Chapter Thirteen #4
“I would think you’d be grateful for our interference,” the knight said. “Especially since you stand to benefit the most.”
He was wrong in that. Though she didn’t want to wed the Ard-Righ, there were many ways to avoid her wedding without Raine becoming a murderer. “I would not wish death upon any man. And I do not believe Raine would do such a thing.”
Darren smiled slowly. “Do you remember the MacEgans who gave you shelter at Laochre?” She gave a nod before he continued.
“Raine was there when we attacked them on the peninsula. He killed their kinsmen in that battle, years ago.” At that revelation, he turned serious.
“Believe me when I say that Raine cares about nothing except his orders. He will fulfill them without question.”
Her heart grew cold at that, for Raine had never mentioned such a thing. He had accepted help from the MacEgans, and not once had he mentioned the battle. Unless that was another reason why he’d accepted the imprisonment—out of remorse?
Carice pushed back the questions, knowing that Sir Darren was planting doubts within her mind. “I don’t want to hear any more,” she whispered. “Please leave.”
He didn’t move. “You should know that the Norman army attacked the High King, only a day ago. They failed in the attempt, and the Irish traitor, King Devlin of Ossoria, was killed.”
Her blood ran cold at the mention of Lady Taryn’s father. “You had men already here, didn’t you?” She was beginning to realize that the Normans would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
“We did. And while they might be dead now, nothing has changed. Raine has his orders, and he must obey.” He crossed toward her and fingered a lock of her hair. “Despite what you believe, he never intended to turn away from his duty.”
“Do not touch me,” she whispered, rising to her feet.
But Sir Darren only smiled. “Interfere with Raine’s orders, and you will get him killed. I came only to warn you.” He grazed his knuckles across her cheek, and the caress made her skin crawl.
Then he stepped back and walked toward a pitcher of wine and two goblets.
He poured two cups of wine and sent her a faint smile.
Lifting the silver goblet, he offered a mock salute.
“To your wedding, Lady Carice. You may want to offer wine to the High King when you speak with him. It will grant you courage.”
She closed her eyes and waited until he left. Her ladies came in afterward, and from their expressions, she suspected that Darren had warned them to stay outside.
“Are you well, my lady?” one asked.
Carice gave a faint nod, though she was so afraid of what would happen now. Rory ó Connor was coming to speak with her, and she wanted to be truthful with him. Were he any other man, she would simply admit that she had never wanted the marriage. Yet, it was not that easy.
Her ladies busied themselves with combing her hair and helping her wash off the dust of traveling. A few moments later, Raine entered her chamber. He was carrying one of her trunks, and he set it down in one corner. But instead of leaving, he remained standing.
The conversation of her ladies died down, and they waited for her to give orders.
Carice couldn’t bring herself to speak, for the sight of Raine filled her with such grief.
She had given this man her heart, and yet she felt as if she didn’t know him at all.
He was a warrior, a man who struck down his enemies without mercy.
But he was also a man who had taken such care of her, holding her at night and warming her body with his own. She didn’t want to believe that he could be a murderer.
“You shouldn’t have come,” she said. “The Ard-Righ will be here soon.”
“I know.” He sent a look toward her ladies, and they retreated to the far end of the room. A sudden tremor of apprehension crossed over her when she thought of the true reason why he might be here.
“Don’t,” she warned. “Don’t even think of it.” She was so afraid he would kill Rory ó Connor, the moment the High King entered her chamber.
Raine closed the distance between them. “I’ve made many mistakes, Carice. But I will make this right again. I will free you from this marriage, I swear it.”
“No.” She took a step back from him. If she allowed him to interfere, he would try to fight this battle for her—and he would lose his life in the attempt. “I will face the Ard-Righ myself and tell him. It’s time for me to stop running.”
“He won’t let you go.”
She knew that, but she was tired of behaving like a coward.
“I will be honest with him when we are alone and ask him to release me from the betrothal agreement.” The more she thought of it, the more she realized that this was the only solution.
If she was forthright with the High King and gave him the chance to spurn her first, he might agree to end their arrangement.
And if he insisted upon the marriage, she would have no choice but to face that battle when it came.
She was weary of living her life being afraid. It was time to stand up for what she wanted, no matter the consequences.
“And if he refuses to end it?” Raine asked. “Do you think I’ll allow him to force you into a wedding you don’t want?” He dropped his voice low so that the maids would not overhear. “Or a wedding night?”
A knot formed within her throat, but she met his green eyes with sadness. “You gave me up when you brought me here, Raine. You already showed me that you believe in duty more than anything you might feel for me.”
There was no expression on his face at all, no sign of emotion. She wanted him to deny it, to say that he did love her. But his silence was the answer that hurt the most.
And though her pride was shattering into pieces, Carice moved across the room and opened the door. “I will face my own demons without you.”
He didn’t protest, but he stared into her eyes. “Is that what you want? For me to let you go?”
With a heavy heart, she nodded. “It is.”
Although her eyes burned from unshed tears, she forced herself to close the door behind him.
Her fingers were shaking, and she reached for the silver goblet of wine to steady her nerves.
The High King would be here soon, and she had to remain strong in her refusal.
Even if he grew enraged, she would not waver.
Carice tasted the sweet wine, and took a swallow to fortify herself. Then another.
Her heartbeat seemed to quicken, and there was a rushing sound in her ears.
She closed her eyes when the outside sunlight seemed to bother her.
A strange sensation ran over her senses, and her throat grew dry, her stomach twisting with pain.
But this was a very different pain, one she had never felt before.
Her skin grew sensitive, prickling with the slightest touch. It was not the familiar illness at all.
And when the sharp stabbing pains caught her stomach, she realized the truth. This was poison.
The silver goblet fell from her fingertips, the wine spilling everywhere as she fought to remain conscious.
I don’t want to die. She’d mistakenly believed that she was prepared for the worst, that she could face the end with dignity when it came. But it wasn’t true at all.
She gasped for air, terrified of the darkness that beckoned.
Her last thought was of Raine and how she wished she could have told him the feelings she’d held in her heart. But now, he would never know.