The Everlasting Covenant (16 page)

“
Nay! DeFraynes killed my father. Tomorrow he dies. If Henry continues to rule after this, we may deny knowledge of the execution.
”

Anne
’
s heart beat wildly. Would her brothers stop the exe
cution? She tried to appear calm, but prayers ran wild through her head.

“
I am in agreement
with my brother, madam. You risk
Bart
’
s opportunity to please the earl. With all due respect, this venge
ance will not bring your father back to you, and could ill serve us. In Father
’
s absence, I should make the decision. And I think we have dallied here long enough.
”

Marcella
’
s eyes sparkled with anger.
“
In your father
’
s absence, while he lives, I make such decisions. And I say he is to be killed.
”

Quentin stood. “
Then I shall displease you, madam. I will leave to follow Trenton, who has proven to have more sense, if not more courage, than the rest of us. Too much is at stake to dawdle here for an unnecessary event that only feeds some age-old vengeance of yours. What you do in my absence, I cannot prevent. But I order you in this: you will hold your ritual after my departure.
”

“
You abandon me now?
”
she asked, furious.

“
Yea, madam. I think this has gone far enough.
”

Tears gathered in Marcella
’
s stormy eyes.
“
You are too young to understand. You were not yet born when a raid on my father
’
s troop cost his life. DeFraynes murdered him, and sent a mes
senger to my mother with his hand, the ring of his family crest still worn on his finger. And why was this done? Because my father approved my marriage to the Gifford heir. Do you not see?
”

Quentin looked down. He had never before defied his mother. But there had never been so much at stake.
“
I concede your hatred was hard earned. But I would think you would have enough reven
ge through our victorious army –
the deFraynes will fall
--
they need not also be murdered.
”

She stared at Quentin for a long moment. Bart looked away from his mother
’
s eyes and Anne held her breath. Marcella stood.
“
Sniveling cowards. I will avenge my father alone!
”
And with that she rushed out of the hall, up the stairs and to her chamber.

Quentin turned to his brother.
“
I am leaving Raedelle to find our father. I think if you are wise, you will come with me.
”

Bart thought for a moment, then nodded.
“
I am not bound to risk my fortune for any of them.
I
have seen one of them die –
that will have to sustain me.
”

***

For many nights Anne had been able to pretend that morning would not come. She had been concentrating on the moment, refusing to mar the magic by looking toward the end of it all. The pretending was over. She had never mentioned the talk about Dylan
’
s hanging that she overheard in the hall, nor even that there was a day established for the event. But on this night she was silent with Dylan. When he touched her, she did not quickly yield to passion. She found it hard to look into his eyes, even though she wanted to memorize each small detail of his face, lest she ever forget.

“
Tell me, then,
”
he said, finally.

“
There is nothing.
”

“
Oh,
”
he sighed,
“
I suspect there is much. Perhaps they have chosen tomorrow as the day. Perhaps you know, certainly, this is our last night.
”

She met his eyes.
“
Oh Dylan, it is my mother,
”
she said, yielding finally to the tears that she had previously held back.
“
My father has already gone from here in defiance of her plans, refusing to be a part of this. Trenton has gone, and even my brothers have argued for your life, if only to protect themselves. Now Quentin and Bart will depart to chase Edward
’
s army into battle, but my mother will not be stopped. She will see you killed, or will die trying.
”
And she lay in his arms and sobbed, heart-wrenching, painful tears too long unshed.

“
You will need strength, my love. Come closer, here.
”
He pulled the fur around her and held her.
“
We have come to a time, now, when there is little left for us to do but hold each other fast until the dawn.
”
He chuckled low in his throat, a brave sound.
“
I reckon many a dying man should like to spend his last night thus. Here now, my sweet love, we have given and taken all there is between us. Perhaps we will be joined in eternity after all. There is always hope.
”

“
How can you speak of hope now,
”
she cried.
“
All is lost. It is nearly over.
”

“
Anne, my Anne ..
. even while I argued against your hope, calling it useless, it urged me on through these dark days. If you do not hope, how can I be strong? Nay, until the rope
snaps my neck, I will hope. Cry if you must, but when you
’
ve shed your tears, you must still hope.
”

“
Oh Dylan, what am I to do?
”

“
Whatever you must, my love. Whatever you must.
”

He held her closely for several hours. There were very few words between them, and when his lips touched hers to
say good
bye, he cupped her chin in his hand.
“
Do not give in, my sweet love. We have always thought each kiss might be our last, and yet there has always been another. There will be again. Believe.
”

Anne would have stayed and let them find her in his arms. She would have braved the rope with him, but for one thing. They had been as one, night after beautiful night. She had never mentioned a child to Dylan. She hoped one had been conceived. If Dylan must die, she would bring his child to life. For that reason only, she left him.

When she pushed open the cask room door, the guard was still slumped in sleep outside. Dawn would break soon. She would have to hurry to her room, lest she be found. She did not w
orry about the sleeping guard –
let her mother or brothers find him and punish him. There would be no more nights in the cask room. Marcella would have her way.

“
So this is what you have been about.
”

Anne gasped and turned toward her sister
’
s voice. Divina stood between the common hall and cookrooms, her arms crossed over her ample chest, one shoulder leaning against the wall. She smiled with superiority. Anne could not prevent the hot flush as it rose over her face. Her lips were white with fear, her cheeks blazed with shame.

“
Divina
– ”

“
Night after night, little sister? I wonder what will happen to all your pretty gowns now?
”

“
Divina, do not be foolish! We need this alliance wit
h Lord Forbes ... all of us ..
. you ...
”

“
Me?
”
she asked, laughing.
“
Through you, you must mean. But I perceive a better way.
”

“
Nay, Divina, it cannot be! He does not ...
”
Her voice
trailed off as she regarded her sister
’
s cold eyes, taunting smile. They both stared at each other
while the guard slept on, peace
fully dreaming dreams spun by old Minerva
’
s herbs.

“
Anything is possible,
”
Divina said coyly.

“
Do not lie to yourself, Divina. Not now! Mother wished for the earl to consider you, but he would not. He is not eager for just any bride:
he is rich and has an heir ..
. and mistresses,
”
she lied. But the lie brought some reaction to Divina
’
s narrowing eyes.
“
Divina, I will speak to the earl about a betrothal for
you
--
”

“
You let him spoil you then,
”
Divina said.
“
Why else would you creep into his cell? You surprise me, Anne. I thought you were more clever. I thought you
--
”

Anne
’
s face lost color. She tried to meet Divina
’
s eyes, but she was caught in a snare and could not lie well.

Divina chuckled.
“
How foolish we all have been. We thought you had begun to love Lord Forbes. He will not take you now.
”

“
He loves me, Divina, he told me so. Lord Forbes will not take you, no matter what you tell him. He may cast me aside, true, but you will not stand in my stead. Divina, use caution. If I am wed to the earl
I
can help you. If he rides
away from Raedelle in anger ..
.
”

“
You have become vain,
”
Divina said.
“
He pampers you and buys you trinkets and you think any sin will be pardonable in his eyes. Poor Anne. It will be the convent for you after all.
”

“
Why do you hate me so?
”
Anne asked, shaking her head forlornly, tears coming to her eyes.
“
Why could we never care for each other?
”

Divina
’
s lip curled and her eyes glittered in much the same way Marcella
’
s would.
“
Because you have always taken what was to be mine. You were Minerva
’
s pride, Father
’
s joy, and now you aspire to be a countess. But it will not be, little Anne. Minerva is dead, the earl will change his mind, and even Father will not forgive you this.
”

Anne
’
s eyes grew round at this revelation. She was stunned to think Divina had ever been jealous of her.
“
Minerva took me because Mother would have none of me,
”
she said.
“
Mother
favored you, clothed you well so that you could catch a rich husband. And Father
--
”

“
Father,
”
Divina said in a huff.
“
Father, who always said
‘
Why do you ignore this pretty child?
’
and
‘
Anne is too good for the convent.
’
Father held you on his knee while I was left to follow Mother and beg for a scrap of attention. And
did I betray them? Never once –
I am pure.
You have lain with our enemy and
this time you will not take what should be mine.
”

Divina turned away, her skirts swirling, and made for the stairs.
“
Divina,
”
Anne called, but her sister did not turn.

Anne stood for several minutes, the guard
’
s snoring distant in her ears. Her trembling slowly abated, but she could barely move.
I have failed again,
she thought.
Should I have denied it?
she asked herself. But the truth would come soon enough. She had meant to live on for Dylan
’
s sake, she had hoped to bear him a child. Now she did not dare predict the outcome of the day.

***

“
Madam, I have something to tell you,
”
Divina said. A maid was pouring water into the washbowl and her mother was sitting up in bed.
“
It is important, private.
”
The maid glanced at Mar
cella and, at her nod, left the room.