“My lady,” said someone beside her. “Let me lead you out of this crush. You’re so small that I fear for your safety.”
She looked up into the dark eyes of a very handsome man. He had blond hair streaked by the sun, an aquiline nose over a firm mouth. There was a curved scar by his left eye and shadows under his eyes. “I’m not sure—” she began. “My husband . . .”
“Let me introduce myself. I am the Earl of Bayham and your husband’s family and mine are well acquainted. I’ve traveled a long way to speak to Gavin, but when I saw the fair I hoped to find one of the family here.”
A heavy-set man who’d had more than a little to drink lunged toward them, and the earl put out a hand, protecting Alyx.
“I feel it’s my duty to protect you from this mob. Let me lead you out of here.”
She took the arm he offered. There was something about him that seemed both sad and kind at the same time, and she instinctively trusted him.
“How did you hear of my marriage?” she asked. “It was so recent and I haven’t come from the same people as my husband.”
“I have a special interest in what the Montgomery family does.”
He led her away from the noise of the fair, to a bench just inside a small grove of trees. “You must be very tired since you’ve not sat down all morning. And surely the child must be a heavy burden.”
Gratefully, she sat down, rested her hands on her stomach, and looked up at him. “You have indeed been watching us. Now, what do you want to talk to me about that you needed me away from my husband?”
At that the earl smiled slightly. “The Montgomerys choose their women well, for brains as well as b
eauty. Perhaps I should reintroduce myself. I am Roger Chatworth.”
Chapter Seventeen
ALYX FEELING SO smug because she thought she’d guessed that this man wanted her to use her influence on her husband, suddenly felt very frightened. Clumsily, her fear showing on her face, she started to stand.
“Please,” he said softly. “I don’t mean to harm you. I only want to talk to you for a moment.” He sat down on the end of the bench, feet away from her, his head down, hands clasped. “Leave. I won’t stop you.”
Alyx was already past him when she turned back. “If my husband sees you, he will kill you.”
Roger didn’t answer and Alyx, frowning, telling herself she was a fool, went back to the bench. “Why have you risked coming here?” she asked.
“I would risk anything to find my sister.”
“Elizabeth?”
Perhaps it was the way she said the name, but Roger’s head came up sharply. “You know her? What do you know?” His hands made fists.
“Pagnell, the earl of Waldenham’s son—”
“I know the piece of slime.”
Quickly, Alyx told the story of how Elizabeth had helped her and how Pagnell had punished Elizabeth.
“Miles!” Roger said, standing. He was richly dressed in dark blue velvet, a satin brocade doublet, his long, muscular legs tightly encased in dark hose. This was not the man Alyx would have imagined as anyone’s enemy.
“And what has Miles done with my innocent sister?” Roger demanded, his eyes flashing.
“Not what you did with the Lady Mary,” Alyx shot back.
“The woman’s death is on my soul, and I have paid for it with the loss of my brother. I do not plan to lose my sister as well.”
Alyx had no idea what he was talking about. What did Roger’s brother have to do with Mary’s death? “I don’t know where Miles and Elizabeth are. I have not been well. Perhaps while I was resting Raine found out about Miles, but I know nothing.”
“What of the Lady Judith? I don’t think much is done that she doesn’t know about. Did she tell you something?”
“No, nothing. Why are you free when my husband has to hide, yet it was you who killed Mary?”