The Velvet Promise (30 page)

"You don't know him?" Walter asked.

Judith looked up, as if in surprise, at the filthy man being led into the hall. Then she began to smile, very slowly. "It is as I have always wanted to see him."

Walter gave a shout of triumph. "Bring him here! My lovely lady sees him as she hoped he would be," he declared to everyone in the hall. "Let her enjoy this moment—she has earned it."

The two guards brought Gavin to the table. Her heart was beating wildly. Judith could risk making no errors now. If she showed how her heart went out to her husband, that display would no doubt cause many deaths. She stood, her hand trembling, and raised her wine goblet. She threw the contents in his face.

The liquid seemed to revive Gavin, and he looked up at her. His face, lean and sharp, showed surprise. Then wonder. Slowly he looked at Walter and Arthur, who stood beside his wife.

Demari put his arm possessively about Judith's shoulders. "Look now at who holds her," he boasted.

Before anyone could react, Gavin threw himself across the table at Walter. The guards who held his chains were pulled forward, stumbling, falling into the dishes of food. Walter could not get away fast enough, and Gavin's filthy hands closed around the smaller, gaudily-dressed man across the table.

"Seize him!" Walter gasped weakly, using his fingernails to claw at Gavin's hands around his throat.

Judith was stunned as were the retainers. Gavin must be half-dead by now, but his strength was still enough to pull two men off balance and nearly kill his captor.

The guards recovered themselves and yanked on the chains around Gavin's wrists. It took three mighty tugs before they succeeded in freeing Walter. The end of a chain was laid heavily across Gavin's ribs. He grunted and crumpled on one leg for a moment before righting himself. "I will kill you for this," he said, his eyes boring into Walter's before another chain was put to his ribs.

"Take him away!" Walter ordered as he rubbed his nearly crushed throat. He shivered as he still stared at Gavin.

When Gavin had been removed, Walter collapsed into his chair.

Judith knew he would be most vulnerable now. "That was pleasant," she smiled, then turned quickly to the trembling Walter. "Not, of course what he did to you—I don't mean that. But it was good to know he saw me with someone I could… care for."

Walter gazed back at her, his spine straightening a bit.

"But of course I should be angry with you." She lowered her eyes seductively.

"Why? What have I done?"

"You really should not have brought such dirt into the presence of a lady. He looked so starved, I wonder he did not really want the food. How can he see what I now have when all he thinks of is nourishment and the things crawling on his skin?"

Walter considered this. "You are right." He turned to some men by the door. "Tell the guards to clean and feed him." He was ecstatic. Arthur had said Judith would cry when she saw her husband in such a state, but she had smiled!

Only Joan knew what that smile cost her mistress.

Judith turned away from Walter, wanting to leave the room and especially to leave his presence. She held her head high as she walked through the retainers.

"The woman deserves what she gets!" Said some men close to her.

"True. No wife has a right to treat a husband like that."

Each and every one of them despised her. And she too was beginning to hate herself. Judith walked slowly up the stairs to the fourth floor, wanting only privacy. At the top of the steps, an arm flew about her waist, and she was slammed against a man's chest that felt like iron. A knife went to her throat, the sharp edge nearly piercing her delicate skin. Her hands flew to his forearm, but they had no effect.

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"Say one word, and I'll take that viperous head of yours off your body,"

said the deep voice, one she had never heard before. "Where is John Bassett?"

Judith could hardly speak but this was not a man to be disobeyed.

"Answer me!" he said as his arm tightened and the knife pressed harder against her throat.

"With my mother," she whispered.

"Mother!" he spat into her ear. "May that woman curse the day she gave birth to such as you!"

Judith couldn't see him, and she could hardly breathe from his arm cutting into her ribs and lungs. "Who are you?" she gasped.

"Yes, you should ask that. I am your enemy, and I would delight in ending your vile existence here if I didn't need you. How is John guarded?"

"I… cannot breathe."

He hesitated then loosened his grip, the knife easing away from her throat. "Answer me!"

"There are two men outside the door of the room he shares with my mother."

"Which floor? Come, answer me," he commanded as he tightened his hold once again. "Don't think someone will come to save you."

Suddenly it was all too much for Judith and she began to laugh. Quietly at first, but growing more hysterical with each word. "Save me? And pray, who would save me? My mother is held prisoner. My only guard is also held. My husband is kept in a sewer. A man I detest has the right to paw me before my husband while another whispers threats into my ear. Now I am attacked by a stranger in the dark of the hall!"

Her hands on his forearm pulled the knife closer to her throat. "I pray you, sir, whoever you are—finish what you have started. End my life, I beg you. For what use is it to me? Must I stand and watch my every friend and relative slaughtered before me? I do not wish to live to see that end."

The man's arm relaxed. Then he pulled away from her hands that tugged at the knife. He resheathed the blade, then grabbed her shoulders.

Judith was not surprised to recognize the jongleur from the great hall.

"I want to hear more," he said, his voice less harsh.

"Why?" she asked as she stared up into his deadly blue eyes. "Are you a spy set upon me by Walter or Arthur? I have said too much already."

"Yes, you have," he agreed bluntly. "If I were a spy, I would have a lot to report to my master."

"Tell him then! Get it over!"

"I'm not a spy. I am Stephen, Gavin's brother."

Judith stared, her eyes wide. She knew it was true. That was why she had been drawn to him. There was something in Stephen's manner, if not his looks, that reminded her of Gavin. She was not aware that tears were running down her cheeks. "Gavin said you would come. He said I had made a mess of everything, but that you would set it all to right again."

Stephen blinked at her. "When did you see him that he said this?"

"On the second night here. I went to him in the pit."

"In the—?" He'd heard tales of the way Gavin was kept—that much he'd been able to learn—but he could not get near his brother. "Come and sit here," he said, leading Judith to a window seat. "We have much to discuss.

Tell me everything, from the start."

Stephen listened quietly while she told of Walter's murdering her father and claiming her lands, of how Gavin went to counter Walter's attack.

"And Gavin and your mother were taken?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you here? Didn't Demari ask for some ransom? You should be raising it from the serfs."

"I didn't wait for him to ask. I came with John Bassett, and we were welcomed into the castle."

"Yes, I imagine you were," Stephen said sarcastically. "Now Walter Demari has everyone—you, Gavin, your mother, Gavin's head man."

"I didn't know what else to do."

"You could have sent for one of us!" Stephen said angrily. "Raine, with his broken leg, would have done better than you, a woman, could have.

John Bassett should have known—"

Judith put her hand on Stephen's arm. "Don't blame him. I threatened to go alone if he didn't lead me."

Stephen looked down at her small hand, then back at her eyes. "What of that I saw below? The castlefolk say you hate Gavin and would do anything to be free of him. Perhaps you want your marriage ended."

Judith quickly drew her hand away. He was beginning to remind her very much of Gavin. Her temper flared. "What I feel for Gavin is between him and me, and not for others to know."

Stephen's eyes blazed. He grabbed her wrist until she clenched her teeth in pain. "Then it is true. You care for this Walter Demari?"

"No, I don't!"

He tightened his grip. "Don't lie to me!"

Men's violence had always made Judith furious. "You are just like Gavin!" she spat. "You see only what you wish to see. No, I am not as dishonest as your brother. It is he who grovels at an evil woman's feet. But I will not so lower myself."

Stephen looked puzzled and loosened his hold. "What evil woman?

What is this talk of dishonesty?"

Judith jerked her wrist away and rubbed it. "I came to save my husband because he was given to me before God and because I now carry his child. I have an obligation to try to help him, but I don't do so for love for him. No!" she said passionately. "He gives his love to that blonde!" She stopped and looked at her wrist.

Stephen's laughter made her look up. "Alice," he smiled. "Then that is what this is about? It's not a serious war for estates, but a lover's quarrel, some woman's problem."

"Woman's—"

"Quiet! We will be heard."

"It is more than a woman's problem, I assure you!" she hissed.

Stephen sobered. "You may deal with Alice later, but I must be sure you won't go to the king and ask for an annulment. We cannot afford to lose the Revedoune estates."

So that was why he cared whether she wanted Walter or not. It didn't matter that Gavin betrayed her with another woman, but heaven help her if she should feel anything for another man. "I cannot have the marriage annulled while I carry his child."

"Who else knows of this child? Surely not Demari?"

"Only my mother and John Bassett… and my maid."

"Not Gavin?"

"No. I had no time to tell him."

"Good. He will have enough on his mind. Who knows this castle best?"

"The steward. He has been here twelve years."

"You have a ready answer," Stephen said suspiciously.

"For all that you and your brother think otherwise, I have a brain to think with and eyes to see."

He studied her in the dim light. "You were brave to come here, though misguided."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"As you wish."

Judith narrowed her eyes. "Your mother must have been glad her second sons were not as her first two."

Stephen stared at her, then began to smile. "You must lead my brother a merry chase. Now stop baiting me and let me see a way out of this mess you have made."

"I—!" she began then stopped. He was right, of course.

He ignored her outburst. "You succeeded in getting Gavin cleaned and fed, though your methods were disagreeable to my belly."

"Should I have run and embraced him?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, you did right. I don't believe he is well enough to travel yet, and he would be a hindrance to us as he is. But he is strong. In two days, with care, he will recover enough that we can escape. I must leave the castle and get help."

"My men are outside."

"Yes, I know. But my men are not here. I came nearly alone when I heard Gavin needed me. My men follow, but it will take at least two more days for them to reach us. I must go and lead them here."

She touched his arm again. "I will be alone again."

He smiled at her and traced the line of her jaw. "Yes, you will. But you will manage. See that Gavin is cared for and regains his strength. When I return, I will get all of you out of here."

She nodded, then looked down at her hands.

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Don't be angry with me. I thought you wanted Gavin dead. Now I see it isn't so."

She smiled tentatively. "I'm not angry. Only I am sick of this place, that man pawing me, the other—"

He put his finger to her lips. "Keep him from you a little longer. Can you do that?"

"I will try. I was beginning to give up hope." He bent and kissed her forehead. "Gavin is fortunate," he whispered. Then he rose and left her.

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"Have you seen him?" Judith asked as she rose from her bed. It was the morning after she'd seen Stephen, and now she asked Joan what she'd discovered about Gavin.

"Yes," Joan answered. "And he is handsome once again. I feared the filth of that place had taken his looks from him."

"You think too much of looks."

"And perhaps you think too little of them!" Joan retorted.

"But Gavin is well? He hasn't been harmed by that foul place?"

"I am sure the food you sent kept him alive."

Judith paused. And what of his mind? How had he reacted to her throwing wine in his face? "Fetch me the serf's garment I wore. It has been washed?"

"You cannot go to him," Joan stated flatly. "If you were caught—"

"Bring me the dress and give me no more orders."

Gavin was being kept inside a room carved out of the base of the tower.

It was a dreary place; no light reached it. Its only entrance was an ironbound oak door.

Joan seemed to be well acquainted with the guards who stood on either side of the door. The discipline was lax in the Demari estate, and Joan used this to her advantage. She winked suggestively at one of the men.