The Knight and the Dove (52 page)

Bracken nodded. They were words he needed to hear. If he thought overly long on Megan or the baby, panic would set in and then he would be of no use to anyone. In order to keep the anxiety at bay, Bracken found himself trying to pray.

I will make amends, God, if You will but spare Megan. I have wronged
her, and I will make repairs if You will but give her back to me.
The thoughts had no more formed when Kendrick came to the door.

“Lord Vincent has arrived.” The loyal knight was breathless with excitement. “He brings word.”

“You should have kidnapped a maid as well, Roland,” Marigold said bitingly. “Megan looks worse than ever.”

Roland looked at the madness in Marigold’s eyes and then at her pathetic sister and asked himself how love could drive a man to such an act. The stories Marigold had told him concerning her evil sister, Megan, had made him hate the girl, but then he watched the small redhead fall from her horse twice and never utter a sound. To protect his investment, he had taken her atop his horse, but then he had told her not to cry and she had quieted swiftly.

Not until they arrived at the castle did he realize how tightly her hands had been tied. He released her and then watched as she shook all over with pain when the blood rushed back to her fingertips. Still, she did not utter a word. And then, when he’d finally removed her blindfold, she’d blinked, focused on him, and spoken only four words.

“Please, let me go.”

Roland had actually considered it. He was a man who had little care for his own life, so Bracken’s wrath did not disturb him, but he knew if this woman was his own and someone had taken her, he would be crazy with grief.

He made himself leave the room before he could relent. At the time Marigold had not yet joined him, but he knew that to let Megan go would send Marigold into a frenzy. After she arrived, Roland wondered if it really would have mattered. She was more agitated than ever.

It wasn’t enough to have Megan kidnapped with a plan to ransom her, Marigold had wanted the younger girl humiliated. She had demanded that Megan be paraded naked through the castle before all his men. Roland’s stomach rolled when he thought of how close he’d come to agreeing.

He’d gone to Megan’s chamber, and holding a sword at her chest, told her to rise and undress. In order to go through with it, he had forced himself to ignore her white face and violent trembling, but when
he’d seen the dark spotting on her shift, he relented, telling her to dress again. Turning, he swiftly exited the room, thinking as he did that he would rather face Marigold than force this on Megan.

He didn’t see Marigold for more than an hour, but he needn’t have worried. By the time he came face-to-face with her, she had completely forgotten her orders.

Now it was the following evening. After bringing Megan into the great hall for dinner, Roland thought she looked paler than ever. Something deep inside of him told him he was not seeing a woman in her monthly flow, but something much more significant. He had to remove Marigold from the room and find out.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Marigold asked Megan, her voice now as sweet as a child’s.

“I’m not very hungry,” Megan told her sister kindly and Roland knew then that Megan recognized her sister’s madness.

“Why not?” The older woman frowned, and her voice changed, causing Megan to pick up her fork. Roland watched her hand shake.

“Well, I guess I’ll try a little.”

Marigold smiled as if all was well in the world and then began telling Megan and Roland about the different men who had loved her.

“Of course, Bracken does too, Meg. I’m sure it will take some time to get used to the idea, but then it really doesn’t matter since you’ll be dead.” Her voice was as sweet as that of a young girl in love for the first time.

The sound of it chilled Megan to the bone. She watched as Marigold went on eating, but she felt so ill that she had to lay her fork down. She felt Roland’s eyes on her and glanced at him before swiftly reaching for the utensil to spear a small carrot slice. Roland hated the fear he saw in her face but knew he deserved it. It was impossible for her to know that he himself had never killed anyone in his life.

“I want something sweet,” Marigold suddenly demanded like a spoiled tyke.

“Very well,” Roland said smoothly, now seeing a way. “Let me return Megan to her room, and you and I shall retire to the fire with tea and dessert.”

“Why are you taking her up?” Marigold’s harsh voice was back. “You have men for that.”

“I wish to see to it myself. After all our hard work I do not want our prisoner to escape.”

Marigold’s laugh was hard. “She’s not bright enough for that, but suit yourself. I shall be waiting.”

Roland took Megan’s arm and led her from the table. He had no reason to be harsh with her, but he rushed her along until they were out of the great hall. He didn’t speak until they were back at Megan’s room. Roland opened the door and allowed her to precede him. Megan, thinking he would shut her in and leave, turned in fear when he stepped in behind her.

“Are you with child?”

Megan was so stunned by the question that she did not at first respond.

“I must get below. Answer me at once. Are you with child?”

Megan turned her face away and spoke just above a whisper. “There is no need to concern yourself. What’s done is done.”

Had Megan been looking, she would have seen the way Roland’s hands balled into fists of anger and regret. He didn’t speak but stood still a moment before turning to join Marigold below.

Thirty-Seven

“H
OW DID YOU LEARN OF THIS PLACE?
” Bracken whispered to Vincent as they stood outside the rundown keep that sat halfway between Stone Lake and Hawkings Crest. Vincent had come to Hawkings Crest with news that he knew of Megan’s whereabouts. It was late at night, but they had ridden out so swiftly that the men had not even had time to speak.

“Marigold was reported seen here.”

Panic clawed at Bracken’s throat as he grasped the older man’s arm with incredible strength.

“Marigold is behind this?”

“I fear so.” Vincent winced at the younger man’s hold, but understood. “For a time she covered herself well, and her mother and I relaxed, but the lies about France have now come to my attention. We will recover Megan,” Vincent added and watched as a look of steel entered Bracken’s eyes.

Within moments they had the castle surrounded and all moved in for an attack. The castle defense was feeble at best, as Roland had not done a good job of arming the keep. He had less than a dozen guards, and they seemed totally unprepared for an attack. Few lives were lost as Bracken’s men broke through the door. In less than 20 minutes Bracken stood in the great hall, his sword and shield making him appear larger than ever.

He didn’t move a muscle when he saw Roland and Marigold by the hearth. It looked as if they’d both been up all night. They stood at the same time, and still Bracken did not move, not even when that lying wench ran across the room and threw herself at Bracken’s chest.

“Oh, Bracken!” she cried dramatically. “You’ve come for us. Roland kidnapped us both and has already forced himself on Megan. It was my turn tonight, but you have spared me.”

Bracken did not even look at her. His eyes remained on Roland, who seemed amazingly calm. Bracken knew by just studying the man that Marigold’s words were all lies. Roland had not touched Megan, and Marigold was up to her usual deceitful tricks. Bracken moved her aside with one arm. Marigold put on a lovely display of hurt and rejection.

“Bracken?” Her voice was pained. Then her father entered behind him.

“Father!”
Marigold screamed in outrage and began to back away.

“Halt,” Vincent shouted as he came toward her, but Marigold turned and ran. The older man pursued his daughter, but Bracken turned back to Roland.

“Where is she?”

Lyndon and Kendrick had flanked and grabbed Roland, but he still managed to motion with his head to the upstairs.

“If she has been harmed, you’ll die.”

Thinking of the lost child, Roland wanted to say, “Kill me now,” but refrained.

Bracken swung away, and in minutes stood outside Megan’s door. He smashed the lock and moved slowly inside. The room was dim with only one torch burning. Bracken found Megan sitting on the side of the bed. She looked pale but unharmed, and Bracken was so relieved that for a moment he could not move. Even when she smiled and spoke, he could not propel his feet forward.

“You came,” she said softly, her voice so full of wonder that Bracken’s joy deserted him.

“You doubted?” he frowned.

Megan gestured helplessly with her hands. “You were so angry, Bracken, and although I knew they planned to ransom me, I wasn’t certain if you would—”

“Of course I came,” Bracken cut her off, feeling very hurt and wanting to lash out in return. “You carry my son.”

The change in Megan was frightening. The light left her eyes so rapidly that Bracken blinked. He watched as she turned her face to the wall.

“Then you have wasted your time.” Her voice was flat, and Bracken felt a fear so great that it robbed him of breath. “I fell from my horse. There has been much blood.”

Bracken discarded his sword and shield to cover the distance between them in only a few strides. He went down on one knee before Megan, and although still feeling breathless, spoke earnestly. “I did not mean that, Megan. It’s you I’ve come for. I am sorry about the babe, but truly, it’s you I want.”

Megan turned dull eyes to his, her voice utterly emotionless. “It’s all my fault. I have lost our child. The blame surely lies at my door.”

“No, Megan,” Bracken began and touched her for the first time. Her skin was so hot and dry that alarm slammed through him all over again. He could feel his emotions spinning out of control and shook himself in order to keep his head. He could tell her the way he had yearned for her every moment she was gone; indeed, he’d nearly been out of his head. But Megan was ill, and right now she needed his cool logic.

“Come, Megan, we’re going home now.”

Megan didn’t even look at him as he rose and lifted her, nor did she speak. Her lack of response concerned him more than anything. What had she been through in the last week?

By the time they gained the great hall, Vincent had Roland bound. He was still being held, but when Bracken stopped with Megan in his arms, he was allowed to approach. Roland stared at the duchess, and Megan sighed gently.