CHAPTER THIRTY
It was early evening and the castle was lit spectacularly in honor of the earl’s visit. The warmth of the day still lingered and every window of the castle was open, allowing the sweet fragrances of nature to waft in on the evening breeze.
A huge feast had been prepared for the hundreds of people that would be dining this evening. Servants flowed throughout the structure, assisting, dressing, serving, and bathing the revered occupants. The air about was alive with the importance of the event and the enormity of the situation.
This night had to be perfect.
Josephine was high in her rooms, waiting patiently as Madelaine finished dressing her hair. She was clad in the most exquisite silk gown, white in color, that had been part of the wedding gifts from the earl. He had sent a message along with the dress, specifically asking that she wear it to the feast tonight. The message had the tone of a direct order and she angrily obeyed, hating herself for complying.
As Josephine sat thinking about the message from the earl, the angrier she became. How dare he order her about! And how dare she cave in like a weak, spineless woman! She was Lady Josephine de Carron, cousin of the king and heiress to the Earldom of Ayr. At least, she had been. Still… she would not take orders; she would give them.
Abruptly, she stood up, knocking the brush from Madelaine’s hand.
“I will not wear this dress tonight,” she said firmly and turned to the massive wardrobe that lined one wall. “I will find something else.”
Madelaine was aghast. “My lady, why not? ’Tis a lovely gown!”
Josephine swung to the maid and the woman visibly cowered. Her jaw muscles flexed and her lips pressed into a thin smile. “It was a lovely gown,” she said as she deliberately stepped on the hem of the dress and stood up, ripping a large portion of the skirt from the bodice. “But alas, a terrible accident occurred as I was dressing and the dress was ruined. I am sure that that earl will understand.”
Madelaine looked at her in shock. Then, she suppressed a grin. “My lady, yer bravery astounds me,” she said softly. “His request was a bit demanding.”
Josephine’s eyebrows lifted “A bit? Make no mistake; it was a command. And I will not do it.”
Madelaine’s expression was one of approval. “I can see that ye relent to no man, my lady. Ye have my respect and admiration.”
For the first time, Josephine felt Madelaine was on her side. Even so, she remembered what she’d been told; that the woman was a sometime mistress of the king. Still, she really didn’t care if this made it back to the king.
“Then help me select a new garment,” she said.
Madelaine helped her remove the dress first, handing it over to a pair of hovering servants. Josephine, in her shift, then stood alongside Madelaine as the two scrutinized the other dresses in the wardrobe.
“What of the red garment?” Josephine asked, as she pulled out a red silk surcote, studying it. “This will make me look entirely wicked.”
Madelaine was looking at the collection of dresses as if hypnotized. “Or the black?” she breathed. “Black for mourning. Black for the loss of innocence.”
Josephine looked at Madelaine, hearing something in her tone. There was sorrow there as she spoke, and Josephine was affected by the depth of her words. Something in her expression suggested that Madelaine knew exactly what the loss of innocence meant. If she was the mistress of the king, then it was probably something she’d experienced firsthand.
Josephine had only spent a short amount of time around the king, enough to know that he was lascivious at best. Perhaps he’d stolen poor Madelaine’s innocence. She tossed the red dress aside.
“Then black it is,” she said quietly.
Josephine was dressed in the exquisite black silk, a surcote with a massive skirt to it, elaborately embroidered, and Madelaine went back to dressing her hair. She pulled the front portion of Josephine’s hair back and secured it at the crown of her head with a jewel-encrusted clip. Then, she gathered up the whole wonderful mane and secured it at the nape of her neck with a black silk ribbon embroidered with tiny crystal beads. The last step was the rose fragrance, daubed over her entire neck, back, and wrists.
Josephine gazed back at herself in the polished mirror, noting the long, graceful neck, the creamy shoulders, and the swell of her breasts. She had to admit that she looked rather beautiful. Madelaine finished by swabbing red-tinted salve on her lips, making them seem all the more tempting and full. The entire picture was startling.
There was a knock on the door and Madelaine rushed to open it. Josephine turned defiantly to the door, certain that it was the earl, and braced herself for a fight. Much to her surprise, it was not the earl.
It was the king.
Alexander entered the room, his eyes falling appreciatively on his young cousin. In fact, he had that lascivious look that Josephine had seen before.
“Josephine,” he said, as he reached out and took her hand. His eyes raked all over her. “You are incredibly lovely. But why black? I was told that the earl requested you to wear the white dress he sent you.”
Josephine curtsied formally. “My lord,” she greeted. “The white dress was accidentally torn. It will not be repaired in time for the feast.”
She didn’t seem upset by it and that piqued Alexander’s curiosity. “Then why black? There are many other colors in your wardrobe.”
“Black is the color of sadness, and I am sad.”
He looked at her with a pout. “My sweet little cousin,” he said. “Have I made your life so miserable? You will be a very rich and very powerful woman. Certainly, that is some cause for happiness.”
Josephine could tell that he truly did not understand her plight and she felt a certain amount of pity for a man who was so narrow-minded. But she also felt a great deal of resentment. He had no idea of the hell he was condemning her to and if he did, he didn’t care. Either way, it was an appalling prospect.
“Nay, my lord, it is not,” she said frankly. “I know you believe this to be a great honor, but it is not to me. I want to go home to Torridon and marry Andrew.”
Alexander hardened at what he perceived to be an ungracious attitude. “But I am giving you the opportunity to start a new and prestigious life as a countess,” he said, leaving no room for discussion. “Now, close your eyes. I have brought you a wedding gift.”
Reluctantly, Josephine obeyed. She didn’t like the idea of closing her eyes with this man in close proximity, and her body was taut with uncertainty. She felt something very cold go around her neck.
“Open your eyes,” he commanded gaily, directing her towards the mirror.
Josephine opened her eyes and her hands flew to her neck, touching the necklace as she stared at her reflection. A bejeweled necklace clung to her skin, its incredible brilliance sparkling like a million stars. It was an expensive and outrageous gift, and she did not feel comfortable accepting it.
“My king,” she breathed, her eyes glued to the bejeweled strand. “This is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.” Suddenly, she stepped back from the mirror and faced him. “But I cannot accept it. This is far too generous.”
He looked confused at her refusal. “It is a gift, Josephine. My wife selected it herself,” he said. “You will accept it.”
He was giving her an order. To defy an earl was one thing, but to defy the king was another thing. And since the queen had a hand in selecting the gift, Josephine felt as if she truly could not refuse. With a deep breath for resolve, she forced herself to curtsy again.
“I thank you, my lord.”
Although she uttered words of thanks, still, she was wary. The necklace was a gift to be given from a husband to a wife, or from one lover to another. She began to suspect that the necklace came with strings attached when she noticed the lustful gleam in the king’s eyes. Instinctively, she moved away and put distance between them.
Alexander noticed. One would have been blind not to see that Josephine didn’t want to be near him. In fact, she’d been standoffish since they’d first met, and he suspected why. At least, he thought he did.
“You fear me, Cousin?” he asked softly. “Why? Have I frightened you somehow?”
Josephine turned to him. She felt braver with several feet between them. “I do not fear you, my lord,” she said. “I respect and admire you.”
If he believed her, he didn’t give any indication. He simply continued to stare at Josephine until her skin literally crawled from his cloying gaze. There was something so dirty about the way he looked at her. Eventually, he closed the distance between them. He came to within inches of Josephine and she saw his hand come up to her face. It was a struggle for her not to pull away as he gently grasped her chin and looked her in the eye.
Josephine stood her ground, but she was terrified. She could not refuse him if he wanted to seduce her. And physically, she was no match to fight him. Strangely, she felt a great deal of anger at his boldness, but she also felt a great deal of disgust at herself for allowing him to have power over her.
But he was the king, and she was his subject. She prayed she wasn’t going to go the way of Madelaine, claimed by a man she could not refuse. Alexander’s breath was hot on her face.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Josephine,” he whispered. “I should like to get to know you better.”
She lowered her gaze, her lashes fanning against her cheek. “Ask me any question, my lord, and I should be happy to answer you,” she said. “As I would like to get to know you better as well. I understand you knew my mother. Mayhap you could tell me about her, what you knew of her in your youth.”
A crushing blow to the king’s intentions. Josephine happened to glance at him as her words sank in, and she saw the flame of lust extinguishing. Wielding her mother’s name like a weapon, the only weapon she had, it had worked the desired effect.
But Alexander wasn’t pleased about it. His hand dropped like a stone from Josephine’s face and he cocked an eyebrow at her. The woman was cleverer than he had given her credit for, knowing that mention of Lady Afton would remind him of the person he toyed with. Lusting after his own family, as it were.
Disillusioned, and defeated, he turned away.
“As children, your mother and I were quite close,” he said. “She was a bit older than I and quite beautiful. She would be pleased to know that her daughter can thwart the plans of men with less than honorable intentions with nothing more than a few words.”
Josephine looked at him incredulously, realizing he was fully admitting his lust for her. But she also caught an amused glimmer in his eye and they were soon grinning at each other knowingly. Josephine knew his mind and she had established a line he would think twice before crossing.
“Do you wish the necklace returned?” she asked.
He scratched his head with a smirk. “Nay,” he insisted. “It is your wedding gift from me and Marie. That, and a manor house outside Selkirk. It comes with a village of nearly two hundred acres of land.”
Josephine was genuinely touched by his generosity. Maybe he did realize the terrible pit he was casting her into and was trying to make it as attractive as possible. But she was going to press him on the issue of the manor house.
“Thank you very much, my lord,” she said. “You are most gracious. Might I make a request?”
Now he looked at her a bit warily. “What is it?”
She wasn’t shy about telling him. “That the manor house, and all of its holdings, will be placed in my name only,” she said. “The earl will not be able to touch it. I want it to be mine alone.”
To her surprise, he smiled at her. Then, he laughed. “Josephine, you are a shrewd and wise woman,” he said. “I can see that you possess more in your head than most of your countrywomen combined. Of course, the manor house will be yours entirely, as well as the title it carries. But I do not suppose you care about a title, do you?”
There was some humor in his question, surprisingly, and she shrugged. “I was once the heiress to the Ayr earldom,” she said, as she cocked her head comically. “Soon, I shall be the Countess of Annan and Blackbank. What is the meaning of one more title?”
“Nothing, of course,” he agreed with mock seriousness. “But the manor house comes with the title of Lady Ashkirk.”
She bowed her head. “Thank you, my lord.”
With all of that behind them, Alexander had a new respect for his young cousin, who was quite cunning in spite of her youth. He reminded her a good deal of her mother. A seed of respect for the woman sprouted and he held out his hand to her.
“Come, my beauty,” he said. “The castle abounds with guests who, I am sure, wait at this very moment in the dining hall with strained patience.”
Josephine looked at the outstretched hand, knowing he meant to take her to the earl, and all of the ease she’d felt with the conversation over the past few moments was gone. Now, she felt a good deal of apprehension. She’d already fended the king off, but she wasn’t so sure her luck would hold out with her intended. The best way to fend him off would be to stay away from him, and that was exactly what she intended to do. Andrew’s advice suddenly popped into her head – tell them your woman’s cycle has begun, he’d said.
It was the best excuse she could think of.
“I am afraid I am not feeling very well this evening, my lord,” she said, putting her hand to her belly. “I… I should like to meet the earl when I am feeling and looking my best. And unfortunately, that is not tonight.”
Alexander peered at her. “You seem well enough to me.”
She shook her head, rubbing at her belly. “I fear it has taken all of my strength to speak with you,” she said. “I feel rather weak and… faint.”
His eyebrows came together. “Faint?”
She nodded, reaching for the nearest chair and trying not to be overly dramatic about it. She didn’t want it to seem as if she’d suddenly taken ill the moment the king invited her to attend him to the hall, but that’s exactly what it looked like. She had to make it seem believable.
“It comes over me sometimes,” she said. “Monthly, I mean.”
Alexander was looking at her as if he had no idea what she meant until, abruptly, her meaning settled. Suddenly, he didn’t seem so suspicious and, much as Andrew had predicted, he moved away from her.
“I see,” he said, rather clipped. “Well… then mayhap I shall excuse you from the feast tonight. Are… are you sure you do not feel up to it?”
Josephine shook her head. “Alas, I would be grateful for the reprieve,” she said. “My sister just arrived earlier today and I will have her brew some herbs for my affliction. I should feel better in a day or two.”
Alexander eyed her somewhat dubiously, wondering why she hadn’t mentioned this curse before, but he realized their conversation would have been no place to speak of such matters. He didn’t even want to speak of it now. With a sigh of frustration, he moved to the door.
“The earl will be disappointed, Josephine,” he said. “Mayhap, I will arrange for you two to meet on the morrow.”
Josephine nodded. “If I am feeling better, I would be honored,” she said. “But you understand… I do not want to greet the man and then faint because I am feeling so poorly.”
“Of course not.”
“Thank you for your understanding, my lord.”
Alexander wasn’t sure he understood, but he wasn’t going to press her. He didn’t want her fainting, either, because it would embarrass him. Now, he realized that this entire evening was going to be a problem because the earl had already expressed his desire to meet his betrothed when he arrived earlier in the day. Now, he would have to pacify the man somehow. Reaching the door, he paused before stepping through.
“May I inquire how you are feeling on the morrow?” he asked unhappily.
Josephine nodded. “I would be pleased, my lord.”
“Shall I send my wife to you?”
“There is nothing she can do. This, too, shall pass.”
Alexander left without another word, shutting the door behind him. Josephine sat there a moment, listening, wondering if he was going to enter again and demand she attend the feast. He’d appeared most displeased when he’d left. But he didn’t come back and, after several long seconds, she jumped up and ran to the chamber door, bolting it and saying a silent prayer for Andrew’s advice.
A smile spread across her face as she realized just how right he’d been. At least for tonight, she had a reprieve.
*
Returning to the rented room that he shared with Sully well after sunset, Andrew was surprised to find that Sully was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t in their chamber, nor was he in the common room. He saw Esme and made haste to avoid her. But the woman called his name and rushed towards him, so he held his ground, wondering what she had to say to him. He was fully prepared to make any and all excuses as to why they could not spend time together but, much to his surprise, she had a message from Sully to deliver.
Justine has arrived at the castle and I have gone to stay with her. Find me there.
It was a most surprising message. Now, Sully evidently had a legitimate reason to be in the castle being that his wife had arrived from Torridon. He wondered why Justine had come but, in truth, it was no great mystery – her sister was here, as was her husband, and she probably thought she was coming to help them both.
It was not welcome news, either.
Andrew had to shake his head. His mission to help Josephine was growing by leaps and bounds. Now it was turning into a crusade for her sister as well as her sister’s husband. He wondered who else would show up in a valiant attempt to help Josephine. Unfortunately, the more people who came to help her, the more difficult it would be. Soon enough, Alexander would catch on to what was happening, and that would be a problem. Andrew knew he had to get to Josephine to find out what had changed since he was out purchasing the Demon Slayer.
He wished he could bring the weapon to show it to her, for he was certain she would be impressed by it, but he had to leave it behind at the inn. It was in a beautiful sheath, and he wrapped the blade and the sheath up in linen from one of the two beds. Slicing a hole in one of the mattresses, he pulled out a good deal of the stuffing and shoved the wrapped sword up into the mattress to hide it. It was such a magnificent piece that he didn’t want to take the chance that someone might enter his room while he was gone and take it. He didn’t care much about the other possessions he’d brought with them, but the sword… he cared about that.
It had a purpose.
Once the sword was safely hidden away, he proceeded to don his apple man disguise that he had been using. He would then make his way into the castle just before the sentries shut up the gates for the night.
As Andrew slipped from the tavern, Esme was watching him. She was so very hurt that he hadn’t given her any of his time since the day of his arrival, the day he’d given himself over to her. Esme had been with more than her share of men, but never any like Andrew. Tall, proud, and handsome, he was too perfect for her and she knew it.
But that didn’t make her want him any less.
Ever since that lovely moment they’d spent together, when he’d touched her so sweetly, she had been making plans for her and Andrew. But it had been very difficult when she couldn’t even speak to him. She knew he had business at the castle, business that had him sneaking in and out of the gates. But the fact that he had no time for her hurt her deeply. If the man wasn’t going to give her any time voluntarily, then she was going to have to do something about that.
She was going to have to take matters into her own hands.
Once Andrew was gone, she slipped up to his rented room and let herself in. The room was dark, having hardly been slept in since Andrew and his companion arrived. The hearth hadn’t been lit in days. Over in the corner, she could see saddlebags and other possessions shoved down so they were almost hidden by one of the two beds in the chamber. The sight of the baggage gave her an idea because she knew he would have to return for them.
And when he did, she’d be waiting for him.
The man wasn’t going to ignore her again.
*
Unaware that, back at the inn, Esme was making plans, Andrew was lost to plans of his own. He had done a good deal of thinking on this day. It had started last night after he’d left Josephine but, as the day dawned, his thoughts became more and more intense. He was presuming that he would win this fight against his brother, which meant he would inherit the earldom of Annan and Blackbank. It meant he would inherit a house and hold that had been ruled by a devil since his father died, and he was genuinely concerned for the state of Haldane Castle and what he would find upon his triumphant return. It would be up to him and up to Josephine to restore what had been damaged. She was such a strong woman. Already, he felt pride in her that he’d never felt in anyone, ever. With her by his side, he knew he could restore his family’s good name.
He needed that chance.
But it meant giving up the life of a mercenary. As much as that line of work had sustained him, he knew he couldn’t keep it up. It wouldn’t be proper for an earl to continue mercenary ways and fight other people’s battles. He would remain at Haldane and become the benevolent lord of the land, and raise his sons to be fine men who would honor the d’Vant name.
It was a life he found himself hoping for.
But it wouldn’t be his until he could rid the world of his brother. As he entered the grounds of the castle, Andrew was becoming well acquainted with the garden that wasn’t far from Josephine’s chamber. As the sun set to the west, he embedded himself in the garden to watch her window and the comings and goings, making sure he wouldn’t be seen as he entered her chamber. He’d managed to scale the wall quite nicely because of the uneven stones and the corbel beneath the windows. It hadn’t taken him long but if anyone was around, he would be seen. Therefore, he wanted to wait until the feast in the castle commenced and people were mostly gathering in the hall. When the grounds had quieted down, he could make his move.
But it was a difficult wait. He remained crouched in the same position, behind a heavy gathering of vines that went up the side of the garden wall, for at least a couple of hours. That was hard on his joints and, more than once, he had to shift slightly to ease up the pain. But, eventually, the grounds stilled and he could hear the sounds of voices and music in the distant hall.
Knowing he had to take his chance, Andrew emerged from out of the vines and quickly made his way to the side of the building. Like a spider, he went straight up the wall, gripped the big stone corbel beneath Josephine’s window, and heaved himself in.
Coming over the windowsill, he lost his balance and fell to the floor, listening to Josephine gasp. When he rolled to his knees, she was sitting in a chair with a heavy bound book in her hands. Andrew flashed her a big smile, perhaps to cover his embarrassment at literally falling into her chamber, and Josephine burst out in giggles.
The heavy book was set aside and she rushed to him just as he lurched to his feet. But she hit him so hard, her arms going around him, that he grunted by the force of her momentum and nearly fell down again.
“Where have you been?” Josephine asked. “I have been so very worried for you.”
Andrew hugged her tightly, relishing the feel of her in his arms. “I am well, love,” he said. “Why were you worried?”
Josephine loosened her grip enough to look him in the eye. “Because Sully did not know where you were,” she said. “You did not come to me today, so I assumed the worst.”
He shook his head. “I cannot come to you in the daylight,” he said frankly. “Everyone would see me. Besides… after seeing my brother arrive today, I had something important I had to do. You have not yet been introduced to him, have you?”
Josephine shook her head. “Nay,” she said, “although the king tried, not an hour ago. I used your excuse and it worked.”
“What excuse?”
She lifted her eyebrows in a dramatic gesture. “My mysterious woman’s cycle.”
He grinned. “Ah,” he said in understanding. “I told you it would work.”
She giggled, not nearly as embarrassed as she was the first time they discussed the subject. “It did,” she said, “and you were correct.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and led her over to the bed. “Say it again.”
“What?”
“That I was correct.”
It was a show of arrogance and she turned to him, frowning. “Why should I say it again?”
He grinned, pinching her chin gently. “Because that is something I always wish to hear from your lips. I am never wrong.”
Josephine shook her head reproachfully at him but didn’t argue. She was too glad to see him to chide him for being so arrogant, even in jest. Sitting down on the bed, she pulled him down to sit beside her.
“So much has happened today that I do not know where to start,” she said. “Where did you go today that was so important?”
He held her hands, bringing them to his lips for a gentle kiss. “To a smithy,” he said. “There is a remarkable street here that I think you should like called the Street of the Blacksmiths. There are many blacksmiths making a variety of things, from mail to swords and shields. Someday I shall take you there to meet a smithy named Abe. He has made the most miraculous sword, which I purchased from him.”
Josephine was hanging on his every word. “Sword?” she said, cocking her head curiously. “But you already have a sword.”
He nodded. “I know, but this is a special sword,” he said, sobering. Suddenly, he didn’t seem so excited about his purchase. He seemed rather serious. “After seeing my brother today, I realized that an ordinary sword will not be enough. Of course, the sword I use in battle is a fearsome weapon, but I want to have something more than that. I want something forged by the gods, something that will end my brother’s life without question. I am not sure how I can describe it to you, only that I had a great need for a special weapon. Something deadly and terrible. I found it at Abe’s stall.”
Josephine was quite interested. “Where is it?”
He squeezed her hands, fondling her fingers. “I had to leave it at the inn,” he said. “I could not bring it to show you, although I wanted to. It has a name.”
“It does? What is it?”
“Demon Slayer. It was named that when I purchased it, so it must be an omen. It was meant to kill my brother.”
It was an ominous title for a sword. As someone who had wielded a sword for the past two years against Colin Dalmellington, Josephine appreciated a good weapon. But to hear the name of this sword… Demon Slayer… it sounded so terribly menacing. Somehow, the name alone instilled confidence.
“If you are happy with it, then I am happy with it,” she said. “But you did not even tell Sully where you went.”
He shook his head. “I did not,” he said. “There was not the opportunity. But when I returned, I received a message from Sully saying that Justine had arrived and he’d come to the castle to be with his wife.”
Josephine nodded. “Justine and Donald came today,” she said. “But Sully… while you were buying your sword, he was in trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
Now it was her turn to clutch his hands, feeling a little guilty for what she was about to tell him, as if it were all her fault. “I became worried that you had not come to me today,” she said. “I did not even stop to think that it was because it was daylight and you did not want to chance being seen. I thought something had happened to you, so I went looking for you.”
He eyed her, warily. “Joey, you should not have done that,” he said. “You know how dangerous it can be for you.”
She nodded, hanging her head. “It was not dangerous for me, but for Sully,” she said. “Ridge de Reyne followed me from the castle and when he saw Sully, he arrested him and put him in the dungeon.”
Andrew’s expression hardened. “Damnation,” he hissed. “Was there a battle?”
She could see he was worried and hastened to reassure him. “There was no battle,” she said quickly. “Sully surrendered because Ridge threatened him should he not. So, de Reyne sent him to the dungeon and then released him when Justine arrived. Ridge said that he had to show Sully that the man couldn’t act against the king, so putting him in the dungeon was a warning. If there is a next time, I am assuming he will put him back in the dungeons and leave him there.”
Andrew pondered the situation with Ridge. “It was Ridge who brought you to Edinburgh,” he said. “And now he follows you? He could be watching the door of this chamber at this very moment.”
Josephine knew that was a possibility. “He does seem to keep a close eye on me,” she said. “But it is strange, Andrew… when he first took me from Torridon, I fought him, and I even tried to bribe him. I told him I would give him money if he would simply tell the king he could not find me. But he refused. He said it gave him no pleasure to abduct me, but he had to because he was simply following orders. It’s as I told you before – Ridge is a decent man. I believe that he truly wants to help me but does not know how to do it and not violate his oath to the king.”
He eyed her a moment. “Ridge de Reyne is a powerful knight,” he said. “We know that he keeps his eye on you.”
“It is his duty.”
“It could be more than a duty, Joey.”
It occurred to her what he meant and she was indignant. “I do not care if there is more to it,” she said. “Ridge has been kind to me, at least as kind to me as he can be, but that is all there is to it. I have no interest in him. My only interest is in you.”
Andrew smiled faintly, seeing that he’d offended her. “I know,” he said, reaching up to touch her cheek. “But Ridge may have some manner of fixation on you. You are a beautiful woman, after all. How could he not?”
Josephine was uncomfortable thinking that Ridge might have something other than platonic feelings for her.
“I do not wish to discuss Ridge de Reyne,” she said, looking away. “I only wish to discuss us and what is to come. You have purchased a terrible sword to kill your brother with. When do you intend to do it?”
Andrew kissed her hands once more before standing up and stretching his long body wearily. He noticed food and drink on the table near the hearth and he headed in that direction.
“I am not sure,” he said. “Has anything been said to you about the wedding?”
She watched him pour himself a measure of wine into a fine crystal cup. “Nay,” she said. “The only thing that has been discussed with me is being introduced to the earl. Beyond that, nothing more.”
Andrew drank deeply before answering. “I have been thinking about this,” he said. “I have thought of little else. It is my assumption that the wedding will be here, at Edinburgh, so that the king can attend. Of course, I do not know this, but that is my assumption. If I attack my brother within the confines of the castle, it is possible that I will be arrested before I can complete my task. If that happens, I will either be killed or put in the dungeons, and you will have to marry my brother. I will not be able to help you.”
Josephine stood up from the bed, making her way to him. “But what of Sully?” she asked. “He can step in if you have been disabled, and…”
He cut her off, looking at her. “Do you really want Sully going up against my brother?” he asked. “Did you see the man today when he arrived?”
Josephine sighed heavily, leaning against the wall next to the table. “Aye,” she said. “I saw the back of him as he passed by. And, nay, I do not want Sully fighting the man. In truth, it is not his battle.”
Andrew poured himself more wine. “Exactly,” he said. “It is not his battle. It is mine. Therefore, for Sully and Donald and anyone else who wishes to help you, it is not their burden to bear. It is mine. But my thoughts are this – if the wedding is here, you will have to go through with it. For the reasons I mentioned, I will not stop it. But it is my suspicion that my brother will want to return to Haldane immediately to celebrate his wedding at his own castle, meaning he will leave Edinburgh and head home immediately afterwards. I will catch him on the road as soon as he leaves the city. There will be less likelihood that I will be stopped or arrested in that case. I will find him on the road and I will kill him before he can touch you.”
Josephine didn’t like the idea of having to marry the man before Andrew was able to kill him, but she understood somewhat.
“Then I must go through with the wedding if it is here, at Edinburgh?”
“Aye, love.”
She sighed again. “If you believe that is best.”
“I am not sure where there is any other choice, as much as I hate to say it.”
Josephine was feeling sad and afraid. She moved away from the wall, heading back over to the bed. “I cannot believe that I will have to marry the man, but I understand why I must,” she said, throwing herself on the mattress. “So many people are at Edinburgh to help me but, in truth, no one can. The king has made this betrothal, and no one can break it. No one can stop the wedding from happening. If you try, they will arrest or even kill you. If Sully tries, he has Torridon to lose. I would not let Donald or even Nicholas help – they could not survive in a fight against your brother. Everyone is here to help me, but everyone is helpless. All they can do is watch while I am forced into a death sentence.”
Andrew heard the defeat in her voice, the same defeat he heard the night before. “I know you are scared, love,” he said. “I am scared, also. Mayhap, it would be better to steal you out of Edinburgh during the night and flee to France or Spain. But the truth is that my brother would still be alive, and my mother would be unavenged. I am sorry if my sense of vengeance is affecting my decisions, but I have lived with it for so long. I know that if we were to flee and never return, it would eat at me until I returned to finish what I had always intended to do. I cannot have that vengeance stand between us, Joey. I am afraid if I do not kill my brother as I have always planned, then that is exactly what would happen.”
Josephine looked at him. “I know you have a strong sense of duty, of what you must do,” she said. “I would never ask you not to fulfill your vow and I would never ask you to change. I trust you in that you will do what is right, for both of us.”
He needed to hear of her faith in him. It was as important to him as eating and breathing. Now that they were approaching a crucial point in all of this, it was important that they had complete trust between them. Quietly, he went to sit next to her, taking her hands in his once more.
“Mayhap I cannot give up my sense of vengeance for you, but there is something I will do for you,” he said quietly. “Once we are married, I intend to give up my mercenary ways. I will turn the army over to Thane, and you and I will live at Haldane and raise our children. I would rather stay with you, as your husband, than fight a thousand wars for a million marks of gold. You are what is most important to me, Josephine de Carron. I will spend the rest of my life proving it.”
Josephine smiled at the sweet declaration. “As you are what is most important to me, too,” she said. “I will not continue my warring ways after we are married, either. There is no need. I will leave Torridon to Sully and Justine, and find great satisfaction in simply being the wife of Andrew d’Vant.”
He leaned forward, capturing her sweet lips in his. “It will be a good life, I swear it.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and his big arms went about her. “And I cannot wait to live it, with you,” she murmured, her face in his neck. “You are my sun and my moon, Andrew. Never forget that.”
He held her against him, thinking he’d never heard such sweet words. He was about to tell her that when her door rattled as if someone were trying the latch. The door was bolted, so they were not able to enter. As Andrew and Josephine froze, someone knocked on the door.
“My lady?” It was Madelaine. “My lady, will ye open the door?”
Josephine sighed sharply. “It is my maid,” she whispered. “If I do not open the door, she will tell the king. You had better leave.”
Andrew was already standing up, pulling her with him. He kissed her swiftly. “I will see you tomorrow at this time,” he said, rushing towards the window. But he was also shaking his finger at her. “Do not come looking for me. If you need to get word to me, send Sully since he seems to be able to move about freely now.”
She nodded, anxiously watching him climb onto the windowsill. “I will,” she said. “Be careful!”
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He blew her a kiss and climbed from the window. As Josephine went to open the door and let Madelaine in, Andrew made his way down the wall, jumping to the ground for the last several feet. Hitting the dirt, he dashed back to the garden to hide and to make sure he wasn’t followed. For a big man, he moved very swiftly, disappearing into the darkness like a wraith.
But he wasn’t alone in the garden. He figured that out quickly. There was something over to his left in the garden, flush against the wall, that had his attention. It was completely in the shadows, but he could see an outline and it didn’t take him long to figure out that it was a man hiding deep in the shadows.
Even if Andrew was without his sword, he wasn’t without his dirk, and he unsheathed it from his cozy nook in the top of his boot. If the shadow figure moved against him, he was ready.
Still, he wasn’t going to wait for Death to come to him. Staying against the wall, he moved through the darkness, heading in the figure’s direction. At one point, he froze because he’d lost sight of it behind one of the many vines that cover the wall, so he simply remained where he was, waiting to see where the figure would pop up.
It didn’t take long.
“Lower your weapon, d’Vant,” came the quiet voice. “I mean you no harm.”
Andrew didn’t recognize the voice. “Show yourself.”
The figure drew closer, perhaps too close for comfort, but it stopped when it was an arm’s length away. Ridge de Reyne’s features came into the moonlight as he stepped out from the vines.
Andrew had seen Ridge at Torridon. He’d been introduced to the man but he’d never had any dealings with him, even though he felt as if he had. This was the man who had changed the course of his life. He couldn’t decide if he felt unmitigated hatred for abducting Josephine, or if he felt a kinship to him. It was an awkward standoff, indeed.
“How long have you been out here, de Reyne?” he finally asked.
Ridge scratched his head. “Long enough to know this is the second visit you have made to Lady Josephine in as many nights,” he said, watching Andrew surprised expression. “Aye, I saw you go to her last night, too.”
Andrew’s gaze lingered on him. “She told me you had been watching her,” he said. “I suppose I did not realize just how closely. Well? Are you going to arrest me now?”
Ridge didn’t say anything for a moment. He simply continued to stare at Andrew in the darkness. “It is strange, really,” he said, avoiding the question. “I know a good deal about a man I have never had a conversation with before, so as I stand here looking at you, I feel as if I already know you.”
“Oh?” Andrew said. “What do you know?”
Ridge let out a long, deep sigh and glanced up, looking at the stars through the vines overhead. “I know that you were betrothed to Lady Josephine before the king betrothed her to your brother,” he said. “I know that you clearly must love the woman, else you would not be here to try and save her. But I also know something else.”
“What?”
“That you intend to kill your brother.”
Andrew wasn’t surprised that Ridge knew all this about him. Considering he’d spent a good deal of time with Josephine, she had evidently told the man about the situation at large. Andrew wasn’t so sure that was a good idea, but it was too late to do anything about it now.
“And you intend to stop me?”
Ridge shook his head. “That is none of my affair,” he said. “In fact, Blackbank is someone who needs killing from what I’ve heard. He is not well-liked, you know. The king is hoping that this betrothal might make the man more pliable to Scotland’s wishes, but my instincts tell me that Blackbank is loyal to Blackbank. He is loyal to Alexander for what it can bring him – in this case, a rich heiress.”
Andrew began to recall what Josephine had said about Ridge – that he was simply following the king’s orders but that his heart, nor his loyalty, was behind his actions. Simply his duty. He could almost believe that, based on the man’s manner.
“My brother is a ruthless barbarian,” Andrew said. “What he cannot control, he kills, and he will not be able to control Josephine should she become his wife. The king has given her a death sentence.”
“He does not see it that way.”
“I know he does not,” Andrew snapped quietly. “I had a conversation with the man where I clearly stated that Josephine and I were betrothed. He ignored it soundly. Instead, he chose to dissolve our betrothal and give her over to my brother. If you think I am going to stand by and watch this… this travesty happen, then you are sadly mistaken.”
Ridge could feel the passion bleeding off of Andrew as he spoke. Had he not known anything about the man and his relationship to Josephine, that fervent outburst would have told him everything he needed to know.
“She has the same passion about you, you know,” he said quietly. “Lady Josephine, I mean. She speaks of you with the same passion.”
Andrew struggled to keep his composure. “That is because she loves me and I love her,” he said. “And I will kill my brother before he can touch her. If you try to stop me, I will kill you, too.”
Ridge believed him without question. “I already told you that it was none of my affair,” he said. “Do not involve the king in anything you do, and it will continue to not be my affair. But the moment Alexander involves himself, and if weapons are drawn, I am obligated to enter the fray. Is that understood?”
“Without question.”
Ridge nodded faintly. “Then we understand one another,” he said. He paused before continuing. “But I will also tell you this – whilst on the road here from Torridon, Lady Josephine and I were set upon by outlaws. She saved my life. To that, I owe her a debt, which makes this a very strange situation for me. I cannot go against my king, yet I cannot let a debt go unanswered. She wanted me to let her go, but I could not. Even if I did, it would not solve the problem. The king would simply send someone else after her, someone who was, mayhap, not so sympathetic to her plight.”
Andrew was listening carefully. More of what Josephine had told him was coming back to him – and Ridge just confirmed it. Sympathetic to her plight. Ridge had fully acknowledged that he was, indeed, sympathetic. Perhaps, it was to this man he needed to appeal to, because certainly, if he had Ridge’s assistance, perhaps killing his brother would be far less difficult. But perhaps not; as Ridge said, it was none of his affair.
“That is true,” he said after a moment. “But it is not my intention to take her away from Edinburgh, at least not at the moment. I have come here to confront and kill my brother.”
Ridge nodded faintly. “So I have been told.”
Andrew’s gaze was intense, even in the darkness. “Then you know that Sully and I have only come to make sure Josephine is protected as much as we can, but my primary purpose in being here is to confront my brother,” he said. “I do not know how much Josephine has told you, de Reyne, but my need for vengeance against my brother goes back many years. When my father died, he banished me and imprisoned our mother. I have sworn to avenge my mother. The fact that Josephine is betrothed to my brother is a sickening coincidence and nothing more. When he is dead, and only when he is dead, will I claim Josephine. But for now… I must be near her. I must give her strength, as she gives me strength.”
Ridge heard more of that passion in his voice, of a deep love for a woman that was rare. There was such power in his words. Now, Ridge began to feel some sympathy for Andrew as well.
“I heard all of this already,” he said quietly. “And I do understand the need for vengeance. But surely you must understand that Josephine will marry your brother. You cannot stop that.”
“It is possible that I can kill him before he makes it to the altar.”
“And if you do not?”
“Then I will kill him before he can touch her.”
Ridge shook his head. “But how?” he asked. It was almost a plea. “D’Vant, there are too many variables here. If your brother marries the woman, then it is his legal right to consummate the marriage. How do you plan on preventing this once he marries her?”
“I have a plan.”
“I hope to God you do because, once he marries her, no one can interfere. Not even the king.” He hesitated. “But I will tell you this – I do not want to see your lady married to Blackbank any more than you do.”
Those words had a massive impact on him. Andrew knew all of this would be a huge risk but, as he’d explained to Josephine, he was assuming a great deal – that his brother would want to return home after their marriage and not spend the night at Edinburgh.
But… what if he did?
Andrew remembered his conversation with Thane back at Torridon, telling the man to take Josephine to de Wolfe or south to Cornwall in order to remove her from his brother’s reach. But that had been before de Reyne had brought Josephine to Edinburgh. But the reality was this – if he failed to kill his brother before or even after the wedding, and he himself was killed instead, then nothing was standing between Josephine and a living nightmare. While Sully was an excellent knight, he would be no match for Alphonse.
But Ridge would.
“If that is true, then help me,” he said quietly. “You said that you owed Josephine a debt. If, for some reason, I am killed instead of my brother, then I ask you to honor that debt. If I die, get Josephine to Sully and see them safely out of Edinburgh. That is all I am asking, de Reyne. I am not asking you to violate your king’s orders, which were wrong to begin with. I am simply asking you to honor the debt you owe her. Give her a fighting chance at life, which she will not have with my brother. Do you understand me? Get her to safety before he kills her.”
Ridge’s expression tightened. Andrew could see it in the darkness. The man was in a difficult position, as he’d said. He wanted to commit to Andrew’s request, but his sense of duty to the king prevented it. At least, it did for now. But very quickly, he might lose that battle and side against his king in this situation. He could feel himself leaning heavily in that direction already. To save himself, and his honor, he looked away from Andrew.
“Get out of here, d’Vant,” he said. “Get out and stay out of sight. I will pretend that I did not see you here tonight.”
Andrew was disappointed that Ridge hadn’t given him his promise but, he was certain, with time, that might change. Josephine said that Ridge was a decent man; Andrew wanted to believe that.
He was counting on it.
“I will be back tomorrow,” Andrew said quietly. “If you see me tomorrow?”
“I will pretend I did not see you again.”
With that, he walked away, heading out into the garden. Andrew watched him walk away, thinking that de Reyne was fairly lenient to look the other way in this matter. That gave him hope. Perhaps the man would side with them, after all.
But those thoughts of hope for the future were summarily dashed when Andrew returned to the inn that night. What he didn’t know was that he was being watched, and had been since the day he’d seduced Esme.
There was an added element to his troubles that he hadn’t expected. Aye, Esme was watching him and, when he entered the tavern, she knew what was in store for him. She’d been planning it for some time. For every time the man had looked the other way when she smiled him, or otherwise ignore her, she was going to make him pay.
She didn’t like to be toyed with.
Aye… the man was going to pay dearly.
But Andrew was completely unaware of what awaited him. Things like Esme and vicious women were the furthest things from his mind. But it was his mistake. The moment he entered the small, rented room that he and Sully had shared, someone hit him over the head with a heavy object and the lights went out.