“I know no Grendel.”
“Don’t be tiresome, wench. Did Simon of Navarre tup you? Did he bed you as other men would bed you?”
“I’ve lived my life in a convent, brother. I know nothing of other men.”
“You’re a learned women!” he shouted. “And you’re no fool! Did he bed you as any other man would bed you?”
She met Simon’s golden eyes for a breathless moment. “No,” she said. Simon smiled faintly.
Richard let out a shout of triumph. “I thought not! You may have some value after all, for such a plain little creature. Behave yourself, and I just might forget about this poison nonsense.”
“Poison nonsense?” she echoed.
“Servants can be mistaken. They’re barely human as it is. Go back to your cage, Alys, and think on your sins. Pray for forgiveness, and thank God I married you to a creature like Grendel.”
Simon reached for his own goblet of wine, seemingly inured to his lord’s insults. His eyes met hers over the rim of the goblet, but there was no reading his expression.
“I do, my lord,” she said truthfully. “I do.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was sheer luck that brought Claire and Thomas to the tiny church at the edge of the forest. Sheer luck that Brother Jerome had stopped to visit an old friend, and was standing in the portal of the stone church, watching their approach with disbelief and joy.
Claire immediately ceased tormenting Thomas with her small, strong hands, ducking her head behind his broad back as she felt an unaccustomed flush mount her face. Thomas was right—she wasn’t particularly well-suited to illicit delights. However, she suspected she was most gloriously suited to licit ones, and she poked her head around Thomas’s strong frame to grin at the priest.
“Will you marry us, Brother Jerome?” she called out.
Brother Jerome’s delight faded into worry. “Is there need for haste?” he asked, catching the reins of Paladin and looking up at them.
Thomas slid down from the horse, then turned and caught Claire around her slender waist, his hands strong and warm as he lifted her down. “Need you ask?” he said evenly.
“With you, my son, no,” Brother Jerome said. “With Lady Claire as temptation, however…”
“Thomas is very good at resisting temptation.” Claire didn’t bother to disguise the disgruntled tone in her voice.
“I am happy to hear that,” Brother Jerome murmured. “Does your brother approve this wedding? You must know that it could be declared invalid if the lady’s closest kin has not given permission.”
“Lord Richard has no say in the matter,” Thomas said flatly. “Either he is no kin to Lady Claire, and therefore has no say in her disposal, or he is the most unnatural of brothers, and cannot be trusted to see to her welfare.”
Brother Jerome said nothing, staring at the two of them searchingly. Eventually he nodded. “I would be happy to do God’s will and unite the two of you in marriage. But have you thought, my son? Lord Richard is a dangerous enemy.”
“I will keep her safe.”
“I am satisfied that you will. I could only wish someone would be able to help poor Lady Alys.”
Claire was jolted out of her happy anticipation with the rudeness of a blow. “What do you mean?” she demanded in a hoarse voice.
Brother Jerome’s face was stern. “You do not know? Haven’t you heard? She’s been accused of murder. Lord Richard is taking her north to see the King, to put her to judgment. If she’s found guilty she’ll be buried alive.”
“Oh, God,” Claire cried out. “She killed him?”
Brother Jerome looked confused. “She’s accused of poisoning Lady Hedwiga.”
Relief flooded her. “Lady Hedwiga is dead? But that’s ridiculous! Why would Alys do such a thing? And where would she come across poison?”
“Her brother has accused her of trafficking with the devil,” Brother Jerome intoned.
“Well, of course,” Claire snapped. “He had her marry him. What’s her lord husband had to say to all this?”
“As far as I know, not a thing. I was sent from the Keep when they left for York, and all I’ve been able to do is pray for a just outcome.”
“A just outcome? My sister is no murderer, and you know that as well as I!”
Thomas put a restraining hand on her arm. “Brother Jerome has not accused her, love. He’s only repeating what he knows. Where have they gone?”
“They’re heading north along the North Road. King Henry is in residence at Middleham Castle.”
“How fast are they traveling? Surely they aren’t making Alys ride?” Claire demanded.
“I saw her placed in a traveling carriage that… er… resembled a cage.”
“And her monstrous husband did nothing to stop this?”
“Nothing, my lady.”
She turned to Thomas. “We’re going after them,” she said.
“No.”
“You can’t expect me to ignore my sister’s plight! I have to do something, I have to save her! All her life she’s taken care of me, sacrificed for me, and I’ve selfishly accepted everything she’s done as if it were my due. Now that she needs me I can’t turn my back on her.”
“I’m not expecting you to. I’m expecting you to wait here with Brother Jerome while I go after her.”
“I won’t do it! What makes you think you’d have any better luck than I would? He might have you killed on sight for deserting his household…”
“He doesn’t know that I have. As for as he’s aware, I’ve gone to see to my wife’s burial. If I show up he’ll merely think I’m resuming my duties. If I show up with you he’ll probably geld me.”
“You think he will listen to you?”
“No.”
“He’d listen to me,” Claire said in a bitter voice. “I have something he might be willing to trade for my sister’s life.”
“And what is that, my lady?”
