Page 59 of Promises Made at Midnight
A grunt of disbelief erupted from his mouth. “’Twas hardly any effort on my part, my sweet. ’Twas apparent on my arrival that you rescued yourself or at least were in the process of doing so.”
Bridgette continued gazing into her husband’s face, not knowing how she would ever be able to tell him who was behind her abduction. “Ulrick… I must let you know—”
He leaned downed, placing his forehead to her own. She heard his heavy sigh. “There is no need, wife. I am well aware my mother and steward were behind the whole thing.”
She kissed his lips. “I’m so sorry, Ulrick.”
“As am I. However, you are safe and no harm has befallen you.”
“The children! What about the children?” she asked, frightened something may have also happened to them.
“Eustace and Eva are just fine, as are my brother and sister. How I will tell them their mother was behind all this is still a mystery.”
“What will become of them?” she inquired. Bridgette could see the grief that was affecting him with whatever decision he must make.
“What I would like is to see their heads on a pike outside my gates for attempting to take you away from me!” he shouted.
Bridgette shuddered knowing that, while a common practice in this century, she just couldn’t imagine actually having such a horror outside of her home. “You can’t do that to your own mother, Ulrick.”
“I do not see why not. ’Twill serve as a reminder to anyone else who feels they can take what is mine away from me.”
“Ulrick… she is still your mother.”
“She isnotmy mother. At least not anymore, but I will deal with her and Hadrian upon our return to Dunster. For now, I see your abductor is attempting to gain his feet. Hand me those ropes and he can learn how you felt when you were tied up and left defenseless.”
Bridgette did as he requested and before long she was riding in the saddle with her husband. Her abductor was tied with a rope and was forced to walk behind Ulrick’s horse and the one that had pulled the wagon. The cart, they left behind. They would make arrangements for its return once they were back at Dunster.
She snuggled into the warmth of her husband, knowing she was safe. Life in the twelfth century was sometimes brutal and she would need to learn that this included the punishments for those who did their liege lord wrong. She only prayed she could survive the aftermath of what had been done to her today.
CHAPTER43
Ulrick entered his bedchamber hoping to find his wife resting after her ordeal. He should have known such would not be the case, as he found her pacing the room. The moment he opened the door, she halted her steps and then flung herself into his arms. He barely had time to clasp his own arms around her waist before she was demanding answers from him.
“Well?” she demanded. “What have you done with them?” Her tone more than told him he should answer her directly so there would be no doubt that he was in charge of disciplining his people according to the offenses they committed.
“Mayhap you could tell me good eve before you launch into your demands?” he teased, brushing her hair back to clearly see her face. “A kiss might also smooth my mighty temper a bit, too.”
She laughed. “Just one kiss? Somehow, I think this is a ploy on your part to distract me from what I want to know. I live here, too, or did you forget?”
“I have forgotten nothing,ma chérie, other than I wish to spare you such unpleasantries.” He gave her a quick kiss and made his way to a table to pour them both a chalice of wine. He handed her a cup before motioning to a chair for her to sit.
“Tell me,” she said in a firm voice before settling herself in her chair. She took a sip of wine waiting for him to go on.
“As much as I would like to have all three of their heads sitting on a pike outside our gates—”
“Ulrick…” she dragged out his name until he held up his hand so he might continue.
“—I will not go to such lengths,” he finished. “As you mentioned, I do not wish such a ghastly reminder to be so visible any time one of the children, you, or my brother or sister leave the estate,” he began before also taking a long deep sip of wine. “Instead, the three are currently sitting in a nice damp cell beneath this very castle to await their fate.”
“What of the money stolen by your mother and Hadrian all these years?” she asked leaning forward resting her forearms on her thighs.
“Mother would not confess, although I was able to search her rooms. I found a small cache of jewels that can be sold to return back to our coffers to help with the running of Dunster. Hadrian babbled like an old fool and surprisingly enough he handed over what he, too, had hidden away in his rooms with little difficulty. I believe he thought by doing so, he might keep his head.”
“You can’t keep them forever in the dungeon, Ulrick.”
“Mayhap I can…” he stated before he chuckled seeing Bridgette’s frown. “I only tease you, my love. Nay… I have a better plan. They will be taken from here as little more than slaves to be sold into service. They may keep their heads but I have ensured they shall never set foot upon English soil again.”
“Slavery… that’s almost as horrible as death in some cases. Are you sure you wish to go to such extremes?”
