“If that is your wish,” he said, thinking he sounded rather cold saying it. He turned to de Witt. “Is it safe for the women to explore the keep unescorted?”
De Witt nodded. “Indeed, my lord,” he said. “They will find my own good wife inside. Her name is Julia.”
Elizaveta nodded her thanks and pushed in through the heavy iron door that Drake had just opened, but not before casting her husband a long and rather sweet glance. He smiled faintly in return before she disappeared inside.
Elizaveta’s mind was still lingering on Drake as she and Daniella entered the keep. Since they were on the ground floor, they were immediately hit by the scent of dark, moist dirt, although an inspection of the floor saw it to be hard-packed earth and cleanly swept. But the dirt floor paled in comparison to the only main feature of the room; there was a single doorway that was protected by a heavy iron gate with a very big lock on it. It was open, however, and Elizaveta passed through it into a second room, larger than the entry room, also with a hard-packed earth floor. This room had a spiral stairwell in the corner and also had a table and a fairly large hearth.
“Elizaveta,” Daniella said, awe in her tone. “Look at this.”
Elizaveta turned away from the spiral stairs and the small table to peer into another doorway. The keep was big and rectangular, with enough space for two big rooms but it was actually separated into four rooms, each room with a door opening into the next, and each door was protected by a heavy iron gate. The entry room and the room with the stairwell had hard-packed earth floors but the two additional rooms they found on that level actually had wood floors and one room held a small flight of stairs that led down to a level below. That room also had a large table in it that had the remains of a meal on it. Elizaveta looked around the barely-furnished ground level of the keep, wondering where de Witt’s wife was.
“Didn’t that knight say that his wife was in here?” she asked Daniella, who nodded firmly. Elizaveta shrugged and lifted her voice “Lady de Witt?”
Her voice echoed though the lower floor and was immediately answered by a distant voice. It was coming up through the wooden floor they stood upon and Elizaveta and Daniella moved quickly to the stairs in the corner of that room that led to a sublevel below. The stairs were rather narrow and treacherous, and Elizaveta put her hand on the wall as she timidly descended.
“Lady de Witt?” she called again.
“I am here!” came the reply.
Elizaveta and Daniella continued down the small staircase, down into the sublevel. There, they were greeted by a red-haired, dark-eyed woman with a very big smile. Her hands were covered in flour as she approached.
“Welcome to Spexhall,” she said, looking between Elizaveta and Daniella. “May I ask who is Lady de Winter?”
Elizaveta and Daniella looked at each other before bursting into ironic laughter. “We both are,” Elizaveta said. “My husband is Sir Drake de Winter and her husband is Sir Devon de Winter. My husband is the newly appointed garrison commander.”
Lady de Witt dipped into a proper curtsy. “Then you are the East Anglia heiress, my lady?”
Elizaveta nodded. “I am.”
“My husband told me you were coming.”
Elizaveta smiled faintly. “Your husband seemed to know of my family,” she said. “Were you raised in Suffolk, too?”
Lady de Witt nodded firmly. “I was, my lady,” she said. “I am Julia de Witt. My husband and I are at your service.”
Elizaveta smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “We have just arrived and were preparing to explore the keep ourselves. Would you prefer to show us about since this is essentially your home that we are invading?”
Julia seemed happy to comply. “It would be my pleasure,” she said. “I would be honored to show you about.”
Elizaveta pointed to what seemed to be a kitchen area where Lady de Witt had come from. “Are you sure we are not taking you from your duties?”
Julia turned to look at her small kitchen and the servant girl who was diligently kneading dough for bread upon a big, heavy table.
“You are not,” she said. “But we may start your tour down here. I know it must seem odd that there is a kitchen set up in the sublevel, but it is not our main kitchen. That is out near the hall. This kitchen is meant to sustain us if the keep is compromised. I am sure you noticed the iron gates on the doors?”
Elizaveta nodded. “I have never seen that before.”
Julia wiped at her hands. “One of Suffolk’s ancestors built Spexhall back during the anarchy between Maude and Stephen,” she said. “Evidently, he was much-attacked for his loyalties and Spexhall is built to withstand nearly any manner of attack, and the keep in particular. There is a well down here with this secondary kitchen as well as a well out in the bailey near the main kitchen. It is quite a unique structure.”
Elizaveta’s gaze lingered on the dimly lit kitchen with a fire in a hearth that was actually built into the wall of the sublevel. A chimney was also built into the wall and disappeared into the level above. Meanwhile, Julia quickly wiped her hands of the flour and took her guests back up to the ground level, where she explained the guard room, a knight’s eating hall, and a soldier’s eating hall.
Next came the first floor. It contained two rooms, a smaller servant’s chamber and a much larger chamber, and the second floor contained the same. Every door had iron gates and heavy locks, and there was a small lift built into the south wall of the keep that had a pulley system – food could be placed on the lift and pulled up to the ground, first, and second floors, which was an ingenious method of moving food up from the kitchen, especially if all of the rooms were locked and secured.
In all, it was an impressive place and Elizaveta listened to Julia with great interest as the woman explained the workings of the keep. She felt rather bad, in fact, having come to take over when Julia seemed so efficient. In truth, Elizaveta was content to permit the woman to continue her duties for the time being. She truly saw no need to interfere. Moreover, it would free her up to perhaps spend more time with her husband, whom she was already starting to miss.
The three women made their way back down to the knight’s eating hall where Lady de Witt encouraged them to sit. As Elizaveta and Daniella complied, they didn’t notice that Lady de Witt returned to the iron gate that secured the room and shut it. From her pocket, she took out a group of keys strung on a ring and locked it. Putting the keys back in her pocket, she bade her guests to sit patiently while she retrieved refreshments from the kitchen, and Elizaveta and Daniella sat at the table, small talk between them, as they waited for their hostess.
Lady de Witt returned a short time later but without a tray of food as promised. As Elizaveta glanced up, expecting to see refreshments but noticing there were none, she caught the glint of something in Lady de Witt’s hand. It was not a cup or plate or spoon.
It was a very big knife and it was coming for Elizaveta.
*
Outside in the bailey, Drake found his attention drifting to the gray-stoned keep because his wife was inside and he was sorry he hadn’t gone with her to explore their new home. His distraction seemed innocent enough as he stood by, conversing with James and Cortez while Devon and de Witt wrangled all of Spexhall’s men and gathered them into the small hall built against the north wall, but as the minutes passed, Drake’s distraction seemed to grow. It came to the point where he was actually contemplating briefly leaving the hall to see to Elizaveta’s whereabouts but those plans were foiled when Devon told him all of the Spexhall men were gathered to hear him speak. Drake was forced to forget about Elizaveta for the moment.
Spexhall had about eighty men along with de Witt and his wife. Surprisingly, de Witt was the only knight but there were several seasoned soldiers who assisted him with his command. Coupled with the small army Drake had brought with him, that bolstered Spexhall’s ranks substantially. Drake introduced himself, his brother, Cortez de Bretagne and James de Lohr to the men gathered in the
hall and explained that Edward had sent him as the new garrison commander, which was no slander against de Witt. It was a reward for valor in battle.
Fortunately, de Witt and his men seemed accepting enough so the meeting went well. Drake also informed them that Edward was sending more men to reinforce Spexhall and accommodations would either need to be made or built for the coming tide of men. That focus gave de Witt and his men something to do, which in this case was to build more accommodations because there weren’t enough to house the number of men Edward was sending. Drake allowed de Witt to take charge of the project when the knight insisted on doing so.
With men on the move, Drake kept his brother, de Lohr, and de Bretagne with him. When the hall finally cleared, Drake turned to the men around him.
“Well?” he said, mostly looking at de Bretagne. “I know this isn’t nearly the size of Sherborne Castle, Cortez, but it’s a rather proud place. I find no complaints about it.”
De Bretagne grinned. “Nor do I,” he said. “It is an impressive complex, Drake. Congratulations.”
Drake gave the man a half-grin as de Lohr spoke. “De Witt does not seem too terribly upset to have lost his command,” he commented. “In fact, he seems quite amiable about it. I am not entirely sure I would be so amiable.”
The attention of the men shifted to the knight whose place Drake was usurping. “There is naught he can do,” Drake said. “Orders come from Edward himself and this is Edward’s holding. He cannot resist the change of command.”
James wasn’t entirely convinced. “It still seems too easy to me, Drake,” he said. “Be cautious, at least until you come to know him better. Better not to trust the man too soon.”
James wasn’t one to raise a needless alarm and he had the great sense of his powerful de Lohr forefathers; therefore, his admonition was not taken lightly. Still, Drake put his hand on the man’s shoulder.
“You are an old woman, James,” he teased. “But I respect your wisdom. I will be prudent.”
Behind them, Cortez yawned and stretched, weary from their ride that morning from Thetford. His attention moved over the small hall that could probably only hold one hundred men at any given time. It had a large hearth, now cold and sooty, and six long, thin lancet windows near the top of the walls for ventilation. The steeply angled roof above was thatched and chaff floated down now and again, mixing with the dirt and dogs on the floor.
“When did you say Edward’s men were to arrive, Drake?” Cortez asked as he studied the pitched ceiling above.
Drake instinctively looked up to see what had Cortez’s attention. “When last I spoke to him in July, he said he would be sending them around the first of October,” he replied. “That should be in a week or two, I would assume. Why?”
Cortez was still looking at the ceiling because he noticed cats walking along the rafters. “Because I thought to stay until the men arrive but I do not think I can be gone so long from my own responsibilities,” he said, turning to look at Drake. “Diamantha is pregnant, you know. I want to be home when the child is born.”
Drake smiled faintly. “He is not due until Christmastime, as I recall.”
Cortez nodded. “That is true,” he said. “But I would still like to return home as soon as possible. You understand.”
Drake nodded firmly. “Of course I do,” he said. “You may leave whenever you wish. Will you take James with you?”
“I will.”
“Then Devon and I can manage.”
As Drake and Cortez and, finally, Devon began speaking of Cortez and James’ return to Sherborne Castle, James wandered around the hall, inspecting the big hearth, eyeing the very big dogs that were laying by it, before meandering his way over to the entry.
The bailey was beyond and he could see Drake’s men settling in on the west side of the wall that butted up against the church. Wagons were being organized and shelters were being raised. But from his position at the door, he could also see de Witt and his men over near the stables to the north where there were also some outbuildings, presumably to house the soldiers. He could see de Witt’s men gathered and then moving as a group in the direction of the keep.
Glints of metal caught James’ eye. It seemed odd and out of place so James peered closer, abruptly realizing that de Witt and his men were carrying weapons. In fact, they were all quite heavily armed. Shocked, he whirled to Drake and the others.
“Quickly,” he snapped. “De Witt’s men have armed themselves. Move quickly!”
Startled, Drake, Devon, and Cortez bolted to the door in time to see de Witt and his men rounding the keep and heading for Drake’s men as they set up their encampment. Drake could hardly believe what he was seeing but in that moment of utter disbelief, James’ words came back to him.
Be cautious….
Evidently, James had sensed something the rest of them had not. Drake and the others were flying from the hall as fast as their legs would carry them, running for the battle that they could see unfolding. Running for the ambush that was about to take place.
Evidently, de Witt wasn’t as amiable as they had thought.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Elizaveta could hardly believe what she was seeing.
Suddenly, Lady de Witt was in their midst and aiming a very large knife straight at her. The woman, who had been so friendly just a few seconds earlier, had an expression of utter hatred on her face. It was quite puzzling and quite shocking. As Elizaveta and Daniella jumped up from the table, Lady de Witt deliberately stalked them.
“Lady de Witt!” Elizaveta exclaimed as Daniella shrieked beside her. “What on earth are you doing?”
Lady de Witt followed them as the women moved around the table, trying to close the distance between her enormous knife and her prey.
“I am doing what should have been done in years past,” Lady de Witt hissed, not sounding at all like her formerly friendly self. “The House of du Reims should have been destroyed long ago but no one has been able to do it. Now it is my chance. You came right to me and now it is my chance!”
Elizaveta had a sinking feeling, struggling against panic. “Your chance for what?”
Lady de Witt hardly seemed like the same person they had come to know. She had a wild look in her eye as she lifted the knife.
“To kill you,” she said simply.
In that simply stated explanation, Elizaveta could instantly see that Lady de Witt was after her and not after Daniella. She hissed at her sister-in-law to get away, to run to the door, but Daniella refused to budge and Elizaveta couldn’t very well argue with her and keep an eye on that gigantic knife at the same time. Therefore, it was a very odd dance the women choreographed around the well-scrubbed feasting table.
“Are you mad?” Daniella demanded. “Her husband is outside! He will kill you before you can carry out your terrible intentions!”
Lady de Witt shook her head slowly. “The gate to the room is locked,” she said frankly. “I have the only key. He cannot get in. He will stand at that gate and watch his wife die.”
Terror tore through Elizaveta but she refused to show it. She knew she had to think clearly if there was any hope of salvaging this situation. Heart racing, she continued to back away from the knife that was growing progressively larger in her opinion.
“But why do you want to kill me?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t tremble. “Why would you do such a thing? Put the knife down and let us speak calmly. Let me hear what it is I have done to you that you should want to kill me. I have never even met you, Julia. Why should you want to do this?”
Lady de Witt faltered slightly. “Because your family stole East Anglia from my family,” she said, watching the confusion ripple across Elizaveta’s face. “I was born a de Mandeville, Lady de Winter. De Witt is my married name. I know all about what your family has done to mine. I know what justice I must seek.”
She’s a de Mandeville! With that information, it was a struggle for Elizaveta to stay on an even keel. “A de Mandeville,” s
he gasped; she couldn’t help it. “But… but I personally have no quarrel with you. The feud you speak of is decades old, my lady. It does not matter to you and me, as civilized women.”
Lady de Witt’s nostrils flared in a disturbing gesture. “It matters a great deal,” she snarled. “You have everything that should belong to me. My entire life has been spent with the knowledge that you have what is mine. When my husband and I received the missive that Drake de Winter had been gifted with the East Anglia heiress and was coming to Spexhall to assume command, it was a gift from God. Finally! The East Anglia heiress right in my midst! Watcyn and I knew what we had to do to right the wrongs against my family. Your husband was a fool to come here; my husband will kill him. He is probably already dead!”
Shockingly, a great deal was making sense now, but Elizaveta wasn’t particularly concerned about herself at the moment. The thought of Drake’s death shot through her like a lightning bolt. She was seized with terror and anger and grief, everything she could possibly feel. More than her own death, she feared losing Drake and it was an astonishing realization. She had never considered anyone over her own well-being, at least not like this. She was terrified for her husband’s life. Enraged, she came to a halt at the end of the table with Lady de Witt only a few feet away.
“You are mad!” she growled. “Edward is sending men to Spexhall who will be here in a few days. What do you think they will say when Drake is not here?”