“Oh, Julianna,” Agnes cried, “I do not want to leave you!”
“You must. For Elias’ sake, you must.”
After a swift farewell, for the viscount had commanded Julianna to come, she turned away from the babe she loved and her friend, and climbed up the stairs.
She stepped around her last victim and slanted her eyes to her side when the viscount hastened his steps to reach her.
“What did you do to him?” he asked her. “He is a large enough fellow. How did you bring him down with no blood?”
She didn’t answer. She wasn’t about to tell him the truth, or that there was another one in her room. Let him come closer and find out. “Where is Lord Rothbury?” she asked him instead.
“I could tell you,” he answered, stopping and turning to face her fully, “after you answer my first question.
It was a pity his heart was so black, for his face was quite comely.
“The tip of my blade was dipped in poison,” she went on. “A scratch was enough to fell him.” He was clever. He would never believe she brought the man down with a weapon or her own strength. Poison-tipped blades were common and would distract him from her jewelry.
She expected him to take her knives, but he didn’t. He still did not come close though. “I do not want you to be defenseless against the men here,” he told her, “but let me warn you if you think to attack me. Without me to protect you, you will not last long.”
He hadn’t tried to disarm her. He’d let Elias go—after the bastard held a blade to his neck. She wouldn’t poke him. Not yet, anyway.
“And Lord Rothbury?” she asked, reminding him of their agreement.
“He lives last time I saw him, but barely. He has been taken prisoner and will go before the king. If he makes it.”
Oh, what could she do? How could she save him? She had to! She didn’t want to live in a world without him in it. “Where did you see him?”
Bamburgh picked up his steps and continued on. “He was lying in a cart on his way to York. He will most likely die. He looked quite bad.”
She felt tears stinging her eyes.
“You just met him,” she heard the viscount murmur.
“I have known him my whole life.”
He said nothing after that but led them through the long halls, past the chapel, and outside, where more men waited on horseback.
“What are you going to do with me?” she asked the viscount.
“I’m going to take you to Alnwick.”
Julianna stopped walking. She felt faint. Alnwick? Why? She didn’t want to ask. “Why are you going to take me there?”
“Because that is where the governor wants you.”
Julianna grabbed for something to hold on to. There was nothing. She tried to remember to breathe. She was having trouble. She fought hard to gather herself. Phillip’s brothers. Which one? Either would kill her for killing their brother.
“Am I what all this was about?”
He shook his head. “Not for me. I did it to expose the Earl of Lancaster.”
“You are sending me to my death,” she whispered, continuing to walk.
“Why?” he asked. “Why will he kill you?”
“Because he thinks I killed his brother, Phillip.”
The viscount stared at her for a moment longer, making her want to run. Then, “Miss Feathers, Phillip DeAvoy is not dead.”
