and stared at him. “There’s no daring involved, Brother. The Earl of Northmere wishes you to vacate his estate and never come back.”

  “It’s that little slut who’s making you do this. Forcing you to exile me from my home. From my flesh and blood.”

  “Kate has nothing to do with this.”

  “She has everything to do with it,” Bryce retorted. “The king’s cousin ordered you to dismiss me from sight. She snapped her fingers and my foolish, besotted brother instantly dances to her tune, not thinking of the consequences.”

  “I am the earl,” Nicholas ground out. “I resolved to see you banished. You care nothing for your flesh and blood. You loathe me. You don’t give a thought to Bethany. You despise Uncle Rafe and Aunt Ellyn. You only care for yourself, Bryce. It’s time you grew up and became a man, not a whining boy.”

  Bryce howled with laughter. For a moment, Nicholas thought his brother had descended into madness. Then he gave Nicholas a sly smile.

  “You may think this is the end of things between us, Nicholas. I assure you it’s not. Be on guard, Brother, for you never know when I might come for you. Tomorrow. Next year. A score of years from now. I will take everything you value and see you beg on your knees.”

  Bryce abruptly fled the room without a backward glance.

  Nicholas felt as if he’d allowed a mad dog that should be put down to crawl away. He would have to remain wary the rest of his life, knowing that Bryce might come for him at any time. More than that, Bryce had sworn to take what Nicholas valued. Possessions had never meant much to him.

  Only one thing could hurt him—and that was losing Kate. Nicholas would give his life to protect her.

  No matter what the cost.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nicholas waited until he saw the last person enter the great hall and then rose. Before he could call out to address those gathered to break their fast, the room began to quieten and then fell into total silence. The eyes of the people of Northmere were upon him and he could tell they wondered what he would share with them.

  “I could speak to you of how well our harvest is going and the winnowing and tying. I am pleased with all of your hard work and will announce a celebration once that work has been completed. I might speak of how well our soldiers continue to train and patrol our lands so that we don’t live in fear every minute, worried that Scottish rebels will invade our homes. I could compliment those who live at the castle and express how well they do their jobs. All of that I will save for another time.

  “Today, I share with you one thing you must know—and that is my brother, Bryce Mandeville, is never to set foot upon Northmere lands again. The reason I will keep to myself. But know that none of my people are to have anything to do with Bryce or you, too, shall be banished. I ask everyone to be on guard to make sure he never ent
ers again.”

  He sat and motioned for the servants to bring out their trays. The lingering silence appeared deafening. Gradually, conversation started up. Nicholas ate without speaking to either his aunt or uncle, both seated to his right, but he could feel the waves of disapproval coming from Rafe Mandeville.

  Once the meal ended, Nicholas stood and stepped from the dais. He held a hand out to assist Ellyn. His uncle joined them, his eyes glowering in anger.

  “Was it necessary to announce to the world that you’d exiled your only brother from Northmere?” Rafe demanded. “Did he need to suffer such humiliation?”

  “First, Uncle, Bryce is not present and will never hear about such humiliation. Second, I could have dismissed him from the training yard yesterday and had all the soldiers gossiping about what they overheard. I allowed him to come to the privacy of my solar for our conversation. In it, he threatened me. I don’t take kindly to threats. From now on, I want everyone at Northmere to be wary. Bryce is a dangerous enemy—now and always.”

  “So be it.” Rafe stormed away.

  Ellyn placed her hand on his arm. “You did the right thing, Nicholas. There has always been something loathsome about Bryce. I don’t understand why Cedric never saw it.” She squeezed his arm in support. “I know this must be hard on you, though. You have recently lost Favian, who was a true brother to you, and now had to send away your own flesh and blood.”

  “No need to worry about me. I am fine, Aunt.”

  Her hand dropped away. “I know you are. A concern I have, though, is Katelyn. She is isolated at the manor house. I would not put it past Bryce to try to hurt you through her.”

  “That’s been taken care of,” Nicholas assured her. “After warning the gatekeeper yesterday to never admit Bryce, I sent six more knights to the manor house to protect her.”

  “Will you tell her of Bryce’s threat against you? She might feel safer if she returned to the keep instead of staying where she is.”

  “I’ll inform her that Bryce has left for good but I don’t want to worry her unnecessarily. She has my best men surrounding her. I’ll allow her to remain where she is for now. It’s what she wants.”