Chapter Fifty-Six #4
Dustin was quivering but controlled it well; she had known all along that John planned to couple with her, but she prayed he would take pity on her physical condition.
She had heard through the palace rumor mills that the prince was hung like a prize stallion and she had no desire to see firsthand for herself.
The thought of him touching her in such a manner almost made her retch right there at the table.
John laughed at her. He could see her discomfort and he knew immediately that her entire facade was an act.
“Do you know that Ralph and I were planning to abduct you from Windsor?” he said with a smile on his lips.
Dustin looked at him. “What?”
He nodded, amused at her shock. “We were planning on kidnapping you and taking you far away, to Wales in fact, simply to bring de Lohr to his knees.” He leaned forward, toying with the cross around her neck.
“The trouble was that he never left you unguarded and the one attempt we did make was costly. There was never the proper opportunity and I had too many other bloody things on my mind to make your capture a firm priority.”
Dustin was shocked but the prince prattled on, having imbibed too much wine.
“After you fell down the stairs and lost your child, he never left you alone and we knew it would be futile to make another attempt. But it was always in our mind, wasn’t it, Ralph, to somehow abduct you and hold you over de Lohr’s head.
Our plans were grand, indeed, but somehow we never had the chance to carry them out.
We wanted to bring you here to Nottingham and hide you from de Lohr, but the moment was never right.
I had too many pressing problems. Yet when de Lohr was said to have been killed in battle, most of my problems seemed to have resolved and we forgot about abducting you. ”
Dustin was sitting as far away from him as she could get, her eyes wide with horror.
She realized how much she had helped John’s cause by walking right into his lap, and she furthermore prayed to God that Gabrielle had managed to get Christin to Darren.
She knew John and Ralph were conspiring against her husband, but she never truly believed she would be their tool.
Christopher had told her once that they would try to exploit his weaknesses and she saw now how right he had been.
The thought processes of John and Ralph were exactly as her husband said they were.
“What do you intend to do with me?” she heard herself asking, hating herself for sounding scared.
John smiled lazily, drinking more wine. “Nothing, for the moment. I do not have to. Richard is aware we have you and no doubt, so is de Lohr. I want to thank you, Lady Dustin, for helping us accomplish a great deal with very little effort.”
If Dustin had had a dagger, she would have killed herself for her own stupidity.
What on God’s earth had she been thinking when she had set out alone?
She had been scared, confused and disoriented, but she had not been stripped of her common sense.
What had Christopher said to her once, a long time ago?
That John would find a way to use her to destroy her husband?
Now, thanks to her lapse in judgment, Christopher was probably in more danger than he had ever been in his life because she knew he would walk through fire to rescue her. And so did John.
She could not speak anymore. She looked away from the prince, cursing herself silently with every breath.
“What? No more chatting? No more frankness?” John stuck out his lip. “I am disappointed, Lady Dustin. Surely you would entertain us more.”
Dustin shook her head. “Nay, sire, I am quite weary,” she whispered. “I would retire now.”
John shrugged. “Very well, if you must. Ralph, you will escort Lady de Lohr.”
Ralph stood up and pulled Dustin out of her chair. “With pleasure, my lord.”
“Do not touch her,” John spat, pointing a finger at his sheriff. “I will not have your leftovers.”
“As you say, my lord,” Ralph agreed, gripping Dustin’s arm as he led her from the hall.
Ralph took Dustin to her chamber and opened the door, lingering a moment as she entered. Dustin refused to meet his eye, wishing he would go away.
“You know, you struck me once. Do you remember?” he asked.
Dustin looked at him, then. “Aye, I do.”
He nodded faintly, studying her face and trying to read her emotions. She did well at hiding her feelings.
“Then know that I intend to seek revenge on you, one way or the other,” he said. “I may slap you back, or I may take it out of your hide. I just wanted you to be aware of my plans, my lady.”
He did not frighten her, merely made her angry. “And I shall be sure and inform the prince of your plans, also.”
He smiled ever so slightly, the fire from the hearth playing on his greasy black hair.
“That, my lady, would not be wise,” he said softly.
“God, how long have I dreamed of you within my grasp? I can scarce believe the good fortune we have befallen. I am still shocked with it all. I will bid a good eve to you, then.”
He left and Dustin kicked off her shoes in frustration. She was so desperately tired and sick that she did not know how much more of this torment she could take. She could hardly wait to find Gabrielle to make sure Darren took Christin with him. She had to know her daughter was safe.
Christopher, wherever you are, hurry!