“How?”
“Papa kept Westley and I away from the Executioner Knights,” he said. “I spent most of my youth in the royal household. I know nearly everything there is to know about every major house, every army, every foreign diplomat… anything that involves Henry and his politics. But I have been home on occasion, for long periods of time, especially as my father grew older. He always wanted Westley and I to be invested in the politics while my brothers—and men like you—were more invested in insuring England would always remain strong.”
Jonathan understood. “Each man has a calling,” he said. “Mine has always been to accomplish a task, whatever it takes, no matter how distasteful. My younger brother may be the Wolfe of the Border and my older brother may be an earl, but I am the one who ensures they have a country to defend.”
Douglas smiled faintly. “And you do it well,” he said, but quickly sobered. “I realize that asking you to kill a man isunsettling at best, but it is a man who is harming good people. People who are our friends. And I would kill for my friends, Wolfie. Even you.”
Jonathan put a hand on Douglas’ shoulder. “I could not have said it better,” he said. “Therefore, I am going to find Eric and ensure he survives. Did he have something in mind?”
Douglas nodded. “Luring de Honiton to the battlements and pushing him over the side.”
Jonathan shrugged. “Simple and effective,” he said. “But I would not trust Eric do accomplish this on his own. De Honiton will more than likely fight back, you know. It will not be an easy thing if Eric is not prepared for resistance.”
Douglas lifted his eyebrows in resignation. “Although I admire Eric, the man is not a warrior,” he said. “He admits that himself. I’m not sure if he had visions of grandeur when planning to save Isabel, but I am uncomfortable with letting him do this on his own. Save him from himself, Wolfie. But do not let him know it.”
That seemed to settle it. Both Jonathan and Douglas knew what had to be done. As they stood up, preparing to move out, Davyss stopped them.
“I want to be part of this,” he said. “What can I do?”
Douglas and Jonathan looked at the young knight with the flashy sword and a taste for blood. Jonathan put a brotherly hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“If we fail, then de Honiton is yours,” he said. “Do you think you are capable of what we are asking?”
“To kill him?”
“Aye.”
Davyss grinned. “Slowly or quickly?”
In spite of the serious circumstances, it was the best laugh Douglas had in a long time. With a plan in place, the three knights moved out.
It was time to end this once and for all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“We’re sorry, Mira.Can you ever forgive us?”
The soft plea came from Primrose, the most delicate of the younger wards of Lady Isabel. All of the wards, Mira included, were in the ladies’ solar that was used for their lessons. Rather than hide in their chambers in fear because of the upheaval at Axminster, Davina and Helen had instead forced the younger girls back into their routines, so Mira found them all in the solar completing their poetry lessons. She’d only come to check with Helen and Davina before heading to the kitchens to see to the evening meal, but Helen and Davina had pulled her into the chamber and the younger girls—Ines, Marceline, Louisa, Primrose, and Theodora—needed little prompting to apologize.
They’d all heard the terrible truth about Astoria and her lies.
Truth be told, Mira wasn’t in a particularly forgiving mood. She was very hurt by what the girls had done to her. But, on the other hand, Astoria had been a master manipulator, so she really didn’t blame the girls too much. Astoria had managed to push everyone around with her demands and lies. Mira listened to Primrose, Ines, Louisa, and Theodora’s apologies, and then Marceline’s sobbing plea. Because she was crying, Primrose started to weep, and Mira gave up on her inclination notto forgive them immediately. They were genuinely remorseful, young as they were. She hugged both young women and assured them that they were, indeed, forgiven.
Standing by the open door as all of this went on, she caught a glimpse of Eric as he left the main solar and headed outside. She also saw Jonathan and Davyss enter, only to be quickly ushered into the main solar by Douglas. He didn’t see her, but she took a moment to gaze at the man, feeling her heart swell with joy and pride. A man who would protect her and love her, something she’d never hoped for in her life. Not like this. She’d always planned to be married but never hoped for fondness in the union.
Love.
Though she’d never been in love, she suspected that’s what she was feeling.
It was like a whole new world.
“Mira?”
Someone was calling her. Breaking from her thoughts of Douglas, she turned to Helen, who was standing a few feet away. The young woman smiled at her.
“Did you hear me?” Helen said.
Mira shook her head. “I confess, I did not,” she said. “I saw Douglas and became deaf and blind to all else around me.”
