The Velvet Promise (48 page)

"You are still jealous?" he asked, smiling.

She looked up at him, her eyes very serious. "In a way, I am. She will always be a perfect woman to you. What she did, you believe she did out of love for you. She is a pure, perfect woman to you and will always be. While I am…"

"You are what?" he teased.

"I am earthy. I am the woman you have and can have, while Alice represents an ethereal love to you."

He frowned. "You say I'm wrong, yet why else would she have done what she did?"

Judith shook her head at him. "Greed. She believes you are hers and I have taken you. She loves you no more than she loves me—except that you have the wherewithal to give her body some pleasure… however brief."

He raised one eyebrow. "Do you insult me?"

"No, but I listen to gossip. The men complain of her penchant for violence."

Gavin drew his breath in sharply. "Let's not speak of this again," he said coldly. "You are my wife and I love you, but even so I'll not listen to you malign such an unhappy woman. You have won and she has lost. That should be enough for you."

Judith blinked back tears. "I love you, Gavin. I love you so much, but I fear that all your love will not be mine as long as the disease of Alice Chatworth eats at your heart."

Gavin frowned, tightening his hold on her. "You have no reason to be jealous of her."

Judith started to speak but of what use would her words be? She knew she would always share a tiny bit of her husband's love with an icy blonde beauty. And no words would ever change those feelings.

Saying good-bye to the people Judith liked at court was not easy. The queen especially had become her friend. As Judith curtsied before the king, she felt her face grow hot. She regretted the publicity of her seeking a divorce, but if she had not realized her mistake, she and Gavin would not be together now. As she lifted her head to the king, she smiled. Knowing that Gavin loved her and that she loved him was worth all the embarrassment and teasing.

"We will miss your lovely face," King Henry smiled. "I hope you come to see us again soon."

Gavin put an arm possessively about his wife's shoulders. "Is it her face or the amusement she provides?"

"Gavin!" Judith gasped in horror.

The king threw back his head and roared with laughter. "It's true, Gavin," he said after a while. "I vow I've not been so entertained in years.

I'm sure no other marriages will be half so fascinating."

Gavin returned his king's smile. "Then you might watch Stephen. I've just heard that that Scots bride of his took a knife to him on his wedding night."

"Was he harmed?" Henry asked, concerned.

"No," Gavin grinned. "Though I imagine his temper wasn't so well controlled. But then perhaps the woman had some reason for her anger—

Stephen was three days late for his own wedding."

King Henry shook his head in disbelief. "I don't envy the man." He smiled again. "At least all is well with one of the Montgomery brothers."

"Yes," Gavin said as he stroked Judith's upper arm. "All is indeed well."

They finished their last good-byes and left the great hall. It had taken most of the day to complete the packing for the journey home. Truthfully, they should have waited until the next day, but everyone seemed as ready to leave as Judith and Gavin. What with the time at Demari's and at court, they had been away a long while.

As they mounted their horses and waved good-bye to the several people who gathered to see them off, only one watched with concern. Alan Fairfax hadn't been able to find a moment alone with Judith as he had hoped.

Early that morning Alice Chatworth had left the castle with her servants and household goods. All of the castlefolk seemed to believe that the woman accepted defeat when Judith and Gavin were reconciled. But not Alan. He felt he knew Alice better than that. Alice had been humiliated.

He knew that she would seek revenge.

When the bailey was cleared and the Montgomery group well outside the castle walls, Alan mounted his horse and followed at a discreet distance. It wouldn't hurt to be cautious—at least until the Lady Judith was safe inside her own castle walls. Alan smiled and flexed his sore jaw where Gavin had struck him the day before. He hadn't openly voiced his fears of Alice; he knew Lord Gavin believed him to have an unchivalrous concern for his wife. Perhaps it was true, Alan thought. Perhaps at first; then he had come to know her and began to look on her as a little sister.

He sighed and then nearly laughed aloud. At least he could tell himself that. With the way she looked at Lord Gavin, there was no hope for anything else.

«
^

The warm water felt heavenly against Judith's bare skin. But better than the water was the freedom. There were no court gossips watching them, commenting on their improper behavior. For their behavior now was very improper for an earl and his countess, the rulers of vast estates. They'd traveled for three days when they saw the lovely blue lake, a corner of it hidden and secluded by overhanging willow trees. Now Gavin and Judith frolicked about like children.

"Oh, Gavin," Judith said in a voice that was half giggle and half whisper.

Gavin's laugh rumbled deep in his throat as he lifted her out of the lake then threw her back in again. They had been playing in the water for an hour, chasing each other, kissing and touching. Their clothes lay in a heap on the bank as they moved through the water unencumbered.

"Judith," Gavin whispered as he drew her close, "you make me forget my duties. My men aren't used to such neglect."

"Nor am I used to so much attention," she said, nipping at his shoulders.

"No, don't start again. I must return to camp."

She sighed but knew he was right. They walked ashore where Gavin quickly dressed, then stood and waited impatiently for his wife.

"Gavin," she smiled, "how can I dress when you glower so? Go back to camp and I will follow in a few moments."

He frowned. "I don't want to leave you alone."

"I am within sound of the camp. I won't come to any harm."

He bent and gave her a fierce hug. "You must forgive me if I'm too protective. I came too close to losing you after the child."

"It wasn't that that nearly caused you to lose me," she retorted.

He laughed and smacked her on her bare wet bottom. "Get dressed, you saucy wench, and return to camp quickly."

"Yes, my lord," she smiled.

When Judith was by herself, she dressed slowly, feeling that it was good to have some solitude for a moment of reflection. The last few days had been bliss. Gavin was at last hers. No more did they hide their love from each other. When she was dressed, she didn't return to the camp, but sat quietly under a tree, enjoying the peaceful place.

But Judith wasn't alone. Not far away stood a man who had hardly left her side since they left court; yet she had not seen him and had no idea he stayed so nearby. Alan Fairfax remained a discreet distance away, where he could see the emerald-green of Judith's gown, yet far enough away that he didn't interfere in her privacy. After these days of following her, he'd begun to relax. Several times he'd wondered just what he was doing when she had her husband who had hardly left her side.

Alan was cursing himself for his stupidity and didn't hear the footsteps so close behind him. A sword came down on the side of his head with brutal force. He slumped forward, his head on his chest and then fell heavily into the leaves of the forest floor.

Without warning, a hood was thrown over Judith's head and her arms pinned behind her when she started to struggle. The suffocating fabric muffled her screams. She was thrown across a man's shoulder, the air nearly forced from her lungs.

The man walked past Alan's inert body, and looked up in question to the woman on the horse.

"Leave him. He will tell Gavin that she's gone. Gavin will come to me then, and we'll see which of us he chooses."

The man's face gave no betrayal of his thoughts. He merely collected his money and performed the tasks. He slung his bundle across the saddle and followed Alice Chatworth through the forest.

Alan awoke some time later, his thoughts confused, his head splitting.

He put his hand against a tree to steady himself as he stood. As his eyes began to focus again, he remembered Judith and knew that he must find Gavin so they could search for her. He stumbled awkwardly toward the camp.

Gavin met him halfway. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Isn't it enough that you touch my wife at court? Do you think I'll allow you your life again?"

"Judith has been taken!" Alan said, his hand to his pounding head.

Gavin grabbed the smaller man by the neck of his clothes, lifting him from the ground. "If you so much as harm her, I—!"

Alan gasped, forgetting his head and jerking from Gavin's grasp. "It's you who may have hurt her. You wouldn't believe Lady Alice capable of any wrongdoing, so you left Judith unprotected."

"What are you saying!"

"You are a dense man! Alice Chatworth has taken your wife prisoner—

and you stand here talking."

Gavin stared at him. "Alice… my wife… I don't believe you!"

Alan turned away. "Believe me or not, but I'll not waste any more time talking. I'll ride after her alone."

Gavin didn't speak again but turned and went back to the camp. Within moments, he and several of his men were saddled and quickly reached Alan's side. "The Chatworth manor?"

"Yes," Alan answered gravely.

Those were the only words exchanged as the noblemen rode side by side following Judith's captors.

"Welcome to my home," Alice said when the hood was taken from Judith's face. Alice watched the younger woman gasp for breath. "You didn't like the ride? I'm very sorry. A woman such as yourself is used to only the best, I'm sure."

"What do you want of me?" Judith asked, trying to ease the soreness of her shoulders as the ropes on her wrists nearly pulled her arms from their sockets.

"Of you I want nothing," Alice stated. "You have what is mine and I wish its return."

Judith's chin came up. "Do you mean Gavin?"

"Yes," Alice sneered. "I mean Gavin. My Gavin. Always my Gavin."

"Then why didn't you marry him when he asked you?" Judith asked calmly.

Alice's eyes widened, her lips curled into a snarl, exposing her teeth, and her hands formed claws as she lunged for Judith's face.

Judith turned away and the claws didn't reach her.

Ela forcibly grabbed her mistress's arm. "Now, sweet, don't upset yourself. She's not worth it."

Alice seemed to relax.

"Why don't you go and rest?" Ela soothed. "I'll stay with her. You must look your best when Lord Gavin arrives."

"Yes," Alice said quietly. "I must look my best." She left without looking at Judith.

Ela placed her large, soft form in a chair close to the one Judith was tied to and took out some knitting.

"Whose house is this?" Judith asked.

Ela didn't look up. "The Chatworth estate, one of them that my Lady Alice owns," she responded proudly.

"Why am I here?"

Ela paused briefly in her knitting, then resumed. "My lady wishes to see Lord Gavin again."

"Do you believe that?" Judith demanded, her composure leaving her.

"Do you believe that crazy woman wants only to see my husband?"

Ela threw down the knitting to her lap. "Don't you call my lady crazy!

You don't know her as I do. She's not led an easy life. There are reasons…"

She stomped across the room toward the window.

"You know, don't you?" Judith asked quietly. "She's insane. Gavin's rejection of her has driven her to madness."

"No!" Ela began, then calmed. "Lord Gavin wouldn't reject my Alice.

How could any man deny her? She is beautiful, has always been beautiful.

Even as a baby, she was the loveliest anyone had ever seen."

"And you have been with her since she was a child?"

"Yes. I've been with her always. I was past the age for children of my own when she was born. She was given into my care, and she has been a gift of heaven to me."

"Is there nothing you wouldn't do for her?"

"No," Ela said firmly. "I would do anything for her."

"Even killing me so she can take my husband."

Ela looked back at Judith, her old eyes worried. "You won't be killed. It's just that my Lady Alice needs time again with Lord Gavin and you won't allow her that. You are a selfish woman. You have taken what was hers, yet you have no pity or sympathy for my lady's pain."

Judith could feel her temper rising. "She has lied to me, tricked me, done everything she could to take my husband. One of her pieces of treachery cost me the life of my child."

"A child!" Ela hissed. "My lovely lady can have no children. Don't you know how much she has wanted one? Lord Gavin's child! The one you stole from her. It's only fitting that you should lose what should have been my Lady Alice's."

Judith started to speak, then stopped. The maid was as mad as her mistress. No matter what anyone said, Ela would defend Alice. "What are your plans for me?"

Ela realized Judith was calmer and she resumed knitting. "You will be our… guest for a few days. Lord Gavin will come, and he will be allowed to spend some time with Lady Alice. Once they are together again, he'll see how much he loves her. It will only take a few days—perhaps only hours—