Elaine Barbieri (20 page)

The shuffling sound of footsteps in the corridor announced the jailor’s return in time for Hyacinthe to listen intently and nod before feigning loud laughter for the jailor’s benefit as she said, “So here you are at the baron’s mercy. Fie on you!”

Hyacinthe turned toward the door with a smile when the jailor opened it. She walked toward the slovenly fellow where he stood in the opening. Standing at eye-level with him, she said, “Thank you for allowing me the time to gloat at what is to come. I will not forget you for it.”

Pressing a brief kiss against the jailor’s drooling lips, Hyacinthe disappeared from sight.

The door of the cell slammed closed. The key turned
in the lock. Silent, alone again, and suddenly uncertain, Dagan listened to the subtle sounds of shuffling in the dark corners behind him.

He had taken a chance. The rest was up to Hyacinthe.

S
haken awake although it was still dark, Rosamund blinked at the knights standing over her in the small hut that Hadley and she shared. Momentarily confused, she sat up and asked, “What are you doing here? What do you want?” She glanced at the gradually brightening dawn outside the doorway and said, “It is not yet time for work to start.”

“The baron has commanded that you be brought to the castle keep…to the room awaiting you there.”

“What?”

Rosamund glanced at Hadley where he stood flanked by knights. She responded, “My father needs me. The baron assured me that I may remain here with him until the wedding.”

“He has changed his mind.”

“I don’t understand.”

Urged to her feet, Rosamund realized that it made no difference whether she understood or not…until she stood facing the baron in the silence of the keep and said defiantly, “You broke your word. You assured me that I could remain free to work with my father until our wedding.”

“You may work with him.” The baron dismissed his knights with a nod. He waited until they had taken
their place outside his doorway to continue, “I have no objection to your helping Hadley.” The baron’s statement was accompanied by his most appealing smile. Yea, he was brutishly handsome, but Rosamund had no intention of becoming one of the women who succumbed to his practiced charm.

With a sudden flush, Rosamund recalled the moment when Dagan took her into his arms in that dank cell. The warmth of him, the wonder of being in his arms, the sweet taste of his mouth, and the realization that she had nearly lost him in her anger, had been almost more than she could bear. She had realized then that despite the differences that had previously forced them apart, their love was strong enough to overcome all.

As for the baron’s attempt to charm her, he was wasting his time. She had seen the other side of his smile, and she would never forget it.

With those thoughts in mind, Rosamund did not respond to the baron’s entreaties, forcing him to continue, “All I presently demand is that you stay here, in the room that I have had prepared for you, until we are wed.”

She responded again, “You said I could remain with my father until—”

“I did not say that. I said that nothing would change for you until the day we take our vows. Other than this, nothing will. I do not intend to violate your privacy.” His smile stiffened. “There will be time for intimacy after William witnesses our nuptials.”

“You said—”

“I said nothing else would change!” His smile
disappearing as his patience waned, the baron took an aggressive step and then halted before he continued, “You only assumed that I would allow you to remain at that meager hut you shared with Hadley. I could not do that. It would not appear seemly to William if I allowed my betrothed to live under such circumstances.”

“Those
circumstances
were sufficient when you believed I was Ross, Hadley’s assistant.”

“But you are not Ross, are you?” The baron took another step that brought him so close to Rosamund that she could see a vein it his temple throbbing with suppressed anger. Yet she was startled when he curled his hand in her shorn locks, effectively holding her captive as he purred, “You have beautiful hair. It is so thick and blonde…so
Saxon
. But I enjoy women with long hair. It is a pity you cut yours.”

“I could not be happier that my hair is short since it is not my desire to afford you pleasure of any kind.”

Twisting his grip in her hair until the pain caused Rosamund’s eyes to water, de Silva whispered, “But you will give me pleasure, won’t you? That is the responsibility of a wife. And you
will
be a wife to me, Rosamund, with all that title entails.”

De Silva released her so abruptly that Rosamund stumbled a few steps backward. He smiled again and said, “I will not go against my word. As a matter of fact, I will have my knights see to it that you aid Hadley’s efforts in constructing the cathedral, if that is your wish. The only demand I will make of you is that you make yourself available for fittings when dressmakers arrive to fashion your new wardrobe…and your wedding dress.”

“I do not need dressmakers. I have enough clothes.”

“Dresses…I would have you wear dresses…gowns as befit a woman of your social standing!”

“My own clothing is suitable enough.”

“Not for me!” His former conciliatory expression disappearing in an instant, de Silva towered threateningly over Rosamund and ordered, “You will obey my command. If you do not, I will have no qualms about allowing your dear Dagan an hour with his jailor.”

Trembling, Rosamund stated, “You prove the veracity of the name Saxons have given you.”

“The Saxon name for me? Pray tell me what that might be.”

“They call you the Butcher of Hendsmille.”

“I do not feel that I deserve such a name as yet, but perhaps I will attempt to live up to it…with you at my side.”

“I will never stand at your side!”

“You will if you hope to see your dear Dagan live beyond this day! I will have my men show you to your room, where you may rest until it is time for you to go to Hadley. As promised, I will not interfere with your work there. If you are tempted to interfere in my plans in any way, however, I would caution you to keep in mind that
you
will not be the one to suffer.”

Allowing a moment for his statement to register, de Silva jerked Rosamund toward him and pressed another kiss against her lips. He released her, laughed, and whispered, “Do not bother to ask for more, for no more will be forthcoming until the day we speak our vows.”

Shaken, but incensed at the baron’s words, Rosamund
rubbed her mouth to remove all trace of his kiss. She turned abruptly toward the doorway and the knights awaiting her there as de Silva ordered, “Take her to her room and wait there until she changes into the dress delivered to her hut. Only when she is dressed to reflect her true sex will you allow her to go advise Hadley.” In a softer tone, he warned, “Watch her carefully. See that she behaves as befits a betrothed woman of standing, and do not leave her side.”

Rosamund left the baron’s quarters with his warnings ringing in her ears.

“You must listen to me and you must believe what I say.” Hyacinthe faced Hadley in a private area of the cathedral grounds. Aware that he had just arrived there with Horace’s help, and that Rosamund had been delivered to the keep only minutes earlier, she addressed Hadley with continued vehemence. “Dagan is confined in the dungeon below the keep. I entered by a hidden stairway and saw him there last night. I talked to him. He asked me to tell you it is urgent that he speak to you.”

“I know where Dagan is.” His expression stern, Hadley said as he strained to see her more clearly, “Your name is Hyacinthe, is it not? Your accent betrays all that you are—a Norman who has no place in this shire.”

“Yea, I am a Norman, and was always proud to be so until I came here and circumstances changed.”

“Circumstances changed…” Hadley’s smile was bitter. “You are referring to the recent discovery your lover made, that Ross is in reality Rosamund, a woman
and true heiress to this shire, and that the baron intends to marry her in order to strengthen his position with William.”

“Yea, that is so.” Making no attempt to deceive him, Hyacinthe continued coldly, “But my motives should not concern you at present, since I am the only person who can help you weather this debacle.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Why should you not? What would I have to gain by speaking to you? You know the intimacies the baron and I shared…intimacies he now scorns as he scorns me. You see the marks of the baron’s heavy hand on my face. What you do not know is that as painful as his blow was, it was the words he spoke accompanying it that caused me to steal down into the dungeon to ascertain for myself the reason for Rosamund’s sudden acquiescence to marriage. When I saw Dagan there, I realized that the baron held Dagan’s welfare over her head.”

Hadley stared at Hyacinthe, attempting to gauge her sincerity. He said abruptly, “I still see no reason to trust you.”

“I will only respond by saying that Dagan trusted me to bring you this message as soon as the day dawned. He awaits you in his cell…and I do not believe he has much time left.”

“Dagan, who is a Norman as you are.”

“Yea, I am aware that he is a Norman, that he is actually one of William’s knights, but I am also aware that strong feelings exist between Dagan and Rosamund.”

“How do you know that?”

“For what other reason would Rosamund—a Saxon and the heir to this shire—be willing to sacrifice her heritage to save one of William’s men? Yea, Dagan is Norman, but the only thing that he and I have in common is the desire to see that the baron receives that which he deserves.”

His lined face hardening at Hyacinthe’s words, Hadley replied, “Even should I trust you, there is no way I will be able to go down into the dungeon to speak to Dagan and still expect to return.”

“I have visited him there, and I have returned.”

Hadley maintained his silence.

Hyacinthe sneered, “You are correct in what you are thinking…that I used my feminine wiles on a feebleminded jailor. What you do not realize is that I am not above doing so again. I will do what ever I must in order to achieve my ends.”

“Meaning…?”

“Meaning, if you decided to absent yourself now, your friend would be able to conceal your disappearance. I would see to it that you are allowed entrance to the dungeon and exit when you are finished there.”

“I am practically blind.”

“I would guide your way.”

“Both in and out?”

Hyacinthe nodded. She drew back into the bushes when one of the baron’s men strolled past. She whispered when the soldier was out of hearing, “I do not intend to risk my safety by speaking to you again.”

Hadley hesitated. He called Horace to him and whispered a few words into his ear. Then he slipped
into the foliage beside Hyacinthe and allowed her to lead him forward.

The sun slipped behind black clouds as Hadley and Hyacinthe reached the concealed entrance to the dungeon. The rough stairs were almost invisible to Hadley as Hyacinthe led him forward cautiously. He started when a hulking form appeared in the shadows at the bottom of the steps and motioned another guard back into a winding corridor. The odors of decay and death assaulted his nose as they continued on.

Releasing his arm unexpectedly, Hyacinthe walked toward the smiling jailor and whispered familiarly in his ear as he began to maul her breasts. Hadley tightened his lips. Hyacinthe barely controlled her revulsion when she turned back toward him and motioned him forward. It was then that he realized that she had spoken honestly when she said she would do what she must to accomplish her ends.

The jailor led the way as Hyacinthe took Hadley’s arm and followed him. The fellow halted in front of a cell door, unlocked it, and waited. Waving Hadley forward, Hyacinthe whispered that she would return for him as soon as she was able.

Hadley stepped into the dim cell in front of him. The rancid smell of the small enclosure swept his senses as the lock clicked behind him. Repulsed, Hadley scrutinized the cell. He went silent at first sight of the man chained there.

Hadley stood silently just inside the entrance of the cell, and Dagan felt again the frustration of being
chained. The old man had proven his worth by responding to his summons and fearlessly descending into a dungeon from which it was reputed that no one returned. He silently vowed not to forget Hadley’s courage.

Dagan listened intently as Hadley started their conversation by saying gruffly, “I know now that you are Norman, Dagan, and that you fought in William’s name, yet it pains me to see you confined in this place.”

Hadley’s unexpected greeting settled deep within Dagan as he responded honestly, “I started out for Hendsmille on an errand for William, whom I know as few others do and for whom I feel the greatest respect and loyalty. Despite the charge he gave me, I did not expect to be confined in a dungeon by one of William’s own knights. If given the time and the opportunity, I would be able to outsmart a feeble-minded jailor. Yet time is not on my side. I cannot allow Rosamund to believe she is saving my life by sacrificing her future. Only I, as one of William’s trusted knights, will be able to convince William of de Silva’s treachery. Only I will be able to make him believe that nuptials between Rosamund and de Silva represent only the first step in de Silva’s true aspirations.”

“The first step…”

“You do not truly believe de Silva will honor his word and allow me to live once his marriage to Rosamund takes place, do you? He will dispense with me as soon as it is convenient. Then he will threaten Rosamund into further silence, perhaps even using you as a weapon against her.”

“What can I do? I have been in effective in thwarting him thus far.”

“I do not ask you to thwart him. You need only help me to shed these chains and escape. I have fought all my life to protect William. You may rest assured that I will fight with even greater vigilance to protect the woman who has captured my heart.”

“Captured your heart…”

“Rosamund is
mine
. She will be wife to no man but me, and I will have no man gain influence over her in any way.” His expression hardening with resolution, his voice deep and gruff, Dagan declared, “I love Rosamund. I have never met a woman her equal. I grew to cherish her courage as well as her skill while recuperating from my wounds. I discovered in her an innate honesty that went beyond the sham she was forced to live in order to avoid de Silva’s attentions. I love her for the person she is—strong but giving, relentlessly determined but loving. I would not change her in any way, and I will not allow de Silva to attempt to claim all that she offers.”

Pausing, Dagan continued more softly, “I want to show Rosamund that she need not overthrow William’s rule in order to achieve her ends. I hope to prove to her that unlike de Silva, William’s integrity has worth. I want the chance to explain to her that although I would never fail William, she is my life—a life I would share with no one but her.”