Velvet Angel

by Jude Deveraux

  They rested only minutes, ate hurriedly and were again on their way.

  That night, as Elizabeth snuggled in Miles’s arms, she had her first chance to talk to him. “What do you think of this young woman you risked your life for?” she asked.

  “I know she’s dangerous,” he answered. “She was married to the Duke of Lorillard. As a child I used to hear of his cruelty. He’s been through seven or eight rich, highborn young women. They all seem to die within a few years of marriage.”

  “Is Chris highborn?”

  Miles gave a snort. “She’s descended from generations of kings.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “From my French relatives. They’ve had a few dealings with the Lorillard family. Elizabeth,” he said solemnly, “I want you to keep these.” He closed her hand over the long strand of pearls Christiana’d worn yesterday. “Tomorrow, late, we should reach the home of my relatives but in case we don’t…No!” He put a finger to her lips to quiet her. “I want to tell you the truth so you can be prepared. The Lorillard family is powerful and we’ve taken the life of one member and now harbor another. They’ll tear the countryside apart looking for us. If anything happens, take the pearls and go back to England to my brothers. They will take care of you.”

  “But what about your French relatives? Couldn’t I go to them?”

  “I’ll tell you the story someday, but for now let’s just say that the Lorillards know me. If I’m captured, the way to my people here will be blocked. Go home to my brothers. Will you swear that? No more attempts to rescue me, but get home to safety.”

  She refused to answer him.

  “Elizabeth!”

  “I swear I will go home to your brothers.” She sighed.

  “And what about the rest?”

  “I will make no more promises!” she hissed at him, turning her face up to his to be kissed.

  They made love slowly and deliberately, as if tomorrow would never come. Miles’s words of warning made Elizabeth feel desperate, as if they had only a few hours together. Twice, tears came to her eyes, tears of frustration that they’d been so close to safety and one woman’s lust had put them in danger.

  Miles kissed away her tears and whispered that she was to live for the moment and she could save her anger and hatred until later when they had the leisure.

  She fell asleep holding Miles as tightly as she could and during the night she moved on top of him. He woke, smiled, kissed the top of her head, pulled a wad of her hair out of his mouth, hugged her and went back to sleep.

  Roger woke them before daybreak and after one look, Elizabeth was sure he’d never been asleep. Christiana appeared from the trees, her eyes alive, her lips full and reddened, whisker burn on her neck and the side of her face. As they began to walk, Elizabeth saw Roger constantly cast looks toward Chris—looks of awe and pleasure. By noon, he had his arm around the girl, pulling her close to him. And once, to Elizabeth’s surprise, he caught Chris in his arms and kissed her passionately. Roger’d always been decorous, aware of his place in life, his knightly vows, and he never made public displays of affection.

  Miles caught Elizabeth, pulled her away from the spot where she stood gaping at her brother.

  It was an hour before sunset when men burst from the trees, swords drawn and pointed at the throats of the four travelers.

  A man, old, ugly, stepped from behind the knights. “Well, Montgomery, we meet again. Take them!” he commanded.

  Chapter 19

  ELIZABETH SAT STILL ON THE HORSE FOR JUST A MOMENT as she saw, through tears, the ancient Montgomery fortress. So many things had changed in the last few weeks that she wasn’t sure either England or the massive stronghold would still be there.

  One of the horses of the three big men behind her stamped impatiently, bringing Elizabeth to her senses. With a great cry, she used the ends of her reins as a whip and spurred the horse forward. For all that she’d never visited the Montgomery estates, she knew the plan of it well. In Scotland, Miles had told her about the place, even drawn a sketch in the dirt.

  She headed for the heavily guarded back gate, the family entrance. As she came to the walls that surrounded the narrow entrance, she barely slowed her horse.

  Immediately, guards, arrows aimed, challenged her.

  “The wife of Miles Montgomery,” one of the men behind Elizabeth bellowed upward.

  Six arrows landed in the ground before Elizabeth’s horse, and the tired animal reared, one hoof breaking two shafts. Elizabeth used all her strength to control the frightened animal.

  Three armed knights now stood between her and the closed entrance.

  “I am Elizabeth Montgomery and these men are with me,” she said impatiently but with some respect. Not many places were guarded like this any more.

  As if they were statues, the knights held their ground as more men dropped from the walls and aimed swordpoints at the men behind Elizabeth.

  When twenty Montgomery knights were assembled, one guard spoke to her. “You alone may enter. Your men stay here.”

  “Yes, of course. Take me to Gavin. He can identify me.”

  The reins of Elizabeth’s horse were taken from her and she was led into a clean, spacious courtyard before a large house. More buildings were tucked inside the high surrounding walls.

  One of the guards entered the house and moments later a pretty woman appeared, her face smudged with flour, sesame seeds dotting her hair.

  “Take me to your master,” Elizabeth ordered the woman. “I have news that concerns him.”

  “Are you Elizabeth?” the small woman asked. “Do you have news of Miles? We were told you’d both been killed. Henry! Help her from her horse and bring the men with her inside and feed them.”

  At that moment Bronwyn appeared in the doorway and behind her the little singer Elizabeth’d met years before, Alyx.

  “Elizabeth!” Bronwyn cried, running forward.

  Elizabeth nearly fell into her sister-in-law’s arms. “I am so glad to see you! It’s been such a long journey. Where’s Stephen? We have to return and get Miles and Roger. They’ve been taken by a French duke and we have to ransom them or rescue them or—”

  “Slow down,” Bronwyn said. “Come inside and have something to eat and we’ll make plans.”

  “Henry!” the woman behind Elizabeth commanded. “Fetch my stepfather and Sir Guy. Send them to me and prepare seven horses for a journey. Send a rider ahead immediately and have a ship prepared for travel to France. I want no delay. Is that understood?”

  Elizabeth had stopped, gaping at the woman she’d first thought was a servant.

  “May I present Lady Judith?” Bronwyn said with some amusement.

  Judith brushed her hand at a stray strand of hair and a flurry of golden sesame seeds fell away. “Do you know where Miles is held?”

  “Yes, I’ve just come from there.”

  “And ridden hard by the look of you,” Bronwyn said.

  “Hello, Alyx,” Elizabeth said, extending her hand to the quiet woman who had moved to stand beside Bronwyn.

  Alyx nodded in greeting and smiled shyly. She’d never felt so insignificant before as she did now, surrounded by her magnificent sisters-in-law.

  At that moment Sir Guy came running. The giant looked as if he’d lost weight. Behind him came Tam, his sturdy form fairly making the ground shake.

  “You have word of my Lord Miles?” Sir Guy called, his eyes roaming over Elizabeth. “We were told you were dead.”

  “And who told you this?” Elizabeth asked, voice rising. “Did no one search for us?”

  “Come inside,” Judith said, her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Tell us what has happened.”

  Minutes later Elizabeth sat at a big table, eating energetically of the vast quantity of food set before her, while telling her story. Around her were her three sisters-in-law, a man she didn’t know—John Bassett, Judith’s mother’s husband—Sir Guy and Tam.

  With her mouth full, she told hu
rriedly of how the three of them were tossed into the hold of a ship, how they’d escaped and traveled south until Roger decided to risk their lives for a bit of a girl who was someone else’s wife.

  Bronwyn interrupted with a barrage of hatred directed toward Roger Chatworth but Tam ordered her to be quiet. Surprisingly, Bronwyn obeyed the older man.

  Elizabeth briefly told of their rescue of the young Christiana.

  Judith asked many questions, both about Elizabeth’s participation in the rescue and about Christiana. “I know of her,” Judith said. “And I know of her husband and his family. The younger brother, not the duke, hates Miles.”

  “Why?” Elizabeth blurted.

  “There was a young woman who—”

  Elizabeth put up her hand. “Tell me no more. I think it’s the younger man who holds Miles and Roger. The duke died in Roger’s hands.”

  “He enjoys killing!” Bronwyn said.

  Elizabeth didn’t waste time defending her brother but continued with her story, telling of the old duke’s sudden death. She stopped eating when she told of their capture by the dead duke’s brother. Miles had been wounded when he pulled a knight from his horse, tossed Elizabeth into the saddle and slapped the horse’s rump. She’d gone tearing down the weed-infested, rutted road, working hard at trying to get the dangling reins. When she did have control of the horse, she glanced backward to see half-a-dozen men chasing her. She whipped her horse forward and spent the next hours trying to escape them.

  Elizabeth skipped over the next ten days of her story hurriedly. She used the pearls of Christiana’s necklace to purchase her way back to England. Praying she wasn’t hastening her own death, she hired three men off the road, men who’d once been soldiers, but their master had died and the successor wanted younger men.

  The four of them traveled night and day, changing horses often, sleeping for only a couple of hours at a time.

  When they reached the coast, Elizabeth had paid ten pearls for a ship and crew to take them back to England and she’d slept for the whole three days of sailing. They arrived in the south of England, purchased horses and a few supplies and took off again, never pausing until they reached the Montgomery estates.

  “So,” Elizabeth concluded, “I have come to get Miles’s brothers. We must set out at once for France.”

  A knight entered, whispered something to Judith and left. “Lady Elizabeth,” Judith said, “there are things you don’t know. Soon after you, Miles and your brother were cast into the ship, Alice Chatworth”—Judith nearly choked on the name—“couldn’t resist bragging about what she’d done. She sent a messenger and a letter telling us everything.”

  Alyx spoke for the first time, her voice soft but easily heard. “Raine, Stephen and Gavin left for France immediately while we”—she nodded toward Judith and Bronwyn—“came here to wait for news.”

  “Then the men are already in France?” Elizabeth asked, rising. “I must leave now. If I may have some men I’ll find Miles’s brothers and lead them to the place where Miles is held.”

  “Do you know the Duke of Lorillard’s castle? Do you know where his brother lives?” Judith asked, leaning forward.

  “No, but surely—” Elizabeth began.

  “We can’t risk it. The duke was a ‘friend’ of my father.” Judith sneered at this. “I know where all four of the Lorillard estates are and I doubt if any other Montgomery does. Raine might, since he’s fought in tournaments in France, but if the men have separated…no, it’s decided.” She stood.

  “Like hell it is!” roared the man at her side, John Bassett, as he rose to tower over her.

  Judith merely blinked at his voice but remained calm. “The horses are ready and we will ride soon. Bronwyn, do you have enough of those tartan skirts of yours? They’ll be comfortable on the long journey.”

  John grabbed her arm harshly. “You’ll not go risking your life again,” he said. “You nearly killed us all when you went after Gavin. This time, young lady, you’ll remain here and let the men handle this.”

  Judith’s eyes turned as hot as molten gold. “And where will you look for my husband?” she seethed. “Have you ever been to France? And if you by chance found him, where would you tell him to look for Miles? Use what sense you have, John! Leave the other women here but Elizabeth and I must go with you.”

  Alyx looked at Bronwyn and then let out a yell of “NO!” that made dust trickle down from the ceiling.

  Alyx’s face turned a becoming shade of pink and she looked down at her hands. “I mean that Bronwyn and I would rather go with you. Perhaps we can help,” she whispered.

  “Bronwyn,” Tam began while Sir Guy was looking down his nose in an intimidating way at Elizabeth. Instantly, the room erupted into argument. Alyx, having no man to tower over her, slipped away unnoticed, ran up the stairs to Bronwyn and Stephen’s room and pulled several plaids from a trunk. Even upstairs she could hear the loud voices downstairs.

  On impulse, she grabbed a bagpipe from the wall. Multicolored tartans over her shoulders, she set the pipes to wailing as she started downstairs. By the time she reached the Great Hall, where everyone stood looking up at her, they were silent.

  She dropped the pipe from her mouth. “If you men ride without us,” she said into the silence, “we will leave, alone, an hour later. Do you ride with us or before us?”

  The men were quiet, jaws working, lips in tight lines.

  “While we are wasting time,” Alyx continued, “Miles is being held prisoner, or perhaps being tortured at this very moment. I suggest we ride—NOW!”

  Judith walked forward, took Alyx’s face in her hands, kissed both of her sister-in-law’s cheeks. “We ride!” Judith declared, taking the plaids from Alyx’s shoulders and tossing one to Elizabeth. “John, see to the supplies. Guy, go to my steward. We’ll need gold for this journey. Tam, make sure we have arrows aplenty and check the strings on the bows. Bronwyn, make sure we have horses that can travel. Alyx, bring something to make music with. We may need it.”

  Elizabeth began smiling at the first order. “And me?” she asked as everyone started off in different directions to obey Judith.

  “Come with me,” Judith said, starting up the stairs.

  Halfway up the stairs, Judith paused, her eyes boring into Elizabeth’s. “Alice Chatworth contracted smallpox and although she lived, the unscarred side of her face was badly pocked.” Judith paused. “She took her own life by casting herself from the battlements of one of her estates.” She looked away, then under her breath said, “The same wall old Ela fell from.”

  Elizabeth didn’t understand the last statement but as she followed Judith up the stairs, she was glad Alice was dead. At least now she could be sure of her son’s safety.

  Elizabeth had heard talk of what a worker Judith Montgomery was but she soon decided Judith was a demon. She allowed no one any weakness—nor any rest.

  They made the trip to the south of England in just two days, changing horses often. No one spoke but merely rode as hard and fast as possible. In many places the roads were so bad they were nonexistent, and they tore through newly plowed fields while farmers raised fists in anger. Twice Tam and Guy jumped from their horses, used battle axes to chop down fences. Behind them sheep grazed.

  “The owner will take Judith to court,” Elizabeth said, for the huge sheep pens were obviously owned by someone rich.

  “This land belongs to Judith,” Bronwyn called over her shoulder as she kicked her horse forward.

  Alyx and Elizabeth exchanged looks of awe before they, too, set their horses at the usual spine-jarring pace.

  When they reached the southern tip of England at dawn the third morning, a ferry waited to take them to the island where more of the Montgomerys lived.

  “My clan is small compared to this family,” Bronwyn said tiredly before she sat down in the wet bottom of the ferry, pulled her plaid over her head and fell asleep.

  An hour later they were awakened and, as sleepwalkers, they moun
ted fresh horses and rode to the Montgomery estates. Even as tired as she was, Elizabeth felt the age and serenity of the fortress, the stones laid over two hundred years before by the knight known as the Black Lion.

  Inside the gates, Judith touched Elizabeth’s arm and nodded toward a child peeping out from a doorway. She was about a year and a half old, with dirty hair, torn clothes and the wary look of a hungry dog.

  “One of Miles’s children,” Judith said, watching Elizabeth’s face.

  A surge of anger shot through Elizabeth. “She shall be mine when I return.” With one last look, Elizabeth swept past the others and into the house.

  They stayed at the old castle only long enough to eat, then were off on the ship that waited for them. All seven of them immediately curled up on deck and went to sleep.

  Many hours later, when they were refreshed, the women began to discuss their plans.

  “We will have to gain access to the castle,” Judith said. “Alyx’s music will open any door to us. Can either of you play or sing?”

  Bronwyn swore she had a voice of lead; Judith admitted to being tone deaf. Elizabeth whispered, her throat dry, “I can dance.”

  “Good!” Judith declared. “Once we’re inside—”

  “You will do nothing,” John Bassett said from behind her. “You will point out the new duke’s estate to us and we will find your husbands and bring them to it. They will rescue Lord Miles.” With that he turned on his heel and left them.

  Judith gave her sisters-in-law a little smile. “Years ago I had a little trouble when I attempted to rescue Gavin. John has never forgiven me, and since he married my mother he feels responsible for me.” She leaned forward. “We’ll have to be more discreet in our planning.”

  Elizabeth leaned against the side of the ship and suppressed a laugh. There Judith sat, so very pretty, so tiny, her hands in her lap, looking for all the world like a demure, helpless young lady. It was hard to believe her fierce spirit. Bronwyn stood by the rail, the sun flashing off the water and highlighting her strong-featured beauty. Elizabeth knew Bronwyn for the passionate, brave, loyal woman she was. And Alyx, so quiet and shy, looking as if she were afraid of all of them, yet Elizabeth had seen glimpses of her spirit through Alyx’s magnificent voice.