Pitt was quiet as he studied the board.
“At the very least,” I said, “allow me to move Lady Olivia to a tower room.” I couldn’t bear the prospect of her languishing in the dungeons, shaking and cold and hungry any longer than necessary.
“I shall allow the move only after an official betrothal ceremony.” His voice contained a finality that told me he wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise.
I stifled an exasperated sigh. “Then I shall make the arrangements for the ceremony right away.”
“Good.”
Good? I quelled my irritation, certain now Pitt had meddled and had me in the exact position he’d wanted.
“You needn’t worry,” Pitt said as if sensing my irritation. “You said yourself the betrothal won’t last.”
“And if it does?”
“Then you may find yourself deliriously happy again, my friend.” When he looked at me this time, his eyes brimmed with sincerity. And I realized he thought he was doing this for my good. He believed I cared about Olivia and that somehow she’d make me happy.
Although I wasn’t pleased with his stipulations, I knew he meant well. And I couldn’t fault him for that. Even if he was wrong.
Chapter
14
Izzy hugged me as though she never meant to let go.
I returned the embrace wholeheartedly, relieved for the opportunity to be with her again—an opportunity I thought I’d lost forevermore.
Sir Darien waited nearby looking discreetly away, allowing me the opportunity to be with my sister.
We stood at the top of the dungeons’ stairwell in a deserted hallway. Wrapped in the blankets Aldric had provided for me, my limbs were regaining warmth. Though the castle passageway was drafty, it was warmer than my cell and reflected the heat of summer.
Determined, purposeful steps drew nearer. Aldric’s steps.
I suspected he was behind my release. But what was to become of me now? I had no desire to return to the cold hovel where, save for the rats and spiders, I was alone. Not only had the cold seeped into my very bones, so had fear. I’d never considered myself an easily frightened woman, had always believed myself to be strong natured. But my imagination had too much time to spin tales and had run away with every possible outcome and punishment.
I’d prayed as I never had before. During the prayers, I sensed God’s displeasure for how I’d conducted myself. I’d justified my lying and plans to steal because of my desire to help Charles and please my father. I’d told myself what I was doing couldn’t be wrong if I was doing it for the right reasons, especially because I believed taking the chalice wouldn’t hurt Lord Pitt. After all, he had so many treasures and wouldn’t miss one little thing.
But the more I contemplated my actions, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if the whole of civilization lived by my principle. Where would the wrongdoing stop if everyone acted out whatever moral code felt right in the moment?
If I felt I could justify stealing, then someone else might justify killing or lying or cheating. Where would the justifying stop? After all, a person’s heart could often be deceptive and greedy, lulling them into doing something that might feel right in the moment, but ultimately was driven by mixed motives.
As altruistic as I believed my motives were in finding the Holy Chalice, underneath the desire to help my brother and family, I was also doing it for selfish reasons. I wanted to be my father’s favorite child. I wanted his approval and love so that I could feel better about myself.
All this time, I’d told myself I was being a loyal daughter. But maybe I didn’t really know what true loyalty entailed.
Whatever the case, I was grateful to be aboveground. But I wasn’t na?ve enough to think that I was being freed, nor was I fool enough to believe my punishment would be suspended. In fact, I’d come to the conclusion I deserved to be disciplined for what I’d done. I just hoped Aldric could convince Lord Pitt to spare Izzy any trouble. This was my fault, not hers.
I gave Izzy a final squeeze and kissed her cheek before I pulled back. She quickly swiped at the tears that had escaped and gave me a wobbly smile. Her fear was like a living force. Even at fifteen, she still relied upon me to be the strong one, to direct her, and to smooth over any problems. What would she do without me to keep her safe? As much as I hated to admit it, I knew deep inside that Father wouldn’t bother with Izzy. He never had. And he’d only do so if it served his purposes.
Aldric’s admonition regarding my father taunted me: He seeks to increase his wealth and power in whatever way suits him.
Was Father doing the same thing to me? Was he using me to serve his purposes regardless of my well-being?
I shook my head. I had to believe he’d heard about my imprisonment and that he was finally making plans to rescue Izzy and me. He might not be able to save me from my crime, but at least he could ransom Izzy. Even as I tried to assure myself of his care, doubts assailed me.
“I see Lady Glynnis cooperated,” Aldric said to Sir Darien.
The young knight grinned. “She wasn’t happy to relinquish the keys, but she dared not disobey Lord Pitt.”
I clutched the blankets over my filthy garments as I faced Aldric. Now that I could see him more completely outside of the darkness of the dungeons, my stomach fluttered with the awareness of just how attractive he was with his rugged and battle-hardened features. His chiseled jaw was covered in several day’s worth of stubble, the creases in his forehead lined with dust.
My thoughts returned to the intimate moment in the dungeons when he’d rubbed my arms to warm me. The friction had helped ease my discomfort, but more than that, his touch had ignited sparks inside me. And when he’d blown onto my fingers, the sparks had fanned into flames that still burned low.
His dark eyes swept over me, and I was suddenly self-conscious. I wished I’d had the opportunity to change into fresh clothing as well as wash myself and have one of the servants style my hair.
“My lady.” He bowed his head toward me but didn’t meet my gaze. “We don’t have much time, but I’ve ordered the servants to prepare you a bath and change of gowns.”
“Then I do not have to return to the dungeons?”
“No.” He glanced at Sir Darien as though he wished the young man would explain my punishment so he didn’t have to. But Sir Darien fixed his attention on the floor, his eyes wide with obvious embarrassment.
“You may be honest and tell me my fate,” I said, reaching for Izzy’s hand and grasping it hard to control the trembling.
“Lady Glynnis petitioned for your execution by hanging . . .”
At his declaration, my knees nearly gave out. I would have fallen if Izzy hadn’t slipped her arm around my waist and held me up. Perhaps I should have attempted to escape while I still had the chance, even if it had meant leaving Izzy behind.
“Have no fear,” Aldric said quickly as though sensing my despair. “After I spoke with Lord Pitt, he agreed to stay your execution. You’ll be punished instead by betrothal to one of his knights.”
Betrothal to one of his knights? For a moment, I could only stare at Aldric in disbelief. Then as Lord Pitt’s plan began to sink in and make sense, I shuddered. He was cutting off the possibility of my family’s alliance with the Marquess of Clearwater in order to anger my father further.
But would the move make any difference? After my father’s absence thus far, I could no longer predict what he might do next. Perhaps he’d lost interest in an alliance with the marquess. Perhaps he no longer saw me as an asset and would let Lord Pitt do what he wished with me.
Whatever the case, I was thankful Lord Pitt would allow me to live. And I was thankful to Aldric for rescuing me from the dungeons and death. “I deserve the punishment. And I understand the intent to draw out my father and make him finally pay the ransom.”