William ignored this and kept a steady regard upon Ceidre. “She is most charming of appearance. She resembles that scoundrel Morcar somewhat. You are lucky, wench, that Lord Warenne saw you married to Sir Guy. I have spies everywhere and I am well aware that this is the second time you have committed treason to me. I knew that you freed Morcar. Clearly you are unrepentant. Your sentence is imprisonment for life.” He turned and called for his guards.
Ceidre froze, unable to move, to breathe, to think. The two men entered and approached. William told them to lock her up below. She whipped a frantic regard at Rolfe—he would not let this happen! He would not let this sentence stand—would not let them throw her into the dungeons! Surely he would not!
He ignored her. As the two men grabbed her, she closed her eyes. She knew her fate. It was over. She was to be imprisoned for life. And first tossed into the dungeons. She would not weep, would not beg—she would resign herself to death, for to be closed up below would surely kill her. With a deep breath, she managed to walk out between the two guards. Her shoulders were squared, hard, but her hands at her sides trembled.
When she was gone, William turned to Rolfe, who dropped down on one knee, head bowed. “Whatever you decide, ’tis not less than I deserve.”
“You are right, of course,” William said, walking away. He picked up a cup of wine, sipped it, and turned to gaze at Rolfe, who was still kneeling in deference. “Get up, Rolfe.”
Rolfe rose gracefully.
“This is most strange. First you chose not to tell me that the serf who helped Morcar escape from Aelfgar was this wench, his bastard sister.”
Rolfe was too bitter to be startled. “Again, I am a fool.”
William ignored him. “But I let it go, trusting your judgment. ’Tis strange that you then wed her to Guy. ’Tis stranger still you allowed her in your bed. In one blow you cuckold wife and good friend. Is it true—that she has the eye?”
“Yes, but she is no witch.”
“Mayhap she did give you a potion,” William said. “Because you are not a man to behave as you have, nor are you one to spill our secrets—in bed, good God! It matters not how comely the wench is!”
Rolfe said nothing. But his eyes blazed.
“You are angry. I am glad to see it. You have been punished enough. You did not mean to abet her, and the result was you lost a dozen of your men. I will not add to what you are already suffering.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Rolfe said without gratitude. His jaws were clamped together.
William sighed. “In truth, despite the betrayal, we weakened their numbers and drove them from their lair, as we intended. Although our losses were heavy, we still succeeded in our plans.”
“Yes.”
“I place the wench in your custody. My dungeons are overfull already; besides, ’tis fitting, I think. Yet do not mistake me—she is a royal prisoner.”
Rolfe smiled, cruelly, coldly. “I gladly accept,” he said.
“Your confinement is ended,” Rolfe said coldly at the door to the chamber.
Alice rose from the bed, staring. Then she swept forward, dropped to her knees, and took his hand. “Thank you, my lord,” she said humbly. “I beg your forgiveness.” She lifted her face, her mouth quivering.
He ignored her, gesturing for her to rise, and turned grimly to examine the heavy door and inner bolt. A man stood at his heels. “This must be removed,” he told the carpenter. “I want it placed on the outside. It must be unbreakable. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lord,” the carpenter said, inspecting the door.
Rolfe crossed the room with hard strides, to peer out an arrow slit. Not even a child could slip through, he noted with satisfaction. There was only one way out of the solar, and that was through the door. “The bolt shall be wood for now, but made of iron immediately. Inform the smith,” he stated.
Alice, wide-eyed, wet her lips nervously. “What passes, my lord?”
His disdainful gaze swept her, surprised she was still there. “You will move back into my chamber,” he told her shortly. “Your sister will be imprisoned here.”
“Ceidre!”
Rolfe started to leave the room, and Alice hurried after, catching his sleeve. “My lord, what has happened!”
He did not break stride until he was in their own chamber. He ripped off his hauberk. “I need a bath now.”
Alice scrambled to call for one.
“Your sister has committed treason one time too many,” Rolfe said carelessly, yet with such an ice-cold attitude that Alice shivered. He pulled off his padded leather undertunic. “She is the king’s prisoner, and her sentence is for life. William has placed her in my custody. She will never leave the solar until the day she dies.”
