Gemma woke with the sun the next morning. The world seemed remarkably still. She had slept better than she had in a fortnight and was feeling pretty good until the events of the day before came rushing back to her.
Somewhere between the kiss she had shared with Nicholas and her visit with Isabel, she had accepted she would become his wife. Logically, it was a good idea and even a beneficial match. The future of her family depended on his protection. Her heart, however, was left in danger. She did not want to forgive him, she did not want to forget what happened, and she did not want to live happily ever after sharing his bed.
She checked on her father before heading down to break her fast. Father Darius was up and about. He shook his head solemnly when Gemma peered into the room, indicating to her there was no change. Isabel was coming down the passageway with a death grip on Hesse's hand, so she backed out of the room. Her eyes were wide with the question Gemma knew she must answer.
"Come, Isabel. Let us see if Leda needs assistance with the morning meal. She always needs smart, young ladies to taste the bread and the fresh fruit. No one wants to eat bugs," Gemma rambled on with forced lightness, trying to shield her sister from so much of the pain she had lived with for so long.
"Is Father awake?" Isabel said.
"Nay, sweets," Gemma said while taking her other hand momentarily, "not yet. We must not give up hope, all right? Father would want us to make sure all is well while he is sleeping."
Isabel nodded and pulled Hesse toward the steps to go out to the kitchen to see Leda. The kitchen was always a hub of activity with so many working to make sure each meal was on time and well presented. This kept Isabel busy and occupied, at least until food was served. Gemma had some time before eating, so she headed out to the garden to catch some early morning air.
When she heard the meal horn sound, she walked back up to the main hall. All of the trestle tables had been put into place, linens laid out, and most were waiting to eat when she arrived. She peered into the darkness of the hall. As her eyes adjusted, she saw Nicholas at the high table sitting next to her sister. Hesse was at a trestle table, indicating Nicholas had dismissed her.
To her relief, he had not taken her father's chair. He seemed sure of himself as the new lord of the castle. She wondered to what lengths he would go to cement that idea to those who lived within the walls of Blackstone. Isabel was giggling, a sound she had not heard come from her normally lighthearted sister in days.
She sat down warily without looking at Nicholas, and the food began to arrive. Isabel was still giggling. Though she had expected him to dismiss her as a child and a nuisance, he appeared to enjoy her company. There were a lot of new faces. These had to be the men who had come with Nicholas.
Food was placed before her. Isabel insisted on saying grace, announcing to all since Father Darius was with Father she could do it for him. Gemma felt eyes on her as she ate. Everyone must have heard by now who Nicholas was and why he was there. She suspected half of the people were living in fear and wanted someone to help them. Her betrothed, as it turned out, was a mixed blessing.
Over the hushed tones, Nicholas cleared his throat and beckoned a man to his side. It was Willis Gromme, his newly appointed seneschal. Gemma kept her eyes cast down. He said something she could not quite hear. Willis nodded, bowed in her direction, and left the great hall with long, hurried strides.
"I hope you at least let him finish breaking his fast before you sent him off," she said through her teeth. "Do you have a heart at all?"
He said nothing as he stared her down with his dark eyes. Isabel studied them in confusion, and she realized she had better try harder to get along with him, at least with others around.
When he finally said something, he spoke to Isabel rather than Gemma. "Isabel, when you are finished, you can find your nurse and pick some flowers to cheer up your sister. She seems to be walking under a thunder cloud on this lovely day."
Isabel giggled in delight, obviously already under the spell of his considerable charm. "May I be excused now? Hesse is waiting!"
Nicholas nodded and Isabel ran to get her nurse, leaving the two of them alone at the dais.
"I see you have charmed my sister," Gemma said.
"Would you rather I abuse her and make her scared of me?" he asked.
"Of course not."
"Then thank goodness for small favors and quit trying to make me out to be the enemy here. I am here to protect everyone, and you would do well to remember that," he snapped as he took a sip of his wine and slammed his goblet down on the table before him.
She squirmed in her seat. "I was worried you would be cruel to all. You have been so angry since you arrived."
"My anger is toward you, Gemma, as you had a hand in what happened to my parents. I was never good enough for your family. Someone must pay for what happened, but until I know who that person is, I will not alienate those who would serve me."
Anger rose and then ebbed quickly as she tried to contain herself. She tried desperately to be thankful for what he had just said, even though he had implied she herself might suffer. So be it. He was deluded about the past, and she would show him the truth no matter how long it took or what she had to do.
He continued, "The wine you are drinking is mine. I brought it with me, and the stores in your castle are to be monitored and dumped if needed. Wine and ale are the easiest way to poison someone, and I'll not have it happen again."
Alarm surged through her as she stared at the goblet before her. In all that had happened, she had not thought of her own safety. "You sound sure my father has been poisoned."
"I have seen poisonings before. 'Twas no different than what has happened to your father. I cannot be sure, but 'twould seem obvious."
Her heart sank, and she was unable to eat another bite from her trencher. She moved to stand when he stopped her with a few words. "I have not excused you yet."
For the second time that morning, she put a clamp on her temper and said nothing. She would not be the one to cause a commotion at the morning meal.
"There have been other changes made," he said as he continued to sip his wine and picked at the fruit before him. "I have people in all areas of the castle, and there are more men-at-arms coming today. They will bring provisions I have personally chosen, supplied by Henry. I am not taking any chances. Until we know what is going on, you will do as I say and be where I tell you to be. Isabel is at risk, as she is so young and trusting. A man will continue to be with your father so no one can harm him. No one comes or goes without my permission, and everyone is suspect. You will not go anywhere without my blessing, and you will be guarded at all times."
She did not want him to see the tears in her eyes. The tears were not about him, they were about her life and the people she cared for the most. Her happy home had become a prison, and she did not know whom to trust. There were so many changes coming, and she resisted them all.
"You can go now, Gemma," he said simply. "I need nothing from you at the moment."
Standing, she lifted her tear-rimmed eyes to meet his. In a whisper she said, "Congratulations. Your revenge is already in place. You have made my home a prison, and I no longer wish to be here."
She whipped around, no longer caring who was watching, and dashed out the door. Without direction, she ran, needing to get away from him.
Once out in the bailey she headed instinctively toward the garden, the only place where she felt any semblance of serenity and peace. Summer would begin in earnest soon, filling the garden with glorious blooms. She sought peace among the plants, a needed respite from a storm not of her making.
She did not get far before she heard a shriek coming from within the hall. Was it Isabel? Terror ran through her like ice, and she moved without thinking toward the sound.
When she arrived seconds later, she saw the laundress' daughter lying on the floor, not her sister. The girl was of only fourteen years, and assisted her mother as an apprentice so one day she could take her place. Her long, blonde braid lay across her face, and her blue eyes were lifeless. It appeared as if she had fallen backward from the bench. An ale mug was lying in the reeds on the floor next to her, and food was scattered everywhere.
Nicholas was already there, and Father Darius was coming down the stairs. He rushed over as those around her tried to get her up.
"Leave her be," Nicholas roared as he searched frantically around the room. Gemma searched too, terror gripping her as she watched him snap up the mug from the stone floor. Father Darius bent down to the girl and searched for signs of life. He found nothing.
"I fear she is gone," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Gemma backed away in shock as the girl's mother let out a wail and threw herself down on her lifeless daughter. Father Darius moved to close her eyes and tried to help calm the woman to no avail. Servants scurried in disarray, and someone began to sob.
"Come with me now," Nicholas commanded. He grabbed Gemma by the arm and pulled her from the scene, taking the mug with him. She followed, not knowing what else to do.
"Apparently you are not the only one who does not fear me," he began, as they moved near her father's desk and away from the ears of everyone else. He tipped the mug so she could see within and said, "There is a bit of liquid in here still. I would guess if she was poisoned, this would be how. I believe even more strongly your father was also poisoned. Mayhap he drank far less of it than she."
"But how do we know?" She reached for the mug, her delicate hand shaking.
"Nay," Nicholas pulled it from her grasp, "do not touch it!"
Snatching her hand back, she lifted her chin in defiance. "How do we know 'twas poisoned?"
He paused. "We do not. Some poisons have an odor and even a residue. I will not know until I can look at it. Some are undetectable. We may just have to go under the assumption someone within the walls has access to poison and will use it whenever they wish."
The idea made her shudder, and forgetting her hatred of Nicholas for a moment, she pondered what that would mean. "Anyone could be poisoned at any time. There are enough herbs in the garden that can be used and many wild plants growing outside the walls that can kill man or beast. How are we to live like this?"
"No one is to be trusted. More of Henry's men will be here later today, and things shall be more secure then," he said in a quieter, more thoughtful voice. "'Tis a helpless feeling when people are keeling over. We have to clamp down and do all we can to bring this person to light. Anyone who has not been here longer than five years will be excused from duty."
"What will they do then?" she asked. "Surely we cannot punish everyone. Most of our servants earn coin for their work. 'Tis not much, but they depend on it. This is being done by probably just one or even two people, 'twould seem. Everyone here is so kind, and they have little room for complaint. They are treated well, at least in comparison to what I have heard of other households."
"The innocent shall return to their former positions when this is done. No one will go hungry, but would you risk your sister being the next poison victim? Perhaps someone should throw her from atop the curtain wall?"
Putting her head down, she stared at her slippers. "That is fair enough."
"Go find your sister and stay with her. Come to the hall after this mess has been cleared out and the girl has been taken. Find a reason to keep her here and do not leave. If you need something, have someone search for me or for Willis."
"You may as well throw us into the dungeon!" she said, looking up to boldly meet his gaze.
"Do not be stubborn. We are not wed yet, but you are still my responsibility and I owe my freedom and position to Henry. I will do as he asked, and you will obey me!"
"Fine. Once the hall is cleared I shall bring Isabel here and work on embroidery with her. She is sorely lacking in skill, and 'twould do her some good to sit still and work on it. I only obey because I fear for the safety of my sister. 'Tis not because you command me," she said, her face without expression.
"I do not care why you do it; just do it now," he said as he departed with mug in hand.
****
Isabel chafed under Gemma's watchful and worried hovering. "Why can I not go down to the orchard? Why must we sit here? I hate embroidery! I want to see the secret tunnel. You promised!"
Gemma groaned, unsure of how to keep Isabel occupied. The girl was full of wonder and mischief and knew how to slip away, not unlike Gemma was when she was Isabel's age. She could only imagine, looking back, how her parents would have felt knowing she was sneaking out at night, going down that dark tunnel out into the woods.
She put a hand lightly on Isabel's arm and tried to lighten the mood. "Issy, there will be plenty of time for all of that. I know I promised to show you the tunnel, but 'twill have to wait until father is better. Can you try to be patient?"
Isabel let out a long, loud sigh and rolled her eyes. "I'll try."
The nursemaid, who had been sitting by Isabel trying to show her how to make a straight stitch, nodded as if she understood. The girl was simply meant for motion.
"Isabel," Hesse said in a calm voice, "do not make faces at your sister. 'Tis disrespectful."
"Sorry," the girl said, without sounding as if she meant it.
Glancing around, Gemma saw quite a few men she did not know, which meant they belonged with Nicholas. She decided it was safe to leave Isabel and Hesse long enough to go visit her father.
"I shall return soon, Hesse. Please keep her here. I wish to go see Father." She stood, patted the top of Isabel's fair head, and headed for the steps.
One of the men moved to follow her, and she whirled around. "I assure you I will be fine. I am only going to see how my father is doing. I shall be right up the steps in his quarters and will return shortly," she said, trying to sound authoritative.
"Not a chance, milady," he said. "The orders are to keep you safe. I must go with you."
With a huff, she headed toward the stairs with the soldier hot on her heels. "What a way to live," she mumbled and headed straight for her father's room within the solar.
As she entered, Father Darius stood and greeted her warmly, "Gemma dear, 'tis good news. Your father has stirred just a small time ago. 'Twas only for a moment, but he tried to wake. 'Tis a good sign, my dear."
She stepped to her father's bedside, sat on the stool, and took his large, warm hand in hers once again. "Father, can you hear me?"
He did not respond with words, but he weakly squeezed her hand.
A hot tear slid down her cheek and plopped on the sheet that covered him. He must be getting well! Perhaps there was hope to stop this hoax of a marriage after all.
"He was trying to squeeze my hand," she said with hope in her voice. "He can hear me."
"I will have to leave his side soon, for I have to prepare for the burial. Such a sweet, young girl. 'Tis a shame. I will continue to pray whatever evil has taken hold of Blackstone will depart in due course."
"If Father awakes, can I be freed from this marriage?"
The priest wrung his hands together. "I fear 'tis out of your father's hands now. The missive from the king states you are to marry de Reymes, and there are few who can overrule that. I have read the paper myself, and it is as it seems. The marriage contract is sound. You will be wed to him no matter how quickly your father recovers. I am sorry, my dear."
Her heart sank. She had held out hope if her father woke, he could denounce the marriage, and she would be free of Nicholas and his arrogance for good. Now it seemed it was not possible.
"I know 'tis hard to accept, but you must try," he said as he stood. "As soon as Oliver comes to sit with your father I will be going to the chapel. There is much to attend to. We shall bury the girl on the morrow, and mayhap your father will be awake by then. He does not have much time to come around before his body starts to fail him. Keep praying for your father."
She nodded. "Such a mess this is," she whispered and tried to come to terms with her marriage, now just four days away.