Chapter 13
M aggie couldn’t even see through her tears as she hurriedly packed her things, not able to believe what just happened in the courtyard. Now she wished she had never gone out there at all.
“Who were those people, Maggie?” asked Charles, sitting down on the pallet in the small room that they shared, while Emma lay on the floor crying.
“They are the people who executed our mother.” Maggie had never told Charles what really happened to their mother. He’d asked about her through the years, and Maggie had told him that their mother was sick and died in Ashenden. Now, she wished she had told him the truth long ago.
“Mother was executed?” Charles’s head snapped up and he frowned. “Why?”
“Emma, stop crying,” Maggie told her daughter, who lay face down on the floor, hugging the soggy doll. “The night Emma was born, Mother was also helping to birth Lady Ashenden’s baby. But there were complications, and the noblewoman and her baby died that day. The woman you saw in the courtyard is the daughter of the dead noble. She is also the one who blamed me and Mother for the deaths, even though it wasn’t our fault.” Maggie shoved more clothes into a bag, and yanked close the drawstrings. “Charles, I need your help packing our things. If we don’t get out of here, we will be executed next. These nobles will never stop blaming us, and neither will they ever stop trying to track us down.”
“I don’t want to leave here, Maggie. I like my job and I have friends for the first time in my life.” Charles did nothing to help.
“I want Sir Evan,” wailed Emma, only making Maggie feel even worse.
Maggie had never told any of this to Evan even though he’d tried to get her to talk about her mother. Now she wished she would have also told him what happened, because he was going to think the worst of her. It was rotten luck that his betrothed just happened to be the girl whom Maggie hated and feared more than anyone in the world.
Out of habit, her hand went to her crystal to calm her, but she couldn’t feel it. She grabbed at her clothing and then her hand went to her neck, as she realized that her good luck charm was gone. “My crystal! It’s missing. Where is it?” She looked around but couldn’t find it anywhere. She hadn’t even noticed that she’d lost it until now.
“Maggie,” called out Evan from the other side of the door. He knocked, but she did nothing to open it. Charles jumped up and pulled open the door.
“Sir Evan!” Emma saw him and ran to him, hugging him around his knees. She continued to cry.
“Why are you crying, sweetheart?” he asked, picking up Emma and reaching out to smooth down her hair. Maggie still clutched the wet doll.
“My mama is going to die!” shouted Emma. “I don’t want her to die. Please save her, Sir Evan. Please help her.”
“No one is going to die,” he told the little girl. “I promise I won’t let that happen.”
Maggie picked up the bags and looked over at her brother. “Let’s go, Charles. Get Emma. We need to start walking.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Evan told her. “You are all staying right here.”
“Why would you even want me to stay after what Lady Beatrice and her father told you? You heard them say that my mother and I are responsible for the deaths of Lady Anora and her baby.”
“Are you?” he asked quietly.
“Does it really matter what I say at this point? You are a noble, and will side with other nobles instead of commoners, I’m sure.”
“Maggie, where is this coming from?” asked Evan. “I think we need to talk. You should have told me about all this before instead of keeping it from me. It makes you seem … guilty.”
“If you believe I am guilty, then there is no reason for me to even stay here any longer, trying to convince you that I’m not.” She shoved the bags at Charles and took Emma from him. “Please step aside, because we are leaving.”
“Maggie, stop it,” said Evan, as she pushed past him and Charles followed. “I am sure this is all just a misunderstanding.”
“They’ll never stop coming for me and my family. We will be executed, just like they did to my mother. I cannot and will not let that happen.” She continued to walk and Evan followed.
“Maggie, nay, I won’t let you leave.”
“You’re marrying Beatrice now,” she said, as he followed her through the kitchen.
“I’m not. I broke off the betrothal.”
“Then you’ll go to battle with them for breaking the alliance. Once again, I am sure I will somehow be blamed.”
“Don’t leave,” he begged, but she kept on walking. “Maggie, I love you,” he blurted out, and all the servants heard him. They stopped working and watched and listened.
“Evan, but we both know this can’t work, no matter how we feel about each other. I am a commoner and have already brought you more than enough trouble. You’d be better off without me. Goodbye.”
“Where will you go?” he called after her, but she didn’t answer, just kept on walking.
“Damn it,” he spat, meaning to go after her, but his cousin walked into the kitchen just then, turning to watch Maggie and her family walk out.
“What’s going on?” asked Daegel.
“Maggie is running scared,” he told his cousin. “She’s delirious and cannot even think straight right now. I am really worried about her. I need to go after her.”
“That’ll have to wait,” said Daegel. “Our fathers have just returned. Brother Ruford told them what happened with your betrothed. Your father wants to have a word with you in his solar right away.”
“God’s eyes, can this day get any worse?” Evan stormed off, not wanting to confront his father right now. He wasn’t even sure of all the details about what happened with Maggie’s mother, and wasn’t in any mood to try to explain it to him. His father was going to be furious to hear that he broke off the betrothal. Evan wasn’t sure what to tell him or what to do.
He and Daegel walked into the solar to find both their fathers, Evan’s mother, and Brother Ruford inside the room waiting for them.
“Evan,” said Garrett, pacing back and forth. “Ruford tells me there was a little trouble here while I was gone.”
“Father. Mother.” Evan walked over to kiss his mother on the cheek. “I didn’t expect you home so soon.”
“The king’s funeral is over, but we will be leaving again for the coronation of his nephew, Richard, soon,” his father answered. “We are only here temporarily. Now, please tell me you didn’t really break the betrothal I made for you.”
Evan’s gaze shot over to Ruford. He wasn’t sure yet if the monk told his father about having torn up the papers. He decided not to push the trouble Ruford’s way. He was sure his father would find out in time. “Yes, I did break the betrothal,” admitted Evan. “I will not marry Lady Beatrice because I don’t even know her, and after what happened today, neither do I want to.”
“It was a horrible situation, my lord,” said Ruford. “I have to say that I agree with Evan and even tore up the contract since it wasn’t yet signed.”
“Mmmph,” grunted Garret. “Thank goodness I’d yet to sign it.”
“Are we finished here?” asked Evan, eager to go after Maggie.
“Not yet,” said his father. “Evan, why don’t you tell me the real reason for all this?”
Evan looked over to Ruford and the monk couldn’t meet his gaze. That told him that Ruford most likely already told his father that he was in love with Maggie. “All right, I will, even though I have a feeling Brother Ruford has already reported everything to you. I am in love with Maggie, Father. But that isn’t the only reason I refuse to marry Lady Beatrice.”
“Maggie?” asked Garrett.
“The midwife,” Evan’s mother reminded him.
“Bid the devil, please tell me you haven’t fallen in love with a commoner like the rest of this mixed-up family.” Garrett paced the floor. So, it seemed that Ruford had not spilled his secret after all, since his father acted as if this was the first time he was hearing about it.
Daegel’s father, Corbett, laughed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. “It’s happening to you again, Garrett, just like it’s been happening to the rest of us. I’m afraid our children will never stop marrying commoners, and that our family’s namesake will be sullied for the rest of time.”
“Corbett, stop it,” scolded Evan’s mother, Echo, who was Corbett’s sister. “I believe our children should be allowed to marry whomever they want. Noble or commoner, it doesn’t matter.”
“And so they have,” said Corbett, holding up his palms and shrugging. “It doesn’t matter what’s allowed, it seems. This family goes out of their way to break all the rules and do whatever the hell they want, no matter what I say.”
“What’s your other reason for breaking the betrothal?” asked Evan’s father curiously.
“They blamed Maggie’s mother for the death of Lord Ashenden’s wife and baby. They also were the ones to have Maggie’s mother executed.”
“They murdered a midwife?” Garrett frowned.
“Yes, Father. They are murderers. And now Maggie has taken her family and left because they’ve threatened to kill her and her daughter as well. She is on the run, afraid they will find her.”
“What?” gasped Echo. “Did they really say that they were going to kill Maggie and the little girl?”
“They did,” Daegel spoke up. “We all heard it.”
“Evan, why didn’t you stop Maggie from leaving?” asked his mother. “What is the matter with you? It isn’t safe for her out there.”
“I tried to stop her,” Evan said in his defense. “I even told her I loved her, but it didn’t seem to make a difference to her. She is running scared. I was about to go after her when Daegel told me that I’d been summoned by Father.”
“Garrett, what are you going to do about this?” Echo demanded to know.
“Me?” Garrett scowled. “Wife, I will do nothing. Evan is the one who broke the alliance, and I think he’s the one who should make amends before this starts a war between us and the Ashendens.”
“You have to help them,” said Evan’s mother. “You are Lord Warden. Surely you can imprison the Ashendens or something for killing Maggie’s mother, when we all know it was not her fault.”
“Do we really know that?” asked Garrett. “This is the first I’ve heard about this. Evan, tell me what you know.”
“I don’t know much more than you, Father,” Evan replied. “I had asked Maggie how her mother died, but she wouldn’t tell me. I first found out when the truth came out in the courtyard with the Ashendens earlier.”
“That sure sounds like guilt to me,” said Corbett from his chair.
“Nay, it’s not guilt,” shouted Evan. “It’s fear. Maggie is running scared and I will not allow her to be out there with no place to go.” His hand shot upward and he pointed at the door. “For all I know, Lord Ashenden is out there right now waiting to capture Maggie and kill her like he did her mother. I cannot and will not allow that to happen.”
“Let me get this straight,” said his father. “Maggie’s mother was the midwife tending to Lord Ashenden’s wife, and she and Maggie gave birth at the same time?”
“Yes. It happened four years ago,” said Evan. “Lady Beatrice said Maggie’s mother tended to Maggie’s birth instead of Lady Ashenden’s. She said it was negligence and that was why they lost Lady Ashenden and her baby. However, I don’t believe it was anyone’s fault.”
“I see your cause for concern,” said Garrett, putting his hand to his chin in thought.
“Will you help, Father?” asked Evan.
“I don’t see what I can do,” his father answered. “Ashenden is out of my jurisdiction since it is not a port town. And you’re telling me that Maggie’s mother was executed four years ago. It has been too long. The damage is already done.”
There was a knock at the door, and Evan walked over and opened it to see Giles standing there.
“What is it, squire?” he asked. “I am in the middle of something important.”
“Sorry, my lord,” said Giles, seeming very nervous. “There is a man and woman at the gates asking about Maggie. I saw her leave, and told them so. That’s when they wanted to talk to the lord of the castle. They say it’s important.” Giles looked up at the others in the room. “Oh, hello, Lord Warden. I didn’t know you’d returned.”
“What’s this all about?” Garrett walked over to join them.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out, since it has to do with Maggie.” Evan started to leave.
“Wait! I’ll come with you,” called out Daegel, running after him.
Evan made his way down to the courtyard to see an older man and woman standing there with worried expressions on their faces. They had a horse that was pulling a cart filled with hay.
“Are you the ones inquiring about my midwife?” asked Evan as he approached.
“Aye, my lord. I am Gertrude and this is my husband Harold,” said the lady, curtsying. She elbowed her husband in the ribs and he bowed as well.
“What is this all about?” asked Daegel. “We are in the middle of something important and don’t have time for nonsense.”
“This isn’t nonsense, my lord,” said the man. “We have been searching for Maggie Whitlock for a long time now. It was only when we heard from a traveling merchant that Saltwood Castle had a new young midwife with a brother and a young daughter that we decided it must be Maggie. We set out right away to find her.”
“We’ve been traveling for days to get here,” said the woman. “We risked everything coming here. If Lord Ashenden discovers we are missing, we will most likely be killed.”
“You’re from Ashenden?” Evan asked in surprise.
“Yes,” said the woman. “Maggie’s mother is my best friend.”
“You mean she was your best friend,” said Evan. “Maggie told me she died four years ago, and I just discovered that she was executed by Lord Ashenden.”
The lady and man looked at each other oddly, but didn’t answer.
“If there is something you are keeping from me, I urge you not to do so. Tell me everything you know,” said Evan.
“I think it is best if we just show you.” The woman looked over her shoulder at their cart. “Margaret, it is safe. You can come out now.”
To Evan’s surprise, a woman popped up from under the hay in the wagon, climbing out and making her way over to them.
“Margaret,” Evan repeated her name, realizing she bore a striking resemblance to Maggie. “God’s eyes, are you Maggie’s mother?”
“I am, my lord,” said the woman, lowering her head and curtsying. “Please forgive us for this intrusion but we were really hoping to find my daughter here. May I ask where she is?”
“Maggie left with her brother and daughter,” said Evan. “I’m not sure where they went.”
“They left?” cried Maggie’s mother, looking over at Gertrude.
“We just avoided Lord Ashenden and his daughter on the road,” said Gertrude. “If Maggie is out there, they are going to capture her and kill her, I’m afraid.”
“How can you be sure of that?” asked Evan.
“They will, because they won’t accept that what happened to Lady Ashenden and her baby was anyone’s fault but mine,” explained Margaret.
“I don’t understand,” said Evan. “I thought you were blamed for that four years ago, and executed because of it.”
“It is true that they imprisoned me, but Gertrude and Harold helped me escape,” said Margaret. “I ran home, but Maggie had already left with Charles and Maggie’s newborn baby.”
“Emma,” said Evan. “Her daughter’s name is Emma.”
“Is it really? That was my mother’s name,” said Margaret, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Margaret had been badly beaten and bruised by the guards,” explained Gertrude. “Harold and I hid her and nursed her back to health over the years. She was near to death, and it took a long time.”
“It wasn’t easy,” grumbled Harold. “The castle guards kept looking for her and never let up. Several times we were almost caught.”
“I need to find my daughter,” cried Margaret. “She has to know that I didn’t die. Please, Sir Evan, will you help us?”
“We will all help you,” came the voice of Evan’s mother from behind them. Evan turned to see his parents, Brother Ruford, and Lord Corbett standing there, apparently having overheard everything.
“You will all stay here under the protection of Saltwood Castle while I search for Maggie.” Evan looked over at his father who didn’t seem happy about this, but nodded his agreement just the same.
“Oh, thank you, my lords,” said Margaret, crying. “All I have ever wanted was to be reunited with my family. I am so worried for Maggie, Charles, and little Emma. I would die if anything happened to them.”
“I’ll find them,” Evan promised.
“And I’ll help him,” Daegel assured her. “We won’t stop looking until they are found and safe.”
“Brother Ruford, will you take our guests to the steward and get them settled in a room inside the castle?” asked Evan’s mother.
“Aye, my lady. Follow me,” said the monk.
“Thank you, but what about our horse and cart?” asked Harold. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to it, since that is all we own.”
“My squire will take it to the stables, since he’ll be readying our horses for the journey,” Evan told him. “Giles, please see that two horses are prepared for me and Sir Daegel.”
“I will, my lord.” Giles started to go, then stopped and turned back. “Sir Evan, if you don’t mind, I would like to accompany you on the search for Maggie,” said the boy, surprising Evan since he knew how insecure his squire tended to be.
“You want to join us? Are you sure?” asked Evan. “It’s not necessary.”
“It is necessary for me, my lord,” Giles told him. “You see, Maggie has always been kind to me and I respect that. I would like more than anything to repay the favor.”
“Then so be it,” said Evan with a smile and a nod. “I heard how you protected Maggie at the baker’s, so I know you are just the person I want at my side.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Giles hurried away to the stables, humming. Ruford took their visitors to the keep.
“Giles is the one you want with you? Seriously?” asked Daegel, looking a little disappointed.
“And you too, of course, you simpkin.” Evan swatted at Daegel, but he was fast and moved out of the way to avoid being hit.”
“Guests? You called them our guests, really?” Evan heard his father say to his mother as they turned to head back to the keep as well.
“Yes, that’s what they are,” she replied.
“We are harboring runaways and an escaped criminal, and you call them guests.” Garrett put his hand to his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“I am sure Margaret is no criminal, Garrett. Now stop being so stuffy,” said Echo. “Evan and Maggie might end up getting married someday, so Margaret could very well be our future family. Get used to it.”
Garrett groaned. “Why did we even return?”
“Come along, Husband. We need to decide how you are going to handle the situation to make things right with the Ashendens.”