“Nigel, Please…”
He stood there for a long tense moment; she hesitated then glanced up at him with worried eyes. “Nigel, please, ‘tis mine.”
He scowled down at her, but then grudgingly released it not sure if she had just lied to him or not, nor was there any way for him to prove it. “Ye shall show that to Lord Sheridan on his return!”
She paused and held the thing tightly to herself. “’Tis but a trinket, it has no value.”
He drew an angry breath. “Ye shall go to thy room now until thy father-in-law calls thee to his solar!”
She looked down and flushed guiltily before she stepped away, and then hurried up to William’s chamber again.
He watched her take the stairs and it worried him. He would keep an eye on her this night and tell the Lord Sheridan about the strange things on his return, even if it was late...! And he would find the guards who had been ordered to watch the doors, and see that it didn’t happen again!
In her room, Miranda stood at the window with the necklace still clutched in a soft hand to her breasts. Her mind turning in circles at what had just happened, feeling shaken and confused… If it truly was her brother, then why had he done this?! And what did it mean? Was it that he only wanted her to know he was near? But why? What reason would he have for journeying this far onto English soil?! She worried that something might have happened in Chadwick, and that he only wished for her to know that he needed her…
She sank down onto the chair beside her and took the satchel again with a trembling hand and looked at the necklace—more than sure it was the one she had given him! And somehow it made her feel afraid… She frowned and inspected the leather satchel hoping that it held some sort of clue for her… Deep inside she saw the small piece of bark from a birch tree and the faint etching from a sharpened knife that scored it, not words, for neither she nor Turin could read, only an etching, a map of sorts telling her all she needed to know… He was close by, and he wanted to see her…
Her eyes scanned the courtyard and meadow beyond the castle walls from her windows, even those parts of the bailey she could see looking for a familiar face, but none were found. She knew it would be impossible for her to leave her room that night for Nigel was more than suspicious now. She could only hope that her brother would know that too! But somehow, she had to find a way to meet with him and find out what he wanted—somehow!
Nigel stayed in the great hall with his eyes on the stairs till late into the night as he waited for Lord Sheridan to return, more than worried at his delay and the events that had happened that day...
Miranda herself didn’t sleep either, not knowing what she would tell her father-in-law when he returned, for surely he would ask! But what could she tell him without endangering her brother?! First, she needed to find out why he was here and what he wanted of her before she told Edmund anything…! But before she had even finished thinking the thoughts, the sound of horse’s hooves on the wooden drawbridge caught her attention and she froze… They had returned... And soon Nigel would tell all…
She took the small piece of bark and threw it into the fire that burned slowly in the hearth then placed the necklace back into the satchel and waited, all the while trying to calm her racing heart and find words that just wouldn’t come…
Lydan spoke in a low voice as they rode through the gates. “Do ye really think there is reason to be concerned?”
Edmund shrugged not willing to share his thoughts right then. “I cannot be sure of anything at this point, but it unnerves me knowing that a group of Welshmen have journeyed so far from their lands. We both know they would not have made such a journey unless it were important; for being caught here would only be taken as trouble. And I cannot understand their purpose other than to come here out revenge—or that they have come for the girl...”
He glanced up as he dismounted and caught sight of his daughter-in-law in the windows above and frowned—then paused, as he watched her purposefully step away as not to be seen. His brows knit together darkly, as did Garrick’s who had seen it also. “I wonder, uncle, if truly we have more to worry about than we first thought.”
Edmund scowled and glanced around him cautiously before he headed wordlessly up the tall castle steps knowing that Garrick was right.
Nigel met him in the hall with a hard scowl. “M’lord, I have ordered thy meal to be brought. The women have already eaten and the lady Miranda is in her chamber for the night.” He lowered his voice discreetly and leaned closer, his dark frown did not lessen as he spoke. “And—I have need to speak with thee about her. The lady herself had wandered off into the bailey, though I did not catch her there. But I found her in the eastern hall near the bailey door with satchel in her hand. And I have never seen such before this! I could only presume that someone had given it to her, for she was greatly shaken…”
Edmund’s voice was low and hard. “A satchel?”
“Aye, I took it from her, but she insisted on having it back; I would not have done so, but there was no way for me to be sure. Though I did inspect it, and there was nothing but a peasant’s necklace inside, a mere stone on a leather string. I questioned her about it; but she was vague and insisted it was hers, so I ordered her to her chambers to wait for thee.”
Edmund drew a loud tense breath. “After—I have washed the dust from myself and taken my meal have the lady brought to my solar, and put a guard at her door also.”
“Aye, m’lord, I shall—and a guard is already in place.”
Garrick eyed him cautiously. “Do ye think that is necessary?”
Edmund removed his heavy cloak and threw it on a chair as he went to the basin and washed, not meeting the other man’s concerned eyes. “I do. For in truth, I believe the men we seek have already made contact with her.”
The knock on the door wasn’t a surprise to Miranda, she had expected her father-in-law to come and inquire of the satchel for nigh an hour, but who it was at her door did surprise her. She opened it shyly and peered at Nigel’s hard face. “Lord Sheridan would like ye to come to his solar—now… Bring the satchel, and whatever else it contains with ye.”
She turned back guiltily knowing that she had already destroyed the piece of thin bark that she had found and what was left would in no way compromise her brother. He was still waiting at the door when she turned back hoping he hadn’t notice how flushed she had become.
She followed him down into the great hall where his men lingered at the hearth, they glanced at her with frowns and she couldn’t help but worry.
He paused at the solar door and knocked discreetly, a low voice bid them to enter and he held the door for her. “M’lord, the lady is here.”
Miranda stepped into the dimly lit room, candles gave it a low golden light that looked warm and inviting, though she felt none of it. She could only hope it hid her guilty face well; but when she met his eyes she knew it had not.
He sat at the end of the table in a high back ornate chair, to his right and left sat Lord Farrington and Lord Hastings. All three sat with cups in their hands, staring at her silently and she stopped stiffly feeling the flush in her cheeks even before it took her. She hadn’t even realized she had stopped until her father-in-law motioned her to the end of the long narrow table where a simple bench sat.
“Come, come, Miranda, sit.” His voice was low and stern as he set his cup down slowly, watching her as he did so.
The others in the room were quiet, unnervingly quiet; as they watched her move towards the end of the table and seat herself there silently.
“What have ye in thy hand, girl?”
She looked down at the only message her brother could have given her and hesitated, not having anything to say until she had spoken with Turin first. Her father-in-law noticed her hesitation and wondered at it; as did the men seated next to him at the long narrow table.
“Miranda?”
She looked up with guilty eyes that made him tense.
“Show me.”
&
nbsp; She lowered her eyes again to the satchel, and then lifted her hand so he could see.
“Miranda…”
She did not meet his eye as she opened it and poured the contents into her palm.
The three men glanced at each other uneasily before their gaze riveted on her again.
“Bring it to me.
She stood then and walked around the table to where he was seated and held it out for him to take; but he caught her wrist instead making her eyes jump to his with a startled look on her soft face. “Do ye know who gave this to ye?”
She hesitated. She didn’t want to answer, not yet, not before talked to Turin…
“Miranda?”
She flushed again and sought words that just wouldn’t come.
“What does this mean?!”
She hesitated again. “I—I’m not sure…” That at least that was the truth.
“But ye know who sent it?”
She didn’t answer, wishing that she had something to say to satisfy his questions and yet she did not.
“I can see in thy eyes that ye do know. Ye came here with nothing save the clothes on thy back and I am to believe that this is thine?! Why are ye being so secretive, girl? What could this possibly be that ye would not feel as if ye could not trust me with it?”
She didn’t know what to say as he lowered his gaze to the simple necklace in her trembling hand. He took the thing and fisted it in his strong hand not bother to look at her as he spoke; but neither did he release her. “Lord Farrington, would ye escort the lady to the tower and have her locked in the room under guard. I shall send a maid to her shortly.”
The three heard her gasp softly, her blue eyes wide with fright. “…M—m’lord?”
He raised a hand to silence her. “I shall talk to ye again when I am sure that this is not a threat against what is mine. And—ye are mine, m’lady… Do not fool thyself into thinking otherwise!”
Garrick stood without a word and took her arm; only then did Edmund release her thin wrist.
She glanced at him as he drew her away from the table; but even he refused to meet her gaze. She turned away then and followed the tall man out of the now very quiet room.
Lydan’s hard eyes followed her as she left at Garrick’s side. He wanted to say that she was more trouble than she was worth, but he held his tongue instead…
Garrick hesitated at the door to murmur to Nigel who was standing vigilantly just outside it. The steward nodded and motioned for the guards to follow.
Miranda glanced at them and then at the man aside her as he led her towards the huge barred door at the end of the hall. Her heart was racing as they opened it and took her to the base of the long curved staircase; she hesitated then and stopped to look into hard dark eyes. “Lord Garrick…”
He looked down at her without words.
“I—the satchel…‘tis a gift from my brother…”
He frowned, his eyes still starting at her intently. “Thy brother? Are ye sure?”
“Aye, the boy is only three and ten summers, and no real threat against Lord Sheridan—I swear it!”
“And he was in the bailey…?”
“I—I’m not sure, I felt someone press it into my hand from behind and I stiffened. When I turned, I saw no one I recognized near me!”
“But ye are sure it was thy brother?”
She stumbled over her words like a child, “I—I made this for him when we were but children…”
He nodded as he stared at her sternly. “And what does it mean, lady Miranda? Surely, he had intent in sending such a thing to thee?”
She looked down again and fought to find words that would not endanger or betray her brother. “He—he merely wanted me to know he was near, I believe.”
“Why, my lady?”
She looked at him again. “I—I do not know… perhaps aught has happened in Chadwick, or—or to my parents and the lad has need of me! Please, Lord Garrick, the boy would have never ventured this far without goodly reason, and I will not know why until I talk to him!”
He stared at her. “What ye ask is impossible. Have ye not noticed ye are heavy with William’s child, and there shall be no other bore to thee which he shall father?!”
The weight of his words made her almost cringe away. “But—but, Turin would never hurt me!”
“No, my lady, but the men with him might.”
“…The men with him…?”
“Three Welshmen stayed in a village not far from here…”
He could tell from how she reacted to his words that indeed she had not known. “I—I can only think it must be men from the village who brought Turin to me…”
Garrick shook his head. “And not come and announce themselves and gain favor with Lord Sheridan through thee? I think not…”
“Nay, Lord Garrick, they would not have announced themselves! If they truly were Welsh, they would fear Lord Sheridan as an unjust man. They would believe that to reveal themselves to him would only mean their deaths. Nay, I have to meet with Turin…and find out why he has come myself!”
“Then, ye know where he is?” He stared at her and saw her flush again. “Ye do, my lady, I can see it written in thine eyes!”
She swallowed hard and dropped her gaze from his.
“Being in the tower shall not help matters, Miranda… And withholding this from thy father-in-law shall only make him distrusts ye more…”
She shook her head slowly. “I—I don’t know what to do…”
He took her chin in his strong hand and raised it to meet his dark eyes searching hers as he spoke to her with a voice of reason. “I do. Ye shall trust me with this… I shall meet with Turin and see to the boy’s needs. And ye shall return to Lord Sheridan and tell him all that ye know…! Ye owe it to William to protect Whittington, and it’s only heir, girl.”
She felt tears slip from her eyes as she looked at him and nodded slowly knowing he was right, but still it scared her. He took her arm then and helped her back to her chamber where he posted guards for the night. She stood pensively to the side as he walked to the door; holding herself tightly, unsure if she were doing the right thing or not. “Trust me, Miranda, no matter how much ye worry for thy brother, ye owed it to thy husband to care for his child first…”
He left then without another word and closed the door, securing it from the other side. She sank down and laid her head on her arms at the table, afraid that she’d just betrayed Turin…!
Garrick returned to the solar where Edmund sat with his third cup of wine in hand looking sullen and angry still. “Is she safely in the tower for the night?”
“Nay, my uncle, the girl told me what little she knows and I believed her; I had her taken to her chamber with thy guards at her door still.”
Edmund drew a deep breath then took a long drink of the wine in his cup. “I see. Ye would also turn against me, Garrick?”
“Nay, uncle, I would never do such a thing, and if ye wish it I shall carry the girl to the tower myself now.”
The older man pinched the bridge of his nose and slowly shook his head. “Nay. I do not wish it. I shall speak with her on the morrow… I had not intended to punish the girl, only to protect her and her child. And I had hoped that it would give her time to think of what she was doing and tell me the truth of the matter. I take it then that the bearer of the necklace is not someone to fear then?”
Garrick shook his head. “That remains to be seen, but she believes it is her bother. The boy is young, only three and ten summers, uncle, and not much a threat to us.” He told his uncle all that she had said, which only led him to more questions and concerns of his own…
“I see. It may be true that she believes it was from him, but then I still can take no chances with her or the child. It would be easy for someone to use this to lure her from me and kill her and her child. But if it is indeed her brother, then we need to speak to the boy first before she is allowed to see him and find out exactly why he is here.”
“
I agree.”
“Is it possible that there was trouble in Chadwick which sent him here to her? Even if her family inquired of Phillip and Thomas they would not say, and her family could only suspect where she would truly be… But for the boy to travel so far from his home makes me wonder at it all. And that there were three of them as the farmer had said, and not just the boy... I do not like it, Garrick…”
“Nor do I. I shall find out exactly where the boy is, then I plan to meet with him and discover for myself what is happening here.”
His uncle looked at him and nodded. “Very well, but I want him brought here regardless.”
“Agreed.”
Through the long night no one found sleep, especially not Miranda. A tray was brought to her room in the morning though she hardly ate knowing that soon her father-in-law would again call her to his solar and question her. Her heart felt pulled in two different directions and she didn’t know what to do…!
It was true that she owed him loyalty, but Turin was her brother and she would not betray him either! She paused at her thoughts as she heard the heavy booted footsteps and the guards unbolt her door from without. She stilled even now not knowing what to say. Garrick opened the door, his eyes catching her from where she sat with guilty eyes near the window. He paused, then closed the door and walked into the room stopping before her as he settled his huge frame on the edge of the table and folded strong arms over his broad chest; his dark knowing eyes never leaving her as he watched her silently, and then finally he spoke. “… All night I have been thinking, Miranda… a necklace… why a necklace? Could it have been a sign? And indeed if it was, what kind of sign would it have been? A note would have been much easier for one to slip to another than a satchel, and much easier to know the sender’s intentions; but then the giver of such could not write and the receiver could not read… And if so, then, a sign must be given that both would know and understand, am I right, m’lady?”
Debra Kay Leland Page 20
