Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

E lara turned onto her side.

It was the second time that night she awoke. Most often, she slept peacefully. It was only after Alden, and the happenings with the traitor, that Elara had begun to wake and think of such things. Earlier, she'd done so, with the faint notion that there was some reason to wake, but eventually, she had gone back to sleep.

She tried again to do so now, thinking of the conversation she'd had with Evelina and Amalia some days ago.

"Of course you are welcome to tell me 'tis none of my concern," Evelina had said. "But you and Alden."

"Gareth told you?" she had asked.

"He need not say a word."

Amalia had agreed. "We recognize what is between you only because Evelina and I have also experienced the same."

She trusted both women, as much as Elara trusted anyone, and did not deny it. "I am an instructor here," she began, but they hadn't let her continue.

"I know what you will say. Gareth and I met in secret as well. There is a spot, behind the village chapel, where we became acquainted."

"Became acquainted." Amalia cleared her throat, and all three women laughed. "In more than one way, I am certain."

"You know the circumstances that led to us marrying—in secret, I might add. Certainly not a smooth or easy path."

"As it was with Roland and I," Amalia said. "A lady's maid simply does not marry an earl's son. Most often," she clarified. "So could not a blacksmith's son and a lady such as yourself be together?"

"Alden and I..." she began, but thought better of it. Elara would have told the ladies theirs was not such a serious partnership. It had been fun, but certainly the topic of marriage was not one either had addressed. This was no love match, like theirs. Alden desired her, and she him.

But she said none of that, because it might have been true at first, though no longer.

"If our...entanglement were to become public, I could not keep my position here. But neither could I return to court where all believe I left for Scotland to be married. At least, not until Matilda is in power and my father no longer serves the usurper. Neither does Alden wish to return to Shirsten St. Mary. Though I'm certain he is a skilled blacksmith, like his father and brothers, Alden does not want the position."

"What does he hope to do after this?" Evelina asked.

Alden's dreams were his own, and not for Elara to share.

"He wishes to become a knight."

She and Evelina turned to Amalia.

"I heard Roland and Darien speaking of it," Amalia continued. "Darien asked if Roland could simply knight his friend, but my husband said he could not. That right goes to the king, a member of the royal family, high-ranking nobles and battlefield commanders, even if they do not hold a high rank."

"Roland's father, then?" Evelina asked.

"Aye. Which was the very subject they discussed. Roland said he expected Alden to earn his spurs in service of the Guardians of the Sacred Oak, but if he did not, Roland would facilitate it himself."

"Does Alden know this?" Elara asked.

"Nay. When I asked him about the matter, Roland said only, ‘He will become a knight, though I know not yet the means.'"

"And then?" Evelina asked the most obvious question. "Knighthood alone does not come with a home or property. What does he plan after Blackwood?"

"Alden is uncertain," she admitted.

"'Tis settled, then," Evelina said. "There is only one way for you and Alden to be together without scandal, as his instructor. You must marry."

The remainder of their conversation floated out of Elara's mind as she once again turned in the bed, unable to return to sleep.

Could it be as simple as that? Would he wish to marry her?

Did Alden love her? Or was it the desire he felt for her, and no more?

Suddenly, Elara realized the reason she'd awoken. A knock at her door became more insistent. Could it be Alden?

Another knock gave Elara the answer. Nay, it was coming from her bedchamber door. Slipping from her bed, she went to it, asking who was there.

"Sir Darien, my lady."

She was about to turn the lock when he added, "Apologies for waking you, but your presence is needed at once."

Elara pulled open the heavy oak door.

"We have her, belowstairs. In the solar chamber. Alden is with her now."

"Who do you have?" she asked, confused.

"The traitor, my lady. We have a traitor."

When they walked into the chamber, the maid sat in a chair, Alden towering over her. As Darien had warned her, Lila refused to speak. Elara moved closer, watching the young woman.

Fear.

That was fear in her eyes, even as she attempted to pretend otherwise.

With a hand on Alden's arm, Elara gently guided him away from Lila. Understanding his fury, if Lila truly was involved, as they suspected, Elara also understood that the maid would not talk if she was terrified.

Pulling a wooden chair close to her, Elara sat on level with the maid, and looked into her eyes.

"Lila." She took a chance, guessing at this next bit but knowing that convincing the maid they knew more than they did was essential. At present, they knew only she was up and about the castle at a time she should have been sleeping, and that she'd followed Alden and attempted to listen to him and Roland speaking. "Why did you give aid to Father Percival?"

Elara watched her every movement.

Wisely, Darien said Alden had not mentioned the priest but only asked why she had followed him. He'd not accused her of being their traitor. Had stuck only to the facts he knew for certain. And in doing that, he allowed Elara to ascertain the information they needed.

No words were necessary. She had hit the mark squarely, so Elara doubled down.

"We know he recruited you, just not the reason. Tell me. I will ensure you will not be punished."

The maid considered it, but Lila would not be broken so easily.

"I do not know . . .do not know . . ." She stumbled on her words. Uncertain. Scared.

Elara pushed harder.

"If we leave this chamber without your confession, I cannot"—she adopted the tone Elara had heard her father use during questioning many times—"I will not help you."

At that, the maid began to cry.

Elara was not surprised by her tears. In fact, she expected them. Turning to Darien and Alden, she bid the men sit. Though confused, they did so.

Neither knew how intimidating they were, even without their armor or weapons.

Turning back to the maid, she looked directly into her eyes, and said, "I will help you, if you allow me. But I will not ask again, Lila. Why did you allow yourself to be forced to do the priest's bidding?"

It was a risk, and Elara knew it well. It was possible he was not involved, and their advantage would be lost to Elara's aggressive questioning. But they had little time before the men left on a campaign that, if it were a trap, could see people she cared about hurt.

People she loved could die.

Even now, Elara could feel Alden's presence at her back. Her fear for him, for her father, put a fire in her eyes. She knew it from looking at Lila's expression.

And that's when Elara saw it. The movement was subtle, but noticeable enough that Elara fully understood.

"Who is the babe's father?"

Lila looked from her to Alden, then back to Elara. "Sir Aldric Langley."

Her shoulders fell. His father was one of the most influential barons supporting Empress Matilda. There was little chance he would be disciplined, but every chance Lila would father a bastard babe. Though the situation was not uncommon, it was disheartening nonetheless.

"How did Father Percival learn of it, and what were his motives for undermining our order? And why did he not simply reveal us?" Alden asked.

"Lila," Elara said gently. "Please tell us all that you know. As I said, you will not be disciplined." Please do not let her have been the one to start the fire. It would make Elara's promise difficult to execute.

"I know not his motives. When I realized I was with child, Sir Aldric suggested we marry in secret."

"You and Langley are . . . married?" Darien's surprise was evident, understandably.

She nodded. "Aye. It is well-known that Sir Gareth and Lady Evelina married in Kindridge Moor. Aldric discovered it was Father Percival who performed the marriage ceremony."

"He asked for leave," Darien said, as if remembering. "To visit his ailing grandfather."

"His grandfather was not ill?" Elara asked Lila, who shook her head.

"Nay. He was not."

"Go on," she prompted, wanting to understand the priest's motives.

"The priest agreed, but there was a cost. He asked if I could read and write and told me he would send missives. That there would be, in his words, ‘small tasks' for me to complete. And that I could not tell Aldric, or anyone. If I did so, he would declare the marriage null."

"Aldric does not know?" Alden asked.

"Nay, he does not." Tears began to well in her eyes once more. "I readily accepted the priest's terms. I love Aldric, and do not wish to raise the babe alone. That he agreed to marry us..." She began to sob, pulling out a handkerchief from the folds of her simple pale blue gown. "I was so very happy. I never imagined...but his requests..."

Elara had but one question.

"Did you start the fire?"

The maid's head shot up. "Nay, I did not. I would never, ever...My younger brother has not been well since he was born. The only time he is not agitated is when he is near horses. Aldric said he would get him one of his own. Show him how to ride it.—" She began to cry once again, this time, unable to talk as she did so.

To the men's credit, none said a word. They waited, as Elara did, for the maid to calm. When she did, Elara continued to question her.

"Why does he wish to undermine our men?" she asked.

"You claim to love your husband." Darien was becoming impatient. "Yet you undermine the very order he serves? Do you not realize you put his life at risk?"

Elara gave Darien a sharp glance. Lila would not hold up well to such questioning. In response, Roland crossed his arms, and Elara would have laughed, the movement akin to what a young child might do when not getting their way.

But she did not. There was little to laugh or smile about with this situation.

"I do love him," Lila said finally. "I have been ill, unable to sleep. I had gone to the kitchens for peppermint when I saw Master Alden. But I got scared of him." She faced him. "You saw me. And then I returned, having decided to seek Aldric out to tell him. I cannot keep this secret any longer. I am glad you know, but scared of what my husband will say. Scared that Father Percival will dissolve our marriage."

In this, the maid's words were true. It was clear the young woman was petrified.

"Why does he wish to undermine us?" Alden asked. Unlike Darien's, his question was gently asked.

Lila blinked. "I do not know." She buried her face in her hands, repeating the phrase. "I do not know," she cried, and Elara found herself unable to watch her. The girl had not started the fire. Lila was nearly as much a victim as the others. Elara stood, went to her and placed her hand on the maid's shoulder, rubbing small circles there.

"You are not alone with this secret any longer. We will handle Father Percival," she said. "And you can be assured, your marriage will not be dissolved. I will ensure it myself."

Lila shot up from her chair and tossed her arms around Elara. She could feel the woman's heart racing against her own chest.

All of this occurred because she fell in love with a man.

A dangerous thing, to love.

Especially when it was the wrong man.