“Riders approaching from the south!“a guardsman called out.
Dominic’s heart pounded wildly as he peered through the crenel at the riders. His excitement mounted when he recognized the knights he had sent after Rose, then just as quickly subsided when he realized Rose was not with them. Then something caught his eye. A large man wearing colorful garments and a turban.
Raj!
What was Raj doing at Dragonwyck? He was supposed to be with Starla at the palace. Dominic’s heart thumped with apprehension as he raced down the spiral staircase to meet Raj and the returning knights.
“Where is my wife?” Dominic asked before the men had time to dismount.
“We did not find her,” James of Bedford said. “We were prepared to ride all the way to London, but we encountered Raj on his way to Dragonwyck.”
Dominic turned on Raj. “How could you have left Rose at the palace without protection? Where is Lady Starla? Will someone please explain what is going on? I am frantic with worry.”
Raj’s somber expression offered Dominic scant comfort.“Lady Rose is not at Westminster, master. We know not where she is. Neither your knights nor I passed her on the road. Sir James explained the situation to me, and I am as mystified as you.”
Color leeched from Dominic’s face. “Why are you here, Raj? Where is Lady Starla?”
“I came to fetch Lady Rose back to Westminster. Lady Starla is eager to return to the convent. After we received word of your recovery, the king insisted on Starla’s presence at his table each night.It has not been easy for Lady Starla to keep up the pretense, master. After learning you would live, I waited each night at the postern gate for Lady Rose to return, and when she did not, Lady Starla feared something had gone awry and suggested that I return to Dragonwyck to find out.”
“Rose wanted to return to the palace, but I asked her to wait until I was able to accompany her. I do not trust the king. Apparently Rose decided to disobey me and left without my permission. She traveled alone but for two villeins, Piers and his wife, Vella. No one has seen them since they left Dragonwyck.”
There was nothing more Sir James or the others could tell Dominic, so he dismissed them and returned to the hall. Raj followed close on his heels.
“What are you going to do, master?”
“I do not know. Perhaps…” The words died in his throat when Lady Emily and Lady Blythe cornered him.
“Where is Rose, my lord?” Emily asked.
“I wish I knew,“Dominic replied. “Raj said she is not at the palace, and my knights did not encounter her on the road to London.”
Her face contorted with fear, Emily began to wring her hands, while tears slid down Blythe’s cheeks. “What could have happened to her?”
“I cannot say,” Dominic answered in a strained voice. “Excuse me, ladies, I need to think this out. Rest assured I will do everything in my power to find my wife.”
“I do not like this,” Raj muttered after the ladies departed.
Dominic strode to the hearth and stared into the ashes. “What if Rose has left me, Raj? What if she had no intention of going to Westminster?”
“Why would you think that? What did you do to her?”
“I did naught except forbid her to go to London without me.”
“Where would she go if not to London? Lady Rose cares for her sister a great deal. I cannot believe she would go anywhere but to the palace.”
“Nor can I, Raj. I received no ransom note, but that does little to reassure me.” He winced. “Brigands could have kidnapped her for reasons other than ransom.” His head shot up, his face alight with sudden comprehension. “God’s nightgown! Why did I not think of it sooner?”
“Think of what, master?”
“Is it possible that Rose is with MacTavish? His lands march along the border; he has been known to raid deep into English territory to steal livestock. What if he came upon her and took her against her will?”
“Why would the Scotsman hold your lady against her will? It makes no sense, master.”
“It does to me,” Dominic said as he headed out the door.
“Where do you go, master?”
“To Scotland. If Rose is there, I will find her. Find the captain of the guard. Tell him to choose two dozen men to accompany me to MacTavish’s demesne, then attend me in the armory. We leave within the hour.”
Raj found Sir Eric, relayed Dominic’s message, and hurried to the armory. He arrived in time to help Dominic don his mail and strap on his weapons.
“I will ride with you, master. You nearly lost your life the last time you left me behind.”
“What about Lady Starla? Rose would not like it if we left her twin unprotected. The king is unpredictable; one never knows what goes through his devious mind.”
Dominic could tell by Raj’s mutinous glare that sending him back to the palace was not an option. Raj’s words confirmed Dominic’s belief.
“I will not be left behind,” he reiterated. “Lady Starla can hold her own despite her aversion to court life. She dislikes Lady Veronica intensely. Your former mistress has the tongue of an asp.”
Dominic had no answer to that, for he knew it to be the truth.
Raj appeared thoughtful as he added a knife to his belt and checked the sharpness of his scimitar.
“Something is on your mind, Raj. What is it?” Dominic asked when he noted Raj’s preoccupation.
“Mayhap you should send Lady Nelda to the palace. Who better to protect Lady Starla than her own mother?”
“Raj! You are a genius)Why did I not think of that? Find Sir Cedric.Lady Nelda trusts him. Tell Cedric everything he needs to know and ask him to fetch Lady Nelda from the convent and escort her to the palace. King John would not dare turn Lady Nelda away once she explains that she has come to Westminster to be with her daughter while I am recovering from my wounds. I know the king. He would risk public condemnation should he deny Nelda’s request, and he would not like that.”
Less than an hour later, Dominic, Raj and two dozen armed knights left the castle, riding north to Scotland. Meanwhile, Sir Cedric rode to the convent to fetch Lady Nelda.
Seething with rage, Rose stared out the window of her chamber. The door was locked, and not even Robina was allowed inside without Uncle Murdoc’s permission. A MacTavish kinsman had carried food and water to her on each of the four days of her confinement, but he had refused to answer her questions. She was frantic with worry about Piers and Vella. If her uncle had hurt them, she would never forgive him.
The key rattled in the lock, and Rose spun around to face the door. Her uncle stepped into the chamber, looking far too pleased with himself for Rose’s liking.
“How dare you hold me against my will!” Rose blasted before he could speak.“And to think I once was fond of you.”
“Och, lass, ye hurt me sorely. I would never harm ye. Ye and yer sister are like the bairns I never had.”
“Then prove it. Release me.”
“So ye can return to the Dragon Lord? Nay, lass, he isna the man for ye.”
“And I suppose Gunn is. I am no fool, Uncle. I know what you and Gunn want. What an achievement it would be to gain a foothold on English soil. You would be the envy of every Scot border lord.”
“Ye wrong me, lass. Tis yer welfare that concerns me. Have ye forgotten so soon that the English king murdered yer father, that he sent his champion to wed ye and claim yer land? Wedding Gunn makes sense. He can keep your land free from English domination.”
“You have forgotten a few things, Uncle. My lands are now and have always been a part of England. I am English, and I am wed to an Englishman. Give it up, Uncle. When Dragon learns what you did, he will be furious.”
“Ye left without his permission, and ye said yerself ye were on yer way to London. Dragon willna think to look for ye here. And by the time he realizes ye havena gone to London, ye will already be wed to Gunn. Wedded and bedded all proper like.”
“Over my dead body,” Rose muttered.
“Och, lass, I see ye need more time to think on this. If I dinna know better, I might think ye have become fond of Dragon.”
Squaring her shoulders, Rose shouted,“I
love
Dragon. Naught will ever change that.”
“Bah, yer as addlebrained as yer mother. I dinna approve of her wedding an Englishman, but she wheedled our father into agreeing to the union.”
“My mother and father were happy together. They loved one another. Tell me, Uncle, did you love any of your three wives?”
“Love is for fools. I wed for heirs, not for love, but none of my wives gave me sons or daughters. Fortunately, my second wife came to me with a son that I adopted as my own when Robina proved as barren as my other two wives.”
“Robina is sweet-natured and good. You should appreciate her more.”
“My wives are none of yer concern, niece. Wed Gunn and everything I own will belong to ye and yer heirs after I go to my reward.”
“I want naught from you, Uncle. Release me and my vassals and all will be forgiven.”
Murdoc sighed. “Ye always were a stubborn lass. Yer sharp tongue almost made me forget what I came to tell ye. Father Baen has agreed to come to the keep and perform the marriage ceremony. Ye have a day or two to come to yer senses. The priest willna wed ye to Gunn unless ye are willing.”
“That will never happen.”
Murdoc gave her an inscrutable look. “Ye are wrong. How fond are ye of those two vassals of yers?”
“Piers and Vella?”
“Aye, if that be their names.”
Fear raced down Rose’s spine.“You would not dare hurt them!”
“Ye donna know me if ye think that, lass. Ah, weel, ‘tis yer decision, so I will leave ye alone whilst ye decide.”
Her voice rose. “Uncle, wait! Harm Piers and Vella and you will be sorry.”
No answer was forthcoming as the door slammed behind Murdoc, leaving Rose to fret over the fate of her vassals. She knew her uncle was a stubborn man, but she had never found him to be unreasonably harsh. Since her father’s death, Murdoc had changed. He was no longer the genial man who’d doted on his nieces, but a man driven by greed. He wanted Dragonwyck and would stop at nothing to get it.
Rose returned to the window. Her stomach rumbled, and she wondered if her uncle planned to starve her into compliance. The rattling of the doorknob interrupted her dark thoughts. She stared at the portal, wondering if her uncle had returned to browbeat her into committing bigamy.
The key scraped in the lock and the door opened. Rose tensed, then relaxed when a head crowned with braids poked through the opening.
“Robina. Does Uncle Murdoc know you are here?”
Robina sidled into the chamber and closed the door behind her.“Nay, lass. Murdoc and Gunn have gone hawking. I came to see if I could help.”
“You want to help me?”
“Aye, Rose. I dinna agree with everything yer uncle does. He and Gunn are cut from the same cloth, even though they share no blood. I know not why yer here, or what kind of mischief Murdoc plots, for they dinna share their plans with me, but I know yer being held against yer will.”
“Oh, Robina, thank you,” Rose cried, grasping the other woman’s hands in hers.“Uncle Murdoc wants Dragonwyck so badly he would wed me to Gunn to get it.”
“Dragonwyck? I know not the name.”
“Lord Dragon claimed Ayrdale and became my husband after Papa’s death. The demesne is now called Dragonwyck. Uncle Murdoc alleges that Papa promised me to Gunn years ago, and that my marriage to Dragon is invalid.”
“So that is why Murdoc traveled to Stirling,” Robina said thoughtfully. “He told me he wanted to bring a petition before the court, but I knew not what it was.”
“Uncle Murdoc is a devious man. I am an English subject, and Scottish laws hold no sway over me. I cannot wed Gunn, nor would I wed him even if ‘twas possible. I love my husband.”
Robina’s sharp features softened, and Rose realized her uncle’s wife was younger than she looked. “Are you happy with Murdoc, Robina?” she probed. “Was your marriage an arranged one?”
“My marriage was arranged, but Papa wouldna have agreed to it if he’d known Murdoc wanted naught but a brood mare. We have been wed ten years.” She sighed. “I fear I am barren.”
“Are you ill treated?”
Robina looked away. “All was well in the beginning. I was well treated, but as the years went by with no sign of a bairn, Murdoc changed. He made Gunn his heir and began treating me less kindly. He doesna beat me, but if I displease him he shows me the back of his hand.”
“You should leave him, Robina. Scottish laws give women more power than English ones. Will your father take you in?”
“Aye, but Murdoc willna let me go. He fears Papa will demand the return of my dowry. But enough about me. How can I help ye?”
“I ask naught of you that would cause you harm, but there is one thing you can do. I am concerned about my vassals. I have no idea what Uncle Murdoc has done with them. I would be grateful if you could find out what has become of them.”
“Och, lass, I already know. They are confined in the north tower and they are both well.”
Rose nearly collapsed with relief. According to her uncle, however, their safety depended upon her compliance. Dare she ask Robina to set them free?
“I fear for their lives,” Rose confided. Their safety depends upon my willingness to wed Gunn. Oh, Robina, I know not what to do. My husband thinks I went to London. He would never think to look for me here.”
Robina looked bewildered.“I donna understand.”
Rose explained in a few succinct words why she had been traveling to London and why Dragon had forbidden her to leave without him.
“‘Tis unfortunate Murdoc came upon ye whilst on one of his raids into English territory. May I ask a boon of ye?” Robina asked timidly. “I will free ye and yer vassals if ye take me with ye to Dragonwyck. Think ye yer husband will protect me from Murdoc and help me reach my father’s manor? I have six brothers who will protect me from Murdoc, for they like him not.”
“Free Piers and Vella and go with them to Dragonwyck,“Rose said.“But forget about me.‘Tis too dangerous. When you reach Dragonwyck, tell Dragon of my plight and ask him to provide escort to your father’s home.”
“I must go,” Robina said, looking nervously toward the door.“I will free them tonight, after Murdoc falls asleep. He doesna know I have spare keys to all the chambers, so I donna wish to be caught where I am not supposed to be.”