“I thought about poisoning you as I had been poisoning him, but I had to plan my greatest revenge out carefully.” Her lips puckered in a moue of pity. “I couldn’t allow the king to put me in his dungeon, could I?”
“Isn’t the apple poisoned?”
“Of course. But how will anyone prove I did it? You are so far away from Hohendorf, and everyone in the surrounding villages knows I never leave the castle. No one knows I am here now. I have new guards, you see, ones who will not become deserters and fail me, and they are under orders to tell anyone who comes to my chambers that I am ill. And I shall kill anyone who dares say I left Hohendorf’s grounds.”
“You don’t have to do this.” Sophie’s back ached from pressing against the counter behind her. “I won’t return to Hohendorf. You never have to see me again.” The duchess had no reason to know where she was planning to go or the life that awaited her in Hagenheim with Gabe.
“I can’t risk letting you live.” The duchess’s eyes were cold and black, and from the way the strands of white hair at her temple were trembling, her whole body must have been shaking. “I shouldn’t have kept you alive as long as I did. I simply enjoyed tormenting you too much and imagining how bad Baldewin would feel if he knew.” She cackled, a cruel laugh.
“I won’t tell anyone you were here if you go now.” Sophie kept her voice calm. Perhaps she could soothe the duchess into letting down her guard.
“I’m not leaving until you’re dead. Lorencz failed me, but I will see this through.”
She pushed the apple against Sophie’s lips so hard Sophie felt her teeth cut her lip, tasted blood as she turned her head. Sophie grabbed the apple, wrenched it out of the duchess’s hand, and threw it across the room.
A sharp slap resounded through the room. Sophie lifted her arms to protect herself, her cheek stinging where the duchess had struck her. When she opened her eyes and focused, the duchess was smiling. In her hand, poised above her shoulder, gleaming in the room’s meager light, was a knife.
It was true, Gabe realized. Sophie was the duke’s daughter. Gabe was in love with Valten’s betrothed.
Duke Baldewin covered his face and fell to his knees, moaning. “I should have stayed instead of running away like a coward. I should have gone back. I should have protected my little girl.” He began weeping, his shoulders shaking.
Gabe ran his hand over his stubbly jaw. Perhaps I should have broken the news to him more gently.
The duke lifted his tear-stained face. “Is she safe? Is she well? Where is she?”
“Yes, she’s safe and well. I left her with Bartel at the Cottage of the Seven, two days’ ride west of here. I will take you to her as soon as you’re ready to leave.” The sooner the better, since his father would be arriving at the cottage any day now to take her to Hagenheim.
Baldewin groaned piteously, bowing his head to the stone floor. “How will she stand the sight of me after I left her with that witch?”
Gabe had never seen a grown man in such anguish of spirit — nor any man with more cause.
“It’s not your fault, Your Gra — Brother Baldewin. You couldn’t have known. You thought your daughter was dead.” Gabe stared down at him, wondering what else he could do or say to comfort the duke. “The duchess did this, not you. You mustn’t blame yourself.”
“I should have known. I should have felt in my spirit that she was still alive.” He groaned again.
This hadn’t been what Gabe had expected. He’d thought the duke would be happy that his daughter was alive, would joyfully grasp Gabe’s hand and grant his permission for Gabe to marry Sophie after learning how he’d saved her from the duchess. Gabe had imagined the duke being more than glad to go to Duke Wilhelm and Valten to ask them to break the betrothal so Gabe could marry the daughter Baldewin long thought dead but who was now alive. And perhaps she would be dead, if not for Gabe. Gabe would be sure to mention that.
But now … Gabe’s grand plans for a joyous reunion seemed to be dashed, or at least delayed. What could he say that would bring the duke to a point of action? Perhaps he should allow the duke some time to grieve. If only it wasn’t so urgent that they hurry.
Gabe sat on the floor a few feet away, leaning against the wall. God, help Duke Baldewin forgive himself. Help him to know you forgive him as well.
Gabe wasn’t sure how much time had gone by, maybe half an hour, when the duke lifted his head and said, “Can you leave me alone for a while? I need to pray.”