Legends of Medieval Romance: The Complete Angel's Assassin Trilogy

by Laurel O'Donnell

  She descended the steps in the darkness, holding the fabric tight in her hands. She heard Rupert’s steps behind her. When she reached the bottom, she glanced around and found it empty. She looked over her shoulder at Rupert before calling, “Bruno?”

  Only the soft echo of her voice answered her call.

  Aurora stepped forward, but Rupert caught her arm and moved past her.

  “Bruno?” he called.

  Bruno materialized from the darkness of the corridor where the cells were located.

  Relief swept through Aurora and she smiled at him.

  “Pardons, m’lady,” Bruno said, glancing from Rupert to her. “I didn’t think ya’d be back.”

  She held out the fabric to him. “I brought a gift.”

  Bruno took it. “I’ll give it ta him right away.” He turned.

  Aurora caught his arm, stilling his movement. “It’s for you.”

  Startled, Bruno looked down at the fabric. It was an embroidered sun with a curl of blonde hair sewn into the center. He gasped and his face melted into an emotion Aurora couldn’t read. He ran his fingers delicately, reverently over the strand of hair. “M’lady,” he whispered. He lifted his head and there was gratitude shining in his eyes. His gaze shifted to her hair.

  She brushed the errant strand back, tucking it beneath her ear.

  His mouth dropped open in shock. “Yer hair.”

  Aurora shrugged. “It will grow back. I thought it would better serve you in the dark.”

  He nodded and bowed his head. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick.

  Aurora laid a hand upon his large arm. “You are very welcome.” She looked down the hallway. “Now, will you open the cell for me?”

  Bruno lifted his head and opened his mouth as if to tell her something.

  Before he could say a word, a man moved down the hallway into the torchlight.

  Aurora’s heart stopped. She felt a moment of panic sweep through her. “Gawyn.”

  “Lady Aurora,” Gawyn greeted with a small smile on his lips.

  For a moment, Aurora could only stare, a million questions racing through her mind. What was he doing here? Did he know why she was here? Would he tell Damien? Her heart hammered in her chest.

  “What are you doing down here?” Gawyn asked. The grin never left his lips.

  She was certain he knew why she was here. She lifted her chin slightly and forced her unease down. “I could ask you the same.”

  “I have business here. But I can’t see that you would.”

  Aurora moved forward quickly, grabbing his arm tightly. “I’d like to speak to you in private for a moment.”

  Gawyn glanced at Rupert and Bruno. The two men moved to the other side of the room.

  “You can’t tell him,” Aurora whispered.

  Gawyn smiled full out, his white teeth glimmering in the torchlight. “I don’t imagine he would be pleased.”

  “Gawyn,” Aurora pleaded, “Tobias is my family now too. I have every right –”

  “Tobias? So it’s Tobias now? This isn’t the first time you’ve been down here. Sneaky little mouse.”

  “Gawyn!”

  His gazed scanned her face, as if weighing his options. His brown eyes held amusement at the situation, but Aurora was anything but pleased.

  “Please,” she whispered, her fingers squeezing his arm.

  Gawyn sighed softly. “I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for beautiful women.” He nodded. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Relief filled her and she leaned forward to brush a kiss against his cheek. She turned to go, but Gawyn caught her arm.

  When she looked at him, the amusement and laughter were gone and he was completely serious. “Remember what kind of man Tobias is. He will say and do anything to hurt Damien. He doesn’t love him. And he is not to be trusted.”

  The way he said it, the matter of fact tone of his voice, caused an inkling of anxiety to run across Aurora’s shoulders. She nodded.

  He released her arm and bowed slightly. “Good day, m’lady.”

  “Thank you, Gawyn,” Aurora said. She watched him walk up the stairs until darkness swallowed him. Both he and Damien hated their father. And she really couldn't blame them. Not after the life they led with him, not after what he had done to them. Still, she couldn’t imagine hating any member of her family with so much vehemence. Even after everything her mother had done, she didn’t hate her. She couldn’t. She was her mother. She might not understand her, but she could never hate her.

  Aurora turned to Bruno and he stepped forward.

  “This way, m’lady,” Bruno said and led the way down the hallway of cells.

  Aurora noticed the large guard still held the fabric in one of his large hands, the other reached for the keys at his belt as he paused before the door. He unlocked it as Captain Rupert came up behind her with a torch. Bruno opened the door and held it as Aurora stepped inside. Rupert followed her into the cell.

  Light washed over the dirt floor and onto Tobias. He lifted dark eyes to look at her. His hair fell forward into his eyes, greasy and unkempt. “You came back.”

  Aurora nodded. “I told you I would.”

  “Are you here to free me?”

  Guilt squeezed Aurora’s heart and she looked away. “Unfortunately, no.”

  Tobias grunted softly. “Even you cannot soften his heart.”

  Aurora ignored his comment and glanced around the cell. “Are you being treated fairly?”

  “You mean are the guards beating me?”

  “No. My men do not beat prisoners.”

  “Really?” A chuckle sounded from deep in his throat. “You should have heard the screams coming from the other cell just before you arrived.”

  Aurora glanced at Captain Rupert. He averted his gaze to the floor where he moved dust around with the toe of his boot.

  “You don’t know much for being lady of the castle,” Tobias chuckled. “Although I suspect this is Damien’s doing.”

  She stepped forward. “Do not talk about my future husband like that,” she chastised. “You don’t know him. And I suspect you never have.”

  Tobias’s eyebrows rose. Then, he bowed his head. “Forgive an old man, m’lady. Past habits die hard.” He coughed.

  “And what habits might those be? To degrade your son?”

  He shook his head, but began coughing again. “I’m sorry,” he said when the spasm subsided. “It’s chilly in the dungeon. And one as old as I –” Another onset of coughs racked his body, doubling him over.

  Aurora bent to her knees beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. The quakes shook his entire body. She glanced over her shoulder at Rupert. “Tell Bruno to fetch a blanket.” She looked back at Tobias. “I’ll have my cousin bring you a warm cup of tea.”

  Tobias nodded as the coughs continued.

  Aurora’s worried gaze moved over him. He was sick and it was no wonder, being held in this damp, cold place. She stroked his shoulder comfortingly. She would get him out of there.

  Aurora sat at the head table. Beside her, Damien’s chair remained empty. Worry made her scan the Great Hall. Where was he? With only two days left before the wedding, Acquitaine was full of people. Some knights had even set up camp just outside of the castle walls. The Great Hall was overflowing with festive guests. A juggler twirled small sacks in the air to the delight of the crowd near the rear of the hall. The servants scurried about the large hall, serving the pig and deer. A gale of laughter erupted from the middle of the hall. Just before her, a troubadour sang of courtly love.

  “Lady?”

  Aurora turned her head to see Duke Humphrey looking at her. His old eyes were filled with sympathy. She sighed softly. “I’m terribly sorry. I was listening to the troubadour.”

  He patted her hand. “Not looking for your future husband?”

  She bowed her head. “Truth be told, it would be nice to have him at my side.”

  “Do not fret,” the old Duke said kindly.
“I’m sure he will be here. Nothing could keep me away if you were my betrothed.”

  Aurora grinned kindly, dropping her gaze demurely. “Thank you.”

  The troubadour began a rousing rendition of the love story he was telling and Aurora lifted her gaze to him. Over his shoulder, Aurora spotted Damien as he entered the Great Hall, tall and imposing. The Countess Margaret was on his arm, speaking to him, smiling. Damien was listening to her, bent over to hear what she had to say. Damien lifted his eyes to hers and she quickly turned away to look at the Duke who was watching her. For the first time in her life, she couldn’t hide her emotions. There was no veil to shield the raw emotions of betrayal slithering through her mind and her body.

  The Duke shifted his gaze from her to the aisle and back. His gaze scanned her face.

  She did everything in her power to push her swirling emotions down, but jealousy was a horrible monster and she felt her throat closing around misgivings.

  “Would you like me to escort you to your room?” the Duke asked.

  Aurora nodded. Together, they stood.

  He took her hand and tucked it beneath his arm. They started toward the aisle, but Aurora was not prepared to see Damien right then and steered him toward the kitchens and the back exit.

  They walked in silence, through the smoky kitchen, through the shouts of the servants and the hurried cooks. They emerged into the hallway and fresh air.

  Aurora took a deep breath.

  “Are you all right?” the Duke wondered.

  She nodded and pushed an errant strand of hair from her forehead. “Thank you,” she whispered and released his arm. “I don’t want to keep you from the meal. I can find my way from here.”

  “It really is not a problem. The food will be there when I return.”

  “Very well.” She agreed and took his arm again. They walked through the hallway.

  “You have many visitors here.”

  Aurora nodded.

  “It is the duty of the lord and lady to be host to all.” He placed a hand over her arm. “Perhaps what you imagine is not what you saw.”

  Aurora considered his words with a slight scowl.

  “Lady Aurora. You must truly love Sir Damien. And from what I’ve seen, he adores you. He has eyes only for you. Don’t let your imaginings put your mind at doubt.”

  She nodded. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps there was an explanation for why Damien had the countess on his arm, why he warned her to stay away from them and then escorted the beautiful countess to the meal. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. They reached her door and the Duke said goodbye. He pressed his lips to her knuckles. Before she entered her room, she noticed Gawyn watching her from down the hall.

  “This isn’t usually a place I frequent. A woman of my stature –”

  “Margaret,” Damien warned in a soft voice, leading her down the stairway to the dungeon. “We made a deal. I’ve upheld my part.” He didn’t like this anymore than she did. It wasn’t an appropriate place for her. For any woman, for that matter.

  “How do you know I won’t lie?”

  “I have been around you enough in the past to know what type of woman you are.”

  Margaret laughed quietly, her voice echoing off the walls. “You are right, of course.”

  They reached the bottom and a large man stepped forward. Margaret pulled back. Damien leaned toward her. “Nothing will hurt you here. I won’t let it.”

  Margaret patted his arm and straightened. “I know you won’t. And that is why I am here. The only reason.”

  “Lead the way, Bruno,” Damien said.

  Bruno turned, grabbed a torch off the wall and fumbled with the keys in his hand as he led them toward the cells. He stopped before a cell, unlocked it and opened the door. He had to duck to step inside.

  Damien followed him in and Margaret came last.

  The man was chained to the wall, his arms stretched out over his head. Blood ran from his hand where there was a finger missing. There were a few bruises on the knight’s face, but Damien was pleased Gawyn had not marred his features and left him unrecognizable. The knight lifted his face, and he grimaced at Damien before his gaze slid to Margaret. The defiance evaporated and fear widened his eyes.

  “Margaret?” Damien asked.

  Margaret stepped forward and hovered over him for a moment.

  Damien looked the knight over. One boot was off and his foot was bloodied. He knew Gawyn would have used limbs in his torture to extract information, but even that had not worked.

  “Yes,” Margaret whispered.

  The knight’s lip curled in contempt.

  She lifted her chin. “I know him.”

  Damien drew her quickly from the knight and back out into the hallway. She was a woman of vast influence and even vaster sexual appetite. She had lain with many men. He had hoped she would recognize the knight, and in turn he could discover who his lord was. “You are certain?”

  “Oh, yes. He is Count Ormand’s brother.”

  Damien’s teeth slowly grit. Ormand. He had been betrothed to Aurora until he tried to compromise her and force his hand. Damien had arrived just in time to stop him from laying a hand on her. He nodded and led Margaret back down the hallway.

  Bruno locked the cell door after them.

  Damien turned to Bruno as Margaret waited in the stairway. He opened his mouth to give last minute orders, when something caught his eye. Lying on the table, was a beautifully embroidered sun. Damien walked the two paces to it and picked it up. He ran his thumb over the silken blonde curl in the center.

  Chapter Eight

  Aurora hadn’t expected to fall asleep. She had just come to her room to think. But when she awoke, it was dark and the rays of the moon shone in through the open window. A cold breeze blew in, making her shiver. She had fallen asleep in the chair near the window. She looked down to see her legs were covered by a blanket. She hadn’t done that.

  “I didn’t want to wake you.”

  Aurora jumped, even though she recognized the voice. She sighed and sat back in the chair, trying to still her heart.

  “You left the meal early.”

  “Hmm,” she agreed.

  “Are you feeling all right?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” She didn’t hear his footsteps, but sensed his presence right behind her.

  “You barely ate.”

  “I was waiting for you.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “I had work to attend to. I’m sorry I was late.”

  “You say that a lot lately.”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and she stiffened, drawing herself up. His fingers expertly massaged her shoulders, rubbing the rigidity from them. She melted beneath the ministrations and leaned back into his touch, bowing her head so he could run his thumbs up and down her neck.

  He leaned over her, and said softly, “The knight in the hallway. The one sword fighting. The one who cut me. He is the brother of Count Ormand.”

  Aurora tilted her head to the side. “Ormand?”

  “He has never been happy with our union. Perhaps his brother was meant to deliver much more than a wedding gift.”

  She scowled as Damien pressed a kiss to her neck. He continued running his hands through her hair, loosening the ties, releasing her locks. “An assassin?”

  “I think it was more of an attempt to stop the marriage. I think his brother became too excited and tipped his hand early. I think he was meant to –”

  “Object at the wedding,” Aurora finished.

  “Rupert has been alerted, and Gawyn is keeping an eye out.”

  Damien was right. Ormand had never wanted them to be together. He was jealous of Damien and had tried to compromise her before. She had been betrothed to Ormand up until that point, but she had never loved him. “What will you do with him?”

  Damien's fingers worked their way through her long hair. “Banish him.”

  Aurora was quiet, considering. There really was nothing else t
hey could do.

  “After our wedding, I will have him escorted from Acquitaine. Just like your father did with Ormand.”

  Aurora nodded, but a small dark part of her felt it wasn't enough. Not for injuring Damien. Ormand's brother should be hung from the highest rafter, drawn and quartered.

  “I could keep him locked in the dungeon. But your father was a wise ruler. I figured I'd follow his example.” He paused. “But if either of them enter Acquitaine again, they will not be leaving.”

  The tone of his voice sent a shiver through her. She bowed her head. She had to agree with him. If they dared to enter Acquitaine again, the punishment would have to be severe.

  Damien’s finger found and twirled the lock of hair that was shorter than the rest. “What happened here?”

  Aurora shrugged. “I told you before I didn’t know.”

  Damien’s hands stopped touching her and he withdrew. “You’re sure?”

  Tingles of trepidation shot down her spine, but she nodded.

  “Because I found it.” He placed her embroidery of the sun with the strand of her hair on her lap. “You’ve been to the dungeon.”

  She stared at the embroidery.

  “To speak with my father.”

  She swiveled in the chair to face him, but Damien was a mere shadow. She couldn’t see his face. “He is sick.”

  “Good.”

  “Damien!” she chastised. “He is old! You can’t keep him in the dungeon!”

  “There’s no better place for him. But I told you that. And I told you to stay away from him. You said you would.”

  She looked down, taking the embroidery in her hands. “I never should have.”

  “No. What did he tell you?”

  She lifted her chin. “Perhaps you should speak to him if you want to know.”

  Damien came around before her. “I am asking you.”

  She shook her head. “Nothing. I think he is waiting for you.”

  Damien shook his head and turned to the window to look out. The moonlight washed over him, caressing him in a gentle glow. “I don’t want to see him.”

  Aurora set the embroidery on the chair and stood, coming up behind him. “As lord of Acquitaine, you will have to do things you don’t want to.”