Maggie’s mouth fell open watching him ride off. That bas—
She snapped her mouth shut when a fly flew by her. The second man to guard her and bring her to the dungeon took hold of her elbow and did his duty without being too rough about it.
She was spitting mad at Oliver’s treatment though. How was she supposed to help him if she was locked away in the dungeon?
When she arrived there a few minutes later, she rethought her decision to do anything for Oliver.
“How long has Lord Harwich been married?” she asked as her escort locked her inside a tiny room behind an iron gate. Better to keep her mind on saving Oliver then on where she was and from screaming her head off.
“It has been eight months now,” the guard told her. “Though on the day of his wedding, he was summoned away by the king and then sent immediately out to battle without even a farewell from his bride.”
“So, they haven’t seen each other in eight months?”
“That’s right.”
Maggie felt a little terrible inside that she found such happiness in the fact that the couple had been torn apart. Did it make a difference to Oliver that his wife hardly knew him?
Since the guard was so talkative, Maggie kept asking him questions. She also didn’t want to be alone down here. Her cell was built in a corner, barely lit by one torch. The rest was all shadows. A nightmare.
“What’s she been doing while he was away all these months?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I was with my lord.”
“Of course. What are you called again?”
“Appleton, my lady.”
“Appleton, do you know of any reason Lady Eleanor would want to poison her husband?”
Appleton’s face went hard. “You shouldn’t be speaking of—”
“I have to!” She didn’t care if they accused her of being a witch. And she knew what that meant in this era. If she could save him from that horrible fall, she’d do it. “I know she’s going to poison him and request that he wear his gauntlets and chainmail. Look out for him, Appleton. That’s all I’m asking. She’s going to lure him to the battlements. Stop him if you see him. Do you hear me? If he goes to her she’ll push him over the wall. Even if he could swim, the metal would make him sink. Please, believe me. I know how I sound—”
“Appleton,” said a voice as deep as the waves outside the walls, “you may go.”
Maggie watched Oliver come out of the deep shadows. Appleton hurried toward the stairs. As he reached the first step, Oliver stopped him. “Pay no attention to her ramblings. She will be punished if anyone hears you speaking of this. So, hush.”
Did he just protect her?
Appleton nodded and gave his word, then continued up.
Alone with him in the dim light, she listened to the rhythm of his breath for the first time. She wanted to rejoice and cheer. He was alive!
“My lord, please forgive me—
“Why so formal suddenly?” he asked, coming closer to the gate, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Oliver,” she peeped out meekly. “I know I sound like a—”
He nodded, coming closer. “You sound impassioned.”
Maggie swallowed and barely remembered to breathe while she stared into his eyes. She bit her tongue to keep from begging him to believe her.
“Who told you Eleanor will do this to me?”
Oh, why had she been assigned to do whatever she was doing? It was breaking her heart to tell him. “I come from another time, I suspect to warn you of your death.”
“From what time?”
