Alyx had never known such fear as she felt at this moment. Even in the cold air outside the tent, she was sweating profusely.
“Alyx,” came a whispered voice that belonged to Jocelin.
In seconds she was in his arms, her tears flowing. “Raine’s sister,” she sobbed. “Mary is dead and Raine wants to face the murderer’s army alone.”
“Ssh,” Joss calmed her. “He is not like us. We were taught to be cowards, to turn tail and run, to live to fight another day. There are not many men like Raine. He’d rather die than face dishonor.”
“I do not want him to die. He cannot die! I have lost everyone—my mother, my father. I know I have no right, but I love him.”
“You have every right. Now be quiet and think what you can do to prevent his suicide. Surely his brothers know how hotheaded he is. Can you persuade Raine to write his brother and you can add a note?”
“Oh, Joss,” she said, grasping his arms. At his wince, she stopped. “Your shoulder where I poured the cider. I am sorry, I—”
“Quiet,” he said, placing his fingertips on her lips. “Rosamund is caring for me. It is a small wound. Now go to Raine and talk to him and do not lose your temper.”
Silently, Alyx reentered the tent. Raine sat on the edge of the cot, head in his hands. “Raine,” she whispered, touching his hair.
Fiercely, he grabbed her hand, kissed the palm. “I am useless,” he said. “A man kills my sister and I can do nothing. Nothing!”
She sat by him, put her arms around him, her head on his arm. “Come to bed. It’s late. Tomorrow we will write to Gavin. Perhaps he can do something.”
Docilely, Raine allowed himself to be put to bed, but when Alyx started toward her own pallet, he caught her arm. “Stay with me.”
There was no possibility that she was going to reject such an offer. With a smile, she glided into his arms. All night, as she dozed fitfully, she was aware that Raine lay awake beside her.
In the morning there were shadows under his eyes and his temper was black. “Wine, I told you!” he bellowed at Alyx. “Then fetch pen and paper.”
The letter Raine dictated to be sent to his brother was one of anger and revenge. He vowed to take Roger Chatworth’s life, and if Gavin did not help him, he would go alone.
Alyx added her own message to the bottom, pleading with Gavin to talk some sense into Raine, that he was ready to take on all of Chatworth’s men alone. Sealing the letter, she wondered what this great Lord Gavin would think of her presumption.
It was two days before replies came. The messenger, nearly dead from the pace he’d set, practically fell on Alyx. With trembling hands, she broke the seal.
King Henry was furious with both the Montgomerys and the Chatworths. He was placing a heavy fine on Roger Chatworth and renewing his issue for Raine being a traitor. He wanted both noblemen out of England and he was doing what he could to bring it about. He was angered by Raine’s hiding in England, and it was rumored that Raine was raising an army to fight against the King.
With eyes filled with fright, Alyx looked up at Raine.
“You would not do such a thing, would you?” she whispered.
“The man worries more as he grows older,” Raine said in dismissal. “Who can train such scum as those to fight?”
“This is proof that you must stay in hiding. Your brother says King Henry would love to use you as an example of what would be done to others who do not believe he is the man with the power.”
“Gavin worries about losing his land,” Raine said in disgust. “My brother cares more for soil than he does for honor. Already he has forgotten our sister’s death.”
“He has forgotten nothing!” Alyx shouted at him. “He remembers he has other people in his family. Would it make you happier if he sent you to your death? He lost his unborn babe not long ago, he has lost his only sister, his brother’s wife is missing and now he is to encourage you to willingly give your life for something as stupid as revenge?”
“For my sister’s life!” he yelled back at her. “Do you expect me to stand still after what has been done to me? Is there no way one of your class can understand the meaning of honor?”
“My class!” she yelled back at him. “Do you think because of your high birth you are the only one with feelings? In one night one of your kind slashed my father’s throat and burned my house. If that were not enough, I was declared a thief and a witch. And all this because of some man’s lust. Now you talk to me of revenge, ask me if I understand it. I cannot step out of this forest for fear of my life.”
“Alyx,” he began.
“Don’t touch me!” she shouted. “You with your superior ways. You ridicule us because we concern ourselves with money, but what else do we have? We scrape all our lives and give a big piece of our income to support you in your fine houses so you can have the freedom to spout about honor and revenge. If you had to worry where your next meal came from, I wonder how much you would talk of honor.”
“You do not understand,” he said sullenly.
“I understand perfectly and you damn well know it,” she said before leaving the tent.