If He's Daring (18 page)

A tug on his boot drew his attention. He looked down to find Juno staring up at him. She was a beautiful child and, strangely, just looking at her calmed him, if only a little. He glanced quickly at the boys watching them so closely, their bodies slightly tensed and their eyes narrowed. Orion knew they did not suspect him capable of cruelty to the child, that they knew him better than that, but they also did not want him to spit out his anger at her. He suddenly pitied any man who tried to woo her when she grew up, even if he was completely honest in his affections. The dishonest ones would deserve whatever hell her army of protectors visited upon them.

“I can help,” said Juno. “If you take me with you and we catch up with the carriage, and then you make me sad or scared, a big storm will come up and stop the bad men and then we can save Lady Catryn and Alwyn.”

It took Orion a moment to sort out that long sentence, but when he did, he said, “That is most kind of you, Juno, but I could never bring myself to make you sad or frightened on purpose.”

“Oh. I was hoping it might help.” She frowned. “But it might be bad because Giles would be caught outside in it, too, and I would not like that because he could get hurt.”

Orion tensed and looked at the boys again. Even Giles’s friends who had grown up on the hard, unkind streets of the city looked uneasy and took a step back. He knew he was not going to like the answer to his next question.

“Where is Giles?” he demanded.

“He had to go with Alwyn,” answered Hector.

“He allowed himself to be taken as well? Those men did not want him, so that makes no sense.”

“Well, no, he was not taken by anyone. He got on the back of the carriage.”

Two things surprised Orion when he heard that. The first was that he was still mounted and had not fallen to the ground when his heart had stopped or his breath had caught fast in his throat. The second was the undeniable fact that he cared a great deal more for his sons than he had allowed himself to acknowledge.

“Giles is riding on the back of the carriage?” he asked when he was able to breathe again.

“He is good at it,” said Abel, the oldest of Giles’s mates at twelve, and his three mates nodded in agreement. “Got round the city that way all the time.”

“Did he. Well, he is not on a carriage in the city now, is he. One that winds its way through crowded streets at, most often, a sedate pace. He is on the back of a carriage racing over open roads as fast as Morris’s men dare to drive it without killing the team pulling it. He is hanging on to the back of a carriage going over roads with ruts deep enough to break a wheel or axle, and roads that, if he loses his grip, could easily break every bone in his body.”

He was almost yelling by the time he finished. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly in an attempt to calm himself. He knew it was his fear for Giles that was feeding his anger. They were just boys, after all, and he also knew that, even if they had wanted to stop Giles they would not have succeeded. Giles could be stubborn, and he had made himself Alwyn’s champion. Once Alwyn was placed in danger there was no stopping Giles from doing anything he felt was needed to help keep the boy safe.

“He had to be there,” said Juno.

He looked down at the little girl again and then reached down to pull her up onto the saddle. Orion kissed her on the forehead and used her presence to further calm himself. She was a sweet child and already loyal to the others.

“I thank you for your kind offer of assistance, Juno, but I must do this myself.” He glanced at his cousins who rode with him. “And with these fine fellows who know well how to deal with bad men.” Carefully, he set her back on the ground and watched her run back to Penelope’s side before he turned his attention back on the boys.

“You are absolutely certain of what you saw and how this must be?” he asked Hector, and also glanced at Ezra and Paul, who both quickly nodded.

“They are certain,” replied Hector. “They came to me with it first and I battered them with questions, but they held firm in what they believe. Alwyn has to be with Lady Catryn or this could all go very badly for you.”

“Yet they did not see these men, did they?”

When both boys shook their heads, Hector just shrugged. “That just means that nothing happens to them, that none of them are the ones who would be in danger.”

Hector had obviously taken the time to learn about Paul and Ezra’s gifts, each one’s weaknesses and strengths. “That could be true. It does not matter. I suspect no one saw what Giles was going to do, either.” Again Ezra and Paul shook their heads and Orion had to bite back a curse.

“He told us as soon as he knew what Alwyn had to do,” said Hector, and idly, gently, rubbed his badly bruised nose. “I was the one who tried to keep it all secret from Giles, because I knew he was guarding Alwyn. He must have woken up sooner than we thought he would and came looking for the boy. Giles did not want Alwyn to go, but after he calmed down and listened to Ezra and Paul, he knew there was no choice. That was when he decided the boy and your lady would not be going alone.”

“I do not feel anything bad,” said Paul. “I have been thinking of Giles and his being on the back of that carriage, and there is no fear or worry about it. Even when he said what he was going to do, I did not feel anything bad.”

“I will accept that as a hopeful sign.” He looked at Ashton. “This is a royal mess, is it not?”

“It is, and I am sorry—” Ashton began.

“No, this is not on you. You cannot keep a constant guard on this lot. Too many of them if naught else. And every one of them is clever enough to get around you if he is determined to do so. As for Giles? The boy has a strong compulsion to help children he believes are in danger. There would have been no stopping him once Alwyn was taken up by Morris’s men.” He looked at his cousins. “It appears we must rescue my lady
and
her son now, along with my own wild child.”

Iago smiled faintly. “Not to worry. We will manage.”

They lingered long enough to get a few supplies and water the horses. Within an hour they were back on the road to London. Orion fought to calm his fears. His woman, her son, and his own son were all within Morris’s reach. Paul’s assurance that he had not sensed any danger to Giles did not completely ease his worries. Good as the boy was, there was always the chance of an error, or for his ability to see danger for those he cared about to fail him. All Orion could do was pray that Giles made it safely to London and that Catryn and Alwyn did not suffer too much before he could reach them.

Alwyn cried out when he was snatched from her arms and Catryn lunged for the man who had grabbed her son. Another man caught hold of her so tightly she gasped and immediately stopped struggling, terrified he would break something if she was not still. She would do Alwyn no good if she was injured.

It had been a long, rough ride to London. She was not surprised to hear the men who ran up to tend to the horses muttering about the sad state the animals were in. There had been only one stop for a change of horses and a chance for her and Alwyn to relieve themselves. Catryn had tried to get help, but one of the men had entered the carriage as she had stepped out and held a pistol on Alwyn. She had not even had a chance to try and see if Giles was still with them and unhurt.

Since she could not be certain that Morris wished to keep Alwyn alive, Catryn had obediently allowed herself to be led to the privy and silently suffer the humiliation of having a burly, silent man stand guard just outside the rickety door while she was inside. Alwyn had been held tightly and led just around the corner of the building, then shoved back into the carriage, the silent guard never moving the pistol he kept aimed at her son. Once the exhausted team was exchanged for a fresh one, the guard had left their side, shut and secured the door, and then the carriage had begun to move again. A quick peek out the back window had revealed Giles looking dirty and tired but still unharmed and, if his grin was any indication, undaunted. She could only pray he had remained so.

She was not a superstitious person, but Catryn began to think that Fate herself was pushing her to this place and time. As her captor dragged her toward the door to Morris’s London house, she could only pray that Dame Fate did not have a dark future planned for her or her son. Telling herself it was a foolish way to think did not help, for she could not shake the feeling that this was all necessary, as if some important truth was awaiting her at the end of this trouble. It was a very strange way to think, especially at the moment, and she struggled to push it aside. All she needed to think about now was keeping her son and herself alive until Orion could reach them.

And he would come, she thought as she was shoved so hard into an ornate parlor she barely stopped herself from falling to her knees. Catryn had to move quickly to save Alwyn from a similar fate. She stood with her arms wrapped around her child and glared at Morris. Orion would come for her and she could not wait to see him deal with this fool.

Catryn realized she trusted Orion. After her marriage she had trusted few people, especially handsome men. The stories told by other wives and widows revealed few men could be trusted to hold to their vows and were often all too concerned with only their own pleasures. In some ways she had even felt that her father had failed her, although she now knew in her heart it was wrong to blame him for how he had kept himself apart from her in so many ways after her mother died. There was no doubt, however, that her grandfather had failed them all.

So, as the years passed, it had appeared to her more and more that a man was just not someone a woman could fully trust to watch her back. She began to believe that she could never really have a man in her life whom she could fully trust to be her comrade-in-arms. Yet, in the few days she had been with Orion, she knew he would do his best to find her and help her; and that trust was not because the man gave her so much pleasure, but one born from a deep faith in his word, his honor, and his strength. It surprised her to feel that way about someone she had known for so short a time, but she decided she liked how it felt. Orion had her back. That surety gave her the strength to do her part, to make sure she and Alwyn did not give Morris what he wanted and were ready for Orion when he came.

Morris sat in a heavily carved chair that was evidently intended to look like a throne. Catryn inwardly shook her head. There was nothing about the man that was impressive, not in his looks nor in anything he had ever done in his life. He obviously thought himself important, however, and she wondered if that could prove to be a weakness.

“Got them both, sir,” said the man who had dragged her into the room.

“I can see that,” snapped Morris and then he sighed. “Good work, Tom. Guard the doors, including this one. She has proven to be far more elusive than I had anticipated.”

“Aye, sir.”

Catryn watched Tom closely. He was unquestionably a criminal, but unlike the others Morris had used, this man appeared to possess some intelligence. That could prove a problem, but she decided she would worry about it if and when a chance to escape appeared. She would keep her attention fixed upon Morris for now.

“So, Catryn, here we are,” Morris said. “Would you like something to drink?”

She was thirsty but the knowledge of how her husband, Morris’s brother, had drugged her was still too fresh in her mind to trust in anything a de Warrenne served her. “No. This is not some social occasion, Morris.”

“If you would cease to be so stubborn, it could be.”

“You steal my child and now you kidnap both of us and you think
I
am being difficult?” She shook her head. “I begin to think your sanity has left you.”

“I offered you a proper marriage, woman! You tell me no and then run about the countryside with a lover. You are in no position to question me!”

“I never would have met Sir Orion or had to run about the countryside if you had not beaten my father and stolen my child. And a marriage between us would never stand.”

“It will if I do not try to go to a church in this country. I looked into the matter after what you said and discovered that it can be done elsewhere with ease. Such a marriage would also be recognized here.”

“Not if my father protested it and he most certainly would. Loudly.”

“He would keep his mouth shut. I will hold you and the boy and that will give me the power to silence him. The man will not want to do anything if it could result in harm to you or that child.”

There was too much truth in what he said for her to even bother trying to argue with it. “No matter where you try to marry me, it cannot be done as long as I refuse and claim it is against my will.”

Morris moved so fast Catryn had no time to react. He was out of his ridiculous chair and yanking Alwyn away from her before she could stop him. She lunged for him, only to be painfully halted when Tom grabbed her braid and pulled her back. The situation was growing tense, even dangerous, and somehow she had to calm everyone down without giving Morris what he wanted. Catryn was not sure that was possible.

She could not marry the man, and not just because he was not Orion. Once married she and Alwyn would lose what little protection from Morris they had now. At the moment, he wanted something from her. Once he got it, he not only had no need of Alwyn, he would undoubtedly soon tire of her. At best she might be kept around until she gave him a child. The thought of him using her to breed him a son made her stomach churn, but she struggled to keep that vehement distaste from showing in her face.

“You cannot keep threatening people to get what you want,” she said.

“Ah, well, yes. Yes, I can.” He smiled at her. “Your father loves you, loves this brat. He will do all I ask of him if I make him understand that you and Alwyn will pay very dearly for any insult he offers me or any difficulties he causes for me.”

“Papa says only a coward threatens women and children,” said Alwyn.

“Henry is
not
talking to you!” yelled Morris as he shoved Alwyn back toward Catryn.

“Not Henry. A-E-D-D-O-N. Aeddon. He talks to me.”

Morris paled and stared at Alwyn. “Who?”

“I just told you. A-E-D-D-O-N. Aeddon. And he says he wants to pull your lungs out through your nose.”

“Take them to the cellars,” Morris ordered Tom and then glared at Catryn. “Maybe some time locked up down there with no food, no water, and no light will make you begin to think more clearly.”

“Papa says—” began Alwyn as Tom and another man grabbed him and Catryn.

“Shut up! Shut up! Just bloody shut up! Get them out of here, Tom. Now!”

Catryn did not bother fighting the man who dragged her out of the room, past two more guards in the hall. Even if she could break his hold, she would then have to try and free Alwyn. The odds of doing both things and then getting out of the house were not ones anyone would bet on. She decided to save her strength.

She and Alwyn were taken down into the cellar. Catryn was held firmly by Tom as the other man used the candle he held to light several others in the dank room. Tom unlocked a metal cage and the men pushed her and Alwyn inside. She stumbled, and by the time she caught her balance and turned toward the door, it was locked and Tom was staring at her through the bars. He then looked at Alwyn, a look that held a touch of fear. Catryn moved quickly to put her arm around her son and hold him close to her side.

“You teach him that?” Tom asked her.

“Teach who what?” she asked, even though she had a very good idea of what he was asking about.

“Teach the boy to try to make folk believe he can talk to the dead.”

“Do not be ridiculous. No one can talk to the dead. What an odd thing to believe.”

“Well, Aeddon was odd.”

Before she could ask what he meant by that, he left. She breathed a sigh of relief when he did not snuff the candles his compatriot had lit. For a while she and Alwyn would not be left in the dark. It was a small comfort.

Catryn looked around their prison. They were in a large metal cage which held several racks of wine and large barrels. A quick, closer look at the goods revealed it was all of the best quality, some of it obviously bought from smugglers. To the back of the cage there were several wooden crates with more bottles packed inside. In a far corner was one barrel standing alone. A peek inside revealed apples and she grinned, reaching down to choose two. It seemed someone wanted to be sure there were apples at hand and that they were not all eaten by the men Morris hired, or the servants.

“Come and sit, Alwyn,” she said as she sat down on one of the covered boxes that held brandy. “I found us some apples. I think the cook hides them here so they are not all eaten before they can be used in cooking. It is also a good storage area for such things. These may be more tart than you like, but will ease any hunger or thirst you may have.”

Alwyn sat next to her and began to polish his apple on his coat sleeve. “We could drink some of what is in all these bottles.”

“We could, although I am not certain I can open them since I do not have the proper tools. But ’tis wine and brandy, love, and I would just as soon you do not have any of it. If our thirst grows too keen, however, I will not hesitate to try and find a way. I but hope we are not pushed to that need as you are too young to be drinking wine or brandy.”

The look in Alwyn’s face, one that told her he was deciding if he should remind her that he was not a baby, made her want to smile. Catryn turned her attention to her apple. To her relief it was not too tart and she slowly ate hers while studying their prison for any possible route of escape. It did not take long for her to know there was none. The key to the door was too far away, hung on a hook near the bottom of the stairs, and the cage itself was built strongly, the bars sunk into the stone floor. Morris obviously felt a great need to protect his drink as if it were liquid gold.

Catryn’s thoughts then turned to Morris’s reaction to Alwyn’s talk of Aeddon. Morris had known the man. Considering what Tom had said before leaving the cellar, so had he. Although Henry had never mentioned the man, it was very possible that he had also known Aeddon. She was not sure why, since she knew there had undoubtedly been many people her husband had known whom she had never met or would have wanted to, but the fact that Morris, Tom, and quite possibly Henry had known Aeddon made her very uneasy.

She looked at her son, who was taking very small bites from his apple in such a way that it was leaving funny little patterns. The only way she could learn about Aeddon was to ask Alwyn, yet she hesitated. He was just a child and she could not be certain the questions she had would bring answers a child should hear. Aeddon had proven to be a rough-spoken spirit. Catryn realized she had no choice, however. This man Aeddon, whose spirit clung tenaciously to her child, was an important piece of the puzzle that had become her life. She was certain of it.

“Do you think Giles is all right?” Alwyn asked.

“He was when we stopped to change the horses,” she replied. “The last part of the journey was not nearly as rough as the first part, and he managed to hang on all during that bumpy ride.”

Alwyn nodded. “Giles is strong. Maybe he can rescue us or get us some help. It will all be fine.”

She was not so sure of that but was not about to say so, and turned her thoughts back to the matter of his ghostly companion. “Alwyn, is Aeddon with you now?” she asked.

“He is always with me,” Alwyn replied. “That is what papas do.”

“I see.” Since Henry had spent so little time with their son, she wondered if that was why Alwyn was so ready to believe his spirit friend was actually his father. “And you are very certain that he says he is your father? You believe that?”

“Yes. He is.”

“But, love, I do not know this man. Mothers usually know what man helped them make a child, and I have never met anyone named Aeddon.”

“He says you were sleeping and Henry paid him to make me.”

Catryn had a sudden urge to be violently ill and then stiffened her spine. “Does he say why he would do such a thing?”

Alwyn frowned for a moment. “I cannot say bad words.”

“This time it is allowed as I truly want to know what he has answered. It is very important.”

“He says he was a reckless bastard and owed Henry money. He is sorry, but that was what was asked of him to clear his debt. Then Henry betrayed him as soon as he knew I was in your belly and cut Papa’s throat and threw him in the river.”