Authors: Amy Mullen
A Stormy Knight (10 page)
Snatching her hand back, she lifted her chin in defiance
.
"
How do we know
'
twas poisoned?
"
He paused
.
"
We do not. Some poisons have an odor and even a residue. I will not know until I can look at it. Some are undetectable. We may just have to go under the assumption someone within the walls has access to poison and will use it whenever they wish.
"
The
idea
made her shudder, and forgetting her hatred of Nicholas for a moment, she pondered what that w
ould
mean.
"
Anyone could be poisoned at any time. There are enough herbs in the garden that can be used and many wild plants growing outside the walls
that
can kill man or beast. How are we to live like this?
"
"
No one is to be trusted. More of Henry
'
s men will be here later today
,
and things shall be more secure then,
"
he said in a quieter, more thoughtful voice.
"'
Tis a helpless feeling when people are keeling over. We have to clamp down and do all we can to bring this person to light. Anyone who has not been here longer than five years will be excused from duty.
"
"
What will they do then?
"
she asked.
"
Surely we cannot punish everyone. Most of our servants earn coin for their work.
'
Tis not much, but they depend on it. This is being done by probably just one or even two people
,
'
twould seem. Everyone here is so kind
,
and they have little room for complaint. They are treated well, at least in comparison to what I have heard of other households.
"
"
The innocent shall return to their former positions when this is done. No one will go hungry, but would you risk your sister being the next poison victim? Perhaps someone should throw her from atop the curtain wall?
"
Putting her head down, she stared at her slippers.
"
That is fair enough.
"
"
Go find your sister and stay with her. Come to the hall after this mess has been cleared out and the girl has been taken. Find a reason to keep her here and do not leave. If you need something, have someone search for me or for Willis.
"
"
You may as well throw us into the dungeon!
"
she said, looking up to boldly meet his gaze.
"
Do not be stubborn. We are not wed yet, but you are still my responsibility and I owe my freedom and position to Henry. I will do as he asked
,
and you will obey me!
"
"
Fine
. Once the hall is cleared I shall bring Isabel here and work on embroidery with her. She is sorely lacking in skill
,
and
'
twould do her some good to sit still and work on it. I only obey because I fear for the safety of my sister.
'
Tis not because you command me,
"
she said, her face without expression.
"
I do not care why you do it
;
just do it now,
"
he said as he departed with mug in hand.
****
Isabel chafed under Gemma
'
s watchful and worried hovering.
"
Why can I not go down to the orchard? Why must we sit here? I hate embroidery! I want to see th
e secret tunnel. You promised!
"
Gemma groaned, unsure of how to keep Isabel occupied. The girl was full of wonder and mischief and knew how to slip away, not unlike
Gemma
was when she was
Isabel
'
s
age. She could only imagine, looking back, how her parents would have felt knowing she was sneaking out at night, going down that dark tunnel out into the woods.
She put a hand lightly on Isabel
'
s arm and tried to lighten the mood.
"
Issy, there will be plenty of time for all of that. I know I promised to show you the tunnel, but
'
twill have to wait until father is better. Can you try to be patient?
"
Isabel let out a long, loud sigh and rolled her eyes
.
"
I
'
ll try.
"
The nursemaid, who ha
d
been sitting by Isabel trying to show her how to make a straight stitch,
nodded
as if she understood. The girl was simply meant for motion.
"
Isabel,
"
Hesse said in a calm voice,
"
do not make faces at your sister.
'
Tis disrespectful.
"
"
Sorry,
"
the girl said
,
without sounding as if she meant it.
Glancing around,
Gemma
saw quite a few men she did not know, which meant they belonged with Nicholas. She
decided
it was safe to leave Isabel and Hesse long enough to go visit her father.
"
I shall return soon, Hesse. Please keep her here. I wish to go see
F
ather
.
"
S
he stood, patted the top of Isabel
'
s fair head, and headed for the steps.
One of the men moved to follow her
,
and she whirled around.
"
I assure you I will be fine. I am only going to see how my father is doing. I shall be right up the steps in his quarters and will return shortly,
"
she said, trying to sound authoritative.
"
Not a chance, milady,
"
he said.
"
The orders are to keep you safe. I must go with you.
"
With a huff, she headed
toward
the stairs with the soldier hot on her heels.
"
What a way to live,
"
she mumbled and headed straight for her father
'
s room within the solar.
As she entered, Father Darius stood and greeted her warmly,
"
Gemma dear,
'
tis good news. Your father has stirred just a small time ago.
'
Twas only for a moment, but he tried to wake.
'
Tis a good sign, my dear.
"
She stepped to her father
'
s bedside, sat on the stool, and took his large, warm hand in hers once again.
"
Father, can you hear me?
"
He did not respond with words, but he weakly squeezed her hand.
A hot tear slid down her cheek and plopped on the sheet that covered him. He must be getting well! Perhaps there was hope to stop this hoax of a marriage
after all.
"
He was trying to squeeze my hand,
"
she said with hope in her voice.
"
He can hear me.
"
"
I will have to leave his side soon, for I have to prepare for the burial. Such a sweet, young girl.
'
Tis a shame. I will continue to pray whatever evil has taken hold of Blackstone will depart in due course.
"
"
If
F
ather awakes, can I be freed from this marriage?
"
The priest wrung his hands together.
"
I fear
'
tis out of your father
'
s hands now. The missive from the king states you are to marry de Reymes
,
and there are few
who
can overrule that. I have read the paper myself
,
and it is as it seems. The marriage contract is sound. You will be wed to him no matter how quickly your father recovers. I am sorry, my dear.
"
Her heart sank. She had held out hope if her father woke, he could denounce the marriage
,
and she would be free of Nicholas and his arrogance for good. Now it seemed it was not possible.
"
I know
'
tis hard to accept
,
but you must try,
"
he said as he stood.
"
As soon as Oliver comes to sit with your father I will be going to the chapel. There is much to attend to. We shall bury the girl on the morrow
,
and mayhap your father will be awake by then. He does not have much time to come around before his body starts to fail him. Keep praying for your father.
"
She nodded.
"
Such a mess this is,
"
she whispered and tried to come to terms with her marriage, now just four days away.
The following afternoon Nicholas welcomed more of his own men-at-arms and soldiers from Henry
'
s personal forces into Blackstone Castle. Gemma had attended the funeral for the laundress
'
s daughter and spent time by her father
'
s side. Though he still slept, he showed more promising signs of recovery. Between her father, trying to keep Isabel close, and the new people coming into the castle, she was a bit overwhelmed and utterly confused about her role in everything.
Nicholas, for his part, was too busy to say much to her. He grunted at her a few times during dinner and was off to see to the arrival of his men. She resigned herself to staying out of the way and keeping Isabel as busy as she could. All around her so
much of her life was changing.
Leda was left to run the kitchen, but so many servants were dismissed to go stay in the village. The sorrow on their faces when they trudged through the outer bailey to the gate was heartbreaking. They carried their meager belongings with them, their fear evident. Most of the men-at-arms stayed on duty, but some of the newer ones were relegated to lesser roles than they had previously enjoyed and were always paired off with Nicholas
'
s most trusted men.
In late afternoon, Gemma was su
mmoned to her father
'
s bedside, and she feared
something awful had happened. She almost collided with Willis Gromme when he had the misfortune of stepping in her way. To his credit, he did not flinch and simply moved to allow her to pass as soon as he made sure she was not running from someone. Nicholas had coached everyone well. There was an enemy among them
,
and everyone was to be on guard.
Oliver was sitting with her father again, but this time Blaise
'
s eyes were open.
She was
delighted, but Oliver held up a hand to slow her approach. Her father
'
s eyes went to her and something akin to a smile lit up his face.
"
How are you?
"
she asked as she took his hand. She sat upon the small, wooden stool she has sat upon so many times in the last few days.
"
Hurts,
"
he said. It was apparent he was unable to say much just yet, but Gemma was bursting to speak to him.
"
I am sorry. Is Father Darius helping with the pain?
"
she asked.
Her father nodded slightly
and then winced at the motion.
"
I won
'
t stay long
;
you need more rest,
"
she began.
"
Has Oliver filled you in on what is going on here?
"
Again
,
he nodded
,
and she decided she needed to wait until he was in less pain to speak more. Her heart was soaring, however. It appeared her father would recover after all.
"
I will come again in the morning, and we can talk if you ar
e feeling better.
"
She hesitated for a moment and then planted a light kis
s on his cheek before she left.
After she exited his chamber, she decided it
was
as good a time as any to go through her trunk to see what she had to wear for her wedding. Perhaps black, the color of mourning, would make a statement
.
The marriage must happen and she accepted that now
, but living with that knowledge was a heavy burden. She knew nothing of being a wife
,
and she certainly knew nothing of the intimacies of a marriage bed.
Would
he let tha
t part of their relationship go?
He, after all, could not stand the sight of her.