Thia closed her eyes tightly as the image of Colin passed before her. She knew, mayhap better than anyone, just how deeply her brother had suffered. He had agonized and died a thousand times over since Peter’s death. She had to admit that Peyton had healed her brother tremendously, returning him to the man that had existed only in legend. If Alec were to lose the very reason for his existence, The Legend would die forever.
Her struggle ended as her conscience emerged the victor. She could remain silent no longer.
“Run, Peyton!” she suddenly screamed. “Run!”
Peyton started violently. She gave in to her first reaction, which was to turn questioningly to Thia. As her eyes beheld therotund woman, she saw a shrouded figure raise an arm high into the air. There was something clutched in the dark hand, something she couldn’t see. But in a sickening instant, the arm came down and Thia went crashing to the dusty, chaff-covered floor of the stable.
Peyton did not think. She whirled on her heel, fully preparing to run for her life. But she never had the chance; in a flash of searing pain and bone-jarring force, her world dimmed, danced, and finally vanished.
*
Back in thedining hall, Jubil suddenly let out a piercing cry and crumpled to the floor in the throes of agony.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Alec retired tohis chamber well after midnight. The room was dark and he did not bother to light the taper. Silently removing his clothes, he eased himself into an empty bed.
“Peyton?” he reached for the flint and lit the candle. As the room came into view, he could see that he was quite alone.
Puzzled, he got out of bed and glanced about the room curiously, as if expecting Peyton to be huddled under a chair or in the wardrobe. Donning his hose and boots, he threw open the door.
The corridor was vacant, dimly lit by dying torches and smelling heavily of smoke. He stormed down the hall, turning the corner and coming to pause in front of the door to his mother’s bower. He rapped loudly on the door until a perturbed figure opened the panel.
“This had better be important, Alec,” she growled, smoothing at her mussed hair. Alec glanced over her head, seeing his father lying innocently in bed. Normally, he would have laughed himself ill. But at the moment, he was too preoccupied.
“You took Peyton to bed this eve,” he said shortly. “She is not in our chamber.”
Celine’s eyes widened and she seemed to falter terribly. “She is not in your chamber?” she repeated weakly.
Alec cocked an eyebrow. “I have no time for this. Where’s my wife, mother?”
Celine began to breathe rapidly and a white hand clutched her throat in confusion. “I…. I do not know,” suddenly, her eyes filled with tears. “That was well over three hours ago!”
“I realize that. Do you know where she might be?”
Celine was seized with a budding horror. She had been reluctant to leave Peyton in Thia’s company simply for the fact that the last time the women had met, they had managed to injure each other substantially. She had put her faith in Thia’s sincere manners, mayhap too much faith. Mayhap she had believed only what she wished to believe, that Thia was intent on a reconciliation. Mayhap she had been wrong.
“I…. are you sure she is not in your chamber?” she asked feebly. Her hands were beginning to shake.
Alec cocked an eyebrow. “I am not an idiot, Mother. I think I would have seen my own wife within the confines of our bower.”
Celine suddenly sobbed, a hand flying to her mouth. “I do not know where she is. Oh, Alec, something must be wrong!”
Alec sighed heavily; he hadn’t meant to upset his mother with his harsh manner. He had no idea that the tears in Celine’s eyes were the result of her guilt as his manner softened. “Nothing is wrong, I am sure. Return to bed, mother. I shall see if Ivy knows where she is. Mayhap she couldn’t sleep and is simply walking about.”
Celine watched her son turn down the hall. After the briefest hesitation, she called out to him.
“Alec?” she moved toward him timidly. “I lied to you, dear. I did not take your wife to bed as I said. I…. I left her with Thia.”
“Youwhat?” Alec roared. Even as Brian bound from the bed and made haste to his wife’s side, Alec was descending on herwith a fury neither parent had seen before. “How could you have left her with Thia when you know… oh,Christ.…”
He spun on his heel, racing the length of the corridor and disappearing around the corner. Celine, her eyes spilling over with tears, yelled after him. “Thia wanted to apologize to her, Alec! I saw no harm in…,” she suddenly clutched her husband. “Go after him, Brian. Rouse Ali and Toby. If Thia has done something to Peyton, I fear…!”
Brian was already lumbering after his son as fast as he could go.
Thia wasn’t inher chamber, either. Alec turned the entire fortress inside-out in search of his wife, never thinking to search the Warrington rooms. Edward, Toby, Ali, and the rest of the household joined in the search for the two women and Alec’s panic was increasing by the moment. When they searched the wine cellar and still found nothing, he began to border on hysteria.
Ali remained his rock. Alec was virtually incapable of forming a rational idea beyond his thoughts of Peyton and it was Ali who organized the soldiers and sent them on a search of the grounds. Two hours before sunrise, several of Edward’s guard came jogging into the grand hall where most of the searchers had congregated before proceeding on to other areas.
