Leonie turned her back to him, so furious she wanted to hit him with something. Sweet Mary, how could she love him when he made her so furious? He was lying. He surely was!
“Gather what you will, Leonie.” Rolfe addressed her stiff back. “We are leaving. Now. And if you value Sir Guibert’s life, you will tell him you are going willingly.”
She swung back around. “I am not going willingly, but you won’t have to drag me away or kill anyone,” she hissed at him.
She swept past him to order her trunk packed. Then she conferred with Guibert, who was greatly relieved to know that she had agreed to go home with her husband.
“He is not angry with you?” Guibert asked doubtfully as he eyed Rolfe pacing the hall impatiently.
“His anger does not frighten me,” Leonie lied bravely.
“He refused to send the other woman away?” her vassal asked hesitantly.
“No,” she said with a sigh. “He agreed.”
Guibert frowned. “Then you should be pleased, my lady.”
“Indeed—I should be. But I am not.”
Guibert shook his head as he watched her flounce away.
Chapter 47
BUT things were to resolve themselves in a manner no one could have expected.
No sooner had Leonie returned to Crewel and entered the master bedchamber than a maid frantically sought her out.
“My lady, she is dying! You must come—please,” Janie cried.
“It’s a ruse,” Wilda said quickly. The young maid was Amelia’s own servant, and not part of the Crewel household. “The woman has learned that she will be sent away, and she means to prevent it by claiming illness.” She cast a triumphant look at Janie.
Wilda stood firmly planted between Leonie and Janie, and Leonie was gratified that Wilda was trying to protect her, as she so often did. If nothing else had been accomplished by going to Pershwick, at least she had been able to bring Wilda back with her.
“Go back and tell that woman we are wise to her,” Wilda ordered brazenly, and Leonie saw she would have to put a stop to this.
“Tell me what has happened,” she demanded, and Janie wailed, “She will be so angry that I have come, because she wants no one to know what she has done. But she is bleeding and it won’t stop. She is dying, my lady, I am sure of it!”
“Whathas she done?” Leonie insisted.
“She—she took something. She said it was to make everything right again.”
Leonie paled, understanding at once. “God’s mercy, this is my fault. I had such bad feelings about the child because of the mother, and—”
“My lady, will you come?” Janie begged again, and Leonie shook herself. This was no time to indulge in remorse.
“Wilda, get my medicines, quickly.”
To Leonie’s surprise, Sir Evarard was waiting outside Amelia’s door. He looked very unhappy.
“There is something seriously wrong with Amelia?” he asked dejectedly.
“You are fond of the lady, Sir Evarard?” She had no idea what else to say.
“Fond? I love her!” he said emphatically.
Leonie smiled at him. “I will do all I can.”
“Will you?” he asked more anxiously than diplomatically. “I know you have no liking for her, nor she for you. And she can be childish and petulant, but—but she is not all bad, my lady.”
