Chapter Seven
Rosalind quickly folded her work and placed it in the basket. She took a step toward the incessant thumping coming from the manor entrance.
Devlin held up a hand to stop her, “Are you expecting someone, milady?”
Rosalind quickly replied, “No. No. Of course not. And who would be out on a night like this?”
“And it’s getting so late, too!” Marta added.
Benton rose from his chair, and Ridley sat with Luella and Kaylyn.
“Benton and I will go see who our surprise visitor is. Alden, you stay here.”
“Grim! Stay!”
Everyone did as they were told.
Benton and Devlin left the room and turned the corner. Once out of sight, Rosalind’s heart beat even faster. Yes, Alden was there, and Grim was too. But she would have felt better if Devlin were there with her and the children. Unannounced, late-night visitors rarely brought good news.
“I’m here to collect what is due to me!”
Rosalind jumped at the booming voice. She turned to Marta, and Marta looked back at her with an expression that was oddly angry and full of fear at the same time.
“Rosalind is coming with me! She’s coming with me! Now!”
And then silence.
Alden stood ready. A tense moment passed, and then another.
Finally, Devlin rounded the corner back into the great hall.
He was followed by a man. He stood slightly taller than Devlin but had a slim build.
The hood of his cloak covered his head and half of his face.
Rosalind knew who it was the moment he bellowed from the foyer.
Roland Kirkeby. Bile rose to her throat.
Calm yourself.
From the brief time she’d known Sir Devlin and Alden, she was sure they would not let this man unleash his fury in this household. But she needed tell them why Roland was there. She had hoped Roland would drop his petition, but no. He wanted what he thought was rightfully his.
****
When Devlin entered the dining area the children backed against the hearth, huddled together. And Rosalind looked like she would lose her dinner at any moment. He noticed, too, a slight tremble in her hand as she nervously fingered the collar of her tunic.
“Milady,” Devlin began calmly, “This, uh, gentleman claims that you and he are betrothed and that you are to leave with him post haste. Can you explain?”
Before Rosalind could say a word, Roland cut in. “Edmond Capell arranged the betrothal. He said she was mine to take as my wife. He sent the contract to the king for approval.”
“I know nothing about any betrothal contract,” Rosalind replied with certainty in her voice.
Red anger traveled up Roland’s neck and into his face. “You lie!” he yelled.
However, Grim stepped forward to stand next to his mistress.
With ears forward, he crouched low in his haunches, and the fur on his neck rose.
A low growl erupted from deep in his throat.
Devlin knew this posture well. Grim was ready to pounce.
If Roland took one more step toward the lady of the house, his throat would be ripped out.
Alden now stood next to Rosalind and in front of the children, effectively showing his support and protection for them all.
“If you value your life, Kirkeby, I suggest you back away.” Devlin was cold but calm.
Roland glanced at the dog, then Alden, and he stepped back slowly. He then turned to Devlin. “Edmond and I had an agreement. Rosalind is to be mine.”
Rosalind shook her head, and Roland’s rage spilled out again.
“You knew. Yes, you did! I was here the night Edmond told you of the contract. You did know of the betrothal!”
Devlin’s stomach sank each time Roland contended that Rosalind was his to marry.
Rosalind’s anger now matched Roland’s. “You listen to me, Roland Kirkeby. After a night of gaming, when both you and my uncle were so drunk you could barely walk, I was told I was the prize of a card game! Now, if you think that is a binding agreement, I beg to differ! I stand by what I said. Lord Edmond never told me or showed me a contract. Ever!”
“The lady has spoken to her side,” Devlin said. “I think you need to leave now. If you believe this contract exists, then you can inquire with the king’s clerk.”
“How dare you. How dare you speak to me in that manner. You dirty whore! You’ve lain with these men, haven’t you? Bewitched them into believing your lying mouth? You wait, Rosalind Capell, I’ll teach you your place.” He raised his arm and shook his fist.
Rosalind flinched and stepped back. And that was all it took for Grim. The dog leaped at Roland. In only a second, Roland was pinned, and Grim clasped his throat in his massive jaws. Roland screamed in pure fear. He tried to get out from under the dog, but his efforts were futile.
Devlin noticed immediately that Grim only held Roland. The dog’s teeth had not penetrated the soft flesh of his neck. Devlin wondered briefly if he should just give Grim the kill command. This particular problem would disappear in a matter of seconds.
Roland writhed under the dog, and finally, Devlin told Grim to let him up.
As much as he’d like to see this odious man gone, Roland had the motive to see Edmond dead.
If Capell had promised Rosalind to him and then broke the deal, Roland would have been angry enough to kill him. Devlin needed to investigate further.
Grim returned to his place by Rosalind, and Ridley and the girls moved to stand next to him.
Ridley placed his hand on the dog and gave him a pat.
Kaylyn told him what a good boy he was. Luella just wrapped her arms around the hound and hugged him tightly.
Grim reached around with his massive head and gave Luella’s cheek a gentle lick.
Devlin assumed his dog was ruined by all the love and attention, but he realized he was wrong. Grim now had more motivation to protect those to which he was loyal.
Devlin turned to Roland, who somehow pulled himself into an upright position. But, it seemed his legs refused to hold his weight as he had propped himself up against the leg of the table. He breathed heavily.
“I am going to tell you what I expect of you, Roland Kirkeby. Listen well. The day after tomorrow, I will ride to your estate. You have until then to prove to me that a betrothal contract existed. Unless proven, I will assume it never existed.”
Roland started to protest.
“Shut it! As is your right, you can send a message to the king’s clerk and request verification of your so-called agreement with Lord Capell.
Delivery of a message and then a reply will take several days, so let me make this clear.
You are not to set foot on the Capell estate until the circumstances of Capell’s disappearance are discovered and we know if there is any truth to your assertions. Understood?”
Roland nodded weakly.
“Alden, please assist Roland outside. I’m not sure he can make it on his own.”
Alden grabbed his arm, and walked him—dragged him, actually—toward the foyer and the door.
When everyone in the room heard the large entrance door open and shut, Rosalind and Benton let out a collective sigh; poor Marta fell back into her chair.
No one spoke for a moment, but finally, Rosalind broke the silence.
“Children, it’s late. Let’s get ready for bed. Ridley, take the girls upstairs,” she announced.
Surprisingly, there were no protests or complaints. Normally, the children would have picked up their wooden toys, but not tonight. Ridley grabbed the hand of each girl, and they turned to leave.
“But I want Grim to stay with us,” Luella said pitifully as she walked toward the stairs.
Devlin knew there was a catch. Grim, hearing his name, turned to Devlin as if to ask if he could go. With a wave of his hand, Devlin sent him with the children.
When the children rounded the corner, and their steps were no longer heard, Devlin addressed Rosalind. “It is late, milady. But I must know more about Kirkeby and his dealings with Lord Edmond. The evening has been shall we say, eventful, but the matter is urgent.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll tell you what I know.” Rosalind moved back to her chair and sat.
“Did Lord Edmond promise you in marriage to that oaf?” Devlin asked bluntly.
Rosalind inhaled audibly. “Yes, I do believe he did.”
Devlin’s temper threatened to explode. “Why wasn’t I told? Kirkeby could have information about Edmond’s disappearance or even have the motive to kill Edmond. I feel like I am running in circles. I need the truth, and I need it now!”
She inhaled again and began her tale in a soft voice.
Her voice trembled as she gazed at the floor.
“I think you realize by now that Lord Capell was a despot in this household, a sot, and cruel towards the children and myself. But what I am about to tell you brings me so much shame to say. I never truly believed the depravity of my uncle until that night with Roland. I cannot understand how anyone, much less the brother to my dear father, would do what he did.” A single tear slid, unchecked, down her face.
“Uncle planned a night of gambling and drinking here at the manor.
This was not uncommon. He often had men from the village and others that lived closer to the border here for drinking and whoring and who knows what else.
“On the nights when there were men here, the children and I stayed upstairs in the solar and then we all slept together in my room, even Ridley. Marta and Benton stayed downstairs and monitored the stairwell and the great hall to ensure no one wandered around the manor. That night, we heard the usual yelling and swearing. We had fallen asleep, but we were all woken up when Roland stormed into my chamber. He was so drunk he could barely walk, and his speech was slurred. But, he kept saying he won me fair and square, and he was going to take what now belonged to him.”
Devlin could hardly sit still in his chair.
Why did I call Grim off? How could I have let that bastard walk out of here?
His head throbbed, and a red-hot rage built in his chest.
“I yelled at Ridley and told him to get the girls and run. I knew if he could get them out, they would go to their hiding place. No one knew where it was, and they would be safe. I threw off the bedcovers and jumped from the bed. That drew Roland’s attention solely to me, and Ridley had the girls out the door in seconds.
” Rosalind stopped. She was still looking down at the floor, and her chest rose and fell. She swallowed hard.
Devlin sat for a moment in silence and then asked in a quiet, calm voice. “What…what did he do then, Rosalind?”
Her gaze flickered and met his. “When the children ran, he looked at me. He looked at me, and he smiled. I thought for a second about the evil in that smile, and I tried to run. But he moved so fast. I couldn’t get away.
I tried to get out the door to the girls’ room, but he hit me hard.
” Rosalind’s hand rose to her cheek, and she caressed her face softly, lost in the memory, and once again looked at the floor.
Devlin’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest. His jaw clenched while he waited for her to continue.
“I must have blacked out because when my eyes opened, he was on the bed. He was on top of me, ripping my nightdress from my shoulders. I screamed once, and he slapped my face.” Rosalind was visibly shaking now, and she looked up at him then.
“Did he rape you, Rosalind?”
She shook her head furiously. “No, that bastard did not.”
Devlin didn’t realize he had been holding his breath, and he exhaled.
“Benton came in just in the nick of time, and he yelled at him to get off of me, and he grabbed the poker from the fireplace. It was enough of a diversion, and I was able to get out from under his hold.”
“There is no way that Benton could beat him in a fight,” Devlin commented. “What happened?”
“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 lifted her chin, and his whisper-quiet voice was chilling as he said, “Roland Kirkeby will never have you.”