“Not when they hear my side of the story,” she shot back. “What was a poor wife to do when her husband was gone month after month, fighting for the king and whoring to no end? Of course I sought comfort elsewhere.”
“You were not looking for comfort,” he snapped forcefully. “You were looking for pets to entertain you, men you could spend my money on, and as for whoring I should think you would know better than anyone that I do not take lovers. I have little time or desire.”
“Then how do you explain that little chit in your bed?” she raged. “Do not tell me you two were occupied with mere pillow talk to pass the hours.”
He had to move away from her or he would strangle her with his bare hands. “What Lady Remington and I do is of no concern to you,” he rumbled, twitching with anger. “She is more of a woman than you could ever hope to be. Now, madam, make yourself comfortable for this will be your home for the rest of your miserable life. I shall return shortly.”
She went pale, her thin face sweaty from exertion. She looked stunned and he had difficulty believing her shock was real. “You would kill me for defending myself?”
He paused at the door. “Nay. I would kill you for harming Lady Remington. You will be a thorn in my side no longer.”
Her mouth opened in panic. “But what about Trenton? You would deprive my son of…”
“You birthed the lad, Mari-Elle, and that is all. You were never his mother; you never loved him nor cared for him,” he said with quiet bitterness. “He shall hardly miss you.”
She shrieked weakly and collapsed to her knees. Quitting the cell, he bolted the heavy door and locked it with the giant lock that was hanging from the hook-and-eye. He did not even know where the key was to open the lock and he did not care.
*
Remington was stillasleep when he returned. Patrick informed him briefly that Rastus the surgeon had already seen her, but little more. Rushed, Gaston chased both Eudora and Patrick out for the moment, his eyes riveted to her face as he knelt beside the bed. She had rolled onto her back somewhat, her angelic face reflecting the soft glow from the hearth. He regretted deeply thathe must wake her, but he must know what happened in order to deal better with Mari-Elle.
She did not respond to his gentle voice at first, and he took to kissing her softly, hoping that she would respond to his touch. As he hoped, she stirred slightly and her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she did was try to raise her right arm to touch him and she cried out from the stab of pain.
He soothed her tenderly. “It’s all right, angel, just lie still. I am sorry to have awoken you, but I must speak with you.”
Her left hand covered her shoulder as if she could massage the pain away. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. “What… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing at all,” he said softly. “But I need to know what happened this eve with Mari-Elle. Can you remember very much?”
She blinked, her pupils dilated with pain. “She came into your room while I was asleep. I remember seeing her hovering over me with a terrible look to her eye, and I saw the dagger before she stabbed me. She ran away and I think I tried to follow her,” her breathing was faint; Rastus had given her a powerful sleeping potion that was trying to reclaim her. “I do not remember much after that. I am sorry.”
He kissed her cheek gently. “No need, angel. Go back to sleep now.” He had all he had come for.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice no more than a whisper.
“Nowhere to concern yourself over,” he said. “I shall return as quickly as I can.”
“Have you found her? She hasn’t hurt anyone else, has she?” she moved a bit and winced.
He put his huge hand against her cheek, feeling that she did indeed have a bit of a fever. “Nay, my sweet angel, she has not.Everything is fine,” he pulled back the coverlet over her naked shoulder. “Go back to sleep.”
She sighed and closed her eyes, sleep claiming her almost immediately. He kissed her tenderly once more before ushering Eudora back into the room, leaving Patrick standing in the hall as he closed the door behind the older woman.
“There is no longer any need for you to stand guard in the room,” he told his cousin. “You may return to your regular duties.”
“Did you find Mari-Elle?” Patrick asked.
Gaston ran his fingers through his hair. “Aye.”
“Where is she?” his cousin asked.
“In the vault,” Gaston said ominously, nodding his head in the direction of the door he had smashed earlier. “Get some men on that door come sunrise, but I do not want them disturbing Remi. She needs to sleep.”
“Aye,” Patrick nodded, glancing at the door. “God’s Toes, Gaston, what in the hell went on here tonight?”
Gaston rolled his eyes in frustration. “What in the hellhasn’tgone on?”
He left his cousin shaking his head, wondering what sort of chaos was overtaking them. Everything seemed normal until Mari-Elle arrived, but Patrick suspected she would not be a problem after tonight. Gaston was a merciful man with those who deserved it; Mari-Elle, in his opinion, did not.
