The Dark Knight (12 page)

He came to a sudden stop. “You fear me?”

She lifted her chin. “I do not.”

“You are not a good liar,” he said, and this time she definitely heard a brief note of amusement, the sound scratchy and raw as if his throat were unaccustomed to laughter. “I did not come here tonight to harm you, my lady.”

He could be lying. John was an excellent liar. Perhaps Sir Percival shared that skill. Why else would he be in her chamber at this time of night if he was not part of the plot against her? “Why are you here?”

“Put yourself in my place, if you will.” He spread his hands in a gesture of impatience, and the edge returned to his voice. “ ’Tis the dead of night and a young lady of the keep screams in terror, yet none of the soldiers or servants can bestir themselves to investigate this matter? Do the people of Coleway place so little value on your safety?”

“You are here because you thought I was in some sort of danger?” It took her a moment to comprehend that she had screamed loud enough in her sleep to awaken and alarm him. He was not here at John’s direction, and
his anger wasn’t directed at her. She lowered her head to hide an inappropriate smile of relief and … something else. It wouldn’t do to let him think that she was belittling his concerns when, in truth, she felt absurdly pleased by them. She looked up to find him standing directly in front of her and she let out a startled gasp. “However do you move so quietly?”

He ignored the pointless question and lifted his hand as if he meant to touch her face, but then his arm dropped back to his side. She could see much more of him now that he stood so close; the contrast between the moonlit marble of his face and the dark stubble on his cheeks, the square jaw, the outline of sensual lips. He did not look pleased.

She forced her gaze away from that dangerous territory and inspected his clothing instead. His shirt was a strange-looking garment with a cowl neckline, and he wore a pair of snug leather breeches; both garments not quite black but lighter, a shade of gray, she supposed. It was impossible to be sure in the moonlight.

“You are in danger when you are left vulnerable, Avalene.” He made her name sound like an endearment, one that made her feel as if butterflies suddenly took flight in her stomach.

She tried to ignore the effect to concentrate on the problem at hand. “ ’Tis you who are vulnerable, Sir Percival. Do you know what would happen should someone discover you here? What would happen to us both?”

“I made certain no one was about before I came into your chamber,” he said. “You are obviously in no danger, so it appears there was no need for concern.”

“Oh, there is need for concern,” she said in a rush. “We are both in danger, just not for the reasons you might think. Indeed, the truth is so scandalous and fantastical
that I hesitate to share my worries lest you think them lies or exaggerations.”

He did not answer for a long time. Instead he sat down next to her on the bed and seemed to mull over her words. He left enough space between them to be deemed proper in the daylight, perhaps in the solar, but he was much too close for a knight in the chamber of an unwed maiden in the middle of the night. His effect on her should be the last thing on her mind, but she also had to judge how much she could trust this man, this stranger who held her fate in his hands. She could see him much more clearly now, but his expression remained remote despite the intimacy of his words.

“You can tell me anything, my lady. ’Tis my duty to know everything about you: your likes and dislikes, your friends and enemies, your habits and routines. Even your concerns and secrets. How else can a knight protect his lady?”

“You are not my knight,” she retorted. How on earth had they stumbled into
this
dangerous territory? Either her imagination was working overtime, or he was somehow declaring himself, pledging himself to her service. Impossible. She was not the sort of woman who inspired declarations, at least, not declarations free of scowls or muttered curses.

He lifted one brow. “Whose knight would I be, other than yours?”

“You are sworn to my father,” she said simply.

“A knight can be sworn to his liege lord,” he said, “and also be sworn to a lady.”

She tried to ignore the way her pulse fluttered. This was not happening. Perhaps she was still asleep and this was another part of her dream. Her sense of self-preservation took over and her voice took on a frosty edge. “ ’Tis not my place to ask if you have sworn your
heart to a lady, and this is hardly the time or place to pursue such a topic.”

“Perhaps,” he murmured, “but know that I will not brush aside anything you might tell me, or make light of anything that causes you concern. I am here for
you
, my lady. You can trust me.”

She had an irrational urge to hug him. Instead she caught her lower lip between her teeth, torn between the instinct to keep her secrets to herself and the inevitable need to ask for his help. Her chances of escaping from Coleway without his cooperation were impossible. Her chances of reaching Weston without him were nonexistent. The decision was obvious. She had to trust him.

“There is a plot afoot to see us involved in a terrible scandal,” she began. Her gaze went to the door. “My uncle’s soldiers could burst into this chamber at any moment. John could not have asked for a better arrangement if he had planned this meeting between us himself. Indeed, your sudden appearance here seems very … suspicious, given what I know of Lady Margaret’s plan. I have no doubt that John had a hand in shaping it.”

“You are speaking of the steward?” he asked.

She gave a brisk nod, and then the words tumbled out in a rush. She told him what she’d overheard earlier between her aunt and uncle, and about John’s involvement in the plot. “I know from experience that John is a master at getting what he wants. Mark my words; this will all come to pass unless we do something drastic.”

“These are very serious charges,” Percival said slowly, his brows drawn together in a frown. “You have accused your aunt and uncle as well as a high-ranking servant at Coleway of plotting a crime against my liege lord and his daughter. You find my sudden appearance suspicious, and yet I am in your chamber even now in
response to your cry of distress. It was your signal that drew me here. I would be foolish not to wonder if you are working with the steward to engineer your own ruin so you can stay at Coleway. Perhaps you fancy yourself in love with Coleway’s steward. Is that why you summoned me here?”

“I detest John, and I did not purposely summon you here,” she hissed, and then she pressed her lips together to curb her sudden urge to call him thick-witted. He was actually putting together the pieces of the puzzle just as she would have done in his place. He had asked for her trust and she had practically accused him of plotting against her. It was hardly surprising that he did not quite trust her yet, either. “I had planned to sneak into the solar after everyone was asleep to tell you of this plot but I fell asleep. And then I had a nightmare. I have them quite often. At least, I have them often enough that no one thinks much of it when or if they hear me cry out in my sleep. The guards quit rushing to my chamber door years ago. So, that is the reason no one but you rushed to my side when I called out.”

“As I said to you earlier in the solar,” he began, “I would not think it unusual if you find yourself reluctant to leave Coleway. I’m sure your father would even understand if you fancied yourself in love with Lord Brunor’s cousin, John, and wished to marry him. There is—”

“I want
nothing
to do with John,” she whispered furiously, “and my fondest hope is to leave Coleway as quickly as possible. I am
not
plotting against you, Sir Percival. However, ’tis possible a spy has reported your presence here to John by now. We must devise a plan quickly. As it happens, I had many hours to think things through before I fell asleep. Would you like to hear what I have decided, or would you rather argue about the steward?”

“My pardon,” he said stiffly. “I did not intend to start an argument. Please tell me what you have decided.”

She gave a satisfied nod. “First, everything will work best if you make some excuse not to attend the hunt in the morning. I am already staying behind to see to the meals, but I can change my mind midmorning, or as soon as we are certain the hunting party is beyond sight of the castle. I know exactly where Lord Brunor will begin the hunt, and I can tell the castle guards that you will escort me and no other escort is necessary. They will not like it, but I will insist that no other soldiers be spared from the walls and they will not dare defy my orders. We can escape the castle and no one will know we are missing until the midday meal. Our absence might go unnoticed even longer if no one inquires about us until they return from the hunt.” She folded her hands together in her lap and smiled, pleased with her logic and cleverness. “What think you of my plan?”

Percival remained silent so long that she was tempted to push against his shoulder to rattle some response from him. At last he said, “Those are, indeed, drastic actions you suggest.”

She blinked once when it became apparent that was all he intended to say. Was he slow in the head? “I believe John will try to put some plan into action after the hunt tomorrow. Your arrival was expected, but not your orders to take me back to Weston. I doubt John has had much time to think through his plan or put the pieces in place. We must put our own plan in place first and be well away from the castle before John or my aunt and uncle realize what has happened. What say you, Sir Percival? Will you honor your duty to my father and take me away from Coleway tomorrow during the hunt, or, will you fail us both by refusing to act upon what I know to be true?”

He shook his head. “I scarce know what to say, my lady. Plots and counterplots, ploy and counterploy. You have my head spinning.”

A sinking feeling began in the pit of Avalene’s stomach as she watched him rub his forehead. If simply hearing the plan was too much for him, actually carrying it out would be beyond his capabilities. It was rare that she misjudged people, but apparently Sir Percival was not the man she had hoped or imagined. He would be useless to her cause. In fact, he could actually create many more problems than he would solve.

“Perhaps I have misjudged … the situation,” she said carefully. “Aye, just hearing the accusations aloud makes me realize how crazed they sound. Perhaps you are right, Sir Percival. I am overwrought at the thought of leaving Coleway and my imagination is playing tricks on me. You must attend the hunt tomorrow as planned. Pray forget I made any of these awful accusations against my aunt and uncle or the steward. They have been all that is kind to me through the years and do not deserve to be slandered. Please, I am so ashamed of my outburst. I promise that I will not cause you any more trouble. Can you promise that you will say nothing to anyone else about our conversation tonight? Truly, they are no more than the hysterical ramblings of an emotional woman.”

That last part was one of Lord Brunor’s favorite responses whenever Lady Margaret used tears to try to win an argument. It might have been a bit much. The way Sir Percival remained so silent and watchful unnerved her. There was intelligence in his gaze, or, at least the impression of it that had not played out in their conversation thus far. She should not feel such keen disappointment that he was not the kind of man she had hoped he would be.

“Oh, you have my word that I will not repeat what you have told me,” he said at last. He spoke with sudden surety and any confusion seemed completely erased from his mind. “As for the hunt, I had already planned to find an excuse to stay at Coleway should you not participate. My duty is to stay close to your side, Lady Avalene. Your father has heard disturbing rumors and has ordered me to take you away if need be. Your fears are well founded. I had to be certain you were really intent on leaving Coleway, or determine if you were part of the plot to keep you here. I am satisfied that you are not working with the steward.”

“Why, you,” she spluttered, “you could have—”

“I had to be certain,” he said, as he reached out to give her hand a firm squeeze. “My plan is almost the same as yours. We will leave Coleway tomorrow much as you imagined, but we must be clever about what we do after our escape. The road to Wales will be the first place they will look for us. We must ride east toward London, and we must ride hard and fast. How are your skills on a horse?”

She looked down to where his hand still covered hers. Her eyes closed briefly against the spinning sensation that might be relief, or it might have something to do with how quickly he had changed from thickheaded minion to quick-witted leader of their small rebellion. There was that feeling again of danger mingled with something else.

He withdrew his hand and she was able to breathe again, which was all well and good except that then she caught his scent. Some devil seemed to whisper hints of what his skin would feel like beneath her hands if she were brave enough to reach out and take his hand again. The fact that she even entertained such a crazed idea finally shook her from her stupor. “I am an excellent
rider, Sir Percival. You need not worry that I will slow our flight.”

“Is there something else that is bothering you?” he asked. “Something I should know about?”

She plucked at a piece of thread that had worked its way loose on her quilt. “Tomorrow I will tell the biggest lie of my life to my aunt and uncle, and then I will flee the place I have called home and the people who have been my closest family for more than half of my life. After tomorrow my life will never again be the same. My entire future depends upon a man I have known for less than a day. My future depends upon you, Sir Percival.” She studied his face, trying to reassure herself that she was doing the right thing in trusting him. “Tell me the truth. Do you think we will succeed?”

He answered without hesitation. “I have no doubt of my plan, so long as you remain cooperative.”

“What makes you so certain?”

The corners of his mouth curved upward. “I was sent here to protect you and see to your safety, my lady, and I am very good at what I do.”