Nicola sighed heavily. “He is a prisoner, Tab,” she said. “Do you know what that means?”
He nodded without hesitation. “It means that he will fish and feast and go into town,” he said. “We were prisoners and we did all those things.”
Nicola cleared her throat softly, seeing that her son had a skewed view of what, exactly, being a prisoner entailed. She sat on the end of her bed, focusing on her serious son.
“Nay,” she said. “That is not what it means. Being a prisoner means that Kenton will be kept in the vault. He will be unable to go anywhere he pleases. It means that those holding him can do what they wish with him.”
Tab was puzzled. “But we were prisoners and we were not held in the vault.”
Nicola lifted a finger, indicating the chamber surrounding them. “But Sir Kenton moved us out of our chambers and put us up here, did he not?” she asked. “He kept us here and would not let us go at first. Do you recall?”
Tab nodded. “But he let us out and he took me to fish,” he said. “Mam, why do we not move back into our old chambers? Are we still prisoners?”
I am a prisoner of guilt,Nicola thought to herself. She forced a smile at her son. “We are not,” she said. “I… I do not know why we do not move back into our former chambers. I have not thought about it, to be truthful. Would you like to direct the moving when I am away?”
That was perhaps a bit attractive to Tab, ordering people about and moving chambers, so he nodded even though he still wasn’t entirely happy about not going to Conisbrough with his mother. Nicola, seeing his indecision, capitalized on it.
“There’s a good lad,” she said, kissing his head. “You will stay here and protect your brothers while I am away. I will return as soon as I can.”
She stood up, hoping to move away from Tab before he started bombarding her with more questions, but she didn’t move fast enough. He latched on to her hand.
“But Sir Kenton?” he wanted to know. “What will become of him?”
Nicola wasn’t entirely sure how to answer him. “I… I do not know, Tab.”
“Will they kill him?”
Her heart lurched, sickened at the mere thought. “I do not know.”
Tab yanked on her. “You must make sure they do not,” he insisted. “Sir Kenton is my friend! I do not want him to be killed!”
Nicola squeezed his hand, trying to soothe him. “I will do what I can to ensure they do not, I promise,” she assured him. “Do not worry overly. I am sure Sir Kenton is well and I will tell him that you have asked for him.”
Tab was frowning, still dwelling on the thought of Kenton being executed, as his mother pulled away and went back to her task of finalizing her packing. Nicola, however, didn’t look at her son; she was too busy trying not to look at him, trying not to think on thoughts of Kenton’s execution. Honestly, the thought had never crossed her mind until now and, at this moment, she was fighting off the panic the mere idea suggested. What was it Kenton had told her once, back when Saxilby and the others had lain siege to Babylon?If I am captured by Edward, I will probably stand trial for treason and be executed.Dear God, why had that not occurred to her before now? He’d spoken those words back in the days when they were harassing each other constantly, back in the days when her attraction to the man, so strong, was something that confused and frightened her.
But now, she remembered his words. She was terrified by them. She swore, at that moment, that even if he didn’t want her to, she would beg for his life to be spared. Perhaps those who held him would listen, perhaps not. All she knew was that she was not going to let Kenton le Bec face execution without a fight. She would do all in her power to prevent it.
Somehow, the trip to Conisbrough seemed more urgent than ever before.
She had to get to Kenton.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Bradley Manor, Lincolnshire
“Nay!”the youngwoman screamed as the knight dragged her from the reception room of the large manor house known as Bradley Manor. “I will not go with you! Let mego!”
Unfortunately for Lady Holland, Duchess of Exeter, Bradley Manor did not have the retinue of soldiers that most of her husband’s properties had, mostly because she didn’t like for her home to have the feel of a military installation. At this moment, her preference was her undoing, for about twenty soldiers bearing the red and blue of Warwick had burst into her home and taken hold of one of her wards, a young woman named Katryne St. John. Now, a few men were dragging the girl from the house while the rest of the Warwick soldiers were holding her servants and guards at bay with big swords and well-aimed crossbows.
“Where are you taking her?” Lady Holland, extremely well dressed in heavy silks and with a tight white wimple around her head, scooted after the men who were dragging her young wardaway. “How dare you break into my home and take Katryne with you! Where are you taking her?”
The Warwick soldier who seemed to be giving the orders came to a halt as his men pulled the hysterical Katryne behind them. He stopped Lady Holland from following by gently raising his hands to her, being very careful not to touch her, but Lady Holland slapped at his hands furiously.
“You will not raise your hands to me!” she screeched, smacking at him. “Move out of my way! Bring that woman back here!”
The soldier was trying to be very careful with the Duke of Exeter’s wife. He didn’t want to harm or overly harass the woman because it would bring Holland down on Warwick. Not that the man wasn’t going to come down on him, anyway, for bursting into his wife’s residence and stealing away one of her wards, but the soldier was trying to be as careful about it as he could. He didn’t want to use more force than absolutely necessary but he had his orders– bring St. John’s sister to Warwick at all costs. The woman was to be used in exchange for Kenton le Bec’s life, as her brother was le Bec’s captor, but Lady Holland need not know any of that. Fed a proper lie of Warwick’s creation, that was all she ever need know.
“She will be treated well, my lady,” the soldier explained, saying the same thing he had said when he had first come to Bradley Manor and politely asked for St. John’s sister. “It seems that the lady’s brother has been badly wounded and wishes to see his sister, so we are taking her to him. Warwick has sent us on this mission. I explained this all to you before, Lady Holland.”
