He shook his head. “No, I was merely wounded.” He indicated his eye and deformed arm. “Frederick Traverse, Earl of Shelton, however, did die in that battle.”
“I don’t understand. Why have everyone believe you’re dead? If you’d survived, you could’ve claimed your home again and all of this wouldn’t be necessary.” She struggled against the ropes again, but it was no use.
He walked toward her. “I could have, if Richard of Gloucester—the rightful king—had killed that foreigner who now sits on the throne. Then this deception wouldn’t have been necessary.”
The guy was insane. Brilliantly insane. “You sided with Richard the third?”
“Of course. Henry was an upstart, unfit to rule, as was proven when he ordered me to relinquish Shelton to Alex. A second son.” He spat. “No, Richard was a brilliant leader and I was his hidden man all those months, pretending to support Henry, learning his plans.” He shook his head. “Now, instead of being an honored man of the king, I must deny my very existence and become someone else to reclaim what is rightfully mine.”
“But, surely, Alex would—”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Kate, Alex would not. Nor would his precious king allow it. Frederick of Shelton is now an enemy of that king. However, Reynard Lannion, former stable hand at the Shelton estate, is a loyal subject.” He leaned toward her. “Who will become a wealthy landowner.”
“You can’t honestly believe the king will turn over these lands to someone he’s never heard of. What makes you think he would?”
“You have a quick mind.” Frederick studied her, his look more admiring than she liked. “I see what attracts Alex to you.” He leered at her. “Perhaps you’ll have other uses.”
Get his mind back on his plan. “But how would you, as Reynard, get these lands?”
“By turning the current earl in as a traitor to the crown.”
His smile made her skin crawl. And when he put his cheek to hers, holding her head in place, she wanted to be sick.
Kate closed her eyes as the words washed over her. Traitor. He couldn’t—
He patted her cheek, pulled back and placed a grimy finger beneath her chin. “If you hadn’t discovered the Shelton ring, it would be done. The ring was to be found in the possession of Yorkist supporters, the pledge of Shelton. And I, Reynard Lannion, defender of Henry’s crown, would reap the reward.”
Oh, yes. He could.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
He knew this cave. Just as he knew where that piece of filth had taken Kate.
Alex bore left at the fork toward a series of chambers, looking for the fourth one. It was large enough to set up camp. And perfect for holding a prisoner.
He proceeded slowly in the dark, feeling along the damp surface of the walls. Sounds echoed off the walls, murmurs at first, becoming more pronounced the further he proceeded. Voices. Still too distant to be discernible, but he’d reach them soon enough.
Ever more cautious lest a kicked stone warn the bastard, Alex readied his sword.
The flickering glow of firelight came around the bend and he heard Kate’s voice. Thank God she wasn’t begging for mercy or crying out in agony. Now he could focus his attention on killing that bastard.
“But you said the king wouldn’t grant you those lands even if Alex did hand them over to you,” Kate said.
“That’s true,” that hideous creature answered. “But that will change when I turn Alex in as a traitor.”
Henry would never believe it, but that didn’t stop Alex from wanting to rush in and thrust his sword through the man’s gullet. By God, he’d take pleasure in pounding the life out of him.
“This king honors those loyal to him. He needs support for his crown in these new years of his reign and he needs Shelton in loyal hands. And since Alex passed over Isobel’s lands for a landless, widowed nun, Henry will believe it all the more.”
Damn. Though Henry would find it difficult to believe, the king wanted no doubts about his lords. This bastard would sow the seeds of distrust, but exactly how did he plan to prove them?
***
Kate would so love to tell this jerk exactly who he was dealing with. He thought he could manipulate one of the Tudors? The guy was delusional.
Well, yeah, that was a given. “So since I have the ring you’d planned to plant, how do you think you’re going to prove Alex is a traitor now?”
“Ah, Kate, you are magnificent in your ardor.” The son-of-a-bitch was actually laughing at her. “Who better to denounce Lord Shelton but the man’s betrothed—the woman who wouldn’t permit herself to marry a man in the act of deposing his monarch? Why, when you brought me, your faithful servant, such news, ‘twas all we could do not to run to the king.”
“You’re insane. I’ll never do that. Alex is the most honorable, fair, loyal man I’ve ever met. His word is his bond and anyone who knows him knows that. Including the king.”
Frederick raised his hand. Kate flinched, but she wasn’t about to back down. It was true, all of it.
He stared at her for a few moments.
Kate raised her chin. Go ahead bastard, I dare you.
Okay, not exactly what her sensei had taught her…
Frederick lowered his hand. “No. Not yet. You’ve a mouth on you, but that can be put to better use.” His leer gave her the creeps. “And while nothing would give me greater pleasure than to take you from your oh-so-honorable Alex, your demise—at present—holds no interest for me. William, however, is an entirely different matter. I imagine there’s quite a lot you’d be willing to do to keep precious William from harm.” He ran a grimy finger down her forearm and Kate shivered.
William? He had William in here, too? “You’re bluffing.”
“Are you willing to risk it or will I have your cooperation?” Another leer said that wasn’t all he wanted. “I can imagine what will happen when Alex learns you had the chance to bargain for his son’s life and didn’t. And then what will become of him? He’ll have no reason to care for Shelton. No reason to refute my claims. Go ahead, Kate—” He nudged her shoulder with a mud-caked boot. “Refuse me. I can just see Alex’s trial before the king, with me standing before Henry to receive my due as I have plotted and planned for all this time.”
Damn him. She wouldn’t risk William, and this bastard knew it. Knew that Alex wouldn’t want her to, too. “I won’t help you until I see that William’s safe and you return him to Shelton.”
“And lose the advantage?” His sadistic chuckle set her teeth on edge. “Dear, dear Kate. I’m not as foolish as that. No, if you wish to see William alive again, you’re going to follow my orders, because, you see, I shall have need of a countess. And having Alex’s would do quite nicely. I’ll finally take something from him.” He chuckled again and leaned in, his intent grotesquely clear.
She struggled, but, damn him, he’d anticipated her reaction and grabbed her head. Kate gagged as he forced his tongue between her lips, doing all sorts of lewd things to the inside of her mouth. Self-preservation kicked in and she bit down. Hard.
With a yowl, he shoved her from him. Kate cringed as the expected blow back-handed her across the face and the ropes cut into her wrists and ankles.
“Whore! You’ll learn not do that again!” He lunged then and sprawled on top of her, his intent all too clear.
Kate screamed and writhed beneath him, trying to use her knees to inflict some damage, but he was too heavy, too strong, and her legs could only move so much. His wool coat draped over them, and she squirmed, trying to keep his mouth off of hers.
“Get off me!” she yelled, his hair filling her open mouth. Oh, God! Where was Alex? Now would be a really good time for him to ride in and rescue her.
As if he’d heard her, Alex pounced from the shadows. “Get off of her, you swine!”
Frederick scrambled off her and somehow managed to dodge Alex’s swinging sword. “I wondered when you’d join us, Lord Shelton. I was merely sampling her charms. As you have.” A vulgar sm
ile slithered across his face as he pulled a knife from his boot—and placed it at her throat.
Alex checked his sword. He couldn’t risk her. “Kate, how are you?”
“She’s fine, Alex.” The cur slid the knife down her neck. “For the moment.”
Kate swallowed. “He’s got William.”
“Shut up!” That knife drew a thin line of blood on her skin.
Alex wanted to kill him, but Kate was too close. “No, he doesn’t, Kate. It was a ploy to bring you to heel. William is home, safely guarded.” He hefted his sword. “I should slit you open, throat to belly, right now for your foul deeds.”
The bastard wrapped his arm around Kate’s neck. “I don’t think you want to try that, Lord Shelton.” He slid the knife behind her back. “We wouldn’t want to ruin such beauty.”
“Free her.” Alex gripped his sword so hard, it shook.
“For a price.” The bastard cut Kate’s bonds and hauled her to her feet. “I want your land. All of it. And your title. And your countess.”
“Alex, he’s crazy—”
“Shut up, whore!” The bastard jerked her back against him.
Alex had to stop himself from jumping the guy. He couldn’t risk Kate. But where the hell were Gregorio and the rest of his men? “You said yourself that Henry would never approve of Shelton belonging to someone he doesn’t know, so exchanging the estate for Kate isn’t possible. Let her go. You don’t have a chance of exiting this cave alive.”
“Oh Lord Shelton, do you really believe there’s only one way out of here? No, my dear boy, I have alternatives. And you forget, I know you. You, with your oh-so-dashing bravery. I knew you’d come to rescue your beloved, hell bent to prove what a great knight you are. What a great protector of the people. You’re so predictable in your virtue it makes me ill. You always thought yourself better than anyone else, always took what rightfully belonged to others.” He tightened his hold on Kate. “Well, I’m taking back what’s mine. And perhaps what should be. I deserve it.”
“You deserve nothing.”
“I deserve it all!”
The bastard tightened his arm until Kate was gasping. Alex had to act; he couldn’t wait for Gregorio to arrive. “Let her go.”
“Go? The only place she’s going, or you for that matter, is where I say.” He grabbed Kate’s throat with his hand.
And then he squeezed.
Kate clawed at that gnarled hand. “Fre... Fre...”
It was the distraction Alex needed.
He lunged, bringing his sword down—
But the bastard swung Kate in front of him.
“Frederick, no!” she screamed as Alex’s blade tore into her sleeve.
Alex stumbled back, the bloody blade falling from his hands. “Frederick?”
Chapter Thirty
The bastard—Frederick—grabbed the fallen sword. Then he sliced through the bonds at Kate’s ankles and dragged her out of the chamber into the deeper recesses of the cave before Alex could make sense of what she’d said.
Frederick?
His brother? He was behind all of this? How? Why?
“Let me go!” Kate yelled and the crunch of bone that silenced her had Alex rushing after them through the maze of tunnels.
“Don’t harm her, Frederick!” Brother or not, he was going to kill him with his bare hands.
“I see you finally recognize me, brother,” said Frederick when Alex entered the next chamber. “Too bad it took you so long. I’ve lived at Shelton for over a year.”
“Did you?” Blood stained the sleeve of Kate’s surcoat. The wound was deep enough to soak through the thick brocade. Hell, if Frederick didn’t kill her, the injury could. Where was Gregorio with that damn window?
And would it even work?
“I did, and no one knew,” Frederick said, his vanity the same as ever. “During the battle I took many blows; I cursed Henry when I lost my eye.” He puffed out his chest, as he always had when drowning in his own importance. “But I survived and these scars have served a purpose. And you never knew.”
Alex looked into the face of his “dead” brother, and, for the first time in his life, wished it were true. “I knew you were dead, Frederick. I buried you. There was no need to look further.”
“You buried lies, Alex. Necessary lies, so that Frederick Traverse could die as he fought for the rightful ruler, Richard of Gloucester. But, now, Reynard Lannion shall pledge fealty to Henry and lay claim to your holdings. I will be the earl once more.”
Frederick’s hand was shaking and his knife was too close to Kate for Alex’s liking.
“As you wish, Frederick.” Alex held up his hands. He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe. “Let her go and you can have Shelton again. I’ll petition Henry myself on your behalf.”
Frederick laughed and the sound grated like a dulled headsman’s axe on a grindstone. “Do you think I believe the king would deliver one of his largest holdings on your word alone? Come, Alex, you forget; I’ve been at court. I’ve played those games. We both know Henry will relinquish a holding as grand as this only to the man who gives him the biggest prize. What could be bigger than delivering our very own Lord Shelton as a traitor?”
“Henry—and I—thought you were loyal to him.” Alex took a small step forward. “If you’d remained true to your word, Frederick, true to the family oath, you could have claimed Shelton upon your return.”
“The family oath be damned. Words won’t buy fine clothes or the finest brandy, nor a king’s favor.” Frederick took a step toward another corridor. “That’s why I chose Richard. If Buckingham hadn’t turned traitor—”
“But he did and Richard lost, and now your brandy and fine clothes are good for nothing since you’re unable to claim them.”
“But I will, Alex. And I’ll have your Kate to help me.” He gripped her jaw. “Doesn’t she look lovely? Just as you first saw her. And now she’ll be mine.”
Frederick had gone to a lot of trouble to get Kate’s clothing. How she’d gotten into them, Alex didn’t want to consider. But Frederick had obviously planned this scene meticulously, for heading into the cavern would only work if he knew the way out. Alex had no doubt he did.
He needed more time. He needed her window. “Henry won’t believe her. He doesn’t know her.”
“But you were planning to marry her. That will be good enough for the king. Especially when she is only confirming what he’s already heard.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You haven’t heard? Tsk, tsk, Alex. Are you so taken with the idea of marrying the fair Kate that you shirk your duties to your people? To your king?”
Frederick jerked her again. “There are rumors of a nobleman leading the Yorkists to rebellion. With the discovery of your ring among their possessions, your association with them will be known. With Kate’s testimony, Henry will have to believe it.”
It was no idle threat, but he was not going to the gallows for Frederick’s greed.
“Then why harm your only witness? You can’t fulfill your plan without Kate. Remove your blade.”
Frederick flicked the blade along Kate’s injury. “How ironic that you inflicted her wound. More proof as you tried to do her in before she could reveal your plot. It will help when she tells the king of your misdeeds.”
“I’ll never help you,” Kate said.
“Quiet!” Frederick grabbed her hair and yanked her head back.
Alex took a step forward. “Frederick—”
“Stop, Alex, before you do something ill-advised.” Frederick ran the blade up her skin. “Tell her, brother, of all the lovely things I have done to women. Calista knew. To her dismay.”
Kate gasped and Alex had to keep Frederick talking. “Calista? Good God, it was you. But why? What did you hope to gain?”
Frederick released her hair and Kate took a deep breath. “Alex, you really did spend too much time with those gypsies in our youth, didn’t you? Father was an expert in warfare, if
blindly loyal. Divert suspicion, stack the evidence.” He waved the tip of the sword.
“Farley was to be convinced of your duplicity and bring evidence to the king with the Shelton combs. And that silly woman, Calista, went along quite willingly when she figured out who I was. She would have made an interesting countess, but to have her know the truth? I couldn’t have that. Besides, her necklace in your possession would only incriminate you more. Kate will support the story, and then there will be tales of your betrayal of the people of Shelton.”
“Lawrence.”
“He was easy. The man already disliked you. It wasn’t difficult to convince him to lie about the merchant and send you on a merry chase.”
Interesting that Frederick thought the merchant had been a lie. His plan wasn’t going quite the way he wanted, though it did explain Lawrence’s surprise when he’d found out Alex had indeed met the man. As to why Lawrence had done it, Alex could only surmise. Frederick was known for finding a man’s weakness—or woman’s, unfortunately—and using it to his advantage.
“You sealed your fate, Alex. Bad judgments, discontentment, killing village children—”
“But we saved Rory,” said Kate.
“Was that the lad’s name?” Frederick shrugged. “He happened upon me at an inopportune time. I chose to make it opportune and further foul your name. Your treachery will convince the king, Alex. You see? I have it planned and no crying woman is going to try to stop me. Or William dies.”
“Kate, do as he says.” Alex needed more time. Time. He almost smiled at the irony.
“I’d rather die than live with him.” She tried to wrench from his hold.
Frederick merely laughed. And pointed his blade at her throat. “That’s an option.”
“Kate, you must do as he says. For your sake. Mine. William. Emma.”
Kate bit her lip and it broke Alex’s heart to see a tear escape.
He’d kill Frederick for that tear, but he’d prolong the torture for everything else he’d done.
Through The Leaded Glass Page 22
