A surge of anger shot through Elizabeth. “She shall be mine when I return.” With one last look, Elizabeth swept past the others and into the house.
They stayed at the old castle only long enough to eat, then were off on the ship that waited for them. All seven of them immediately curled up on deck and went to sleep.
Many hours later, when they were refreshed, the women began to discuss their plans.
“We will have to gain access to the castle,” Judith said. “Alyx’s music will open any door to us. Can either of you play or sing?”
Bronwyn swore she had a voice of lead; Judith admitted to being tone deaf. Elizabeth whispered, her throat dry, “I can dance.”
“Good!” Judith declared. “Once we’re inside—”
“You will do nothing,” John Bassett said from behind her. “You will point out the new duke’s estate to us and we will find your husbands and bring them to it. They will rescue Lord Miles.” With that he turned on his heel and left them.
Judith gave her sisters-in-law a little smile. “Years ago I had a little trouble when I attempted to rescue Gavin. John has never forgiven me, and since he married my mother he feels responsible for me.” She leaned forward. “We’ll have to be more discreet in our planning.”
Elizabeth leaned against the side of the ship and suppressed a laugh. There Judith sat, so very pretty, so tiny, her hands in her lap, looking for all the world like a demure, helpless young lady. It was hard to believe her fierce spirit. Bronwyn stood by the rail, the sun flashing off the water and highlighting her strong-featured beauty. Elizabeth knew Bronwyn for the passionate, brave, loyal woman she was. And Alyx, so quiet and shy, looking as if she were afraid of all of them, yet Elizabeth had seen glimpses of her spirit through Alyx’s magnificent voice.
And Elizabeth? Did she fit with these women? She wondered if she could stand up under Judith’s scrutiny.
They purchased horses as soon as they stepped ashore in France and Judith led them southwest. For the last day Judith had been agreeing with everything the men told her. Once Bronwyn punched Elizabeth so that she looked up at John Bassett when he swelled out his chest as he lectured Judith. Tam also gave Bronwyn curt orders. Sir Guy spoke only once to Elizabeth.
Glancing up at him through her lashes, looking demure and angelic, she asked him how his toes were. The giant’s scar whitened and he walked away. Bronwyn held her ribs as she nearly split her sides laughing. Judith, when told the story of Sir Guy’s toes, gave Elizabeth a look of admiration and speculation.
Alyx merely tuned her lute and that act seemed to show whom she thought was going to win the power battle.
John Bassett rented rooms in an inn not far from the duke’s estates, the one the locals said he was residing in at present. The three men had to leave the women alone as they went to search for the husbands. John looked as if he were going to cry when he met with stubborn silence as he begged Judith to swear to God that she would wait for the return of the men.
“Must I put a guard on you?” John asked, exasperated.
Judith merely looked at him.
“I’ve a good mind to take you with me, but we’ll have to split up and it takes more than one mere man to control a hellion like you. There should be a special saint to guard husbands like Gavin.”
“You’re wasting time, John,” Judith said patiently.
“She’s right,” Guy said, not looking at any of the women.
John caught Judith to him, kissed her forehead. “May the Lord protect you.” With that, the three men left.
Judith leaned against the door and let out a deep sigh. “He means well. Now, shall we get to work?”
Elizabeth soon came to realize what a magnificent planner Judith was—and she knew how to use her gold. She hired a total of twenty-five people to spread word of the world’s greatest singer and the universe’s most exotic dancer. She planned for the excitement of expectation to be feverish by the time Alyx and Elizabeth appeared, for she wanted all eyes on them while she and Bronwyn slipped away.
In the early afternoon, Judith dressed in rags, blackened one front tooth with a nasty mixture of gum and soot and delivered fresh-baked bread to the duke’s castle. She came back with wonderful news.
“Miles is alive,” she said, scratching and discarding the filthy clothes. “The duke always seems to have prisoners and he always keeps them in the top of the tower. This tastes awful!” she said, scrubbing at her teeth. “It seems the whole Lorillard family are masters of torture and right now they’re working on the girl.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth,” Judith added quickly. “From the gossip, I don’t know if she’s still alive or not, but the two men are.”
“What about Miles’s wound?” Elizabeth asked.
Judith put out her hands, palms up. “I couldn’t ask directly and all I could find out was that the prisoners are always kept in the top of the tower.”
“That should be easy,” Bronwyn said. “We merely attach wings to our horses and fly to the top.”
“There’s a staircase,” Judith said.
“Unguarded?” Bronwyn asked.