Page 44 of Knight of Chaos
There was no one to give her the answer she needed, and a sob escaped her. She needed help but who would she ask? She knew what awaited a lone woman on the open road. Had she not learned as much when she encountered de Payne at the inn and upon the battlefield? Although she knew she could defend herself, traveling could still be dangerous without the company of men she could trust.
Her gaze swept the room of mostly strangers. The ladies in waiting had become distant and showed more interest in pursuing Ingrid’s husband than in remaining friends with her. The knights had been courteous enough to dance with and fight alongside, but she hardly knew them well enough to ask for their assistance. Oswin would certainly leap to the chance to aid her, but she was certain he would think she wanted more than to remain just friends. Reynard was Theobald’s brother and Richard the same, although not blood related. She could not count on any of them to follow her wishes in this.
This only left two men. Blake Kennarde and Kingsley Goodee. Men she had fought with, side by side, for the Empress’s cause. Men she could hopefully trust not to go running to her husband and reveal her intentions of leaving the castle.
Her decision made, she downed the remainder of her wine before standing and making her way across the room. The two men stood near the hearth, deep in conversation.
“Gentlemen… may I have a moment of your time?” Ingrid asked, stepping closer to the pair.
“Of course, Lady Ingrid,” Blake proclaimed with a bow.
“How may we be of service to you, my lady?” Kingsley asked at the same time.
“Kind sirs… I have a proposition for you…”
Ingrid quietly began to outline her plan to return to her small farm outside of London. Although the two men initially protested, they ultimately agreed to help her find her way back home. With one last look at her husband, Ingrid left to pack the few things she could call her own. She would leave this life behind and never again look back.
Chapter Thirty
Theobald entered thebedchamber he had recently shared with his wife. The fact that the door had been left ajar told him much. The bed had not been slept in, mayhap for the past two nights. Two nights that he had allowed her to think on her hurtful words. Two nights for her to remember all they had shared. Two nights that he had given her for her to come to terms with the truth that he did not wish for anyone other than Ingrid in his bed. Two nights that were obviously too damn long!
His angry stride took him across the room to open the lid of the wooden trunk he had bought for her things. The costly borrowed gowns were neatly folded. The lovely gems left behind glittered in the light from the torches held in the scones on the walls. Digging into the depths of the trunk told him what he had already assumed. Ingrid was dressed in hose, tunic, and boots again. At least she took her cloak when she fled.
She had left him!
He sank into the nearby chair by the hearth, rested his elbows on his knees, and leaned forward. His hands brushed over his face as if this act alone would allow him to come to terms with the fact that his wife had actually left him. He would have thought she would, at the very least, have left him a note. But there was nothing.Nothing!Nothing but an empty room and a cold bed to gaze upon. ’Twas as though she felt that the connection that had been between them since they first met had never existed at all.
Bloody hell.
He stood and began pacing the room like a caged animal. Where would she go? The only logical place that made sense was Calbridge or Penhow Castles. Both now belonged to her and would see to her needs. She only had to make her way there and announce she was mistress of the hall. With the Empress’s missive and wax seal, no one would question the authenticity of Ingrid’s claim. But surely Ingrid knew Theobald would follow her to hell and back just to ensure she was safe. Or did she?
He shook his head. Considering they had not been talking for nigh unto a se’nnight, Theobald was not sure of anything anymore especially where his wife was concerned. She had become a stranger, and he missed those hazel eyes that used to stare at him with what he had naturally assumed was love. Love! If this was love, he had no use for such an emotion. He snapped out of his sour mood. Nay… lovehadfound him, and he was destined to find his wife so that they could work out their differences. He would not denounce his feelings for Ingrid no matter how angry her actions had made him.
Richard appeared in the doorway to the chamber with Reynard and Oswin close behind. Theobald waved them forward.
“You have news of her whereabouts?” Theobald inquired whilst attempting to keep his rising anger in control.
“Aye,” Richard said nodding. “She was seen leaving yesterday morn just prior to the rising of the sun.”
“Why did no one stop her?” he bellowed.
“She appeared as a young man. The morning guards thought nothing of it,” Richard replied taking a seat by the hearth.
Reynard came up to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. “There is more…”
Theobald threw his head back in frustration to stare at the ceiling. “Why am I not surprised?”
“She did not ride alone. Blake and Kingsley are also missing, so we assume they have all left together,” Reynard finished.
Oswin muttered a curse. “If she needed help, I do not understand why she did not ask me. I would have told Theobald straight away what she was planning and then we would not be having such a conversation.”
Richard tsked. “Which is why she did not ask you. Besides, you hold a certain affection for the lady whether she is wed or not. She would not have asked you because of it.”
“I would never think to defile her. I would not dally with a married woman—particularly not one who is married to one of my best friends,” Oswin swore whilst his hand went to the hilt of his sword.
Reynard took the other vacant seat by the hearth. “I think I know her well enough to know she would not have wanted to put herself into such a position as to travel with you, Oswin.”
Oswin began to sputter his protest to defend himself, but Theobald came to stand next to the knight. “Calm down. It does Ingrid no good if we fight amongst ourselves. I am thankful she at least thought to take two very capable knights with her. God alone knows what might have met her on the road had she gone alone.” He became lost in his thoughts as his memories of the red-haired beauty attempting to hide in the trees rushed across his mind. That hair would be her downfall.
