A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) (38 page)

“’Tis Alyna. She’s missing. Nicholas, too.”

Royce’s heart stopped. He was certain of it. Then it pounded so loudly, he could hear nothing else. Hugh’s mouth moved, and Blackwell seemed to answer, but Royce heard nothing.

Hugh grabbed his shoulder. “Royce?”

The odd sensation released its grip. “When? How?”

Blackwell shook his head. “We don’t know. Yesterday at mid-day, Alyna discovered Nicholas was missing. We started to search for him and Hilde.”

“Hilde? The new servant?”

“Aye. Shortly after that, Alyna disappeared. My only guess is that whoever took Nicholas also has Alyna.”

Royce’s normal calm and clear thinking deserted him when he needed them most. His stomach churned, and his head throbbed. He knew his lord counted on him to form a plan, to take action. He had nothing. He couldn’t think. He could only feel.

“Who is this?” Lord Blackwell asked as he looked at Daniel.

Royce didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. Hugh glanced at him with concern and answered in his place. Their words swirled around Royce.

We have much to talk about, you and I
. How well he remembered the words he’d last spoken to Alyna. Why hadn’t he told her how he felt? Told her of his intentions?

Lord Blackwell narrowed his eyes as he glared at Daniel. “So you’re the one causing so many problems. Threatening people’s lives and stealing livestock.”

Daniel gave him a cocky smile. “At your service, my lord.”

Blackwell shook his head in disgust. “Let us go inside, and I’ll tell you the few details I know.”

Hugh walked beside Royce as they followed Blackwell into the keep. Daniel followed behind. “Royce, are you well?” Hugh asked.

Royce pulled himself together as best he could. “We must find Alyna and Nicholas. Immediately.”

“Aye, that we will.” Hugh held his gaze and nodded, his voice more confident than his expression.

When they entered the hall, Matthew sat at one of the tables, fully dressed, but pale with the effort. The young knight obviously hadn’t fully recovered.

“Matthew,” Lord Blackwell said. “What are you doing up?”

“I want to help search for Lady Alyna and Nicholas.”

Hugh put a hand on Matthew’s good shoulder. “I’m pleased to see you up and about, but I’m not sure you’re ready to ride.”

“I’ll be fine,” Matthew replied, his grim determination unmistakable.

The men sat at the high table. Pitchers of ale were quickly set before them along with bread and cheese. Royce wanted to shove all that to the floor, to rant and yell, to demand Alyna and Nicholas be returned. Instead, he drew a deep breath to calm his rage as best he could, to think clearly and logically. “Tell me all you know,” he requested.

Lord Blackwell complied, ending with their discovery that Alyna no longer searched for Nicholas, but was missing as well. “I’m not sure where she would’ve gone or who could’ve taken her. None of the guards saw either of them leave through the gate.”

“What about the message, my lord?” Matthew asked. “Who was it from?”

“What message?”

Matthew looked puzzled. “I heard a man from my chamber. He called for Lady Alyna and told her he had a message for her that had been left at the front gate.”

“Who gave it to her, Matthew?” Lord Blackwell asked.

“I think it may have been George,” he answered, “though I’m not sure.”

Daniel leaned forward. “This Hilde you mentioned. What does she look like?”

Matthew described the servant, but Royce already knew without a doubt who had sent the message. He knew exactly where Alyna and Nicholas were. “Tegmont.” His gaze met Lord Blackwell’s. “Hilde took Nicholas to Tegmont, and Tegmont used Nicholas to get Alyna to Larkspur. The bastard has them both.”

“My lord? Sir Royce?” Gunnell hurried into the hall, her eyes wild, her hair escaping its braid. She was breathless, and it appeared as though she’d run all the way from her cottage. She kept her gaze on Royce. “You’re right. Tegmont has them both. You’d best hurry, for someone is going to be hurt badly. It may already be too late.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Mix lemon balm and honey in steaming

water and sip to calm an upset stomach.”

Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

Alyna hurried into the cold, dim hall of Larkspur, hoping to find Nicholas, but the room was empty. She spun to face Hilde. “I demand to see my son.”

“You’re in no position to demand anything.” Hilde sank onto a nearby bench.

The great hall was so huge, even the sound of Alyna’s breath echoed in its vastness. She scanned the area once more, wishing she’d find Nicholas tucked in a corner. One lone tapestry graced a wall, its scene a faded memory. Tables and benches lined the far side of the room. The massive hearth could have easily heated the entire hall, but no fire burned to welcome the arrivals.

Unwilling to wait, Alyna moved toward the stairs, intending to search for Nicholas, but one of the men who had escorted her blocked her path, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“You’ll have to wait for his lordship,” he advised.

She eyed the man, trying to decide what her chances were against him.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Realizing she wouldn’t be of any help to Nicholas if she were injured, she moved to pace in front of the hearth, too anxious to sit.

When it seemed she could wait no more, she heard footsteps approaching. Lord Tegmont entered. Alone. She swallowed tears of disappointment. “Where is my son?”

“Alyna, my dear, I’m so glad you’re here.” Tegmont had a gracious smile on his arresting face. Handsome to some perhaps, but not to her. His dark hair held a sprinkle of gray at the temples, and a few wrinkles creased the corners of his dark eyes since she’d last seen him. Those lines weren’t from smiling.

Alyna clenched her jaw in an effort to keep from screaming at him. Instead, she asked again, “Where is Nicholas?”

He lifted her hand in his. “I’ve waited far too long for your arrival. You can’t imagine my...disappointment when I learned you intended to delay our wedding.”

She tried to tug her hand free to no avail. Delay the wedding? Surely he knew she’d intended to avoid marrying him altogether. What kind of game was he playing? “I want to see Nicholas. Now.”

Tegmont’s lips tightened. “If you want to see the boy, then you’ll have to comply with my wishes.”

Fear curled in the pit of her stomach. Though she already knew the answer, she forced herself to ask, “What wishes?”

“To fulfill our agreement, of course.”

The fear unfurled, leaving her knees weak. “I am
not
going to marry you.”

He smiled, continuing to grip her hand. “Your father bound you to the terms of our betrothal. Your agreement isn’t necessary. In fact, I find it rather appealing that you escaped me for a time. It shows your strength and spirit. You’ll give me fine sons.”

“We wouldn’t suit,” she argued, swallowing the bile in her throat at the idea of spending the rest of her life with him.

“Oh, but we will. I’ve watched you grow into a fine lady.” He reached for her, narrowly missing her breast when she jerked back. “A fine lady indeed.”

“I won’t marry you,” she insisted, despite the realization that he could force her to do so.

“You will if you want to see your son. He’s most anxious to be reunited with you. He seems rather frightened by all this,” he said with a smile as though Nicholas’s fear amused him.

“Please. Return him to me,” she begged. “We’ll leave and cast this from our memories. No one need ever know you’ve taken us against our will.”

Tegmont tipped his head back and roared with laughter. “That doesn’t concern me in the least. I’ve done far worse. Believe me.”

Alyna stared at him with mounting horror. How could she have forgotten for even a moment what he’d done to Royce and his family? Tegmont would have no remorse in killing Nicholas or her if he so desired.

“Thank you, Hilde, for accompanying my bride-to-be,” Tegmont said as he turned to look at the maid with a broad smile. “I shall reward you soon.”

“I look forward to it,” the maid said with a slow wink. She’d loosened the hair around her thin face, no doubt in an effort to look more attractive.

Alyna closed her eyes in disgust. No wonder the woman didn’t act like a servant.

Tegmont returned his attention to Alyna. “No need to be jealous, my dear.” He drew a finger down the side of Alyna’s cheek, his dark gaze holding hers. “I will make plenty of time for you. We have much to do before we marry.”

“Of course.” She forced a smile and willed herself not to pull back from his touch. Her only hope was to delay him as long as possible, and pray that somehow, she and Nicholas could escape. “It would relieve my mind considerably if I could see Nicholas. I’d be better able to focus on our plans.”

He chuckled, sending a chill down Alyna’s spine. “Perhaps you could give me a token of your affection to show me your sincerity. After all, I’ve waited so long to have you here with me.”

Alarmed, Alyna paused. She hadn’t expected him to make such a request. But she would do anything to keep Nicholas safe.

Anything.

She pushed aside her fear and put a tentative hand on his chest. Though she looked closely, she could find little resemblance to his nephew, the man who held her heart. Perhaps she could pretend he was Royce for just a moment if she closed her eyes. But even with her eyes shut, Tegmont was all wrong. The wrong scent. The wrong height. The wrong man.

Memories of Royce sent a pang of longing through her so sharp, her breath became a sob.

Tegmont grabbed her arms and gave her a shake. “You stupid woman.”

Alyna took a deep breath to collect herself. “My lord, please. It’s just that I miss Nicholas dearly.” She moved closer and rose on her toes to place a brief kiss on his cheek. Hopefully that would suffice for now.

She drew back to find him looking down at her, his expression watchful. Scared her performance hadn’t fooled him, she smiled, holding on to her emotions by a fine thread.

Apparently appeased with her offering, he returned her smile and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “You must be exhausted from your journey here.” He led her to the stairs. “I’ll show you to your chamber, and later we’ll arrange a reunion with the boy.”

“I’d prefer to see him now.”

“I’ll have a bath sent up to you,” he continued, as though she hadn’t spoken. He held her arm tightly as they moved up the stairs in unison. Tegmont took the side near the wall, leaving Alyna to walk near the edge that towered high above the entrance to the keep. As they approached the third floor, he gave her a small push, sending her perilously close to the edge of the stone steps.

Alyna caught a dizzying glimpse of the stone floor far below and gasped, stumbling back into Tegmont’s arms.

He laughed in delight. “Just a little jest, Alyna. Although I must say, my last wife didn’t find it very funny. Or was it the one before that?” He paused as though trying to remember. “No matter.”

The light in his eyes erased her doubt that he’d murdered his previous wives, perhaps even with the help of these terrible stairs. Though her knife remained strapped to her thigh, it would be of little use until she located Nicholas.

He pulled her closer, and they mounted the last two steps to reach the third floor. He led her through a sparsely furnished chamber and continued into another that held only a narrow bed and two small chests. “This is where you’ll be staying for now.”

It mattered naught to Alyna. She saw no sign of Nicholas. Did she dare ask Tegmont again or would that only anger him?

She pulled away from him and stepped forward as though to examine the room more closely. Anything to be free of his touch. She stood near one of the chests and heard a thump come from within it.

“What was that?” Tegmont asked as he turned in the direction of the sound.

Alyna had the oddest feeling. She turned quickly and looked at the lord. “Only me. I stubbed my toe against this chest.”