Red Deception (5 page)

“That dress is astonishing on you,” he said.

She glanced down at the maroon and gold dress she had picked for the day. It fit her better than the others she tried on. “Thank you.”

She grabbed a butter cookie from the tray and he took her hand beneath the table. Just as she placed the sweet cookie between her lips, the baron’s messenger came into the hall.

He bowed before them both. “Baron Blacwin, Lady Noire, I have interesting news from town.”

Baron Blacwin leaned back in his seat. “What is it Roger?”

The messenger rubbed the top of his beak shaped nose.  “A girl was found dead in the woods.”

Judith lowered her gaze to the cookie in her hand, afraid to breathe.

“Dead? What was the cause?”
the baron asked.

“There has been no word on the cause. At first, the hunters that found her thought she was asleep, but upon further examination, it was discovered that she is indeed dead. They believe she is a peasant who lives on the edge of town.”

Judith tried to swallow her bite of cookie, but her throat closed up and she choked.

Both men looked toward her with concern.

She sipped her tea and patted her chest. “Forgive me.”

Once the baron saw she was fine, he looked back at Roger.

“We should pay our respects.”

“I’d advise waiting a day.” the messenger said. “They are not certain who she is. I will keep you alert to any news.”

The baron nodded and finished his tea.

“Well, in the meantime, Lora and I will take a ride to the outskirts of the manor. I want her to see the whole manor grounds.”

Judith looked at him, unsure she liked that idea. “I have only ridden once. My father did not want me riding for fear I would get thrown.”

“My steed is gentle. I will make sure no harm comes to you. We will ride together.”

Judith reluctantly rose and took the baron’s hand. They left the manor and followed the cobble path toward the stables. Judith could barely contain her anxiety as she imagined the villagers finding Lora’s corpse in the woods. Her husband would recognize her dead or alive for sure. The thought of her lie unraveling any moment caused her to groan aloud.

“Lora? Are you well?”

“Yes, just a bit weary from last night,” she answered.

“That is normal,” he said and led her into the stable. Judith waited near the doors, while the baron walked over to the stable hand that had just finished dressing his black courser.

Blacwin lifted himself into the saddle, cantered over to her, and offered his hand. She climbed up into the saddle behind him and they rode out toward the open field behind the manor.

It was a beautiful summer day. Flocks of birds hiding in the tall grasses scattered into the skies when they came to close.

A half hour’s ride from the manor, the baron stopped and dismounted.

“What are we doing?” Judith asked as she slid from the saddle into his arms.

“I thought we would come out here and spend some time alone. It is a nice and peaceful day, don’t you agree?”

Judith looked around admiring the view of tall pines lining the field. The manor stood like a beacon on the horizon. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

He took her hand and looked into her eyes.

“You captivate me like no other woman, Lora.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

“Tell me the truth. Are you having second thoughts on our marriage arrangement? Do you think it’s too soon?”

“No,” she answered quickly.

“We will have to notify your father; no doubt he will be pleased.”

That however, she doubted. There was no doubt once Lora’s father laid his eyes on her he would know she was not his daughter. She drew in a deep breath and pulled away from him, looking up at the manor on the hill. “We do not have to send word to him just yet. Let us wait and spend more time together.”

“Why?”

“He is ill tempered. He may think something is amiss.”

“He sent you here in hopes of a marriage proposal, did he not?”

“Yes, but… I still wish to wait.”

She stared off toward the thicket of trees, resisting the urge to flee.

He took her by the arm and turned her to face him. “You fear him, don’t you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Every time I mention him you look away from me or make an excuse. You’re hiding something.”

“I am not.”

 “He left the mark on your face, didn’t he?”

“It’s nothing, I told you I fell.” She turned her face away, her cheeks burning with guilt.

“Once you are Baroness of Caldwell, no one will ever hurt you again Lora. I promise you that.”

Judith’s eyes filled with tears. “I am not worthy of being your baroness.”

“You are every bit worthy. No one will disagree.” He drew her into him and kissed her.

She wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss wanting nothing more than to live in this fantasy forever.

“I know it has only been a day, but I believe I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I feel the same way, Cal.”

His kisses moved down over her nose and met her lips. She returned his kisses with uninhibited passion, letting her tongue delve deep into his mouth.

His fingers worked loose the lace on her bodice that held her breasts taught.

The same burning urgency for him as the night before came rushing back.

“Cal,” she whispered as he covered her cleavage with heated kisses.

“I must have you again,” he whispered, slipping her dress down her shoulders and baring her breasts.

She removed her dress completely, and he settled in the grass and drew her on top of him. Straddling his lap, she enjoyed the feeling as he savored her breasts, causing her to cry out with reckless abandon. She would never forget the way he felt making love to her there in the open field, with the sun on her face and the wild grass tickling her thighs. The cool breeze could not temper the heat between them.

The sun was low in the sky by the time they had spent themselves of one another. She lay against his chest, listening to quiet hum of the evening as day settled into night.

“Do you ever wish you could remain in a moment for all eternity?” she asked, combing her fingers through cool grass.

“Yes. I wish to remain here, in this moment,” he answered with a content sigh.

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “Me too.”

He brushed her hair away from her cheek. “We will share many of these moments, Lora.”

She closed her eyes as he traced her lips with his finger.

“You’re gentle heart has changed me. You have given me a reason to smile again.”

“We barely know each other. Your feelings may change,” she answered.

“Why would you think so?”

“I could be deceiving you. I could be marrying you just for the status of being a baroness,” she said laying her head down on shoulder.

“I have been deceived often enough to know, and besides, if you were planning on doing that, you wouldn’t have told me.”

She closed her eyes as a pang of guilt stabbed at her. “I suppose you’re right.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I am.”

***

They returned to the manor just before supper. She excused herself to her room to freshen up. A tub of water was brought to her to her for bathing.

While she relaxed in the water, she daydreamed of what it would be like to truly be Blacwin’s baroness, never to clean another dish, sweep another hearth, or cook another meal. It was all too good to be true. No matter how much she wanted it, she knew she could never be Lora Noire Baroness of Caldwell.  The truth was, she was a lowborn peasant ad could never be accepted as anything more.

She dressed and entered the dining hall to see the baron and his messenger, Roger, speaking again.

They both looked over at her.

She held her breath and curtsied. “Evening.”

The baron excused his messenger and walked over to greet her.

“Is everything well?” she asked as he took her hands in his.

“Yes,” he said, kissing her knuckles. “How was your bath?”

“Relaxing,” she answered, feeling her worry seep away.

“Good.”

He led her to her seat where they enjoyed the first course of roasted wild boar and fresh vegetables followed by a bean and wild rice soup.

Just as they were being served fresh fruit tarts for dessert, Roger returned soaked from the evening rain.

He bowed before the table. “My lord and lady, I hate to interrupt but I have important news.”

Judith clutched her dress beneath the table.

“Yes?” Blacwin asked.

“Lady Noire’s father has heard the news and wishes to congratulate you.”

Blacwin looked over at Judith.

“Word travels fast. Very well, will he be sending a gift?”
he asked Roger.

“Yes,” the messenger replied. “In fact he is in route to the manor as we speak to present you with the gift himself. He should be arriving tomorrow at noon.”

Judith felt the soup she just enjoyed rise into her throat.

“What?” she asked in disbelief. “You cannot be serious!”

Roger’s brow creased. “It is true. He asked me to notify you both. He is very pleased.”

“Is he?” Judith gulped down some wine to hide her distress.

Blacwin reached beneath the table to take her hand. “Very well. We will accommodate him.”

“Oh, and I have news of the woman who was found dead in the forest. The family to whom it was thought she belonged, did not know who she was.”

Baron Blacwin arched a brow.

Judith closed her eyes.

“What is more peculiar,” the messenger continued, “is that the Timbolt family is indeed missing a girl who looks almost identical to this dead woman. They claim the dead woman is even wearing the dress girl was last seen in.”

Judith felt as if the stone ceiling was crumbling down on her.  Fear had her in a chokehold. All she could do was listen helplessly.

“They are sure it is not the missing girl? Corpses can look very different from the living.”

The messenger shrugged. “They say nay.”

Judith gagged and pressed her fingertips against her lips.

Blacwin glanced at Judith for her opinion. “Lora, you look pale. Are you well?”