“But he trulyisindisposed,” Judith insisted worriedly. “I—I doubt he would even know you, my lord.”
“He is already drunk at this early hour?” Rolfe growled in disgust.
Judith shrugged. It was just as well he knew, for then he would not bother her again. “It is an unfortunate truth, my lord, that William is very seldom sober.”
“I see.”
Rolfe turned to his men and said, “We will stay here and see the man wrung out to dry. Send word to Sir Thorpe that we will not return today. He might as wellgo back to Warling—Damn me!” he said explosively. “There is no tellinghowlong this will take!”
Judith was finding it difficult to hide her increasing fear. “What is it you want with my husband, my lord?”
Rolfe’s black eyes fixed on her. “That is not your concern, madame.”
“But—but you cannot simply—”
“No?” he interrupted, his voice low. “Perhaps you like having a sot for a husband?”
“Of course not.” She managed to appear most affronted. “I have tried to stop his drinking, but he cannot function without it. I have been unable to help him.”
“Then you will thank me for taking a hand. I will soon see him functioning well and understanding me perfectly. Now please lead the way. I would begin this distasteful duty immediately.”
Panic mounted in Judith and grew steadily worse as days passed and Rolfe d’Ambert stayed doggedly at the task he had set for himself. She even considered killing the arrogant lord, or killing William, but the former was impossible and the latter, well, if William died, Leonie would inherit everything. Judith would be cast out, penniless. Leonie would do her no good, that was certain.
If only she knew what it was that had brought the lord of Kempston there, but he continued to ignore her pleas to explain. Richer insisted she worried for nothing, but why was Rolfe d’Ambert so angry, and why did he have a ruthless determination to see William coherent and sensible?
The lord of Montwyn was bathed and sheared and bathed again countless times despite his curses and attempts to ward off his persecutors. He was stuffed with food, only to retch it up. He was denied all but milk or water to drink. He was ignored when hescreamed for something more potent, ignored when his body shook uncontrollably. And all the while d’Ambert’s anger was a palpable thing, held in check only by heaven knew what.
Judith could only stand by helplessly and watch all that she had accomplished over the years being undone. Her only hope was that William was too far gone to remember any of the recent past, and that once d’Ambert left them alone, William would run back to his drink.
Chapter 41
ROLFE rubbed his face wearily. He was sick of this room, sick of the pathetic man who had drunk his life away.
“If you meant to kill me, why couldn’t you do it quickly?”
Rolfe had heard that lament a dozen times in the last grueling days. William of Montwyn was feeling deeply sorry for himself, and hurting miserably. But his hands no longer trembled quite so much, and his nightmares had begun to lessen.
Rolfe decided he had waited long enough. He finally replied, calling across the room, startling Montwyn and his servants, Rolfe’s men, and Lady Judith. “Because, my lord,” Rolfe drawled, “I want you to know why I wish to kill you.”
The voice was so emotionless that William did not quite credit the statement. His eyes, still slightly streaked with red, fastened on Rolfe. He had been fully dressed that morning despite his protests, and forcibly seated at a table where a feast of wholesome foods awaited him. He ignored them, staring hard at the man responsible for his miserable condition.
“Do you, indeed, Sir Rolfe?” William asked sarcastically, his voice cracking. “Be so good as to tell me why.”
“William, no!” Judith rushed forward, alarmed. “Do not provoke him!”
“It is you who provoke me, madame,” Rolfe said harshly as he rose and came forward. “Out, all of you,” he ordered, nodding to Sir Piers to indicate that Judith would need help in leaving.
“You take too much upon yourself!” William blustered, but he did not even rise.
Rolfe waited until the door was closed before his eyes pierced William. “You know me now?”
“Of course I know you. I just married you to my daughter. God’s pity for that.”
“Just?”
“What do you mean, sir?” William demanded.
“It has been a full three months since I wed your daughter. Do you know that?”
