“Am I not ‘the lady Miranda’? Ye would do well to address me as such.”
His brows knitted together at her cold tone. “As ye wish, m’lady, ye seem displeased tonight.”
“I am.”
He tipped his head warily at her words. “I came to inquire after thee and to let ye know that there has been no sign of thy brother. I can only hope the boy heeded thy words and has left.”
She closed her eyes and prayed it was true; though she answered him not as Lydan’s cruel words threaded through her again.
“Something is amiss, what is it? Are ye not well this night?” He said as he drew closer.
She stood then not bothering to look at him. “Do not bother yurself, Lord Farrington, I am fine.” She folded her hand in front of herself and looked down stiffly before she continued. “Though, I have been thinking of late, and I would that ye not come to me again.”
He frowned and stepped forward, but she lifted a hand to stop him. “Nay, do not! I wish not to hear yur soft words, nor be coddled into believing them.”
“Ah, so this is about last night and thy brother, I was angry, m’lady and I had not yet made up my mind whether to send out my guards or not. But in truth, I did let the boy go because of thee, or did ye forget?”
She looked at him for a long silent moment then looked away. “I am grateful for that.”
He laughed. “Grateful? Ye look anything but grateful, right now.”
She lifted angry eyes to him and he frowned again. “Is that what ye want, my gratitude? Is that all part of the game ye play with me?”
He laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “…Game? Tell me exactly what’s going on, Miranda? Oh, I forgot, ‘m’lady Miranda’.”
Despite his reverent tone, she found no humor in his teasing words. “Ye are more than welcome to find my door, Lord Farrington. I on the other hand am forced to endure thy company regardless of my wishes.”
With that his smile disappeared. “Ye cannot mean that?”
“I do. I feel nothing for ye or Lord Hastings but contempt.” She felt betrayed and it showed.
“Lydan?” He watched her, seeing the hurt in her eyes at the mention of his name. “He was here then?”
She turned away and walked towards the hearth. “Aye, as ye are now. Though neither of ye are welcome in this chamber!”
He drew a long breath. “I see. What did he say that upset ye so?”
She turned and met his eyes. “The truth.”
“The truth? From Lydan?” He didn’t trust Lydan to speak the truth about anything lest it meant gain for him.
She gave a soft hurt laugh. “Aye, I believe he found great pleasure in speaking it to me too. Oh, do not look so surprised, m’lord; at least from him I hear of thy folly. And though it hurt, I am grateful for it.”
He sighed and dropped his head, wanting nothing more than to strangle Lydan’s scrawny little neck as he wondered exactly what he’d told her! “Then tell me what he said? Knowing Lydan, ‘tis not as it appears.”
Her eyes were as teary as her voice. “…Nay ‘tis worse, for I shall admit that as simple as I am—I—actually trusted thee. And as much as I dislike the man I applaud him for at speaking such to me.”
He walked forward and tried to take her in his arms but she would not allow it. “Miranda… I did not lie to thee. If—”
But before he could finish she lifted her hand and struck his cheek with a sob. “I am no fool, and I do not wish to hear thy sweet words! Ye would let Edmund sell me to ye without thought as to my feeling in the matter, and that both ye and Lydan would conspire against me like that?! I cannot stand the thought, and I can no longer look upon thee! Leave me!”
He turned his face back towards her slowly, his cheek hot from where she had struck him as he stared down at her, not knowing what to say. She knew, all of it. And he was sure how it must have looked to her; as though he had been paid to take her, when in truth he would have done anything to win her hand! What was worse was the fact that she would have no choice now. Willing or not, the wedding would take place and for him it meant marrying an unwilling bride and taking an enemy back to his home to be his wife…
She turned away again; all she wanted to do was to be alone now. The hurt and betrayal she was feeling nearly broke her heart and yet even now she had no right to even leave this chamber and seek solitude. “I am not allowed to even walk away from thee…!”
He frowned at her words knowing they were true—but there was so much more that she didn’t know that would only push her away from him even more, and he cringed at the thought it! She was to marry him regardless of her wishes, but he hadn’t wanted it to be so… What hurt the most was that he knew that he had already lost her, before he had even really managed to have her as his own! The thought made him burn with anger towards Lydan for all he had done to them! He turned sharply watching her with narrowed eyes as he considered what he would do with young Lord Hastings once he found him! Without a word he turned and stroked out with heavy angry footsteps.
She sighed and closed her eyes, before she sank down into her chair again and let the tears she’d been holding back fall. The worst part of it all was that he hadn’t even tried to deny it…! A small part of her wished that Lydan’s words weren’t true, and that Garrick did truly did care for her, and yet all the time it was merely a game to them both… But she would find a way to survive this, somehow!
He strode angrily down the hall, his footsteps coming faster and angrier as he went. Those in the great hall looked up as he came racing down the tall stairs with a cold hard look in his eyes, before he ran up the opposite staircase taking two at a time as he went towards the other man’s chambers. He flung the door open and was met with the man’s raised sword as he sat comfortably in a chair with a cup in one hand and his sword in the other. “Ah, Garrick—I wondered how long it would take before ye found out.” He took a slow sip of his wine and then rested the cup on his leg again. “Ye can’t blame me ye know, the girl deserved to know the truth. And I could not just hand her over to thee without a fight. If ye want her, now ye shall have to work very hard to get her, if ye can even manage it at all!”
Garrick stopped and crossed his arms over his strong chest as he glared at him. “Oh, do not worry, my friend; I shall have her, regardless of what ye have done.”
Lydan only laughed. “We shall see. The red mark on thy cheek says otherwise.”
Garrick’s eyes narrowed as he dropped his hand to his sword. “If ye were not Edmund’s nephew, I swear I would—”
“Now, now, do not be so cross. I’m doing thee a favor really, thy family name is as influential as mine, ye would only ruin it marrying a Welsh. She may have been good enough for a second son and gentleman farmer, but not a titled lord and we both know it.”
Garrick wanted to make him eat his words but instead he drew a calming breath before he turned trying hard to keep his voice even as he spoke, “I shall not bloody my sword this day for Edmund’s sake, and only for Edmund’s sake!” And then he strode out. He walked with heavy angry footsteps down the stairs not acknowledging those who stared at him as he headed for the door. It didn’t take him long to saddle his horse before he mounted without a word to those who watched and kneed it into a gallop as he yelled. “Open the gate!”
At his word they did, his horse reared and then flew over the wooden drawbridge towards the forest beyond… He rode until he had finally regained control of himself and dismounted, leaving his horse to drink from the small stream nearby. He didn’t care what ‘she was’, or ‘who she was’; he loved her, and he wanted her and her child with all his heart, only now he’d have to find a way to convince her of that and win her back all over again...!
Miranda wandered around William’s room as if she were lost. She felt the betrayal to her bones and it broke her heart; but worst of all were the feeling that she had been abandoned by Edmund, and now by Garrick—and everyone else in this household too! She and her child were alo
ne now and she felt it to her heart. She closed her eyes and tried not to let her thoughts go to Lydan’s hurtful words again, but yet they did. She laid a trembling hand on her child and wondered if they would truly take it from her… She didn’t think she could go on if they did! Until today, she hadn’t really realized how things would be here, nor had she wanted to listen to Lydan’s cruel words or believe them, but now that she had she worried all the more…!
All she wanted was to do was run away, to go where no one knew her, someplace where no one would ever hurt her again… The child moved hard within her reminding her that she would never be able to travel far like this; and even if she did, she would only risk its life… She leaned against the cold stone wall and closed her eyes feeling helpless and hopeless, but when she opened them again she saw William’s boots and his cloak that was laid across the bottom of the bed. And she remembered—that this child belonged to William and no other; she owed him loyalty and love, as was her duty and she would raise it as he would have wanted. Despite her wayward thoughts willing her to leave; she knew she would stay and have his child do whatever she needed to do, for his sake…!
Garrick had sat in his uncle’s solar after he ridden the rage from himself enough to be civil again. He set down his cup and pushed away from the table; and went to the stairs that led to the family’s quarters. He had yet to see her and set things right again, and until he did, he would not rest. He hesitated but a moment, then took the stairs two at a time. The guards didn’t seem surprised the see him, and unbolted the door before he even reached them. He nodded stiffly, then grabbed the door handle only to find it locked from the inside this time. He looked at them, but both just shook their heads knowing what she’d done. He drew a calming breath and knocked three times but she wouldn’t answer. He worked to keep his voice reasonable as he spoke to the barred door in front of him. “Miranda, please open the door.”
But she did not answer and it worried him more than it angered him.
“Miranda?”
Silence.
“If—ye do not answer me, I shall be forced to break this door down!”
“…I would never forgive ye if ye did.”
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, glad at least to know that she was alright, then he turned to the two guards beside him. “Where is Emma?”
“She went down to the kitchens I believe, m’lord.”
He drew a calming breath and turned back towards the locked door before him. “Miranda, I wish to talk with thee—now, if ye please.”
“We have said enough to each other for a lifetime, I believe.”
“Please open the door.” He said shortly.
She had no privacy and even now she knew how easily they could force her to concede, but somehow she had needed to feel as if she were free from them, if it only was by locking the door. And yet, she knew if she did not let him in he’d break down the door in his anger, for she could hear it even in his controlled tone. She sighed and walked to the door despite her wayward thoughts and lifted the latch hesitantly before she stepped back again.
He walked in and stopped as his eyes caught her from where she stood with her fingertips touching William’s cloak where it lay on the bed. “I do not wish to speak to thee, but even here I have no privacy of my own. I want ye to leave and not come to me again.”
He looked down and took a calming breath, his hands going to his hips. “Aye, ye may not wish to speak with me, but I need to speak with thee. For I need for thee to understand the things that forced Edmund’s hand, and not linger on the lies which Lydan has spoken to thee…” He drew another long breath before he continued, “There are things that ye do not understand, m’lady. Things that have to do with securing the titles and holding, things thy father-in-law saw fit not to tell thee for he wished not to burden thee with them. He sought only to protect thee and had hoped that somehow things would work out for the best and that ye would not have to know of it at all—but now I am obliged to speak of it.”
She turned, not sure if she could bear to hear more and yet the fear of not knowing made her answer. “Tell me what? Have I not heard enough already?!”
He sighed again and shifted on rigid legs as he watched her. “Ye, being William’s widow have become a pivotal point in the title and holdings of Whittington. If anything happens to Lord Sheridan—anything, Miranda—whether by ill intent at the hand of his enemies or by illness or accident or age; the castle and holding shall pass through ye for ye carry his only heir. The King shall see to it that regardless of thy feelings for the matter that Whittington is secured—and until that child is old enough to receive his title as Earl of Whittington, anyone that takes ye as their bride, whether willing or not, assumes the title of these lands. And if it is an enemy of Edmund’s, not even William’s child would be safe…! Do ye see, Miranda—it all hinges upon thee.”
She shook her head wearily not able to look at him even now. “I do not wish it to be so!”
His voice softened a bit. “Ye have little choice in the matter, albeit hard to hear, it is the truth, Miranda.”
She turned away from him holding herself as she spoke trying to comprehend his role in all this. “So ye—would take William’s title from his child?”
He paused, his voice low and purposefully calm. “Nay. ‘Tis true that Edmund brought Lord Hastings and I here in hopes that ye would find favor with us; but we on our part would have to agreed that we would make no claim on the titles or holdings here… Ye see, Lydan and I were the perfect solution; a suitor who would not steal the inheritance away from William’s child by oath and seal. And with ye wed, there was no threat to that which hung in the balances.” He paused and looked at her again. “Lydan would not bid for thy hand…but I have.”
She sank down on the edge of the bed and then lifted sad eyes to him. “Aye, ye bid for me, ‘twas but a game for thee… Lydan told me of that also.”
“Nay. I do not know what he told thee—but I bid for thy hand because I cared for thee and thy child as much as if it were my own…” He wished to tell her more, but he knew she was not ready to hear such from him yet.
She turned away at his words and took William’s cloak and held it to herself weary of all his words. “…Nay—please...just leave me now...”
He looked down and drew a long breath knowing how very much he too had upset her and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms to prove to her what he said was true, but he was sure she would just push him away for the hurt he saw in her eyes… He sighed as he watched her, then reluctantly stepped towards the door not wanting to leave. “I shall go—for now, but we shall speak of this again, Miranda; of that ye can be sure.” He left her then—but he left her with William’s memory lingering around her, and the bared truth cutting like a knife which in the end only drew her farther away from him and he knew it…!
It was late when Garrick went to his uncle’s chamber and sank into the chair beside his bed without a word.
The older man looked at him and sighed. “…I can see something is troubling thee.”
Garrick drew a long breath and looked up to meet weary reddened eyes. “Lydan told the girl how ye brought us here to bid for her hand and of the gold also. She—told me she wishes not to see me now.”
The older man closed his eyes with a sigh. “…I see. My nephew has been nothing but a disappointment to me of late… If it weren’t for the trouble I have had, I would have sent the man away long before this.” He paused then looked up as he continued, “…The girl ‘tis merely distressed, given time she shall come around again. In truth, she cares for thee, Garrick, I know it.”
He shook his head with a frown. “She meant every word of her anger… I could see it in her eyes, so I had no choice but to tell all of it.”
The older man merely looked down then nodded before he said, “The truth, though it was hard, was not as damming as the lies Lydan had conjured, I’m sure. Well, he had left thee with little choice in the matter, and what’s done
is done. Did she understand it all?”
“I think as much as possible; though I am sure it only managed to make her more afraid than what she was before.” He paused and rubbed the back of his neck before he continued. “She shall not deliver William’s child for yet another month, so there is time left for her to agree, though I shall not press her overly to do so.”
“She has no choice now in what must be done…”
He looked up at his uncle’s words. “Ye and I know it would be for the best, but I shall not force her hand, Uncle.”
Edmund looked at him with steady eyes. “But—I may have to, Garrick, I may have to.
Chapter Fifteen
Lydan and his men departed before anyone in the house even knew they were gone, but that in itself didn’t surprise Garrick or his uncle; and neither did the fact that Miranda had refused to see him again. She had shut herself up in the room and had not even allowed her maid to attend her. That worried him more than anything else; but yet he knew she needed time alone to come to terms with all that had been thrust upon her of late and he had promised himself that he would wait.
The day drew him in as a messenger arrived that told again of the trouble that had not ceased. Another fire had been lit, but this time it had been put out before any damage could have been done. What bothered him the most was how it had been lit, by a flaming arrow… Before this they had no proof as to how the deed was done, but now that he knew he could devise a plan to catch them! He opened the missive and read it again hoping beyond hope that it had nothing to do with Turin—for her sake!
Miranda paced the large room restlessly her mind whirling from the insurmountable problems that bore down on her with no answer at all to any of it! The child moved hard again making her stopped with a gasp as she closed her eyes. She was eight months along now, and it wouldn’t be much longer till God willing William’s heir was delivered into this world. But that in itself worried her, for she knew of women in the village who had died during childbirth, and of others who had delivered a child that did not survive. But she couldn’t bring herself to think of such a thing—William’s child had to live or she would have failed him…!
Debra Kay Leland Page 26
