Arissa let out a hissing sigh, indicative of the amazement at her sister’s preposterous statement. “I am not going to argue this with you. What you have done is wrong and the soldier will be punished. Are you not the least bit remorseful for causing the suffering of another?”
Tears fading, Regine’s stubborn nature was beginning to regain control. “I do not want him punished. ’Twas my idea.”
Arissa shook her head, at a loss to understand. “But why?”
Regine averted her willful gaze. “Because…. because Penelope has Daniel, and Emma has eyes for Tad, and…. Tessa de Rydal is already married and she’s only eleven years old. I am older and not even betrothed.”
“You want to grow up too fast, Regine,” Arissa said softly. “In your haste, I fear you may have ruined your chances for a decent marriage.”
Regine met her sister’s eyes. “That is not true. Especially if father does not know the truth.”
Arissa looked to Daniel, torn in her decision. Part of her wanted to forget the incident, and part of her wanted to confess the entire occurrence to her father and pray for his wisdom in the matter. But the majority of her wanted to take Regine over her knee and beat her backside raw.
“Daniel,” she said softly, “I am afraid I will have to ponder this for a time. Not a word to anyone until I have made a decision.”
Daniel nodded, casting a long, regretful glance at Regine. Then his gaze moved to Penelope as he turned for the door. “If you are ready, I shall escort you to the hall. The guests are already beginning to assemble.”
Penelope nodded weakly, taking his offered arm. Daniel had barely opened the door when Richmond was suddenly in the archway, his beautiful face grim. He focused directly on Regine.
“You,” he pointed a long finger at her. “Come here.”
Regine shrieked and ducked behind Arissa. Richmond swept into the room, snaking an arm behind Arissa and snatching Regine by the sleeve. Regine’s shrieking turned to full-blown screams as he tore her away from her sister’s protective custody. Without a word, he bent at the waist and threw Regine over his shoulder, turning for the door in one effortless, unhurried motion.
Arissa was stunned speechless by the knight’s sharp actions until Richmond was nearly through the doorway. Suddenly finding her tongue, she dashed after him.
“No, Richmond!” she cried. When he did not respond, she grabbed hold of his arm and dug her heels into the floor. “Put her down!”
He paused, his blue-hued eyes like blue steel. “This is none of your affair, my lady. Kindly refrain from interfering.”
“I will not!” she retorted urgently. “What are your plans with my sister?”
His expression was entirely emotionless, purely professional. She was so accustomed to being greeted by his smile that she felt a certain amount of devastation at his seeming indifference. But she’d seen this persona before her many a time; the cold, professional soldier. And he scared her to death.
“As I said, it is none of your affair. I will deal with your sister alone.”
Arissa forced herself to calm. Her hands moved from his forearm to his hand, curling around his massive fingers tightly. She hoped her touch would soften him somewhat, although glancing at his face, she deemed that result improbable. Still, she had to try.
“Who told you?”
He gazed at her a moment before answering. “I went in search of an errant soldier who failed to show at his post at the proper time. I was told by one of the earl’s men that he had seenDaniel take my soldier to the vault. The moment I entered the man’s cell, he confessed his sins and begged forgiveness.”
Arissa took a deep breath, attempting desperately to swallow her fear. She squeezed his hand tightly. “What are you going to do?”
“That will be for your father to decide when he’s made aware of Lady Regine’s escapade.”
Over his massive shoulder, Regine kicked and moaned in protest. Arissa passed her sister a despairing glance before refocusing on Richmond.
“If you tell him now, you shall ruin the entire evening,” she said in a low voice. “This can wait until the festivities are over.”
His jaw ticked. “My lady, one of my personal soldiers is presently awaiting a harsh sentence for molesting a woman of noble breeding. You fail to understand the severity of the situation.”
Regine kicked and cried again, catching Arissa’s attention once more. Her fingers tightened around Richmond’s free hand. “Put Regine down and we shall discuss this further.”
“There is nothing to discuss,” he pulled his hand free. “After I have seen to your sister, I shall return to escort you to the feast.”
His manner was cold. Hard. A spark of anger ignited in Arissa’s chest, immediately becoming a blaze of fury. She continued to gaze at him, her pale green eyes transforming from softly pleading to razor shards of ice. Damn him and his determined sense of duty!
“Do not bother,” she said coldly. “Since you see fit to ruin my birthday feast, I shall not be attending. For that matter, Richmond le Bec, I do not care if I ever see you again. Any man who would brutally handle a young girl and threaten chaos over a situation that could just as well wait until the morrow is unworthy of my attention or friendship.”
