A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) (20 page)

Enid stirred, but Alyna gestured for her to remain where she was and pointed at Nicholas. The maid nodded, and Alyna was pleased when she snuggled back down under the bedding. Although the older woman wouldn’t admit it, she tired more easily than she used to, and some extra rest would do her good as well.

Alyna closed the door behind her and went below stairs to check on Matthew. In his chamber, she could hear the soft snores of the servant left to watch over him. She cracked open the narrow window shutter to let in the dim light of the predawn sky so she could get a better look at him.

“Oh, my lady,” Alice whispered, covering a yawn with her hand. “Good morning to you.”

“And to you, Alice. How does Matthew fare?”

“He slept through most of the night, though he seems to be getting more and more restless.” Alice rose and stood beside his bed, her voice low. “He doesn’t care for the potion Gunnell left for him. It’s a bit of a battle to get him to take it.”

Alyna sat on the bed beside the pale knight and laid her hand on his forehead. He seemed warm to the touch, but not overly so. “Aye, but it certainly eases his pain when he does. Why don’t you get some rest, Alice? I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Morning had risen in full when a knock sounded at the door.

Florence entered the room, concern etched on her features. “Alyna, I came to see how poor Matthew fares.”

For some reason, Alyna wondered if she’d practiced that look to make certain it held the right degree of worry. She brushed the thought aside, determined to be pleasant. “How kind of you. ’Twas a terrible accident.”

“An accident of the worst sort,” Florence agreed. She approached Matthew’s bedside with caution, as though she feared she might catch what he had. “How is he?”

With a sigh, Alyna laid her hand on his cheek. “The worst is yet to come, I fear.”

“Oh, dear.”

Alyna looked again at Florence, curious as to why she was really here. She still couldn’t view the woman as her aunt. Though Alyna had no experience with relatives, she was certain Florence hadn’t acted like an aunt thus far. She waited for the woman to berate her again for using the servants without her permission, ready to defend herself and put the blame squarely back on Florence.

Florence clasped her hands and continued to study Matthew as though she’d never seen a wounded man before.

Alyna glanced back at Matthew to make sure he wasn’t performing some amazing feat to warrant Florence’s attention, but the knight hadn’t moved.

Alyna let the silence draw out, too concerned for Matthew to risk riling Florence and cause a scene that might disturb his rest.

At last, Florence cleared her throat. “Alyna, my dear, I fear you and I have gotten off to a rather difficult start. If you felt the need to assist me in the duties of steward, you had only to ask. There was no need for you to approach Lord Blackwell. He is far too busy for household matters.”

“Then I would think it even more important that you fulfill your duties. If I see something that needs to be done, I’ll make certain it gets done.”

Florence’s eyes narrowed at her response. “Before Lord Blackwell left yesterday morning, he suggested I speak with you to clarify how we might...work together from now on.”

A wave of hurt filled Alyna. “Grandfather spoke with you before he left?”

Florence smiled kindly at Alyna. “Well, of course, my dear. He wouldn’t have left without letting me know his plans.”

Alyna rose and moved to the small table beside Matthew’s bed. She tidied the already neat pots and pouches that held herbs while she gathered her poise. Florence’s words struck to her deepest fear–her grandfather didn’t find her worthy enough to bother with. Why would her grandfather have let Florence know of his departure and not her? Perhaps he wasn’t as different from her father as she’d thought.

“Why don’t you oversee what you want, and I’ll do the rest,” Alyna suggested with an effort at civility.

“You obviously have your hands full helping Matthew recover, so I’ll continue with my duties. Lord Blackwell does so appreciate my help.” Florence paused for a moment. “Do you truly think Matthew will recover? I heard his injury was quite severe and I have to wonder if your limited knowledge will be sufficient.”

Alyna turned to face Florence, outraged she would say such a thing, especially when Matthew might hear. “While his wound is indeed serious, he will recover. The healer from the village is assisting him as well.”

Having Florence question her healing skills when she already felt so vulnerable put another chink in the fragile confidence she’d gained since she’d arrived here, but she was determined not to let Florence see that.

Florence offered a condescending smile. “Of course, he will. I’m certain you’ll do your best. I’ll see to the keep while you’re occupied with Matthew and...Nicholas.”

Alyna gritted her teeth. The woman acted as though she could barely remember her son’s name. And what had Florence ever done to ‘see to the keep’?

Before she could utter a word, Florence continued. “If you need assistance, perhaps need me to stay with Matthew for a time, I would be happy to do so. Of course, I’ll need to know in advance so I can arrange my duties to accommodate an additional task.”

Alyna sighed. Every word the woman uttered irritated her.

Florence stepped closer to Alyna, took her hand, and smiled warmly. “I’m so glad we had this chance to clear the air. I know we’re going to get along well. Lord Blackwell will be pleased to hear we’re working together.”

Without saying a word, Alyna pulled her hand from Florence’s grasp. She had no intention of working with Florence in any capacity. There were several people at Northe Castle that she did not care for, and Florence was one of them. Yet if the woman had her grandfather’s trust, Alyna worried she’d somehow convince him to send her and Nicholas away. Did she risk too much by not befriending Florence?

The door pushed open and saved her from a response.

“Mama?” Nicholas’s sleepy voice beckoned her.

“Come here, darling.” She picked him up and he burrowed his head in her shoulder, his body still warm and pliant with sleep. She held him tightly and turned back to Florence. “I’m sure your many duties are pressing, so I’ll let you return to them.”

Florence glanced at Nicholas as though he was an oddity of some sort and paused at the door. “Please let me know if you need my assistance with Matthew.” She smiled again and pulled the door shut behind her.

Alyna snuggled Nicholas’s neck. “What are you doing up so early?”

“I don’t like that lady,” he answered, his voice barely audible.

Alyna could tell from his even breathing that he was nearly asleep once again. “I don’t like her either. But I’m not sure what we can do about it.”

Nicholas adjusted his position, placing an arm around her neck and snuggled in tighter. “I’ll know soon.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“White willow is excellent for fever.”

Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

Lord Tegmont strode into the hall at Montvue, pleased at the trepidation on Lord Garyle’s face as he rose to greet him.

“Surely you’re not surprised to see me,” Tegmont said as he removed his gloves and tossed them on the table. Alyna’s father had proven useful on occasion but recent events made Tegmont question his loyalty.

“I’m always pleased to see you,” Garyle said nervously, sidestepping the question.

Tegmont let the lie slide past. “I heard a rumor you lost something that belongs to me.” Anger pulsed through him, stealing what little patience he had. “When did you plan on telling me?”

“I assume you speak of Alyna?” Garyle sank to the bench at the table and reached for his drink.

With one sweep of his hand, Tegmont sent the cup bouncing across the table and leaned forward within a hair’s breadth of Garyle’s face. “Do not try me. Where is she?”

The old lord shook his head. “I do not know. We’ve searched the area but found no trace of her.”

“Did she leave on her own accord?”

“Mayhap. ’Tis difficult to say.”

“Explain yourself or you’ll be feeling the prick of my sword deep in your gullet.”

Garyle swallowed hard. “Two of my servants are also missing, the two most loyal to her. And that damned boy.”

“What boy?”

“’Tis no concern of yours. I would’ve made her leave him behind when she married you.”

“You had better find her and soon, else I will take Montvue from your sorry hands and leave you with nothing. Do you hear me?”

Garyle nodded, the fear on his face convincing Tegmont he understood. Blast the man for his incompetence. Tegmont did not need this complication, not with all his other plans moving forward.

For a brief moment, he wondered what had caused her to leave. But as quickly as the question formed, it fled, for the answer didn’t matter.

Alyna would be his. She’d end the curse that had befallen him and all his carefully laid plans would come to fruition.

***

Late that night, Alyna dozed in the chair beside Matthew’s bed, her dreams mixing in strange combinations with his moans. She woke with a start when his hand rattled the basin on the small wooden table beside the bed, her mother’s herbal remedy book still on her lap.

Matthew continued to stir restlessly, tossing and turning in his own bout with the night but didn’t wake. She put down the book and stretched to relieve the crick in her neck.

Gunnell had checked on him earlier in the evening, but had left soon after to tend to her two children. Alyna had assured her that she’d send for her if Matthew’s condition worsened.

She rose and touched his hand, then his cheek. Heat radiated from his body. She wet a cloth and wiped his face and neck, then rinsed the cloth again and laid it across his forehead.

From his restless movements, she knew it was time to try to get him to drink something for both his pain and fever. The healer had made it look easy when she’d trickled it into his mouth earlier.

After mixing the dried herbs with warm water and wine, Alyna placed the small wooden cup on the table and sat on the edge of the bed. She lifted Matthew’s head and cradled him against her and tilted his head back.

Matthew’s eyes opened, glazed with fever. “Ah, Lady Alyna.” His words slurred, whether from the fever or the medicine he’d taken earlier, she didn’t know. “How very beautiful you are, my lady.”

Alyna was surprised at his words, but even more surprised when he nuzzled his cheek against her breasts. He sighed as though content and closed his eyes.

Certain he knew not what he spoke or did, she ignored his foolish behavior. “Matthew? Matthew, I need your assistance.”

The young man smiled up at her, eyes still closed. “For you, I would do anything, my lady.” Alyna felt his body relax against her.

Concerned he wouldn’t remain awake long enough to drink the potion, Alyna reached for the cup. “Matthew,” she called, and shook him gently. “Drink this. It will help you feel better.”

Obediently, he took a small sip, only to grimace at the taste. “Nay, my lady. I do not care for it.” He looked up at her with a dazed but worshipful expression. “But I do care for you.”

With a strength that belied his weakened condition, he pulled her head down with his good arm and placed a kiss upon her lips. Shocked, Alyna tried to pull back, but with one hand pinned under him and the other holding the medicine, she had no choice but to endure the pressure of his mouth on hers until she worked herself free.

Matthew’s grip loosened, and she was able to straighten to move out of the knight’s range. She shook her head, then looked up to find Royce standing at the foot of the bed watching her.

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You seem to have a habit of kissing men, my lady.”

Embarrassed and annoyed, Alyna glared at Royce. “Quite the opposite, sir. They have a
bad
habit of kissing me.” She waited a moment, but Royce continued to watch her. “Are you going to just stand there or are you going to help me?” She now understood why some women chose not to marry. It took a saint to put up with a man’s foolish ways.