Chapter Twenty-Two

“Shockingly, the fall did not kill her,” the physic said. “She did not land on the rocks like the others did. She landed on them and they cushioned her fall, but she will not survive this. The damage she suffered is too great. It is only a matter of time before she passes.”

It was evening at Axminster as a hush settled over the land, and the castle, with torches on the wall and phantom shadows in every corner, remained still and solemn. Douglas and Jonathan were listening to the physic, the same physic who had tended Mira after her beating from Raymond. He was young but he was knowledgeable, and Douglas wiped a weary hand over his face after the physic delivered the news.

“Is she in any pain?” he asked hoarsely.

The physic shrugged. “The fall broke her back,” he said. “She cannot feel much, but she is experiencing some discomfort. It is to be expected because her body is very broken up inside. Soon, her heart and lungs will begin to fail. She will simply go to sleep and it will all be over. It will be a relatively painless death.”

That was the saddest thing Douglas had ever heard. They were on the entry level of the keep, in a corridor outside a bedchamber usually used by the servants. When Isabel had been brought back to the castle, she was so badly injured that the physic didn’t want to take a chance of jostling her up the stairs more than they already had, so it was decided to put her in a room on the entry level for her comfort.

As the night had settled, an eerie calm settled over Axminster. By this time, everyone knew about the tragedy. The rumor was that Jerome had lured Isabel up to the wall and then attacked her. When Eric rushed to save her, they all pitched over the side and crashed to their deaths. Quite honestly, Douglas didn’t have the strength to correct anything. Castles were always rumor mills and this was no exception. The damage was done, so he was just going to let the gossip die away. People would believe what they wanted to believe, anyway.

But he knew the truth.

“Is there anything that can be done for her?” he asked after a moment. “Does she require anything?”

The physic nodded. “Douglas,” he said. “She has been drifting in and out of unconsciousness and has asked for Douglas. Who is that?”

“Me.”

“Ah,” the physic said. Then he eyed Douglas for a moment. “We met when Lady Mira was injured, but we were not introduced. My name is Pinney.”

Douglas acknowledged the introduction with a brief nod. “Thank you for your attention to Lady Isabel,” he said. “If there is anything we can do to make her more comfortable, please do it. You do not even have to ask permission. Whatever she needs… Anything at all.”

Pinney nodded. “I will, my lord,” he said. “I need to prepare a pain potion to help her discomfort. May I use the solar for this?”

“Of course,” Douglas said. “Do you require anything for this potion?”

“Wine.”

“I shall have it sent to you.”

Pinney nodded and headed toward the entry where the solars were, both of them. As he headed into the large solar, Douglas turned to Jonathan.

“You had better fetch Mira,” he said. “I know she will want to speak with Isabel if she can. She is quite shattered.”

“All of the young women are,” Jonathan said quietly. “They are upstairs, in their chambers. The cook is seeing to the evening meal, simply to feed the men. I do not think the women want to be part of anything.”

Douglas conceded the point. “That is understandable,” he said. “The woman who has mentored them, trained them, educated them, is dying. I can only imagine the grief they must feel.”

Jonathan watched him carefully. “And you?” he said quietly. “You are feeling grief, too.”

Douglas nodded. “Indeed,” he said. Then he snorted softly. “You know, when we first came to Axminster, I thought Isabel was a… was a not very nice woman.”

“A boorish hag?”

Douglas grinned weakly. “Something like that,” he said. “She did not want me here any more than I wanted to be here, but now I feel as if I am losing a sister. We tried to save her, Wolfie. We tried and failed. I am not accustomed to failure.”

Jonathan shook his head. “We did not fail,” he muttered. “We had no part in what happened. We never touched Jerome. What happened with him and Isabel and Eric… It simply happened. But we had no hand in it.”

Douglas sighed heavily. “I suppose you are correct,” he said. “If we could have only separated Isabel and Jerome when they started fighting, mayhap none of this would have happened.”

“Stop reliving it,” Jonathan said. “You tried to save Eric. Had it not been for his cheap boot, you would have.”

Douglas shook his head sadly. “The poor man,” he said. “It seems to me that he just wanted to be happy. He wanted his dignity and the woman he loved. That is not too much to ask.”

“It is not.”

“Where did you put his remains?”

“In the vault with Raymond and Jerome,” he said. “Though Eric has the dignity of being on elevated wooden boards, off the ground, while Jerome and Raymond are lying in the dirt where they belong. I have already spoken with the de Honiton escort, and they will be departing on the morrow, delivering their liege and his son home.”

“Good,” Douglas said firmly. “Let them go back where they came from. God, I wish they’d never come here.”

“I am certain that is a sentiment they would both agree with if they could,” Jonathan said. “But what about Isabel? What will we do with her?”

Douglas’ gaze moved in the direction of Isabel’s closed door. “You heard the physic,” he said. “She does not have much longer to live. Once she passes, we will bury her with Eric. I think she would like that, and I know he would. In fact, send for a priest at St. Mary’s in the village. It is possible that Isabel would like her last rites, and I want to be prepared if she does. The last thing she needs to worry about is her immortal soul.”

Jonathan turned away. “I’ll send for him right away.”

“And don’t forget to fetch Mira to me.”

“I won’t.”

With Jonathan heading out to follow orders, Douglas went to the door to Isabel’s bedchamber. He paused, hand on the latch, before taking a deep breath and opening the door. Inside, it was small and dimly lit by several tapers and an oil lamp. It smelled heavily of cloves, which physics believed had medicinal purposes. There was a servant inside, a woman who had been assisting the physic, but Douglas waved her out.

He wanted to be alone with Isabel.

The last time he saw her, she was unconscious, being carried between Jonathan and Davyss. Her dress had been torn, part of her hair pulled from her scalp, and both arms were broken. They were flopping at her side. It had been a ghastly vision, and Douglas had ordered a blanket thrown over her so others wouldn’t see her in such a state before they got her into the castle.

He wanted to spare her dignity.

Now, she lay upon a small bed, arms at her side, the blood washed from her face, and a blanket pulled up to her chin. Her eyes were closed, her face softly illuminated by the light from the tapers. Quietly, he sat down on a small stool that had been pulled up to the bedside and sat for a moment, watching her face. He couldn’t even tell if she was breathing. Sighing softly, he sat forward, his elbows on his knees, his chin resting on his clasped hands. Just watching her.

Waiting.

“Douglas?”

Isabel’s usually strong voice was a mere whisper. He sat up, peering at her more closely.

“Aye, my lady?”

“It is you?”

“It is, my lady.”

“Fancy a game of chess now?”

He smiled weakly. “I would only beat you,” he said. “Mayhap you have had enough excitement for today.”

Her eyes fluttered open, moving slowly until she found him sitting beside her. “You mean that I have had enough tragedy for today.”

He nodded slowly, with resignation. “That is a harsh word,” he murmured. “And I am sorry to agree with it.”

“Douglas?”

“Aye, my lady?”

“Will you hold my hand?”

He didn’t hesitate. He reached under the blanket to find her left hand, soft and warm, but he knew that her arms were broken and didn’t want to jostle her, so he simply held it gently without moving it.

“I am holding it,” he said. “Can you feel me?”

“Nay,” she said. “I cannot feel anything.”

“Trust me when I tell you that I am,” he said. “Shall I prove it to you? Shall we arm-wrestle?”

He was rewarded with a weak grin. “I would beat you and then you would be ashamed because I would tell everyone,” she said, but it was clear that she was having difficulty talking. She sounded weak and winded, as if she couldn’t catch her breath. “But I will spare you that for today. I am not feeling up to it.”

“Mayhap another time.”

“There will not be another time,” she said, the mirth fading from her eyes. “You needn’t pretend, Douglas. I know that I am dying. I am at peace with it.”

His expression went from one of warmth to one of sorrow very quickly. “If there is anything I can do for you, my lady,” he said, “please ask. Anything at all.”

“Do you swear this?”

“Of course I do,” he said. “What is your wish?”

Isabel’s gaze fixed on him, and for a moment he wondered if she had died right in front of him because she didn’t move. Her eyes didn’t move at all. But then she coughed weakly.

“I have been lying here, thinking,” she said softly. “We must speak on a few things before I leave this world and I want to ensure that you carry out my wishes.”

“As I said, I will do whatever you wish.”

That seemed to give her the strength to continue. “You are a strong man, Douglas,” she said. “I know you are the fifth son of the Earl of Hereford, but surely you are the strongest son. You are wise beyond your years, but more than that, you are a man of noble character. I admire that about you greatly.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Isabel’s eyes closed for a moment before reopening. When she spoke again, her voice was weaker. “Eric,” she said. “He died trying to save me.”

“I know.”

“His family is in the north, but he is not close to any of them,” she said. “Will you make sure he is buried near me?”

“I thought you would want him buried with you.”

She nodded her head slightly. “He is not my husband, so that may be frowned upon,” she said. “But if you can bury him within sight of me, I would be grateful. So would he. He was a good man, Douglas. I hope you came to realize that.”

Douglas nodded. “I did, my lady,” he said. “He has my respect.”

Isabel smiled faintly. “He would have liked to have heard that,” she said. “He was a great knight, once, but his wounding in battle… He was never the same. Men called him a coward for it, but he was not.”

“I know.”

Isabel took another breath, her smile fading. “I will be buried at St. Mary’s in the village,” she said. “That is where my brother and my mother and father are buried.”

“It will be done, my lady.”

Before Isabel could continue, there was a knock on the door. Douglas opened it to see Mira standing there, tears in her eyes that she quickly wiped away when he saw her. Reaching out, he took her hand and gently pulled her into the chamber, directing her sit on the stool that he’d been seated on.

Isabel smiled at her.

“Mira,” she murmured. “The daughter I never had. How I will miss you.”

Mira was trying desperately not to weep. Seeing Isabel fall off the wall had been bad enough, but to hear that she hadn’t died right away and was suffering was worse than Mira could have possibly imagined. Isabel meant so much to her and she was trying very hard to be brave in this last meeting.

These last few precious moments.

“And I will miss you, my lady,” she whispered tightly. “Are you in any pain? May I help you with anything?”

Isabel’s gaze was soft on her, probably the softest it had ever been. “What have you been told about my condition, Mira?”

Mira swallowed hard. “That you were badly injured.”

“I am dying, lass.”

So much for being brave. Mira’s face crumpled and she lowered her gaze, looking at her lap and sobbing softly. Douglas put his hand on her shoulder, rubbing gently, trying to give her some comfort.

Isabel was watching the both of them.

“I am glad you have come, Mira, because I have something to say to both of you,” she said. “I must have your permission.”

Mira’s head came up. “Permission for what?” she asked, puzzled.

Isabel didn’t answer for a moment. She was growing progressively weaker and was struggling to remain conscious.

“I have told Douglas that I was lying here, thinking,” she finally said. “My greatest regret is not marrying and having children. I hoped to, someday, but with Eric… I was cruel to the man. I should have married him. Now that my time is limited, I would like to ask your permission to marry, Mira.”

Mira wiped the tears on her cheeks, bewildered by the request. “Marry?” she said. “Why do you need my permission?”

“Because I want to marry Douglas.”

Mira’s eyes opened wide with shock and she looked at Douglas, who had the same startled expression.

“My lady?” he said, perplexed. “What do you mean?”

Isabel’s gaze moved to him. “Listen to me, Douglas,” she said. “I have no children. No one to carry on the Axminster title. No one to leave anything to. I want to marry you, and through me, you shall obtain the Axminster title. Once I am gone, you are free to marry Mira and she shall become the new Countess of Axminster. She will carry on my work here with the young wards. She will train them well. And you… you will be the greatest earl Axminster has yet to see. A de Lohr at the helm of our ancient title. I can die peacefully knowing Axminster shall survive… through the two of you. Will you grant me this honor, Douglas?”

Mira was nearly beside herself with shock, but that wasn’t half of what Douglas was feeling. He looked at Isabel, his jaw hanging open.

“I… I cannot,” he finally said.

“Why not?”

He looked at Mira, seeing her confusion, before looking to Isabel again. “Because men will think I am an opportunist,” he said. “Marrying you for your title on your deathbed. They will believe I’ve stolen Axminster from you.”

“Not if it is my wish,” Isabel insisted. “Mira, find the physic. Bring him here right away. And grab any servant you can find. Send them to me. Hurry!”

Mira stumbled up from the stool and fled the chamber, leaving Douglas standing there, torn as he’d never been torn in his life.

“Do you truly think to do this to me?” he hissed. “I cannot do it!”

“Douglas,” Isabel said in a voice that sounded more like herself. “Look at me—I am dying. I want to know that Axminster shall go on after my death. I want to know that the young ladies known as Axminster’s Angels will continue through Mira. And I want to know that the next Earl of Axminster is a worthy man. You deserve this. You have been a good friend and advisor. I want to do this. Please.”

“I will not.”

“You promised me that you would do anything I asked. Will you now refuse to honor your word?”

He looked at her as if he wanted to wring her neck because they both knew, as an honorable knight, he was bound to follow through. Still, he protested.

“I promised you I would do anything you asked before you asked me this… this terrible thing,” he said. “You knew you were going to do this all along.”

“I did.”

“You knew I could not refuse you!”

“I knew.”

Douglas was so angry that he had to turn away from her. He was ready to kick her bed and yell at her, but he couldn’t bring himself do to that to a dying woman. Even if she had manipulated him. He struggled to calm himself before turning to her once more.

“I appreciate that you want to know Axminster will continue in good hands,” he said. “I am honored that you would entrust it to me. But can you not see the burden you are placing on me by asking this?”

Isabel had started to open her mouth when Jonathan suddenly appeared. He looked between Isabel and Douglas.

“What is amiss?” he asked, moving toward Douglas. “Mira told me to come here right away.”

Douglas sighed heavily and gestured toward Isabel, who turned her attention to Jonathan.

“I want to marry Douglas and pass the Axminster title to him, and he is refusing,” she said. “What kind of man refuses someone on their deathbed? He promised he would do as I asked and now he is trying to go back on his word.”

Jonathan’s eyes bugged. “What’s this?” he said, shocked. “You… you want to marry Douglas?”

“I have no heirs,” Isabel said. “I want to die with the peace of knowing Axminster will continue with Douglas as the earl. The only way to do that is to marry him, but he seems to think that men will believe him an opportunist for this, so I will tell you, Jonathan, that I make this request with a clear mind. I make it selfishly, because I do not want Axminster reverting to the Crown. I want Axminster’s legacy to continue, from de Kerrington to de Lohr, where I know life at Axminster shall go on as usual. You are my witness, Jonathan. Douglas has not asked for it. He does not want it. But I want him to have it. When I am gone, he may marry Mira and Axminster shall become theirs, remaining strong for years to come.”

Jonathan understood a little more now. As he pondered the situation, Mira returned with the physic. Two servants wandered in after them, wide-eyed, going to stand in the corner. There were six people in the room as Isabel coughed again, struggling more to breathe as the moments ticked away.

As her life ticked away.

Time was of the essence.

“Jonathan,” she said, weaker now. “Tell them what I told you.”

Jonathan did. He explained Isabel’s wish without mentioning Douglas’ reluctance. When he was finished, no one seemed particularly moved or surprised except for Mira. Hearing it again, as explained to her by Jonathan, made her realize she’d heard it correctly the first time. But it also made her realize why Isabel had made the request—not on a whim, not foolishly, and not because she was in love with Douglas. She did it selfishly, as she had said. Much as she had negotiated a betrothal with Jerome to save Axminster, she was trying to force Douglas into a marriage for exactly the same reason.

She wanted to save her home.

As Douglas stood in the corner and fumed, Mira knelt down beside Isabel.

“Is this truly what you want, my lady?” she asked, putting a gentle hand on Isabel’s forehead. “Of course we want to carry out your wishes, but this… this is something quite serious. Are you certain this is what you want?”

Isabel looked up at Mira. “Of course it is,” she said softly. “You should have been my daughter, Mira. It is only right that you succeed me as the Countess of Axminster. How proud I am of you already. I know that you shall do great and wonderful things.”

Tears formed in Mira’s eyes. “Because of what you have taught me,” she murmured. “You saved my life, my lady. You taught me everything I know, of course, but when my mother rejected me, you took me back to Axminster with open arms. You sheltered me and fed me and treated me as if… as if I was wanted. I can never thank you enough for that.”

“Your mother does not deserve you,” Isabel muttered. “Promise me that when I am gone and you are the countess, you will send your mother a missive announcing this so she will know the value I placed on her daughter. Her daughter, whom I love.”

Mira blinked and tears splattered. “I love you also,” she said. “Thank you… for everything.”

Isabel smiled weakly. “You may show your thanks by convincing Douglas to marry me,” she said. “The witnesses are here. All he need do is consent. Then you may have someone draw up a document stating that we wed by mutual consent and the witnesses may sign. That is all that is required by law.”

Mira nodded, turning her gaze inevitably to Douglas, who was standing with his arms folded stubbornly across his chest. Kissing Isabel gently on the forehead, she left the woman’s bedside and pulled Douglas out into the corridor where they could speak privately.

“Before you say anything, know that I do not feel right about this,” he whispered loudly.

Mira was patient with him. “Why not, if it is what she wants?”

He rolled his eyes. “Because it looks as if I stole the title from her upon her deathbed,” he said. “Regardless of how it happened, I will appear morally corrupt, and I do not wish for that to follow me around for the rest of my life!”

Mira nodded calmly. “Then it is your reputation you are concerned with and not Isabel’s last request,” she said. “Douglas, she is going to die. She wants to die in peace. Axminster is her entire life and she wants to know that her legacy will continue.”

He waved her off irritably. “I know that, but—”

“But you are more concerned about what others will think,” Mira said, interrupting him. “Isabel is being selfish in her request, that is true, but I do not blame her. And you should understand, of all people. All that is left of us when we die is our legacy. She is begging for you to be hers. Why can you not see that?”

He eyed her a moment before sighing heavily. “When you put it that way, you make me sound selfish.”

“You are if you are only concerned for yourself and not her dying wish.”

His jaw twitched faintly and he leaned against the wall, pondering the situation, seeing both sides of it. Mira went to him, putting her soft hands on his arms.

“I do not care if you are the Earl of Axminster,” she murmured. “I do not care if I am the Countess of Axminster. I was agreeable to marrying you without a title and I would be agreeable to marrying you when you have it. It does not matter to me. But you will make a great earl, Douglas, and you will make Isabel proud. And Eric. Let us fulfill something they no longer can. Let us create a legacy of love here at Axminster, honoring Isabel and her family as well as our own. The blending of two houses, carrying on the traditions and legacy of Axminster. That is all she wants.”

He looked at her a moment before breaking down into a faint smile. “My father always calls me the wise one,” he said. “I think you have me beaten in that arena.”

Mira smiled back. “It is not of wisdom I speak, but of logic,” she said. “And of love. Isabel is asking you to do this out of love.”

Of course he couldn’t refuse when she put it like that. Douglas was starting to come around now, starting to see it from Mira’s perspective. But before he could reply, the door opened and Jonathan appeared.

“If you are going to make a decision, then do it quickly,” he said. “She is growing weaker. The physic says she will not last much longer.”

The tears returned to Mira’s eyes. After standing on her toes to kiss Douglas on the cheek, she rushed back into the chamber, leaving Douglas and Jonathan alone in the corridor.

“What do you think about this madness?” Douglas asked. “Mira thinks I should do it.”

“So do I,” Jonathan said. “Not for the title, but because it is the right thing to do, Douglas. It is what Lady Isabel wants. The woman wants to die in peace. Let her.”

“You do not think it looks as if I am taking advantage of the situation?”

“I think Lady Isabel is taking advantage of the situation,” Jonathan said, grinning. “She knows what she wants and she’s using her demise to get it.”

“She is using me?”

“This is one chess game against you that she is going to win.”

Douglas stared at him a moment before breaking down into laughter. “Very well,” he said. “I suppose I will let her have this one.”

“You’ll do it?”

“I will.”

“Good,” Jonathan said, slapping him on the shoulder. “Come back into the chamber. You’ll have to make this fast.”

Douglas obeyed. He went into the chamber with Jonathan behind him, his gaze moving to Isabel. Mira was on her knees beside the woman again, hand on the undamaged part of her head. She was looking at Douglas rather anxiously, and he gave her a wink to let her know that everything was all right. Moving to the other side of the bed, he took a knee beside Isabel.

“As you wish, my lady,” he said. “If you want a husband, I am happy to comply.”

Isabel smiled as much as she was able. The spark of life had gone out of her eyes, and she was now living on sheer willpower alone.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “We must say the words now. I suppose they were words I should have said with my dear Eric, but it was not meant to be. Not in this life. Douglas, are you ready?”

“What will you have me say?”

“It is simply a matter of my saying that I take you for my husband, and I do,” Isabel said. “You must say that you take me as your wife.”

Leaning over, Douglas kissed her on the forehead. “I take you as my wife,” he said softly. “Thank you, my lady. For all you have done for me, and for Mira, and all you continue to do. You have been a true friend.”

Isabel smiled faintly. “Make me proud, Douglas.”

“I will, I swear it.”

“Then I am content. Thank you, Douglas.”

“Thank you, Lady Isabel.”

Douglas kissed her on the forehead again, reaching over her to take Mira’s hand. As Jonathan silently ushered everyone from the chamber, Douglas and Mira remained, holding hands that were resting on Isabel’s torso as Mira gently stroked the woman’s forehead. It was a waiting game now, but Isabel held out longer than she should have. When her eyes finally closed toward dawn and her breathing became erratic, Douglas leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“Go, my lady,” he said. “Eric is waiting for you and you must go to him. Do not worry over the things you leave behind. I will take care of them for you. But you must go now. Be free. Be happy.”

When Isabel breathed her last, it was to Douglas’ gentle whispers.

The knight she had fought with, bargained with, and eventually grown to love as a dear friend was with her in her last moments as her husband, as fine and true a man as had ever walked the earth. Isabel knew that. Eric may have been her love, but Douglas turned out to be her legacy.

And that was the way she wanted it.