For several moments, I bathed her hands in my warm breath, hoping once again to ease her chill. I could feel her beautiful green eyes upon me, watching my every move.
When I finally straightened and started to release her, she squeezed my hands and prevented me from leaving. “I want you to know,” she whispered. “You are the kindest man I have ever known.”
“I don’t deserve such praise, my lady.”
“And I do not give praise unless I truly mean it.”
I held her hands for a moment longer, suddenly loathe to leave her in the dungeons alone. However, I couldn’t disregard the proper protocol lest I make the situation worse for her.
That’s all my concern amounted to, I told myself as I ascended the stairs a few seconds later. I was only acting as any captain would toward a prisoner he’d captured. Since I’d been the one to take her into captivity, she was my responsibility. And she certainly didn’t deserve to die like a common criminal.
Surely I could make Pitt see that.
I hurried to the great hall, and the aromas of the evening meal greeted me—thick smoky venison and yeasty rye bread. The scents reminded me I hadn’t eaten properly in over three days. I would relish a fine supper, but only if I was able to convince Pitt to spare Olivia’s life and move her to the tower.
As I strode to the front where Pitt was playing chess with one of his trusted older friends, Sir Frank, my mind spun with all the ways I could rise to Olivia’s defense, any way I could possibly change his mind about executing Olivia.
I was relieved Lady Glynnis and the other women had dispersed from the corner where they sewed, likely retiring to their chambers to ready themselves for the evening meal and activities. I would have a hard enough time pleading Olivia’s case without having to contend with Lady Glynnis’s accusations.
I halted a dozen paces away from Pitt out of respect and waited for him to notice and address me. He finished his move, sat back in his chair, and studied the chessboard while his opponent did the same. I had no doubt he knew I was there and was making me wait as a test of my patience. Under normal circumstances, my patience was unmatched. I could endure high levels of agony without complaint.
But with Olivia languishing in the dungeons, I was anxious to see her removed as soon as possible. I shifted so that my sword clanked. When that elicited no response, I coughed into my hand.
“She’s a thief,” Pitt growled, apparently knowing exactly what I wanted to discuss.
If he wished for no preamble, then I would give him none. And if he had no qualms about discussing this matter in the presence of Sir Frank, then neither did I. “I’m told she took nothing.”
“She picked the lock of one of my chests and was digging through it when Lady Glynnis discovered the treachery.”
“She’s been searching for something since the day she arrived,” I replied. “I know not what item she seeks. But I have observed her searching at other times.” I decided against revealing I’d caught her in my private chambers. I didn’t want to besmear Olivia’s reputation any more than it already was.
“Then she is a sneak as well as a thief.”
“If she really wanted to fill her family’s coffers by taking from you, then she would have stashed the stolen goods away. But she had nothing in her chambers, as I’m sure you discovered.”
“Yes, the guards searched her rooms and found nothing. But that doesn’t mean that she didn’t hide the stolen goods elsewhere.”
“Is anything missing?”
“No.”
“Then everything is accounted for?”
Finally, Pitt shifted his attention away from the game board to me. His eyes were dark, making the pale scar running down his face stand out. “She was caught in my treasury up to her arms in one of my chests. I must punish her with a hanging as I do other thieves.”
“She’s a noblewoman, not a criminal.”
Pitt crossed his arms and reclined in his high-backed chair, stretching his legs out in front of him, his expression much too calculated for my liking.
My nerves stretched like limbs on the rack. I couldn’t let him go through with his plans to hurt Olivia. She didn’t deserve it. No woman did.
“If you hang her, you’ll start a war,” I warned. “Her father will gather his allies and attack Tolleymuth.”
“Then we’ll fight and destroy them.”
“In so doing, you’ll risk harming the king’s efforts to bring the Marcher barons into submission.”
Sir Frank spoke for the first time. “Sir Aldric is right. You would cause a war.”
I nodded my thanks to the older man. We all knew the king didn’t want to start a war if we could bring about peace some other way.
Pitt steepled his hands beneath his chin and regarded me through narrowed eyes. “If not hanging, then what punishment shall I give the earl’s daughter?”
“Move her to the tower and keep her locked there.”
“And . . .”
My mind returned to the idea that had fostered at the tournament. If we threatened her match with Lionel Lacy, we would alarm her father and draw him to Tolleymuth. “We can threaten the earl’s alliance with Marquess of Clearwater.”
Pitt didn’t respond but watched me intently as though waiting for me to continue with my plan. I took heart that he was considering other options for Olivia.
“As you know, the earl is in the process of betrothing Lady Olivia to the marquess’s son. Such a union will increase the earl’s power among the Marcher barons. If we interfere with her betrothal to the marquess’s son, her father will finally come and pay her ransom. He wouldn’t risk losing such a prestigious match.”
“And how is that punishment for her?”
“She’s loyal to her father and won’t want to lose the match either. Besides, she’s proud. If you give her to a landless knight without status, she’ll be appalled and humiliated. I can think of several of my knights who might agree to the plan.” Perhaps I could persuade Darien or one of my other faithful knights to do the deed, more so if they knew Olivia’s father wouldn’t allow her to go through with the marriage. Or at least I hoped her father wouldn’t allow it.
“So you’re suggesting I shame her?”
“Yes. Such a betrothal would be beneath her, and she’d loathe it.” While I didn’t want to expose Olivia to any shame, she must suffer or Pitt wouldn’t consider the punishment sufficient.
Pitt studied me with the same calculation that again set my nerves on edge. “I expected that once you discovered her life was in danger, you’d offer to marry her in order to save her.”
He’d expected me to marry her? I shook my head. “No, my lord.” My mind scrambled for an excuse. “I couldn’t possibly—”
“I took you for a jealous man, Windsor. I’ve noticed the way you regard her, and I didn’t think you could hand her over to another so easily.”
“I’m not jealous, my lord. Besides, the betrothal won’t last.”
“And if the earl chooses not to ransom his daughter, then you won’t mind one of the other knights marrying Lady Olivia?”
My mind flashed with the image of Darien bending in to kiss Olivia’s pretty lips. The mere thought of it sent a sharp, almost violent streak of protest through my blood.
Pitt was gauging my reaction. With a satisfied smile, he sat forward and moved a knight on the chessboard. “I shall grant your request, Windsor, and shall stay Lady Olivia’s execution. But only if you agree to the betrothal for yourself.”
I couldn’t speak past my frustration. Had I played right into Pitt’s ploy? Had he planned to entrap me all along?
When he’d told me he would drop the matter of my taking a bride, I should have realized he wouldn’t cease his scheming, should have known he was too cunning. But why not force my hand with one of the other women? Why Olivia?
“Surely you don’t want me to unite with our enemy?” I offered.
“Keeping the enemy close is oft a wise strategy.”
“Very true,” remarked Sir Frank as he lifted his pawn and moved it within striking distance to Pitt’s queen.