It was a low and cutting blow, but he’d meant it that way. His fierce defense of Elle called for it. Larue burst into tears, rushing past her husband and running out of the hall. Curtis watched her go, utterly sickened and disgusted with her and the horrificsituation she had started. He began to say something else, but someone climbed onto the table beside him, and he turned to see his father.
“No more, Curt,” he said quietly. “You’ve said enough.”
Curtis could see that the man was pale with distress. “You think so?” he said incredulously. “I think they deserve all that and more for what they’ve done. They haven’t heard half of what I intend to say to them.”
Christopher looked at him. “I know,” he said quietly. “And I agree, they deserve it. But you must take Elle out of here. She is close to swooning.”
That had Curtis moving off the table, rushing for Elle, who was standing where he had left her, shocked and trembling. She was positively ashen. He scooped her up into his arms, holding her tightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Dustin and Christin moved up beside them quickly.
“Take her out through the servants’ entrance,” Dustin said quietly. “I will follow. Christin, go with them.”
Christin did. In fact, Alexander joined her, and they shoved people out of the way as Curtis carried Elle out of the great hall and into the keep. Alexander lit a torch and illuminated their way up the narrow stairs, kicking open the master’s chamber door while Christin rushed in and began lighting tapers. Between Christin and Alexander, they lit up the room and started a fire in the hearth as Curtis laid Elle down on the big bed that they shared.
Her eyes were closed, tears streaming onto her temples, as he put a big hand on her forehead, feeling as terrible as he possibly could. Christin came up beside him, bending over to kiss Elle on the head before she turned to her brother.
“Let me tend to Larue,” she said. “Let me do this, Curt.Please.”
Curtis knew what she meant. His sister had been a trained spy and assassin long ago, serving William Marshal in all manner of risky situations. Quite literally, she wanted to end Larue.
God, it was tempting.
“Although I love you for asking, not now,” he said. “Papa would skin us both, so not now. But ask me again in a week. I may have a different answer for you.”
Frustrated, but understanding his hesitation, Christin turned away, folding her arms angrily across her chest. Alexander eyed his rather unpredictable wife with some concern before going to Curtis.
“Do you need anything?” he asked softly. “What can we do for you?”
Curtis looked at him. “Burn down the great hall, mayhap?” he said with some irony. “Just make sure everyone we love is out of it and burn the bastard down.”
Alexander knew he wasn’t serious. Well, nottooserious. But there was anguish in his expression. “If I thought you meant it, I would do it without hesitation,” he said. Then he put his hand on Curtis’ shoulder. “I’ll leave you to tend your wife, and I must tend mine. I’m not entirely sure she is not going to go after Munstone’s wife, regardless of what you say, so I will need to talk her out of it. And I will probably need to calm your father down.”
Curtis nodded quickly. “Go,” he said. “And Sherry… thank you.”
Alexander gave him a brief smile before going to collect his wife, who was secretly planning how to end Lady Munstone’s life and make it look like an accident. As Alexander put an arm around her and escorted her from the chamber, Curtis stood over Elle and watched her with great concern. His heart was breaking for her in so many ways. He only hoped he could repair the damage that had been done this night.
In truth, he wasn’t entirely certain he could.
What a mess.
“May I have some water?”
Elle asked the question so pathetically that Curtis immediately went to the pitcher they had in the chamber, the one that had boiled water and fruit juice. Elle wasn’t hugely fond of wine, and her pregnancy was making her gag with ale, so the watered fruit juice was the only thing she could really drink. He poured her a cup and quickly took it over to her just as she was sitting up. He helped her to drink it, all the while watching her anxiously.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asked. “Bread, mayhap?
She lay back down, closing her eyes. “Nay,” she said softly. “I just want to sleep.”
“Of course, my love,” he said, pulling the coverlet over her and tucking it around her. Then he sat there and watched her, his heart absolutely breaking. “I’m so very sorry for this. If I had to guess, I would be willing to bet my life on the fact that Larue started those unsavory rumors. I’m so deeply sorry.”
Elle didn’t open her eyes as she rolled onto her side. “You know her.”
“I do.”
“She wanted to marry you.”
He nodded regretfully. “She did,” he said. “I should have told you.”
“Did you know she was going to be here tonight?”
