last they would ever see of Gilbert. But their strategy, fine for them, was too
late to help her.
The man was already turning around, drawing the same conclusion. He was too late
to give Gilbert warning. But mayhap he felt it mattered not. Mayhap Gilbert
still had enough men left to serve his purpose? but that would not serve hers.
Rowena started to tell Gilbert what she suspected when the guard called down,
?Wait there. My lord himself will take the girl from you.?
Rowena frowned, wondering what ruse they were perpetrating. But Gilbert looked
off to the side and cursed. Then she heard it, the unmistakable sound of a great
many horses approaching, and looked for herself. ?Twas indeed the dragon
returned. In the last light of the day, his army was just barely discerned, but
she had no doubt ?twas him. Neither did Gilbert.
He was still cursing, though not loud enough for the guards to hear.
?Damn the man, he could not have reached Gilly Field and returned this soon. Tis
impossible!?
?So he changed his mind.?
Her voice recalled her to him, and some of his composure as well.
?Worry not,? he told her.
?This merely alters my plan to a siege. Aye, my army is still larger than his,
and I will return with it this very night. Tis fortunate I did not ask yet to
spend the night, for now I will insist I must travel on.?
He could not mean what that sounded like.
?You intend to stay here and greet him?? she asked incredulously.
?Why not? He has never seen me close enough or without armor to know me.?
Gilbert was just short of laughing.
? ?Tis a fine joke on him, which I will be sure to point out when I return.?
?Twas more than Rowena could resist. It served her absolutely no purpose, except
the pleasure of being the one to burst his confidence.
?I hate to mention this at such a time, Gilbert, but he will recognize you. He
knows you only as my stepbrother, not as d?Ambray. But still you are another man
he wants to kill, for you are the man who had him chained to a bed at
Kirkburough. The joke, brother, was on you both.?
?Damn you, you lie!? he exploded.
?I could not have had him and not known! And he could not have come with an army
if he was chained to a bed.?
For her own sake, Rowena twisted the truth somewhat.
? ?Twas his army, but he did not lead it. They came not for you, Gilbert, but
for him. And the moment they released him, he sent me here to his dungeon. He
intends to make me suffer for the rest of my days for what I did to him. You he
simply wants dead. But take not my word for it. You will recognize him yourself
do you stay and greet him, so by all means?
?Enough!? he growled as he grabbed her arm and swung her off his mount.
?What are you doing?? she demanded, furious, because she knew.
?They know inside the castle ?tis you. Do I take you with me, they will give
chase, which does not suit me. So tell them my business was too urgent to wait.
And fear not. My first demand when I return will be your release.?
He did not give her a chance to reply. He rode off, his men following, and ?twas
dark enough now that they were gone from sight in moments. The approaching army
could no longer be seen either, though the sound of it had grown louder.
It occurred to Rowena to wonder why she just stood there and waited. She could
have easily slipped into the moat instead, with no one to see her do it. She
could even hide under the drawbridge once it was lowered, then make her escape
later, after all was quiet. Twould be assumed she had been carried off by
Gilbert?s party. But that would lead to a chase, with Warrick in the lead. And
Gilbert was heading straight for his armyor what was left of it. And Warrick
would not take his with him, not to track seven men. And she was a fool, because
she was still standing there when the first horse appeared out of the blackness
and was halted next to her.
Torches were thrust into the outer walls, casting not much lightexcept into the
moat. So she would have been seen in the water after all. For some reason that
made her want to laugh. She did not, for ?twas Warrick himself who sat there on
his great destrier looking down at her.
Chapter 37
?Is there a reason you await me out here, wench, instead of where you belong??
?I escaped,? Rowena replied baldly.
?Did you??
The skepticism of that reply, as well as Warrick?s smile, told her he did not
believe her. Well and good. She would get more said if he thought her spinning
improbable tales for his amusementas long as she left out the key words that
were sure to enrage him.
So she shrugged, sighing.
?Alas, I am not noble enough to take blame here when blame is not mine. I had to
leave, else I would have spent last eventide in your dungeon.?
?Ah,? he said, as if that explained all.
?You dreaded a place that by your own words you found to be ?really quite
comfortable.??
Did he have to remember what she had told the Lady Isabella?
? ?Twould not have been so this time,? she replied sourly, then quickly reverted
to a nonchalant tone.
?And I tell you true, I would not have returned, except I was found by the most
dastardly lord who thought to use me to gain entry to Fulkhurst, which he came
here to capture.?
When that did not raise a brow, she was annoyed enough to lay on the insouciance
even thicker.
?As to that, it might behoove you to enter Fulkhurst and make ready for a siege.
On the other hand, I might have dispersed the army that was waiting in yonder
woods with a few simple truths. I cannot be sure, mind you. But I explained to
one of the knights that I knew for a fact that the lord he and his fellows were
following had no right to their service, and so they ought to return to their
rightful lord. I am afraid I also painted a rather black picture of you, on the
off chance that fear might work where logic fails.?
?I gladly accept all embellishments to my reputation.?
?You would,? she grumbled.
He grinned at her.
?Tell me now how you enacted this remarkable escape.?
? Twas not easy,? she assured him quickly, too quickly, for he laughed, still
assuming he was being ?amused.?
?If I thought it was,? he replied lightly ?I would install you back in the
dungeon myself for safekeeping, though I wouldst visit youoften.?
The likelihood that he was not joking put an end to Rowena?s attempt to ?amuse?
him.
?You are returned just in time to save your castle, as well as your family. I
would have tried, but there is no guarantee that your men would have believed me
when I told them that the ?king?s? man who just fled here was no king?s man at
all, that he planned to open the gates to his army later this night. Had you
returned any later, you might have found him captured if I had been believed, or
if I had not been believed you might have found your daughters held hostage to
his demands, and what he meant to demand was your life.?
All amusement had left him ere she finished; in fact, his expression had grown
quite dark.
?Why do I feel you are no longer jesting??
?Because I am not, nor have I been.
?Us all true, Warrick. You will find evidence of that army in those woods east
of here, if not the army itselfif they do not come to besiege you this very
night. The dastardly lord? Hehe is my stepbrother. He came here because he wants
revenge against youfor destroying Kirkburough. You understand revenge, do you
not??
Without answering, Warrick leaned down and yanked her onto his horse. His hands,
which held her in front of him, bit deeply into her flesh, as did the conclusion
he came to.
?And you would have helped him.?
?I would have betrayed him!?
?You expect me to believe that?? he asked sharply.
?Your own brother??
?No blood relation, and despised so much that I would kill him, will kill him,
if given the opportunity.?
?Then let me do it for you,? he suggested reasonably, though his tone was
chilling.
?Tell me where he can be found.?
Was it time for the whole truth? Nay, he was too angry just now to hear that,
too.
She shook her head in denial.
?You have taken more than enough from me. Now you wouldst take my revenge, too?
I think not.?
He scowled at that answer. He even shook her for it. But she still would not
volunteer the information he wanted. He finally growled low and released her.
She had to grab for his chest to retain her perch. Then the drawbridge dropped,
startling her, and the horse moved under her, and she realized she was running
out of time to tell him the rest, which he would soon hear from othersbut to her
detriment.
?You have not asked why I would have been put in your dungeon, my lord.?
?You have more confessions to make??
She winced at that snarl.
? ?Tis not a confession, but the truth as I know it. I was to be accused
yestereve of stealing an item of great value from one of the castle ladies. Twas
to be found in your solar, thereby proving my guilt. This would give an excuse
to ?question? me about other supposed thefts. Twas hoped that there would not be
much left of me to tempt you when you returnedand that the pain of my
interrogation would cause me to lose the babe I carry. I was not willing to
suffer that when I was innocent of the charge, so I left ere the accusation
could be made.?
?And if you are guilty, then you are making this confession to allay your guilt.?
?Except I am not. ?Twas Mildred who overheard the plot and warned me. You can
ask her?
?Think you I do not know she would lie for you? Best you do better than that to
prove your innocence.?
?You see now why I had to leave/? she said bitterly.
?I cannot acquit myself with other thar. what I have just told you. Tis you who
will havp to do so by proving my accuser a liarelse will you have to punish me
with the severity that th crime demands.?
She felt him stiffen at those words.
?Darm. you, wench, what did you do to cause such enmity in this woman??
Rowena took heart. The question said he be lieved heror wanted to.
?I did naught,? she said simply.
? ?Tis not even me she wants to hurt, but you. And with me gone, she may not
have accused me at all, or even reported the theft. ?Twould have served no
purpose. With me returned, however, she may yet decide to do it, to force you to
punish me.?
They had stopped before the castle tower. They had been stopped there for some
time according to all the activity around them, men dismounting, horses being
led away, squires and stableboys jostling about. Rowena suddenly thought to ask
?Why are you returned so soon, Warrick??
?Nay, you will not change this subject, wench. You will tell me who the lady is
who thinks to hurt me through you, and you will tell me now.?
She slid off the horse before he could stop her, but she turned to look back up
at him.
?Do not ask me that. If she changes her mind, deciding to do naught, then she
redeems herself and should not be punished for what she plotted in the heat of
anger. If not, you will know soon enough.?
His scowl was blacker than ever, seen so easily now with so many torches
lighting the inner bailey, then seen even easier as the sky cracked with thunder
and flashed with lightning. A chill went down her back, for he looked like the
very devil, sitting there passing judgment on her? then he sounded like it, too.
?I will decide what deserves punishment,? he warned her.
?So do not think you can keep this from me as you have your brother?s name. I
will have an answer or?
?If you dare to threaten me after what I have been through,? she cut in
furiously ?I swear I will lose what little food I ate todaywhich was army fare
and rancidright? on?? your? foot! You would be better served by preparing for a
siegejust in caseor is that not more important than one worthless prisoner who
is going nowhere now, thanks to her accursed brother? Then you will have ample
time, I doubt it not, to deal with my escape, my theftmy audacity!?
She whirled around and left him sitting there, too angry to care if she had
enraged him beyond reason with her tirade. So she did not see the slow grin that
came to his lips, or hear the laughter that followed. But his men did. And more
than one wondered what he found so amusing whilst he issued orders that saw to
the castle?s defenses.
Chapter 38
The noise coming from the Great Hall predicted the evening meal was still in
progress. Rowena could hear it as she mounted the stairs to the hall, and her
step slowed. Her temper cooled as well with the reminder of what she was about
to face.
She had intended to go straight to the kitchen to rectify the scant amount of
food she had eaten that day, but now she changed her mind. Only there was no
place to go that would not take her through that hall. Back outside, then? Nay,
the first drops of the long brewing storm had just started to fall as she had
entered the tower. She had avoided being caught in it all day. She was not going
back out in it now.
Warrick found her sitting dejectedly on the steps in the darkest shadows cast by
the torches at both ends of the stairs. He waved on the few men who had entered
with him, until only he stood over her. She would not look up at him, though he
knew she was aware ?twas him. She was not forthcoming with an explanation for
being there either.
He finally had to ask ?What do you here? I would have thought you would be
replacing that rancid meal in your belly with more tempting viands from Master
Blouetthat you will not be as likely to vomit.?
She still did not look up, but she did shrug.
?I would have thought so, too, but I have to enter the hall to get to the
kitchen.?
?So??
?So II would like you with me if I am to be accused.?
Rowena could not imagine why that statement would cause Warrick to draw her up
into his arms and kiss her, but that was what he did. He was soaking wet, but
she did not care. She clung to him, noting the lack of passion in that kiss, and
wel
coming what was there instead: warmth, safety, his strengthand tenderness.
She almost cried, to be given something like that after what she had been
through.
When he set her back, his hand still caressed her cheek, and his smile added
warmth to his eyes.
?Come,? he said gently and led her up the stairs with an arm about her waist.
?I will not have you blame me again if you feel the urge to empty your bellyor
is it the babe??
?Nayleastwise I do not think so.?
?Then go eat,? he said, pushing her toward the kitchen stairs.
?What about you??
?I am sure I can make do without your attendance this once, though when you have
finished, you can bring me a bottle of my new wineand order us a bath.?
?Twas not a slip of the tongue, that ?us,? and Rowena was still blushing from it
as she entered the kitchen moments later. Once she was there, everything seemed
normal. Work did not come to a standstill at her appearance. Guards were not
summoned. But Mary Blouet did notice her, and bore down on her like a war horse