“Think what you’re doing,” Elizabeth said. “I’m not some—”
“Shut up!” Pagnell commanded, clipping her on the shoulder with his fist. When her hands were bound, he pushed her onto grain sacks and bound her ankles. With his knife he cut a piece of red silk from her dress. “A kiss, Elizabeth?” he teased, holding the gag close to her lips. “Just one before Miles Montgomery takes them all?”
“I’ll see you in hell first.”
“I’m sure you’ll be there with me if some man doesn’t dull the edges of that tongue of yours.”
Before she could speak again, he tied the cloth tightly over her mouth. “Now you look almost appealing.”
“What do you do with her now?” John asked. “We can’t very well carry her out like that.”
From a far corner of the cellar Pagnell picked up a dirty, moth-eaten piece of canvas and, after a couple of shakes which sent dust flying, he spread it at Elizabeth’s feet. “We shall roll her in this and carry her out sight unseen.”
Alyx watched Elizabeth, her eyes widening with fear now, but all Alyx could think of was that Elizabeth would be much better off with Miles than anyone else. “You’ll be safe with Miles,” she said, trying to reassure Elizabeth.
Again, they all stared at Alyx, but she ignored them. Elizabeth needed her help now.
Not at all gently, Pagnell pushed Elizabeth onto the filthy canvas and rolled her in it, hiding her completely.
“Can she breathe?” Alyx asked.
“Who cares? If she dies she can tell no tales. As it is, after Miles finishes with her she won’t even remember me.”
“Miles won’t harm her,” Alyx said passionately. “He’s good and kind like his brother.”
Pagnell laughed at that. “No one has ever had a temper to match Miles’s. As soon as he finds she’s a Chatworth... oh, I almost envy him, but I’m not a fool like Miles. He won’t care about Roger Chatworth, and when Roger hears what Miles has done to his beloved baby sister—The King will have all the Montgomery lands to award to him who does favors for the King. And I shall be there to collect.”
“You are a vile pig of a creature.”
The back of Pagnell’s hand slammed into Alyx’s jaw, sending her reeling. “I’ll ask for the advice of an underling like you when I want it. Is it Raine Montgomery who’s put ideas into your head? The man thinks he can reform all of England. He hides in the forest and sneers at anything material, spouting about the old ways of honor and nobility while the people of your class grow fat and rich.”
Alyx wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. “Raine is worth a hundred of you,” she said.
“Raine is it? No ‘Lord Raine’? Do you carry his brat? Is that what makes you think you’re so high and mighty? When the flames lick up your legs we shall see if the name of Montgomery is so gentle on your lips. John!” he said sharply. “Take Elizabeth away. Give her to Miles Montgomery and see what he wants to do with her. And John,” he warned, “Elizabeth’s virginity is a known fact, and I want her to arrive at Miles’s feet intact. Let all of Roger Chatworth’s wrath come onto the Montgomery heads and not mine. Do I make myself clear?”
John gave him an insolent look as he tossed the bundle containing Elizabeth across his shoulder. “Montgomery will receive her in the best possible condition.”
“But make sure he is inclined to forget she is a high-born lady. See if you can rearrange her clothing to stir his blood.”
With a parting grin, John left the cellar.
“What do you want from me?” Alyx asked, backing away from Pagnell as he came closer to her. “I have done you no wrong.”
He glared at her big belly. “You have given to another man what should have been mine.” He grabbed her arm and pushed a small, sharp dagger to her ribs. “Now, go up the stairs and out the door and then to the stables. If you make a single sound it will be your last.”
Her breath held, Alyx had no choice but to obey him. Once in the great hall there were guests milling about, but no one paid the least attention to Pagnell and the cheaply clad girl. They were nursing swollen heads and bruised bodies from where they’d slept across stools and tables.
Alyx searched for Jocelin, but she saw no sign of him. Every time she attempted to move her head, Pagnell’s knife pushed harder against her until she kept her head straight. Perhaps Jocelin didn’t know she was in trouble. Perhaps he was with a woman and hadn’t yet discovered she was missing from the hall. For all their closeness, they respected each other’s privacy. There were whole days when they didn’t see each other and no questions were asked later.
Outside, Pagnell pushed her toward the stables, where he bellowed to a servant to saddle his horse. Before Alyx could think, she was slammed into the saddle, Pagnell behind her, and they set off at a pace that made Alyx’s teeth jar.
It was nightfall when they finally stopped before a tall stone house at the edge of a small village. Pagnell pulled her from the horse, grabbed her arm and dragged her to the door.
A short, fat, balding man greeted them. “You took longer than I thought. Now what is so important I must wait for you this late at night?”
“This,” Pagnell said, pushing Alyx into the room before him. It was a large, dark room, a few candles on a table at one end.
“What do I care for a dirty, pregnant lowling like that? Surely you could have found a tastier bit than that for your sport.”
