by Alexa Aston
Landon drew a deep breath. “I need to stop him, my lady. I know I’m asking much of you. Is there any way you can speak the truth and help me confront Collin? It would help if I could also get the false priest to confess his part in the scheme, as well.”
Lady Druscilla paused in front of the fire, her back to him. Long minutes passed. Landon knew she fought within herself and could understand the turmoil. She was in an impossible situation—yet she was his only hope.
Turning, she said, “You’ve given me a choice of betraying my husband or seeing the truth come to light. I cannot in good faith go to God someday with this on my conscience. No amount of confession would clear my soul.” She nodded, determination shining in her eyes. “I will accompany you to Briarwood and see that Barnard goes with us.”
Landon stood and went to her, taking her hand and kissing it. “If you feel it’s not safe for you to return with Lord Reynard to Newfield, you would be welcomed to remain at Briarwood.”
A genuine smile lit her face. “That is beyond kind, my lord. What I would ask is that you provide me an escort to my older daughter’s estate. I like her husband better than my younger daughter’s. She will not turn me out. In fact, she has begged me to come to her for protection. I will be safe there.”
Tipping the cup to her lips, she finished the remainder of her wine. “I will send for Barnard. We will tell him he’s to accompany us to Briarwood. He’s been at Newfield for many years. I’m sure Reynard threatened him with dismissal or worse if he didn’t play along. Two of Barnard’s children are grown and wed. His last child is quite simple and needs extra care and his wife passed a few months ago. Instead of me, would you be willing to take on Barnard and this son at Briarwood? Once he speaks out against my husband, he could never return here.”
“I will be happy to put him to work at Briarwood and see that his son is cared for,” Landon assured her.
“Wait here. I will have a servant locate Barnard and have my things packed and sent to my daughter’s home. If it pleases you, we will leave at first light tomorrow for Briarwood.”
Landon bowed his head. “Of course, my lady.”
He went and stood by the fire, contemplating what would cause men such as Reynard Payne and Collin to swear upon such lies. Their words affected him and Cassiana directly but, indirectly, many more lives had been touched by this falsehood. He only hoped Cassiana was holding her own against the unstable pretender. He couldn’t reach her soon enough.
Lady Druscilla returned to the solar with two servants who carried a trunk. They took it into the bedchamber and he assumed they were packing her things. Moments later, the man who’d called himself Father Barnard entered. The moment he saw Landon standing in the room, his steps faltered. He looked poised like a bird ready to take flight.
“I would stay where you are, Barnard,” warned Lady Druscilla, her tone calm yet deadly. “You have much to answer for. If you flee, Lord Landon will merely chase you down and beat you within an inch of your life.”
The steward fell upon his knees. “Forgive me, my lady,” he cried.
“It’s not my forgiveness you need, Barnard. It’s Lord Landon’s.”
Barnard began to weep. “He forced me to lie, my lord. He said if I didn’t help him, he would turn me out without references or pay. I have a son, a special boy. A son who needs me.”
Landon went to him and grasped his elbow, bringing the man to his feet.
“I cannot understand the lie but I do understand wishing to protect your son. You love him and wanted no harm to come to him. I’m willing to overlook your actions against me but you must help me in return.”
“Anything, my lord,” the steward said hastily.
“Then you will come to Briarwood with me and confront Lord Reynard and the man calling himself Collin Campion.”
Barnard’s eyes went wide. He sputtered, no words coming from his mouth.
“I will be there, Barnard. So will Lady Druscilla. The truth will come out—and then you and your son will remain at Briarwood under my protection.”
“You mean it?” He glanced to Lady Druscilla and back to Landon.
“I do.”
Relief swept over the steward. “Then I will be happy to journey with you, my lord. I felt a stain so black on my soul. I hope you—and God—might forgive me.”
“I already have. The rest is for you to confess. Pack your things. We leave first thing tomorrow.” Landon thought a moment. “Do you ride, my lady? Barnard, do you?”
“I enjoy riding, Lord Landon,” the noblewoman said. “Barnard may ride with his son on one of the Newfield horses and keep it if he wishes.”
“Thank you, my lady,” the steward whispered.
“Not a word to anyone,” Landon warned.
“I promise to keep silent, my lord.” Barnard left the solar.
He looked to Lady Druscilla. “What about caring for Lady Juetta?” he asked.
She gave him a long look. “That will be my husband’s problem.”
Landon made a final decision. “I know you think it a poor idea, my lady, but I would like to meet Lady Juetta. If I see her alive with my own eyes, I can attest to that when we meet with your husband and his nephew.”
Doubts flickered in her eyes but she said, “As you wish.”
*
Landon accompanied Lady Druscilla up a narrow staircase that led to the turret room in which Lady Juetta resided. He wanted to bring her some little gift that might help ease them into conversation—if that was even possible. The recent frost had eliminated most of the flowers he might have picked as a bouquet so he’d asked for a small piece of wood and carved her a figure with his baselard before they’d eaten the evening meal.
An old woman hobbled down the staircase, carrying a tray. She paused when she saw them headed in her direction.
“Did she eat?” the noblewoman asked the servant.
“She did. More than usual. She even spoke to me some and she hasn’t in weeks.”
They let the servant pass and then continued to the top of the stairs. Hanging by the door was a set of keys that Lady Druscilla lifted.
“Let me go in first and see if I can smooth the way for you. I can’t guarantee that she will see you, much less speak with you.”
She placed the key in the lock and swung open the door. Stepping inside, she let the door remain partially open so Landon was able to catch a glimpse of the woman. Her hair was stark white, though her face seemed unlined except for a few lines about her eyes.
“Juetta, I’ve brought a visitor to see you.”
A low guttural sound came from the prisoner’s throat and then she erupted. “Not Reynard. I hate him! Go away, go away, go away!” She went to the wall and began pounding her forehead against it.
“Stop,” Lady Druscilla said. “I know not to bring your brother here. It’s a handsome knight that wishes to speak with you, not Reynard.”
The madwoman moved away from the wall. Landon could see blood running down her face from where she’d bashed her brow against the stone.
“How handsome?”
“Very handsome.”
Lady Juetta shrugged and plopped into a chair. Her head fell and she began humming off-key, wringing her hands in her lap.
Lady Druscilla turned and motioned to Landon. He entered the chamber and said softly, “Would you wait outside? I think she’ll be more willing to speak to me if you’re not present.”
Reluctantly, the noblewoman agreed and stepped into the corridor, closing the door behind her.
Immediately, Lady Juetta’s head popped up. An odd grimace twisted her lips awkwardly, as if she’d forgotten how to smile. She studied him carefully.
“You are handsome. But I won’t couple with you.”
“I didn’t expect you to do so,” Landon replied calmly. “I know you did that with Sir Darwin.”
Her eyes lit up in recognition of the name. “You know Darwin?” she asked eagerly.
“Nay, but I have met his son a
nd daughter.”
Lady Juetta frowned. “I didn’t know he had a daughter. I gave him a son. I thought I wanted one. With Darwin. I used to watch him in the training yard. Darwin stuck his thing in me and it hurt. It hurt more when the babe came out. He doesn’t come to see me anymore.”
Her rambling stopped suddenly. She twisted her finger around a lock of her hair and stared across the room at the wall.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Did you know Sir Darwin for long?”
“I only knew him in the Biblical sense, my lord,” she said slyly and cackled.
Landon pretended to take in her words and then asked, “You never wed him?”
“Wed him? Nay. We were never married. We just lay together and made a child. Darwin left. He never came back. I just wanted his babe. He was a beautiful man. Collin was a beautiful boy. He was afraid of me, though.” She gave him a knowing look. “They all are. Even Druscilla. Even though she pretends she isn’t.”
Lady Juetta leaned forward. “Do you know who she should be afraid of? Reynard. He beats her, you know,” she said matter-of-factly. “He got smarter. She used to come to me with a blackened eye or split lip. Then no more. But I would see the pain in her eyes. I’d touch her arm and she’d wince. Push back her sleeve and see the bruises lining her pale skin. Reynard is evil.
“And they think I’m the one who’s mad. He’s much worse because he likes hurting people.”
Landon couldn’t help but think of how she tried to drown her own child.
He opened his palm and extended it toward her. She looked at the wooden figure a moment and then snatched it from his hand, examining it with care. As she turned it over and over, she began humming again.
“I thought you would like it. I carved it for you.”
The noblewoman grinned. He could see several of her teeth were missing and her gums had blackened.
“This looks like me. When I was a girl. I was pretty, you know. But not anymore.”
“I thought since you’d birthed a son, you might want a daughter to play with.”
“Play, play, play,” she said in a sing-song voice as she moved from the chair to the floor. Then she wrapped her arms about her knees, the wooden figure still gripped in her hand, and began humming as she rocked back and forth.
Landon watched her slowly retreat from the world and go somewhere deep inside herself. At least he’d seen she was alive and would mention that to both Payne and Campion when he next saw them. When he returned to claim Briarwood.
And Cassiana.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cassiana threw back the bedclothes and dragged herself from her bed. She wasn’t looking forward to another day of pretending to be empty-headed and pacifying her half-brother, as she’d done for the past few days as more and more so-called guests arrived. She’d innocently asked Campion who all these arrivals were, knowing full well they were the noblemen who’d come to purchase her. The fact that she knew and couldn’t scream in outrage at the new earl had nearly driven her to murder.
Campion had assured her all of the noblemen who descended upon Briarwood were merely visiting at his invitation in order for him to get to know them better. He wanted to build relationships with his fellow Northumberland lords.
Or so he told her.
She dressed and braided her hair so she could go down for mass, something Campion never attended. She’d tried to gently explain to him that it set a poor precedent for the liege lord not to go to daily mass at his own chapel but he’d disregarded her words. At least the chapel was the one place, other than her bedchamber, that she could relax, knowing he would not be there observing her. She found him watching her several times and it made her very uncomfortable.
Stepping out her door, Cassiana saw Sir Garth Atwood lingering in the corridor. As she shut her chamber door, she greeted him wearily.
“Good morning, Sir Garth.”
“And good morning to you, my lady.” He gave her a ready smile, which she found tiresome. The knight was one of several men who’d followed her about ever since he’d come to Briarwood, trying to engage her in conversation and woo her.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to mass.”
“I’ll go with you.”
The knight offered her his arm but Cassiana ignored it and started down the hallway without him. Suddenly, his fingers tightened about her upper arm and whirled her around.
“I am most desperate to speak with you, Lady Cassiana. It cannot wait.”
She stared at him coolly. “Please release me, Sir Garth. I can’t imagine what you might have to say to me.”
“Only this.”
His other hand tightened about her arm and he pushed her against the wall. His body pressed against hers as his tongue invaded her mouth, causing her to gag. She tried to knee him in the groin but had no room to maneuver. Her hands pushed against his chest, trying to knock him away. Unsuccessful, she did the only thing she could think to get him off her—and sank her teeth into his roaming tongue.
Atwood yelped and jumped back, surprise on his face.
“Well done,” a voice said as applause began.
Cassiana saw Campion standing there.
“You bit me!” accused Atwood.
“You kissed me without my permission,” she retorted. “Permission that I will never grant.”
The knight looked to Campion, who said, “I will speak to her. Leave us.”
Atwood stormed off. Cassiana remained motionless, dreading to hear what Campion would say next.
“Sir Garth is a pleasant fellow,” he began.
“May we speak privately? In your solar?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Campion reversed direction and returned to the solar, Cassiana following. He seated himself and indicated a chair for her to take. She did, trying to bank her temper before she spoke.
“What is going on, Collin? A gaggle of men have descended upon Briarwood.”
He gave her a sly look. “Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out. I thought you were more clever than that, Cassiana.”
She glared at him. “They are suitors. For me,” she admitted.
“Indeed. They include the best noblemen of Northumberland, from the most prominent families.”
“I thought you wanted to get to know me.”
He shrugged. “I know everything I need to know. You are a tremendous beauty from a powerful family. You need a husband. I’m in the process of finding you one, especially before your beauty begins to fade.”
“I thought you offered me your protection!” she exclaimed.
“Part of that, dear sister, is marrying you off. You’ve been running Briarwood on your own for far too long. Oh, don’t show me false modesty. I’m not sure what game you play but I do know you’re as intelligent as any man and have managed this estate for several years. That means you’re in my way.”
“I’m no threat to you, Collin,” she hurriedly assured him, desperately wishing she could placate him.
He assessed her. “I’m not so sure about that.” Then he brightened. “Don’t worry. I’ve narrowed down your new husband to Sir Garth and two others. I’ll dismiss the rest of our visitors after they break their fast this morning and we’ll go from there and see how the bidding goes.”
“Bidding? Do you not understand how a marriage is arranged? The bride’s family supplies the bridal price to the groom’s. You are the one who offers a settlement, not the other way around.”
“True,” he agreed, “but because of your lovely face and luscious body, not to mention your fine pedigree, I have decided that I should be compensated for letting you go to another man.”
“That’s outrageous!” Cassiana cried.
“Mayhap it is—but I found plenty of men willing to pay for you.”
She stood, her body trembling in fury. “No other man will have me,” she told him.
“And why is that?” he asked.
“Because another man of my choice has alread
y had me. I’m no longer a virgin,” she proclaimed.
Campion leaped to his feet, anger pouring off him in waves. He slapped her so hard that it knocked her to her knees. Cassiana grasped the leg of the chair next to her, trying to steady herself while the flashes of stars faded. Then Campion yanked her to her feet by her braid, causing her scalp to scream in pain.
His hands dug into her shoulders and he shook her. “Who?” he demanded. “Who has sullied you?”
Cassiana spit in his face.
Campion turned bright red. He released her and wiped the spittle from his cheek with his sleeve. Then he struck her again. Pain exploded along her cheek. She bit her tongue and tasted blood.
Once more, his fingers captured her upper arms, squeezing so tight that she knew she’d find ten separate bruises along them come tomorrow.
“Was it de Blays?” he hissed.
“It doesn’t matter who it was,” she said, wanting to protect Landon. “I’m damaged goods now. No nobleman is going to pay you for me. In fact, I could be with child right now. You might as well send me to a convent and be done with it.”
His grip tightened. “Nay. Not if I hurry and wed you today. No one need ever know you’re no longer a virgin.”
“I won’t speak the vows,” she said stubbornly.
“I’ll make you,” he promised. Campion thought a moment. “Who is that squire that’s always following you about, doing your bidding? Justin, mayhap. That’s his name, isn’t it?”
Cold fear settled in her belly.
“How would you like to watch me torture him? Cut off each finger, one by one, as he screams in agony.”
“He’s only a boy! And he’s done nothing wrong. No one would help you do such an abominable thing.”
Campion’s smile spoke of pure evil. “They wouldn’t have to. I’d be happy to do it myself. Besides, who would speak out against me? I’m the Earl of Briargate. I can do whatever I want.” He shrugged. “I could say I caught the boy stealing. Cut off both his hands, to start.”
