The Velvet Promise (Montgomery/Taggert 2)

“I have been told,” he said coldly. “Here, let’s sit in the shade. I’m not used to the sunlight yet.”

“They kept you in a pit?”

“Yes, for nearly a week.”

“You don’t look too starved. Did they feed you then?”

“No, Jud—my wife had her maid send food.”

Stephen glanced up at what remained of the old tower. “She risked a great deal to come here.”

“She risked nothing. She wanted Demari as much as he wanted her.”

“That didn’t seem to be true when I talked to her.”

“Then you are wrong!” Gavin said with force.

Stephen shrugged. “She is your concern. Raine says you are summoned to court. We may travel together. I am also to appear before the king.”

Gavin was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep. “What does the king want with us?”

“He wants to see your wife and he wants to present me with one.”

“You are to marry?”

“Yes, a rich Scottish heiress who hates all Englishmen.”

“I know what it is to be hated by your wife,”

Stephen grinned. “But the difference is that you care. I do not. If she doesn’t behave, I will lock her up and never see her again. I’ll say she is barren and adopt a son who will inherit her lands. Why don’t you do the same with this wife of yours if she displeases you?”

“Never see her again!” Gavin said, then caught himself when Stephen began to laugh.

“She stirs your blood? You don’t need to tell me. I’ve seen her. Did you know I threatened her life after I saw her throw the wine in your face? She grabbed my blade and begged me to end it for her.”

“You were fooled,” Gavin said disgustedly, “as Raine and Miles are. They sit at her feet and gaze at her with cow eyes.”

“Speaking of cow eyes, what do you plan to do about John Bassett?”

“I should marry him to her. If Lady Helen is anything like her daughter, his life will be hell. It is little enough punishment for his stupidity.”

Stephen bellowed with laughter. “You are changing, brother. Judith obsesses you.”

“Yes, as a boil on my backside. Come, let’s hurry these people and leave this place.”

Outside the Demari estate was the camp Gavin had left. John Bassett had not known about Gavin’s tunneling under the walls, for Gavin never told any of his men all his plans. When Gavin had been taken captive and John had returned to the Montgomery estate, the men Gavin had chosen kept on with their digging. It had taken days, with no man getting more than a few hours’ sleep at a time. As the men dug, they braced the earth over their heads with timbers. When they were nearly through to the other side, they built a hot fire inside the tunnel. Once the timber burned away, a section of the wall collapsed with a deafening crash.

In the ensuing confusion of setting up camp, Judith was able to escape for a few moments alone. A river ran through the trees beyond the open ground of the camp. She walked through the woods and found a secluded spot where she was hidden, yet able to enjoy the sound and sight of the water.

She had not realized how tense she’d been during the last week. The incessant conniving, the lying she’d done while Walter’s captive had taken a toll on her. It was good to feel peaceful and free again. Now, in just a few brief moments, she wouldn’t think of her husband or of any other of her many problems.

“You too seek solace,” came a quiet voice.

She had heard no one approach. She looked up to see Raine smiling at her.

“I will go if you wish. I don’t want to intrude.”

“You aren’t. Come and sit with me. I only wanted to put myself far away from noise and people for a while.”