Red Deception (9 page)

He offered his hand to her. “I don’t have much time.”

She contemplated his outstretched hand for a moment before she let him pull her up on the horse.

Blacwin nodded to his men on horseback across the road. “Bring this fruit to the Timbolt home at the edge of town! Call it a gift from the baron.”

He snapped the reins and sent the horse jumping a step forward. She grasped his waist as they galloped out of the market
.

Chapter 6

They rode down a forest path leading deep into thick woods.
Her heart raced wildly in anticipation of where he might be taking her. She closed her eyes and clung to him, taking in his comforting scent as tree limbs scratched at her arms and stung her cheeks in passing.

When the horse slowed, Judith peeked around him to see ruins of an old church. The baron dismounted and reached up for her. She slid from the saddle into his arms. A cold breeze blew a lock of her hair into her eyes.

 “What is this place?” she asked pulling away from him.

“It was once the first church of Caldwell.”

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked wandering over to a crumbling wall and brushing some moss away to reveal a beautiful stained glass window.

“I have a question for you,” he said, following her.

“Yes?”

He took her into his arms. “Do you wish to disappear for good, Judith?”

She furrowed her brows. “I…I don’t understand.”

His expression turned impatient. “You were so eager to leave everything behind when you took Lora’s identity. So I ask you: Do you still wish to disappear?”

Fear consumed her and she took a step back. “You mean to execute me?”

“No, God, no,” he shook his head. “I want to help you and your son get away from that family, if that is what you desire. I cannot forget the way he struck you. Knowing you are mistreated weighs on my mind.”

“It does?”

He brushed his hand against her cheek. “Yes. I have not been able to forget you, no matter how hard I try. When I saw you in the market yesterday, I decided somehow I must help you.”
 

She smiled and embraced him, placing her cheek against his chest. “You could take me as your wife.”

“No, Judith.” He pulled her back and looked into her eyes. “Let me explain what I have in mind.”

She remained silent, waiting to hear what he had devised.

“We could feign your death. There are herbs that can make one fall into a deep sleep—so deep, it will be disguised as death itself. We can say it was self-inflicted. There are many ways. My point is, if they suspect your dead, you can find a new identity and flee Caldwell.”

“It would be a selfless thing to do for me, but I cannot.” She refused to leave Sam again.

“Why?” he asked.

“My son.”

“I will find a way for him to be sent to you once you are safe.”

“I don’t see how any of this helps you in anyway.”

He looked at her. “Knowing that you are well and no safe from harm will bring me peace.”

“And you will take another for a wife?”

“If I were able to marry a peasant I would put a ring on your hand this very moment.”

“What if I were carrying your unborn child in my womb?”

The sounds of the forest closed in on them. He studied her face, his dark eyes searching hers for meaning in her words.  

“You are with child?”

Judith took his hand and pressed it firmly against her abdomen. “I am.”

 He blinked twice. “And it is… mine?”

“Yes, I am certain that it is. I cannot remember the last time I lay with Garreth.”

“Does he suspect it’s not his?”
“No.  He cannot even recall the last time we lay together let alone what we had for supper last night.”

“I do not know what to say,” he said with a hint of elation. He leaned against a tree, rubbing his forehead.

“Do not say anything. Garreth is pleased; he knows no different.”

“Yes, but I know different. He doesn’t deserve you, or this child.”

She grabbed his sleeve. “Then take us. Take what is willingly yours…”

He turned and took her by the wrist, his lips thin with irritation.

She held her breath, unsure of what he would do.

When he pulled her against him and pressed a hard kiss against her mouth, her heart sang. Their tongues danced and their hands caressed one another. When she pulled back to look into his eyes, she found a familiar the desire in them.

He bowed his head against her neck. ‘I would take you now if I did not have the responsibility of a baron.”  

“I would gladly oblige,” she whispered against his ear, lifting her leg against his waist.

His hand pulled her skirt back and caressed her naked thigh. “Judith, you belong to another. We should not.”

“No, my heart is yours,” she pleaded, taking his face in her hands and kissing his lips again.
“It is a sin,” he growled against her mouth, his hand trailing further up her leg.

“The sin is already made,” she said, and placed his palm against her prominent abdomen.

They staggered into the ruined church and dropped to the ground. She settled on his lap and left reckless kisses on his lips while her hands fought his belt free from his trousers.

He unlaced her bodice and pulled her chemise down to expose her breasts. His tongue traced her taught nipples and made her whole body ache.

Her moans echoed through the dark wood and her hips burrowed down into him, aching for release.

Desire overcame the baron’s conscience. He removed the last of her clothing and admired her, tracing his hand delicately over the proof of their previous indiscretion.

Their lovemaking had been different when she was Lora Noire. This time, there were no secrets and their feelings were sincere.

It was nearly sundown as they lay in each other’s arms, wrapped in the warmth of his fur cloak. Not even the cold autumn air that whispered through the broken walls could cool the heat radiating between them.

Judith listened to his breathing and the excited beating of his heart, wishing there was a way she could be in his arms forever.

“If I go through with this plan, will you come see me after I am safe?”
“Of course I would,” he assured her.

“Is there a chance I may not wake?”
“There’s always a risk, Judith…just as there was when you claimed to be Lora.”
She closed her eyes. “If I do not wake, will you make sure my son is well cared for?”

“Of course.” He kissed her fingertips.

Before the woods became too dark to navigate, they redressed themselves and rode back out of the forest. They spoke of their plan to free her as they traveled back toward town.

Before long, the road that led to the Timbolt cottage came into view.

The baron dismounted and helped her to her feet.

She watched a hot plume of his breath escape his lips. ”We will meet tonight, by the stream?”

 “Yes, by the stream north of the cottage. It is in a clearing. I’ll wait there for you there.”

“Until then, Judith,” he called out, re-mounting his horse.

He passed her the bucket, which he had carried on his saddle, and gave his horse a few swift kicks.  She watched him gallop off into the darkness toward the manor.
 

***

She could not wipe the lighthearted smile off her face even when she stepped inside the cottage. She found her mother-in-law knitting in her rocking chair near the hearth.

“It’s about time you returned home. We thought the bandits had taken you again.”

“No, the bucket was not ready. I had to wait for it.”

She seemed pleased with that response. “The baron sent us a basket of fruit.”

“Did he? How kind of him.”

“Everyone fell asleep waiting for you.”

She could hear her father-in-law snoring in the first floor bedroom.  Thankfully, she did not have to answer to him as to why she was late.

She climbed up the ladder and dressed in her nightclothes, figuring she would rest until the hour came for her escape. She settled onto the straw pile next to her husband and son.Garreth mumbled a few slurred phrases. She pulled the thin blanket they shared over her body. Sam wrapped his small arm around her, and laid his head on her shoulder. She kissed his temple and tears burned her eyes. This would be the last night she slept on coarse hay in the cold. It was her last night at Judith Timbolt.

The scenario of her escape danced repeatedly in her mind. She could see it, her husband weeping over her dead body, covered in animal blood. They would collect her lifeless form and mourn her. After she was placed in a coffin the baron would take her body-- and she would awaken a free woman.

She waited until the moon was high overhead before she redressed. Upon reaching the bottom of the ladder, she found Gertrude slumped over in her chair with a smoking pipe between her lips. A quiet snore escaped her as Judith crept past her. Pulling on her cloak, she took the small lantern near the door and cast her mother-in-law one last, worried glance before she escaped into the dark night.

The moonlight guided her along the road. She made her way to the stream and stood at the water’s edge. The Baron had not arrived yet.

The stream glowed under the harvest moon. Her reflection on the water echoed her excitement.  She recalled the last time she had stood at the stream, when she found Lora.

Dropping to her knees on the stiff, dry grass, she peered up at the night sky speckled with stars and wondered if she was making the right decision. She hated the thought of how her son would react when he found out she had died. Reuniting with him would be so sweet. She imagined their new life— a life free of misery. She might become a seamstress, she always liked sewing. Maybe she would have her own farm or even marry into a wealthy family. She decided that she would honor Lora by keeping her first name. Lora Cartwright. Cartwright was her maiden name and she missed it.

As the moments passed, it grew colder.

She wondered if the baron was going to help her after all.

What if he changed his mind?

She held back a scream when his leather-gloved hand clasped her shoulder and his warm breath traveled over her neck. “I hope I did not keep you waiting long.”

A smile creased her lips. “I’d wait forever for you.”

She turned to him and kissed him, savoring the warmth of his mouth against hers.

He gathered her into his arms and carried her to his horse. They rode along the path that led through the village of Caldwell and beyond.