“You may,” Emelisse said before Caius could respond. “Oh, Alice, you may! Caius and I were married last night and I want you to come with us. We can finally be friends, as we had once hoped. We can all live at Richmond Castle. You can even bring your army of maids. Caius says that it is a monstrous place, big enough for all of us.”
Alice’s face was alight with happiness. “I have sent my maids home to Dudley Castle,” she said softly, sincerely. “But I will not return with them. I will go with you; with all of you. Thank you, Emelisse. You have made us so very happy.”
Emelisse looked to Caius, beaming, only to see the look of amusement on his face. “I am certainly glad you have givenyourpermission,” he said drolly. “I thought those two would never come to live with us.”
Hallam and Alice started snickering as Emelisse looked properly contrite. “Forgive me,” she said, grinning sheepishly. “I suppose I was overly excited. Did I overstep myself?”
Caius snorted, kissing her on the temple. “Not at all,” he said. “And even if you did, I do not mind. With you lovely ladies gracing Richmond Castle, I am a contented and fortunate man.”
Alice had spent so many years being called ugly or plain that to think Caius meant her when he spoke of lovely ladies was something of a surprise. It touched her a great deal. Hallamlooked at her, knowing that Caius’ words had meant something, and extended a hand to her, which she gratefully took.
“Thank you, Caius,” Hallam said. “From both of us… you have our deepest thanks.”
Caius nodded, but his warm expression was fading. “You are welcome,” he said. “But in order to achieve this wonderous place of peace, there is something we must accomplish first. I suspect Marius will not simply lay down and let us all run off, arm in arm. Hallam, you know better than the rest of us what a threat he may be.”
Hallam sobered quickly. “Aye,” he said honestly. “He is dangerous, far more than Covington ever was. Covington was simply greedy, but Marius… he is ruthlessly ambitious. The marriage between his father and Alice is an example of that.”
“Then it is safe to say that as long as he lives, Hawkstone and Emelisse, and even Alice, will always be in danger.”
As Hallam nodded, Maxton spoke. “What are you thinking, Cai?” he asked. “I have known you too long. You do not ask questions like this without a purpose.”
Caius’ gaze moved around the group, even to young William. The squire had heard things he should not have heard, but being a de Wolfe, Caius trusted him. The name de Wolfe was synonymous with integrity. Still, he made a point of focusing on the young man.
“You will take this information to your grave, young William, or your grave will come sooner than you think,” he said. “Is this in any way unclear?”
William nodded seriously. “I will never speak of it, my lord, I swear it.”
Caius nodded. “Good,” he said, “because what I am about to say will end this situation for us all, but we must be willing to be brave. Emelisse, I mean you in particular. You are a bravewoman, but you must be willing to do the most frightening thing you have ever done and see it through.”
Emelisse looked at him curiously. “What is that?”
Caius reached out and took her hand. He looked at it a moment, at the dark gold ring shining on her finger, before turning his attention to the rest of them.
“My plan is this,” he said. “We send immediate word to Marius that Caspian has agreed to surrender the keep. We tell him that Lady Emelisse has been found and she is waiting for him, to marry him, but the terms are that he must come to Hawkstone alone to collect her. No army, no escort. I suspect that Marius is arrogant enough to believe he does not need an armed escort and will proceed to Hawkstone with all due haste. Emelisse will be the bait, waiting for him in the great hall, and when he comes for her, the Executioner Knights will do what we do best. We will eliminate him.”
Maxton and Kevin understood the plan completely and heartily approved. Even Hallam nodded his approval, something so simple yet so effective.
“Excellent, Cai,” Maxton said. “The perfect plan, truly.”
“As I see it, we have no choice,” Caius said. “My wife will never be safe with Marius running free, and I may even be in jeopardy as well. He will undoubtedly view my marriage to Emelisse as stealing something that belonged to him and I do not want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. My enemies do not live long, and Marius has become my enemy.”
Maxton had a hint of a smile on his lips. “That sounds like The Britannia Viper I have known all these years,” he said. “We are with you, Cai. But we had better do this now, today, since Marius is on the move.”
“Agreed,” Caius said. “Hallam, since there are still Winterhold troops at Hawkstone, it will be up to you to orderthem to retreat so Marius will not have any support when he arrives. In fact, you had better ride up ahead and do that. Lady de Wrenville can remain here, protected by The Marshal’s army, while you are away. Will you go?”
Hallam nodded. “Aye,” he said. “I will have them departed before Marius arrives.”
“Good,” Caius said, his gaze lingering on Hallam and Alice. “You realize, of course, that with Marius out of the way, Alice will indeed be the sole holder of Winterhold as the dowager baroness. She has already mentioned this. You could remain at the fortress and rule with her, you know. Probably more prestigious than being a knight at Richmond.”
Hallam looked at Alice, who shook her head. Hallam shook his head, too. “Nay, Caius,” he said. “We have already discussed this. That place only holds terrible memories for us both. Let it revert to the Crown. I would rather start a new life with Alice than rule that place at her side.”
Caius understood and he admired the fact that Hallam truly wanted a peaceful beginning with Alice rather than help her rule over a castle that bore such an awful history for them both. But he had wanted to make sure, which was why he’d brought it up. With Hallam and the remaining Winterhold army taken care of, his attention turned to Emelisse.
She had so far remained silent during the exchange, seated upon her palfrey and looking a bit distant. He squeezed her hand.
“There is no danger to you, sweetheart, I promise,” he said. “All you need do is sit in the hall. The rest of us will be around you, in the shadows. Marius will never get close enough to harm you, but I am sorry if this frightens you.”
She looked at him, smiling wanly. There was a good deal going through her mind, not the least of which was the fact that she was closer to the end of the hostilities with Winterhold thanshe had been since the situation started. God, how she’d prayed for a miracle, praying for Covington and Marius to cease their aggression. But she’d never prayed for what she received– a knight, a husband, who would be the answer to everything. She’d only prayed for help.
