An Uncertain Choice

The abbot chuckled. “Of course I thought she was falling in love with them first and hoped to scare them away. But then once I realized she liked you the most, it was all too easy to pin the blame for the crimes on you and make you look like the jealous friend.”


After all I’d already learned about the abbot, the news didn’t surprise me. Nevertheless, it stabbed me. “Father Abbot, how could you —?”

The tightening pressure of the blade silenced me. “I only did it for your protection, your ladyship.”

“Her protection?” Derrick called. “And I suppose you think you’re protecting her now?”

“She’s taking her vows very willingly, aren’t you, your ladyship?” The abbot tossed a glance to Trudy and the tongue slicer lying on the floor near her.

Derrick followed his gaze, and at the sight of my tortured nursemaid, his eyes glittered as sharp as double-edged swords.

“Drop your weapons.” The abbot repositioned the knife so that it finally nicked my skin. I couldn’t keep a cry from slipping out, more from fright than pain.

Derrick’s face turned pale and somber. He released his halberd, and the shatter of steel against stone ricocheted through the nave all the way to the arched ceiling, reverberating deep within my heart.

It was the sound of good-bye.

He unsheathed his dagger and sword and let them fall as well. And when he met my gaze this time, I knew he was saying farewell.

He was giving up his life to save mine.





Chapter

24




“No!” My scream pierced the air.

I wouldn’t let him make that kind of sacrifice. But even as my scream rent the nave, a trumpet blast swallowed the sound and was followed by splintering wood.

In an instant, the church door caved in and the afternoon sunshine poured into the room. A knight ducked low upon his horse and charged through the gap, his longsword aimed and ready to thrust.

I didn’t need to see the emblem on his horse blanket to know the knight was Sir Bennet. I only needed to see the deftness with which he sliced and stabbed his weapon as his steed crashed through the group of guards, his sword slashing them down.

While the guards were fending off Sir Bennet, Derrick swooped to retrieve his halberd. In one motion, he grabbed the weapon and swung it against the heels of the closest guard, sending him to the ground with a cry. Derrick spun and chopped into the swinging arm of a guard ready to stab Sir Bennet.

Sir Bennet repaid the deed by plunging into a guard who came roaring toward Derrick. Within minutes, the two knights had injured or felled the rest of the guards. When they were finally unopposed, Derrick grinned up at Sir Bennet, whose horse snorted and stamped sideways.

Another crash came from the church entrance, and two more warhorses barged into the nave — ?the duke and Sir Collin, who were both winded but wielding weapons and prepared for battle.

“Thanks for finally showing up,” Derrick said wryly.

“You know us. We like to make things as exciting as possible whenever we can.” The voice hinted at humor and belonged to Sir Collin.

“A few key bridges on the return trip had been destroyed by the abbot in an effort to keep us from returning.” The refined statement came from Sir Bennet.

“Bennet was right about not needing to free you from the dungeon,” Sir Collin said with a laugh. “I should have known you’d make your own way out of prison when the need arose.”

The duke remained silent. He sat regally upon his horse. I could see through the eye slit in his helmet he was taking in the scene of battle in one sweep. When his gaze came on me, he stopped and stiffened.

I’d been watching the whole fight without moving. I’d hardly dared to breathe, much less speak, with the blade still pressed against my throat. Throughout the melee before us, I had waited for the abbot to strike, to punish me for the knights’ actions, but the knife had not moved. I had a terrible feeling he was saving his wrath until Derrick’s full attention was focused on me once more.

“Let Lady Rosemarie go,” the duke called. “We’ve found evidence that proves you were behind the murder attempts you blamed on Sir Derrick, and have arrested the marksman you hired to shoot Sir Collin. We also have in custody a soldier who works for the neighboring Lord Witherton, who claims you paid him to kill and cut out the sheriff’s heart.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” the abbot said, taking a step back but keeping the knife against my throat. “I’ve got her ladyship now. And nothing you do will make me hand her over. There are only hours left until she’s mine anyway. You might as well admit defeat when you’re faced with it.”

“We also found the liquid you had the sheriff pour into the ale that was distributed among the poor, a poisoned liquid that was causing everyone who drank it to fall ill. We located the man who sold it to you and have him in custody as well.”