Grasso, Patricia (46 page)

"You heard what he said about that marriage certificate?" Richard asked, wiping his eyes and his bloodied cheek on his sleeves.

Duke Robert nodded.

Slowly, wearily, Richard stood and scanned the hall as if bewildered by all that he saw. "Keely!" he shouted, his voice mirroring his despair. "Where are you?"

"We'll find her," the duke promised, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"My lords, Lady Keely didn't escape alone!" Roger cried, dashing into the hall. "Someone rescued her! A rope dangles from the chimney to the ground along the west wall of the priory."

"Her cousins?" Richard said, glancing at his father-in-law.

The duke nodded. "Probably Henry too."

"Dudley will see me axed if I return posthaste to London," Richard said.

"Then we'll stay here," Duke Robert replied. "Chessy will send us word when Keely returns to Devereux House."

"What do we do now?" Roger asked, eager for more adventure.

"Can you stitch?" Duke Robert asked him. "Stitch?" Roger exclaimed. "Sewing is women's work."

"Ah, but there aren't any women on the fields of battle to stitch a man's flesh together," the duke informed him. "I never thought of that."

Duke Robert nodded sagely. "First, find me needle and thread so I can stitch Devereux's cheek. Afterward, we'll bury Baron Smythe."

"And then?" Roger asked, turning to the earl, hoping for something more exciting.

"We'll cook ourselves supper, fledgling, and do what all warriors do in between their battles," Richard answered.

"Which is?"

Richard winked at the boy. "We wait."

Chapter 20

"Holy horse shit!" Roger exclaimed.

Standing outside the priory, the boy shielded his eyes against the sun's glare and stared off in the distance. A small contingent of men on horseback advanced on the priory, and Roger recognized the two men in the lead.

"Earl Richard!" he called, running back inside the priory. "Soldiers from London approach. 'Tis Dudley and my father!"

Both Richard and Duke Robert grabbed their swords and hurried outside. Behind Dudley and the Earl of Eden, Roger's father, rode six men.

Richard flicked a worried glance at his father-in-law. Was Dudley here to arrest them, or did he carry the news of Keely's safe arrival in London?

A week had passed since that fateful day when he'd confronted Willis. By now, his wife should have reached London and explained who really murdered Lady Jane.

"Sheath your sword," Richard said, recognizing the man who rode directly behind Dudley. "Uncle Hal rides with them. Keely must have reached London."

"I cannot trust Dudley," Duke Robert replied, sheathing his sword reluctantly. "Debrett fares no better in my regard. No offense, Roger."

"None taken," the boy said. "My father fares no better in my regard either."

Robert Dudley, Simon Debrett, and Hal Bagenal halted their horses and dismounted, as did the five soldiers who rode with them. At Dudley's nod, the men-at-arms drew their swords.

"I told you so," Duke Robert whispered.

Richard flicked a questioning look at his stepfather.

Appearing decidedly unhappy, Hal shrugged his shoulders in an apparent apology. In that instant Richard knew that Dudley had somehow forced his stepfather into revealing where he'd gone.

"Richard Devereux and Robert Talbot, I hereby arrest you by the order of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth," Dudley announced. "You have willfully thwarted the Crown's justice
and,
in so doing, have abducted young Roger Debrett, heir to the Earl of Eden."

" 'Tis a lie!" Roger shouted. "I forced them to take me along."

"Incorrigible brat," Simon Debrett muttered. He reached out and slapped his son so hard, the boy toppled backward and landed on his rump.

Both Richard and Duke Robert growled and took a step forward to protect the boy. Five swords pointed at their chests persuaded them to remain where they were.

"Where is Baron Smythe?" Dudley demanded. "He is under arrest for harboring fugitives."

"Smythe lies with his ancestors in the family vault," Duke Robert told him.

Dudley hastily stepped back three paces and asked, "Was he diseased?"

"We dueled," Richard answered. "I won."

"You murdered Smythe too?"

" 'Twas
execution,"
Roger defended the earl. "Not murder."

"Keep your lips shut," Simon Debrett snapped, giving his son a rough shake. "You'll regret this when I get you home."

"Dudley, I already explained that Smythe abducted Richard's wife," Hal spoke up. " 'Tis the reason he escaped house arrest."

"Then where's the lady in question?" Dudley asked.

Richard turned a worried gaze upon his stepfather. "Keely hasn't returned to Devereux House?"

Hal shook his head.

Where is she?
Richard wondered. Where had Odo and

Hew taken her? Could brigands along the road have attacked them? Good Christ, his pregnant wife had disappeared! And judging from the hatred shining in Dudley's eyes, he wasn't going to get a chance to search for her.

"Well, Devereux. What have you done to your lady-wife?" Dudley sounded almost pleased. "Perhaps we would do well to look inside the Smythe vault."

"Think what you're saying," Richard argued, appalled by his rival's sickening insinuation. "Would I murder the woman who carries my heir?"

"A demented monster like you is capable of anything," Dudley replied. "Drop your weapons. Slowly."

Surrendering to the inevitable, Richard and Duke Robert dropped their swords on the ground and then their daggers. Richard flicked an accusing look at his stepfather, who had the good grace to flush.

"I'm sorry, Richard," Hal apologized. "Dudley convinced Elizabeth to hold Louise, Cheshire, and Morgana hostage in the Tower until you surrender and explain your actions. I rode with Dudley to assure your safe arrival in London."

"You put
my mother in
the Tower?" Richard exploded. Rage surged through his body. He expected no mercy from his bitterest of rivals, but abusing his gentle mother infuriated him beyond reason.

Heedless of consequence, Richard shoved one of the soldiers out of his way and lunged at Dudley. He grabbed the other man's throat and began to squeeze. Two of the guards grabbed Richard and dragged him off their lord, but he continued to struggle, which forced them to keep a tight hold on him.

Taking his cue from his son-in-law, Duke Robert sprang at Dudley. His fist connected with the Earl of Leicester's jaw.

Two other guards leaped to their lord's defense. They fought to control the enraged Duke of Ludlow.

"Craven bastard!" Roger shouted at Leicester, breaking free of his father's grasp.

The boy landed a vicious kick on Dudley's left shin. The last of the earl's guard grabbed the boy.

"Control your brat, Eden!" Dudley snapped.

Debrett stepped toward the boy, but Hal Bagenal placed a restraining hand on his forearm and asked, "Would you beat your own son for exhibiting loyalty to a friend?"

"Basildon, I've waited a good, long time for your downfall," Dudley said as he drew his fist back to strike.

"Enough, Leicester," Uncle Hal shouted, drawing his sword and pointing it at the earl. "Strike my stepson, and you'll answer to me."

"Debrett, disarm the traitor," Dudley ordered.

The Earl of Eden looked from Robert Dudley to Hal Bagenal. He had no part in Leicester's grudge, yet he refused to borrow another's trouble by aligning himself with an enemy of the Crown. Debrett did nothing for a long pregnant moment and then judged Dudley to be on the winning side of this argument. He reached for the hilt of his sword.

"Don't none of you fine and mighty lords move a muscle," a voice nearby ordered.

"Moving means death to you," a second voice added.

Everyone froze for a fraction of a second, then looked at the two Welsh giants advancing on them. Richard stopped struggling and watched in relief as Odo approached the Earl of Leicester and prodded the man's back with the tip of his sword.

"Greetings, cousins," Richard said with a grin. He was so glad to see his wife's kinsmen, he could have kissed them. On the lips.

"Tell your men to release them," Odo ordered Dudley.

"And then discard your weapons," Hew added, the tip of his sword teasing the Earl of Eden's back.

"The punishment for obstructing the queen's justice is severe," Dudley warned. "I guarantee you'll hang at Tyburn Hill."

"What do you think, brother?" Odo asked.

"Let's kill the lot of them," Hew answered. "Then the bastard can't squeal to the queen about how we obstructed her justice."

"If you value your continued good health, Dudley, do as they say," Richard advised, watching his stepfather use the tip of his blade to caress Leicester's cheek. "When Uncle Hal gets nervous, his hand shakes. A sword scratch would mar your handsome face."

"Very funny," Dudley sneered. Then: "Discard your weapons, men. Debrett, too."

The five men-at-arms released their prisoners and then dropped their swords. Dudley and Debrett also disarmed themselves.

"Sit down against the wall of the priory, and keep your hands up in the air," Hew ordered.

When the seven men did as they were told, Hew stood guard beside them. "Move one muscle," he warned, "and I'll hack you into tiny pieces."

"Where's Keely?" Richard asked Odo.

"Safe with Rhys in Wales."

Thank you, God,
Richard thought. Relief surged through his body, and he placed a hand on the big man's shoulder, saying, "Thank you, cousin."

"You're welcome," Hew called before his brother could say anything. "The young marquess is with her."

"Keely sent us back to clear your name," Odo said. "We decided to stop here first and kill the baron for daring to strike her." The giant turned to the duke and added, " 'Twould seem Henry's been a hero waiting to happen. He risked his life to bring our little girl outside to safety."

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Duke Robert replied. He grinned and puffed his chest out with pride. "I always believed he'd eventually take after me."

"We can detain Dudley for a few days while you fetch Keely," Uncle Hal suggested to Richard, who nodded.

"What about me?" Roger asked, flicking an anxious glance at his father.

Richard looked from Roger to the obviously irate Earl of Eden. He smiled at the boy and said, "Fledgling, His Grace and I would never consider leaving without you."

"Let's take their horses," Duke Robert suggested. " 'Twill save us the time of saddling ours."

"No, we'll ride our own," Richard replied.

"One moment, my lords." When they turned to him, Odo blurted out, "Rhys is holding Keely and Henry for ransom."

The Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Eden looked at each other and hooted with derisive laughter.

"My brother-in-law holds my wife for ransom?" Richard echoed, flushing with embarrassed anger.

Odo nodded.

"How much?" he snapped.

"Rhys don't want your money," Odo answered, then turned to the duke. "Baron Lloyd desires the gentle and b-b-beauteous—I think 'tis the word he told me to use— the beauteous Lady Morgana in honorable marriage."

Duke Robert smiled. "Baron Lloyd is welcome to my daughter
and
a handsome dowry."

Richard and his father-in-law started walking in the direction of the stables. Realizing the boy wasn't beside him, Richard called over his shoulder, "Are you coming, fledgling?"

Roger grinned and hurried to catch up.

"Get back here, son!" the Earl of Eden shouted, though he dared not move with the giant's sword poised to pierce him. "Obey me, or I'll beat you within an inch of your life. I'll disown you!"

Richard stopped short and turned around slowly. Placing a protective arm around the boy's shoulder, he said, "Roger has more integrity in his little finger than any ten nobles put together. Touch even one hair upon his head, and I'll see you paupered before Midsummer's Eve."

"Is that a threat?" the Earl of Eden challenged.

"Consider it a promise."

The Earl of Basildon, the Duke of Ludlow, and the queen's page turned and headed for the stables. As they rounded the corner of the priory and disappeared from sight, their voices drifted back to the others.

"Why don't we take their horses?" Roger asked.

"Fledgling, always anticipate your opponent's next move," Richard instructed the boy. "If we take their horses, Dudley will try to persuade Elizabeth to hang us for horse thievery...."

Twenty-five miles northwest of Smythe Priory, the Lloyd keep nestled in a secluded mountain valley south of Lake Vyrnwy. Spring always arrived late in these mountains of Wales, but that particular day had dawned cloudy and unusually cold in spite of the fact that the first of May was virtually hours away. Winter seemed to be reminding the world of men that he hadn't yet been vanquished.

Keely wandered into the Lloyd great hall just before the noontime dinner hour. She carried a heavy woolen cloak slung across one arm and one of her mother's old Beltane baskets. Setting these on the high table, Keely sat down beside her brother.

"You're beginning to look like you swallowed something whole," Rhys teased, winking at her. "How is your hand?"

"Much better." Keely glanced down at her swollen belly and blushed, but then an expression of worry shadowed her features. "Do you think Odo and Hew arrived safely in London?"

"If you were a brigand," Rhys countered, "would you attack two giants?"

Keely shook her head. "But how long do you think 'twill take to free my husband?"

"That depends on the English queen," Rhys answered. "Wales is your home, sister. Remain here as long as you want. Forever would please me."

"Thank you for that." Keely smiled at him. With Madoc dead, she did feel that she belonged at the Lloyd keep. No one called her a bastard. In fact, all the Lloyd clansmen and retainers seemed friendlier than they'd ever been. Perhaps they'd really liked her all along but had feared Madoc's wrath.

"I cannot stay here indefinitely," Keely said. "My husband and my baby need me
and each other.
Though he is terribly flawed, I love Richard."