Sapphire - Book 2 (11 page)

“They’re both attending to business,” he said.
“Lady Sapphire is here by my request, as I thought Erin might enjoy
meeting her.”

“Oh,” he said, looking back at his daughter
wiping off a table. “I see.”

“There is more I’d like to talk to you about,”
said Roe. “As it seems, we may have smugglers in Rye.”

“Smugglers?” the man asked. “Why would you say
that?”

“Excuse me, my lord, but I’ll just talk with
Erin while you two conduct your business.” Sapphire hurried across
the room.

Roe wanted to reach out and grab her and tell
her not to go anywhere nor say anything to anyone, but he just
nodded instead. God’s eyes, why didn’t he turn around right now and
take her back to the castle instead of letting her stay in here?
This could only end poorly, of that he was sure.

“I haven’t noticed any smugglers,” said Auley.
“What is missin’?”

“A lot of wool,” he answered.

“Well, really, Lord Sexton, I’d think if fifty
tuns of wool was being brought through the streets, I woulda seen
it, don’t ye?”

“How did you know how much was missing?” asked
Roe. “I never said the amount.”

The man looked suddenly nervous and Roe felt
confused. Could Auley have something to do with this? He thought he
knew the man. Roe’s absence for the last year was proving that
everyone had changed while he was gone. He really didn’t know
anyone any more.

“I heard it,” the man said.

“From whom?” asked Roe.

The door to the pub opened and Roe noticed a
couple sheepherders, a woman, and the same couple of dockmen who’d
come to the castle the other night, walk in.

“From them,” Auley said, pointing to the
men.

“I see,” he answered, realizing it could be
true. The dockmen had probably been going to all the merchants and
asking questions.

“Father?” Erin walked up with Sapphire at her
side, and Roe already didn’t like the smile plastered across his
little lark’s face. He wondered just what message from Dugald she’d
relayed to the girl after all.

“What is it Erin?” the innkeeper
answered.

“Lady Sapphire has asked me to come to the
castle to be her lady-in-waiting.”

“She did what?” blurted out Roe, not believing
what he’d just heard. “Lady Sapphire already has a handmaiden,” he
told the girl. “So I’m sorry, Erin, but you won’t be
needed.”

The girl looked forlorn and he felt bad, but
there was no way he could have Erin at the castle with Dugald
there. Besides, Auley wouldn’t like it.

“I released Corina from her position just this
morning,” Sapphire told him.

“Why would you do a thing like that?” he
asked.

“She was pregnant and I sent her back to her
sheepherder until after the baby is born. I do need a handmaiden
and I think Erin would do nicely.”

“Please, Father, can I go?” asked
Erin.

“To live at the castle with that stableboy so
near you? Never,” the man replied.

“She has paid well, and said there is much
more of this, Father.” Erin held out her hand filled with coins and
Roe could see a few of them were gold.

“Sapphire, what are you doing by giving her
all those coins?” asked Roe. “That’s not nearly the correct pay for
a servant.”

“Oh, well, I have more,” she said, digging
through her pouch.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist and she
looked up to him with those innocent eyes and smiled.

“I’m not buying it,” he whispered, letting her
know that he knew exactly what she was doing.

“Let me see that,” said Auley, taking the
coins from the girl’s hand. “There’s more of this if she comes to
the castle to be your handmaiden?” he asked.

“Much more,” Sapphire answered, almost causing
Roe to choke. He coughed, trying to give her the message, but she
wasn’t going to back down until she had what she came for - and
that was Erin.

“Put your coins away,” he told her, noticing
the patrons starting to look over. “We don’t need a melee on our
hands, darling. That’s more money than some of these people see in
a lifetime.”

“Of course,” she said, drawing the strings
tight on her pouch. “So what is your decision, Mr. O’Connor? Can
Erin come to work for me? I assure you she will be taken care of as
if she were my own daughter. And she will be under the protection
of Lord Sexton as well.”

“Well,” the man said, looking up with squinted
eyes and then clasping his fist tightly over the coins. “I suppose
so,” he said. “But I don’t want to find out that stableboy is
abusing her.”

“You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to
little Erin,” Roe said, wondering what the hell just happened to
have him agreeing to this absurd idea.

“Lord Sexton, I’m not little anymore,” Erin
reminded him.

He just looked and her and nodded. Aye, she
was grown up and he was having a hard time getting used to the
fact.

“You realize I’ll have to hire someone to take
her place at the pub,” said Auley.

Before he could stop her, Sapphire reached out
and dropped a few more coins into the man’s hand. “This should help
with that,” she told him.

“Sapphire,” Roe ground out. “Stop
it.”

“This will pay for a new hire for the next
month,” she told the innkeeper.

“And if we stay here any longer, you’ll be
buying the pub next,” he growled.

“It’s settled then. I agree to let her go with
you,” said the man, giving his daughter a quick hug. “Go pack a few
things, Erin and be on your way.”

“Oh thank you, Father,” she said excitedly.
“You won’t regret this.” She ran from the room with her blond hair
drawn up into a tail bobbing behind her.

“I already do,” her father mumbled, heading
back to the drink board.

“And so do I,” echoed Roe.

“Lord Sexton, did you want to speak with the
sheepherders who just came into the pub?” asked Waylon. “They may
be from Dungeness and know something about the missing
wool.”

Sapphire followed the men to the table,
feeling happy with the outcome of things. Dugald was going to be so
thankful when he found out Erin was coming to live at the castle.
Sapphire felt a sense of satisfaction that she’d not only helped
one woman today, but now she’d helped two. And both of them had
desired to spend time with the men they loved. It was just as it
should be, and all because of her.

She glanced around the room, noticing the dark
wood shelves and nooks and crannies. The pub had two large
fireplaces, but only one of them was lit. Now that she thought
about it, she’d never seen the second fireplace lit in all the
months she’d been coming in here, and some of the nights had been
quite chilly. Odd, but she was sure there was a good reason for it.
Perhaps Auley couldn’t afford to burn both hearths at
once.

She wasn’t paying much attention to the people
at the table that Roe was questioning, but her ears perked up when
she heard the woman of the group mention the baron.

“I hear that Baron Lydd has been staying at
your castle in Rye,” said the woman.

“Aye,” answered Roe. “Are you from
Lydd?”

“I live there,” she said. “We all do.” The
woman pointed to the two sheepherders. Well, actually, they live on
the marsh and I used to live there as well until I was brought to
the castle. The baron has not been back for months and we are
starting to wonder what happened to him. Would you know where I
could find him, my lord?”

“He left Castle Rye just this day,” Roe told
her, “and I believe he was going back to Lydd. What is it that
takes your concern that you would be inquiring about the
baron?”

“He left Lydd four months ago, and I need to
find him,” she explained. “You see, I am the baron’s
wife.”

Chapter 9

“You’re his wife?” Sapphire just stood there
with her mouth open. “But . . . I’m married to him as well.”

The woman just looked to the floor but did
not react.

“What is your name?” Roe asked the
woman.

“I am Alice,” she said. “My brothers and I
once herded the sheep together on Dungeness.” She pointed to the
two men with her.

“So, you are not a noble?” asked
Sapphire.

“Nay, my lady, not before I married the
baron. But I was once friends with the true Lady of Lydd.”

“And what happened to her?” asked
Sapphire.

“She died in an accident, falling down the
stairs. I was the baron’s mistress at the time. He married me, but
left the castle shortly afterwards and has not returned since.

“ Do you have proof you’ve married the man?”
asked Roe.

“I have his ring with his crest upon it that
he bestowed on me the day we wed.” She held up her hand for them to
see.

“Were there witnesses?” Roe asked.

“Aye. Though he did not marry me in front of
the entire castle, my brothers were both present as witnesses. And
the priest would vouch for me as well.”

“You need to come with us to my castle,”
said Roe. “And bring your brothers with as well.” He looked at
Sapphire. “I think we’ve just found a way to release you from your
marriage to the baron.”

* * *

Roe stood in the solar, speaking in private
to his uncle while waiting for Father Geoffrey to arrive. Sapphire
and his mother stood at the opposite side of the room, while the
baron’s wife and brothers waited for them in the corridor.

“So you mean to tell me you didn’t know the
baron was already married when you so generously offered my
betrothed to him?” Roe asked his uncle.

“I knew his wife had died, but not that he’d
remarried,” explained Henry.

“Somehow, I thought you were quite close
with the baron. If so, I am sure you would have at least suspected
something.”

“You sound as if you don’t trust me,
Roe.”

“Nay,” he answered, “I don’t. I’ve never
trusted you, uncle, and I am not about to start now.”

“Roe,” said his mother, coming forward. “Do
you think Sapphire will really be able to get her marriage annulled
now?”

“I hope so,” he answered, feeling happy yet
anger at the same time. “And I hope that bastard gets everything
coming to him. He’s mistreated not one woman, but two in the
process. And for all we know, he could have a few more wives out
there as well.”

A knock came at the door and a guard stuck
his head inside. “Lords Sexton, the priest has arrived,” he
announced.

“Send him in,” Roe ordered. The door opened
wider and the priest walked inside. “Send in the sheepherders and
the girl as well,” he added.

Alice poked her head into the room, entering
slowly, followed by her brothers. Roe wasn’t surprised that the
baron hadn’t even given her a proper gown to wear, as she wore a
simple plain gown not better than any of his hired help. She had
her hair up and wore a wimple – another mark of the poor. She was a
baroness, even if in secret, and should have been given proper
clothing, a cloak and a headdress at the very least.

“What is this all about?” asked Father
Geoffrey, looking around the room and surveying everyone gathered
inside.

“Father, I’d like to ask for an annulment
for Lady Sapphire,” said Roe. “Did you bring the signed marriage
parchment from Lady Sapphire and Baron Lydd as I’ve requested?”

“I have it right here,” answered the priest,
bringing a rolled up parchment from under his robe. “But I’m sorry,
you cannot request an annulment, Lord Sexton. Only one of the
married couple in question can be the one to place the
request.”

Sapphire hurried forward and greeted the
priest, then nodded to the others in the room as well. “I’ll make
the request then,” she told the priest. “I’d like my marriage to
the baron annulled since when he married me, this woman was already
his wife.” She splayed her arm forward, pointing to Alice.

“What are you saying?” asked the priest,
confusion furrowing his brow.

“Father Geoffrey, this is Alice, wife of
Baron Lydd,” said Sapphire. “She’s come forward just this day
looking for her husband. It seems the baron married her six months
ago, so was already married when he took his vows with me.”

“Is this true?” the priest asked Alice with
a frown on his face.

“It is,” said the girl shyly. “I have his
crest ring he gave me at the wedding to prove it.” She held up her
hand with the large ring on her thumb.

“And are there witnesses that can vouch for
you?” asked the priest.

“My brothers will both confirm it,” she
replied, nodding at the two men.

“Do you both admit to have witnessed the
wedding between Alice and Baron Lydd?” asked the priest.

“We do,” they answered in turn.

“Well, this is terrible,” said Father
Geoffrey. “I never would have performed the wedding had I known.
This is the reason wedding banns are posted three weeks ahead of
time, so anyone with a reason for the couple not to marry can come
forward. I knew I should have insisted the banns be posted, but the
baron seemed to be in a hurry and assured me no one would
object.”

“So will the marriage be annulled then?”
asked Sapphire, holding her breath, waiting for his answer.