Page 13 of Castle of Refuge

Audrey waited, watching for the servants to bring out the sweetcakes. When they finally did and everyone had taken some, Audrey ate hers quickly, then said, “May I go? I am tired.”

Her father grunted, then glanced at Sir Clement, and when he did not say anything, he nodded.

Audrey forced herself not to move too quickly or to look as eager to leave as she felt. As she passed through the doorway and out of sight of the occupants of the Great Hall, she breathed a sigh.

“Sister, wait!”

Audrey’s breath caught in her throat at the sound of Maris’s voice. Slowly she turned to face her.

“You must be so happy. He may not be a young, handsome earl, nor very wealthy or titled, but to be marrying at all... You are very fortunate. Father said he did not have to give a very large sum for your dowry either. You must be glad to bring our father so much happiness. I, of course, can never.”

Audrey caught on to the backhanded gloating but decided to pretend not to understand. “Oh, I do not believe you will never marry. Someday you shall, I am sure.” Audrey’s feet moved toward the stairs though she never took her eyes off Maris’s face.

Maris’s expression was shrewd. What was she thinking? Was she jealous of Audrey? Or was she silently triumphing over her, happy that she had prevented Audrey from marrying Edwin, the Earl of Dericott?

“I am tired. Good night.” Audrey fled to the stairs, praying Maris wouldn’t follow her. But she grabbed her arm in a pinching grip, and Audrey spun around to face her sister, her heart thumping.

“Aren’t you glad to see me?” Maris’s eyes were hard and black. “You have not said a word about me coming home. I suppose you are just too excited about your upcoming wedding.”

Maris reached out and flicked Audrey’s hair up over her left ear. She smirked as she stared at the scars.

“I don’t think you are happy to be marrying Sir Clement.”

“Leave me alone, Maris.”

Maris took hold of her arm again, squeezing until pain shot up her shoulder. She leaned in and said, “I’ve been waiting to get my revenge on you. I have had a lot of time to think about what I want to do to you. I suggest you run off with your new husband. Because if you don’t, you will not like what I have planned for you.”

Audrey pulled out of Maris’s grip and ran up the stairs.

“I will see you tomorrow,” Maris called after her in her most gloating voice.

Audrey turned as she reached the top of the staircase and caught sight of Maris, who was staring up at her with a twisted smile.

Audrey was shaking by the time she reached her room. Maris was taunting her. It brought back the horror of the moment Maris had tripped her, the look on her face right before Audrey fell into the fire. Audrey could hardly breathe. Her chest ached and she felt, actually felt, her skin burning. Would she do something even worse to her now that she was back?

A plan formed in Audrey’s mind. Her knees grew stronger as she walked to the other side of the room and found her traveling bag.

The sun had gone down, but there was a full moon and plenty of light by which to see the road. But first...

She went to the door and stuck out her head. A servant girlwas walking by. “Please tell Sybil that no one is to disturb me. I wish to go to sleep early, so there is no need for her to help me get ready for bed.”

“Yes, miss,” the servant said.

Audrey locked the door and started throwing clothing into her bag and praying. “God,” she whispered, “forgive me, but if I stay here, I’ll have to marry that man, or I’ll have to suffer Maris attacking me again. I cannot bear it, not after all she has done. I cannot, God. Please forgive me.”

She threw as many articles of clothing as would fit into the bag, mostly her old clothes that she wore when she was picking wildflowers, but she added one of her finer dresses. Then she stared longingly at her books. There was no way to take them with her. The only one that seemed at all practical to bring was her Psalter. She tossed the small book inside, then wrapped a sash around the bag to prevent it from spilling. She hurried to the door, then remembered that she needed money, or something of value to trade for food.

She went to her trunk and found some silver coins in a small leather pouch. She wiggled the pouch into her bag, then closed it back up.

Audrey went to the door and peeked out. No one was around. Should she wait until she was sure Sybil wasn’t coming to check on her? But all seemed quiet, as if the servants had retired to bed, although it was still too early for that.

Audrey slipped into the hall, her heart beating fast and hard against her chest, her mind racing. Was she doing the right thing? Certainly she was being impulsive. Where would she go?What would she do, a woman alone and undefended? But the alternative was to stay here and marry Sir Clement, and everything inside her screamed that was not her destiny. And if her father allowed her to refuse the marriage, she’d be trapped here with Maris.

She tucked her bag under her arm as she made her way down the back stairs. She went through the rear part of the castle, through the servants’ stairs and halls, then out near the kitchen. Once she was outside she ran to the stable.

“I need you to saddle my horse,” she told the groom. He gave her a hard look but didn’t argue. And soon Audrey was riding away with her bag in front of her on the saddle.

The candle shop was closed when she arrived in the village, so Audrey rode to Helena’s house, which was nearby. Helena must have seen her, because she came out to greet her before Audrey could even dismount.