Velvet Song (Montgomery/Taggert 4)

“I did not kill her!” he said vehemently. “I—no! I don’t want to discuss it, and as for being free, the King has taken all my rents for the next three years. Most of my men have left me because I cannot pay them. I have only one small estate to house what is left of my family, which now consists of one vicious sister-in-law. My brother hates me and has vanished from the earth, and now my lovely, sweet sister is held prisoner by a boy who is notorious for his deflowering of women. I have not been punished? Your husband still retains his lands, his own steward runs them while a King’s man runs mine. Do you know what will be left in three years’ time? Your husband has all of his family. He even has the leisure to fall in love and marry while I have no one left—one brother killed, one turned against me, my sister a prisoner. And you say I am not punished? That I am free?”

He stopped after this speech and looked away, unseeing, into the distance.

“I don’t know what has happened to Elizabeth. Gavin went after Miles, but he came back right away. I didn’t speak to him when he returned.”

“I will kill him if he harms her.”

“And what will that gain?” Alyx shouted, hurting her sore throat, but at least her voice made him blink. “Will any of you rest until all of you are killed? Miles did not take Elizabeth; she was given to him. He is innocent. Pagnell is the one who should bear your wrath, But you are too used to hating the Montgomerys and blaming them for all your problems.”

“What could I expect from a Montgomery?” he asked sullenly. “Already you believe them to be gods on this earth.”

“Stupid man!” she spat. “I only want this war of yours to end. Raine has to live in a forest surrounded by criminals and all because of you.”

“Gavin started this by playing with my sister-in-law. One woman wasn’t enough for him. He also wanted Alice.”

Alyx put her hands to her head. “I don’t know any of this. You must go now. Raine will be looking for me.”

“Do you mean to protect me?”

“I plan to protect my husband from a fight and me from his wrath.”

“I cannot leave until I find out about Elizabeth.”

Alyx gritted her teeth. “I don’t know where Elizabeth is.”

“Will you find out and tell me?”

“Absolutely not!” She was astonished that he’d ask this. “Miles is with her, and I’ll not do anything to endanger him.”

Roger’s mouth made a grim line. “You are a fool to come out here with me. I could take you now and demand Elizabeth’s release while I hold you.”

Swallowing once, Alyx knew she must brave this out and not let him see her fear. “You have no guards near you. Will you strike a pregnant woman? How far will you get alone with me? Elizabeth still believes you are a good man. Would she still if you took yet another Montgomery prisoner?” Alyx could tell by his face that she was striking a nerve. “How did you explain Mary’s death to her?”

Alyx paused a moment, watching him. “You must go.”

Before either of them could react, through the trees burst Raine and his guards. Instantly, four swords were at Roger Chatworth’s throat.

Raine grabbed Alyx, held her with one arm, his sword drawn in the other. “The bastard has not harmed you?” Raine growled. “Kill him,” he said in the next breath.

“No!” Alyx screamed at the top of her lungs and successfully made the men halt. Instantly, she placed herself before Roger. “He has done me no harm. All he wants to know is where his sister is.”

“In the grave beside mine,” Raine said, eyes narrowed.

“She’s not dead,” Alyx said. “Raine, please, let’s end this feud now. Swear that you’ll see that Elizabeth is returned to Roger.”

“Roger, is it?” Raine breathed in through his teeth, glaring at her until she took a step backward, closer to Roger. “How long have you known him?”

“How—?” she began, bewildered. “Raine, please, you’re not making sense. He’s a man alone and I don’t want to see him killed. He wants his sister. Do you know where she is?”

“Now you ask me to betray my brother for this filth. Has he told you of Mary’s last moments alive?” He looked at Roger, a snarl curling his lip. “Did you enjoy the sound of her body breaking on the stones?”

Alyx could feel herself becoming ill at the images Raine conjured, and she almost wanted to turn Roger over to him. But the King would only have another excuse to keep Raine’s lands. He’d never pardon Raine if an earl were killed by him.

“You have to release him,” she said quietly. “You cannot kill him in cold blood. Come, Roger. I will walk with you to your horse.”

Without a word, Roger Chatworth walked before her back into the fair where his horse waited. Neither Raine nor his guards followed.

“He will never forgive you,” Roger said.