Chapter Sixteen #2
Without a question, he now knew he loved Rosalind.
The emotion was still foreign to him, and he wasn’t sure he could even articulate this feeling.
He stared down at her face, and longed to tell her that everything would be all right and that they might even leave for home this very evening.
But he knew he couldn’t. To do so would be a lie, and he couldn’t and wouldn’t do that to her.
But he knew he would move heaven and earth to save her.
In his arms, she slept deeply. He liked to think it was merely his presence that kept her panic at bay and allowed her to sleep, but it was more likely just sheer exhaustion.
The panic that ruled her just hours before hadn’t left.
She was able to push it deep down within her core and block it from her consciousness.
He carefully placed her in the space beside him and slid gingerly off the bed.
She stirred and opened her eyes. There was only a moment of peace.
Then she caught the coming dawn through the cracks in the shuttered window.
Panic crept back into the depths of her eyes, and tears threatened to flow again.
“I have to go, Rosalind,” he said in a calm but firm voice. “The guards know that I spent the night here with you, but they will remain quiet. However, it won’t be to our advantage if your maid shows up and I am in your bed. I have to appear impartial.”
Rosalind nodded. He took her hand.
“I am just across the hall. I will come if you need me.”
He released her hand and walked to the door.
“I know you will, Devlin. I know.”
Devlin was again shocked at the goodness she saw in him and the trust that showed in her eyes.
In the hallway, the guards barely acknowledged Devlin as he left Rosalind’s chamber.
If they had any opinion of his spending the night with a titled lady that was under suspicion of treason, their faces didn’t betray their thoughts.
Regardless, Devlin shot each of them a piercing glance for good measure, then entered his own room.
Just as Mr. Kelley promised, a meal was brought to his chamber. His appetite was nearly non-existent, but he ate. And then he waited. By mid-morning, he paced the floor, much like he’d seen Rosalind do before.
Stop your hand-wringing!
Finally, he heard a knock at his door.
A young man with a nasal voice entered his room and announced, “The king will see you now.”
Devlin followed the man to the hall. The first thing he noticed was that the door to Rosalind’s chamber was open, and her room was empty.
“Where is Lady Rosalind?” Devlin asked calmly, but his stomach reeled at the thought that the king might be questioning her without him.
A guard cleared his throat. “The king’s man, Kelley, escorted her to the king’s cabinet room.”
“How long ago?”
“Not long, sir. Only a half hour or so.”
Devlin was angry, but there was some small comfort that Mr. Kelley had fetched her himself. Devlin wasted no time making his way to the king’s cabinet room. His escort had difficulty keeping up with him and had to run the last few steps to get ahead so that he could announce Devlin to his liege.
Devlin sighed but allowed the formality of his introduction before barging in.
He noticed right away that Lady Rosalind was not there.
The king and two of his advisors were the only ones present.
There was no Kelley and no Rosalind, and he had nearly forgotten where he was.
He quickly took two steps forward and bowed to his king.
King Charles sat behind a long, polished wooden table, the fire in the hearth casting flickering shadows across the room.
Though slight in build, his neatly trimmed brown beard, and dark, contemplative eyes lent him an air of quiet authority and intelligence.
Devlin was relieved to find the king dressed in more casual attire—a dark velvet doublet worn over a crisp white linen shirt, paired with simple breeches that seemed to soften his regal demeanor.
“Ah, Devlin. Come forward, please. It’s been some time since we’ve had a chance to speak.” He smiled.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. But I am happy to be able to be here and assist in resolving this unfortunate matter concerning Lord Edmund Capell and his niece, Lady Rosalind.”
“No one wants to get to the bottom of this more than I and what I learned from Mr. Kelley about my so-called trusted and loyal lord shocked me. But I have to follow the trail, you see. I have to root out and punish anyone who would sympathize with those who seek to usurp me, even if that person is a pretty young lady.”
“Agreed.”
“I value your opinion, Devlin. Before the lady in question arrives, I must know your feelings on the matter,” King Charles commanded with piercing eyes. “You were at Capell Manor for several days, conducted the investigation, and lived with Lady Rosalind. Do you believe she conspires against me?”
Devlin exhaled. This question he could answer truthfully with not an ounce of doubt.
“No, Your Majesty, I am certain she knew nothing of Edmond’s complicity with the Parliamentarians.
Edmond’s books and records showed clearly that she never saw a penny of the funds you sent for her care and upkeep.
And the state of the manor house, the furnishings…
and the way Lady Rosalind was dressed, you would have no doubts that Lord Capell hoarded all the funds, gambled them away, or sadly, provided for your enemies. ”
His liege sat in silence and seemed to accept Devlin’s answer, but then he asked suddenly, “Did she kill him, Devlin?” He stood and walked around his meeting table and paced slowly across the room in front of his knight.
“Mr. Kelley told me that Capell offered her as payment in a game of cards. And I understand, the night Edmond disappeared, he had been abusive to Lady Rosalind. What do you say? Survival is a powerful motive, after all.”
Devlin watched his king’s movement carefully as he spoke.
“I agree with your assessment of the situation, Your Majesty. Lady Rosalind’s life with her uncle was quite challenging, to say the least. However, I found her to have a gentle spirit and not inclined to anger or violence.
And I found no evidence that she was involved in Lord Edmond’s death. ”
The king started to speak, but the door to the council chamber opened and Mr. Kelley, with Lady Rosalind on his arm, entered.
Rosalind’s face was pale as milk, but her head was held high and her steps sure and straight.
Mr. Kelley escorted her to stand across from Devlin.
He gave her arm a reassuring pat and then joined the other advisors at a seat behind the table.
Rosalind stepped forward. With a steadying breath, she gathered the folds of her gown in both hands and gracefully dipped into a deep curtsy.
Devlin detected a slight tremor in her stance.
Her head bowed, and her gaze fixed on the floor as the weight of the king’s stare pressed upon her, but she held her posture.
After a moment, she rose carefully and waited for the king to acknowledge her.
“Lady Rosalind, do you know why I called you here today?” His words were not necessarily unkind, but the lack of any exchange of pleasantries indicated he meant to conclude this business as quickly as possible.
“Yes, Your Majesty. You want to question me about my uncle’s involvement with traitors and also his death.”
“I have questioned Mr. Kelley and Sir Devlin and heard their reports. However, while I may be convinced that you do not and have not ever lent your support to those treasonous bastards that threaten the continuation of the monarchy, I am not so sure that you are completely innocent in the matter of your uncle’s tragic demise. ”
Rosalind’s chest begin to rise and fall faster, and she nervously fingered the neckline of her dress.
“On the night Sir Edmond disappeared, did you and he have an argument that led to a physical altercation?
“Yes, that is true.”
“And was this the first time he had struck you?”
Rosalind’s gaze lowered. “No, it wasn’t.”
“Did he beat you often?”
Rosalind’s chin rose slightly. “Depends on what you consider often, Your Majesty.”
This king waited for her to continue.
“If you are the kind of man that considers a beating a day as often, then my answer is no. But my uncle was prone to drinking too much, and in my opinion, he hit me often enough.”
“What of this Roland Kirkeby? Mr. Kelley tells me he won your hand in marriage in a card game. Why would my loyal baron negotiate the betrothal of his niece, the heiress to her father’s estate and his, to an untitled scoundrel as this? It makes no sense!”
“If I may, Your Majesty,” Mr. Kelley said, “It is my theory that Kirkeby knew more of Edmond’s dealings with your enemies than we suspected. Perhaps Lady Rosalind was to be a payoff not just for a gambling debt, but for his silence.”
The king nodded as he considered the plausibility of the theory. “Did you love your uncle, Lady Rosalind?”
The question surprised Devlin, but Lady Rosalind didn’t flinch.
“No, I did not.”
“Did you hate him?”
“I hated what he did; I hated what he was. But I did not hate him. I pitied him.”
“I believe you,” the king said. “Did you kill him, Lady Rosalind?”
Lady Rosalind blinked once. Then again. “No. I did not kill him.”
“Now this, I do not believe. At least not altogether.”
It didn’t seem possible that Rosalind could get any paler, but she did. Her breathing quickened once more. She turned her head his way and gasped, “Sir Devlin.” Her voice was barely audible, then her eyes rolled back in her head, and she swayed.
Devlin barely caught her before she hit the floor.
“Take her out of here, Sir Devlin. Take her to her chamber, place her guards back on watch and then return.”
Devlin’s stomach sank as he carried Rosalind from the room. Once he had left her on the bed in her chamber, he immediately returned to the cabinet room. The king was back in his chair. He motioned for Devlin to sit in front of him. Mr. Kelley sat calmly.
“Devlin, I now have to disagree with you. You saw Lady Rosalind’s reaction. I believe she may be guilty or, at the very least, involved in her uncle’s death.”
Devlin knew he had to choose his words carefully. “Your Majesty, I truly believe if she was complicit, that it would have been, at the very least, self-defense.”
“If that were true, then she should have said so. I’m not an ogre, you know. I would have listened. But frankly, she looked nothing but guilty and had no words for her own defense.”
“With the evidence against Edmond, I would think she would have done you a boon,” Mr. Kelley said.
“Despite his treachery, Edmond would have been worth more to me alive. With the proper motivation, he could have led me to the leader of this plot against me and the throne. No, I cannot have members of my court killing each other. I am the law of this land and no one else. Everyone would be wise to remember that.”
“And what of Lady Rosalind then?” Devlin asked.
“The circumstances are complex in her case. But I feel like a period of incarceration is justified.”
Devlin tasted the bile that rose from his throat as feelings of rage and fear coursed through him.
“I will draw up the papers,” Mr. Kelley said.
He turned his head slightly, and Devlin saw sadness in his expression.
“Just a moment, Mr. Kelley,” Devlin said.
He took a deep breath and knew that there was only one chance for Rosalind to get home.
He reached into the inner pocket of his doublet.
“Your Majesty, I have something for you. I don’t know what it means, but I was told to give it to you if, after your questioning, you doubted the character of Lady Rosalind. ”
Devlin pulled out the ruby that Benton had given him. He placed it in the king’s hand. The king looked down at the jewel and was silent. Beads of sweat formed on Devlin’s brow.
He doesn’t know what it is.
After what seemed like an eternity, Charles asked, “Where did you get this? I gave this to someone a very long time ago. But surely, he would have died by now.”
Devlin was able to grin slightly. “A very ancient butler, known as Benton, gave me the ruby.”
King Charles laughed, then paused, as if he was lost temporarily in the past.
“He said you would know what it meant. And Lady Rosalind is very special to him.”
The king smiled. “The lady is free to go, Sir Devlin. You may escort her home.”