Thorpe settled into a chair and bellowed for a servant to bring food. Not until food and wine had been given him did he pierce her with his dark eyes…eyes so like Rolfe’s. “He saw whoever fired the arrow moving off through the woods toward Pershwick. Evarard says that you have returned to Pershwick since coming here.”
“That is true. My aunt Beatrix continues to live there. I have every right to visit her. How does that condemn me?”
“You had time to plan your husband’s death while you were there. It is well known that you did not wantto marry him and are still not reconciled to the marriage. It is equally well known that before you even met him, you caused him much grief. The conclusion is obvious. You want to rid yourself of him.”
“If that is so, why did I help him take Wroth Keep? Also, I could have poisoned him myself at any time and blamed it on that filthy kitchen. But I had his kitchens cleaned instead.”
“Youdid that?”
“Oho! So another one is quick to believe that the changes were Lady Amelia’s doing. After living here in this filth hole for so long, she all of a sudden decided to take his property in hand, is that right? Oh, believe what you like. Believe also that I would leave to a chancy arrow what I could easily have done properly. I do not do things in half measures, Sir Thorpe. If I had wanted my husband dead, he would be dead.”
“You have always been against him, Lady Leonie. Can you denythat?”
“I shall neither make denials nor offer excuses for what I felt in the past. I was told the Black Wolf was a monster. Alain Montigny was my friend and your lord meant to kill him if he could find him. Yes, I despised him for coming here. Alain, whose home was stolen from him, had to flee for his life. I would even have gathered my people to help Alain keep what was his, but he chose not to fight.”
“Butyouchose to do so, Lady Leonie.”
“There you are wrong,” Leonie said frigidly. “I cursed the Black Wolf for the usurper he was, only that. My people did the rest, taking my anger as theirs. It became their cause. But the only harm I have ever done him was when I wounded him on my wedding night.” She added hastily, “And that was an accident—one he doesn’t even remember.”
Thorpe scowled blackly. “Then it is good that Rolfe doesn’t want you near him.”
Leonie gasped. “You have not heard a word I’ve said! I wish to help him. I can ease his suffering. I can—”
“You can stay away from him. Even if he would relent and let you treat him, I do not trust you, Lady Leonie. It is because of my foolish tongue that you are wed. Once I saw you, I was foolish again, thinking it was not so bad that you and he marry. But I was wrong. And he is wise enough now not to trust you again.”
“You are a stubborn man, Thorpe de la Mare, and I will pray for my husband’s sake that you do not remain so. Odo will do him more harm than good.”
“The leech? He is finished now, and Rolfe will heal quickly, as he has always done. Did you think this was his first wound?” Thorpe shook his head.
“I hope you are right.”
As he watched her walk away, Thorpe’s eyes narrowed. Mildred, who had waited in the shadows, listening, saw his look and made her decision. Stepping forward, she hissed, “You are wrong about her.” She received the full impact of those dark eyes, but she steeled herself, adding, “She knows all there is to know about healing and giving comfort. And she would not harm my lord Rolfe. She even threatened Odo, knowing his bumbling ways. Ask Sir Evarard if you do not believe me.”
“Women defend each other whether or not there is cause,” Thorpe said disdainfully.
“As do men.”
“He does not need her help!” he growled. How did this woman have the temerity to challenge him, he wondered. Were the Pershwick serfs even worse?
“She would not harm him!” Mildred insisted. “She was furious when she learned he was being falsely accused of beating her. She has made the truth known, for his sake. Is that the action of a woman who bears him hatred?”
Mildred left then, amazed by her outburst. And like Lady Leonie before her, Mildred was the recipient of Thorpe’s narrowed gaze until she was out of sight.
Chapter 25
AFTER four days, Rolfe was worse. Thorpe was at wit’s end. It had seemed a simple wound. Rolfe had received worse than that and recovered quickly. This wound actually seemed to be sapping his strength. A fever started the second day and climbed until Rolfe raged in delirium, calling for his wife one moment and cursing her the next. He didn’t recognize Thorpe at all.
Odo, that cur, had sneaked out of the keep, escaping before he could be blamed for Rolfe’s worsening condition.
Thorpe did not know what to do. No, that was not the truth. There was one thing he could do, and finally he did it, sending a servant to fetch Rolfe’s wife. When she came into the room, her servant Wilda with her, he had the grace to look ashamed. He flinched when she let out a stream of curses.
“Why did you not call me sooner?” she demanded of Thorpe. “The dirt within the wound is killing him.”
“I did not change his bandages,” Thorpe replied defensively. “So I haven’t seen the wound.”
“You should have! I warned you Odo would do more harm than good.”
“Can you help him?” Thorpe asked humbly.
