Chapter 18 #3
She could not let that happen. He was meant to live here, and so was she. If he refused to do what was needed to ensure they did, then she would.
Certain it would not be long before the confrontation came to an end, she huddled further into the corner.
A moment later, she heard Alexander storm out of the main hall and order his horse to be saddled.
He was going to Throckmorton to inform Christopher of the failure of their plan.
And given the late hour, he would likely sleep over there.
Perfect. His departure meant that she was now free to act and save the situation.
Because her mind had been made up while she listened to the men.
There was no way she would allow Alexander to sacrifice himself to protect her.
She would go to Hugh tonight, tell him that, after careful deliberation, his brother had changed his mind and decided she was not worth a future away from Audley.
Once she had convinced Hugh that Alexander had agreed to the bargain, she would play out her deception.
She knew exactly what to do. By an extraordinary stroke of luck, when she had come down earlier, she had overheard Old John thank his wife for the potion she had given him the night before, which had sent him to sleep and allowed him the most restful night in weeks.
And thanks to the story she had heard from Murdo the previous year, she knew it was possible for a man to bed a woman and not remember it in the morning.
With the help of Isobel’s potion, she would make sure this was what happened to Hugh.
He would be told that she was here to be bedded, drink the potion in his wine, wake up with her in his arms, and have no choice but to sign the deeds.
Yes, if she was brave enough, it could work.
It would work. There was no other choice. She would save Audley Castle for Alexander. As she had said the previous evening, when he had held her close in bed, this was where he belonged. So this was where he would end his days.
When he came back from Throckmorton Castle on the morrow, she would tell him what she had done. He would likely be furious, of course, but by then it would be too late. And when he found his brother gone and his castle restored to him, he would come to see that it had been for the best.
Gwenllian took in a deep breath. Before anything else, she had to ascertain that Alexander was indeed gone and would not put a stop to her plans.
Filled with determination, she left her hiding corner. Luck was with her again. As soon as she exited into the bailey, she spotted the man she’d hoped to see.
“Good afternoon, Edmund. Have you seen Sir Alexander anywhere?” she asked the stable boy—the pimply youth Hugh had insinuated was sharing his brother’s bed.
“I’m sorry, my lady. He left just a moment ago. Considering how late it is, I don’t think he will be back before tomorrow.”
Yes. Just as she’d hoped. “Worry not. I will see him when he comes back.”
“Of course.”
It struck her when Edmund did not seem to question the fact that she would be here on the morrow that she had no idea how the people of Audley Castle saw her.
Like “a guest,” as Hugh had politely referred to her?
A friend? A neighbor? A fallen woman? Well, it mattered not; they would soon see that she was here to stay, as mistress of the place she had helped to save—and as Alexander’s wife.
Having ascertained that she was free to act, she went to find Isobel, who was only too happy to give her a bottle of her sleeping potion to try.
“My mother was the best healer the villagers had ever seen. If you don’t sleep with this, my lady, then my name is not Isobel.”
Gwenllian couldn’t help a smile at this reassurance. “Now I’m certain it will work, because, believe me, I do know that your name is indeed Isobel.”
Leaving the woman slightly bemused, she made her way back to her chamber to prepare herself and go over the details of her plan one last time. She had to make sure that she was not leaving anything to chance. As soon as night started to fall, she went next door to Hugh’s room.
As she stood in front of the door, she felt her first moment of hesitation.
The man was vile to his brother. What if he was also violent with women?
It seemed very likely. What if he refused to go along with her “seduction” and pounced on her without drinking the potion first? What would she do then?
She knocked before she could lose her nerve. This was for Alexander. For them. And it would work.
“Come in.”
She walked in, a jug of spiced wine laced with sleeping potion in hand. “Good evening, my lord.”
Hugh stared at her, brow arched in disbelief. By an odd twist of fate, he was standing exactly where she had seen Alexander that first night. And, to her utter horror, he was naked as well. She almost fled the room there and then. But, at that moment, he spoke, recalling her to her plans.
“Lady Gwladys. What are you doing here?”
From somewhere, Gwenllian found the strength to smile. “Alexander has changed his mind. He’s sent me to spend the night with you.”