Page 51 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

She turned to her sister. ‘I’m fine, but I’ve been so worried about you. Erik said you fell off your horse while riding and that you were knocked unconscious.’

‘That is true,’ said Katherine, lightly touching her bruised skin. ‘It was only a small accident. What I don’t understand is how you came to be in a room above a baker’s shop. You were carried off by a group of men, Linota. I was so scared!’

Linota’s shoulders relaxed slightly. So that was the problem. They thought Emma and Clayborne were somehow mixed up with her abductors. It would be easy to explain and hopefully they could laugh off the last few awkward moments. ‘I wasn’t with those men long enough to be very frightened. By the time I started to panic, Erik had caught up with us and he dealt with the men.’

Even in the darkness Linota couldn’t miss the contempt that swept across Katherine’s face at the mention of Erik.

‘Erik Ward has betrayed you,’ Katherine said flatly. ‘He is ransoming you in order to get money out of Jarin.’

Linota inhaled sharply. Katherine was mistaken or lying. There was no way Erik had betrayed her. He might not have told her that he loved her, but he definitely cared about her, on that she was certain. ‘No, he wouldn’t do that. He cares—’

‘He would and he has,’ said Katherine bluntly.

Linota stepped back, unable to bear being near her sister.

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

‘Erik is behind a plot to completely ruin the Earl of Borwyn,’ stated Katherine. ‘He has arranged for you to be kidnapped and for a ransom to be paid for your safe return.’

Linota shook her head. Erik would not do such a thing, not to her and not to Borwyn. There was no mistaking the affectionate tones in which Erik spoke about his half-brother.

‘He has been at the fortress all day,’ Katherine continued. ‘I have spoken to him and not once did he mention that you were safe and well. He let me believe for awhole daylonger than was necessary that you were with those vile abductors. He lied to my face, Linota. Repeatedly!’

Ice spread through Linota’s veins. ‘No...’

‘Did Erik tell you I was at the fortress?’

Linota thought back over the conversation they’d had before...before her whole world had become lost to sensation. Had he mentioned Katherine? Yes, he had. She frowned as she tried to recall his words. She’d asked whether Katherine had returned and he had said...

‘Were you delayed in getting back to the fortress?’ she asked.

‘Yes. I fell off my horse and then...well, quite a bit happened, but it has probably taken an extra day or two more to get here than it should have done. Why?’

Linota nodded. Erik hadn’t answered her question directly. He hadn’t said whether Katherine was back or not, only that she’d been delayed in returning to the fortress. He hadn’t lied to her, but he hadn’t told her the truth either. That suggested something was wrong, but not that he was guilty of everything.

‘How are you so sure?’

Katherine hesitated and Linota’s heart stuttered. Did she really want to know?

‘Aside from keeping you from me, which is not the action of an innocent man, Linota, there are several reasons both Borwyn and I are sure.’

‘Such as?’ Linota pressed.

‘He’s caused unrest on Borwyn’s borders.’ Linota shook her head, there was no way Erik would do that. He cared for his half-brother; she knew he did, it was in the way he spoke. Surely that wasn’t something you could fake. But Katherine ignored Linota’s silent denial and carried on. ‘He told Borwyn all about the ransom for you, he even specified the amount and—’

‘And...?’

Katherine lowered her voice. ‘You must keep this next bit to yourself. Do you swear it?’

Linota nodded. ‘I swear.’

‘The sum Erik asked for is the exact amount Borwyn has left. Only Erik knows that detail.’

Linota let that statement coil around her for a moment, the words sinking into her like a thousand pricks of a needle.

‘Borwyn and I followed Erik here this evening. Only a short while earlier Erik sat with Borwyn. They discussed getting you back from your abductors. Borwyn told Erik to capture the men holding you regardless of whether you got caught in the process. Erik agreed.’

Linota forced herself to remain standing as Katherine’s words turned her knees to liquid.

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