A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) (35 page)

The annoyed look Hugh gave him nearly made him smile. “Do not be an imbecile. I will fight by your side and together, we will defeat your uncle and regain Larkspur. When do we ride?”

***

The mid-day meal was about to be served by the time Alyna returned to the keep. Gunnell’s words of upcoming trouble worried Alyna. Unfortunately, the healer hadn’t been able to tell her any further details; she only knew the trouble involved Alyna.

Did it mean Alyna had no future with Royce? Or did the problem have to do with her father or Tegmont? There was no way to know. She had to be prepared for anything.

Alyna’s stomach grumbled at the scent of an appetizing aroma in the air as she made her way into the bustling hall. Thoughts of food disappeared when she saw Florence and Hilde sitting on either side of Nicholas at the high table. Those two were trouble, of that she had no doubt.

“Nicholas, where’s Enid?”

“Mama!” Nicholas bailed off the bench and into her arms. “I can’t find her or you.”

“You’ve found me now.” She couldn’t resist picking him up so she could look into his eyes and reassure herself that he was all right.

“I’m glad,” he answered, his expression calm as he smiled at her.

“Good day, Alyna,” Florence said. “We were just keeping Nicholas company until you returned from...wherever it is you ran off to. Again.”

Alyna stiffened. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Florence waved a hand. “You’re always off roaming the countryside leaving poor Nicholas to his own devices.” She gave the boy an overly sweet smile and reached out to pat his leg. “Isn’t that right, Nicholas?”

Nicholas frowned at Florence then laid his head on Alyna’s shoulder without answering her in a sweet show of support.

“There is no need for you to concern yourself with Nicholas, Lady Florence. He is well cared for.” The idea of her son spending time with Florence made Alyna ill.

She glanced at Hilde, who hadn’t bothered to rise when Alyna had arrived. Why she sat at the head table, Alyna had no idea. If she hadn’t departed by the time the meal was served, Alyna would send her on her way.

The maid gave her a knowing smile, which filled Alyna with unease. “How is your hand, Hilde?” Alyna asked. “I heard you hurt it when you were cleaning.”

“I had no injury, my lady.” Yet she kept one hand beneath the tablecloth.

“Alyna, my dear.” Her grandfather’s voice greeted her.

Alyna turned in surprise. “Grandfather, I didn’t know you’d returned.”

“I’d wager you didn’t know Sir Royce left, either.” Florence rose as she spoke, her words for Alyna’s ears only.

Her words caught Alyna’s full attention. Hurt and disappointment flooded her. Had Royce truly left without a word to her?

Florence pressed a kiss on Blackwell’s cheek. “So glad to see you returned safely, my lord.” Her gaze slid to Alyna as though to measure how her news had been received.

“I’m glad to be back,” her grandfather said. His words carried an odd undertone Alyna didn’t understand. The long look he gave Florence made Alyna wonder if she was somehow the cause of it.

The woman’s eyes narrowed as she caught Blackwell’s look. The odd exchange between the two puzzled Alyna, but she was more concerned with Royce’s departure.

Florence smiled sweetly at Alyna. “I was just telling Alyna that Royce might be gone for some time. At least, that’s what he told me.”

Alyna turned to her grandfather, Nicholas still cuddled against her. “Is that true? Sir Royce has left?”

“Aye. He had business to attend to. I’m not certain how long he’ll be gone.” Her grandfather squeezed Nicholas’s shoulder then put his arm around Alyna. “Let us eat. I have several things to tell you about.”

Disheartened, Alyna let him guide her to the table, but her thoughts remained on Royce. Surely he hadn’t taken the time to tell Florence and not her, yet the facts proved otherwise.

“Mama?” Nicholas lifted his head. “I’m hungry.”

Alyna smiled, trying to put aside her hurt and remember her priorities. “Then let us eat.”

Her grandfather took Nicholas from her and sat him on the bench. He gestured for Alyna to sit and did the same. Alyna realized Hilde had vanished. The maid moved about like a ghost, disappearing when it suited her.

Her mind still reeled at the news of Royce’s departure as trenches were placed before them. Florence kept her distance now that she’d delivered her news. Did Royce’s absence have something to do with the trouble Gunnell had foreseen?

“Alyna.” Her grandfather’s voice pulled her back from her thoughts. He looked about to make certain no one overheard. “I fear I return from my travels with bad news.”

Her worry increased tenfold. “What is it?”

“You were right. Lord Tegmont is most unhappy with your disappearance. He has threatened to take Montvue if your father doesn’t fulfill the betrothal agreement.”

“Oh dear.” Alyna wasn’t surprised by the news; it was just what she’d expected of Tegmont. What to do about it was another matter. She couldn’t possibly marry Tegmont. There had to be some other solution. “What do you advise?”

“I fear little can be done.” He shook his head, his voice low. “Your father shouldn’t have made the match in the first place, but I suppose he had no choice. I’d wager that Tegmont threatened to declare him a traitor if your father didn’t agree. Tegmont has caused nothing but trouble for years now.”

Alyna glanced at Nicholas to make certain he paid no attention to their conversation. His attention was focused on the roasted venison before them. “You mean because of his involvement with the barons disloyal to King Henry?” she asked.

“It started well before that. What he did to Royce’s parents is unforgivable.”

“What do you mean?” Alyna’s confusion increased. “What does Tegmont have to do with Royce’s parents?”

Blackwell looked at her in surprise. “I thought you knew. That Royce had told you.”

“Told me what?” It was all Alyna could do not to scream the words at him. What on earth was he talking about?

“Tegmont is Royce’s uncle. Tegmont murdered Royce’s parents and left Royce, their only child and heir, for dead in a terrible fire in the keep. All so he could take the holding for his own.”

Alyna’s heart stopped beating. She was certain of it. How could anyone do something so horrible? No wonder Royce had nightmares of fire. “That’s terrible!”

Her grandfather tore a chunk of bread off the trencher. “Royce has planned revenge against his uncle since that day.”

The coldness filling her made it impossible to breathe. Had Royce shown interest in her only in an effort to take revenge against Tegmont?

“I had been gathering information on the disloyal barons, one of whom was Tegmont, when our paths crossed. Our motivations might be different, but Royce and I share similar goals. We would do most anything to stop those barons. Needless to say, Royce has a more personal involvement, considering that Tegmont murdered his parents.”

Shocked, Alyna froze, hardly able to process what her grandfather had said. She shook her head in denial. Surely everything they’d shared hadn’t been a lie. It couldn’t be.

Yet the idea took hold and wouldn’t let go. She could think of no reason Royce had withheld all of this from her except one.

She was part of his plan of vengeance.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Black Hellebore is oft used to kill

wolves and foxes, but it can also be

used to cure gout.”

Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

Alyna lay in bed, the darkness of the night a match for the despair in her heart. She shivered. The furs that covered her provided no warmth. The sounds of Nicholas and Enid snoring softly brought her no comfort, not this night.

Had Royce made love with her only to humiliate his uncle? Did he care for her at all?

And her grandfather–had he used her as well? Blackwell had sent Royce to fetch her from Montvue. Had their purpose been to save her from marriage to Tegmont or simply to thwart Tegmont’s plans?

The voice of doubt echoing in her mind would not be silenced. Why else would Royce act as though he cared for her if not to use her in his quest for vengeance? He couldn’t possibly want her for herself. How often had her father told her how
ugly and
worthless she was?

Doubt burned deep in her heart until her breath came in hitches.

Her mind said it wasn’t so. After all, she’d been the one to make the final choice to lay with him. She couldn’t fault Royce for seeking revenge, but she could fault him for using her in the process.

She hoped she’d covered her hurt at the information her grandfather had shared with her. She didn’t want Lord Blackwell to know she’d fallen in love with Royce, that they’d made love. The last thing she wanted was Royce to be forced to marry her.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to relive their time
s
together. Royce had seemed so sincere, the memory of his tenderness pushing back her doubt.

Oh, she wished she knew how he felt. If he had some affection for her, wouldn’t he have told her? But then she realized that even if he had, she couldn’t compete against his lifelong goal.

Tears slid down her cheeks as sobs burned her throat. Would she have a chance to show him the kind of life they could have together? The joy they could share? The good memories they could make to help ease the pain he’d suffered all these years?

Or would his need for vengeance erase their chance at love?

***

The next day dawned with a dreariness that matched Alyna’s mood perfectly. She lay in the warmth of her bed, reluctant to rise and get on with the day. By the stillness of the chamber, she knew Enid and Nicholas had already woken and left her to sleep.

Unfortunately, her confusion and doubt had not resolved themselves during the night. Her thoughts took up much the same path they’d been on when she’d fallen asleep. She rubbed her temples, but still her mind continued like a mill, grinding the same worries over and over.

Annoyed with the pointlessness of her thoughts, she threw back the covers and prepared to dress.

A quick peek out the window confirmed the coolness outside, and she donned warm clothing. She splashed water on her face with the hope of erasing some of the signs of her sleepless night.

To her relief, only a few servants remained in the hall breaking their fast. The bread and cheese tasted bland, but she’d had little to eat the night before, so ate as much as she could bear. The day stretched endlessly before her, and she tried to think of how best to fill it.

The herb garden would be a pleasurable way to pass the day and a productive one as well. She dusted the crumbs from her fingers and rose from the table.

“Good morning, my lady,” Enid greeted her as she made her way to where Alyna stood.

“And to you as well, Enid.” Alyna managed a small smile in the hope of avoiding any questions.

“Did you sleep well?” Enid asked with a frown.

Since Alyna knew perfectly well Enid knew the answer to the question, she answered as truthfully as she could. “Nay, I did not. I fear I couldn’t settle. I think I’ll try a different pillow tonight.”

“I’ll find another for you. Perhaps a bit of lavender in the stuffing will help.”

“Thank you.” She managed a smile. If only the solution were that simple. “Where is Nicholas?”

“He’s with Charles down at the stables. I’m certain he’ll return before long.”

Alyna nodded. Nicholas loved horses, even Sir Edward’s, though it had caused him injury. But as long as Charles was with him, Alyna wouldn’t worry. “I’ll be in the herb garden if you need me.”

The morning passed slowly for Alyna though she spent it doing one of her favorite things. With the low, gray clouds hiding the sun, she lost track of time.