Not much of a move, anyway.
Still laughing about his brother, Alphonse’s thoughts turned towards his bed and the women he intended to put in it this night. Too much food and wine always fed his libido, and that libido was voracious at the moment.
Leaving the great hall, the hunter went in search of prey.
*
That night after the feast, Andrew had still not made an appearance, and Josephine went to bed with a heavy heart, only to be awakened by wailing in the night. Mournful, shrill wailing that sent shivers up her spine as she sat bolt upright in her bed. The silver moonlight splashed against the coverlet and the wall, and she was spooked into believing she was hearing a ghost.
The wailing sounded again and Madelaine, who was sleeping near her this night, rose from her pallet in the alcove, amazingly level-headed as she went for the door.
“Where are you going?” Josephine demanded.
“To see who is ailing so,” her maid informed her. “I shall return.”
Madelaine threw open the door only to find Ridge de Reyne planted firmly in the arch.
“Close it!” he boomed, and Madelaine complied fast as a wink.
By this time, Josephine was out of bed and snatched a wine-colored bed robe from the bottom of her bed. Something was going on and she was going to find out what. Jerking open the door, she jabbed a finger at Ridge before he could snap at her.
“You will not order me, de Reyne!” she told him sharply. “Find out what the matter is and ask if we can lend assistance.”
“My lady…” he began firmly.
She cut him off. “Go, you big ox!” she pushed at him. “We can protect ourselves for the moment!”
He glared at her. “I am not leaving you.”
But Josephine would not be deterred. “I told you to go,” she said again, as she made a sweeping motion with her hand. “Find out what is happening!”
Clenching and unclenching his fists, Ridge marched off down the hall, muttering to himself on how very badly Lady Josephine needed a good spanking. He’d done it once; he was about to do it again if the woman didn’t hold her tongue. But he dutifully went to see where the screaming was coming from, even though he had a good idea.
It wasn’t something he was looking forward to discovering.
Josephine, with Madelaine behind her, stood in the doorway as he headed into the darkness, watching and listening. They could hear distant moaning and shrieking, and wondered curiously what was going on.
Several long minutes passed and the wailing subsided. The torches in the hall flickered softly, with shadows dancing on the walls and across Ridge as he returned.
“Well?” Josephine demanded.
Ridge did not look pleased. “The sound is coming from the Earl of Annan and Blackbank’s rooms,” he said. “But the doors have yet to open. I do not know what has happened.”
Suddenly, two female servants came running down the hall as if the devil himself were chasing them. Ridge put out a large hand and caught one of them like a fish on a hook.
“Halt!” he ordered. “Where are you going? Why are you running?”
The caught woman stopped struggling long enough to recognize Ridge. “My lord!’ she cried. “Oh… it is terrible! Simply terrible!”
“What?” Ridge snapped.
Both women were crying. “The English earl,” the woman sobbed. “He killed a girl!”
“How do you know?” he asked, less sternly.
“A servant girl.” The women were clinging to each other, talking in unison. “He took a maid to his bed. He was so… so demanding that he killed her!”
Josephine’s face went white as a sheet as she looked to Ridge, who was still looking at the servants grimly. The women continued, breaking into tears. “He was too large for her and tore her asunder!” one of the women said as the other one wept. “She bled to death in front of him, while he ate mutton and watched! It was she who was wailing!”
“Oh, my God,” Josephine whispered, reeling back into her rooms.
Ridge glanced at her, seeing her reaction to the news, before turning back to the hysterical women. “Go and hide yourselves,” he instructed quietly. “Come out for no one. Tell them I told you to do it. Tell any other women you see to do the same. They must all hide from Blackbank.”
The women nodded and fled into the night. Madelaine went with them to help them round up all of the female servants that they could. This night was not safe for any of them.
Ridge entered Josephine’s room, bolting the door behind him. Josephine stood across the room with her back to him, gripping her arms tightly. He went to her quietly.
“My lady…” he began softly.
“Get me out of here,” she hissed, breaking down in tears. “I do not care about the king or my standing. I do not care anymore! I will not marry that beast! Help me, de Reyne, please!”
He grasped her gently. God’s Bones, he wanted to help her, but he was desperately torn between duty and doing what was right. “I cannot,” he muttered. “You know that.”
She exploded. “Damn you, De Reyne!” she yanked herself from his grasp. “You heard what happened. And by God, you have seen what the man is capable of doing to me in the presence of others. Think of what he will do to me in private!”
Ridge didn’t want to think about it because the more he did, the more his resolve to his duty began to crumble. “He was drunk tonight, and angry,” he said, trying to make excuses when he knew it was futile. “It is possible that…”
She cut him off, grasping at him. “Please, Ridge, help me,” she gasped. “If you will not do it, then find Andrew. He will know what to do.”
It was almost too much for him to bear. Truth be told, he blamed himself for bringing her here in the first place. This was all his fault, he knew; his and his weakling king. But he swore an oath to the king, an oath that bound him to the king’s wishes over all.
Tears spilled onto Josephine’s cheeks and Ridge swore softly. It came down to this: he was an honorable man and his king intended to do a dishonorable thing. Alexander might as well drive his sword through her right now, for he would have just as much responsibility in her eventual death by this English earl. As Andrew had said, this marriage was her death sentence.
Now, he knew for certain that it was the truth.
He could not let her go to her death. It simply wasn’t right.
Ridge couldn’t free her himself, but he was not going to prevent someone who wanted to. He had too much honor to knowingly let a terrible thing happen. Grasping Josephine’s face in his two big hands, he forced her to look at him.
“Stay here,” he instructed firmly. “I shall return.”
She sniffled and looked at him. “What… what are you going to do?”
He dropped his hands and rushed to the door. “Trust me, my lady. Please. I will not fail you.”
“Fail me?” she repeated, puzzled. “But…”
The door slammed in her face. She stared at it a moment before going back to her bed, but not before she clasped her bejeweled dirk to her chest. If anybody entered her room, save Ridge or Andrew himself, she would be ready.
*
Ridge pounded heavily on Sully’s door. It was a matter of seconds before the door flew open and Nicholas stood firmly in the arch.
“Oh, de Reyne, ’tis only ye,” he said as he turned away.
Ridge entered the room, his eyes searching out for the earl. The room was dimly lit, smelling of strange herbs. He saw Nicholas, and Donald, and finally Sully as he sat on a chair next to the bed where his wife lay. But the moment Sully saw Ridge, he jumped from the chair.
“How is Lady Josephine?” he demanded.
“Terrified, as she should be,” Ridge replied. “My lord, where is Sir Andrew?”
Sully was guarded. “I do not know.”
Ridge sighed. There was no time for games. “My lord, time grows short. You must tell me where d’Vant is.”
Sully cocked an eyebrow
. “Why? So you can bring him to the king to be executed? I think not.”
Ridge was growing impatient. “If you want to save Lady Josephine’s life, then you shall tell me. Only d’Vant can help her.”
Sully tensed. “What in the hell is going on? Where’s Josephine?”
“She is in her room, safe for the moment,” Ridge said forcefully. “But if the Earl of Annan and Blackbank has his way with her, and I suspect he will attempt it before morn, then it will be most difficult to spirit her from the castle.”
“You are going to help her escape?” Justine asked anxiously as she sat up on her knees.
“Nay,” Ridge said flatly. “I am not. D’Vant will. But I will not be an obstacle.”
“Why the change, de Reyne?” Sully asked suspiciously. “I thought you were sworn to carry out the king’s wishes. You have made that very clear.”
Ridge shot him a nasty look. “Ask me again and I shall turn from this room without another word. You must trust me if you value Lady Josephine’s life.”
Sully looked at Ridge, attempting to determine the motivation behind his apparent change of heart, while Justine and Donald and Nicholas exchanged tense glances. It all seemed very strange that Ridge should seem so determined to find Andrew but, at some point, they would either have to trust the man or throw him from the chamber, and no one seemed willing to do that. There was something in all of them that wanted to trust Ridge, to believe he was on their side. Finally, it was Justine who spoke.
“Andrew is here in town, de Reyne,” she said, divulging something she didn’t think Ridge knew. “He has been here nearly since Josephine was brought here, but he has been missing for the past two days. Sully has been unable to locate him. We do not know where he is.”
Ridge looked at Sully. “I have not seen him for the past two days, either,” he said. “I was wondering why he had not come to see Lady Josephine. You say he is missing?”
“Then you knew?” Justine said, surprised. “You knew Andrew was here, in Edinburgh?”
Ridge nodded. “I am the king’s bodyguard, Lady Montgomery,” he said. “There is not much that I do not know around here. I even spoke to d’Vant two nights ago when he was leaving Lady Josephine’s chambers, but he said nothing about an absence or going away. In fact, he said he would return the next night, but I did not see him.”
Justine looked at Sully, fear in her eyes. “You do not believe something has happened to him, do you?”
Sully wasn’t entirely sure anymore. Now, he was starting to feel some apprehension. He looked at Ridge. “We must find him,” he said. “I scoured the inns at the base of the castle earlier today, but I did not come up with anything. We must search again.”
As Ridge nodded, Justine spoke. “Take Donald with you,” she said. “The three of you can cover more ground and Donald knows Andrew on sight.”
It was a logical suggestion. “Very well,” Sully said. “You will stay with Nicholas, Justine. That is not a request.”
Justine opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. She wanted to go, too, but knew Sully would never let her. Besides, she was better served remaining where her sister was in case Josephine needed her.
Therefore, she stood aside as Sully strapped on his sword and pulled on his gauntlets. With Donald beside him, Sully followed Ridge to the door. At the threshold, he paused to look at Justine and, much to her pleasure, blew her a kiss.
It was sweet and touching, and Justine responded with a shy grin. But it was all for show; once they were gone, she bolted from the bed and pulled on her warm slippers.
“Where are ye going?” Nicholas demanded.
“To my sister,” Justine said casually, as she was already making for the door.
Nicholas went after her. “But Sully told ye to remain!”
Justine simply shrugged her shoulders. It didn’t seem to deter her in the least. With a heavy sigh, Nicholas followed. He knew it was better to go with her than to permit her to go alone. And he knew better than to argue with her. Therefore, he went, if only to keep her out of trouble. Like her sister, Justine could well protect herself.
Woe betide the man who ever truly got in her way.
*
Josephine’s room was quite a distance from her own. It was located in another part of the castle, in fact. Josephine was delighted and relieved to see Justine and Nicholas at her door and did not spare the details of the English earl’s latest horror. Her hands and voice trembled as she spoke, telling them just how frightened she really was even if her words would not admit it.
Justine was horrified to hear the tale, deeply terrified for her sister’s well-being. As Nicholas stood by the bolted door, listening for anything in the corridor beyond, the women headed over to the bed on the opposite side of the chamber.
“That is why de Reyne came to our chamber,” Justine gasped after hearing the terrible story. “He did not tell us the entire tale!”
Josephine was holding on to her sister’s hands. “Because he more than likely did not want to frighten you,” she said. “Where is Sully?”
“With de Reyne,” Justine said. “They are going to find Andrew, Josephine. Wherever he is, they will find him, I swear it.”
Josephine sat heavily on her bed, her expression distant as she thought of Andrew and his absence. “I am sure wherever he is, he will return soon,” she said, trying to sound hopeful. “I must believe that everything is well and that he is not in any danger. I must believe that Sully and Ridge will find him and bring him back.”
Justine could hear the fear and longing in her sister’s voice. “I know they will,” she agreed. “Until then, we will do all we can to keep you from the earl.”
Josephine appreciated her valor, but she knew it was futile. No one could keep the earl from her if he truly wanted her. But more than that, she was thinking of what the immediate future held once Andrew returned.
“Then it will come,” she murmured. “The battle Andrew has been preparing for nearly his whole life is coming.” She suddenly closed her eyes and hung her head. “Oh, Justine, what will I do if I lose him? I cannot bear the thought!”
Justine put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “You love him,” Justine stated quietly. “I have known from the very beginning.”
Josephine lifted her head, smiling wryly. “And I denied it, once,” she said. “Mayhap you truly are a witch if you really did know. Aye, I love him. With all that I am, I do.”
Justine smiled. “I am very happy for you,” she said, her smile fading. “And I have another confession. I am not… displeased to be married to Sully.”
Josephine looked her in the eye. “I know,” she said flatly. “I’ve always known. Why do you think I suggested he marry you? I could have easily married you to Donald, but I knew you would only be happy with Sully. Besides… he is the only one brave enough to handle you.”
Justine laughed softly. “You are too kind,” she said to the insult. “I may even give up my magic now that I am a married woman; the powers lessen once you experience pleasures of the flesh.”
Josephine turned her eyes skyward, a mocking gesture. “There is a God, after all,” she said reverently. “And tell me, Sister, did you enjoy your pleasures? After the first night, anyway.”
Justine looked shocked, shushing her because Nicholas was in the room. But then she grinned. “What do you think?”
Josephine reached out to stroke her sister’s hair. “I think that my baby sister is finally becoming a woman.”
Even though Nicholas was across the chamber, he could still hear bits of the conversation as the women whispered and giggled. He was genuinely trying not to listen to the private exchange, but he was nonetheless amused and touched. He liked his cousins very much and he was glad he’d found family that accepted him as he was. His poetry didn’t make them ashamed; they loved it. Nicholas had a feeling he was going to be spending much more time with Josephine in the future. At least, he hoped so. The woman deserved a happy life
and Nicholas was going to do all he could to ensure she had it, however small that contribution was.
The corridor beyond the door seemed quiet enough and Nicholas moved away from the panel, heading over to another part of the room so the sisters could continue their private conversation. But just as he reached the hearth, there was a huge crashing sound against the door.
The entire room shook, and the women shrieked, which sent Nicholas into a defensive position. As he rushed to the door to ensure the bolt held, the panel splintered, sending shards of wood flying into the room.
The women shrieked as the Earl of Annan and Blackbank catapulted through the arch, broadsword in hand. Nicholas had no time to react before the earl drove his huge sword through Nicholas’ gut. Nicholas hit the floor, blood pouring, as the women began to scream.
But Alphonse was oblivious to their fear, the dying man, or anything else in the chamber. He stepped over Nicholas, his gaze feasting on Lady Josephine. She was all he could see. His drunken face was gray, and his eyes were sunken black dots.
Josephine, through her hysteria, could see what was coming. Justine sat next to her, gasping in panic. Josephine, in a serious concentrated effort, gave her sister a shove.
“Get out of here,” she said through clenched teeth. Her eyes never left the earl. “Get Nicholas out of here and find help for him. Then get to the king. Hurry, for pity’s sake!”
The earl never even noticed Justine dashing around him. He didn’t see Justine grasping Nicholas under the arms and dragging him in a trail of blood out of the room. Alphonse’s eyes were only on the lovely Josephine.
But Josephine had seen everything. Her fear for Nicholas was overwhelming, but she fought it. She had to think clearly and she couldn’t do that if she was worried over Nicholas’ fate. As Alphonse came closer, instead of fear, she felt incredible rage. But she knew she had to control it. She had to control every emotion that was struggling to break free. Hysteria would not save her.
Only a level head would.
Josephine had never backed away from a fight in her life and she was not about to start now. She had to hold the earl off until Andrew arrived, wherever he was, and she was grimly determined to do just that, by any means necessary.