Page 98 of The Beautiful Pretender

Reinhart squeezed her hand as he allowed her to leave hisarms. He leaned against the bars to look down the corridor and try to see if the guards were in sight, while Avelina took out the small instrument and stuck her hand through the bars. Her face was intent as she concentrated on her task. Reinhart kept watch.

After a few moments he heard a click. Avelina opened the door a crack and looked at him with a smile. Then she pocketed her tool.

“What are these things for?” He pointed under the bench.

“I planned to make up a form using the sack of straw and the priest’s cloak, and using the gourd for a head, so that when we leave, it looks like you are in here. The guards would not realize you had escaped. However, now that they have seen me in here, the plan doesn’t seem as likely to work.”

“It’s still a good plan.”

All he could think about was that kiss they had shared a few minutes before. And how much he wanted to kiss her again.

Avelina’s insides melted at the memory of their kiss. Her lips still tingled.

She moved to the bench and sat, trying to sort out her thoughts, which was impossible with him so near. She put her face in her hands, her eyes closed and head bowed, to shut out everything, especially Lord Thornbeck.

She should be thinking about what to do. What had she said? That she wanted him to marry her. Oh, foolish girl that she was. And what had he said? That they would marry.

It was impossible. She should not be telling him that she wanted him to marry her. Her stomach wrenched at the memory—especially since it was so true.

“Can you hear the guards? Are they still here?” She lifted her head. They needed to focus on escaping.

“I can hear them talking. In a few hours I will sneak down the corridor and watch for them to leave.”

There was nothing to do but wait. For hours. Alone with Lord Thornbeck. She was actually glad they were in a cold, smelly, dark, dank, dirty dungeon.

Reinhart tortured himself with all the terrible things that could happen to Avelina if she did not escape. Hours had passed since she had gotten herself trapped in his cell with him.

“I’m going to see what the guards are doing.”

Avelina turned from where she had been pacing back and forth. She did not say anything, only stared after him. It was as if she had reverted back to her old behavior when he thought she was Lady Dorothea, when she looked afraid to talk to or look at him too long. It must be because he had kissed her again and told her they would marry. He probably shouldn’t have, but he could not bring himself to regret it. She must feel guilty because of the promise she made to God. But she had not promised God she would not marry him, only that she would notexpect himto marry her.

He pushed the door open just enough to slip through. It creaked. He waited, but the guards did not come. He slipped out and walked slowly and quietly down the corridor.

As he was passing the first cell, he saw Jorgen inside. Their eyes met and his chancellor gave him a nod. Reinhart nodded in return and kept going. At the second cell, one of his guards was pacing the floor and also acknowledged Reinhart with a silent nod. The same thing at the third and fourth cells.

When he reached the place where the three corridors intersected, he stopped and listened, his back against the wall.

Geitbart’s guards were hardly saying anything. They seemed to be playing a game, possibly backgammon. He could hear them rolling some dice and occasionally discussing their moves. It should be almost time for them to leave for the prisoners’ evening ration of bread and water.

He slipped back into the cell where Avelina was still pacing. She stepped closer when he began to whisper, “Can you unlock the other cells on this corridor?”

She nodded, pulling out her little tool. She moved quickly and quietly into the corridor and to the first cell. She worked at the lock for only a few moments before they heard the telltale click. The door opened with a tiny squeak.

They all froze, waiting for the guards to investigate. But nothing happened.

Avelina moved to the next cell door. Her hands weren’t even shaking as she worked at the lock. It took her a little longer this time, but the lock finally clicked. Reinhart stood by her and held the door so it would not swing open. The prisoner, one of his knights, took over holding the door as they moved on to the next door.

Just as Avelina inserted the little metal rod into the lock, a noise like a shout, then another and another, erupted outside. He and Avelina jumped and spun around. The guards must have had a similar reaction, because they both said together, “What? Who is that—?” Then there was a clatter, and he pictured them dropping their backgammon game pieces all over the floor.

Their footsteps scrambled up and away even as more shouts came and then a long trumpet blast. Was it all-out war going on above?

Avelina was back to frantically trying to unlock the door of the last cell on the corridor. His other three men were out of their cells.

Reinhart peered around to where the guards had been sitting. They were gone. No one was there.

Avelina opened the last door and hurried into the next corridor and continued her task.

“Sir Klas? Are you here?”