Lady Deception

by Rizzo Rosko

It did not help matters when he laughed at her, but she preferred that to the stony expression he gazed at her with before. He finally stopped to rub the glee from his face, though his eyes were still alight with mirth. "My love, I can assure ye that everything was to my satisfaction, and as I recall, to yers as well."

  No. Her body could not be the color of his hair, not if he made her feel this sort of humiliation. Her body was as hot as the sun.

  "Do ye not recall?" He prodded with a grin.

  He would not rest until she gave him what he wished for. The satisfaction of reminding her of her voice as it wailed loudly into the night while he toyed with her body. "I recall, aye," she muttered.

  He took her hand again, his fingers weaving through hers. Eliza's body melted now that his anger seemed to vanish.

  "Now," He pulled her closer to his body, though he did not lead her towards the door. "Let us forget about music for now. Ye seem in good health now, and I'd enjoy myself perfectly well by making music with ye."

  ***

  Hours later, after he’d come down from the heights of lust, the memory of his wife’s bargain outside the chapel came back to him.

  He extracted himself from her arms and took a moment to gaze down at her sleeping form. The pleasures of the bed did seem to make her need her rest. How was it that he could be taken in by her? And how did she continue to play him for a fool even now that he knew her secret?

  She stirred when he left the bed, so he quickly adjusted his clothing as none of it had fully come off, and quietly left his bedchamber. He needed to confide in someone about this, Release his anger before he released it on her.

  Blaise thrust his hands out and burst through the doors to the Great Hall. "She is responsible!"

  The heads of every sewing maid, paige, and knight in the room shot up, including his father's and Marianne's.

  William stood and addressed the entire hall. "Everyone is to leave. I wish a moment alone with my son."

  The sewing maids, knights and paiges, looked amongst themselves and back at their lord curiously before rising. The Great Hall was not a place for privacy, they likely wondered what was of so much importance as they shuffled passed Blaise on their way out.

  There would likely be a few lingerers who wished to spy, but Blaise did not care. His anger returned a thousand fold and if he did not rid himself of it he felt as though his body would collapse in on itself from rage alone.

  He couldn't believe he allowed himself to be taken in again! He had given her the perfect opportunity to announce that something was amiss, to confess to her crimes of conspiring with those common devils. Instead she remained quiet, and lead away from the subject before feigning concern for Blaise's well-being.

  Like a fool in love, he allowed himself to be taken in by her doleful eyes and gentle touch. He made love to her before returning to his senses, remembering that she shared no love for him, and was only in his bed because he allowed himself to be taken in by her wonton, womanly ways.

  He waited some seconds after the doors behind him shut. William stared expectantly. "Who is responsible? What happened to yer hand?"

  Blaise stepped further into the Great Hall. He ignored the last question. "Eliza. She took us all for fools. Those men outside are the ones who threw me from my horse and robbed me of my dignity. Eliza conspired with them to have it done so that I might bring her here and make her my wife."

  Marianne's hands shot to her throat as she sank back into her seat. "It cannot be!"

  William's entire face dropped with the shock of the revelation, though he did not attempt to deny it like his wife had. "What made ye see this?"

  Blaise spoke through clenching teeth. "I overheard a conversation between my wife and one of those foul creatures outside the chapel. Apparently they are dissatisfied with their payment, and now that Elizabeth is my wife they thought to come here and enjoy some of the luxuries afforded to her."

  Anger twisted Marianne’s features. "We must lock them all away."

  "Marianne!" William exclaimed, having not expected the outburst.

  "Not Eliza.” She amended. “But those men need to be punished. 'Tis not right that they escape from their crimes against Blaise unscathed."

  William sent her a piercing look. "Were those yer same thoughts the day ye kidnapped me and forced me to wed ye?"

  Marianne's lips lifted nervously. "'Tis an entirely different matter."

  Blaise had no wish to hear of the differences between Eliza's situation to Marianne's. "I do not wish them thrown into a pit quit yet."

  Both lord and lady turned to look at him again. "What would ye have done?" William asked.

  "I would rather wait."

  Both sent him curious stares.

  Blaise also had no wish to allow them to see how much his love for Eliza blinded him. The idea came to him while he was with her, attempting to have her confess through subtlety. Now he knew that his plan was her, and his, last hope to salvage any part of their love.

  "I wish to see how much guilt truly belongs with my wife. If she willingly confesses then I wish to be generous and have those men released, though not without some punishment."

  "And Eliza?" Marianne asked.

  He shrugged, a hurried attempt at appearing uncaring. "She will have proven that she is capable of owning some guilty emotions, though I have yet to decide what shall be done with her."

  That much was the truth at least. Would he allow her to remain his wife? Or did he posses the stones to toss her out as well? Somehow, he doubted ‘twas the latter.

  William scratched his chin. "I can understand yer willingness to discover any sort of innocence in yer wife, but we cannot have thieves staying here."

  Blaise clenched his fists. "Then have someone watch them. Let them sleep in the barn. I want them to stay under my watch until Eliza is willing to point at them and admit to what she did!"

  "Ye love the girl." Marianne said, though no silly smile graced her lips.

  "Of course I did! I married her!" He roared, then winced and unclenched his swollen fist.

  "Did?" William asked.

  Blaise sucked in a breath and forced himself to look into his father's eyes. "I do not know what I shall do with her if I discover that she holds no remorse for her actions. I do not wish to believe her capable of such a thing, but after what I have discovered..."

  He allowed himself to trust her, and she betrayed him. Yet he still defended her. Still wished to search out some plausible explanation towards her actions.

  Her poverty with her mother? Her wish to become a lady since she grew up believing she had been denied the right? Perhaps they were excuses enough for her, but not for him. Nothing would be an excuse for tampering with his heart the way she had.

  William nodded after some seconds of thought. "She is yer wife, and as my heir, harsh decisions will eventually come whether ye want them or not. I shall allow ye to decide what her fate shall be if she fails this test of yers."

  Blaise sighed in relief. "Thank ye, father."

  Marianne reached out to touch her husband’s arm, gaining his attention. "William, I do not want Edward near those men, not after what they have done to Blaise."

  Blaise tensed and searched about the Great Hall. He hadn’t noticed his younger brother’s lack of presence until now. "Where is he?"

  "He is with his nurse." Marianne said before groaning. "Which means he has stolen off somewhere on his own."

  "I'll call some men and have him brought here.” William said. “Marianne, keep him in yer sights at all times after this, as long as those men are on my land I want to be certain that Edward cannot be swept away by them.

  “One of those jesters was too large for my liking, I'll let Bryce know of this since he would be the only man sizable enough to deal with him should violence become necessary."

  "I'll search until Edward is found, then go back to... Elizabeth." He nearly called her his wife, but found that until he had her confession, he could no longer use the term.
>
  If anything happened to his brother because Elizabeth had to live a life of luxury, she would be the one spending time in a pit.

  Chapter Thirteen

  In the halls of Graystone castle, Eliza halted her frantic marching. She escaped from the Great Hall, unable to stay while those men performed. She needed to catch her breath, to collect her thoughts.

  They had been living in the castle for nearly a fortnight, always speaking pleasing words to the lord and lady of the castle, always performing outstanding feats, and always giving Eliza the highest of compliments. ‘Twas trying on her nerves.

  Every meal Eliza had to witness the three perform for her in the Great Hall, and whenever there was no meal to be had, they were outside, juggling, singing, and wrestling for the knights.

  The most horrible was that every night she had to make an excuse as to why she wished them to stay.

  Lord William always relented, usually after glancing at Blaise, who would nod his head in agreement. ‘Twas obvious he did it only to please her.

  The prolonged stay of Albin and his two companions only lengthened the visit of the guests who came for Blaise’s celebration, and then later, his wedding. After all, if Lord Gray wished them gone, why would he be keeping such wonderful performers in the castle for them?

  Edward had complained to her how his father, brother, and mother forbid him from ever being alone with any of the three men.

  “Ivan was telling me about fighting tricks that would make me a skilled knight when Father and Blaise arrived,” he said while they walked in the sun around the courtyard. “If ye put enough pressure on the back of the arm, where it bends, ye can break it!”

  Eliza winced, grateful that such a tactic had not been used on Blaise. “Is that so?”

  He nodded. “He was going t’ show me more, then tell me a story when Father pulled me away.”

  Lord Gray and Blaise not only have strong, but accurate instincts, it seems. Eliza thought, though she doubted Ivan to be the kind of man to ever wish to harm a child.

  Eliza had not spoken to any of them since they arrived, since Colin found her outside the chapel and made their demands known. When Albin sang, his eyes went to her, and the evil spark she saw prancing there, in the face of a victorious man, forced her to stare down at her plate like a beaten animal.

  Their plan to stay had worked, almost too easily. Eliza almost did not need an excuse to give Lord Gray.

  She had to do naught but suggest that she might enjoy having them stay an extra night or so, and without argument he offered to have them stay as long as she wished it.

  She did not know what brought about his change of heart since he was adamant that first night that their stay be a short one, but because William gave her what she asked for so easily, her guilt ate away at her like insects that fed off of wood.

  Somehow, it would have seemed better had she asked and been denied. Then she would have been forced to admit to the truth. ‘Twould lift the heavy weight from her shoulders, but instead she gave in to her fear.

  The thought of being tossed out frightened her, but not nearly so much as the idea of no longer having a place in Blaise’s heart. If he discovered the truth and allowed her to stay, yet refused to acknowledge her as his wife, the pain would be a thousand times greater than if he simply threw her to the wolves.

  She wanted those three gone.

  Despite that wish, Eliza pitied them. Though they threatened her to gain what they desired, were their motives so much different from hers?

  Shelter, food, proper clothing. Albin and his men did not even speak to her so long as they were satisfied. When Eliza did confess, she would have tell this discovery of hers to her husband. Perhaps he would then take pity on both her and, if Fate were smiling, them as well.

  Eliza jumped as a warm hand pressed to her perspiring forehead. "Ye do not seem to be well, milady."

  'Twas Blaise. Her heart warmed at the sight of him, yet pounded at the same time.

  She left the Great Hall to be alone since Albin, Ivan, and Colin were performing. Though their only contact with her was the warning held in their eyes, she still preferred to be away from them.

  Her eyes darted about, searching for anyone else who might have followed her. There was no one.

  She gazed at him, smiling now that she calmed enough to appreciate his presence, but his face, which was void of any caring emotion regarding her well-being, brought her low again.

  He seemed to regard her in such a way for so long that she did not know where her true husband had gone. Where was the man who held her at night? Who whispered words of love in her hair during the morn?

  Blaise still came to their bed at night. Their coupling was no less passionate than it had ever been. In fact, 'twas filled with more love and urgency than he had shown their first times, yet, afterwards, he was gone.

  Eliza awoke to an empty bed in the early morn, and his behaviour towards her resembled that with which he treated her when they first met.

  Perhaps it was those instincts of his. He knew something was amiss, but he did promise her that she could keep some secrets. Was that why he did not ask her of it?

  "Eliza?"

  She blinked, lifting herself from her thoughts. Blaise stared down at her, seemingly worried since she had not answered him. Her elation returned. Surely she was wrong. The proof of his love was in his eyes as he fretted over her health.

  She cleared her throat. "I am well, milord. I have simply been lonely."

  "Lonely? Ye have Marianne, who demands yer attention at most hours of the day. Surely she has been keeping good company."

  Her face burned at his misunderstanding. "'Twas not what I meant."

  "Oh? Then what of the servant girl? Olma? I know ye are much fond of her since ye worked so diligently to give her a dance the night before our marriage."

  She snorted. "All the good it did. James no longer speaks to her, and she barely speaks a word to me except to answer when I am the first to say something."

  His voice turned cold. "'Twould serve ye right, bringing her hopes as high as ye did, knowing they would fall when James returned to looking for a suitable wife."

  His emphasis on the word suitable spiked her blood. "What is so unsuitable about her? She is very intelligent for a sewing maid, has a warm heart and is a good listener. Are those not the qualities one should search for in a mate?"

  His non-committal shrug irked her. "Only if he wishes to wed someone who has no value."

  "No value? I certainly had about as much value as Olma when ye met me, and yet ye made me yer wife."

  His eyes became as cold as his demeanour. Eliza shivered with the lack of warm love she detected in them. "Unlike James, a poor wife does nothing to harm my future, but perhaps 'tis why ye married me to begin with."

  Eliza fell back a step as though he'd shoved her. She could not believe those words had left his lips. "What?"

  But they had. He stared at her, waiting for her to deny his claim.

  She stood taller before him, her eyes meeting his despite the height he had over her. She swung her entire arm and slapped him.

  His face turned against the force but he his eyes snapped back to her just as quickly. They were surprised this time.

  "Is that what ye think of me?" She shrieked, not caring should any servants or guests see her outburst. Tears immediately poured down her cheeks as though someone were emptying buckets. 'Twas the same whenever she got into a serious confrontation with her mother. She could not hold back her emotions.

  "I married ye because I loved ye! Now I am wondering whether I was mad at the time to have ever felt anything other than contempt for ye!"

  His fists clenched, becoming rock hard as he glared like the devil at her. She imagined he would strike her with one of those fists, but they remained at his side when he responded. "Ye deny that yer decision to wed me had naught to do with yer wish to become a lady? To live in a castle with servants running at yer every call?"

  She
shouted at him despite her fear of his fists. "If I had no love for ye then I would have left with Sir Nicholas when he offered it to me!"

  He opened his mouth, then shut it again when no response came to him. They stared at each other for a moment. Blaise's anger left his face, replaced with an expression Eliza could not name as he studied her.

  Understanding dawned on her like the rising sun. Her eyes dried and she flew to him, wrapping her arms around his chest for his comfort. His body tensed, as though he had not expected the act.

  "Forgive me Blaise, I had forgotten how little faith ye have in people." She looked up at him when he snorted, and he stared down at her with a single brow raised.

  She wet her lips. "I should have expected this. Although ye claimed I have helped ye to trust, I should have known ye would recall my wish to become a lady and question my motives towards ye. Ye are right, I did wish for those things when I came here. Fine clothes, and servants, but I would throw them all away if it meant I could have ye."

  His eyes widened. "Is that the truth?"

  She nodded. "It is."

  His hands gripped her arms and pushed her into a corner. 'Twas like a falcon's claws digging into her flesh through the sleeves of her gown. Her fingers released their grip on Blaise's tunic as he stared at her with something akin to a mad panic.

  "Then tell me, why do ye behave so differently? Why do ye mope about as though frightened of yer place here at my side?"

  His blue eyes bore into hers, begging her to speak, to answer. Eliza wanted to answer, the confession to her crime sat in her throat, waiting for her to throw open the gates and allow her husband to hear of her betrayal.

  However, if he could act in such a way merely because he had a suspicion against her, how would he react when he knew that she had planned his robbery? She shook her head. The lie she forced from her lips in place of the truth scratched her throat as she spoke it. "I swear to ye, that there is nothing that is upsetting me. I am perfectly well."

  A hint of ice returned to the waters of his eyes. He gave her a light shake. "Tell me if anyone in this castle has put ye under any unease and they shall be removed. Again, are ye well?"