The Velvet Promise Read online

  “He was here.” She brought her eyes back to his. “He has returned to get his men.”

  “And what of my men? What are they doing? Or do they loll about outside the walls?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” he said with irritation. “When does he return?”

  “Hopefully, tomorrow.”

  “Less than one day’s time. Why are you here now? You have only one day to wait. If you were found here, you could cause great trouble.”

  Judith gritted her teeth. “Do you ever do anything except curse me? I came to this hell because you were held prisoner. I have risked much to see that you are cared for. Yet you curse me at every opportunity. Tell me, sir, what would please you?”

  He stared at her. “You have much freedom here, don’t you? You seem to go wherever you wish with no hindrance. How do I know that Demari isn’t waiting outside for you?” Gavin grabbed her wrist. “Are you lying to me?”

  She twisted loose. “I am amazed at your vileness. What reason do you have to call me a liar? You are the one who has lied to me from the first. You may believe whatever you want. I should not have helped you. Perhaps then I would have gotten some peace. Or even more, I should have gone to Walter Demari when he first offered marriage. That surely would have been preferable to life with you.”

  “It is as I thought,” Gavin said viciously.

  “Yes! It is just as you thought!” Judith answered in kind. Her rage at his insinuations and accusations made her just as blind as he.

  “My lady!” Joan interrupted the argument. “We must go. We’ve spent too much time here already.”

  “Yes,” Judith agreed. “I must go.”

  “Who waits to escort my wife back to her room?”

  Judith just looked at him, too angry to speak.

  “Lady Judith,” Joan said urgently. Judith turned away from her husband.

  When they were beside the door, Joan whispered to her mistress. “It does no good to try to talk to a man when he is eaten with jealousy.”

  “Jealous!” Judith said. “One must care for another to be jealous. Obviously he doesn’t care for me.” She straightened the concealing hood over her hair.

  Joan started to reply as they opened the door and left the cell. She stopped abruptly, her body rigid. Judith, behind her, looked up to see what caused her maid’s concern.

  Arthur stood there, his hands on his hips, his legs spread wide, his face a hideous scowl. Judith ducked her head and turned away, hoping he hadn’t seen her.

  Arthur walked toward her, his arm extended. “Lady Judith, I would like to speak to you.”

  Judith knew that the walk up the three flights of stairs to Arthur’s room was the longest she’d ever taken. Her knees shook with fear and what was worse, the sickness she often felt in the morning was rising in her throat. Her impetuousness had probably ruined Stephen’s plans and…and…She couldn’t let herself think of what the result would be if Stephen did not get to them in time.

  “You are a fool,” Arthur commented when they were alone in his chamber.

  “I have been called that before,” Judith said, her heart pounding.

  “In daylight, you go to him! You couldn’t even wait until night.”

  Judith kept her head lowered, concentrating on her hands.

  “Tell me, what plans did you concoct?” He stopped suddenly. “I was a fool to think this could have worked. I am more stupid than that man I serve. Tell me, how did you plan to extricate yourself from this web of lies?”

  Her chin came up. “I will tell you nothing.”

  Arthur narrowed his eyes. “He will suffer. And do you forget that mother of yours? I was right not to trust you. I knew it well but I was half-blinded by you also. Now I find I am in this as deeply as you. Do you know who Lord Walter will blame when his plans are destroyed? When he sees he is not to have the hand of the Revedoune beauty? Not you, my lady, but me. He is a child who has been given power.”

  “Am I to feel compassion for you? It was you who tore my life apart so that now my family and I live on the brink of death.”

  “We understand each other then. We care nothing for the other. I wanted your lands and Walter your person.” He stopped and looked steadily at her. “Though your person has intrigued me much of late.”

  “And how do you expect to remove yourself from this tangle you have created?” Judith asked, changing the subject and turning the tables on him.

  “Well you should ask. There is only one way open to me. I must see this annulment through to its finish. You won’t appear before the king, but you will sign a paper saying that you wish an annulment. It will be worded so that he cannot refuse the request.”

  Judith came half out of her chair, another, stronger attack of nausea invading her. She ran to the corner of the room to the earthenware chamber pot and relieved her stomach of its meager contents. When she’d recovered herself, she turned back to Arthur. “Forgive me. The fish last night must have been tainted.”

  Arthur poured a goblet of watered wine. She took it with trembling hands. “You carry his child,” he stated flatly.

  “No! I do not!” Judith lied.

  Arthur’s face hardened. “Shall I call a midwife to examine you?”

  Judith looked into her goblet and shook her head.

  “You cannot ask for an annulment,” he continued. “I’d not thought of a child being conceived so soon. It seems we sink deeper and deeper into the muck pile.”

  “Are you going to tell Walter?”

  Arthur snorted. “That idiot thinks you to be pure and virginal. He talks of love and life with you. He doesn’t know you are twice as clever as he is.”

  “You talk too much,” Judith said, her stomach once again settling. “What do you want?”

  Arthur looked at her with admiration. “You are a woman of intelligence as well as beauty. I would like to own you.” He smiled, then turned serious. “Walter will find out about your loyalties and the child. It’s only a matter of time. Would you give a fourth of the Revedoune lands if I were to take you out of here?”

  Judith thought quickly. The estates meant little to her. Was Arthur a surer chance than waiting for Stephen? If she refused Arthur, he could tell Walter and all their lives would be forfeit—after Walter finished his use of Judith. “Yes, you have my word. There are five of us. If you see all of us safe, one quarter of the lands are yours.”

  “I cannot guarantee all—”

  “All of us or no bargain.”

  “Yes,” he said. “I know you mean it. I must have time to arrange matters. And you must go to the dinner table. Lord Walter will be angry if you’re not there to simper by his side.”

  Judith wouldn’t take his arm as they left the room. He knew she liked him even less for turning against his master, and this made him laugh. The idea of loyalty to anyone other than oneself amused him.

  When the door to Arthur’s room closed behind them, the chamber appeared to be empty. For several moments it was shrouded in silence. Then the slightest of slithering noises could be heard from under the bed. The old woman inched from her hiding place with great caution. She grinned as she looked again at the coin clasped tightly in her hand.

  “Silver!” she whispered. But what would the master give to hear what she had just heard? Gold! She didn’t understand all of it, but she’d heard Sir Arthur call Lord Walter stupid, and she knew he meant to betray his lord for some land the Montgomery woman owned. There was also something about a baby that the lady would have. That seemed very important.

  Judith sat quietly by a window in the great hall, wearing a light gray undertunic and a dress of dark rose Flemish wool. The sleeves were lined with gray squirrel fur. The sun was setting, making the hall darker with each moment. She was beginning to lose some of the fear that had invaded her that morning after her talk with Arthur. She glanced at the sun with gratitude. Only one more day, and Stephen would return and everything would be all right