Chapter 7
Justina shrunk back, recognizing Lord Damien. Her heart lurched in terror as her eyes shifted to Adam and protectiveness washed over her. What had he done to Adam? She overcame her fear and reached out, ripping Adam from his arms.
“I was showing him around the castle,” Damien explained, “and he fell asleep in the throne chair. He must have been more tired --”
“Stay away from him, you monster,” Justina growled, wiping some of Adam’s hair from his forehead and moving to the bed to lay him down.
Damien stood in the doorway for a long moment.
“I know who you are,” Justina snapped, whirling on him. “I know what you did. You are a killer. A murderer.”
Damien didn’t move. He stood silently, a dark shadow lit by the dancing torchlight in the hallway behind him. “I didn’t hurt him.”
“Stay away from him!”
Another heartbeat passed before Damien nodded and left the room, softly closing the door.
Justina sat on the bed beside Adam. In the soft glow of the firelight, Adam’s face looked pale. Her mind interposed the face of her dead father over Adam’s. Her trembling hand had wiped her father’s hair from his forehead, too. “Adam?” She didn’t know what she would do if anything happened to her brother.
He moaned softly and opened his eyes sleepily. When he saw her, a grin spread over his lips. “You should have seen the barracks,” he whispered.
Justina nodded as relief filled her. He was fine, just exhausted from so much excitement. “Shhh,” she said softly. “Go to sleep.”
“Can we stay another day?”
She wanted to leave as soon as possible, but how could she say no to her brother? He meant the world to her. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“I want to see the falcons...” His voice trailed off as he slipped into sleep.
Justina pulled one of the blankets over him. What was she going to do?
Monster. It was unnerving to hear the accusation here, in Acquitaine. Damien had come to believe he was more than that. He was loved by Aurora. That should be enough.
He entered the solar.
Aurora was bent over a table, studying a piece of parchment. She looked up as he entered, her face turning to joy. She slowly rose, and her happiness faded to concern. “What’s wrong?”
“It was me.” Damien looked away from her. “She recognized me.”
“Damien –” She reached out to touch him.
Damien pulled away, moving across the room to the hearth. He stared down into the dancing fire. “I knew this day would come.”
“What day?”
“When my past would catch up with me. When someone would recognize me.” He had been living on borrowed time; this life was too wonderful for him, almost a dream. He knew it couldn’t last.
“She hasn’t accused you of anything,” Aurora reasoned. “Are you certain she knows it was you?”
Monster. “I’m certain.”
“I shall speak to her. I am certain –”
“No.” Damien didn’t want Aurora to know any of the horrible murders he had committed in his other life. She already knew too much. “I will deal with it.”
“Damien.” She touched his shoulder, pulling him around to look at her. “You are my husband now. You are Lord of Acquitaine.”
Damien scowled in confusion.
She touched his cheek with affection. “You are not the person you were. You will never be that person again. We will speak to her, together. Explain -”
“Explain what?”
Aurora’s gaze swept his face.
“The only thing that matters to her is what I did. We could never explain. Not to her. And she will never understand.”
Aurora brushed his cheek with her fingers. “We’ll think of something.”
Damien stared at her crystal blue eyes. She was an expert of negotiation and compromise. A perfect diplomat. What she didn’t understand was that some people didn’t want to compromise. He nodded. They would find a way. With Aurora, all things were possible. He knew that as a fact. Because she had changed him. She had made him into an honorable man. He grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace. “I love you.” She was his life.
Gawyn rode hard all night to be back at Acquitaine. He was tired, and his steed was tired. They had accomplished the task of seeing the Hungars to the border. He had even waited until they disappeared in the darkness. Then, he had ridden with his men to Uncle Bruce’s farm to make sure he was unharmed. The men stayed there under Rupert’s orders, but Gawyn wanted to be back at the castle.
Now, he thundered into Castle Acquitaine just after the sun rose. He didn’t even wait for the stable boy to take the reins of his horse. He quickly dismounted, surprisingly anxious to see Justina. He just had this feeling that something was amiss. He walked into the keep. The entryway was overly crowded for that early in the morn. Someone must have just arrived at the castle. He scanned the crowd for Damien. His brother usually towered over the rest and was easy to spot, but there was no sign of him.
Gawyn spotted Aurora. Her face was bright with excitement. She was speaking to a noble lady, her hands clasping the lady’s. He glanced toward the stairs where the chambers were.
“Gawyn!”
He turned toward Aurora’s voice. For a brief moment, he caught sadness in her eyes. Then, it was gone behind the familiar façade of strength and beauty. He moved over to her.
“Gawyn, this is my cousin, Megan.”
Gawyn was anxious to find Justina, but he bowed and greeted her cousin. He was amazed at how much she looked like Aurora. Their hair was the same golden waves. Their lips were similar, full, and luscious. It was their eyes that were different. Megan had brown eyes. And she was younger. Maybe three or four summers younger than Aurora. “My pleasure, m’lady.”
Megan smiled.
“This is our captain of the guard, Gawyn.” Aurora linked her arm through Gawyn’s. “He is Damien’s brother.” She looked at Gawyn and there was seriousness in her eyes. “Gawyn has just ridden from the borders of Acquitaine. Did all go well?”
“Yes, m’lady. Our guests were escorted without incident.”
Aurora nodded. “Good. I hope you are not too tired this morn. I have further need of your services.”
Gawyn scowled slightly. She was trying to hide something from her cousin.
“Adam would like to see the falcons before he leaves,” Aurora said.
Tingles danced across the nape of Gawyn’s neck. Justina was leaving? So soon? Something must have happened. He wanted to ask what had happened, but knew Aurora was hiding something from her guests. Gawyn turned to go.
“Gawyn,” Aurora called.
Gawyn looked at her and there was anguish in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
He was confused as to the reason, but her apology only added to his anxiety. What had happened? He nodded and hurried to the spiral stairway leading to the second floor, taking them two at a time. The closer he got, the more he wanted to see Justina. His heart pounded with worry. At least she was unharmed. But Aurora’s apology concerned him greatly. What had happened?
As he neared the door, he heard Adam’s voice shouting, “I don’t want to leave! You promised. One more day!”
He didn’t hear Justina’s response; it was too soft. They were leaving. Why? He had, Aurora and Damien had, done everything they could to make them feel comfortable and welcomed. He paused at the door, wondering if he should disturb them. He was afraid if he didn’t knock, they would leave without saying goodbye. And he would never see her again. The thought was foolish. He knew where they lived. He could visit anytime. Still, the unease lingered. He lifted his hand to knock.
Justina opened the door. Her eyes widened at seeing him, and then her jaw clenched with anger.
Startled, Gawyn asked, “Is everything okay?”
She glanced back at Adam and then to him. “Fine. Why wouldn’t it be?” she snapped.
Gawyn was stunned at the sharpness in her tone. “I’ve come to take Adam to see the falcons.”
Justina straightened. “We’re leaving.”
Gawyn’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Without saying goodbye?”
Adam ducked beneath her arm. “She promised we could stay another day! And now, she lied to me.”
Gawyn’s gaze shifted to Justina. He didn’t want to interfere in their family dispute, but he wanted her to stay. “I barely got to spend time with you.”
“You did what you intended. You dropped us here and left.”
Gawyn couldn’t believe his ears. Was she angry that he had obligations? “Were you not taken care of?”
“I’m not a child who needs to be pampered.”
“You’re acting like one,” Gawyn retorted.
Her mouth dropped at the insult.
Gawyn sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. He was tired. “I hurried back as fast as I could. I’m sorry I left you.”
Justina nodded curtly, and her chin lifted. “You have no obligation to us. We’re just commoners who live on the outskirts of your lands. That’s all.”
“They are not my lands,” Gawyn corrected. Then, he shook his head. “Justina, I don’t understand. What happened? Have I done something to upset you?”
“She got sick last night,” Adam said. “It must have addled her brains.”
“Adam!” Justina snapped.
“That is no way to speak to a lady,” Gawyn reprimanded.
“She’s not a lady,” Adam whispered hotly and crossed his arms, disappearing into the room with a pout.
“If you’d like, I could escort your brother to see the falcons before you leave. That way, at least, he won’t be angry with you.”
Justina seemed to consider his idea. She lowered her gaze in thought.
Gawyn had no idea what had happened to make her so angry. There were dark rings under her eyes. Maybe she didn’t sleep well, but that was no reason to be so angry. No. Something had happened.
She glanced back toward Adam and sighed. “I suppose that would be acceptable.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Adam exclaimed, rushing forward and throwing his arms around her waist.
Gawyn grinned at the boy, but a swirling sadness threatened to spin him into an abyss inside of him. “I’d like for you to accompany us, but I will understand if you don’t feel well and would rather stay in your room.”
“It’s not my room.”
Again, Gawyn was taken aback at her tone. Her anger was incomprehensible. It seemed she was irritated at everything except her brother. “My pardons. I meant in this room.”
The furrow on her brow was testament to her unhappiness. She looked him over with a quick sweeping gaze. “When did you get back?”
Gawyn shook his head. “Just now. My horse is probably still in the ward.”
“You haven’t eaten yet?”
“It doesn’t matter. This is more important.”
He saw a softening in her lovely brown eyes and the furrowing in her brow smoothed. “We have sweets and fruit, if you’d like some.”
Gawyn glanced over her shoulder and saw the table near the hearth was covered with bowls of fruit and trays of sweets. Then, he looked back at her. “Justina, I don’t understand what I did to make you so cross. I’m sorry I had to leave. I really am. But the safety of Acquitaine is important to me. There are a lot of people who depend on me. And I won’t let them down.”
She looked away from him, but not before he noticed she was frowning again. Was that really what it was? That she felt he abandoned her?
“Will you come with us to see the falcons?” Gawyn asked.
She looked down for a long moment as if weighing her options. She glanced at Adam. “Yes. I will.”
Satisfaction and joy bloomed in Gawyn’s heart but beneath swirled despair.
Justina let Adam do all the talking. He had a hundred questions. She stayed behind them, trailing Gawyn and her brother. She was going to say no, that she didn’t want to accompany them. But then she thought about Adam. She didn’t want to leave him alone. Not after the terrible sight from last night. Seeing Adam’s limp body in that monster’s arms was horrifying. She wanted to know where Adam was every second of every day. That was the only reason she had accompanied them. It was dangerous, she knew. Because she couldn’t allow herself to have feelings for Gawyn. He was loyal to the killer. She couldn’t allow herself to get close to him.
Gawyn was exceptional with Adam. He easily answered all his questions, even the silly ones, without making Adam feel inadequate. Adam looked at him as if the moon rose and set with each word he said. It would be easy to open her heart to Gawyn. Adam had already done it. So, this was the last time she could come here with Adam. She couldn’t let him get hurt. Not physically and not emotionally. He hadn’t seen what she had seen. And he would certainly never understand the revenge she wanted desperately to exact.
Gawyn and Adam laughed together as one of the falcons swooped down low over their heads.
Justina gasped at the graceful way the bird flew, its wings barely batting, just gliding. Beautiful. The falcon swooped up and landed on a perch on the other side of the yard. In one of the open windows of the castle, she saw the monster watching them.
Lord Damien leaned slightly over the window ledge, gazing downward. His black hair tossed over his shoulders in a gentle breeze. He looked menacing and dangerous. But suddenly behind him, Lady Aurora appeared. She wrapped her arms around him and he hooked one of his arms around her waist to pull her close.
Justina cringed. How could she touch a killer? How could she love him? Didn’t she know his hands had blood on them?
Aurora whispered something to the monster. He grinned and bowed his head. She lifted up and pressed her lips to his. The tenderness between them was touching.
“It’s hard for Damien to be a lord. He wasn’t raised as a noble.” Gawyn had come up behind her.
“I know.” Justina looked at Gawyn. “I mean, he doesn’t look like a noble.”
Gawyn narrowed his eyes slightly and Justina turned back to watch them.
“He loves her very much, doesn’t he?” she asked.
Gawyn lifted his gaze to the window. “She is his world. She gave him a new life. I’m glad he found her.”
Justina stared at them. He loved her as much as she loved her father. As much as she... She tore her gaze from them. He still had the one he loved. Her father was long gone. It wasn’t fair.
She looked at Adam speaking to the falconer, an older man with a protruding stomach. She wet her lips and gritted her teeth, preparing herself. “You came to the farm that first night because Lord Damien sent you,” she whispered so Adam didn’t hear.
Gawyn nodded. “Yes. He asked me to ask you and Adam to dine at the castle.”
Her suspicion rose, as did the agony. It had all been a ploy. “Was that the real reason he sent you?”
Gawyn turned to her. “Justina –”
“Why would he ask a couple of commoners to dine at the castle? Why us? No. He sent you to find out.”
“To find out?” he repeated, confused.
She desperately tried to keep her composure. She did so like him, but betrayal hung around her like a dark cloud. “You work for Lord Damien.”
“Yes.”
She stared at his brown, trusting eyes. His strong chin. His furrowed brows. And her heart cracked. “Isn’t it more likely that he sent you to see what I knew?”
“Knew about what?”
“Stop it,” she commanded. “Don’t treat me like that. I fell in the street and I recognized him. I said I knew him. Isn’t it more likely that he sent you to see what I knew?”