Vengeance 02 - Trust In Me (9 page)

What had she done?

Robert rose from her father’s side, his face creased with worry. “Lady Elizabeth, I’ll fetch Lady Margaret. We’ll work something else out. You’ll see.”

She didn’t protest as he hurried from the chamber, but she knew what had to be done. An agreement had been made.

She’d failed once again. Failed to take care of the people she loved, of the responsibilities she carried. Nicholas’s discovery of their identity was her fault. She should have been more careful. There had to have been something else she could’ve done without hauling William in the cart and leaving him at the gate. Now her father’s life rested on her shoulders.

Though she knew it was hopeless, she couldn’t help but try to speak to him, make him understand. He was her father after all. She walked over to where he sat.

“Father?” She knelt beside him on the thick wool rug to look up into his familiar face. The worry and sadness had gone. He appeared rather happy at the moment. Should she try to explain the arrangement she’d made?

His gaze caught on hers, and he smiled with delight. “Izzie! I didn’t hear you come in! Stay and have a meal with me.”

There was her answer. Nay. She couldn’t explain anything. Not yet. A better time for that would come. At least she hoped it would.

The door to the chamber opened, and a breathless Margaret stood there with Robert behind her. “Is it true? Lord Trisbane is William’s brother?”

Tears threatened Elizabeth’s composure at her aunt’s worried expression. She drew a deep breath to calm herself. “Robert, my father is hungry. Could you please have someone bring him a trencher?”

Robert’s concerned gaze held hers for a long moment. “Of course, my lady.”

Elizabeth rose. Her father’s attention was back on the map, so she walked toward Margaret. “Aye, ’tis true.”

“Oh, dear heavens!” Margaret grasped both of Elizabeth’s hands in her own. “What happened? What did he say?”

“He wants retribution.”

“Of what sort? Did you tell him we meant no harm?”

Elizabeth gripped Margaret’s hands tighter. “William is on his deathbed.”

“Nay!” The older woman’s gaze fell on her brother. “How did Angus take the news?”

“We lost him part way through the conversation. I don’t think he knows.”

“Knows what?” Her father looked up from the map. “Do you two speak of me?”

Margaret recognized the signs as well as Elizabeth, evident by the strangely dazed expression he wore. “Nothing, dear. Robert went to fetch you some supper.”

“Lovely. Supper would be lovely. I hope it’s the roasted venison. You’ll catch quite a husband one day with your skills in the kitchen, my dear. You have a talent for planning meals.”

If he only knew what he said, she thought. “Thank you, Father. Indeed, we are serving roasted venison tonight.”

He clapped his hands together in delight and looked back to the map. Over and over in that sing-song voice he repeated, “Supper would be lovely.”

Though it normally stirred pity in Elizabeth, right now she longed to throw something at him. She released Margaret’s hands and rubbed her eyes.

“Your father was no help then,” Margaret said in a low voice.

“Not really. But at least his behavior helped Lord de Bremont see that Father is not fit. I’ve convinced him to let me take Father’s place.”

Margaret gasped. “What do you mean? In a fight? In his dungeon? What?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “As his wife.”

“That’s absurd! We shall pay him some money and be done with this.”

“I tried that. He thought it unacceptable.”

“Then what does he want?” Margaret paced before her. “There must be something we can offer him.”

“He wants his brother back.” Even now, Elizabeth could see the expression on Nicholas’s face when he’d uttered those words. The desperately hurt look his face had held.

“Oh, dear.” The fight left Margaret.

“The marriage will be in name only,” she continued. “He wishes to punish Father and me for the harm we caused William.”

Margaret’s eyes lit with hope. “We’ll wait for him to forgive us and then have the marriage annulled. Be kind and charming to him. Win him over as quickly as you can.” Her expression warmed with her plan. “Robert and I can see to your father for a fortnight or so.”

“What are you speaking of?” Elizabeth asked.

Margaret stepped closer to her and lowered her voice. “If the marriage is never consummated, it can be annulled.”

Elizabeth stared at her aunt, certain she’d lost her wits. “But if William dies, Lord de Bremont will never forgive us. He’ll never let me go.”

Her aunt pondered that for a long moment. “Then you’d best make sure William lives.”

The weight of another burden to carry settled on her shoulders. The task seemed impossible, especially since she’d already tried to do so with little success. Doing so with an angry husband looking over her shoulder would be impossible.

She bit her lip, holding back tears at the way her life had so suddenly changed.

Chapter Nine

Nicholas waited alone in the dark chapel, wondering if Elizabeth would honor their bargain. Doubt crept into his soul as the light of dawn cast a pale glow in the small room. He should’ve taken the payment they’d offered and left this crazed place. A wife was the last thing he needed or wanted.

Damn
! He clenched his jaw to stop from slamming his fist into the stone wall. Someone had to pay. Someone needed to suffer as William had. Justice should be served and it was up to him to deliver it.

Life was not fair. He knew that better than most. But not for William. Never for William. He rubbed his hand over his face, hoping desperately that his brother still lived, that he was recovering.

William had been a ray of sunshine in Nicholas’s life since his birth. Though not Nicholas’s brother by blood, he was by his heart. Nicholas had been orphaned as an infant, and the woman who’d taken him in, Lady Alyna, had become his mother in every sense of the word. When she’d eventually married Sir Royce de Bremont, Nicholas had been thrilled to gain a father. Soon after, they’d had William and given Nicholas a family. They’d been through a lot together, mainly due to Nicholas and his visions. Even through the madness of his second sight, William had looked up to him, had treated him as normal.

Many years ago, Nicholas had nearly lost him. That time had been Nicholas’s fault as well. He’d had a vision showing William being gored by a boar, but Nicholas had dismissed it, and they’d gone hunting anyway. The vision had proven true and William had been severely injured.

Nicholas shook his head. He never seemed to take the proper course of action when a vision occurred. He could not let such a mistake happen again.

If this one thing, this...marriage was all he could do for William, then he would do it. He would bind himself to the woman whose treachery had led him here. Revenge was a two-edged sword, for he would be shackled to her, just as she would be to him. That mattered not. Nothing and no one mattered except William.

He’d come here for vengeance, and he refused to leave without it. Elizabeth would honor their bargain even if he had to force her to do so.

As he wondered if he needed to go find her, Elizabeth entered the chapel accompanied by an older lady and a priest.

Even after the lies she’d told and the deception she’d plotted, desire curled through him at the sight of her. She wore a simple gown of deep blue embroidered with pale thread around the neck and sleeves. The color made her creamy complexion glow. Her long, golden brown hair was neatly braided and a gold circlet sat upon her head.

“I thought you’d decided to break our agreement,” he accused her.

“I always keep my word,” she replied and turned to the woman who accompanied her. “This is my aunt, Lady Margaret Crefton.”

Nicholas acknowledged the introduction with the barest of nods. He wasn’t here to make friends.

Lady Margaret studied him as though she weighed his merits and found him wanting. Nicholas nearly laughed. If only she knew the truth of it.

“Robert is bringing my father, and then we can begin,” Elizabeth advised the priest as she clasped her hands before her as though to keep them still.

The priest nodded nervously. He glanced at Nicholas before moving to the altar to light the candles there.

“You don’t have to go through with this,” Margaret told Elizabeth in a low voice. Worry creased the woman’s brow, and her eyes filled with tears. “You can change your mind.”

Nicholas waited for Elizabeth’s response, well aware Lady Margaret knew he’d heard her every word. Why did her remark make him feel like such a brute? Elizabeth was the one who’d suggested this arrangement, not him.

Margaret eyed Nicholas warily before continuing, “I know you’re trying to protect your father, but – ”

Elizabeth patted her aunt’s hand. “I will not change my mind. I’ve given my word.”

Before she could say more, Robert entered the chapel with Lord Crefton.

The old lord wore the same confused expression he’d had the night before. “Is it time for mass?” he asked Robert.

If Nicholas hadn’t been watching closely, he’d have missed the quick intake of breath and slight tremor of Elizabeth’s hands as she reached for her father’s arm.

“Father, I’m going to marry Lord de Bremont this morning. We spoke of it last night.”

“Oh?” Crefton looked at Nicholas, then at each of the other occupants in the chapel. “That one?” he asked as he pointed a finger at Nicholas.

The simple gesture angered Nicholas. He had to look away. Frustration welled within him, threatening to boil over. Truly, the whole situation was beyond belief.

“He looks like a nice one, Izzie,” Crefton said as though excited at the idea of her getting married. “A nice strong man. You’ll give him you strong sons.” He smiled and waggled his fingers at Nicholas in a childish version of a wave. “Oh, I remember now. He asked my permission last night.”

Much to Nicholas’s surprise, Crefton made his way over to stand beside him. “My Izzie always said she’d marry for love, so you must be someone special indeed to have won her heart. I can’t wait for the two of you to have children, for she has always wanted a family of her own.”

Nicholas looked at Elizabeth to note her reaction to Crefton’s odd behavior and was taken aback by what he saw. Her mask of strength and composure was ripped away for the briefest of moments, revealing her pain. Something he had no desire to witness. He felt as though a fist had been driven into his gut. He turned away before the sight of her stripped bare made him change his mind.

Brom and Stephen entered the chapel, giving Nicholas a reason to leave Crefton with Elizabeth. He moved to the back of the room to speak with his men.

“I thought you might need this,” Brom said and handed Nicholas a simple gold ring. “No promises that it fits her though.”

Nicholas stared at the small, narrow band. Somehow this symbol of marriage brought home the seriousness of what they were about to do.

Marriage.

For life.

Could he bind himself legally to this stranger he didn’t dare trust? He reminded himself that this marriage would be merely a business arrangement of sorts. No emotions involved.

He hid his disquiet as best he could and confirmed the plan with Brom and Stephen. They would all travel back to Staverton after the midday meal. He was anxious to return and see how William fared.

The priest cleared his throat. “Lady Elizabeth, shall we commence?”

Elizabeth nodded. She escorted her father between Margaret and Robert then moved to stand before the priest.

Nicholas, with the ring in hand, left his men and joined her. He noted the shadows under her eyes as he, too, nodded at the priest. Despite his anger toward her and the whole situation, he struggled at seeing her so beleaguered. He told himself he should rejoice at this moment; her pain meant his plan for vengeance was working. But he could find no comfort in that.

“Do you promise that you will take this woman to wife, if the Holy Church consents?” the priest asked.

“Aye, I do,” Nicholas answered solemnly.

“Lady Elizabeth.” The priest coughed nervously. “Do you promise that you will take this man to husband, if the Holy Church consents?”

“Aye, I do,” she answered, her voice so quiet that Nicholas could barely hear her.

Nicholas handed the priest the ring, and he blessed it and returned it. Nicholas turned to face Elizabeth and took her left hand in his. The feel of her cool, slim fingers trembling in his palm made him want to comfort her.

Clamping down the urge, he slipped the ring on the tip of Elizabeth’s index finger and repeated the words the priest said, “God the Father.” He removed it and repeated the gesture on her middle finger. “God the Son.” He removed the band a final time before sliding it on her ring finger as he said, “God the Holy Spirit.”

The gold band fit perfectly and seemed to wink at him in the candlelight, as though pleased with where it had landed. He shook the nonsensical thought from his mind and focused on the words he needed to say next. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

A few moments later, the ceremony was over. The vows were complete. The contract had been drawn and signed. Nicholas felt Elizabeth’s gaze on him. Against his better judgment, he turned to her.

Pale and trembling, her fragile composure tugged at something deep inside him. Something he knew would be best left alone.

Still, he couldn’t stand to see her like this. He looked deeply into her eyes, prepared to offer that they make the best of this, to say anything to ease her fears. “Elizabeth,” he began, but before he could continue, he was blinded by a flash of blue light. It was all he could do to remain upright as the vision struck him like a blow.

Home.

He was back home.

William lay before him, pale and still upon the bed.

But now, his arms were folded ever so carefully across his chest.

The pose of the dead.

The priest murmured a prayer, while someone wept in the background.

“William, nay!” Nicholas cried out.

The vision faded. He was back in the chapel at Amberley. Had he cried out? Hell! He hoped not.

Brom supported him on one side, and Elizabeth held his arm on the other. She looked up at him, concern, or perhaps fear, creasing her brow. “Are you unwell, my lord?”

Anger and grief warred with humiliation as he realized he’d lost control in front of her. The image he’d seen played again in his mind. William dead? It could not be! He refused to believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.

He jerked his arm out of her grasp. “Do not touch me.”

Hurt stole across her face, and she dropped her hands to her sides.

Filled with rage, the urge to hit something was overwhelming. He could hardly see, could barely think.

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth offered. “You stumbled. I thought you needed help.”

“The way you helped William?”

She blanched and took a step back, her brown eyes filled with sorrow and anguish.

But her hurt didn’t stop his anger. Her meager attempt to aid his brother had come too late. He would admit it to no one, but mingling with his rage was frustration that she’d seen him at his most vulnerable. In the depths of a vision.

He’d been married only a few moments and already regretted his decision. He closed his eyes for a moment to try to regain control. He could sense Brom beside him and Stephen nearby. The weight of their questioning gazes added to his frustration.

Elizabeth and her father would pay and pay dearly. His wife’s first task might very well be to help him bury his brother. He opened his eyes to find her staring at him. “Gather your things,” he told her. “We leave now.”

“But the wedding feast is set for midday.”

“We are leaving at once.” The look of panic on her face would not sway him from his demand. This whole impossible situation had been her idea. Had she forgotten that?

Elizabeth glanced at her father, whose expression of dismay matched hers. “I thought – ”

“Say your goodbyes. I’ll meet you in the bailey. You can send for the rest of your things later.” He knew he acted like a beast, but what choice did he have? He needed to get home as quickly as possible, and he had no intention of explaining the reason to his wife. He could only hope this latest vision was not what he thought, that William wasn’t dead.

“Brom, Stephen, ready the horses.” Nicholas turned to leave the chapel and caught sight of Lord Crefton once more. He strode over to where the old lord sat in the chair. He squatted down and looked him in the eye.

“I’m taking your daughter from you, just as you took my brother from me.” Nicholas heard Elizabeth gasp at his words, but didn’t bother to look at her. “May you suffer as I do.”

Crefton held his gaze. He seemed to understand what Nicholas had said, for his eyes filled with a deep sadness. He gave Nicholas a small nod.

“Let him be,” Elizabeth said from behind him. For the first time, her tone held anger.

Nicholas held Crefton’s gaze a moment longer before standing.

Elizabeth rushed to her father, then glared at Nicholas.

Before he could exit the chapel, Lady Margaret grabbed his arm and held him tightly. “My lord, despite what you think, Elizabeth meant no harm. If it weren’t for her, you would never have known what happened to your brother. She is the light in our life. I know you
will
honor her. When you realize her innocence, set her free so she can return to us. Unblemished.”

Nicholas removed her hand from his arm. “She is the one who struck this bargain. Now she will have to live with it.”

Brom waited for him outside the chapel door. “Stephen’s getting the horses. Are you all right? What did you see?”

Genuine concern shone in his eyes rather than the morbid curiosity that Nicholas had seen in so many others.

Nicholas shook his head. “I fear William is dead.”

Dismay filled Brom’s expression. “Hell’s teeth, my lord. No wonder you’re in such a hurry. Shall I explain our rush to the lady – er, I mean to your wife?”