Mystique (30 page)

Hugh had pushed his small party hard today in order to reach Scarcliffe a day sooner than would otherwise have been the case. He’d entertained a pleasant vision of arriving home to find Alice waiting for him on the front steps.

He should have known that something would be amiss. His stratagems rarely went according to plan when he was dealing with Alice. Nevertheless, he could not bring himself to believe that she had gone to Rivenhall.

“‘Tis true, sir,” Elbert said. “Ask anyone. Young Reginald arrived here this morning and begged her to help him and his lady mother.”

“Reginald?”

“Sir Vincent’s son and heir, my lord. He was quite desperate to protect his mother as well as his father’s keep. Lady Alice told him that she knew you would want her to ride to Rivenhall’s aid.”

“She would not dare go to Rivenhall,” Hugh said softly. “Not even Alice would dream of challenging me in such a fashion.”

Elbert swallowed. “She felt it was necessary, my lord.”

“By the fires of hell.” Hugh glanced at the groom who had come to take his horse. “Bring me a fresh mount.”

“Aye, m’lord.” The groom rushed off toward the stables.

“Sir?” Benedict handed the reins of his own horse to
another groom. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to Alice?”

“Not yet,” Hugh said. “But it will quite soon. I shall see to it personally.”

A
lice could feel the tension in the great hall of Rivenhall Keep but she pretended not to notice. She sat with Emma near the fire and talked quietly. Reginald was perched on a stool near the hearth.

From time to time Alice saw Emma’s angry gaze go to Eduard, who lounged insolently in Sir Vincent’s chair. The intruder munched gingered currants from a bowl as though he had every right to them. Three of his scruffy-looking men-at-arms occupied a nearby bench. Their eyes were fixed on Dunstan and the two knights he had stationed in the hall next to Alice. The rest of the Scarcliffe men-at-arms had replaced Eduard’s men on the bailey wall.

“I mean no offense, Alice,” Emma murmured, “but it is as if this keep has been taken twice in the past two days. Once by Eduard’s men and now by Sir Hugh’s.”

“You shall have your keep back as soon as Hugh returns from London.” Alice plucked a handful of nuts from a dish. “My lord will deal with Eduard.”

“I pray you are correct.” Emma sighed. “But from what my husband has told me of the history of this family, I am not certain it will be as simple as all that. What if Sir Hugh decides to acquiesce to Eduard’s occupation of this keep?”

“He won’t.”

“And I am concerned for you, Alice. What will Sir Hugh say when he learns of what you have done here today? He is very likely to regard it as a betrayal.”

“Nay, he will understand once I have explained it all to him.” Alice popped three of the nuts into her mouth and munched. “Sir Hugh is a man of great intelligence. He will listen.”

Reginald bit his lip anxiously. “What if Sir Hugh is too angry to heed your explanations, madam?”

“My lord’s intelligence is exceeded only by his powers
of self-mastery,” Alice said proudly. “He will not take action until he has first assessed the situation.”

A muffled shout echoed from the courtyard. Steel-shod hooves rang on the stones. Dunstan stirred, straightened, and glanced at his men.

“Ah, about time.” Eduard heaved himself to his feet. He shot Alice a triumphant look. “It sounds as though Sir Hugh has at long last arrived. We shall soon see what he has to say about his betrothed wife’s presence here in his enemy’s keep.”

Alice ignored him.

Outside, thunder crashed, announcing the arrival of the storm that had been threatening all afternoon. A moment later the hall door was thrown open.

Dunstan met Alice’s eyes. “They say that ‘tis easier to raise the devil than to banish him, m’lady. You certainly have a talent for the former. Let us all pray that you have some skill with the latter task as well.”

H
ugh swept into the great hall of his sworn enemy with deadly grace and intent. He brought with him the gathering fury of the storm and the dark promise of oncoming night. His black cloak was a whirlwind that swirled around his black leather boots. His onyx hair was windblown. His eyes were molten amber.

He was not wearing his armor but the folds of his cloak were thrown back to reveal the black leather sword belt buckled low on his hips. One big hand rested on the hilt.

No one moved. Everyone in the hall stared at the apparition that had coalesced out of the impending tempest.

Hugh took in the frozen chamber with a single searing glance. Alice realized that he had assessed the whole situation in that instant. Assessed it and made the lightning-swift calculations that would determine his actions and the fate of everyone in the hall.

The manner in which he immediately dominated the hall was breathtaking. He commanded the wary respect of all within the chamber in the same fashion in which a great storm commands the skies.

Eduard of Lockton suddenly appeared a good deal smaller and much less intimidating than he had a short while earlier. Unfortunately, he looked just as mean and vicious.

Hugh’s eyes came to rest on Alice.

“I have come for my betrothed.” His voice was a whisper that carried to the farthest corner of the hushed hall.

“Dear heaven.” Emma’s hand went to her throat.

Reginald gazed at Hugh with rapt curiosity. “He is very big, is he not?”

Eduard jolted to his feet as though freed of the invisible spell that had temporarily imprisoned him. “Sir Hugh. Welcome to this hall. The Lady Alice is my honored guest.”

Hugh paid him no heed. “Alice. Come here.”

“Hugh.”
Alice leaped to her feet, picked up her skirts, and rushed down the length of the hall to greet him properly. “My lord, I am so very glad to see you. I feared that you would be another day on the road. Now you will be able to put this matter right.”

“What do you do here, Alice?” Hugh’s eyes reflected the flames on the hearth.

“My lord, I pray you will but listen to me for a moment and all will be made quite clear.” Alice came to an abrupt halt directly in front of him. She sank into a deep curtsy and bowed her head. “I can explain everything.”

“Aye, no doubt. And you will do so later.” Hugh did not extend his hand to assist her as she rose slowly. “Come. We are leaving.”

He turned on his booted heel.

Behind Alice, Emma made a small, soft, despairing sound.

“All will be well, Mother,” Reginald whispered. “You’ll see.”

“One moment, my lord,” Alice said. “Sir, I fear that we cannot take our leave just yet.”

Hugh paused and turned slowly around to face her. “Why not?”

Alice mustered her determination. It was not easy. She realized that she must tread warily if she would banish the
devil in him. Her only ally at this moment was his own intelligence. “First you must tell Eduard of Lockton to take himself and his men out of this keep.”

“Is that so?”

Eduard gave a harsh crack of gloating laughter as he came forward. “Your betrothed is a charming little creature, my lord, but obviously headstrong and willful.” He leered at Alice. “I admit that I envy you the pleasure of taming her. Twill prove interesting, I’ll wager.”

Alice whirled on him. “That is enough out of you, you great, obnoxious oaf. Who do you think you are? You have no rights here in this hall. Sir Hugh will soon get rid of you.”

Eduard’s yellow teeth flashed in his beard. He slanted Hugh a knowing glance. “If you want my opinion, m’lord, you’ve been too indulgent with the lady. She seems to think that she can give you orders as she would a servant. A touch of the whip would likely teach her to control her tongue.”

“One more insult to my betrothed,” Hugh said very softly, “and I will cut you down where you stand. Do you comprehend me, Eduard?”

Alice glowed with satisfaction.

Eduard flinched but recovered instantly. “Sir, I meant no insult. ‘Twas merely an observation. I myself occasionally enjoy the saucy types.”

Alice shot Eduard a disgusted look and then turned back to Hugh. “Tell him to leave at once, sir. He has no business here.”

“Bah. Women.” Eduard shook his large head. “They do not comprehend the ways of the world, do they, m’lord?”

Hugh studied him with the sort of idle interest a well-fed falcon might exhibit toward a fresh meal. “Why are you here?”

A crafty gleam lit Eduard’s malicious eyes. “Why, ‘tis obvious, is it not, sir? ‘Tis no secret that Rivenhall’s lord no longer commands the money or the men to defend his lands.”

“So you thought to take them while he was gone?” Hugh’s voice held only cold curiosity.

“‘Tis well-known that you have sworn an oath to Erasmus of Thornewood not to take them.” Eduard spread his hands. “Your reputation as a man who does not violate his oath is legendary, sir. But your oath to your liege lord does not apply to the rest of us poor knights who must make our own way in the world, does it?”

“Nay, it does not.”

Eduard grinned. “Erasmus of Thornewood is dying, by all accounts. He will not ride to the defense of Riven-hall.”

Emma gasped. “You will not take my son’s inheritance, Sir Eduard.”

Eduard’s small eyes glittered. “Who will stop me, pray tell, Lady Emma?”

“Sir Hugh will stop you,” Reginald said loudly. “Lady Alice promised.”

Eduard snorted. “Don’t play the fool, lad. Lady Alice does not command her lord, whatever she may believe. ‘Tis the other way around. She will soon discover that for herself.”

Reginald clenched his fists at his sides and faced Hugh. “Sir Eduard tried to hurt my mother. Lady Alice said you would not allow him to stay here at Rivenhall.”

“Of course he will not allow it,” Alice declared.

Emma took a single step forward. She lifted her hands in a beseeching gesture. “My lord, I know that you hold no love for this house, but I pray you will honor your betrothed’s oath to defend it.”

“He will,” Alice assured her. “Lord Hugh left me in command. He granted me the authority to act in his stead and he will support me.”

“She promised that you would help me save my father’s keep.” Reginald fixed Hugh with an expectant look.

Eduard slapped his thigh as though at a fine jest. “The boy’s got a lot to learn, eh?” Two of his men chuckled uneasily.

“Enough.” Hugh silenced the hall once more with the single word. He looked at Eduard. “Take your men and begone.”

Eduard blinked two or three times. “What’s this?”

“You heard me,” Hugh said quietly. “Leave this hall
at once or I will order my men to retake the keep.” He glanced once more around the chamber, clearly taking note of the position of Dunstan and the Scarcliffe men-at-arms. “It should not take more than a few minutes to do so.”

Eduard was outraged. “Have you lost your wits, man? You would save this hall on the orders of a woman?”

“Lady Alice spoke the truth. I left her in command in my stead. I will support her decision in this matter.”

“This is madness,” Eduard snarled. “You cannot mean to force me out of here.”

Hugh shrugged. “I could not help but notice as I rode into the yard that my men outnumber yours on the wall. It would appear that Sir Dunstan has things under control in this chamber. Do you wish to put the matter to the test?”

Eduard turned red with fury. Then a shrewd look appeared on his face. “By the blood of the damned. Now I comprehend. You wish to possess this hall yourself, do you not? In spite of your oath to Erasmus, you mean to take advantage of the situation to grab these lands and have your revenge against Rivenhall. I respect that, sir, but mayhap you would consider an alliance with me?”

“My lord Hugh,” Emma cried desperately. “I pray you will have mercy.”

“By the Saints.” Alice fitted her hands to her waist and glowered at Eduard. “Don’t be any more of an ass than you can help, Sir Eduard. Lord Hugh would not dream of violating his oath.” She scowled at Hugh. “Would you, sir?”

Hugh watched Eduard. “A man’s honor is only as good as his oath. Lady Alice acted in my stead when she ordered you from this hall, Eduard. The authority she wields flows from me. Do you comprehend?”

“You cannot mean this, m’lord,” Eduard sputtered. “You would allow a mere woman to give orders in your name?”

“She is my betrothed,” Hugh said coldly.

“Aye, but—”

“That makes me his partner,” Alice informed Eduard.

“Leave at once,” Hugh said. “Or prepare for battle.”

“By the teeth of the demon,” Eduard roared. “I do not believe this.”

Hugh’s hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.

Eduard took a hasty step back. “I do not want war with you, Sir Hugh.”

“Then you will leave.”

“Bah. Who would believe that Hugh the Relentless has fallen under the spell of a sharp-tongued, redheaded—”

“Enough,” Hugh said.

Eduard spat into the rushes. “Mark my words, you’ll regret the day you submitted yourself to a woman’s whims.”

“Mayhap, but that is my problem, not yours.”

“I have had enough of this foolishness.” Eduard turned and stalked toward the door. He signaled his men to follow.