Secret Heart (24 page)

“
No,”
Roarke said with a cold glare, “you will not. This is not your
affair.”

“
Nevertheless,” Oliver began, sounding in a mood to argue
the point.

“
Please,
sir,” Jenia interrupted in an effort to halt any chance of a new
quarrel erupting between the two men. “You will help us best by
remaining here at Calean. From what Marjorie has told me, you are
neither a close friend to Walderon, nor an enemy of his. Such a
neutral position on your part means that, if Walderon arrives at
court while Roarke and his party are gone, you will be perfectly
placed to assist King Henryk in preventing him from doing any more
mischief. And who better than you to send a message to Roarke and
Garit, to inform them of what is happening here, and perhaps bring
them back at the very moment when they are most needed?” She
stopped, aware that Roarke was watching her again.

“
My
lady,” Oliver told her, “this is not a matter for a woman to worry
herself about.”

“
But, my
lord Oliver,” Jenia persisted, trying not to let him know how
irritated she was by his smug and patronizing attitude toward her,
“I envision you as standing shoulder to shoulder with King Henryk
at the very center of the plan to bring Chantal’s murderer to
justice.”

“
We don’t
know for certain that Walderon is the villain,” Oliver declared.
“Garit’s charge against him has yet to be proven. No, Lan, you may
not have a taste of my apple tart. Put it down this instant! Nurse,
take this child away.”

While Oliver looked around for the nursemaid,
Lan gaped at his father as if he had never heard Oliver raise his
voice before. His eyes grew huge and moist and his small lower lip
began to tremble.

“
Oliver,
my dear,” Marjorie said in a patient voice that was obviously meant
to soothe her husband, “Lan’s nurse isn’t here. She has gone to get
another pitcher of milk from the kitchen.”

“
Then you
take the boy,” Oliver ordered. “Or, better yet, give Lan to the
other nurse. She’s not doing anything but holding little
Alaine.”

Jenia
considered Oliver’s testiness to be a symptom of the strain of
meeting his older son under such intimate conditions. Roarke wasn’t
helping the situation by glowering at his parent. Jenia cast a
beseeching look at Marjorie, who surreptitiously tucked yet another
piece of apple tart into Lan’s hand before coming to the
rescue.

“
Oh,
Oliver,” Marjorie said, “you are far too modest, but Jenia has
taken your true measure. What other nobleman has your stature with
King Henryk? He considers you a friend and he always pays attention
to your advice. You’ve told me so many times. What’s more, Henryk
trusts you. If Walderon does come to court and you can learn what
his intentions are, Henryk will listen to you as he listens to few
other men.”

“
Do you
really think so, my love?” Oliver turned to his young wife with a
doting expression on his face.

“
I am
certain of it, my dearest lord,” Marjorie responded with an
enticing smile that had her husband leaning closer to her as if he
had forgotten they were entertaining guests.

While
Lan’s parents were engrossed in each other, Jenia noticed him
sidling up to Roarke, who was sitting next to her. She saw Roarke
sneak a piece of his own wedge of apple tart to the boy. Lan
accepted the sweet with a shy smile of thanks and ducked under the
table to eat it.

Roarke
glanced at Oliver and Marjorie, who were gazing into each others’
eyes with unconcealed desire. His mouth tightened. When he looked
at Jenia again, his eyes blazed with an emotion that warmed her,
yet made her uneasy.

“
I do
believe Garit will have finished his work by now,” he
said.

“
Very
well.” Jenia rose, taking care not to step on Lan’s outstretched
foot beneath the table. “Marjorie, Lord Oliver, I cannot thank you
enough for your assistance today, or for this delightful
meal.”

“
Jenia,
are you leaving, then?” Marjorie tore her adoring gaze from her
husband’s face. “Where will you sleep tonight?”

“
I have
found a place for her, and I’ve ordered her belongings taken
there,” Roarke said before Jenia could answer. He added with almost
painful politeness, “I do thank you for the meal, my lord. Lady
Marjorie.”

Jenia
noted that while Roarke bowed to his father and stepmother, he made
no move to take Marjorie’s hand. Then they were in the corridor and
Jenia was covering her mouth with both hands to smother her
laughter.

“
It’s not
funny,” Roarke declared with a scowl. “Those two have been married
for six years. They ought to know better than to act like new
lovers in front of others.”

“
I was
laughing at Lan’s antics,” Jenia said. “Were you that clever, or
that greedy, when you were small?”

“
I don’t
remember.” Roarke caught her elbow to pull her away from Oliver’s
apartment. “That little imp scavenged some apple tart from each of
us. Now, while Oliver and Marjorie disport themselves in the next
room, Lan’s poor nurse will be up all night dealing with his
stomach ache.”

“
Do you
mind so much?” Jenia asked.

“
That Lan
will be sick? Serves him right. Perhaps he’ll learn not to be such
a little glutton.” Roarke’s lips twisted as if he was trying not to
laugh at his half-brother’s actions.

“
I meant,
do you mind that your father loves Marjorie and she loves him?”
Jenia asked, heading directly into the center of the issue that
weighed on her mind.

“
No,”
Roarke answered in a strange and wondering voice. A trace of
laughter lingered in his dark eyes. “I don’t mind. There was a time
when their betrayal was all I could think of. Since seeing them
this morning in the audience chamber, and again this evening, I
realize that what happened six years ago scarcely matters any
longer. It’s all in the past. I prefer to leave it
there.”

“
I am
glad of that,” she murmured.

“
Are
you?” Dropping her elbow, he caught her face between his hands.
Once more that warm and unsettling look flared in his
gaze.

Jenia
leaned toward him, hoping he’d kiss her again. But at the sound of
voices from around the next corner of the corridor, Roarke drew
away from her. He offered his arm instead of his lips, and Jenia
placed her fingers on the smooth wool of his tunic and let him lead
her to Garit’s chamber.

Anders
opened the door for them. He looked worried, though when he saw
Roarke, the squire’s expression eased a bit. Stepping aside to let
them enter, he tilted his head to indicate where his master
was.

Garit stood at the far side of the room with
his back to the door, apparently gazing out at the night. The
trestle table that served as his desk was littered with leaves of
parchment, a few rolled-up scrolls, sealing wax, two inkwells,
several quill pens, and a sand shaker to dry the ink. The width of
the table and the chaos atop it effectively separated him from his
visitors.

Knowing
he could see nothing but empty sky from any window on that side of
the castle and immediately aware of the tension in Garit’s stance,
Jenia turned to Roarke.

“
Would
you mind leaving me alone with him for a few moments?” she asked in
a low voice.

“
Alone?”
Roarke looked at Garit, who had not stirred at their entrance, and
then back to Jenia. He frowned at her. “Why?” he
demanded.

“
I have a
private message from Chantal to relay to him. It’s something I
could not say earlier in the king’s audience chamber. Afterward, he
may want to speak to me with no one else around.”

“
Very
well. Anders and I will retire to the corridor to discuss our
traveling arrangements for tomorrow.” Roarke motioned to the squire
and they left, closing the door softly behind them. Garit still had
not moved or acknowledged their presence.

“
Garit?”
Jenia crossed the room to him, pausing along the way to pick up a
crumpled sheet of parchment from the floor.

Garit
turned at last and in the candlelight Jenia saw how pale and weary
he was. His eyes were reddened, as if he’d been weeping, and the
lines that ran from his nose to his mouth were etched deep and
hard.

“
What has
happened?” Jenia asked. She held out the parchment. “Did you throw
this document away? Have you received news of some dreadful trouble
in Kantia?”

“
Not in
Kantia,” he said, and motioned to the parchment she held. “Smooth
it out and read it, as I did an hour ago.”

“
It’s not
of a confidential nature?” She didn’t care if it was a secret
document from the king of Kantia, or not. The contents had
obviously distressed Garit, and if she was going to help him, she
needed to know what it said. He was already contending with more
than enough sorrow. She pushed aside the clutter on his desk to lay
the parchment down on the wood and smooth it with both
hands.

“
Not
confidential,” Garit said behind her, “and totally irrelevant
now.”

“
Oh,
Garit.
” Jenia blinked back sudden tears. The words on the
parchment wavered before her eyes, but the careful script set down
by the royal scribe was not difficult to decipher. She read aloud.
“King Audemer has granted permission for his emissary, Garit of
Kinath, to wed Lady Chantal of Thury, so long as her liege lord,
King Henryk, also agrees to the marriage. King Audemer and Queen
Laisren both wish you well, and they look forward to meeting Lady
Chantal when next you travel to Kantia.”

“
It’s all
I ever wanted,” Garit said. “The dearest wish of my heart has been
granted, and in the kindest manner possible. But it’s too late.
Chantal is gone. Our happiness was snatched away before it could be
realized.”

“
I am so
sorry,” Jenia whispered, “and even more sorry that you learned of
her death the way you did, in public. Please try to understand why
I couldn’t tell you before today. When I first came ashore, I
didn’t know who I dared trust. I had set my mind on one goal, and I
could not let myself be diverted from it. I was certain King Henryk
was to blame for everything that happened to Chantal and me. I was
wrong. So very wrong.”

Jenia
could say no more. Sorrow for Garit’s sake, and for Chantal’s,
overwhelmed her. All she could do was open her arms to Garit, to
hold him and let him weep with her, to let his tears mingle with
hers as they grieved for the sweet girl they both loved. They
remained in that sorrowful embrace for a long time.

“
I am
going to find Walderon and kill him,” Garit said at last,
straightening and stepping away from her.

“
Garit,
do be careful. You don’t want to make the same mistake I did,”
Jenia cautioned. She realized he did not know Walderon could work
magic – and dark magic, at that, for Walderon had long ago
corrupted his own Power. She needed to speak with Lord Giles before
revealing the fact to either Roarke or Garit. In the meantime, she
issued a warning. “Uncle Walderon can be extremely dangerous.
Before you accuse him, you must be certain he is the guilty
person.”

“
I am
certain. I have been certain for months, though I’ve not been able
to prove it. Where is Roarke?” Garit started for the
door.

“
Wait a
moment, please,” Jenia cried. “I have a message for you from
Chantal.”

“
What did
you say?” Garit halted with one hand on the door latch.

“
I did
not tell King Henryk and the others what Chantal’s final words
were, because I consider them private. I believe they were meant
for you, and you alone, and that she trusted me to tell only you
what she said. I think she knew somehow that I would live, and that
I’d find you.”

“
Dear
heaven above.” Garit stared at her, and Jenia thought she could see
his soul weeping in his eyes. “Tell me,” he whispered.

“
I was on
my knees, trying to shelter her from the man who had stabbed her,”
Jenia said, attempting to keep her voice level and not give way
again to tears. “He was a vicious man, and I was afraid he’d strike
her a third time. As I’ve already told you and the king, Chantal
asked me to remember her. Then she looked at me and murmured, ‘Tell
Garit...love...dear love.’ That was all. She sighed and closed her
eyes and she was gone. Her last thought was of you.”

Garit turned his back. He bent his head and
his broad shoulders shook. Out of respect for his sorrow, Jenia did
not move or speak until he took a long, ragged breath and
straightened.

“
I failed
her,” he said, still not facing Jenia. “Here I stand, feeling sorry
for myself because she is gone and I am left alone, when the truth
is, I should have moved heaven and earth to find her while she was
still alive. I should have rescued her from that foul
dungeon.”

“
From
what Roarke has told me, you did your best to find her and you
drove him far beyond what his orders from King Henryk were,” Jenia
said. “Please, don’t blame yourself because you couldn’t find her.
I was with Chantal and I still don’t know where we were held. All
the guards would ever tell us was that we were in a royal
stronghold, brought there on King Henryk’s orders. That information
was a lie, so it’ll be no help in finding the dungeon.