She peered through the darkness, barely making out the horse from the light of the moon.
The animal coming from the other side was too small to be one of the warrior horses that Christien and Jean Paul rode and sitting atop it was the slight form of a woman—not a knight.
A woman would help her.A woman would understand.
She stood uncertainly by the tree as the rider approached.She seemed to know Madelaine was there for she unerringly headed toward her.Behind Madelaine, the dogs grew louder.She had no choice but to trust the woman now.
Mayhap she could somehow make it to her father’s castle and find safety there and transportation to Paris.Her father would help her.Of course her father’s castle would be the first place Lucien would look.She shook her head, her thoughts too jumbled, too confused.For now she must concentrate on escape.Later she would plan where she would go.
The clouds moved away from the moon, revealing the face of the woman on the horse.
“No!”Madelaine cried out and sprinted away.
The horse followed at a leisurely canter and the woman’s laughter drifted toward Madelaine.She was caught.Trapped between the horse and the dogs.Her steps slowed until she stopped, her shoulders bowed.
The crunch of leaves beneath booted feet had her looking up into the dark, black eyes of Lucien.Behind him Giselle slid off her horse and stood beside it.
“So now you know,” Lucien said.
Madelaine shook her head.“I know nothing.”
Lucien struck out, his open palm connecting with her cheek, snapping her head sideways.She cried out.Her vision dimmed, the pain was so great.
“Do not lie, Madelaine.’Tis unbecoming.”
The dogs circled at their feet, whining and yapping.Lucien kicked at one.It yelped and limped off.The others, sensing his mood, quietly slunk away.
Giselle’s avid gaze bounced between the two of them.
“The count will not like this,” Madelaine said.
“I no longer fear the count.”
Madelaine stilled.Fear skittered up her spine.The count had been called away that morning to Paris and she’d been relieved he was gone.Now she wished he was here because she would rather face his wrath than what Lucien had in mind for her.
“What have you done?”she whispered.
Lucien looked her up and down boldly.“Nothing.Yet.You have heard, of course, of what is happening in Paris.”He shook his head and tsked.“It’s a shame that the Templar leader does not cooperate.But that is the way with such men, eh?”He put his hands behind him and rocked back on his heels.“Your poor fool of a husband is trying in vain to free the Grand Knight but I see in which direction the winds are blowing.”
Madelaine’s breathing grew rapid.She wanted to shout at Lucien to be quiet because she knew what he was going to say next.
“The other lords see it too.Only your husband is the blind one.Fool.I fear Count Flandres will soon fall out of favor and even your connection to King Philip will not save him.”
It was beginning to make sense now.Lucien wrote to Philip of the count’s defection.Or what Philip would determine as his defection.Her husband was as good as dead.
“When Philip discovers your so-called loyalty, you want to be rewarded.”She shuddered to think what the reward would be.It was well known priests turned a blind eye to their vows of chastity.Many were raising illegitimate children and had numerous mistresses, while the church stood by doing nothing.
Her death wasn’t what Lucien wanted.He wanted her.He wanted what he’d been denied when Christien barged into the bedchamber the last time.He wanted revenge and she feared even her cousin wouldn’t stop him.
Lucien laughed.“You value yourself too much, Countess.”He caressed her cheek with the back of his dirty knuckles.“Although you would be a just reward.One I may take along with the other.”
Madelaine forced herself to meet the bottomless depth of his soulless eyes.“Other?”
Lucien smiled, revealing yellowed teeth.“What I will receive goes far beyond the pleasures of the flesh, my lady.I need merely take what Philip wants.”
Madelaine licked suddenly dry lips.“The Templar treasure,” she whispered.
Lucien touched the tip of her nose, an indulgent smile on his disgusting face.“The lady is smarter than she pretends to be.You are correct.The Templar treasure.And do you know what the Templar treasure is, Countess?”
