Olivia studied my face with her usual sharpness. “What will keep him from locking us into the dungeons?’
I sincerely hoped Pitt wouldn’t resort to such measures. Of course, he’d shown no mercy to any of the men we’d captured over the past year and had locked them away until their families paid the required ransom. “If you respect and obey Lord Pitt, he will likely allow you to attend to his wife.”
Olivia’s eyes flashed with displeasure before she could hide it. I had no doubt she was familiar with the practice of ladies serving those above them. As an earl’s daughter, Olivia deserved to have Lady Glynnis attend her, not the other way around.
“You must remain docile, Lady Olivia,” I urged. Olivia must understand from the start that if she hoped to survive her captivity, she needed to submit to Pitt’s wishes. Or he would destroy her.
I had only to picture my brother’s wife, Lady Sabine, in the metal cage suspended in the tree to remember just how brutal Pitt could be when provoked. Pitt had accused Sabine of being a witch and almost burned her at the stake. He likely would have killed her, except that Bennet and I attacked his encampment and freed her.
“If you cross Lord Pitt,” I said, “I cannot guarantee your safety or Isabelle’s.”
Olivia glanced at her sister who’d also arisen. Isabelle was decidedly more travel weary, her gown disheveled, her hair in need of grooming. Worry rippled over Olivia’s lovely features before she forced cool impassivity into her expression.
“You may take me to your master,” Olivia announced.
I hesitated, suddenly wishing I could whisk the two sisters away someplace safe, away from Pitt, away from their father, away from the political intrigue that held them captive. But I was the one responsible for bringing them here. And now that I’d done the deed, I would have to ensure that no harm befell them.
Fighting the heaviness in my heart, I led the women into the great hall, down the long center aisle to the head table where Pitt was washing his greasy fingers in a silver ewer a servant held out to him.
“My lord,” I said, “I present the Earl of Ulster’s daughters, Lady Olivia and Lady Isabelle.”
Both curtsied prettily before Pitt.
As Olivia rose, I caught sight of the disdain on her face before she could mask it. From the narrowing of Pitt’s eyes, I guessed he’d seen it as well.
The women at the adjacent table had ceased their discourse and were watching the prisoners with interest. Lady Glynnis was a hefty, large-boned woman with a round face. Her eyes and nose and mouth were small amidst the mounds of her flesh. As if to make up for her lack of natural beauty, she adorned herself in the most ostentatious of costumes, elaborate headdresses, voluminous jewelry, and lavish gowns.
I’d noted at other times and heard rumors among the married knights, that Lady Glynnis was easily provoked by any woman she deemed prettier than herself. Perhaps it was for the best that Olivia and Isabelle hadn’t had time to refresh themselves. Hence forward, I would need to warn them to dress plainly and try not to attract undue attention.
“Lady Olivia.” Pitt wiped his hands on the towel his servant provided. He deliberately dried each finger slowly before raising the towel to his mouth and beard and wiping away the remains of his meal, all without taking his hard gaze from Olivia. “I bid you and your sister welcome to Tolleymuth.”
Olivia’s shoulders were rigid with defiance. I silently willed her to refrain from retorting with something rude. I wasn’t sure why I cared so much that she behave. I’d already warned her. If she chose to ignore my admonitions, that was her fault. She’d get what she deserved.
But did she truly deserve this? Any of it?
I banished the question and forced myself to remain alert.
“Lord Pitt,” Olivia said in her usual direct tone. “We both know that my welcome here is contingent upon my father. But I do thank you for the kindness your men have shown to me and my sister during our ordeal. I commend them for the honorable way they have treated us. It speaks well of you and the manner in which you run your household.”
Olivia’s response surprised me. And from the widening of Pitt’s eyes, I could tell it had surprised him as well.
He regarded her a moment before answering, as though testing the sincerity of her words. “I do not deserve the praise you bestow upon me, Lady Olivia. Any gratitude for kindness must be given to my captain, for he is a man of honor.”
Pitt nodded in my direction, but Lady Olivia kept her attention focused on him.
“Windsor,” he said, “is the finest man I know. But I am not so fine. Rather I am . . .”
Ruthless. Determined. Dangerous. I silently filled in the blank. Pitt wasn’t someone I wished to face on the battlefield again. However, after my time in his servitude, I’d learned he was also reasonable and ultimately sought to do what was right, even if his methods at times were harsh.
“I’m interested in ensuring the king’s well-being,” he continued with a glance at the king’s advisors who were watching the proceedings with obvious interest. “I try to do what is necessary for the greater good of the kingdom.”
“I respect your loyalty to the king, my lord,” she replied. “Hopefully you will respect mine to my family.”
Pitt remained silent for a long moment. The clanging of pots and the voices of servants in the kitchen wafted into the room. Finally, Pitt picked up the goblet that remained on the table before him, took several gulps. “I can see that you are a strong woman. And although I should lock you up, I shall give you the chance to serve my wife.”
“Thank you, my lord.” She bowed her head.
“It will not go well for you if you make me regret my decision.” His words rang with ominous warning.
Olivia nodded but didn’t meet his gaze.
I should feel pleased by the outcome of the meeting, for it meant Olivia and her sister would live in relative comfort during their stay at Tolleymuth.
But I felt only trepidation as if somehow Pitt and I had been sucked into a scheme that we knew nothing about. I could only pray Olivia would heed my advice and remain meek and cooperative during her stay. Otherwise, I didn’t know if I’d be able to save her from Pitt’s wrath.
“And you should also know,” Pitt added, “my scribe has written to your father letting him know he has one month starting from today to pay the ransom and sign a letter declaring his loyalty to the king. After that, I will punish him even further.”
From the sharp edge of Pitt’s tone, I knew he’d do whatever he needed in order to bring the earl into submission. One month wasn’t long, but the earl should have no trouble accumulating the amount he owed Pitt. The question was whether he’d be willing to pledge himself to the king and cease his plotting with other Marcher lords. Did he care enough for his daughters and their freedom to give up his rebellious ways? Or would he sacrifice them for his own selfish desires?
I prayed for Olivia and Isabelle’s sakes that their father was as devoted as Olivia believed.
Chapter
8
I peered down the long hallway both ways to make sure I was unnoticed before I slid into the chapel and closed the door behind me.
After a week at Tolleymuth as a servant to Lord Pitt’s wife, I wasn’t sure I had the patience to go another hour, much less another day or week. Lady Glynnis had been jealous and petty and demeaning all week, finding fault with everything I did.
Her demanding schedule made searching for the Holy Chalice nearly impossible. She woke us all well before dawn to pray with her. Then after breaking our fast with plain porridge and hot milk, we prayed again in the chapel.