to the chapel. He and no one else guarded her chamber door at night. From the outside.
What those observing this display did not realize was that he had her under complete and total guard. He wasn’t protecting the Lady of Thornson, as they thought. He kept her prisoner.
Granted, her invisible cell was lined with the softest of furs and many bags of gold, but she still chafed under the confinement. And her heart fought valiantly to not take his show of tender care seriously.
They walked out of the walled garden and into the courtyard. Marguerite willed her pulse not to race with anticipation.
“My lord!”
Darius stopped at Everett’s frantic shout. Both Everett and Osbert ran toward them.
Osbert reached them first. “My lord, there is a fire in the main gate tower.”
Darius released Marguerite’s arm. “How did this happen?” He pinned Everett with a glare.
“I don’t know, my lord. It was just now discovered.”
Marguerite took a step away from the men, but without even looking, Darius reached out and grasped her wrist. He held her arm out toward Osbert and ordered, “See that she returns to her chamber and stays there.”
With obvious reservations, Osbert nodded and took her hand in his own. “My lady?”
When Darius bolted toward the main gate, Marguerite took one look at Osbert’s frown of worry and offered, “Go with him. Darius needs you, Osbert. Let no harm befall him.”
To her surprise, her play on his worry for Darius worked.
The captain stared hard at her before asking, “You vow to return to your chamber?”
After silently asking forgiveness for the lie she was about to voice, she pushed at his shoulder. “Yes, I promise. Go. Hurry.” Surely God would understand the necessity.
He did not wait for further urging. Once he was out of earshot, Everett shook his head. “That was easy enough.”
“You need to join them before they notice your absence.” Marguerite pointed a finger at him. “Hear me well, Sir Everett. Let no harm come to anyone from Faucon, or from Thornson—do you understand me?”
His expression hardened, but he nodded. “Yes.”
“Go.”
As he headed toward the main gate, she raced across the bailey toward the stables.
“And what have you discovered for me?”
Sir Everett nearly fell off the cliff at the unexpected question. Since Faucon’s arrival, he had met King David’s man in the woods, not out here in the open.
“Nothing with any meat.”
“No? Then you are not giving your responsibilities enough attention.”
The man stepped closer to him, knowing full well that if Everett moved, it would take him to the beach in one long fall.
“Faucon’s men are a closed lot. They fear giving any information away, so they say nothing at all.”
“Let me make this easier for you. I want to know how many men are in Faucon’s company, how well armed they are, how long they plan to remain at Thornson.” He grasped the front of Everett’s tunic and continued. “And I want to know their plans for Thornson’s replacement.”
Everett fought to ignore the chill racing up his spine. He glanced to his left, down at the beach far below, and answered, “Yes, my lord. I will see to it.”
The man released him. “You do that. And quickly, before the next shipment arrives.”
Darius wiped the sweat from his brow. The fire hadn’t lastedlong, but the damage was much more than minor. It would take a few days to repair the gate tower. In the meantime, he would assign more men to this gate.
“How do you think it started?” Osbert asked from behind him.
Darius turned around and glanced at his man’s side. “Where is Marguerite?”
“In her chamber.”
“Are you certain of this?”
Osbert shrugged. “Aye. She vowed to go there and remain while I assisted you.”
“You have been here this whole time?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And she has been alone this whole time?”
Osbert’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. You don’t think she would…she wouldn’t dare.”
A curse escaped his mouth before Darius sprinted toward the keep, Osbert right behind him. “Get two horses ready in case she did dare.”
Osbert veered toward the stable as Darius continued on to the keep. He raced through the Great Hall and up the stairs to Marguerite’s chamber.
Before entering, he paused to catch his breath. If she was not inside this room, he would need all the patience and strength of will he possessed to keep from strangling the first person he encountered.
He pushed the door open and stepped through the entry way into the chamber.
His shouted curses at finding it empty brought Bertha to the doorway. “My lord?”
Darius whipped around and grabbed the maid by the arm. “I thought you had gone to be with your sister.”
Bertha shook her head. “Not with the fire. I might have been needed.”
He did not believe her excuse for a heartbeat. “Where is your mistress?”
Bertha peered around his body “She is not here?”
“Woman, do not play games with me. Where is she?”
“I do not know, Lord Faucon.” The maid shrugged. “The last time I saw her, she was with you.”
Her attitude bordered on nonchalance and made him realize that Marguerite had obviously told the maid not to be afraid of him. A normal servant would be cowering beneath the glare he directed down at her.
Darius needed this woman to understand that while she did not need fear for herself, perhaps she should fear for her charge. He grabbed her other arm and shook her. “Tell me where she is, or I swear to you I will beat her senseless when I do find her. I am sick of her lies and will tolerate them no longer.”
Bertha’s eyes widened. “You will not harm her if I help you?”
He choked. The maid dared to make a deal with him? “I promise you only that she will live.”
Bertha chewed on her lower lip and stared up at him. Finally, she nodded. “She is in the village. She does nothing wrong, my lord.”
“In
