He must have thought he had managed to subdue her with his threat, for she said no more until they reached the other men who had been left with the horses. She recognized a few of them from Kirkburough, Lyons’ knights, men who should rightfully be serving Godwine’s brother now, not Gilbert.
Rowena became very still when she realized that. God’s mercy, did they even know? Or were they following Gilbert blindly, under the mistaken belief that he had some claim to Kirkburough through Rowena simply because Lyons had ordered them to fight for Gilbert’s cause ere he died? They must know Lyons was dead, for Gilbert said he had returned to Kirkburough after the keep had been destroyed. Was the marriage contract binding them, then? But that contract had been voided when Lyons failed to consummate the marriage. And no one knew that except her, Gilbert, and Mildred—and Warrick. Gilbert certainly would not have told them. More like he had hinted that a child had been conceived…
She wondered why he had not asked about that yet, but suddenly she knew. Gilbert still had what he wanted, what he had gained through her marriage—Lyons’ army. And he was about to strike a brutal blow against Warrick, the capture of his stronghold as well as his daughters. Gilbert was about to win the war between them, andshehad given him the means to do it. Because he had been able to act so quickly, Kirkburough no longer mattered, so neither did a child to hold it.
Warrick…he would be devastated. He would be crazed with rage. And Gilbert would be able to demand any terms for the release of his daughters—including his life.
She had to do something. She should not care what befell Warrick, but she remembered his laughter, his passion, and that tender kiss in parting; and, damn him, she did care—leastwise, she did not want to see him die. Nor did she want to see Gilbert win this war of theirs.
She wanted to blurt out to Lyons’ men that they did not belong here, that the contract that had put them here was never valid. But did she do so, Gilbert would beat her senseless; she doubted it not. He might even kill her in his anger, and little good she could do then. But whatcouldshe do? Warn the castle, or convince Lyons’ men, without Gilbert knowing, that they did not belong here? Verily, she needed to do both, for even if Gilbert were reduced to only his own men, he still might try to take Fulkhurst while it was so undermanned.
The man she had cut, as well as one other, had left the area, likely to return to their camp. Rowena waited until Gilbert was watching her to glance over those men remaining.
“Is this your army, then?” she asked innocently. “I thought my marriage had gained you much more.”
He could not really fault her for that observation, though he did not like it. “Do not be foolish. My army is concealed deeper in these woods. Two hours after dark, they will move toward the castle to await my signal that the gates have been opened.”
“That isifyou can get inside. I still think you will be turned away. They will be cautious without their lord in residence. Likely he warned them, too, to watch for trickery, since ’twasyouwho lured him out with your ruse of challenge, and he trusts you not. Fulkhurst is a smart man.”
“Are you trying to annoy me?”
“Certainly. Think you I have forgotten what you forced me to do?”
“Be quiet!” he hissed, dragging her away from the others’ hearing to hiss again, “If you remember so much, remember also that I hold your mother still.”
’Twas unnecessary to say more. Rowena nodded, feeling a depression settle on her shoulders. What had made her think she could do aught to prevent the disaster Gilbert was set on creating? With her he always won in the end, always knew just what to say to take the fight out of her, leaving her utterly defeated.
Chapter 35
The sun made only a brief appearance that morn ere it was swallowed up by the bank of gray clouds that had been threatening rain since yesterday. Rowena wished it would rain in torrents. Why not? She was already feeling so miserable she was sick to her stomach with it. Why should the men guarding her not feel some of that misery in discomfort?
Only six sat around her, appearing relaxed and unconcerned. Gilbert had gone with two others to a vantage point where he could watch the comings and goings of the castle. He had not actually ordered those men remaining to guard her. They saw her now astheirlady, so ’twas now theirdutyto protect her, which excluded letting her just leave on her own. But leaving now would not suit her new purpose, which was to prevent Gilbert from capturing Fulkhurst.
He had left her so few options with his threat. Unless Gilbert died himself, her mother would pay for whatever Rowena could accomplish to thwart Gilbert’s plan—unless she could do something without his suspecting her of the doing. But what could be done so indirectly?
Of course, she could cut off the head of the snake herself and hope the body would then slither away. But if shecouldmanage to kill Gilbert, one of his own men was likely to cut her down for it, and she could not see herself as beingthatself-sacrificing, not for a man who wanted only revenge against her.
She could tell Gilbert that Warrick was the man he had held at Kirkburough. That might make him so enraged he would do something foolish, mayhap even want to challenge Warrick in truth, mayhap even ride after him to do so…She was dreaming. Gilbert would never put himself at risk, not knowing the size of the army Warrick had taken with him, not certain his own was bigger. She wishedsheknew how big was his army. There had been many men at Kirkburough, but she knew Gilbert had counted on hiring many more with Lyons’ wealth. Had he had a chance yet to do so?
There was one hope that she held fast to, that Gilbert would begin to worry about the predictions she had cast about what would happen when he tried to enter the castle. If only a few doubts would arise, there was the rest of this day for them to magnify. He could, in fact, end up convincing himself that his original plan was doomed to fail. Then he would remember the gibe he had made at her, and think seriously about using her after all to gain entrance. She would then have time to give warning, for in his telling her when his army would approach, she knew he did not mean to take the gate as soon as he entered the castle. She would likely be taken straightaway to the dungeon, but that would benefit her in separating herself from Gilbert, so she could confess who he was without his knowing ’twas she who betrayed him.
Aye, he would use her if he began to be plagued with doubts, and he would do so without suspecting that she would want to help the man who had imprisoned her. He knew she hated him, but he would think she hated Warrick more.
She began to feel better—until she remembered what awaited her in Fulkhurst’s dungeon. Had Beatrix enacted her farce ere she knew Rowena had escaped? If not, then she might not have made her accusations, might have decided ’twould serve no purpose with Rowena gone. And the capture of Warrick’s worst enemy might stay her hand as well, especially if Rowena was ultimately responsible for his capture. She might not even be put in the dungeon. They might even be grateful to her—nay, she was dreaming again. But at the very least, it might make that damn jailer think twice about abusing her—until after Warrick returned and passed judgment for her escape. But if she was going to be greeted with that charge of theft…
There was not a thing she could do about that, she realized. Whatever awaited her inside the castle she would have to face,ifGilbert decided to use her. But she was now not so eager to be used. And she began to look at the men around her again, wondering once more if there was not something she was overlooking, something that she could say to turn them away from Gilbert’s command, without their confronting him about it and thereby exposing her to his rage—and his retaliation.
Of the six men left behind with her, only two she was certain were from Kirkburough, though all could be. But surely not all. Surely Gilbert would want more men he knew to be loyal to him at his back when he took the gate, than not. If she could just talk to one of the Kirkburough knights, without Gilbert’s men hearing…
When one of them made mention of a meal, Rowena realized she was starving. But she ignored the food in her own sack and got up casually to move away from the group. She assumed they would share what they had with her, and hoped one of the two she wanted to speak to would bring it. But as usual, her luck would have it otherwise. The man who offered her some cold venison and stale bread she did not know, and the simple expedient of asking his name got her the additional information that he was from Ambray.
She thanked him but refused his offering, claiming she was not hungry, though her belly raged at her for the lie. Then she waited until they had finished eating and were relaxed again, then waited a while more, praying Gilbert would not return for a meal himself. He did not. And finally she looked directly at one of the Kirkburough men and confessed that she was hungry after all.
He jumped up to fetch her food from his own stores, and after she thanked him, she quickly remarked, “I am surprised that you have involved yourself in this cause that is not your own and is doomed to fail.” Then she hazarded a guess. “And you do it without pay.”
He did not deny it, saying, “I am sworn to Kirkburough, and Lord Gilbert—”
“Has no claim there, nor do I,” she got out ere she lost her nerve. She then feigned surprise. “But surely you knew that. Without issue from my union with Lord Godwine, his brother inherits all.Heis now Lord of Kirkburough and is no doubt there now and wondering what has become of his brother’s retainers, men he will certainly have need of for the rebuilding of his keep. Verily, I do not understand why men prefer war and death to building, but obviously you must, or you would not be here instead of there.”
