A Loyal Heart Read online

  Yet the knights under Sir Aldric’s command hadn’t so much as looked at us, had in fact treated us with the utmost courtesy.

  I unrolled the blanket the guard had given us and spread it over the dry grass. Izzy brushed her hair in silence, likely mulling over my whispered instructions regarding our escape plans.

  “Lady Olivia,” came Sir Aldric’s voice from outside the tent.

  I stood as best I could under the low canopy ceiling. “You may enter,” I replied as I smoothed my skirt, wrinkled and dusty from the day.

  The tent flap opened and the captain ducked inside. The fire pit outside our tent provided the only light, but it was enough for me to see that he’d discarded his mail hood. His hair was overlong and pulled back into a leather strap. It was dark in color to match the shadows on his jaw and cheeks, the unshaven scruff, the remnants of the past week of living on the battlefield.

  When he straightened, I was caught off guard at how handsome he was in a rugged, almost dangerous way. His features were strong like granite, his jaw and chin chiseled, his nose perfectly balanced. Most remarkable were his eyes—deep blue, unfathomable, and haunted.

  Even in the faint light, those eyes drew me in, beckoning me to soothe whatever hurts he’d experienced.

  “How do you fare?” he asked. “Have you need of anything?”

  His questions should have surprised me. But after the civility he’d already shown, his continued kindness was strangely calming. I was having a difficult time holding on to my disdain for him. I quickly reminded myself he’d commanded the troops that had surrounded and invaded my home. He’d wreaked destruction against my people, servants, and knights. He’d fought against Cecil and me in my chambers and would have killed us if not for discovering I was a woman. He was forcibly taking me away as a prisoner.

  He was the enemy.

  “We are faring as well as can be under the circumstances.” I tried to stay hardened and aloof.

  He glanced around the tent, taking in every detail from our small chest to the silver brush that lay idle in Izzy’s hands to the blanket I’d spread. Even in the dim lighting, he didn’t seem to miss a detail. As his attention shifted back to our chest, I held my breath.

  I could sense his desire to search our belongings again. His knights had already done so once before loading our chest into the back of a wagon. His keenness to check again showed him for the wise and capable commander he was.

  And yet, he retreated a step out the open tent flap, too respectful and noble to rummage through our clothing and personal items. Little did he know that his kindness would be his downfall.

  “I’ll send a guard to awaken you before first light,” he said, bowing his head. “We will depart at break of dawn.”

  “Very well.” I kept my tone cool, hoping my detached mask was firmly in place. If this man caught a whiff of any anxiety or duplicity, he’d surely be on high alert. But if he believed I was angry with him for my captivity, then he’d leave me alone with no thought to my plotting.

  With a final glance at me, he ducked out and let the flap fall into place.

  When he was gone, I expelled a long breath.

  Once Izzy and I finally lay down, she curled against me. Although the heat of the day had dissipated with the set of darkness, I knew Izzy wasn’t seeking warmth from me. Rather she needed my comfort.

  With her smaller, more delicate hand in mine, I squeezed. “We shall be fine, Izzy. Now sleep for a little while.”

  She expelled a trusting breath and was quiet for so long a moment I almost believed she’d fallen asleep.

  “What does Lord Pitt intend to do to us?” Her whisper was wobbly and followed by a sniffle.

  “Nothing,” I replied. “We shall never see him.”

  “But what if we cannot get away?”

  “We shall.”

  “Does he intend to make us his servants? Or perhaps force us to marry his knights? Or maybe sell us to foreign rulers?”

  “No.” I closed my mind against such possibilities, although none of them were without merit. Lord Pitt had gained a reputation for having a strong alliance with the king. If my father had done something to displease the king, there was no telling what Lord Pitt might do with us.

  All the more reason to make our getaway once the camp was quiet and settled for the night.

  “Lord Pitt likely has a grievance against Father,” I whispered. “He will retain us only until Father makes amends.”

  Holding prisoners of war for ransom was a common practice, especially among the nobility. Again, the tales of woe from such practices were far more plentiful than the tales that ended well. Usually the noblemen held for ransom sat in dungeons for months while families scrambled to come up with enough to free them. Sometimes the noblemen were killed out of impatience. Other times, they died from cold and starvation.

  “I cannot keep my fear at bay,” Izzy whispered.

  I bent toward my sister and kissed her head. “I shall ensure your safety, Izzy. Now go to sleep.”

  My reassurance was apparently enough. Within minutes, her breathing evened, and her body sagged in the weariness of slumber. I allowed myself to doze for a little while too, knowing I’d need all my energy for later.

  When I awoke, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the silence in the camp indicated now was the time to make our escape. I arose stealthily and dug through the chest until my fingers connected with the false bottom. With the click of the hidden lever, I located the knife Cecil had hidden there a day ago when he’d advised me to use the chest in the case of an evacuation or capture.

  I pried the knife loose and carefully slit the canvas at the rear of the tent. From what I’d ascertained, Sir Aldric had only posted one guard at the front opening. He assumed two unarmed noblewomen would be helpless, that he had no need of extra precautions the way he might for a man.

  In fact, I doubted he would have given a man the privacy of a tent, likely would have chained him, and kept him under careful watch.

  A twinge of guilt pricked me. I was breaking the commander’s trust and spurning his chivalry to me as a woman. Just as quickly as the prick came, I smoothed it away with assertion that he was getting only what he deserved for taking us against our will. Lord Pitt could have worked out his grievances with my father in some other manner that didn’t involve our abduction.

  When I sliced an opening large enough to squeeze through, I woke Izzy and cautioned her against any sound. Using the stealth and silence Cecil had taught me, I crawled out motioning Izzy to follow my every move as carefully and quietly as possible.

  We crept along the ground in the darkness, following the route I’d mentally planned, dodging the other guards who kept watch over the camp. The knights were alert to any movement and noises outside the camp but wouldn’t be paying attention to rustle from within—or at least that’s what I was counting on.

  We slithered among the gorse and heather, and it seemed to take hours to reach the creek bed. Once we were there, we skirted the horses so that we wouldn’t cause any of them to shift or snort or make any other noises that might draw notice from the guards.

  “Stay here,” I whispered to Izzy from a low spot near the water’s edge behind a tangled clump of gorse. “I shall be back in a few minutes.”

  “Where are you going?” Her whisper was threaded with anxiety.

  “I need to cut my horse loose.” I’d already decided we could only chance freeing one of our horses. Mine was the better of the two choices. He was sturdier and could carry both of us for a longer distance. I’d also used him in my training over the past few years. I was counting on him slowly working his way out of the herd and then following my trail to where I’d be waiting for him upstream.

  Crouched low, I crept past the horses, doing my best to stay close to the ground so they wouldn’t catch my scent. Several of their ears pricked as I approached, but I was silent enough that they didn’t bother with me.

  When I reached my horse, I let
my fingers glide along his flank, assuring him of my presence. At his soft nickering welcome, I held myself motionless, praying none of the guards would observe me among the dark shadows.

  Finally, I lifted my knife and sawed through the lead rope that bound the horse to the others. As the fastening fell, I brushed my hand over his muzzle and nostrils, letting him breathe me in.

  I backed away, this time wading in the creek, heedless of the cold water seeping into my boots. I’d take off my shoes later and let them dry tomorrow. But for now, I had to use the soft trickle of the creek to mask my steps.

  I reached the gorse bush and Izzy well ahead of the horse. As we waited, my heart thudded with the need to be on our way. We’d taken longer than I’d anticipated, and our lead was diminishing with every passing second.

  I’d almost given up hope my horse would reach us, when his soft nicker greeted us. “Let us make haste,” I whispered to Izzy as I reached for her hand. “Stay low until we are well out of sight.”

  For several minutes, we crept down the creek bank using only the light of the stars to guide our way, until at last I could no longer see any traces of camp. I halted and allowed myself a moment of exaltation. Although we still had a long ride ahead of us, I knew Cecil would be proud of me for escaping undetected.

  “We are far enough away to ride.” I released Izzy’s hand and patted my horse. “I shall help you mount.”

  She didn’t respond. Instead she stiffened and sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Ready?” I cupped my hands to form a step for her. I didn’t like the idea of riding bareback any more than she did. But we had no choice. Retrieving the saddle would have cost us time we didn’t have.

  “Come now, Izzy.”

  “And where, pray tell, are you ladies going?” At the question spoken in a low voice, my heart plummeted with dread.

  I pivoted to find Sir Aldric watching me. Under the faint starlight, his features were an unyielding marble grooved with slanted angry lines. Next to him, another knight had captured Izzy and held her with both arms twisted behind her back.

  Without giving the two a moment to prepare for an attack, I lunged with my knife and stabbed it into the knight holding Izzy.

  He cried out and recoiled, letting go of my sister and falling away from the knife. I grabbed Izzy, threw her behind me, and ducked to escape Sir Aldric as he reached for me.

  “Get on the horse, Izzy,” I shouted at her, even as I dodged another of Sir Aldric’s snaking arms. Behind me, Izzy had stumbled to the ground and was scrambling to regain her footing. I had to hold off Sir Aldric a few more seconds while she mounted. Even if I couldn’t escape with her, I could at least send her away and pray she would find the way to Lionel and Depnor Castle without me.

  As Sir Aldric lunged for me again, I swept the knife at him. He jolted back before it could slit his throat, but the tip grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line.

  He lifted his fingers to his face and tested the slickness of his blood, as if he couldn’t believe a noblewoman had dared to harm him.

  “Make haste, Izzy.” I lifted the knife and took another swipe at Sir Aldric. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the other knight was straightening and recovering from the initial shock and pain of his wound.

  At the rasp of his sword against his sheath, I didn’t have to see to know he was advancing upon me.

  “No,” Sir Aldric barked. “Put your weapon away. I shall deal with the girl.”

  Girl? Did he think I was as helpless and incapable as a child?

  “Get the horse,” Sir Aldric ordered his companion even as he circled me, eyeing my knife, the blade dark with blood.

  I kept pace with his movements, attempting to gauge his next move so I could be prepared. My muscles tensed and I tightened my grip on the knife.

  Behind me, my horse whinnied and protested the other knight’s approach. In that moment, I realized Izzy wouldn’t be able to mount without my help. If I told her to run, where would she go? She wouldn’t make it far on her own.

  The frustration of my foiled plans emboldened me. Without warning, I broke forward and jumped at Sir Aldric. Though I moved swiftly and brought my knife down forcefully, this time he caught my arm and jerked it up. The sharpness wrenched my socket and seemed to tear my arm from my body.

  Even though I didn’t want to scream, I did. The pain in my joint was excruciating. His thumbs pressed into my wrist forcing my grip off the knife so that it clattered to the ground. In an instant, he twisted both of my arms behind my back so that I couldn’t breathe through the pain. I sucked in a gasping breath and blinked to keep myself from passing out.

  “Now, where did you say you were going, my lady?” he growled.

  I bit back my angry retort. He may have stopped me this time. But I’d find a way to escape. Eventually.

  Chapter

  4

  Lady Olivia would be the death of me.

  At the scuffle from behind, I didn’t have to swivel in my saddle to know she was causing trouble. Again.

  I glanced at the position of the sun in the sky and reined my mount. I had to laud her for her determination. In addition to her plot of the previous night, she’d managed four other slips this day—two times while supposedly relieving herself, once at the noon meal, and then another when we’d dismounted to ford a stream.

  The delays had cost me hours of crucial travel time. Our progress was already encumbered by the wagonloads of goods we were hauling away from Ludlow Castle. With each of Lady Olivia’s escapades, we lagged even further behind schedule.

  I had no doubt that as soon as word reached the Earl of Ulster regarding the ransacking of his estate along with the seizure of his daughters, he’d send a well-armed war party after us. I suspected now Lady Olivia was purposefully making excuses to stop, so her rescuers would have time to catch up to us. Although our efforts against Ludlow hadn’t been taxing and my men were still relatively strong and fit for battle, we were in no position to defend ourselves, especially out in the open heathland.

  I’d hoped to reach the wooded area on the western borders of Pitt’s land where we would be within a day’s ride of Bevins of Lowdown, in familiar territory as well as close to reinforcements. But with dusk only a couple hours’ ride away, and at the rate we were going, we’d be lucky to make it to the next watering hole.

  As our entourage came to a halt, I backtracked to the center of our party where Lady Olivia and Lady Isabelle were surrounded by my strongest and most trusted warriors.

  The summer sun was still hot upon my chain mail, sweltering me under the layers. My mouth was parched. And I had little patience for the pampered noblewomen in my care. But I made myself approach calmly.

  Lady Olivia’s sharp commands to one of the knights punctuated the dry air. She’d dismounted and was in the process of helping her sister down from her horse. Darien stood next to her and was attempting to stop her without touching her. I’d warned my men not to lay a hand on the women unless I explicitly gave them permission as I had last night with Perceval when he’d captured Lady Isabelle.

  Of course, I hadn’t expected Lady Olivia to stab Perceval or to lash out at me. Even if her efforts had been weak and the wounds superficial, I’d realized in that moment I’d severely underestimated her. I touched my cheek where her cut still stung.

  “You cannot expect us to continue on endlessly without giving us the opportunity to relieve ourselves.” Olivia reached for Isabelle’s hand and beckoned her down.

  “But my lady.” Darien spoke forcefully as he attempted to tug Isabelle’s horse away from Olivia. “We stopped less than an hour ago—”

  “Nature has no regard for the passing of time.” She sidestepped him.

  Darien caught sight of me, and the relief that came over his countenance would have been comical if I were in a laughing mood.

  I’d attempted to treat her as any lady deserved. But at every turn she abused the privileges and courtesy I bestowed upon her. Even now, her ex
pression told me she’d figured out she had an advantage over my knights, that they were too polite to lay a hand on her to stop her whims.

  I nudged my horse closer, my ire flaring into flame as it had last night after she’d slashed my face. I hadn’t meant to cause her so much pain when I’d disarmed her, and I’d rebuked myself sternly the rest of the night for it. I’d decided I would apologize and had almost worked up the nerve, until she’d attempted another escape and my remorse had fled as quickly as the dawn.

  “My lady,” I said. “Since you are experiencing so much discomfort with your mount and are needing to stop so frequently, I have devised a new strategy to ensure swifter traveling.”

  She didn’t spare me a glance over her shoulder as she began to help Isabelle from her mare. The younger girl slid down into Olivia’s waiting arms, clearly weary and having no energy to resist Olivia’s ploys, although I suspected she was accustomed to her older sister’s scheming.

  I hopped down from my mount, aware the attention was squarely upon me, that I would set the tone for my men in their treatment of our prisoners. As much as I wanted to toss Lady Olivia back upon her steed, if I resorted to rudeness and manhandling, my men would soon follow suit.

  As Olivia slipped an arm around Isabelle’s waist, the red-haired beauty cast accusing eyes upon me, rebuking me for Isabelle’s weariness. I wanted to remind Olivia she was to blame for Isabelle’s lack of sleep last night. If she’d slumbered instead of so foolishly trying to escape, then Isabelle wouldn’t be as tired.

  Instead of reminding her, I forced myself to react with the cool detachment that would show her I was in command and that she didn’t have the power to anger me, even though she had. “As Lady Isabelle is taxed beyond endurance, she will ride with Sir Darien.”

  I nodded at Darien. His eyes widened in surprise. But when I glanced pointedly at Lady Isabelle and then at his horse, he jumped into action to obey my directive.