Her Knight Protector Page 19

  ‘Then you must find her before it is too late.’

  ‘Yes, you are right as always.’ Alain smiled at him. ‘I feared you would hate me for stealing her from you…’

  ‘How could I hate a man I love as my brother? Besides, she was always yours. You could not steal her from me, for she loves you, Alain. You should have stayed at Banewulf and married her. They could not have stolen her away then.’

  ‘You do right to upbraid me for my neglect,’ Alain replied and the accusation smote him to the heart, for he knew it to be true. He should have placed Katherine’s safety above all else. ‘I believed there was no hurry—that it would be best to settle this business first—but you speak truly. Had she been my wife, they would have needed to storm Banewulf to take her from us.’

  ‘Then you must lose no time in finding her. She will never be safe until she is your wife, Alain. You owe it to her to make her safe—and you owe it to me to make her happy.’

  ‘I know it.’

  Alain needed no reminder from Bryne. He had cursed himself the moment he received his father’s letter. Katherine was in danger and he loved her. He had not realised quite how precious she was until this moment.

  ‘I swear I shall not leave her alone again…’

  ‘You must settle this business for once and all, Alain.’

  ‘I swear it shall be done.’ He smiled grimly. ‘So we part—you to the King and then France, and me to find Katherine, wherever she may be…’

  Her uncle of Rotherham’s property was a fortified manor house. Katherine was relieved to discover that it did not have a keep or massive fortifications, but merely a drawbridge, stout walls and a moat. It would not be easy to escape from such a place, but at least she would not be shut up in some grim dungeon here.

  She had exchanged no more than a few words with the supposed Baron Grunwald since he had told her where they were going, merely inclining her head meekly every time she was told to do something. The impostor believed that she was truly deceived and it was better that way, for if he realised that she knew the truth he might decide to dispose of her. Dead, she could tell no tales.

  Her guards never left her alone for long, and she was conscious of being a prisoner. They were taking no chances!

  The small cavalcade clattered over the drawbridge and into the cobbled courtyard. One of her supposed uncle’s men came to help her down. She accepted his help, suppressing the shiver of disgust that ran through her at the touch of his hand.

  As she stood indecisively, someone else came hurrying up to her and bowed his head respectfully.

  ‘Lady Katherine,’ Sigmund said, beaming at her. ‘It is a pleasure to see you here. We had no word until an hour ago that you were to be expected, but your chamber has been prepared.’

  ‘Thank you, Sigmund,’ Katherine said, feeling happier to know that she had at least one friend here. ‘It is good to see you again.’

  ‘You are Rotherham’s steward?’ The supposed Baron Grunwald’s harsh voice cut through their greetings. ‘I am the Lady Katherine’s guardian. You will address yourself to me in future—and I shall want a full accounting of all that has been done here since your late master died.’

  Sigmund looked startled, his eyes going from Katherine to the stern-faced man standing just to her right.

  ‘You are Baron Grunwald?’

  ‘It is not for you to question, merely to obey. Have one of the women take my niece to her chamber and then attend me. I am in control here now and I will be obeyed.’

  Katherine nodded slightly as she saw the inquiry in Sigmund’s eyes, but said nothing. What could she say? To denounce the man as an impostor could endanger all their lives. It would be most unwise to speak of her suspicions and she must at least pretend to think him the Baron for the time being. For the moment he must be addressed and treated as if he were indeed her uncle.

  Sigmund needed no telling that something was wrong—her strained face was evidence enough. ‘Of course, my lord,’ he said, bowing low. He raised his hand and beckoned to a woman just behind him. ‘Ethel will take you to your apartments, my lady.’

  His look promised more—much more—but the next moment he was escorting the villain into the house, his manner subservient and as unlike his usual self as could be. Fortunately the alleged Baron did not know that and took it as his due.

  ‘Have you travelled far, my lady?’ An old woman came up to Katherine, giving a toothless smile. ‘All is prepared for you and we are happy to see you here.’

  ‘I thank you.’ Katherine accepted her welcome with relief. At least the people here were prepared to be friendly. Her uncle might soon change all that, for his manner would make them fear to help Katherine lest he have them punished. But she believed that for the moment she was with friends.

  It was a relief to get away from the watchful eyes of her uncle’s guards. Katherine was happy to be taken to her chambers, which were in the right corner tower and consisted of three rooms.

  To gain access, she went through a sheltered courtyard and into the tower through a heavy oak door, which was studded with iron. Just inside was a spiral stone staircase, and there were three rooms in the tower at her disposal. The first was spacious and designed to be her solar, where she might sit with her women and do her needlework while the light prevailed. The second was her own bedchamber, which seemed smaller, because the privy had been sectioned off with a heavy curtain. The third room, above hers, was where some of her clothes would be stored, and where her women would sleep on straw pallets that would be packed away during the day.

  The chambers for her own use were generously appointed with stools, rich hangings and articles that she might use for her comfort, including a beautiful lyre that she suspected had once been her mother’s. Helen of Grunwald had loved to play her lyre and to sing sweet songs. There was a large oak coffer beneath the narrow window that looked out at the courtyard, also a tapestry frame, a trestle table and board covered by a heavy damask cloth, various religious articles, including a heavy bible and a wooden cross on the wall, and some silver trinkets.

  ‘Shall you be comfortable here?’ Ethel asked. ‘You may have the late master’s chambers if you find them more comfortable—but these were once occupied by your mother and we thought you would like to have them.’

  ‘You could not have chosen better,’ Katherine told her with a smile. ‘I am very grateful to you for being so thoughtful.’

  ‘It was Master Sigmund who gave the orders,’ the woman told her. ‘But we all wish to serve you, my lady—not just for your late uncle, but for your sainted mother.’

  ‘Do you remember my mother?’

  ‘I nursed her from a babe,’ Ethel replied, her eyes filled with tears. ‘I begged her to take me with her when she left, but she could not take us all—and she said it would be best if I stayed here to take care of her brother. She loved him despite…’ Ethel closed her lips firmly. ‘Is the man who came with you your uncle—the brother of the man she married?’

  ‘Yes…’ Katherine decided to say nothing of her suspicions for the moment. Ethel was clearly well disposed towards her, but she was not sure that she could be trusted to keep silent. ‘Thank you for looking after me, but Maria will help me now. You may bring us food, if you will, for it is some hours since we last ate.’

  ‘Yes, my lady. We are all happy to serve you.’

  She went out and closed the door behind her. Katherine beckoned to Maria, speaking to her in a low voice.

  ‘We must be careful for a while. Everyone seems friendly, but we cannot yet be sure they will keep silent. Do not let your suspicions show, Maria. We must bide our time and see what happens…’

  ‘I shall discover what I can,’ Maria promised. ‘The impostor has hardly glanced at me, for he thinks me merely a servant, and it would be best that you show me no more favour than any other here. That way I may get close enough to hear what is being said…’

  ‘If Hubert of Ravenshurst is to meet the fraudulent Baron here
, he will not be long in coming,’ Katherine said. ‘As yet I have not been harmed, merely treated as if I were of no importance. We must discover what they mean to do with me. And then we shall make our plans…’

  Maria nodded and looked thoughtful. ‘Your steward is a good man, my lady. I believe you may trust him. It may be that he could help…’

  Katherine placed a finger against her lips as they heard footsteps approaching. And then, quite suddenly, the door was flung open and someone appeared in the doorway. Katherine gave a little gasp of recognition as she saw the woman she had thought never to see again.

  ‘Ah, so you are here,’ Celestine said and smiled in a satisfied way as her eyes lit on Katherine. ‘I could hardly believe that you had been such a fool, but it seems that Ravenshurst was right. He said that Sir Ralph would let you go without a fight.’

  ‘Sir Ralph could not murder my uncle in cold blood,’ Katherine said, raising her head proudly. Celestine was gloating, hoping to provoke her, but she would not lose her dignity. ‘How came you here to my house? I do not recall inviting you.’

  ‘I did not need your invitation,’ Celestine said and smirked at her. ‘Your uncle invited me himself.’

  ‘But why should he do that?’

  ‘I am to be his wife,’ Celestine replied. ‘How do you feel about me becoming your new aunt, Kate?’ She laughed triumphantly as Katherine stared at her in shock. ‘I see you are too shocked to take it in—well, I shall enlighten you. It was Ravenshurst’s idea, of course—but I told Edgar that we did not need him. Why should we share with Ravenshurst when we could have it all?’ Her mouth was sly, her manner bragging as if she had been very clever.

  ‘I am sorry, but I do not understand you,’ Katherine said, pretending to be bewildered. ‘What are you saying? What was Baron Ravenshurst’s idea?’

  Celestine’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. ‘Are you so naïve? No, I do not believe it. Surely Edgar’s story did not deceive you for long? You must have remembered that your father’s brother was a hunchback?’

  ‘You speak in riddles. My uncle’s back is as straight as any man’s.’ Katherine knew she must keep up her pretence of innocence for if he guessed that she suspected him of being an impostor it might go ill for all her people.

  ‘Edgar’s back is straight, but your uncle of Grunwald was hunched in his shoulder. Can you not remember him?’

  ‘I left France when I was but a child. I do not remember much about that time at all.’

  Celestine frowned. ‘Edgar said that you were convinced, but I believed you must have guessed by now. But you must know the truth soon.’

  ‘What would you have me know, Celestine?’

  ‘You will be released when you sign papers giving your inheritance to Edgar—and when we have the cup. You did bring it with you, didn’t you? I know you carried it on your body all the time. I searched for it when you went on deck when we were at sea and I was sick, but could never find it—so you must have it on your person. Give it to me now and you could leave here this very night.’

  ‘Does this man who calls himself my uncle know that you are here, making me this offer?’

  ‘He is a fool,’ Celestine said. ‘He does not know about the cup. I warned Ravenshurst not to tell him. But he was a fool and missed his chances. Besides, why should I share the cup with either of them? I was the one who told Ravenshurst of its existence.’

  ‘So you would betray them both? Is that wise, Celestine?’

  ‘Edgar knows nothing of the cup. Give it to me now and I will persuade him that you should be allowed to leave here—once you have signed your property over into his keeping.’

  ‘Have you no loyalty?’ Katherine asked. ‘Would you be faithless to all you deal with, Celestine?’

  ‘Men have used me,’ Celestine replied, a sour twist to her mouth. ‘I was given in marriage when I was but fifteen to a man I hardly knew. My father bartered me for a stretch of land he desired, not caring that my husband was more than twice my age. I found a way to make my husband give at least as much as he took—but other men have taken advantage. Ravenshurst promised marriage and then changed his mind—but I have had my revenge on him, and now I shall be rich. I shall never need to smile at another man unless I choose.’

  ‘You are so bitter,’ Katherine said. ‘I pity you, Celestine—but I cannot give you the cup, for I do not have it.’

  Celestine’s face darkened with anger. ‘Do not lie to me— I can have you searched. You have no gallant knights to protect you now, Kate. Do not make me harm you, for I like you. I would have been your friend had you shared your treasure with me.’

  ‘The cup belongs to the whole of Christendom,’ Katherine said. ‘I cannot give it to you, because I do not own it—nor is it in my possession. I left it…somewhere safe.’

  Celestine’s eyes flashed with temper. ‘You are lying to me. Give it to me or I shall make you sorry you defied me.’ She sprang at Katherine and began to tear at her clothes in a frantic attempt to discover where the cup was hidden.

  Maria rushed at her and tried to pull her off amidst much screaming and shouting. So loud was the noise that none of them were aware of the door opening.

  ‘What happens here?’

  Celestine broke away as they heard the man’s voice. She looked at him, then ran to his side, the spiteful cat becoming all at once a playful kitten.

  ‘Thank goodness you came, Edgar. She knows you are not her uncle and she attacked me. She begged me to help her escape, and, when I refused, she attacked me.’

  He looked at her, then at Katherine, his face sour with dislike.

  ‘So, you have realised that you have been kidnapped, have you? Well, so much the worse for you. It was only a matter of time, for I have changed my mind about forcing you to sign your property over to me as your uncle. That might not serve once the deceit was discovered. I have decided that I shall marry you and then it will belong to me by right.’

  ‘But you cannot!’ Celestine cried. ‘You are pledged to me. You swore you loved me…’

  ‘Be quiet, woman,’ Edgar of Achrington ordered. His face was cold, his eyes without warmth. ‘Did you really imagine that I would welcome Ravenshurst’s leavings as my wife? You came to me with your schemes and I agreed to them, but I made my own plans.’ He smiled in a tight, cruel fashion as he saw her blanch. ‘I dare say you had a scheme of your own to cheat me—but you are too late, Celestine. You told me that Katherine of Grunwald was a plain, dull creature, but you lied. I would have wed her for her fortune had she been as ugly as you described her—but she is fair enough and obedient, and we shall deal well together.’

  Katherine stared at him. He could not mean it! She had been prepared to accept his anger, to sign what she owned to him had it been necessary—but to marry him! She would rather die.

  ‘I shall never marry you, sir,’ Katherine said quietly. ‘Had you truly been my uncle I must have obeyed you—but you are an impostor. Tell me, sir—where is my uncle of Grunwald? Have you murdered him?’

  ‘That was Ravenshurst’s part of the affair,’ he replied, eyes narrowed. ‘I told him I had no stomach for murder and he called me a fool—but he was the fool. He went to London to lure your betrothed there and I did not wait for him to return. I have you now. Before he can return to claim his share of the spoils you will be my wife.’

  ‘No!’ Celestine launched herself at him. ‘I shall not be cheated of everything. It was I who planned this, for neither of you had the wit—and I shall not be cheated of what belongs to me!’

  Katherine saw that she had a knife in her hand and screamed. But he was aware of it and caught Celestine’s wrist, twisting it so that the knife fell from her hand to the floor and was kicked away in the struggle. Maria hurried to pick it up, but at a shake of the head from Katherine made no attempt to attack him.

  Celestine was screaming, biting and scratching at his face. Katherine thought for a moment that she would drive him off, but then she saw a change in his manner. His ha
nds reached for Celestine’s throat, and the look on his face was terrifying.

  ‘You planned to betray me all along,’ he said in a muffled tone. His eyes were glittering as his fingers tightened about her throat and Celestine began to gasp. She struggled for a little longer and then suddenly went limp. He let go of her and she fell to the floor, her eyes closed. ‘No, let her lie,’ he warned as Katherine would have gone to her. ‘She deserved it. She is of no importance. Tomorrow will be our wedding day. Be ready, for I shall deal with you no less harshly if you defy me.’

  His eyes glittered so strangely that Katherine was silent, watching as he turned and walked from the room. As soon as he had gone, she dropped to her knees beside Celestine, but Maria was before her. She laid her head against the other woman’s chest, and then she sat back on her heels and looked at Katherine.

  ‘She is dead. He strangled her.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Katherine said and her eyes filled with tears. She and Celestine might not have been true friends, but she was shocked beyond measure at what had happened. It was too cruel, too cruel. ‘How could he…how could he have been so wicked?’

  ‘Such men are evil,’ Ethel said from the doorway. She was carrying food and a jug of wine. ‘I hid when he came out, for I heard everything, my lady. He is a wicked, evil man. I shall tell Sigmund and he will drive him out of your house.’

  ‘No, stay your hand for a moment,’ Katherine said. ‘To fight this man would cause much bloodshed and I do not wish for anyone else to die. We must think of some other way to outwit him.’

  ‘My lady…’ Now Sigmund was at the open door. He stared at the woman’s body lying on the floor, Celestine’s beautiful face purple and ugly in death as it had never been in life. ‘What mischief has happened here?’