Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Penelope

T he plan is made. Although I do not like the thought of leaving Alfred, even for a moment, I understand it is a means to an end.

The doctor remains. Dick and Wendle stand guard upon his door. I leave his room, accompanied by my father and my maid. We make a noisy show of returning to my quarters, my father consoling me with encouraging words that Alfred is yet strong and will survive.

As soon as we enter my quarters. I head straight into my closet, where, with my maid's assistance, I remove my gown and slip back into my leathers. My hair is swiftly braided before I hide it under a black scarf.

The clothing is familiar to me. These leathers were my preferred choice before Alfred came along. Now, I see my silk gowns in a whole new light.

My breath catches. I hate that he is alone now, vulnerable without me at his side.

When I step out, my father is waiting for me, his face a mask of concern. "Be careful, my love," he says. "I want to find out who did this, but also..."

"I have got this," I say. "This is what I have trained for. I will uncover who is behind this so that we might deal with them lest they dare to make another attempt."

The doctor said Alfred was stable, or I would not do this much, but he has drifted in and out of consciousness all day. "He might be—" My breath catches again. My father puts his hand on my shoulder.

"I cannot bear to be apart from him. I must go."

My father nods, kisses my forehead, and then steps back.

Pivoting on the spot, he strides for the door. With the door open, he announces, "Keep a close watch over my daughter, Sana. Ensure your princess gets some rest."

And then he is gone, the door closing on him, and my maid turns to me for direction.

"Dim the lights," I say. Sana has been my maid for many years and knows me and my ways well. She does not hesitate to go to the bedside lamp and turn it down very low.

I open the balcony doors, slip outside, and close them again. I scale the wall using familiar footholds, as I have done many times, until I reach the battlements. Waiting for the guards to pass, I slip over and drop noiselessly down. The guards continue on, and I turn and take the narrow stairs down and out.

I hide in the shadows as another pair of guards pass.

"Eh, sad business with Alfred," one says.

"Heard it was poison," says the other. "Thought he was good for the princess and the kingdom, too. Did you know he waded in when Poach got into a fight at the Blue Boar? Not many fancy lords would stand by a guard like that."

They move off. Their praise of him brings a fresh surge of love to my heart.

My resolve hardens as I continue. I cannot bear the thought of whoever did this trying again at some distant, unknown time in the future, maybe even extending that threat to our children…

No, this will end tonight, if possible, and if they show their hand.

It feels like forever before I drop onto his balcony in a low crouch.

The light has been turned low in his room so that the room is filled with shadows. Our doctor still sits at Alfred's bedside attentively. Hearing my tap, his head lifts, and with a nod to me, he exits the room as planned.

I slip inside and creep over to his bed, listening for any sounds of distress that may have arisen in the short time I was gone. Taking his hand in mine, I find comfort in his steady breathing and that he rests.

Dick and Wendle will also be leaving their post now the doctor has gone, although they keep a discreet watch on the corridor.

I move to the corner of the room, where I sink into a crouch in the shadows.

Here I wait, comforted by the steady sound of Alfred's breathing, reminding myself that I do this for his safety when all I want to do is hold his hand and be at his side.

A faint click alerts me, and my eyes train on the door as the handle slowly turns. The door edges open. A slight figure steps in and closes it softly again. The build tells me it is a woman, although her clothing is that of a boy.

The room is dark. I cannot see much in the shadows as she approaches the bed.

I remain poised, waiting to see what she will do, although my skin crawls that she is so close to my mate. Her hand goes to her side, and I see the glint of metal in her fist as she pulls it away.

I leap from my hiding place.

The side of my hand chops down over her wrist. The knife drops harmlessly to the bed.

She cries out and spins around. I sweep her legs from under and she drops to the floor. I am on her, pinning her wrists to the floor.

She thrashes underneath me until I press my own blade to her throat.

"Joyce?" The word is a hiss between my clenched teeth. "I should kill you."

Alfred suddenly coughs on the bed before sucking in a hoarse, labored breath.

The sound churns my stomach… and distracts me.

Joyce bats my hand away from her throat. "Jeremy!"

The door flies open.

Alfred

I wake up, fighting for breath, suffering a terrible premonition that something is wrong.

My lungs burn—my eyes water as I heave and cough up blood.

The room is dark. A banging on the floor beside the bed alerts me. I blink, trying to work out what the fuck is happening. When I went under, the room was crowded with people. I remember waking and drifting again and Penelope always being there.

Penelope.

I'm not alone. The scuffling on the floor beyond my view tells me as much. I heave myself up in the bed, trying to drag myself towards the edge.

"Jeremy!"

The door is slammed open, and Penelope's former suitor charges into the room. I roll onto my side, my fingers closing over… a blade? My eyes shift to the thrashing on the floor where Penelope and another lass tussle.

Jeremy charges them. Only it was not Penelope who called his name, but the other lass. Instincts clamor, telling me he is not here to help my mate.

I'm as weak as a newborn kitten, but I'll not have the bastard hurt my mate.

Another wracking cough besieges me, but I wrap my finger over the hilt of the dagger and throw, putting all my weak strength into it before I collapse, coughing again.

"Guards!"

The man stumbles and collapses forward as I fight for breath, unable to fucking move that I might aid my mate.

Beyond the door, I hear the pound of approaching footsteps before Dick, Wendle, and Poach storm the room.

My aim was fucking shameful, hitting that Jeremy bastard in the gut, and he puts up a fight until Poach clocks him one. Wendle drags the lass from the floor, but not before Penelope punches her clean in the jaw.

The lass sags. I wish my eyes weren't watering so much so I could appreciate the savage blow.

"Penelope," I croak.

She swings around to face me. Gods, those fucking leathers are a test… everything she wears drives me insensible with lust. I wish I had more energy to do something about it.

"Gods, you are magnificent," I croak out.

She crawls onto the bed over me, where she cups the back of my head, lifting it onto her lap. "Alfred, do not speak…. Call the doctor!"

More guards storm the room. My chest is fucking burning. I am fucking feeble. I hate it. But I no longer feel like I might die.

My doctor enters, puts his bag beside me, and pulls out a familiar vial.

"No," I wheeze. "No more of that. It knocks me out."

"Good," the doctor says. "That is why you are on the mend."

"Please, Alfred, take some more for me. Those who tried to poison you have been taken."

My hand shakes as I lift it to cup her cheek. "My fierce little princess. You have been very naughty, putting yourself in danger. Don't think I shall forget."

She smiles, takes the vial from the doctor, and holds it to my lips, encouraging me to drink.

I gulp it down, and it eases the fire in my throat and lungs.

Her lips lower to my ear. "I don't want you to forget. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Wish only to feel your big hand against my deserving bottom every day until we are called to the Goddess's side. May there be many years and children before that comes. Now rest, my love. I shall watch over you."

It is a pretty picture she paints for me, one of loving discipline and a brood of children. One filled with hot rutting in the furs… maybe not furs, but I will make do with these overly soft beds they seem to favor in her world, for her world is now mine.