Page 27 of Secrets of Capell Manor
“True,” Rosalind agreed. “But he would have to fight both of us then. I had my dagger, and Benton was so brave. He was ready to fight to the death if needed.”
Devlin didn’t doubt the old servant’s loyalty to his mistress, and likewise, Rosalind would have killed for the old man in a second.
“But it never came to a fight. Uncle Edmond rushed in. He grabbed Kirkeby and told him he couldn’t have me…yet. The king would have to approve the contract, and he wouldn’t allow Roland to “ruin me” for future suitors if the king refused the union.”
“Oh, wasn’t that considerate of him?” Devlin said sarcastically.
She was quiet for a moment. “I was only a bartering chip to my uncle, a way to increase his wealth. He didn’t even comment on my swollen face or ripped clothes.”
“That I am not surprised about. But what about the contract, milady? Did your uncle send the request to the king?”
“Of that, I am not sure. After he and Roland left my chambers, I could not sleep. Marta sat with me, and finally, at dawn, I drifted off to sleep. I awoke around noon, and Uncle Edmond was still asleep. The drinking from the night before must have hit him hard. But when he finally awoke, he did not speak of what happened the night before or the contract. Truthfully, I was afraid to ask. And secretly, I hoped that in a drunken stupor, he had promised me to Kirkeby, but in the light of day, he realized the folly of this contract and didn’t go through with it.”
“But Roland didn’t forget, did he?” Devlin said, almost to himself.
“No. No, evidently not,” Rosalind replied.
One small droplet escaped from her eye and cascaded down her cheek.
He reached out and caught the drop before it reached the bottom of her face. His touch was gentle. He then gently liftedher chin, and his whisper-quiet voice was chilling as he said, “Roland Kirkeby will never have you.”
Chapter Eight
The hour was late, but Devlin knew he would not sleep. He ordered Rosalind upstairs to bed. She seemed to have the strength to walk, but just barely. He watched her as she turned the corner, and he stayed in the great hall until he could no longer hear her footsteps on the stairs.
And then he paced. The tension built inside his body until he feared he would explode with the force of it. Alden had not returned to the manor house since he had escorted that lout Kirkeby out, so Devlin headed out to the stable himself. He secretly wished that Roland was still on the premises. He could immediately handle this problem, and no one would ever know.
He rounded the corner into the barn. Alden perched on a crude bench against a stall door, and surprisingly, Ridley was there too. Ridley held his head in his hands, and despite the dim light from the single lantern hanging from an iron hook on the post, Devlin could see that Ridley was crying.
Poor kid. The events of the evening had certainly taken a toll on the young lad.
“Devlin, come sit.”
Alden’s tone indicated that there was more than met the eye. Devlin wondered what else could happen that night that would top what had already transpired.
“Sir Devlin,” Ridley began, “You need to know what I did.”
Devlin said nothing. It took a moment before Ridley could speak.
“There was a marriage contract,” Ridley stated. His face paled considerably. “I took the contract from Lord Edmond. He told me to take it to Ned in the village, and Ned would see to it that it was delivered to the king. But I couldn’t, Sir Devlin. I told Lord Edmond I had completed the task, but I took thecontract and hid it. I couldn’t let him give Lady Rosalind to that scoundrel.”
Devlin was speechless. He reeled with the news and was glad he was sitting.
What the boy had done was incomprehensible to him. To disobey his lord, to interfere with kingdom business in this way would result in a severe flogging in the least and possibly even death if anyone ever found out.
Devlin grabbed Ridley by his skinny shoulders. “Ridley, listen to my questions and answer them truthfully.”
Ridley, with eyes open wide, nodded with sincerity.
“Did Ned know that Edmond was sending him a missive to deliver to court? Did he know of the betrothal promise between Edmond and Kirkeby?”
“I don’t believe he did. He wasn’t here when Roland won milady in the card game. And the old lord didn’t speak with him any time after that.”
Devlin exhaled audibly in relief.
“Do you have the message that Lord Edmond penned to the king? Do you still have the contract?”
“Yes, I do. It’s hidden where no one will ever find it.”
