Page 23 of The Sword and the Damsel (The De Veres #2)

I t turned out darkness was as much a hindrance as a help in an unfamiliar city whose streets Alais did not know. She could no longer see Lady Helisende’s castle in the moonless night, and the twisting alleys of Hastings soon had her thoroughly turned around. Her pursuers, however, seemed to know the streets well, and they had not given up their search. Her wandering route took her from one dark alley to the next, driven more by the need to avoid detection than any sense of geography.

Alais was acutely aware of her own vulnerability as a woman alone at night, unarmed and dressed like a noble, even if she was disguised.

Shortly after she escaped, she found a clothesline in an alley. There was a cloak, and she took it. At least it would hide the fine make and fabric of her dress along with the ostentatious gold embroidery on the trim. It kept her warm too in the November chill, even if it did have an unsavory smell clinging to it.

Despite her disguise, however, she didn’t dare walk openly on the streets. Her pursuers questioned everyone they saw about her whereabouts. She’d watched them. Now word of a missing noblewoman had spread far and wide, and anyone who saw her might deliver her back to her captors in hopes of a reward. Avoiding major thoroughfares, she wended her way through side streets, ducking away to hide any time she saw someone coming. She tried to keep her course uphill. She knew the castle was the highest point in Hastings.

For the hundredth time, she wondered where Victor was at that moment, praying that he was safe and that he was coming to find her. They had so little time together before they were torn apart. What would he think of her now?

He hadn’t believed Robert’s lies before, but surely he would suspect the worst after her kidnapping. Better by far, though, to face Victor’s suspicions and ask for forgiveness than to become Robert’s for life.

Approaching footsteps sent her scurrying to find another hiding place. She ducked into a half-built building with no windows or doors, crouching down in the darkest corner, next to a pile of stones. Another set of footsteps approached.

“Did you find her?” said a rough, male voice.

“No. You?” replied his companion.

“No, but I thought I saw something a moment ago. I could have sworn I saw someone moving along the street, but now I see no one. If it’s her, she must be hiding. Let’s check every alley.”

Alais twisted her skirts in worry beneath her cloak. Please don’t let them find me.

She didn’t dare move until they passed. She could only hope they wouldn’t think to examine the construction site. Hardly daring to breathe, she grasped for a stone she could use for a weapon if needed.

“Come out, my lady. We know you’re here somewhere.” The voice sent chills down her spine. She curled into a ball, hoping she looked like a covered pile of building materials.

Steps came closer. Her hand became a fist around the rock she held. Victor would know what to do if he was here. But he wasn’t. She was alone with nothing but her own wits to get her out of this. Well, she would show these two idiots she was more than just a decorative second daughter. They would pay for underestimating her.

“Come over here,” one of the men said. “I bet she’s hiding in here somewhere.” Two sets of steps came closer. And closer. “What’s that bit of fabric over there by the rocks? You don’t think it’s—”

Alais jumped up and began pelting her pursuers with rocks. One rock hit home, knocking back the closest one, who grasped his face. She got him in the nose.

“Easy there, girly. We mean you no harm,” the man said in an oily voice, oozing with threat. “Just come with us and we’ll keep you nice and safe for Sir Robert.”

“Never!”

She kept throwing and hit the man in the chest and then the shoulder.

“You little bitch. That hurt,” he hissed.

She threw again and caught him in the eye, and he reeled back.

Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, she ran. At first, she could hear them staggering after her, but then the sound of their footsteps disappeared into the night. She looked up and, outlined against the stars, were the turrets of Lady Helisende’s castle.

Running up to the closed castle gates, she pounded with all her might.

“Who goes there?” asked a sleepy-looking guard emerging from the guard house.

Throwing back her cloak, Alais announced herself with all the hauteur she could summon. “I am Lady Alais, daughter of Lord de Vere, wife of Sir Victor of Guestling, Lady Helisende’s nephew. I was attacked, and I seek shelter within the castle.”

The guard looked her up and down and laughed. “And I’m King Louis of France. David, there’s a doxy here for you. Says she’s a real lady here to see the countess.”

Another guard emerged, this one bigger and more muscular than the first. Taller too. Alais took a step back and pulled her cloak back around her. The man walked over to Alais and grinned lasciviously.

“Well, hello. What have we here? Such a pretty young thing you are. Much prettier than Rose’s usual selection. You must be new.”

He grabbed her chin and tipped it up. Alais shrank back from his touch.

“I am Lady Alais. I am married to the countess’ nephew, and if you touch me again, the countess herself will make you pay. Now let me in.”

“I’d be happy to let you come upstairs with me, my lady . I like a little company to keep things interesting on the night watch.”

He grabbed her and squeezed her bottom. She stomped on his toe with all her might, and he yelped, hopping back.

She ran as fast as she could back out into the night, ignoring the angry epithets the guard shouted after her. If she couldn’t get in at night, she would have to try again during the day. Perhaps then someone would recognize her from the month she’d spent imprisoned as a guest at Lady Helisende’s behest.

What she needed was a safe place to spend the night so that she could try again in the morning. For hours, she searched the streets, and every time she thought she had a hiding spot, she heard voices and fled. At last, she descended through an archway and found herself in an enormous, stone underground warehouse. Who built it and when, she couldn’t guess, but she had never been more grateful for this strange, arched construction. No one was down there but rats. Silence and darkness curled around her as she leaned against grain sacks, and at last, she drifted off to sleep.

*

A shaft of dawn light filtered in from some unseen opening, and Alais blinked her eyes open. Where in heaven’s name was she? Why did she ache all over? Taking in her surroundings, everything came flooding back—the escape, the night of being chased, her encounter with the guards at the castle.

She jumped up and brushed herself off, determined to get to the castle before most of the city was out and about. Cautiously looking around as she exited the warehouse, she wasn’t far from the castle. She pulled her hood as far over her head as it would go and made her way back to the castle gates. To her relief, they were open this time, and she could see that the guards had changed.

Once again throwing back her hood and hoping her appearance wasn’t too frightful, she approached the guards. One of them had a familiar face, so she walked up to him.

“Lady Alais?” he said as she approached. Relief washed over her.

“Yes, I am Lady Alais, daughter of Martin de Vere, Baron of Winchelsea, and now wife of Sir Victor of Guestling, Lady Helisende’s nephew.”

The guard bowed. “My name is Luke. I guarded your door when you were a guest of my lady’s last year. You look as if you are in some distress.”

“I am. I was attacked and separated from my husband. I escaped and am seeking refuge with Lady Helisende until my husband can be found.”

Luke nodded. “Come with me. The countess will want to see you.”

She followed him into the familiar castle that she had sworn she would never enter again after her imprisonment last year. The countess had treated her and her mother and sister well enough during their stay, and Alais was now married to Victor, which changed things. Still, she couldn’t help feeling like a fly landing on a spider’s sticky web.

Leading her through the grand entrance hall, Luke deposited her in a small receiving room. “I’ll notify her ladyship of your presence and return,” he said, leaving her to ponder her situation. Whatever Lady Helisende did couldn’t be worse than being in Robert’s clutches, could it?

Several minutes later, Luke came to collect her. “Her ladyship is eating breakfast. She wishes for you to join her.”

Alais nodded and followed. Walking down these halls brought back unpleasant memories, but she stuffed them away. There was no room for weakness before the countess. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the enormous dining hall with as much dignity as she could summon.

Dressed in a severe gown of deep blue with rich gold embroidery at the cuffs and neckline, Lady Helisende looked her up and down with a predatory smile. Streaks of white shone in her golden hair. “What have we here? I thought I had seen the last of you, but here you are, a damsel in distress. Have a seat. Eat. Then tell me what brings you to my doorstep.”

Alais sat down at the grand table to the side of Lady Helisende where a place had been set for her. The room was filled with empty trestle tables, and every sound echoed in the cavernous hall. Several small braziers had been placed around the table, but despite their meager heat, Alais couldn’t help but shiver.

She looked down at the silver plate she’d been given, filled with fruit and pastries. Though she was famished, she didn’t dare eat before answering her host.

“I married your nephew, Victor, three days ago,” Alais began.

“So I heard. I knew you two would make a good match.”

Alais let that pass without comment. When she was last at the castle, the countess had been relentless with her hinting about a nephew who needed a wife. “Two days ago, Victor’s cousin, Robert, kidnapped me. He said he was going to kill Victor and marry me. I escaped last night and found my way to you this morning. I beg you to send me back to Lord Giles at Guestling.”

“Now, now. Let’s not be hasty. It’s rather providential that you’re here. Surely my castle can offer better protection than that sandcastle at Guestling.”

Lady Helisende took a bite of a crunchy pasty.

Of course, Alais wasn’t going to escape so easily. She stifled an inward sigh as she waited to hear what the countess had in mind.

“I’m rather regretting letting go of Victor. The Watch hasn’t been nearly so disciplined since he left. Perhaps, I can come to an arrangement with your brother-in-law in exchange for your safe return.”

It was as she suspected. By coming here, she’d become a pawn in the countess’ game. Still, it was better than being imprisoned at Robert’s house.

“As for Robert, he’s stirred up mischief for the last time in Hastings. This isn’t the first time he’s given me trouble, though he’s never gone so far. I’ll see to it that he leaves Hastings for good. Thank God he’s no relation of mine. Victor’s mother was my sister, you see. And Lord Giles’s sister was Robert’s mother. Lord Giles has been a good and loyal retainer, and I have put up with much from Robert for his sake, but that is at an end. James,” Lady Helisende said, gesturing to a servant. “Send the Watch to Sir Robert’s house. If he is there, apprehend him, and bring him here. If he is not, set a guard. If he returns, I want to know.”

“Yes, my lady,” said James as he bowed and hurried out.

“And as for you,” Lady Helisende said, turning back to Alais, “you may as well get comfortable because you’ll be here for a nice long stay.”

Alais swallowed hard. She had done what she could to escape Robert’s clutches, but escaping the countess would require someone else to come to her rescue. All she could do was pray for Victor’s safety and hope that she hadn’t created too much of a political storm for Daniel.