Loving Lies

by Tina Donahue

  She did. When Fernando saw her approach, he stayed close to the priest and discussed the strategy they’d use on her uncle.

  “Fernando, please. Might I have a word with you?”

  He kept his profile to her. “No. The time for talk has passed. Return to the others.”

  “Please, I need to speak with you.”

  "No.” He turned in his saddle and glared at her. “Do as I say.”

  When she tried to speak, Fernando muttered an Arabic oath and rode ahead, gesturing for the priest to follow. As the space between them grew, she had no choice except to return to his brothers.

  * * * *

  Fernando wanted the matter with Don Rodrigo settled as quickly as possible. Only then would Isabella trust their future.

  As he and the priest rode side by side, the sacerdote boasted how he could cow even the Devil. Fernando held back a sigh. “I hear Don Rodrigo may be far worse.”

  The priest clucked his tongue before running it over his thick lips. “We shall see who the better opponent is. I look forward to our meet.”

  “Fernando.” Tomás pointed. “The castle lies ahead.”

  Fernando spoke to the priest. “It would seem the time of reckoning is near.”

  The holy man nodded, prepared to do war.

  * * * *

  As the group came to a halt before reaching the castle walls, Isabella tried to ride to Fernando, but Tomás blocked her with his horse.

  “Not now. Be patient and listen to what your husband has to say.”

  Fernando held up his hand for silence. The men stopped speaking, Wind swept past, dust swirling around the group. The horses whinnied.

  Fernando began, “We will proceed as Tomás and I discussed last night. To avoid bloodshed, a knight and the padre will ride to the gate as the rest of us wait here. It is my belief Don Rodrigo will only believe a message delivered by a holy man, especially since the news is not what he expected to hear. That his niece was rescued in Granada, she is now wed to her betrothed, and she and her husband are here to claim her rightful inheritance. Once Don Rodrigo is informed of this—”

  “Fernando, please.” Isabella couldn’t stop. “Before anyone rides to the gate, I must have a word with you.”

  He ignored her and resumed speaking to the men. “Once Don Rodrigo is informed of—”

  “Brother,” Enrique said. “You best listen to your wife.”

  Fernando glared at him. “Stay out of this. And you…” He turned to Isabella. “This is the last time I intend to tell you the time for talk has passed.” His face flushed with anger and embarrassment at how she undermined his authority.

  The last of Isabella’s hope disappeared. She couldn’t blurt the truth in front of everyone and further humiliate him. What a fool she’d been to let it get this far. Her only hope was once the priest knew the truth he’d pull Fernando aside to deliver the news.

  Enrique leaned toward her. “Tell him now.”

  “Not in front of the others.” She eased her mare away from his and Tomás’s geldings.

  The other men kept their attention on Fernando. He resumed speaking. “Once Don Rodrigo is informed of our arrival he would be a fool to take up arms. Of course, many men are fools. We shall wait to see his response. If he poses no threat, we can continue peacefully to the castle and, once there, make certain the devil confesses to his crimes. Are you ready to leave?” He glanced at the sacerdote.

  The priest peeked at Isabella before he turned to Fernando and nodded.

  Fernando regarded the knights, his face reddened. “Léonard.” He pointed at the man. “Accompany the padre to the gate and castle.”

  The man directed his gelding to the priest. “We should return in an hour.”

  “An hour?” Pedro looked surprised. “The castle is a short distance, the message brief.”

  “And will grate on Don Rodrigo’s ears.” Fernando spoke to the priest and Léonard. “Make certain he hears all of it, in particular the part where his niece and her husband are here to claim the inheritance.”

  “I shall announce it in several languages so he has no chance to misunderstand.”

  Everyone laughed except Isabella and Enrique. Fernando turned from them. “Go.” He gestured the priest and Léonard away. “Make quick work of this if you can.”

  The men rode to the gate, where they stated their business. Minutes later, one of the guards accompanied them to her papá’s castle.

  The stone structure looked different than Isabella recalled, no longer home, because her place was beside Fernando, a man she’d deceived and failed. Events were at last unfolding as they should. Nothing could stop qisma. Soon, the men would oust Don Rodrigo from the castle and return it to Sancha. Fernando would know where his true loyalties should lie. Isabella had never been able to change it.

  Their journey had finally come to an end.

  Enrique seemed to understand it, too. He remained on one side of the group, Isabella on the other as she waited for the end of her future.

  It took less time than Léonard had predicted. Too quickly, he, the priest, the guard, and another man rode toward the gate.

  Chapter 17

  Isabella was certain the new man was her uncle. She gripped her saddle’s horn expecting the worst until he passed the gate. Riding between the sacerdote and Léonard was dear Rupert, her papá’s aged manservant.

  Something was amiss to have brought Rupert here.

  Given Rupert’s astonished expression, he felt the same upon seeing her. “Buenas tardes, señorita.”

  “Señora,” Fernando said. “My esposa.”

  The old servant stared at him.

  “Why are you here?” She dug her nails into the horn. “Where is Don—”

  “Stop, now.” Fernando gave her a harsh stare then turned to Rupert. “Has Don Rodrigo received the message?”

  “No.” The priest and Léonard had answered as one.

  Fernando frowned. “Why not?”

  Rupert looked at her. “Your uncle left.”

  Isabella’s skin crawled. There was very little that could pry her uncle from the castle. “Do you have news of Sancha?”

  “Word came she journeys to the convent.”

  “The convent. How could she?” Isabella felt ill. “The way is not safe.”

  “She just received word of your abduction, señorita—I mean, señora. She wanted to be at the convent when she offered her prayers for your safe return.”

  “Who told her of my—”

  “Wife.” Fernando held up his hand for her to be quiet. “I demand you—”

  “What of my uncle?” Isabella shouted at Rupert. “Does he know about Sancha’s journey?”

  “When he learned of your sister’s intent, he left the castle.”

  “And you allowed him to do so?”

  The man blinked wildly. “Forgive me. We tried all manner of diversions to keep him here. We delayed his departure as long as we could, but he slipped away when no one was watching.”

  “Isabella, no—stop.” Fernando rode to her side. He grabbed her reins before she could fully wheel her horse around.

  She clawed his hand. “My uncle is after Sancha. He means to kill her.”

  “Why? She wants to remain at the convent.”

  “Release me. I have to protect my sister.”

  Fernando uttered an Arabic oath and held her reins as he hollered at the manservant. “Explain to your mistress that her sister will come to no harm at the convent.”

  Rupert’s gaze shot to her then back to Fernando, “I cannot, Patrón.”

  “You can and you will. I order you to do so.”

  “Forgive me, Patrón. You cannot order me to change what is. The señora is correct. Don Rodrigo seeks to destroy Sancha, as she is the eldest. He wants use of her inheritance.”

  * * * *

  Fernando heard Rupert’s words, though what he’d said made no sense. Sancha was the eldes
t? Impossible. He looked at Isabella.

  She tried to pull her reins from him.

  He wouldn’t let her. “Stop it at once. You will never win.”

  Her eyes glistened. Shame flooded her features. “Forgive me.”

  He stared. “Forgive you? What the servant said is true?”

  She recoiled as if he’d struck her.

  Fernando gritted his teeth. “Answer me.”

  Around them, the men were quiet. Most glanced away.

  Isabella tugged her reins. “Please, allow me to go to my sister. After I assure her safety, I will explain all.”

  “Explain all? What would that be? That your sister is the eldest and she, not you, is my betrothed?”

  “I never intended for matters to get this far. I knew my uncle was after Sancha. To outwit him I took her place on the journey to the convent. When you rescued me, I worried about her safety. I only wanted to protect her, and so I lied. I never expected to fall in love with you. Once I had, I was ashamed at what I had done. I knew you would quit me. I was unable to bear—”

  “The truth?” the priest said. He turned to Fernando. “The marriage is a fraud easily annulled. You owe this woman nothing. She tricked you into wedding her.”

  Fernando stared at Isabella. He expected her to look different somehow, to make his blood run cold, yet his mind kept recalling the first moment he’d seen her in the marketplace. Not only had her beauty humbled him, her courage and fire had entranced. Now, he saw her fear and shame.

  He glanced at his brothers and the knights surrounding them. The men averted their gazes. Tomás and Pedro wouldn’t look him in the eye. Only Enrique did. His expression was sad, pitying his younger brother.

  Fernando turned to him. “You knew. You called her Sancha because you knew. She feared you because of that.”

  Enrique’s face turned scarlet.

  The priest glared at him. “You confirmed the betrothal, convincing me no impediment stood in the way of the union. How dare you. Are you working in concert with this woman?”

  “Quiet.” Enrique dismissed the priest with a flick of his hand, his gaze on Fernando. “Say nothing more, brother, that you may someday regret.”

  Fernando turned to the manservant. “How far is the convent?”

  “Why?” Isabella asked.

  “How far?”

  “A little more than a day’s ride, Patrón.”

  “When did Don Rodrigo depart?” Fernando asked.

  “We noticed him missing shortly before your arrival.”

  “And the señorita. When did she begin her journey?”

  “I have no knowledge of the exact time. However, given the route she must take, she has yet to arrive.”

  “With our uncle pursuing her she will never arrive.” Isabella turned to Fernando. “No matter what you think of me, I must save my sister. I beg of you, release my reins.”

  He ignored her and spoke to his younger brothers. “We shall ride to the convent and intercept Don Rodrigo.” He turned to Rupert. “Escort my—”

  Fernando stopped before he used the word wife. Isabella was his esposa. She’d agreed to their union, but why?

  From the moment he’d rescued her in Granada, she’d spoken only in riddles. As he recalled her words, what she’d said finally made sense. She’d traded her flesh for her sister’s. She wed him to save Sancha. She lied to him to protect the woman. She was his wife out of duty to another, not because she’d wanted it.

  His chest tensed, making it hard for him to breathe.

  He turned to Rupert. “See to the safety of your mistress and her pup. Escort both to the castle.”

  “No. Fernando, please. I need to go with you.”

  He couldn’t look at her. “Make certain your mistress remains here.”

  “I will not.” She tried to push his hands away from her reins. “Sancha is my sister.”

  He hit his fist against his thigh. “She was my betrothed.”

  Isabella’s blush deepened, yet she wasn’t cowed. “Sancha is my blood and I will see to her safety. Nothing you do will stop me.”

  Tomás rode closer. “Allow Isabella to join us.”

  “Please,” Pedro said.

  Fernando looked at his brothers. They were concerned about a woman who’d played him for a fool, rather than the man whose blood they shared. So be it. “If she accompanies us, she is your concern. Her safety lies in your hands.”

  Fernando released Isabella’s reins and rode away.

  * * * *

  If there had been any hope for their future with a confession made in private, none remained now. She had betrayed him in the worst possible way and held him up to ridicule in front of his brothers and these men. He was a proud warrior. He’d risked his life to save her. He had freely given his heart, and she’d brought him naught except shame.

  Holding back tears, she delivered Diego to Rupert’s tender care then prodded her mare to follow Fernando. She left the others behind, though not for long. Tomás and Pedro easily caught up, making certain she was between them, protected from harm.

  Their kindness overwhelmed her. The sobs she’d resisted before racked her now.

  * * * *

  The group rode hard for hours and might have continued until nightfall if not for the horses requiring rest and nourishment. During this, Tomás and Pedro remained with Isabella, offering what comfort they could as Fernando kept his distance.

  She paced, driven by her worry for Sancha and her continuing despair over Fernando.

  “You must rest and eat,” Pedro said.

  She shook her head. “I have no right to either. I deserve your contempt for betraying your brother.”

  “Nonsense.” Tomás paced in time with her. “You had to protect your sister, who will come to no harm, as we shall all see to her safety. As far as Fernando is concerned, how were you to know you would fall in love with our idiot brother?”

  She stopped and frowned. “He is not an idiot. Use the word again at your own peril.”

  Pedro leaned toward Tomás. “Take care or Isabella may run you through as she did the fingerless man.”

  “And I would deserve it. But that hardly addresses Fernando’s refusal to hear her out.” He faced her. “Trust me, he will come to his senses. He always does.”

  Not this time. “Has a woman ever betrayed him?”

  The brothers exchanged a glance. Pedro lifted his shoulders. “It was always Fernando who betrayed women with claims of love he hardly meant. Of course, none of those women were as lovely or as worthy as you.”

  Tomás wiggled his eyebrows. “Fernando has never been in love before. I understand it is hard work.”

  Isabella laughed through her tears. “The hardest.”

  “Come now, nothing is lost.” Tomás gathered her close. “When my brother sees how I comfort you, he is sure to take his rightful place at your side.”

  Isabella sorely wished for such an outcome, yet Fernando remained away.

  * * * *

  He kept his head lowered and his arms crossed over his chest as he reclined against the trunk of a cork tree. He wanted to kill Tomás for embracing Isabella but made no move to do so.

  When he glanced away, several knights greeted him with polite nods before quickly averting their gazes. The priest started toward him next. Fernando clenched his jaw. The holy man paused and made a wide circle around him before hurrying to a group of bushes.

  Again, Fernando lowered his head and warned himself not to watch Isabella yet couldn’t help himself. She paced with his brothers following close behind, speaking to her, no doubt trying to console. Isabella wrung her hands. As Pedro and Tomás exchanged worried glances, she looked at Fernando.

  His heart pounded. He wanted to go to her but couldn’t. He needed to believe in her love but didn’t know if her feelings were the full truth or whether they also contained lies. She’d said she wanted his child. It had to be a done deal. Why? Becau
se she feared it would be all she’d have if he quit her, or because it might keep him from claiming Sancha?

  Fernando turned away before she approached. He strode past the others and came upon Enrique unexpectedly. As Fernando started to pass, Enrique blocked his way. “The girl loves you. Be grateful for what she feels.”

  He squeezed his fists. “Be grateful for the truth at last or more lies?”

  “She told me she would have no one except you.”

  “She told me she would trade her flesh for her sister’s to save Sancha from wedding a man she found repulsive.”

  Enrique smiled. “Though Sancha finds you repulsive, Isabella adores you.”

  “How dare you act on her behalf, keeping her secret and allowing the marriage to take place.”

  “Would you have listened to me had I told you the truth?”

  Fernando’s fingers hurt he squeezed them so tightly. He stepped back. “Did it amuse you to see your brother being made the fool, or was it your plan to take Sancha for your own so you might command even greater wealth than you already possess?”

  Despite the insult, Enrique remained calm. “I chose not to tell you what you should have known on your own because I care greatly for your happiness.”

  “Do I appear content?”

  “Your pride has been bruised, and now you question everything between you and Isabella. Forget the past. There is only one truth. It was on your face and hers when I first saw you together. Never have I known any man or woman to be so in love. You have no idea how I envy you.”

  “Even now? Would you care to take my place?”

  “And risk Isabella’s fury as she wants only you? She should have told you long before now. For days, she tried to reveal the truth. I saw how she struggled. Were you blind to her anguish?”

  Fernando looked past Enrique, recalling her behavior during those times when she said they couldn’t wed, that he might love another woman someday.

  “You were blind,” Enrique said. “She did try to tell you. Now you blame her and me? None of this would have happened if you had given her a chance to speak rather than using her solely for your pleasure.”