The Pawn

by Aston, Alexa

  And what if, by chance, she had conceived a child when they’d lain together? The Scots would most likely demand ransom for the babe, as well. To imagine Kate alone, giving birth, thinking he no longer cared for her . . .

  Movement started up around him and Nicholas realized mass had ended. He followed the group of people leaving the chapel, shuffling along, dreading another day lived in uncertainty.

  “My lord!” Henfrey pushed his way through the crowd, holding up a scroll attached to a rock.

  Hope flickered inside him. This might finally be the ransom request. Nicholas made his way to the squire and Henfrey placed the scroll in his hands. The two of them moved away from the crowd.

  “It was found just before mass began. A guard on the wall walk saw a rider approach and sling it over the wall. By the time he alerted those on guard below, the rider had disappeared.” Henfrey swallowed. “Do you think—”

  “It has to be,” Nicholas said fervently.

  Too many people surrounded him. He needed privacy. Nicholas hurried to the keep and retreated to his solar. Taking a seat, he broke the seal, which bore no identification, and unrolled the parchment. Nestled within the larger scroll was a smaller one. He opened it first.

  Nicholas –

  I am not allowed to tell you where I am or who took me but I am unharmed. The only thing I will say to you is that I love you. Now and always.

  Kate

  Tears of relief fell onto the parchment, blurring a few of the words. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and then brought the parchment to his lips, reverently kissing where Kate had penned her name. Rolling the message up, he slipped it inside his gypon, next to his heart. It would remain there until he had Kate back.

  And then he would never let her go.

  Turning his attention to the larger scroll, it read as he expected. The missive told him how much the kidnappers wanted for her return and the place to assemble tomorrow morning at dawn in order to make the exchange. It even limited the number of men he could bring with him. Steely resolve filled Nicholas.

  By this time tomorrow, Kate would be his once again.

  He hurried to the great hall, where the morning meal was in progress. Heading to the dais, he stood to address his people. A hush fell over the room as soldiers, servants, and workers noticed him standing there and awaited his words.

  “Good people of Northmere, I come to you today because I need your help,” he began. “My wife, Lady Katelyn Mandeville, has been taken hostage by the Scots.”

  A buzz filled the room, not only at the news that Katelyn had been kidnapped—but that she was his wife. Nicholas let it die down before he continued.

  “I wed Lady Katelyn almost a month ago. She is intelligent, kind, and capable and will make a wonderful countess for Northmere.” He paused, fighting the emotions that threatened to overcome him. “Moreover, I love her. With all my heart.”

  Again, the hall erupted as those present took in the announcement.

  “I have a received a ransom demand from the Scots and will meet with them tomorrow at dawn so that I may bring my wife home. I will ask for a small group of soldiers to accompany me. When we return, I want the keep to be sparkling and a feast to await us to celebrate my beloved’s return and our marriage.”

  Immediately, soldiers sprang to their feet, eager to volunteer their services. Nicholas went to the tables where they ate and handpicked twenty of his best knights.

  He said to Gerald, “You will be left in charge of the castle. Be wary. I may be walking into a trap and the Scots might attack while I am away. Keep everyone within the castle walls after we leave for their protection.”

  “Aye, I will not let you down.” The knight placed a hand on Nicholas’ shoulder. “You’ll get the lady back, my lord.”

  “I have to. Or die trying,” he replied.

  Nicholas took the score of men who would accompany him on his mission to the solar. He read the missive to them and then opened for discussion the route they would take to the border and the formation in which they would ride.

  “Wear your armor and take your weapons as if we go into battle,” he cautioned. “I know not how many Scots will greet us. Though the rules of engagement regarding handing over a hostage are clear, I cannot the trusts the Scots to be as honorable as Englishmen. We must be prepared for an ambush at any point—on the way to the border, at it, or once we return to Northmere.”

  “What time will we leave?” Albert asked.

  “Sunrise is a few minutes past seven but I want to be there at least three hours early. The missive directed me to only bring half a dozen men along and you can see I want many more present. Six of you will stay with me while the others fan out and remain hidden from our enemies.”

  Nicholas told them the time to meet at the stables in order to embark upon their mission and then dismissed them.

  Albert remained behind as the others filed from the room. “Do you think your saddle being tampered with is connected with Lady Katelyn’s kidnapping?”

  Nicholas steepled his fingers. “I don’t know. I might have been their original target. I was riding alone back and forth between the manor house daily. If someone spied upon me, they would know that. If I hadn’t taken Kate riding that day, the girth would have torn apart while I was on my way back to the castle.” He shrugged. “We may never have an answer.”

  “’Tis fortunate the Scots did not try and ransom her back to the king. As his cousin, she is a valuable hostage.”

  He nodded. “They must be desperate in their need of quick payment.” Nicholas rose. “Take care tomorrow, Albert.”

  “I will, my lord.” He smiled. “’Twill be nice to have Lady Katelyn home where she belongs.”

  “I agree.”

  *

  Katelyn paced the small bedchamber she’d been confined to, feeling like a caged animal. Late last night, Errol Cummins had her pen a short note to Nicholas and told her she would soon be going home. She assumed he’d sent a man out during the night to ride to Northumberland and deliver not only her brief message but his ransom demand. Nicholas would have received it this morning, most likely at first light.

  She assumed the laird would give Nicholas a day to access the gold and believed today would be her last day spent in Scotland as a hostage—and pawn.

  The more she paced, the more nervous she grew. Cummins had sworn her to secrecy and told her he planned to hand over an unsuspecting Bryce.

  What if he lied to her?

  The canny laird might only be telling Katelyn what she wanted to hear to keep her quiet and obedient. If she believed that Nicholas would not be killed, she wouldn’t call out any warning to him. Would the Scotsman try and trick her?

  She couldn’t take that chance. She must find a way out of here and back to the border before the exchange was to occur. Her thoughts turned to Alec again.

  Would the half-Englishman be willing to help her?

  A light rap sounded on the door. She hoped it would be Alec bringing her something to eat. The door opened and he entered, closing it behind him. He brought over a tray and set it down.

  “How are you feeling, Katelyn? You appear well again.”

  That was a good sign. He called her by name, as she had asked. She didn’t have long but she needed to build trust with him.

  “I’m feeling much better, thanks to your care, Alec.” She glanced at the tray. “Would you stay with me while I eat? I’m as starved for conversation as I am food.”

  “All right,” he agreed and sat.

  As she pulled meat from the chicken thigh he’d brought, Katelyn said, “Tell me more about your mother.”

  Alec’s eyes softened. “She was a bonny lass. Full of sweetness and light, despite how the clan treated her.”

  “What did you do with her?”

  He shrugged. “A little of everything. I helped her with all of the chores when I was young. Hanging the washing outside to dry. Bringing the rug out to beat the dust from it. She loved to sing while w
e worked and would teach me a new ditty with every chore.”

  “Can you sing me one now?”

  He laughed. “I haven’t thought about them in a long time.”

  “Try,” she urged.

  Alec closed his eyes and began singing softly. He had a sweet, rich voice that comforted her. When he finished the song, he opened his eyes.

  “By the Christ, it’s been a long time since I sang.” He wiped away a tear. “Remembering that song brings back a piece of her to me.”

  “You should sing more often. You’ve a wonderful voice.”

  He snorted. “Singing’s for the weak, the laird would say. Fighting’s what counts. I’ll be keeping my songs to myself.” Alec paused. “But I do thank you, Katelyn, for bringing back some nice memories.”

  Abruptly, he stood. “I’d best be getting back.”

  Knowing time ran out, Katelyn also came to her feet. She grabbed his wrist and his eyes widened.

  “Alec, I’m asking you to help me escape. Before tomorrow. I can’t trust either the laird or Bryce and I won’t see the husband I love murdered before my eyes.”

  He began shaking his head furiously. “I cannot help you, my lady. ’Twould mean a death sentence for me.”

  Alec tried to pull away but Katelyn clutched him more tightly.

  “Listen!” she commanded.

  He froze, uncertain what to do.

  “You and I are more alike than you realize,” she began. “I told you I hadn’t been a lady for long. My father committed treason against the Crown. Because of that, I was placed in a convent when I was five years of age. I grew up among strangers, as alone and frightened as you. I was beaten each time I tried to escape. Starved for breaking absurd rules. Left on my own since I had no calling to God and did not seek to join their religious order.”

  Sympathy grew in his eyes.

  “At least you had a mother and father that you can remember. Mine were taken from me. My father, executed as a traitor. I had no friends or family. No one I could depend upon.” She paused. “Then my brother found me after years of searching. I was taken to the royal court and found out I was cousin to King Edward. A week later, I was sent north to wed, a pawn in a political game between England and Scotland. My marriage was to make a statement to the Scots and keep the north firmly united.

  “My husband died on our wedding night. I was forced yet again to wed. This time to a man who became my friend first, then my lover. Nicholas has offered me a future I never dreamed could be mine. And I will not see that future taken away from us by his conniving brother, Bryce, or your laird.”

  “I wouldn’t know where to start—”

  “You might not. But I do,” Katelyn said. “If you help me, you can come to live in England. The land of your mother’s people.”

  Alec rolled his eyes. “As if they would trust me any more than the Scots.”

  “I offer you a place at Northmere,” Katelyn continued. “Doing whatever you would like.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “And you would have a friend in me, Alec, where you have none here. My friendship would count for a great deal since I am the Countess of Northmere. Nicholas, too, would be a powerful ally and eternally grateful to you for returning me to him.

  “So, what say you? Will you help me escape?”

  Alec grinned. “All right, Katelyn. Let’s put our heads together and decide how to get you home to the man you love.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Katelyn’s scalp began prickling. Goosebumps rose along her arm. She heard footsteps in the hallway and men’s voices outside her bedchamber and knew the visitor she’d expected had finally arrived.

  The door opened and a confident Bryce Mandeville entered.

  “Come to gloat?” she asked, remaining seated in the only chair available.

  He gave her a smug smile. “I can see you’ve recovered fully from your illness.” He bent and studied her face. “Too bad the bruises haven’t totally faded.”

  “You shouldn’t have struck me.”

  “You should learn to hold your tongue.” He stood upright again. “You will. As my wife, you will speak only when you have my permission.”

  Glaring at him, she said, “I have always spoken my mind and will continue to do so. You’ll have to cut out my tongue if you don’t wish to hear my voice.”

  His eyes gleamed. “Don’t tempt me.”

  Katelyn lowered her eyes. She longed to shout at him that she would never be under his thumb and soon he would be held accountable by Nicholas for conspiring with the Scots and arranging for her kidnapping. Since she couldn’t, she decided not to look at him.

  Bryce placed a finger under her chin and lifted it. “I like the fire in you, Katelyn, but I also know it must be controlled.” His palm moved to cradle her face. Softly, he said, “Give me time. I will make you forgot all about Nicholas.”

  “Never!” she hissed, turning away in disgust.

  “By mid-morning tomorrow, you and I will be back at Northmere. Nicholas will be dead. I will claim the earldom and the estate. We can wed—and then bed.”

  She looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Nicholas is superior to you in every way. Especially his skills in bed.”

  He raised his hand to strike her again and then lowered it. “Oh, you do try to provoke me, Katelyn. Marriage to you will be such a challenge.”

  “The challenge will be trying to get me to repeat the vows,” she retorted.

  “I’ll manage to find a way,” Bryce promised.

  “Spoken by the man who said he would murder my babe? I have nothing to lose, Bryce, and will always remain a thorn in your side. You might as well kill me when you try to kill Nicholas. If you can.”

  He lifted her braid and she flinched, angry that she did so. Toying with it, he said, “I have always wanted what my brother had. Soon, I will have his title. His land. And his wife. Nay, Katelyn, I would never do away with you. I want you too much. I need to leave my mark upon you. Make you forget everything about Nicholas. I’m certain that you’ll come around.”

  “And if I don’t?” she challenged.

  The look he gave her caused her to shudder.

  “Then I will keep you from our children,” he said. “I’ll get you with child, over and over, and they’ll be taken from you the moment you give birth. Others will suckle them. Bathe them. Walk with them and teach them to speak. All while you remain locked away, never seeing your precious babes.”

  “You are a monster,” Katelyn said, her tone deadly.

  He beamed at her. “Then I’ll be your monster. I’ll tie you to the bed and take you as many times as I wish. No one will dare come to your aid for I’ll be the Earl of Northmere, the most powerful nobleman in the north of England.”

  She snatched her braid from his fingers. “Go. I can’t stand the sight of you, knowing what you’ll do to Nicholas. And me.”

  His low chuckle chilled her more than any winter’s day ever had. “Pleasant dreams tonight, Katelyn. We’ll be up early in order to meet Nicholas at dawn.”

  Bryce left. Katelyn found herself shaking uncontrollably. She whispered another fervent prayer to the Virgin, begging the Holy Mother to pave the way for her escape and protect Nicholas, no matter what happened.

  Several hours later, Alec arrived with her evening meal.

  “I cannot stay long. The herbs have been added to the ale the men will consume,” he assured her. “The laird has ordered everyone to bed down after eating since we’ll need to rise in the wee hours in order to ride to the border for the arranged meeting. The men should fall asleep quickly.”

  “And stay asleep,” she added. “I remember the herbs I ingested kept me asleep for long amounts of time. Even when I awoke, I felt groggy.”

  “I’ll bring you something dark to wear. Pants and a shirt. It’ll be easier for you to ride that way.”

  “Will I have my own horse?”

  “I thought to saddle Muir’s horse for you but I think it will be safer if we ride together. We
’ll have to go slowly. Even with a lantern, it’ll be hard to see the road.” He paused. “You’re sure you’re wanting to do this?”

  Determination filled her. “I’m leaving Scotland tonight. Nothing can keep me from Nicholas.”

  “Then I am your most humble escort. And friend.”

  Katelyn embraced Alec. “I know how risky this is.” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”

  He blushed. “Mayhap, I’ll find I like being an Englishman better than a Scotsman. Who knows? I might even seek out my mother’s family. Eat up. I’ll be back when the deed is done.”

  She wasn’t hungry but knew it was wise to eat something and forced down a few bites. She finally pushed away the tray.

  And waited.

  Good as his word, Alec slipped into the room with new clothing for her. Katelyn had already removed her cotehardie and smock and wrapped herself in a blanket to stay warm. She didn’t want to waste precious time undressing. He handed her the pants and she wriggled into them.

  “Here’s a length of rope to tie them about your waist.”

  She secured the pants and eased the shirt over her head. Both pieces were dark and made of rough wool. She would take a few hours of itching wool against her skin over a lifetime of wearing silks as Bryce Mandeville’s wife.

  Handing her a baselard, he said, “Slip this into your boot. You might have need of it.”

  Holding the dagger in her hand gave her pause. She had never touched a weapon before. The cold steel glinted in the light. If using it guaranteed her return to Northmere, she wouldn’t hesitate. She only wished she could cut out Bryce’s heart with it.

  If he had one.

  “Take the blanket,” he suggested. “You can drape it across your lap or put it about you if you’re cold.”

  Alec opened the door and Katelyn saw a single guard next to it, slumped to the ground. Quickly, they moved along the hall and down the stairs. She heard loud snores and saw several men sleeping on the ground near the fire. Alec eased the door open and led her to where the horses were stabled. He lit a lantern and she held it so that he could see to saddle his horse. Giving her a boost, he helped her into the saddle and handed her the lantern before mounting behind her as she settled the blanket across her lap.