Forbidden Magic (43 page)

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"Mertice," Lady Anne called from her place at the table once she had looked up and seen the woman descending the stairs to the great hall. "I was not aware of your return. I pray your journey was easy."

"'Twas cold and long." She frowned, glancing about the room as she approached the table. "Doth my brother sleep late?"

A worried look came over the other's face, and she took her daughter from her lap and sent her to the kitchen to find Aselma before speaking to Mertice. "Trouble befell Burchard last eve, Mertice, and has cast a shadow on this, the most joyous day of the year."

"Yea, I was told when I arrived what had happened and that my foolish brother had left the safety of his fortress to search the darkness for some woman who means naught to him. I simply thought he would have come to his senses by now and returned home where it is warm and his enemies cannot cause him any harm." She gave Lady Anne an arrogant toss of her head and sat down to fill her plate, the discussion, in her mind, at an end.

"Thou hast not seen your brother in three years, Mertice." Anne frowned in a rare show of temper. "You do not know who means something to him and who does not. Do not judge him when you have no right."

Icy blue eyes glanced up at her. "And would you still say the same if he were never to return?"

"What dost thou mean?" Anne gasped.

"'Tis a reverent time of year, 'tis true, but even then something evil could happen—something that might be the death of my brother, your husband. Could you then say this woman was worth his life?"

"I would grieve, yes, but I would never curse his decision. Jewel is the betrothed of Gunther's dearest friend, and in the short time she has spent with us, we have come to love her . .. more than you."

A chalice raised to her lips, Mertice froze with Anne's declaration, shocked to hear such words coming from her sister-in-law. In Mertice's opinion, Anne was a spineless coward who would do anything anyone told her. To hear Anne defend a perfect stranger was unnerving, for if she felt this way about Amery's betrothed, then Gunther's loyalty would be stronger. She would have to work very quickly to trap Amery into marriage before Jewel was spotted among the serfs at Burchard and the truth discovered. She took a drink from her cop and silently contemplated a change in plans. Once Norward disposed of her unfaithful knights and Celeste, she would find a way to get to Ordella. With the old woman dead, Jewel would be defenseless. Setting aside her chalice, Mertice reached for a boiled egg and began cracking the shell.

"You speak of love, Anne," she said coldly, her eyes trained on her work. "Doth Sir Amery love her as well? I have heard he is incapable of such feelings."

Anne had never been one to gossip and had always brought a quick end to any conversation based on rumors. But this morn she had no desire to follow her own rules. She wanted Mertice to hear it all, to finally learn that she had no hope of ever snaring Amery as a husband. Perhaps Gunther would frown on her method, but Anne truly did not care at that moment. Mertice had always been a cruel, cold-hearted woman, and she deserved to be taken down a notch by the use of her own devices.

"Yea, Mertice, Gunther and I both feel Amery loves her, though he has yet to admit it to himself. We were certain of it when we saw his reaction to her disappearance last eve."

Taking a small bite of egg, Mertice chewed it thoroughly and swallowed before remarking, "But his betrothed does not share the emotion or she wouldn't have flown."

"Nay, on the contrary. Jewel loves him," Anne firmly stated.

Mertice raised a dubious brow. "Then why did she leave him?"

"'Tis a long story," Anne explained with a sigh.

"I have nowhere to go. Tell me of it," Mertice replied, popping the rest of the egg in her mouth before she tore a piece of bread and began smearing marmalade over it.

Anne watched her husband's sister for a moment, wondering if the woman already knew the whole of it and only wished to make Anne look the fool. But deciding it did not honestly matter, since Mertice's version was more than likely incorrect and she would do well to hear the truth from someone who would not lie to please her, Anne settled herself more comfortably in her chair and took a breath to recite the tale.

"While Gunther and Amery were traveling the road to London with news of King Richard's capture, other knights entered Harcourt Castle under the guise of friendship and slaughtered all within. Jewel was spared only because she was with the dowager queen. It was made to appear that Amery was guilty, for an emerald necklace was found in the dead lord's hand—a necklace that had belonged to Amery's mother. Tis Amery's belief that his stepmother ordered it done and his half brother carried it through, and that Jewel's life is in danger as well. But Jewel does not agree. Radolf had told her of his love for her, and Jewel feared that he would come looking for her and Amery would kill him because of her. She cares for both half brothers, and since Amery told her that he would not marry her, she obviously thought it best not to be the bait that would lure Radolf to his death." Anne could feel tears gathering in her eyes, and she quickly looked away rather than allow Mertice to see them, therefore missing the pleased smile that came over the other woman's face. "I pray they will find her. She must be so cold and frightened," she continued, looking up at Mertice again. "And I'm sure she feels guilt for young Hadwin's death. Hadwin," she sighed sadly. "He loved her too, and I'm certain that if he could, he would tell her that the blame does not lie on her shoulders."

"Hadwin loved her too," Mertice jeered. "Is there one at Burchard you can name who did not?"

Irritated by the woman's callousness, Anne quickly retorted, "Nay, I cannot. And when they find her and bring her safely back to Burchard, even you will grow to love her. She is kind and gentle and sincere .. . and .. . and understanding! All traits you would do well to learn."

Anne's outburst amused Mertice, and she set down the piece of meat she was about to bite into and looked the woman straight in the eye. "Twould seem she had an affect on you, dear sister-in-law. For once, you've found the backbone to speak your mind."

"Jewel has nothing to do with it. 'Tis you who brings out the worst in me," she snapped, angrily coming to her feet. "But if I thought 'twould do you good and Jewel could stand it, I would lock the two of you in a room together. You would come out a better woman, for Lord knows you can't get any worse!"

Leaving her place at the table, Anne had started across the great hall in search of Ella and the boys when the latch clicked on the huge front door and the oaken portal thrown open. A draft of cold air rushed in, and before it had reached her, Anne turned with a hopeful expression in her eyes to face those who entered. First came her husband, then Rickward and Stafford, followed by several other knights, all looking tired and cold. But Anne hardly noticed, for it was the last of the group on which she centered her attention. Tears replaced the expectant gleam in her eyes, however, for Amery was alone, and when he pulled the helm from his blond head, she could see the misery he suffered by the troubled frown on his rugged brow.

"Gunther?" she called, hurrying toward him, her voice tight with grief. "Gunther, what news do you bring?"

Taking off his helm and tossing it aside, he pulled his wife into his arms and hugged her for a long while. "None," he finally answered. "None that is good." He fell quiet for a moment when Amery walked past them toward the hearth, and he showed only a brief hint of surprise when he noticed Mertice getting up from the table to follow him. He had known she would return, to Burchard once she heard that he and Amery were here, but he had not expected her so soon. Nor had he thought she would travel in such weather. He frowned at the thought of Jewel being trapped out there somewhere without even the warmth of a horse beneath her.

"Gunther, are you all right?"

He blinked at the sound of his wife's voice and turned a questioning look upon her.

"You look angry. Did you find something that you do not wish me to know?"

"Nay," he assured her, giving her a squeeze. "We found nothing ... no clues at all, and that is what makes me angry." He sighed heavily, then kissed a golden lock of hair covering her temple. "We caught up to Amery not far from where we had left hint He had followed the tracks in the snow and had come upon Sir Ian of Wellington, knight to Lady Edlyn, and before he died he confessed that it had been she who had ordered the slaughter at Harcourt."

Anne's hand flew to her mouth to stifle her gasp. "Just as Amery suspected. But what of Jewel? Did this knight tell Amery where to find her? Was he the one who killed Hadwin?"

"Yea, 'twas he who struck the fatal blow, but he told Amery that he had not harmed Jewel and did not know in what direction she had gone." He smiled lopsidedly as he watched his friend standing before the huge fireplace, the weight of his upper torso braced against the hand resting on the mantel while he stared into the flames and ignored the woman next to him. "It seems Lady Jewel is the one who avenged Hadwin's death."

"Jewel?" Anne repeated. "What do you mean, Gunther?"

"When Amery found Sir Ian, the knight was already dying. He had been clubbed, and blood was pouring from a wound in his head. He told Amery that it was fitting for her to have been the one to bring about his death. He also warned Amery not to allow Jewel to return to Harcourt. Amery has not spoken of it yet, but I think once we have warmed ourselves and gathered supplies, he will want to set his steed upon the road."

"Then you think she has left the Isle of Wight?"

The lines in Gunther's brow deepened. "I see no way for her to have done it alone, but we must travel there to make certain. Her life will be in danger if she has."

"Then I will go to the kitchen and see that food is prepared for thy journey. Who will be going with you?"

"I have not asked them, but I think Rickward and Stafford will want to go. They are fond of Jewel, but, more so, they feel they owe her much for avenging their cousin's death."

"Just the four of you?" Anne asked worriedly.

"Yea, just the four of us. A smaller group can move about more freely without being seen, and I will net leave Burchard unguarded by taking all of my knights. There will be some I ask to continue the search for Jewel in case we are wrong and she still wanders the woods. It chills me to think what would happen to her if Orton should find her and learn who she is. He would use her against us."

"Yea," Anne sadly agreed. "He is not a kind man." Rising up on tiptoe, she placed a kiss on her husband's cheek. "There is wine on the table, Gunther. See that Amery drinks some. It will warm him better than the fire."

Without further comment, she turned and quickly headed toward the kitchen, unaware of the loving gaze Gunther gave her. He had never liked being away from his home and wife and children, and as he watched the gentle sway of her skirts, he realized why. In all of Christendom, there was no other woman like his Lady Anne . .. except, perhaps, Lady Jewel. Frowning when the vision of a cold, frightened young woman came to mind, he turned to the table and the drinking horn lying there, intending to share a long drink with his friend. But when he looked up at Amery, his mouth curled disgustedly, for his sister had already thought the same and was handing Amery a full chalice. Would she ever learn to accept the fact that Amery had no interest in her? Especially now that he had lost his heart to the one woman he was meant to love? Pulling off his fur- lined mantle and unhooking his sword from around his waist, he decided to let Amery prove it to her.

"You look well, Amery." Mertice smiled in her most seductive manner, hoping to draw his full attention her way. But he glanced only briefly at her before taking the cup she offered and returning his gaze to the dancing flames in the hearth. She decided to try again. "I was surprised to learn that you and my brother had returned to Burchard. I would have thought you would choose to collect the monies needed to free our king before taking your leisure. Will you be staying at Burchard long?"

Although Amery appeared not to be listening, he had heard every word she had said, and it took him only a moment to remember why he had never found Gunther's sister appealing. He also remembered thinking how very different she was from Gunther and how difficult it was to imagine they had been sired by the same man. Taking a long drink of wine and closing his eyes as he enjoyed the warmth it quickly spread through his tired body, he decided that the reason was simply because Mertice was a woman and Gunther was a man. All women were the same.

Suddenly a vision of auburn hair and amber-hued eyes flared up in his mind, and the chalice he held shook in his hand. He stiffened and frowned back into the fire. Nay, they were not all alike. Jewel was different. .. special. And she was out there somewhere probably struggling just to stay alive. He took another drink of wine. And it was all because of him. If she died, it would be his fault and no one else's.

"Greetings, Sister," he heard the voice beside him say, and he blinked, thankful for the interruption.

"Gunther," Mertice replied, miffed that her brother always seemed to have the uncanny knack of appearing at the wrong time.

"When did you arrive?"

"Late last eve," she said dryly, resigning herself to the fact that she would have to catch Amery alone again later, for she doubted Gunther would leave them even if she plainly requested it. Moving to one of the chairs nearby, she sat' down and crossed her legs at the knees, her foot swinging to and fro in short, jerky movements, her irritation obvious. "I trust you're well, Brother. No ill effects from your march to the Holy Land?"