“He hasn’t spoken to me,” Katherine continued. “And he looked so angry.”
“He wasn’t angry with you. He was simply surprised that our father chose to announce it in that way.”
“And you’re going to wed Sir Ademar.” Katherine’s face flushed with excitement. “He seems like a good man.”
“He is.” A kind, humble man, who didn’t deserve to be used like this. Honora buried her face in the coverlet, wishing she could just run away right now.
Could she talk to Sir Ademar? Persuade him to go along with the deception in order to see Katherine safely wed? Perhaps she could grant him something in return, such as rents from her dower portion.
But no. The knight had too much pride for that.
The night hours wore on, and Honora still couldn’t sleep. When her sister’s shoulders rose and fell in deep slumber, she donned a cloak and tiptoed out of bed. She hardly knew where she was going or what she planned to do, but restlessness plagued her.
Most of the household was abed, and except the guards, she saw no one else. She continued down the staircase until she saw the familiar glow of candles inside the chapel.
As she drew near, she went to study the wooden chest. Why had it been stolen in the first place? The dim glow of candlelight cast a soft light upon the wood, but she could see nothing that made it different from any other carved chest.
She’d nearly forgotten about the thief, she’d been so caught up in worrying about John. Now she wondered if there was a connection between them.
He wanted the ruby Marie St. Leger had worn, along with the legendary treasure. The funds never seemed to be enough, no matter how much he possessed.
The door opened, and her stomach sank when John entered the chapel, crossing himself as he did so. The gesture was almost a mockery, for surely he was a demon in the flesh.
“Come to pray for your sins, Lady Honora?” he murmured.
The red gash upon his cheek caught her notice, and she reached for her knife. It wasn’t there. She’d forgotten to bring it, thinking there was no need for it in the chapel.
“What do you want, John?”
He moved closer, and Honora circled until her back was toward the door. She’d not let him imprison her again. Her mind spun with thoughts of how to escape him, should he threaten her.
“You’re not going to wed Sir Ademar.” His gaze lingered upon her breasts, his eyes hot. “You’re going to come back to Ceredys where you belong.”
Honora clutched the edges of her cloak to hide her shift from John’s eyes. “That is my choice to make, not yours.”
“You’re wrong,” he said smoothly. “As the heir, I must approve any man you bring into the family. These were my father’s lands, after all.”
“And you don’t intend to approve any of the suitors,” she predicted. “Do you?”
His thin smile was the only answer she needed. She turned to leave, but John stepped in front of her, nearly causing her to stumble.
“That isn’t all, Lady Honora. There is still the matter of the ruby you stole,” he said. “I know Marie St. Leger gave it to you before you left.”
“She gave me nothing. How could she, when I escaped your capture?” She glanced backward toward the door.
“She set you free, didn’t she? Not without aid, but I know she was responsible. And the jewel isn’t at Ceredys any more.” He crossed behind her, blocking her escape. “You know the punishment for theft.” He reached out and took hold of her wrist. “I would hate for you to lose this hand.” His thumb caressed her pulse point, and she ripped it away.
“Don’t threaten me.”
He ignored her. “Return the ruby, and I’ll say nothing to your father about this.” He pointed to the cut upon his face.
“How can I return something I do not have?”
John reached out and seized her wounded wrist. A hot pain shot through her, and she bit her lip against the searing agony. “I’ve had enough of your defiance.”
Honora tried to force the pain away, using Ewan’s technique to bring John down. But she couldn’t center her weight upon his, and her efforts met with no response.
“It was you,” she accused. “You sent one of your men to steal from the chapel and search my belongings. You were looking for Marie’s ruby, weren’t you?”
