But Judith wasn’t alone. Not far away stood a man who had hardly left her side since they left court; yet she had not seen him and had no idea he stayed so nearby. Alan Fairfax remained a discreet distance away, where he could see the emerald-green of Judith’s gown, yet far enough away that he didn’t interfere in her privacy. After these days of following her, he’d begun to relax. Several times he’d wondered just what he was doing when she had her husband who had hardly left her side.
Alan was cursing himself for his stupidity and didn’t hear the footsteps so close behind him. A sword came down on the side of his head with brutal force. He slumped forward, his head on his chest and then fell heavily into the leaves of the forest floor.
Without warning, a hood was thrown over Judith’s head and her arms pinned behind her when she started to struggle. The suffocating fabric muffled her screams. She was thrown across a man’s shoulder, the air nearly forced from her lungs.
The man walked past Alan’s inert body, and looked up in question to the woman on the horse.
“Leave him. He will tell Gavin that she’s gone. Gavin will come to me then, and we’ll see which of us he chooses.”
The man’s face gave no betrayal of his thoughts. He merely collected his money and performed the tasks. He slung his bundle across the saddle and followed Alice Chatworth through the forest.
Alan awoke some time later, his thoughts confused, his head splitting. He put his hand against a tree to steady himself as he stood. As his eyes began to focus again, he remembered Judith and knew that he must find Gavin so they could search for her. He stumbled awkwardly toward the camp.
Gavin met him halfway. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Isn’t it enough that you touch my wife at court? Do you think I’ll allow you your life again?”
“Judith has been taken!” Alan said, his hand to his pounding head.
Gavin grabbed the smaller man by the neck of his clothes, lifting him from the ground. “If you so much as harm her, I—!”
Alan gasped, forgetting his head and jerking from Gavin’s grasp. “It’s you who may have hurt her. You wouldn’t believe Lady Alice capable of any wrongdoing, so you left Judith unprotected.”
“What are you saying!”
“You are a dense man! Alice Chatworth has taken your wife prisoner—and you stand here talking.”
Gavin stared at him. “Alice…my wife…I don’t believe you!”
Alan turned away. “Believe me or not, but I’ll not waste any more time talking. I’ll ride after her alone.”
Gavin didn’t speak again but turned and went back to the camp. Within moments, he and several of his men were saddled and quickly reached Alan’s side. “The Chatworth manor?”
“Yes,” Alan answered gravely.
Those were the only words exchanged as the noblemen rode side by side following Judith’s captors.
“Welcome to my home,” Alice said when the hood was taken from Judith’s face. Alice watched the younger woman gasp for breath. “You didn’t like the ride? I’m very sorry. A woman such as yourself is used to only the best, I’m sure.”
“What do you want of me?” Judith asked, trying to ease the soreness of her shoulders as the ropes on her wrists nearly pulled her arms from their sockets.
“Of you I want nothing,” Alice stated. “You have what is mine and I wish its return.”
Judith’s chin came up. “Do you mean Gavin?”
“Yes,” Alice sneered. “I mean Gavin. My Gavin. Always my Gavin.”
“Then why didn’t you marry him when he asked you?” Judith asked calmly.
Alice’s eyes widened, her lips curled into a snarl, exposing her teeth, and her hands formed claws as she lunged for Judith’s face.
Judith turned away and the claws didn’t reach her.
Ela forcibly grabbed her mistress’s arm. “Now, sweet, don’t upset yourself. She’s not worth it.”
Alice seemed to relax.
“Why don’t you go and rest?” Ela soothed. “I’ll stay with her. You must look your best when Lord Gavin arrives.”
“Yes,” Alice said quietly. “I must look my best.” She left without looking at Judith.