Again, he returned the box to its place, leaving no sign that he had touched it.
There was no sign of Isabella in the space any longer, nor of her possessions. She must have been placed in another chamber, but which one? When Amaury heard voices, he feared discovery. There was no escape save by the door and the window he had just used – and he had little desire to abandon his lady in this place.
A moment later, Amaury realized that people conferred outside the chamber door. He eased closer and listened at the base of the door. Mallory’s voice he recognized, as well as the strident tones of Lady Faydide. She spoke of someone’s lower status, then he heard another familiar voice. He should not havebeen surprised to hear Edmund, but the one voice he yearned to hear was absent.
Was Isabella with them, or had she been dispatched to some foul dungeon? Edmund mentioned Isabella but still there was no sound of her voice. Amaury dared not even think that she might not draw breath any longer.
He waited until the sound of footfalls moved away, then dared to peek around the great door. The corridor was empty, though he could see the count’s army through the windows opposite. They were preparing to march upon Marnis. He saw the boiling oil being prepared in the bailey and knew it would be poured down upon the advancing forces. Already, there were buckets of it being carried up ladders to the parapet.
And the count’s forces would use burning arrows, as well as other flaming trajectories. Amaury considered the aging wooden walls of Marnis and could anticipate how the battle would end. There was not much time to ensure Isabella’s safety.
He checked the other two chambers flanking the solar, but they, too, were empty. The sound of his army’s drums echoed through the keep, reminding him that he must find his lady and soon.
The stairs, wide and lacking either corner or shadow, posed a risk of discovery but it was one Amaury must take.
The hall seemedlarge and cold, quiet with the exception of the drums. Were they louder? Isabella could only imagine that hostilities would begin now that it was daylight, but Mallory seemed unconcerned. She sat at his left, Faydide on his right, and Edmund beside Faydide.
The servants from the kitchens were harried and silent, as if resenting the order to serve such a meal in such a moment. There also seemed to be fewer of them. There were no villagers or even other servants dining in the hall, save they four. Had people fled the keep or were they ordered to work on the defenses?
There was a moment of quiet as the soup was brought to the board. Isabella watched as the broth was ladled into individual bowls at the table and could not see how the contents of any of them could be different from the others. She waited until all three had sipped of their soup, complaining that hers was too hot when Faydide gave her a hard look.
“Of course, Mallory has always had ambitions at Marnis,” Edmund said finally, as if resuming a conversation that had been interrupted. “I scarce think you should be surprised by that, Lady Faydide.”
“My brother has known the favor of my lord husband, as have you, Edmund.”
“So much spoken favor and yet so little tangible reward,” Edmund mused. “Like father, like son, I would say. Would you not agree, Mallory?”
His words were lightly spoken but Mallory’s brow darkened. “I cannot think what you mean. Both Gaultier and Denis honored me with their trust.”
“But so little more than trust.”
“I was content,” Mallory protested, though Isabella thought the claim unlikely.
“Yet how were they rewarded?” Edmund mused, his attention fixed upon his bowl of soup. “One with poison in his sauce and the other with a blade in his gut.”
“I did not poison Gaultier!” Mallory said.
“True. It might well have been your sister, so vexed was she with her husband.”
“He meant to put me aside!” Faydide was indignant.
“And both of you in the kitchens when the sauce was prepared. Which of you were responsible?”
“Not I,” Faydide said, her eyes bright.
“Nor I,” her brother agreed and they nodded at each other with such surety that Isabella suspected each knew more than they confessed.
Edmund’s gaze was steely. “And yet, Mallory, you cannot deny that you ensured Denis’ demise.”
“Mallory!” Faydide said. “Cast this fiend from the hall if he means to slander you! He does not even call you by your proper title.”
“He is no more noble than I,” Edmund replied. “Tell her, Mallory,” he crooned. “Tell her the truth of your deed.”
“I have naught to confess,” Mallory blustered, but something in his manner made both women watch him keenly. “I served my young master well.”
“Aye, you served him, that is certain,” Edmund said. “You forget, Mallory, that I followed Lord Denis on his quest that morning. He did not ride out to seek his horse, Lady Faydide. He could not have done as much, for he knew his destrier had been claimed by the brothers from Montvieux. Clearly, the beast would be found there, and truly it was. I knew his excuse for what it was and wondered at the truth.”
“What truth?” Faydide demanded.
