by Rizzo Rosko
She winced as his voice cut her like broken glass. No softness, nor love. Bitterness and impatience coated his words as they fell from his tongue.
He squeezed her hand. "Is there something ye wish to tell me, my love, before the men downstairs are questioned?"
Her eyes flew wide. It had not occurred to her they would be questioned. They would reveal everything, being certain to add their own twist to the story.
Eliza knew that in an effort to seem innocent and avoid death, torture, or imprisonment, the three men would spin a tale in which she had been the evil player.
Blaise knew of her part in his attack, and yet it seemed he wished her to admit to it on her own.
A confession did not leave her lips. She had to speak the words in case 'twould be the last time she ever spoke them. "I love ye."
He slammed his free fist, the injured one she had yet to bandage, down on the mattress so roughly that tiny feathers flew up around him. A fist printed in blood was left in the sheets. "Ye love me? Love me! After what ye have done I am sorely tempted to think otherwise and throw ye to the wolves ye deceiving wench!"
Eliza’s lungs opened and closed, her chest heaving in a rapid pace that she could not control and made air difficult to attain. She swelled painfully. "I deserve to hear such things.”
"Ye deserve all that and more! To think that 'twas ye all along! And I allowed myself to be fooled!"
She stared at him, horror stricken. She sobbed and she could not stop. "Ye have not been fooled!"
"Haven't I? Ye planned to have me taken by surprise in the forest, nearly killed me, all so that ye might nurse me back to health so that I would bring ye here..."
His body shook, as though he were containing to worst of his fury. "Ye convinced me to wed ye. Ye are quite the seductress I might add. I would gamble all the gold in the world that ye knew what Ian had planned, and were using it as a lure to trap me!"
She stood abruptly, unable to be so close to him. Her tears blurred him and everything in their chamber. ‘Twas a good thing as she could no longer stand to face his cruel snarl.
"Sit down!" He bellowed.
"No!" she screamed. She swiped the back of her hands over her soaking cheeks. Her face only flooded again, and now her hands were wet. "I will listen to no more of this!"
"Oh? And why not? Because ye are a lady now? Because 'tis beneath ye to be reprimanded?"
Despite her claim to listen to no more, Eliza could not leave the room while Blaise roared so hatefully at her. At least when he was in a foul mood before, she still sensed his love hiding beneath the surface, especially when he brought it forth during the night. Now she found nothing but emptiness.
Her voice left her mouth in a small whisper. “They were not to be so rough with ye, or steal all yer possessions. ‘Twas not what I paid them for.”
Blaise shook his head. "Ye certainly did not pay them enough since they deemed it necessary to steal from me.”
Then he sighed. Anger removed itself from his face. She could see now that she wiped her eyes some more. Though his face, no longer furious, but fallen in sadness, was worse.
He did not even look at her, opting instead to stare with glittering, downcast eyes, as though he too were battling tearful emotions, at the wall to his right. “'Tis my own fault I suppose, allowing myself to be done in like this. And I can assure ye that there shall be no dungeon awaiting ye like with that band of devils ye have brought into my home."
Her heart swelled with hope. "Then, if ye will not send me to the chains below the castle, ye will allow me to stay?"
He still would not face her, his shoulder shrugged limply. "'Twas what ye wished for all along, was it not? Ye have made it no secret that ye believed ye were wronged as a girl, and should be a lady by right. 'Tis the reason ye are not being thrown away since I was foolish enough to listen to that pathetic ranting, yer very motive, and still allow ye to become my wife."
She tensed under his assault. Even though he had not intended the words to lash her, they did. "'Tis not pathetic to wish for warmth from the cold, or a day without going hungry."
"And ye have received those things and plenty more. Do not fret, Sir Nicholas loves ye dearly. He shall see to it that ye continue to have yer heart’s desires, along with any finery ye should ever wish for."
Her heart plummeted. "When I asked if ye would not send me away, 'twas not because I feared being poor again. 'Twas because I feared being without ye."
He launched forward from his pillows, fury returning to his face and shielding him from her pleas. "'Tis a lie!" He gasped at the pain his movement caused and clutched at his ribs.
Eliza went to aid him but he pushed her away. "Do not touch me!"
Eliza backed away as though he'd slapped her. Tears brimmed her eyes again but she managed to hold back the filling pool.
Blaise's face twisted at the sight of her returning tears. "Stop that! Yer whimpering will not get ye what ye want! I have been more than patient! I have waited a fortnight for ye to simply admit to what ye have done, but even a few moments ago ye still insisted on hiding the truth!"
"I was afraid." She sniffed. “Ye said I could have secrets and would not care.”
“‘Tis entirely different!”
The pool broke and a river ran down her face.
"I said stop! Get out of here! Go to yer father and have him take care of ye if that is yer wish! I'll have nothing more to do with ye!"
"Blaise, I love—"
"DO NOT SAY IT! Ye scheming harlot! I'll not listen to another word that comes from yer mouth! Go!"
Eliza ran from the room. Servants spied at the door as she ran passed, but she gave them no more thought as she ran out of the castle.
More people stood about, all turned to see the spectacle she made. Face wet and swollen, her chest heaving from the run. She needed someplace where she could be alone. She did not wish to be seen ever again!
The courtyard was filled with bustling servants and knights going about their duties, speaking of the events that had just taken place. Not a place for privacy, but she dared not re-enter the castle.
She ran to the stables, more men were inside tending to the horses, but she could run no more. She collapsed in a pile of fresh hay and tucked her face in her knees to weep.
***
Less than an hour after his wife fled the bedchamber, Blaise’s father strode inside, jewelled sword in hand with Marianne beside him.
"They confessed. Especially the fat one, he refused to cease his blubbering even after we finished. Was afraid we'd gouge his eyes out if he didn't say anything.” He informed.
“I have no doubt of that.”
“The singing one told us where he was hiding yer sword." William held out the weapon and handed it to where Blaise still lay in bed.
He had not moved since he cursed his wife away from him, and now that he pulled his body out of its death-like slumber, his arms were heavy. He took the weapon and unsheathed it. No jewels appeared to be missing. "I feared I would never see this again."
‘Twas true, he had feared that. Indeed, he was glad to see it...but not as glad as he thought he should be.
"Ye should know that I prefer ye to an heirloom. I too am happy for its return, but would have done just as well without it." William said.
Blaise put the blade back into the safety of its sheathe and laid it next to him. He could not look William in the eyes. He’d had enough of being told how much he meant to everyone. "What of Elizabeth?"
"Weeping her eyes out in the stables." Marianne huffed. "The men left because they could witness it any longer. Poor thing."
Blaise snapped upward before falling back into his pillows from the sudden pain in his chest. He’d forgotten about that."Poor thing? Her? What of me!"
"Calm yerself! Ye will irritate yer wounds." William snapped.
"I would not have these wounds had it not been for her." Blaise muttered, settling himself back into his pillows.
"Ye would not
have those wounds if ye had brains enough to not battle a man of that size." William stated. “Or put yer fist to a stone wall.”
Blaise could not help the pride that trickled into his voice. "And yet despite our sizes, I still managed to take him to the ground."
“But did naught against the wall.”
“I shall destroy it later.”
William chuckled. Marianne shook her head and muttered about the foolishness of men and the fate of her own son.
William returned to being serious once more. "What will ye have done with her? 'Tis likely not something good as the woman refuses to quit her weeping."
Marianne looked to Blaise, awaiting his answer his answer with baited breath, it seemed.
Despite the soreness over the topic, Blaise prided himself over the generosity he'd shown. While there was naught he could have done to her as Sir Nicholas's daughter, he could certainly have frightened her a great deal with threats of a dungeon.
Instead he was merciful and offered her an easy escape from her crimes. "I told her that her father shall take her to his castle. She shall live there in peace if she chooses. Nicholas will provide for her."
William and Marianne looked at each other a moment before returning their stares to him.
"So easily?" Marianne asked. "Will ye not attempt to forgive her?"
Blaise bristled at having his merciful decision so easily overlooked. "I have attempted forgiveness and offered her chances at every turn. Even when those fools were taken away she continued to lie in the hopes that I still had not known of her deceit. She would have continued to lie had I not mentioned that they would confess out of fear of torture."
"Of which I do not approve." William stated.
"Aye, but it does not mean ye have never done it."
William grumbled but said naught else.
"Regardless, I cannot have her here. She used me and if she wishes to retain the lifestyle she has grown accustomed to then she has no choice but to leave with Nicholas."
"And, do I not get a say in what ye do with my lady in waiting?" Marianne snapped, her arms folded over her bulging middle.
"Father gave me the authority to decide. This is what I have decided." Blaise said through his teeth, turning to William and demanding that he confirm it to his wife with blazing eyes.
William turned to Marianne, a soft sigh escaping him. "I'm afraid 'tis true. If he wishes her gone, then she shall leave."
Marianne pursed her lips. "I would still prefer it if ye would let her stay. I've grown fond of her."
Damned woman! Why did she insist on making things difficult for him at every turn? "I would say that ye have been taken in by her act as well. She cares not a thing for anyone in this castle. Nicholas wants her, let him have her."
"She's spoken of ye to me, Blaise. She loves ye." Marianne insisted.
"Leave." Blaise demanded. He could bare these declarations of love no longer. "I wish to be alone to rest."
Marianne opened her mouth to speak, but William gently took her by the arm and led her away. "Let him alone, my dear. He'll do as he wishes and there's not a thing ye can say that will change his mind."
Blaise growled as the door to his chamber closed behind them. William made it sound as though Blaise were being unreasonable. The woman lied to him and used him to raise her status, and yet to them 'twas not reason enough to send her on her way.
"'Tis not as though I'm sending her to starve in the forest." He reasoned, gingerly turning himself so that he faced the spot where she once slept next to him for the brief period of their marriage. He touched the space.
Blaise pulled his hand away when he found the spot cold.
"Fool," he said to himself. Of course he would feel nothing. She had not been there for hours, and she would never return to that place at his side. He would never make love to her, or listen to her light snores as she slept. He would not have a wife who cared nothing for him! Blaise took a pillow and slammed it in Eliza's old place, as if he could beat the memory of her out of the bed.
Chapter Fifteen
Eliza listened to Sir Nicholas, nay, her father, with half an ear as he accompanied her on a walk around the courtyard.
He came to her hours earlier in the stable. He arrived with a gentle face and sympathetic shoulder that she allowed herself to weep on.
Despite her earlier aversion to him, she had been grateful for his forgiveness, and the comfort he offered her.
The man had rocked her gently on the hay bed. “There now, ‘tis not as bad as all that. He shall come around,” he’d said.
Eliza did not believe so. Blaise had vowed he would never give her cause to cry, and with that vow broken she doubted he meant to change his mind and keep her around at all.
Though she knew he meant well, her father’s sympathy towards her situation soon turned into excitement as he tried to cheer her with thoughts of living in his keep. ‘Twas a cheer that only he seemed to feel as she half heartedly listened while they walked.
The weather was far too bright, too beautiful, and too pleasant to match her bleeding heart. A heart that remained in the castle, locked up with Blaise. Her ears strained for any sound that might bring news that he would forgive her.
"I shall give ye gowns far more elegant than the ones Gray has provided ye with. Ye will never find the need to wear his gowns so long as the ones I shall give ye are in yer chest."
"I shall never wear them again regardless." Eliza said. Her voice held no emotion as the gowns were the least of her problems. "They shall stay here with their proper owners."
Would Blaise ever see them and remember her? Regret her, miss her, long for her?
She wanted to take none of the gifts she had received while she had been Lady Gray's lady in waiting. She feared that anything she took would be one more sign to Blaise that she’d meant to use him for his wealth.
Before taking her walk with her father, she went back up to her old room and had Olma help her into the green gown she had worn on her first night in the castle, the one her mother had left to her. She meant to leave with it and it alone.
Nicholas blinked at her, as though confused that she had bothered answering him at all since she remained so silent throughout his conversation with her. "I see, well, all the better then."
Eliza could hardly understand his excitement. Blaise seemed to despise her for what she had done, yet her father seemed to care very little, if at all.
She stopped, unable to take another step. "Does it not concern ye? That ye will be bringing a deceiver into yer home?"
His face brightened with a tender smile. “Ye are yer mother’s daughter, and most importantly, mine as well. Of course I am not concerned.”
Ah, yes. He’d been serviced by her mother, the very reason why Eliza came into being. She should have known her mother would have spent some of her days in his castle.
“I gave her that gown.”
Her head snapped up. “This gown? Did ye truly?”
He nodded. “Aye. Ye look as pretty as she did in it.”
Eliza blushed. She had never seen her mother wearing the gown, and the double compliment eased her soul. “I believed it came from Sir Ferdinand. ‘Twas the only bit of finery she did not sell.”
Nicholas’ eyes widened at that.
She continued to speak, even though she already knew how he felt she needed him to know how she felt as well. “I believe she loved ye. ‘Tis something I had thought of after discovering that ye’re my sire. I know ‘tis an odd belief because why else would she hide yer own daughter from ye—”
“I do not believe she did it purposefully.”
Eliza blinked. “How would ye know such a thing?”
He shook his head. “I do not know it. But I do believe it, very strongly.”
She waited for him to explain.
He sighed, as though reminiscing about such things brought discomfort, which she imagined it did. “Though we were...intimate, Bertha had never once seen the mark upon my arm. W
e had always been,” His cheeks coloured. He coughed. “Partially or fully clothed during our lovemaking. I believe she truly did think ye to be the daughter of Sir Ferdinand, and rather than see ye grow up in his care she hid ye.”
“But ye told me yerself that ye cared for her! And if she indeed loved ye then she should have gone to ye for protection. Ye would not have sent her away.” She ceased her quick speech so that she might take in a breath. “Would ye?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. I know a great deal about women, with the exception of ye, of course. If Bertha did love me, then taking shelter with me would have been the last thing she would have done.”
“I do not understand.”
He gave her a strong look. “Would ye wish to be in the company of a man whom ye loved, but did not return it?”
As though a spike jabbed her heart, she winced and thought of Blaise. “Nay, perhaps not.”
Nicholas nodded. “I have been thinking a great deal of her as well. I remembered that, after vanishing the first time, when she returned to me I was happy to see her. Truly happy. She had been gone for several months, but it had not occurred to me that she had borne a child.”
His face became saddened. “I believed her to be in need of some sort of help, so I told her of William and the problem he had with his wife.” He looked at her pointedly. “I assume ye already know of this?”
Eliza nodded. She knew by now that Lord Gray had been serviced by her mother. Lady Gray told her, explained how he was in need of her teachings in the bed. ‘Twas revealed in an attempt to make Eliza see that, simply because there were men who paid her mother for her body, that it did not make them horrible men.
At the time she had blindly, and without reason, offered immediate forgiveness to Lord Gray while still harbouring bitter thoughts of Nicholas. Another thing to make amends for.
Nicholas cleared his throat and continued. “I assumed, falsely, that the gold Gray would pay her would help to aide her in whatever predicament she had. I had offered her money, but when she refused it I assumed that her pride kept her from accepting, and that earning it would be the only way she could allow herself to live.”
