Читать книгу A Choice of Secrets - Barb Hendee - Страница 12

Chapter 3

I was standing in Chloe’s closet, feeling dizzy and disoriented, as if I’d forgotten something and needed to remember. Peeking out a crack between the closet door and the wall, I saw my sister, Chloe, standing in her bedroom with Julian Belledini.

“You liar,” she said. “You made me believe you wanted to spend your life with me.”

He stepped away from her. “And I did. I do. But not like this. Marry Lord Christophe. You have no choice now. In three years’ time, you’ll thank me.”

Turning, he walked out.

Chloe put both hands to her mouth to stifle a sob.

Then I remembered. I’d come in here to find her dress from the banquet, so that it might be laundered, and I’d overheard that she was carrying Julian’s child. Shock and fear of what this might mean washed through me in waves as I listened to her try to keep her weeping silent.

A few moments later, one of our servants called to her through the door. She composed herself as best she could and left the room. I remained in the closet, trying to let myself fully comprehend the ramifications of what had happened. The people of our lands needed Chloe to marry Christophe, and I believed she would follow through with the marriage as her only option.

But if her child were born a boy, he would inherit both Christophe’s title and become the heir to Whale’s Keep. The future lord of Whale’s Keep would not even be of the de Fiore line.

Could I allow this to happen?

If I said nothing, the marriage would take place and Christophe would send soldiers to guard and protect our coastline, but should the child be a boy, I would be partly responsible for the de Fiores passing their ancient title and lands to a son of the Belledinis.

I could not betray Christophe like this.

And yet I could not betray Chloe either. What could I do? Taking long breaths, I realized I had to tell someone who could help decide what should be done. I needed someone who loved both Chloe and Christophe, and I knew of only one person: my brother, Erik.

The thought calmed me. He would never hurt Chloe, but neither would he hurt Christophe. Erik would know what to do.

Leaving the bedroom, I hurried down the hallway and outside into our circular courtyard. This time of day, he could normally be found at the barracks. Even though Christophe’s troops would be coming, Erik had begun new training exercises for our own men. He and Father had also started hiring more guards.

Walking down the main path, I took a side path toward the barracks and then gathered myself as I opened the door. I never came in here, and the smell of leather and perspiration caused me to remain in the doorway. This building housed a world of men, and Corporal Devon stood not far inside the entryway, wearing his dark green tabard over chain armor. His eyes widened at the sight of me.

“My lady?”

“Is my brother here?” I asked. “I need to speak with him.”

“Of course. You wait. I’ll go and find him.”

Beyond the corporal, I saw a large open room filled with tables and chairs. A few other guards were sitting around, drinking from mugs or playing cards, and I was glad for Corporal Devon’s assistance. I had no wish to step further inside.

“Thank you.”

Leaving me, he walked through the large room and out an archway on the far side. Thankfully, he wasn’t gone long and soon returned with Erik at his side. Erik wore a wool shirt, chain armor, and a green tabard—but no sword this morning. Armor and weapons had always suited him well. Erik was a born soldier.

Striding through the entryway, he offered me a broad smile. “What are you doing here, little sister? Do you need my help deciding on tonight’s dessert? I vote for anything with strawberries.”

Is that what he thought of me? That I would only come to him to ask what he wanted for dessert? Well…perhaps that assessment was not entirely unfair.

Then he took in my face and stopped mid-step. “What’s wrong? Is Mother ill?”

“No.” I shook my head quickly. “But I need to speak with you, alone.”

“Can it wait? I was about to start a drill.”

“It cannot wait. Will you please come outside with me?”

Frowning, he stepped outside with me, and I cast around for someplace private, but this time of day, the courtyard was alive with guards and servants going about daily tasks. I could think of only one place.

“This way,” I said, heading around the side of the barracks.

“Nicole, really,” Erik said from behind, sounding annoyed now. “This isn’t like you. I have men waiting on me.”

Without stopping, I walked through the meadow out back and all the way to my beehives. There was no one else here and no sound but the buzzing of my bees.

Turning to face him, I said, “Chloe is with child.”

His eyes searched my face as if he hadn’t heard me correctly.

“It’s true,” I added.

“That can’t be. She and Christophe barely speak.”

“It’s not Christophe’s child.”

At that, he went still. “What?”

“It’s Julian Belledini’s.”

The color drained from his already pale face and he closed the distance between us, grabbing my wrist. “Why would you say that? Are you repeating gossip? Do you know what damage such rumors can do?”

His grip hurt and Erik had never hurt me, but his words hurt more. “Repeating gossip? I would do anything to protect Chloe! You know I’d strike the first person to whisper such gossip. I heard this from Chloe herself when she told Julian. I was in her closet and she didn’t know I was there. I heard her telling Julian.”

Erik let go of me and stepped back. He put both hands on the top of his head. “This is true? She’s with Belledini’s child?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say when she told him?”

“He spurned her…politely. I think he was after the type of dowry Father offered to Christophe, but that prospect is over now. Should Father believe Julian seduced her, he would blame them both and there would be no dowry at all. So Julian has abandoned her.” I heard the panic in my voice rising. “I believe she will go ahead with the marriage to Christophe.”

Erik’s eyes shifted back and forth.

Stepping forward, this time I was the one who grabbed his arm. “Erik, what do we do? If we say nothing and the child is a boy, we’ll be placing a Belledini as the heir to Whale’s Keep. But if we expose Chloe’s secret, she will be shamed beyond imagining.”

His gaze dropped to my hand on his arm. “Does anyone else know?”

“No.”

“Are you certain Julian has abandoned her, that he has no intention of attempting to marry her himself?”

“He told her to marry Christophe and then walked out of the room.” After pausing, I repeated, “What do we do?”

“I need to speak with Julian.”

“With Julian?” I gasped.

“Intentions spoken in haste don’t always last, and I need to know for myself what he plans to do. Then, I’ll know what to do.”

This seemed risky, to let Julian know that we knew. If he thought the secret was out, he might be less discreet. But after a moment, I began to understand Erik’s reasoning. Once Julian thought on the idea of Chloe marrying another, it was possible he might change his mind. We needed to know his true intentions before we could try to help Chloe.

Erik was still thinking. “It’s best I do this somewhere outside of the lodge, outside the gates.” He looked down at me. “Go and tell Julian that I need him to meet me at the end of the first path on the river. Tell him I’m thinking of adding a ferry across, in case we end up needing to make a quick evacuation, and that I want his advice. He likes it when Father or I ask his advice.”

“The river? Do you need someplace that isolated?”

“Yes. Go and tell him now. I’ll go on ahead and I’ll be waiting for him.”

Something in his voice worried me, but I didn’t know what. It was the cold way he’d said I’ll be waiting for him. But I had little choice now. I’d employed Erik’s help and I trusted him to help Chloe.

* * * *

Julian was not hard to find. During the day, he could normally be found at the barracks playing cards. I’d heard rumors that he owed several of our guards a good deal of money.

Once again, at the door of the barracks, I caught the eye of Corporal Devon and he came to the entryway.

“Would you please find Julian Belledini for me?” I asked. “Lord Erik needs to see him.”

“Of course, my lady.”

Corporal Devon was not gone long and returned with Julian—the sight of whom made my stomach turn. His handsome face and wavy blond hair did not affect me. But still, I adopted my best expression of politeness.

“Lady Nicole?” Julian said, sounding tenuous.

I’d never once sought him out.

“Forgive my intrusion,” I said. “But Lord Erik has gone to the river. He’s considering the best way to arrange a ferry across, in case an evacuation is needed, and he was hoping for your insights. Could you go and meet him at the end of the first path?”

“A ferry?”

“Yes. He would be indebted for your advice.”

This was rather a brilliant stroke on my part, as I had a feeling Julian liked to have others indebted to him.

With a slight bow, he answered. “I’ll leave directly. I had a losing hand anyway.”

* * * *

I don’t know what possessed me to follow Julian from a distance. I was not the type of woman who spied on others and until recently, I’d never had to keep a secret. But something caused me to need to know what transpired between him and my brother.

So, I let Julian walk ahead of me through the sprawling village, out the community gates, and down the dirt road leading to the river. In truth, I did not often come outside the wall surrounding the village and the lodge, but on occasion, Mother and I had come out to hunt mushrooms or wild herbs or even to travel to other villages when fever struck and healers were needed.

I knew the various paths to the river, so when Julian stepped from the road into the trees onto the first path—and out of view—I didn’t worry. I had no wish for him to see me following, so I let him get a little ways ahead before jogging down the road and heading into the trees myself.

Not far ahead, the rushing of the current could be heard.

Slowly, I crept up behind a tree to watch Julian walk toward the bank to meet Erik, who was waiting. From where I stood, I could hear them both.

“You’re thinking of installing a ferry?” Julian asked. “The current is too swift here. There are several better spots upriver, but those spots are nearer to the first bridge. Are you certain a ferry is even needed?”

Erik didn’t answer and merely studied Julian’s face.

“I hear that you’ve impregnated my sister and abandoned her,” Erik said.

Julian’s eyes widened and he nearly stumbled backward. “Is that what she told you?”

“What do you plan to do about it?” Erik asked.

For a long moment, Julian didn’t answer and appeared to be gathering himself. Clearly, he’d not expected Chloe to breathe a word of this—but there was no way he could know that she hadn’t.

“There is nothing I can do,” he finally answered. “Should your father learn the truth, I’d be condemning Chloe to a life of penury, and I won’t do that.”

How noble he made himself sound. He was a selfish creature who’d tried to worm his way into my family by making Chloe fall in love with him. But now that she couldn’t bring him a dowry of land and money, he’d discarded her like an unwanted toy.

“So, you’re going to let her marry Lord Christophe?” Erik asked.

“What else can I do? That is her best chance for happiness.”

“And out of your love for her, you’ll be silent? You will swear silence, even if the child born is a boy?”

At this, something appeared to occur to Julian, and he titled his head in thought. “Of course. I would never place Chloe at risk nor tarnish the Montagna name, and I know how important this marriage is for your family. But perhaps in turn, you might do a favor for me?”

Erik stiffened. “And what is that?”

“You must know I’ve no wish to live as an officer. I’m much better suited for a place at court in Lascaùx. Perhaps you could convince your father to speak with the king’s secretary? I’d not need a prominent position. Something like master of entertainments would suffice, at first.”

“And if I don’t wish to convince my father?” Erik asked.

“Well, I think it would be best if you did. Your family’s honor and the safety of your people are at stake.”

Listening to this exchange, I almost couldn’t breathe. Julian’s threat was clear. Either Erik would help him to find a position at court in the city of Lascaùx or he would not swear to keep silent.

“In this matter, I trust you’ll know what do?” Julian asked.

Erik nodded. “I know exactly what to do.”

In a flash, his right hand moved to his left sleeve and I saw a glint of steel. Then he rushed Julian, grabbed him by the back of his head, and rammed a dagger though the hollow at the base of his throat.

This all happened in the span of a blink, and Julian’s expression registered shock as Erik continued pushing the blade deeper. Blood spurted, spraying one side of Erik’s tabard, but he still kept pushing with the blade until Julian went limp in his hands.

I put one hand to my mouth at the sight of the rage and hatred on Erik’s face. I’d never thought him capable of this level of sudden violence, much less such hatred. My brother was our protector, a warrior, but he was also a kind and playful soul, a man fond of laughter. This man on the bank of the river was a stranger.

With an angry grunt, he shoved Julian’s body backward into the river and I realized the meeting here had required forethought. He hadn’t wanted a private place so much as place where he could dispose of a body.

After wiping his blade in the grass, he stowed it back into a sheath on his left forearm. Glancing down at his tabard, he noticed the blood all over his shoulder. Pulling the tabard over his head, he tossed into the river.

Then he turned to head back for the path through the trees.

I stood there, frozen, staring at him, and he stopped.

Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of me, and his eyes flooded with a mix of anger and pain.

“Did you see that?” he asked, his voice ragged.

“You killed him,” I whispered. I still couldn’t believe it.

As he strode toward me, the sun glinted off his chain armor and I couldn’t help shrinking away. I’d never in my life feared my brother. But I was afraid of him.

“I had to!” he shouted. “Did you hear what he said? Could you see his face? He was threatening blackmail, and he’d never have stopped with a minor position at court. So long as he was alive, he’d have power over us and Chloe would be in danger.”

I began shaking and couldn’t stop. I kept seeing him ramming the dagger through Julian’s throat.

“What happens now?” I asked, like a child. “What will we do?”

“Nothing,” he answered. “Chloe will marry Christophe, and Christophe will live up to his end of the contract. He’ll send soldiers to guard our coastline.”

“What if the child is a boy?”

“Then it’s a boy.” He shook his head as if I were simple. “Nicole, the prospect of one bastard child inheriting the de Fiore lands and title is a small thing compared to the lives of our people. What do you think we live on? Our people grow food and raise livestock, and we take a share for ourselves and for our taxes to the king. If our people continue to be killed or taken as slaves and our villages burned, what will become of us? Have you thought on this?”

He sounded as if the only thing that mattered to him was the comfort of our family and the preservation of our lands.

“Do you love Chloe?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you love me?”

I looked up into his face, into his blue eyes. There were spatters of blood on his cheek. He’d need to wipe those away. “Yes,” I answered. I loved him. He was my brother.

“Then you and I will keep Chloe’s secret, and you will keep mine.” He glanced back toward the river.

I was beginning to hate secrets. Now, because of secrets, I would be complicit in Christophe’s marriage to a woman carrying a child that was not his own, and I was complicit in hiding a murder.

But nothing in the world would cause me to bring harm to either Chloe or Erik.

Nothing.

* * * *

Three days later, a farmer found Julian’s body downriver and brought it to the hunting hall.

When Chloe heard, she lost her serene composure and ran to the hall. I ran after her, but she was faster, and when I arrived, I saw Julian’s still-wet body laid out on a table. His face and hands were completely white. Erik was holding Chloe to keep her away from touching the corpse.

After fighting him for a few moments, she sagged and wept into his chest.

The servants appeared taken aback by her raw sorrow, and both my parents were coming through the door.

Erik held Chloe and looked to my mother. “She’s distraught. He had become a noble friend of our family, and now we must tell his father he died while under our protection.”

Mother hurried forward and gently took Chloe from him. “Oh, my darling girl. You mustn’t distress yourself. This was a tragic accident.”

I stood back in silence, watching Erik.

My father strode to the body and looked down. “This was no accident.”

Julian was a terrible sight with his white face bloated and the ugly wound at the base of his throat.

Erik looked down as well. “I’ve heard he owed several of the guards large sums of money. Would you like me conduct an investigation?”

Father glanced back at me and then to my mother and Chloe.

“Your sisters and mother should not be exposed to this sight,” he told Erik. Then he spoke gently to my mother. “My lady, please take them both out.”

Nodding, she drew Chloe toward the door. “Nicole, come.”

Together the three of us went outside.

“Chloe is delicate and she should not have seen that,” Mother said. “Nicole, are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We will need your strength.”

She and I had tended to wounded guards and villagers. She thought me strong. But today, I didn’t feel strong. My brother was standing over the body of a man he’d killed, and he’d just offered to begin an investigation.

The only blessing here was that my parents thought Chloe’s emotional state was due to shock. Together, Mother and I took her to her room and put her in bed. She’d stopped weeping, but she said nothing and her eyes drifted like someone lost.

“I’m going to the kitchen make her some tea,” Mother said. “Stay with her.”

Once Mother left us, I crawled onto the bed and lay down behind Chloe, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her close.

“I know you cared for him,” I whispered.

“I loved him,” she whispered back.

“I’m so sorry.”

Reaching up, she gripped my hand.

* * * *

I made it through the next few weeks by caring for Chloe, and each day my resolution to protect her only grew. Erik had made the decision to protect both her and our family over Christophe, and now that this decision had been made, I was determined to follow it through.

The day after the discovery of Julian’s death, my father and Erik placed his body into a wagon, and they rode out with several of our guards toward the Belledini estate. This type of news could not be delivered via proxy. But upon their return, my father explained that while Lord Belledini had been distraught, he’d not been overly surprised and related that Julian had long evaded other gambling debts.

Erik launched into questioning several of the guards to whom Julian had owed money. Nothing came of this and the mystery went unsolved. My father launched into overseeing a new barracks and stable built down near the beach for the impending arrival of de Fiore soldiers.

A week after this, Christophe arrived for his wedding.

We all met him in the courtyard, but to my confusion, only his own guards accompanied him.

“Your sister will not be attending?” my mother asked him, equally puzzled. “I’ve had the best guest room prepared for you and Chloe for tonight. But I reserved the second-best guest room for Mildreth.”

I’d never met Lady Mildreth, as she had never visited, but she was all the immediate family Christophe had left. Surely she would come to his wedding.

“No,” he answered. “She does not leave the island.”

That might, we had a fine dinner of baked salmon and red potatoes in the gathering hall. Christophe barely spoke to me and the few times he glanced at me, I saw pain in his eyes. Chloe was serene and polite, but she spoke little and ate less.

Their wedding took place the following day.

Our gathering hall was decorated with dozens of white and yellow roses. A great feast had been prepared for a celebration after the ceremony. Father had brought in a magistrate all the way from Lascaùx, and a number of noble guests had traveled to see the happy event of this joining of the house of Montagna with the house of de Fiore.

Christophe wore the blue tunic with the silver thread that I’d made for him. Chloe chose the emerald green silk that she’d worn to the banquet, for the last time she danced with Julian. She was still as slender as a river reed.

They stood before a magistrate near the hearth of our gathering hall. All the guests stood behind them.

“Does anyone have any reason why these two should not be joined in marriage?” asked the magistrate.

My father and Erik both appeared tense.

I had a knot in my stomach. There were a number of reasons the marriage should not take place, including the fact that Christophe had formally asked my father to replace Chloe with me…that Chloe was carrying another man’s child…and that Erik had murdered the other man.

Yet the most important reason was that neither member of the couple wanted to share a lifetime with the other.

Among our family, only my mother smiled. She knew Chloe was not in love with Christophe, but she believed they would come to treasure each other. My mother was possessed of a kind spirit.

When no one offered an objection to the marriage, the magistrate went on.

“Do you, Christophe de Fiore, swear to love this woman, to protect her heart, to give her your loyalty, and to care for her all the days of your life?”

“I swear,” Christophe answered.

“Do you, Chloe Montagna, swear to love this man, to protect his heart, to give him your loyalty, and to care for him all the days of your life?”

She hesitated. These were sacred vows, and she was promising to protect his heart and give him her loyalty.

Standing beside me, my father watched her.

“I swear,” Chloe said quietly.

They were married.

* * * *

Two days later, Christophe had Chloe’s trunks packed into a wagon.

Out in our courtyard, the new couple said their good-byes.

“I’ll have two hundred troops sent as soon as we arrive home,” Christophe told my father. “They are good men, well-trained. Are the new barracks ready?”

“They will be,” my father answered.

I hugged Chloe, holding her tight, not knowing when I would see her again.

“You will be the great lady of Whale’s Keep,” I whispered, “the envy of other women.”

Pulling away to look at me, she tried to smile. “Yes. I will be that.” But then she embraced me again. “Write to me often.”

“I will. I swear.”

Christophe lifted her onto a horse and mounted his own.

He glanced at me once, without saying good-bye, and I could still see pain in his eyes.