Chapter Eleven #2
“Where I was born, there is a moment at dawn when the sun rises over the sea and local legend says that angels can pass from their world and into ours,” came a low voice. “Then, in the evening, at the same moment when the sun is setting, the angels cross back into their realm.”
The tone was so soft, so gentle, that it didn’t startle Cleodora. By the time she turned around to face the voice, Aidric was coming out of the shadows, his gaze riveted to her. When their eyes met, he smiled.
“I was going to ask you if you had missed your chance to cross back over into your realm,” he said, indicating the magnificent dress. “Surely, you look like an angel this night, my lady. There has never been anyone more glorious in Westminster Hall.”
Cleodora’s heart began to beat a little faster, a giddy feeling filling her veins. “I did not know if you realized I was here,” she said. “You have been very busy tonight.”
He nodded, coming a little closer. “It is an important evening for Edward,” he said. “Everything must be perfect. But I have indeed noticed you. You outshine every woman in the room.”
A modest smile creased her lips. “That is kind of you, my lord.”
“It is the truth,” he said. “Can I speak freely of kindnesses?”
“Of course, my lord.”
He indicated the garment he was wearing. “I assume I have you to thank for these tunics?”
Her smile grew. “You said that you needed them for this evening,” she said. “With everything that happened at Adelie’s, I was fairly confident you did not have them made.”
“And you did it?”
She nodded. “I wanted to thank you for saving my life,” she said. “Words are so often empty. I thought an action such as this would convey my gratitude better than words could.”
He looked down at it, touching the crimson fabric. “This is the kermes, isn’t it?” he said. “I am wearing insects.”
She giggled, revealing deep dimples in both cheeks. “Very special insects,” she insisted. “I hope the design is to your liking. I tried to remember what you’d told me.”
“It is perfect,” he said. “In fact, the entire tunic is perfect. However did you do it so quickly, though? Did you even sleep last night?”
She shrugged. “A little,” she said. “I have several maids who are skilled seamstresses. Each lady sewed a tunic, so it really wasn’t too difficult.”
He looked at her. “It was the nicest thing you could have done,” he said. “I am in your debt, my lady, truly.”
She shook her head. “As I said, it was to convey my gratitude,” she said. “And the gratitude of the archbishop.”
Aidric’s smile faded somewhat. “I am certain he was deeply concerned for your safety when he heard the news,” he said. “If he instructed you to sew the tunics, then I will thank him personally.”
“Nay,” she said quickly, shaking her head.
“He does not know that I did it and it would probably be best if we kept it that way. Cambridge can be… unpredictable sometimes. Although he is grateful for what you did, I do not know how he would react if he knew I gave you a gift. It is best not to tempt fate.”
His smile vanished completely at that statement. “He would become angry?”
“Possibly. He does not like me to speak to strangers, much less do something like this.”
Aidric understood, sort of. “He is not cruel to you, is he?”
She shook her head. “He has never struck me in anger.”
“But you fear him.”
She looked him in the eye, preparing to say something brave, but she was hit by those words—but you fear him—because after the discussion she’d had with Cambridge earlier, those words took on an entirely new meaning.
Did she fear him?
She did, especially if she was unable to seduce Aidric so that she could target the king.
But she wasn’t an assassin. She wasn’t a spy, or a military man, or anything else.
Those actions were so far out of the realm of her character that she could hardly comprehend any of it.
She didn’t want to comprehend it. She was caught and she didn’t want to be.
She only wanted to live her life and not be charged with murdering a king.
She didn’t want to do it!
Unable to stop herself, she burst into quiet tears. Quickly, she turned away from him so he would not see her make a fool of herself, but he’d already seen it. She could hear his footsteps coming up behind her.
“My lady?” he said gently. “Lady Cleodora? What is the matter? May I help?”
Could he help? Possibly. She didn’t know the man, but she knew that if he was in a position of power, then he must be trustworthy.
He’d already proven that to her when he’d saved her life.
The problem was that she didn’t know anyone, not anyone who could help her, and she was in a bind.
She had no one to turn to. She was absolutely terrified.
She was willing to take the chance that if he saved her once, he might save her again.
“I am in trouble,” she wept, wiping at her face furiously and trying to regain her composure.
“I do not know what to do, but I am in great trouble. My lord… you do not know me and I do not know you, but I will tell you something that you must know. It must never get back to Cambridge, however, or my life is forfeit.”
He frowned, but it was with concern. “What is so terrible?” he said. “Has he threatened you?”
She shook her head. Then, she nodded. The pearls on her diadem swayed, one of them hitting her in the eye because she was moving her head around so much.
“I cannot tell you here,” she said. “But trust me when I tell you that this affects me, it affects you, and it affects the king. Will you meet me tomorrow at Adelie’s again? I will tell you there, but I cannot tell you now.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I do not return quickly to Cambridge’s side, he will become suspicious,” she said, wiping her face one last time. “I was only supposed to go to the garderobe. I have been gone long enough.”
She dodged away from him as much as the heavy dress would allow, heading for the stairs. Filly was down there, waiting for her, but Aidric was following. She put out a hand to stop him.
“Please,” she said softly. “You cannot be seen with me. I will speak with you tomorrow, at Adelie’s. If you do not come, then I understand you do not wish to be troubled, but for the king’s sake, you should come.”
“But why?”
“Because his life is in danger.”
With that, she made her way down the stairs, leaving Aidric standing in the moonlight, greatly confused with the turn their conversation had taken.
That wasn’t what he’d expected.
Of course, he’d seen her enter the hall earlier that evening.
It was as if a door to heaven had opened up and an angel had stepped through.
He couldn’t think to describe her any other way, but along with seeing her, he started to feel a sensation of disappointment and regret.
Perrin’s words were swimming about in his brain and he was loath to accept the news that Cleodora was supposed to use him to get close to the king.
He didn’t want to accept it, but he knew Perrin would not lie.
It would seem that he was only to be a pawn in her game.
But Aidric was determined to turn the tables on her, which was why when she left the hall, he followed.
He wanted to start establishing this relationship they were supposed to form, but the words out of Cleodora’s mouth had confused him.
Why would she warn him that the king was in great danger?
But perhaps it was all an act—she pretended to be afraid.
She pretended to want to tell him something that put Edward’s life in danger.
Perhaps she was only acting for his benefit, trying to lull him into a false sense of security. All of those things were possible.
… so why did he feel as if her reaction to him, and her words, were real?
“What happened?”
A voice came from the shadows, back from the same servants’ corridor he’d used to slip into the building, and he turned to see Gerard coming into the light. Interrupted from his thoughts, Aidric wasn’t quite sure what to say. When he didn’t answer right away, Gerard continued.
“I saw the lady depart the hall and then your departure shortly thereafter,” he said. “I followed you here and could hear you two speaking, but I did not hear what was said. What did she say?”
Aidric simply lifted his shoulders. “Baffling things,” he said honestly. “To be truthful, I am trying very hard not to be a fool for this woman, but at this moment, she seemed so genuine.”
“How so?”