Chapter Twenty-Two #3
“It is,” Nicola said, speaking quickly. “But that is not all. Brome has already informed Edward that he has Kenton as a prisoner. Did you know that Edward is in Yorkshire? I did not, either. He is evidently moving south to London and will be in Doncaster in the next few days. That is when Brome plans to deliver Kenton to him. We cannot allow this to happen, Conor. Warwick must be in Doncaster, too, and take Kenton before he can be delivered to Edward.”
Conor stopped eating; he found he had no appetite left at the revelations Lady Thorne was delivering. It was all quite staggering, as if a great deal had happened overnight.
“But what of St. John’s sister?” he asked. “What does she have to do with any of this?”
Nicola held up a hand, indicating for him to keep his voice quiet.
In an empty hall, voices tended to echo.
“Brome was distraught that he could not exchange Kenton for his sister,” she whispered.
“Edward is already expecting Kenton, evidently, so I suggested that Brome write to Warwick and offer to give him back Babylon in exchange for his sister. Brome is writing that very missive right now, a missive you will take to Warwick.”
Conor cocked his head curiously. “I will?”
Nicola nodded firmly. “Aye, but the missive means nothing,” she said. “Throw it away after you leave Conisbrough for all I care. You are really going to Warwick to tell him about Kenton and Doncaster.”
“But does Warwick truly have St. John’s sister?”
“That is what he said.”
Conor lifted his auburn eyebrows. “So St. John believes I am only going to deliver the missive offering Babylon in exchange for his sister.”
“Aye.”
“You have offered him the fortress to exchange for the woman’s life?”
“I have.”
“But why?”
She shrugged. “I will tell you what I told St. John,” she said. “Babylon holds only bitter memories for me. It was Gaylord’s fortress, never mine. It does not pain me to be rid of it.”
“But it is your sons’ legacy, is it not?”
She drew in a deep, pensive breath. There was something in her manner that suggested some regret at that point. “Aye,” she said. “But I do not want them there. Mayhap I will find a better legacy for them elsewhere, away from a place of such terrible memories.”
Now, Conor wriggled his eyebrows, a bit stumped at all of the happenings going on, happenings he found himself involved in. “God’s Bones,” he muttered. “A good deal has happened this morning already, hasn’t it?”
“Aye.”
“When are they moving Kenton?”
Nicola’s expression washed with uncertainty.
“They could only tell me within the next few days,” she said.
“They could move him tomorrow or move him next week. Regardless, you must go to Warwick immediately and tell him to ride for Doncaster. He must be there when St. John tries to deliver Kenton to Edward.”
Conor knew that. He drained the watered wine left in his cup and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, flicking bits of bread off his auburn beard.
“It will be done, Lady Thorne,” he said. “I will go and prepare my things.”
Nicola nodded shortly. “Do,” she said. “And hurry. As soon as St. John is finished with this missive, you must leave.”
Conor stood up, politely helping her to stand as well.
Odd how they were allies now when, only days before, he had learned of her betrayal and had been most mistrustful of her motives.
Conor had come to see that Lady Thorne was an intelligent, determined woman who, so far, had kept her word.
She wanted to free Kenton from Edward’s grasp and it would seem that she was making plans to do exactly that.
At this point, Conor had no reason not to trust her.
It was clear she had been trying to earn his trust back, just a bit, and so far she was succeeding.
“So I will ride to Warwick,” he said quietly as they headed for the exit to the great hall. “The last we knew, he was outside of Wakefield, or at least that was where he told Kenton he was going. I will look for him there.”
Nicola nodded, looking around to make sure, once again, that no one was listening. “Very well,” she said. “But you must hurry, Conor. We do not know when they are moving Kenton and if Edward gets to him before Warwick has a chance to free him, I am afraid we may never see him again.”
Conor paused in the hall entry, his gaze lingering on her. “And that would upset you.”
“It would destroy me.”
There was great finality and emotion in her words. He could see that she meant what she said. “You never told me what was said when you saw him yesterday upon our arrival,” he said. “We have not had a chance to discuss it.”
She smirked. “And you shall never know what was said,” she said. “That is between me and Kenton. Go, now. Prepare to depart.”
With a grin, Conor started to move but soon came to a halt. “That reminds me,” he said. “Where will you be? Surely you do not plan to remain here at Conisbrough.”
Nicola shook her head. “Nay,” she said, thinking of St. John and how he would like nothing better than for her to remain. “I will return to Babylon. When you free Kenton, bring him back to Babylon. I will wait for him there.”
Conor cocked an eyebrow dubiously. “Edward’s men are still at Babylon,” he pointed out. “They will find it odd when Kenton and I return, don’t you think?”
Nicola shook her head. “It will not matter,” she said. “We will leave shortly thereafter and leave Babylon to Edward. You are simply returning Kenton to Babylon so he can collect me and my children. Where we go after that, I do not care.”
“So you intend to leave Babylon?”
“Forever.”
“Does Kenton know any of this?”
She shook her head. “He knows nothing and I am not sure when I will have the chance to tell him, so hurry and go about your business. St. John will be finished with the missive soon and you will have to leave.”
Conor didn’t say any more. He had his orders and he was determined to fulfil them. Lady Thorne had made it possible to free Kenton and Conor was determined to find Warwick and enlist the man’s help.
This was the moment they had been waiting for, the opportunity of the moment, and it would not be wasted.
Perhaps the woman had betrayed Kenton once before but it was clear she was trying very hard to make up for it.
Actions often spoke louder than words and if Conor had to guess, he would say that Lady Thorne’s actions bespoke of deep remorse for what she’d done and an even deeper affection for Kenton le Bec.
She was risking everything, including her fortress, for the opportunity to free him, and Conor would not disappoint her.
When he left Conisbrough later that morning with a missive meant for Warwick, he headed straight northward, towards Warwick, and prayed he could find the man before St. John decided to move Kenton to Doncaster.
The following day, his prayers were answered.