The Traitor's Daughter

by Munday, April

  Alais felt a hand on her elbow. Something was wrong, or Edmund would not be touching her. There was a cup of wine in her hand. She gulped it down and the room steadied.

  “My lady?” Edmund’s concern was clear. She blinked. What was she supposed to be doing? With an almost deafening roar she heard again the moans and screams of the wounded. That was it; she was caring for the wounded.

  She drew a deep breath. “We must begin with the ones with the worst injuries.”

  Edmund nodded, but his expression did not change. He looked towards the passage along which Hugh had disappeared, but said nothing further.

  Alais began to feel light-headed again, but this time she knew it was the wine. She made herself pay attention to the wounded. Gradually the servants began to appear from where they had been hiding during the fighting and Alais told them what she needed them to do. They were unwilling at first. It was only a few hours since she had been their lord’s prisoner, a woman whose remaining lifespan could be counted in hours. Now they did not take kindly to her orders. Alais did what she could without their assistance, which was little. Edmund berated the servants, but they paid him no attention. Since he had been told to stay with her, she knew there was no point asking him to go and fetch things for her. He would refuse to leave her alone and it would do no good for the servants to see that even Edmund refused to obey her. Grimly, she set off with Edmund to the still-room, but the door was locked. It had not been locked before, even though she had told Marguerite that it contained poisons and begged her to lock it. They tried the doors to other rooms, with the same result – they were all locked.

  “I need things from the still-room,” she told Edmund when she could do no more with water and cloths. “We must find Hugh and get his help.” But she saw that Edmund was paying her no attention.

  “My lady!” Edmund threw her to the floor. Alais became aware of someone screaming and she was relieved to discover that it was not her. She managed to sit up, although Edmund left her little room to do so. She was squeezed between his body and the wall.

  “Get off me, Edmund.” Edmund complied and Alais eased herself to her feet. She was shaking again. Edmund had drawn his sword and was standing between her and Marguerite. Hugh’s sister was screaming and brandishing a dagger, trying to get past Edmund to her.

  “You killed him.”

  Alais could not imagine what she meant. She had not killed Richard, but Marguerite certainly seemed to be trying to attack her and not Edmund.

  “You killed Stephen.”

  Alais was surprised at the depth of hatred in Marguerite’s voice. Nonetheless, she tried to reason with her. “He was going to kill me.”

  “Stephen would not kill anyone. You killed him.” Marguerite voiced Alais’ own fears, but she still found herself defending her actions.

  “He held me over the steps with a knife to my throat. He told me that he was going to kill me. I did not want to die.”

  “Give me the knife, Marguerite.” Alais had not seen Hugh approach, but she did not shift her attention from Marguerite, who had not moved.

  “I will kill you,” she screamed and took a step towards Alais.

  “Marguerite, if I must hurt you to save Lady Alais, I will do so.” Hugh spoke quietly, but there could be no mistaking his intent. Marguerite did not seem to understand and took another step. Alais barely saw Hugh move, but Marguerite was quickly disarmed. She slumped to the floor, sobbing.

  Hugh bent down and helped her to lean against one of the tables on which the wounded were being laid.

  “You will leave this place tomorrow with your children and the body of your husband and you will return to his estate. I never want to see you here again.” Alais was surprised at the anger in his voice. Marguerite was distraught and Alais bore her no malice for her attempt at revenge. She did not know what she would do if she came face to face with her mother’s killer.

  “This is my home,” Marguerite pleaded.

  “Not any longer. You have your children’s future to think of now. I will not punish you for what Richard has done, but you would be wise to do as I say.” Hugh called the steward over to him, “Take my sister to her room and ensure that she does not leave. In the morning you can provide servants to help her pack.” The man nodded and led Marguerite away.

  “Thank you, my lord.” Alais’ voice was unsteady and she was still shaking. Hugh gathered her into his arms and held her. When she started to sob he held her closer and smoothed her hair. This was what she had wanted, what she had needed and missed all this time.

  “You are safe now, Alais. I should not have left you alone, but you have been so strong.” She felt him kiss the top of her head. He sighed and tightened his hold on her. “Oh, my Alais, I am so sorry,” he whispered. She barely heard the words and did not understand what he was apologising for. He was here, holding her and nothing else mattered. After a while she had regained her control and Hugh loosened his hold on her. She stepped away from him.

  “Thank you, my lord, I am quite recovered.” He did not seem to notice the lie and she was grateful.

  “You must be exhausted.” He stretched out a hand and brushed her tears away. “I will have some food brought soon. Do you need anything?”

  “The servants’ cooperation and the key to the still-room. It is locked.”

  Hugh frowned. “It was never locked before.”

  “Many rooms that were not locked during my last stay here are now locked.”

  The steward had returned and Hugh asked him who had the keys.

  “Lady Katherine, my lord.”

  “Then bring her here, please.”

  The steward bowed and left to do Hugh’s bidding.

  Unlike everyone else, Katherine did not seem to be affected by the fighting or its outcome. Stephen and Richard must have arranged for the women to be doing something by themselves away from the men. Alais could not remember having seen any of them earlier in the evening.

  Katherine did not seem happy to be brought amongst the dead and dying. Hugh saw her distaste. “I am surprised, Lady Katherine, that you were not already here helping with the wounded.”

  “Sadly, I do not posses healing skills,” she replied with a small smile, lowering her eyes demurely.

  “You do not need great skill to bandage or wash a wound,” Hugh replied tartly. “But I wish to discuss something else with you. I understand that my father gave you the keys to this house.”

  “Yes, my lord. Since I am to be your wife, he saw no reason to wait before I took on all my responsibilities.”

  “We will pass over your misunderstanding regarding my marital intentions for the moment, although I promise you that we will deal with it later. Please give me the keys.” Alais had never seen Hugh’s face so hard.

  “I can open any door you wish.” Katherine’s hand made no move towards the keys hanging from her belt.

  “You do not understand. I want the keys.” Hugh’s voice grew quieter and a wiser woman than Katherine would have been afraid of his anger.

  Katherine grew red as she gave in to her own anger. “Why, my lord? I am to be your wife. Why should I not retain the keys?”

  “You are not to be my wife. Give me the keys.”

  At last, Katherine moved and slowly detached the keys. Once he had the keys, Hugh called the steward to his side. “Watch,” he said, “and make sure that all my people here know what I do.” He turned to Alais and held out the keys. “Lady Alais, I give you the keys to my house. I also give you the charge of my household servants.”

  Alias felt herself go pale, but managed to reach out and take the keys from Hugh. “Thank you, my lord,” she mumbled, curtseying to hide her confusion.

  “I know you will be a good guardian of my home.” Hugh smiled at her and she nodded, unsure what to do. “You wanted something from the still-room?” hinted Hugh.

  “Yes, my lord. Come, Edmund.” She was glad to leave the hall and find something else to do. She did not want to hear what pass
ed between Hugh and Katherine.

  Alais was very tired by the time the servant came to her to invite her to what was now Hugh’s solar. Edmund left her at the door.

  “You have no more need of me this night, my lady?”

  “No. Thank you, Edmund, for everything.”

  “I have done little.”

  “I believe you have saved my life. I do not consider that a small thing.”

  “Neither do I, my lady.”

  He bowed low and turned away. Alais opened the door and stepped into the room. Hugh was standing by the table. He smiled when he saw her, then the smile disappeared. “My lady, you look so tired. I should have sent you to bed much sooner.”

  Now that she had stopped working, she did feel tired and hungry. It was still dark, so it was not yet morning, but she felt that dawn was not far off. They had left the last inn early the morning before and had had a strenuous ride before they had come to the manor house and she had not eaten since she had broken her fast at the inn.

  “There was much to be done, my lord.”

  “But you did not have to do it.”

  “Unlike Katherine,” she smiled, “I do have healing skills and I do not consider it a waste to use them.”

  Hugh had crossed the room and now stood by her. “I am grateful for all you have done, this night and before.”

  Alais had no words, so contented herself with looking at him. Hugh turned away and took a few paces, then turned back to her.

  “Come, sit down and eat.” Alais sat, but Hugh continued to pace.

  “You are troubled, my lord?”

  He turned to face her. “I thought we had done with that long ago.”

  “This night has changed much.” Now she belonged nowhere. She had not married her betrothed husband and must return to Leigh, knowing that no other man could stand so much in the king’s favour that he could risk marrying her even to gain Leigh. Hugh sat beside her and took her hand in his, searching in her eyes for something so that she could not look away.

  “Has it changed you, my Alais?”

  Alais considered for a moment what she should say. “Yes, my lord, for I am no longer your father’s wife.”

  Hugh’s gaze wavered for a moment and she knew he must want to look away, but he did not. “I must know, my love, and there is no way round it, but to ask you. Did my father… did he… was the marriage consummated?”

  Alais shook her head, afraid of what might happen if she spoke.

  Hugh took a deep breath, “Then I must be bold. You can be in no doubt but that I love you.” His voice shook, but she doubted it was due to any uncertainty about his feelings. He had expressed them often enough. Then she understood. He was to marry Katherine and was asking her to be his mistress.

  Alais shook her head again. Hugh looked at her intently and began to chew his lip. “I know that this is not an appropriate time to ask, but is it possible that you could feel something for me?”

  Alais nodded.

  Hugh looked even more worried. “I would marry you if you would have me.”

  Alais exhaled heavily and smiled with relief. “Of course.”

  A brief smile lifted Hugh’s lips.

  “But the king…” she added.

  The smile disappeared. “You see the difficulty. The king must give permission for you to wed and it is not likely that he will allow me to marry the woman who was once betrothed to my father.”

  Alais lowered her head, only for it to be raised up by Hugh. “There is a way,” he said, “and I suggest it only because I dare to believe that you love me as I love you.”

  “I love you. I have loved you these many weeks, but how could I tell you?”

  Hugh stroked her cheek. “I know. I was needlessly cruel to you and I beg your forgiveness.”

  Alais caught his hand and kissed his palm. “You are forgiven.”

  Hugh stood again, leaving his hand in Alais’. “You may not forgive me for what I say now, but I must say it.” He swallowed and she felt him grip her hand tightly. “There is a way that we can be married without the king’s permission. I can abduct you, seduce you, marry you and pay the king a fine if he refuses to give his permission.”

  Alais considered what Hugh was saying. It was a dangerous course of action and could put Hugh out of the king’s favour.

  “It will be a large fine. You are a wealthy man and the king is at war.”

  “The fine is nothing.” Hugh dismissed it with his free hand.

  “Then why are you so worried?”

  “Because what I am proposing would ruin your reputation.”

  “I thought you were abducting me. I will, of course, fight you if you attempt to do so. Oh.”

  “Indeed. There are many alive who saw you stick a dagger into my brother. They will wonder how such a woman could be abducted. In other circumstances I would gladly bear the scars from such a fight, but I will have enough trouble controlling Liss without having to lie abed recovering from the wounds you would have to inflict on me.”

  There was a knock at the door and Alais dropped his hand. Hugh called out and a servant entered. “My lady’s bath is ready.”

  “Thank you.” The servant left and Hugh turned to Alais, “I thought you would like a bath before you sleep.”

  Alais did not reply, lost in thought. At last she smiled and looked up at Hugh. “No one is armed when they bathe.”

  “This is a serious matter, my Alais. I am asking you to help me relieve you of your maidenhead.”

  Alais became serious again. She took his hand again. “Hugh, I can see no other way. You are bruised enough that we need do no more. I have never been attended when I bathe here, nor have I locked the door.”

  Hugh carried her hand to his lip, “Then I will marry you tomorrow.”

  Hugh took her arm and led her up to his own bedchamber. “I thought you would prefer not to return to my father’s room tonight.” Hugh held the door open and followed her into the room. There was a large fire in the hearth and a bath steamed in front of it. A young servant girl stood beside it. “Thank you,” said Alais, before Hugh could say anything. “I can manage myself, you can leave us.” The girl curtsied and slipped past them through the open door. Alais closed it softly behind her and turned back to Hugh. He looked down at her, his tired face relaxing into a smile.

  He caught her to him and bent his face close to hers. He hesitated. Alais smiled up at him, “It will not hurt me if you kiss me. The ointment has begun its work.” Hugh needed no more encouragement. He covered her mouth with his own and she sighed her delight. The kiss was more than she could have hoped for. Despite her protests, Hugh was careful of her wound and his tongue gently teased her lips open. Once inside her mouth he explored carefully until she increased the pressure on his lips. Then he threw caution to the winds and gave way to his passion. When he finally pulled away Alais could feel blood on her lip again, but she did not care.

  She looked over at the bath and then took the keys from her waist. She knew which one locked the door to Hugh’s room and turned it in the lock. Turning away from him, she began to remove her clothes. Her hands shook as she untied the laces and she hoped that she would not break the precious buttons on Hugh’s tunic.

  “That will not do,” said Hugh gently. “As your abductor, I should rip your clothes.”

  She turned back to face him.

  “You forget. You are to come on me in my bath when I cannot defend myself. Perhaps you should rip your clothes.”

  Hugh looked down at his travel-stained clothes, washed by Edwina and repaired by Alais during the weeks in Southwark. Then he pulled at his tunic with his hands so that it tore. He dropped it on the floor and pulled his undershirt over his head.

  Finally unable to stop herself, Alais reached out a hand and placed the palm on his chest.

  Hugh growled. “You are too eager, my lady,” he said and Alais pulled her hand away.

  “And you are not?” she teased him.

  “I am very eager,
” he replied, bending down and pulling off his hose. Alais followed his actions with her eyes and swallowed.

  “Yes,” she agreed, “I can see that you are. I should get into the bath so that I will not have to fight you off now.”

  She did not turn her back on him again, but quickly removed the rest of her clothes. Until she was completely naked, Hugh held her gaze for a while, then he raked her body with his hungry eyes. He seemed satisfied with what he saw and Alais turned to the bath.

  The warmth of the bath eased away the tension she had not realised she felt as she ducked under to wet her hair. As she surfaced she saw that Hugh had moved to the side of the bath. She ran her soapy hands along her body feeling the warmth ease away the tiredness she had felt. Her nipples ached and she rubbed a hand across her breasts, dropping her head back in response to the unexpected sensation.

  “My lady!”

  Alais returned her attention to Hugh, who had dropped to his knees beside her, his eyes black with desire.

  “You are eager for your own bath, my lord,” she said, nimbly evading the hand that snaked out towards a breast. She smiled at him and stood up in the bath, “Then hurry, my lord.”

  “You will not escape so easily next time.”

  “I do not expect to wish to escape… next time.”

  He took her place in the bath as she began to dry herself. She followed his hands with her eyes as he soaped the body that had become so familiar to her. She had watched him grow stronger as he had wrestled and trained with Edmund. He had regained much of his weight and strength, but he was not the same man who had left Liss in October. The strain of the weeks with his father at court and the two battles he had fought showed on his face. It had not yet been eased by the knowledge that she loved him. Hugh soaped himself leisurely and she felt herself grow warmer as she watched.