The Traitor's Daughter (24 page)

“Careful, my lady. I need you alive for a moment
longer.” He pulled her straighter and took a tighter grip on his dagger.

 She looked for Hugh; surely he was here, Stephen would
have killed her already if he was not. His height should make him the easiest man
in the room to find. Because she could not see him, she thought he must be
injured or dead. Either way, there could be no hope for her.

Hugh and Edmund had discovered all the hidden ways in
and out of the manor house as small boys. Hugh’s only fear was that the one he
intended to use would be locked. They left the horses on the outskirts of the
village and walked up to the house, hidden by the moonless night. Not only was
the door unlocked, it was open. “Stephen!” breathed Hugh into Edmund’s ear. “He
must be trying again tonight.” He drew his sword and slipped into the passage,
Edmund following him closely. They walked quietly and soon heard the sounds of
fighting from the hall. Unseen, they surveyed the situation for a moment before
joining the fray. Sir William’s men were getting the worst of the fight.
Although armed, they had not been prepared for a force that had come in through
an open back door, instead of trying to enter the guarded front door. The
mercenaries were fierce and reckless. Hugh remembered from his previous
encounter with them that they were dangerous and unpredictable. Then he had
only been fighting for his father and himself, now he was thinking of Alais. He
could not let them harm her.

Hugh and Edmund were soon separated. Sir William was
doing little to encourage his men, so Hugh began to shout orders at them in the
hope that they could offer some sort of co-ordinated defence. Once Sir William
noticed he was there and realised what he was doing, he countermanded Hugh’s
orders and Hugh found himself attacked by both mercenaries and his father’s men
alike. He tried to fight his way to his father, but found himself manoeuvred to
the bottom of the staircase away from the main fighting.

“Hugh!” shouted Stephen, loudly enough to be heard above
the din of fighting. All eyes turned to him, except Hugh’s. Hugh heard him, but
continued to fight. “I have Lady Alais,” screamed Stephen. Now Hugh did look,
briefly, before returning to the man who had tried to slip his blade under Hugh’s
guard while he was distracted. Hugh considered rushing up the stairs, releasing
Alais and escaping, but quickly saw that that would not work. Instead, he had
to continue to fight until Stephen was beaten or he himself was dead.

“Stop now, or I will kill her.”

Having despatched his opponent Hugh gave his brother his
full attention.

“Harm her and you will die a painful death.” He spoke
quietly, but he knew that Stephen had heard him.

Alais was looking around the hall. Suddenly she seemed
to see what she was looking for, just below her and she made a small sign with
her hand, then turned her head towards Hugh. Hugh did not dare take his
attention from Stephen, who had now moved forward so that only Alais’ heels
remained on the step. She had only to lose her balance and she would fall to
her death. Hugh was about to run up the stairs, even knowing he would fail in
his attempt to reach her, when Alais smiled at him. He could not even cry out,
as she suddenly twisted her body away from Stephen. He knew she would die when
she hit the hall’s floor. Stephen lost his balance and falling, pushed Alais
from the step. Hugh watched her fall and cried out. Where was all that blood
coming from? Had Stephen cut her throat as well as thrown her into the void? He
wanted to turn away, but could not. He was frozen and everything else seemed
frozen, except for Alais who fell for an eternity...and into Edmund’s waiting
arms. They both fell under the weight of Stephen’s body, as Edmund had not
managed to move out of the way in time. Hugh was beside them in a moment. “My
lady?”

“I am unhurt.” Her voice was muffled, but she did not
sound in pain.

“I too, am unhurt, since you ask,” complained Edmund,
struggling to move from beneath Stephen’s body.

Hugh knelt down and pushed Stephen away. “He is dead,”
he said as he closed his brother’s eyes. Then he saw what had killed Stephen.
The dagger had gone in below his ribs. He pulled it out and looked up at Alais
who was being held by Edmund. She was shaking. At his implied question she nodded.
“The dagger is mine.”

Hugh got to his feet and handed Alais her dagger. He
surveyed the hall. “Stephen is dead,” he shouted, but the fighting started up
around them again. He and Edmund took up position either side of Alais.

“Give me a sword,” she said to Hugh.

“You cannot fight.”

“I cannot just stand here.”

Edmund had already retrieved a sword from a fallen man
and given it to her. He pretended not to notice Hugh’s glare. Alais hefted it
in her right hand. “Do not move away from us,” shouted Hugh, as a man attacked
him. He knew he did not have to tell Edmund to protect her.

Hugh knew it would be more dangerous for him to watch
what she was doing, but she could barely lift the sword and would be an easy
prey for any of the men in the room. He watched her parry a blow that almost
took the sword from her hand. She held onto it grimly and managed to prevent
the man from killing her, until Edmund drove his own sword into the man’s side.
Another man drove at her and she managed to strike at his chest, drawing blood.
Surprised he stepped back onto Hugh’s waiting sword. She seemed to be wielding
the sword easily enough. Perhaps they would all get out of this alive.

Hugh risked a quick look round the hall. Most of the men
still standing seemed to be Sir William’s men and the mercenaries seemed to be
few in number. It appeared that only he and Edmund were making any headway
against the mercenaries. He returned his attention to Alais. She seemed to be
tiring from the effort of holding the heavy blade. She lost her footing once in
the blood that now covered the floor, but Hugh caught her and steadied her
before she could come to any harm. Then it was all over. There was no one left
to attack them. Besides Hugh and Edmund there were very few men on their feet.
Alais’ sword fell with a loud clatter. Fearing that she would follow it, Hugh
put a hand beneath her elbow to support her. “Are you injured?”

“No, are you?”

“No. Edmund?”

“A small cut. Nothing serious.”

Alais turned towards him. “Where?”

He held out his left arm where a deep cut was oozing
blood. Alais took out her dagger and ripped off his sleeve and tied it around
the wound. “That will stop you from bleeding to death before I can look at it
properly.”

“What have you done here this night?” Alais jumped at
the sound of Sir William’s voice and moved to stand behind Hugh even as he
placed himself in front of her.

“I think I have saved your life,” said Hugh quietly.

“I think you and your whore have killed your brother.”
Sir William picked his way across the hall towards them.

“No, father, it was Stephen who plotted your death, not
me. I was fighting for you. Did you not notice?” Hugh managed to keep the
exasperation from his voice only with great effort. He had twice saved his
ungrateful father’s life.

“A ruse. You saw that your men would lose and hoped to
convince me that you were fighting for me.”

“Father, you are wrong. I have twice saved you from
Stephen’s plots at no small cost to myself.”

“Stephen tried to save me from you. That is why he went
to fetch the whore to use her against you.”

“Call her a whore again and I will kill you.”

Hugh took a step forward and Alais and Edmund each took
one of his arms to hold him back. Sir William took another step forward and
stumbled. At first Hugh thought he had fallen over one of the bodies, then he
realised that blood was seeping through his father’s tunic.

“He is injured,” Alais whispered.

“It seems I did not save you after all,” said Hugh, as
his father fell to his knees.

“Stay with Edmund,” he muttered to Alais.

“I can help him.”  Alais stepped forward and Sir William
slumped forwards with a groan.

“Edmund, hold her.” Hugh ignored Alais, knowing that for
once Edmund would obey him, and made his way carefully to where his father lay.

“You are dying,” he said to the older man, who was now
gasping for breath.

“Leave me,” wheezed Sir William, who struggled to turn
so that he lay on his back. “I do not need you.”

“I can do nothing for you. Even Lady Alais can do
nothing for you and she wanted to try. You were responsible for the death of
her father. You were going to kill her and still she wanted to save your life.
She would have made you a good wife. Now someone else will have her and you
will be dead.”

“No. She is the traitor’s daughter and deserves nothing
except death.” Hugh could not tell what it cost his father to say those words,
but they were the last words he ever spoke. Hugh knelt down and closed his
father’s eyes, then turned his back on him. He was not surprised to find he
felt no sorrow for his loss. Hugh had spent as much of his life as possible away
from his father and the time they had spent together had not been happy. Sir
William had not inspired in his children any of the admiration or respect that
would be usual in such a relationship. Hugh felt closer to the king he barely
knew than he did to his father.

“John,” he called for the steward, “am I still my
father’s heir?” He did not care, but if he was he would stay and take on the
estate. If he was not he would take Alais and go to Hill. On the whole, he
thought he preferred the second.

The steward bowed. “Yes, my lord.”

Hugh looked at Alais and Edmund. “It looks as if we will
be staying here and not going to the Low Countries after all.”

Alais did not have to look too far for something to do after
the fighting was over; there seemed to be wounded and dying men everywhere in
the hall. The injuries were worse than those she had seen at Hill and now she
seemed to be on her own to deal with them. Leaving her in Edmund’s care, Hugh
went to see what needed to be done elsewhere in the manor house. She felt
strangely let down, as if she had expected something else, but Hugh had simply
turned away from her. She understood that there was much for him to do. He had
to arrange to identify and bury the dead; to notify the sheriff; to notify the
king and his council. Then she remembered that Sir William had been the
sheriff. Still, she had hoped for something more. Hugh had barely acknowledged
her presence since his father had died. Had he changed his mind about her even
as she had become free to go with him? And she was certain that this was what
she wanted. She knew that if he offered to take her away now, she would go with
him, whether as wife or mistress she cared not.

Her body refused to believe that she no longer had
anything to fear and she shook as she and Edmund began to separate the living
from the dying. For the moment, they treated friend and foe equally. Later Hugh
or the new sheriff could decide what would happen to them. It crossed Alais’
mind that it might be kinder to let them die rather than face the horrors of
execution and perhaps torture beforehand, but she was not the judge. It was her
place to keep them alive if she could. She wanted Hugh to be here, with her.
She wanted to be able to lean against him and draw on some of his strength.
Perhaps he could not forgive her for killing his brother, she was not sure that
she could forgive herself. It had not felt as if she had any choice. Stephen
had made it clear that she was to die at his hand, but perhaps he had lied.
Stephen was an accomplished liar. She had not thought that he could be a
killer, but how well had she known him? What if he had not been going to kill
her? That would make her a murderer. Not only a traitor’s daughter, she was now
also a murderer. Since she had met Hugh she had piled one sin on top of
another. She had worn a man’s clothes; she had cut her hair off; she had
disobeyed her husband; she had coveted her husband’s son and now she had killed
a man. There could be no hope for her. She must leave before she could cause
more trouble for Hugh, but first she could help him by looking after as many of
his men as she could. Yes, that might atone for some of her sin. Then she could
leave. She had no idea where she could go, but she would leave Hugh to his
estates and Lady Katherine. Yes, that would be for the best. It would be
painful, but Hugh would be free of her wickedness, but she wanted to go with
Hugh if he would have her. No, that could not be right. It would not be good
for Hugh if he was with her. The room began to move around her and she leaned
against a table to steady herself.

Alais felt a hand on her elbow. Something was wrong, or
Edmund would not be touching her. There was a cup of wine in her hand. She
gulped it down and the room steadied.

“My lady?” Edmund’s concern was clear. She blinked. What
was she supposed to be doing? With an almost deafening roar she heard again the
moans and screams of the wounded. That was it; she was caring for the wounded.

She drew a deep breath. “We must begin with the ones with
the worst injuries.” 

Edmund nodded, but his expression did not change. He
looked towards the passage along which Hugh had disappeared, but said nothing
further.

Alais began to feel light-headed again, but this time
she knew it was the wine. She made herself pay attention to the wounded.
Gradually the servants began to appear from where they had been hiding during
the fighting and Alais told them what she needed them to do. They were
unwilling at first. It was only a few hours since she had been their lord’s
prisoner, a woman whose remaining lifespan could be counted in hours. Now they
did not take kindly to her orders. Alais did what she could without their
assistance, which was little. Edmund berated the servants, but they paid him no
attention. Since he had been told to stay with her, she knew there was no point
asking him to go and fetch things for her. He would refuse to leave her alone
and it would do no good for the servants to see that even Edmund refused to obey
her. Grimly, she set off with Edmund to the still-room, but the door was
locked. It had not been locked before, even though she had told Marguerite that
it contained poisons and begged her to lock it. They tried the doors to other
rooms, with the same result – they were all locked.

“I need things from the still-room,” she told Edmund
when she could do no more with water and cloths. “We must find Hugh and get his
help.” But she saw that Edmund was paying her no attention.

“My lady!” Edmund threw her to the floor. Alais became
aware of someone screaming and she was relieved to discover that it was not
her. She managed to sit up, although Edmund left her little room to do so. She
was squeezed between his body and the wall.

“Get off me, Edmund.” Edmund complied and Alais eased
herself to her feet. She was shaking again. Edmund had drawn his sword and was
standing between her and Marguerite. Hugh’s sister was screaming and
brandishing a dagger, trying to get past Edmund to her.

“You killed him.”

Alais could not imagine what she meant. She had not
killed Richard, but Marguerite certainly seemed to be trying to attack her and
not Edmund.

“You killed Stephen.”

Alais was surprised at the depth of hatred in
Marguerite’s voice. Nonetheless, she tried to reason with her. “He was going to
kill me.”

“Stephen would not kill anyone. You killed him.”
Marguerite voiced Alais’ own fears, but she still found herself defending her
actions.

“He held me over the steps with a knife to my throat. He
told me that he was going to kill me. I did not want to die.”

“Give me the knife, Marguerite.” Alais had not seen Hugh
approach, but she did not shift her attention from Marguerite, who had not
moved.

“I will kill you,” she screamed and took a step towards
Alais.

“Marguerite, if I must hurt you to save Lady Alais, I
will do so.” Hugh spoke quietly, but there could be no mistaking his intent.
Marguerite did not seem to understand and took another step. Alais barely saw
Hugh move, but Marguerite was quickly disarmed. She slumped to the floor,
sobbing.

Hugh bent down and helped her to lean against one of the
tables on which the wounded were being laid.

“You will leave this place tomorrow with your children
and the body of your husband and you will return to his estate. I never want to
see you here again.” Alais was surprised at the anger in his voice. Marguerite
was distraught and Alais bore her no malice for her attempt at revenge. She did
not know what she would do if she came face to face with her mother’s killer.

“This is my home,” Marguerite pleaded.

“Not any longer. You have your children’s future to
think of now. I will not punish you for what Richard has done, but you would be
wise to do as I say.” Hugh called the steward over to him, “Take my sister to
her room and ensure that she does not leave. In the morning you can provide
servants to help her pack.” The man nodded and led Marguerite away.

“Thank you, my lord.” Alais’ voice was unsteady and she
was still shaking. Hugh gathered her into his arms and held her. When she
started to sob he held her closer and smoothed her hair. This was what she had
wanted, what she had needed and missed all this time.

“You are safe now, Alais. I should not have left you
alone, but you have been so strong.” She felt him kiss the top of her head. He
sighed and tightened his hold on her. “Oh, my Alais, I am so sorry,” he
whispered. She barely heard the words and did not understand what he was
apologising for. He was here, holding her and nothing else mattered. After a
while she had regained her control and Hugh loosened his hold on her. She
stepped away from him.

“Thank you, my lord, I am quite recovered.” He did not
seem to notice the lie and she was grateful.

“You must be exhausted.” He stretched out a hand and
brushed her tears away. “I will have some food brought soon. Do you need
anything?”

“The servants’ cooperation and the key to the
still-room. It is locked.”

Hugh frowned. “It was never locked before.”

“Many rooms that were not locked during my last stay
here are now locked.”

The steward had returned and Hugh asked him who had the
keys.

“Lady Katherine, my lord.”

“Then bring her here, please.”

The steward bowed and left to do Hugh’s bidding.

Unlike everyone else, Katherine did not seem to be
affected by the fighting or its outcome. Stephen and Richard must have arranged
for the women to be doing something by themselves away from the men. Alais
could not remember having seen any of them earlier in the evening.

Katherine did not seem happy to be brought amongst the
dead and dying. Hugh saw her distaste. “I am surprised, Lady Katherine, that
you were not already here helping with the wounded.”

“Sadly, I do not posses healing skills,” she replied
with a small smile, lowering her eyes demurely.

“You do not need great skill to bandage or wash a
wound,” Hugh replied tartly. “But I wish to discuss something else with you. I
understand that my father gave you the keys to this house.”

“Yes, my lord. Since I am to be your wife, he saw no
reason to wait before I took on all my responsibilities.”

“We will pass over your misunderstanding regarding my
marital intentions for the moment, although I promise you that we will deal
with it later. Please give me the keys.” Alais had never seen Hugh’s face so
hard.

“I can open any door you wish.” Katherine’s hand made no
move towards the keys hanging from her belt.

“You do not understand. I want the keys.” Hugh’s voice
grew quieter and a wiser woman than Katherine would have been afraid of his
anger.

Katherine grew red as she gave in to her own anger.
“Why, my lord? I am to be your wife. Why should I not retain the keys?”

“You are not to be my wife. Give me the keys.”

At last, Katherine moved and slowly detached the keys.
Once he had the keys, Hugh called the steward to his side. “Watch,” he said, “and
make sure that all my people here know what I do.” He turned to Alais and held
out the keys. “Lady Alais, I give you the keys to my house. I also give you the
charge of my household servants.”

Alias felt herself go pale, but managed to reach out and
take the keys from Hugh. “Thank you, my lord,” she mumbled, curtseying to hide
her confusion.

“I know you will be a good guardian of my home.” Hugh
smiled at her and she nodded, unsure what to do. “You wanted something from the
still-room?” hinted Hugh.

“Yes, my lord. Come, Edmund.” She was glad to leave the
hall and find something else to do. She did not want to hear what passed
between Hugh and Katherine.

Alais was very tired by the time the servant came to her
to invite her to what was now Hugh’s solar. Edmund left her at the door.

“You have no more need of me this night, my lady?”

“No. Thank you, Edmund, for everything.”

“I have done little.”

“I believe you have saved my life. I do not consider
that a small thing.”

“Neither do I, my lady.”

He bowed low and turned away. Alais opened the door and
stepped into the room. Hugh was standing by the table. He smiled when he saw
her, then the smile disappeared. “My lady, you look so tired. I should have
sent you to bed much sooner.”

Now that she had stopped working, she did feel tired and
hungry. It was still dark, so it was not yet morning, but she felt that dawn
was not far off. They had left the last inn early the morning before and had
had a strenuous ride before they had come to the manor house and she had not
eaten since she had broken her fast at the inn.

“There was much to be done, my lord.”

“But you did not have to do it.”

“Unlike Katherine,” she smiled, “I do have healing
skills and I do not consider it a waste to use them.”

Hugh had crossed the room and now stood by her. “I am
grateful for all you have done, this night and before.”

Alais had no words, so contented herself with looking at
him. Hugh turned away and took a few paces, then turned back to her.

“Come, sit down and eat.” Alais sat, but Hugh continued
to pace.

“You are troubled, my lord?”

He turned to face her. “I thought we had done with that
long ago.”

“This night has changed much.” Now she belonged nowhere.
She had not married her betrothed husband and must return to Leigh, knowing
that no other man could stand so much in the king’s favour that he could risk
marrying her even to gain Leigh. Hugh sat beside her and took her hand in his,
searching in her eyes for something so that she could not look away.

“Has it changed you, my Alais?”

Alais considered for a moment what she should say. “Yes,
my lord, for I am no longer your father’s wife.”

Hugh’s gaze wavered for a moment and she knew he must
want to look away, but he did not. “I must know, my love, and there is no way
round it, but to ask you. Did my father… did he… was the marriage consummated?”

Alais shook her head, afraid of what might happen if she
spoke.

Hugh took a deep breath, “Then I must be bold. You can
be in no doubt but that I love you.” His voice shook, but she doubted it was
due to any uncertainty about his feelings. He had expressed them often enough.
Then she understood. He was to marry Katherine and was asking her to be his
mistress.

Alais shook her head again. Hugh looked at her intently
and began to chew his lip. “I know that this is not an appropriate time to ask,
but is it possible that you could feel something for me?”