Sworn Loyalty - A Medieval Romance (13 page)

Michael nodded in understanding. “I just hate to see you torn asunder like this.”

She smiled wryly at that, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I know, and I appreciate it. I will get through this.”

There was motion from the distant forest, and at last a lone rider cantered into view, the sure, steady motion speaking to a horseman comfortable with the terrain. Mary watched as Erik grew nearer, but he never looked up, never raised his eyes to hers even as he rode in beneath her position on the wall. She waited while he stabled his steed, but when he emerged he went straight toward the keep, not turning.

Michael gave a soft shrug. “Maybe at dinner we will learn more,” he murmured.

But Erik did not join them at dinner, and his empty chair tugged hollowly at Mary’s heart. The last course had barely been removed from the table before she was making her way upstairs. She slowed before his door, but could not bring herself to knock. Her own room seemed even more barren than usual, with only the low, empty bed to one side. The candles were all dark, and the dim embers in the fireplace sent only the faintest glimmer against the cymbals of her tambourine.

Even the eyes of his painting were gone.

She climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her head, helpless to hold back the feeling of desolation that swept through her.

Chapter 10

Mary was being gently shaken awake, but she clung to her dream with all her might. In it, she and Erik were entwined in the solitude of Avoca’s folly, the safety of the tower protecting them, isolated from all others. If only they could stay there forever, with no vows or promises to keep.

Tina’s voice came insistently. “Lady Cartwright, the messenger has returned.”

A jolt of fear shook away the cobwebs, and Mary sat up in bed. “Where is he?”

Tina blushed, looking down for a moment. “He came for M’Lord,” she murmured, “not for you. M’Lord sent him back out with a message for Lord Paul.”

Mary’s cheeks heated, but she nodded. She had to accept this. It was her own plan, after all. She must live with the consequences.

“Of course,” she agreed. “Has Erik said anything?”

Tina bobbed her head. “Apparently our guest will arrive this afternoon,” she stated, her eyes showing confusion at the whirlwind of events going on around her. “She is to have the guest room, the one we moved the canopy bed into two days ago. Everything is being made ready for her arrival.”

Mary’s throat was tight, but she forced herself to continue. “And my sleeping area?”

Tina took a quick glance at the room around her. “My Lady, I am sure that we could –”

Mary shook her head. “I must not have anything at all reveal my station here.” She smiled fondly at the girl she had practically grown up with. “And you must remember to call me Mary again, as you did when we were younger.”

“Of course, My … Mary.”

Mary chuckled, climbing out of bed. “If we only have a few hours, then I should start getting ready.”

* * *

Mary sat on the top step of the chapel’s entrance, pulling her wool cloak close around her shoulders. The whole of the keep had been turned out in the courtyard, and she swelled with pride in how orderly they looked. The soldiers had polished until they shone, and even Michael had traded in his leather armor for a dress tunic.

Her eyes went to Erik, and her breath caught. He was wearing his family colors, forest green, with the crossed sword emblem embroidered on his breast in silver. His blond hair shone in the sunlight, his muscles rippled as he walked over to talk with Michael, and he was all she could hope for in a man.

There was movement at the main gate, and Lynessa rode in on a beautiful bay, followed by two stocky men-at-arms and a small wagon. She wore a forest green cloak, her golden curls cascading down her back. She drew to a halt before Erik, and a page ran forward to hold the reins. When she dismounted, her cloak swirled open to reveal an elegantly embroidered dress of forest green and silver.

Mary closed her eyes for a moment. She felt she could see exactly how this scene should play out.

Lynessa would climb off her horse, her face glowing with satisfaction over how easily she had duped her naïve victim. She would stride arrogantly toward Erik. But wait! Erik would motion with his hand, and suddenly Michael would grab her from behind.

Lynessa’s eyes would go wide with shock. “But Erik! I love you! I thought you loved me!”

Erik would look her over with a wry smile. “I did once, ten long years ago. But I was only a child then. Two weeks with this honorable, brave woman here, and I know now what my fate should be.”

He would reach out a hand, and Mary would run into his waiting arms. They both would turn to watch as Michael hauled Lynessa away to await the sheriff’s arrival.

Erik would gaze down at Mary in adoration. “I will never leave your side again,” he’d vow. He would draw her again into an embrace –

Mary’s eyes blinked back open, and she leant forward, her heart pounding.

Lynessa took a step toward Erik, her eyes gazing over him as if she could not believe he was real, and then she was tumbling into his arms, holding him tightly, crying out in relief. There was a pause, and then Erik’s arms came up around her, consoling her, reassuring her that he was all right.

Sharp twists of pain converged in Mary’s stomach, and she took in a deep breath. Had she expected him to push the blonde away? To challenge her right there, to insist in front of the entire keep that Lynessa was a charlatan?

Yes.

Mary brushed away the tears welling in her eyes. She hadn’t realized just how strongly she had hoped her nightmare would end in a manner straight from a troubadour’s tale. It was silly, of course. Erik had been dedicated to Lynessa for over a decade. He had given up his family home, his heritage, the love of his mother, all for her. He had endured who knew what hells in the Holy Land to prove himself worthy of her. Did Mary really think that undoing all of that would be the snuffing of a candle’s flame?

She wondered if, in Erik’s mind, Lynessa’s delaying of the marriage was quite reasonable. The theft of the gold could be bad luck. Even the scene at the tavern and the church could easily be explained away.

As Erik himself had said, he held out hope that Lynessa was innocent in all of this. And, if Lynessa
was
innocent, for him to give up on her now would make all of his other sacrifices meaningless. He would be deserting the woman he loved just when she needed him most.

Mary squared her shoulders. It was up to her. She had to prove the existence of the twisted blackness which slithered beneath that gilded exterior. Lady Cartwright had known the challenge which awaited Mary, and had prepared Mary over ten long years. Mary had known the mission would be harder than any other task she could undertake.

She could do this.

She had to do it.

It seemed an eternity before Lynessa released Erik and gazed up with adoration into his eyes. She hooked her hand firmly against his arm. He guided her up the stairs and into the main keep. Mary took her time, allowing the household staff to make their way indoors before entering the main hall.

At the other end of the room, Erik was leading Lynessa up the stairs toward her guest room. The two men-at-arms followed behind carrying a variety of leather bags and small wooden boxes. Mary’s face paled at the thought of the woman sleeping in the keep, able to work her wiles on Erik whenever she wished.

Michael came to her side, following her eyes with his own.

His voice was even. “So much for the hope of Erik condemning her the moment she dismounted.”

Mary blushed. Had her daydreams been that obvious? “It would have been nice,” she muttered.

The corner of his mouth quirked into a wry smile. “And yet highly unlikely,” he pointed out. “Ten long years? All his faith poured into her? He needs far better proof that she has been unworthy of his sacrifices.”

Mary reluctantly nodded. “Erik is a man of honor. He will want to stand by her and trust that she is innocent. He would not abandon her just because she was unlucky enough to be robbed, or happened across the brigands’ hangout. I think he has suspicions, but he will want proof.”

Michael’s hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. His face was dead-pan. “So, we hang her from the wall and send ravenous boars at her until she confesses?”

Mary did smile at that, and the tension in her shoulders eased. “You do have a wild streak in you,” she teased him. “No, Lady Cartwright had predicted it might come down to luring Lynessa to reveal herself. So my first step is to convince her to trust me, even a little.”

Michael’s gaze locked with hers. “Just let me know how I can help.”

“For now, keep your eyes open. I’m sure Lynessa will be all sweetness and light until she gets that ring on her finger. So Erik should be safe until then.”

Michael’s eyes twinkled. “Safe is a relative term,” he pointed out.

Mary’s stomach twisted as she thought of the coming days. She knew it would take all her patience to play the part she had so carefully rehearsed.

* * *

The great hall had been swept, fresh rushes had been laid down, and the tables gleamed with polish. Most of the keep’s inhabitants were already at their tables for dinner, murmuring with conversation. Mary tucked herself at the far end of a lower table, her crimson dress lost in the shadows of the flickering torchlight.

There was a stir at the far end of the room, and she looked up. Erik and Lynessa were just coming down the stairs. Mary’s breath caught. Standing side by side, in elegant outfits of green and silver, with her golden curls and his blond hair, they appeared as if a matched set.

Dark hollowness pulled at Mary, dragging her down into its depths. For two long weeks Erik had been at her side, had gazed into her eyes, had soared her to the heights of pleasure. And now it was Lynessa’s hand he held as he walked along the back of the head table, approaching its central spot.

Mary flushed. Had those nights just been a casual distraction to Erik, a way to pass the time until he could return to his true love?

Lynessa’s cultured voice carried easily across the hall. “That canopy bed is surely the most beautifully carved piece of furniture I have ever seen, Erik,” she purred. “Thank you again for allowing me its use.”

“It is my pleasure.” His eyes swept the room, and for a moment they lit on Mary. He paused for a fraction of a second, a flit of emotion skittering behind his eyes. And then he continued his sweep, his expression still.

Lynessa’s gaze moved to the carven throne before them, and her eyes lit up with delight. “Why, surely this was done by the same hand,” she praised. “Such detail, such care! Is this where you sit?”

He gave a short shake of his head. “My seat is here, to the right.”

Her mouth formed a perfect O. “Why then, this chair is for me! So I can be at your side! Why, you are indeed a chivalrous host.” She moved around to stand before the chair, and then serenely lowered herself into it.

A stillness settled over Erik for a moment, but he gave himself a shake and sat at her side. Then Zelda was in motion, her round curves moving more quickly than her size would suggest possible, pouring wine into pewter goblets.

Lynessa raised her goblet high, holding it toward Erik. “To my darling Erik, and the achievement of all he has ever dreamed.”

Glasses and mugs were raised around the room, and choruses of “To Erik!” filled the air. Lynessa clinked her goblet against his, then took a long, satisfied sip.

The first course was brought around, a savory stew of eel and rosemary. Mary tried to take a few bites, but it felt like lead slugs falling into her stomach. It was all she could do to wash it down with some ale.

There was a throaty laugh from the head table, and Lynessa was leaning toward Erik, smiling widely in delight. Erik was nodding, an echoing smile drawing his lips into that curve she knew so well.

He still cared for Lynessa.

A chill flashed through Mary, and she pushed it aside with determination. Lady Cartwright had believed in Mary. The indomitable woman had made it her life’s mission to train Mary in every way possible to break Lynessa’s hold over her only son. Now it was time for the true test to begin.

She swept her eyes around the room, landing on the two men-at-arms, one light and one dark. They were side by side at the table on the opposite end of the hall, black curls and flaxen locks, conferring together over pints of ale. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, and then she sat back in surprise.

It was Bronson and Sander, two of the men who had ridden with Josiah in hunt of Erik. They were in Caradoc’s employ – and they were here at Lynessa’s beck and call.

Hope sprang up within her, but she pushed it down with steady resolve. Their presence here was hardly proof of anything. Lynessa could always claim she had no idea the men were involved with Caradoc. She had simply hired them for their skill at sword, nothing more. Mary must be patient, and wait to gather what she needed to know.