Page 49 of Castle of Refuge

Audrey hurried away to return the baskets to the kitchen.

***

Edwin’s heart jumped into his throat when he saw the courier riding up the lane wearing the colors of Lord Essex. The man dismounted and held out a rolled piece of parchment. “For Lord Dericott,” he said.

Edwin took it, recognizing the seal and colored ribbons as also belonging to the Earl of Essex, then carried it with him to his library. He broke open the seal and unrolled the parchment.

A word jumped out at him.Regret.

He blinked and forced himself to focus on the letter and read the rest of the words.

It is with utmost respect and regret that I write to thank you for your interest in marrying my daughter. I must inform you that Lady Ophelia has married the Earl of Cavendish’s son Robert on Saturday last.

Yours Respectfully,

Essex

He was not surprised, but a pain shot through his chest anyway and his face burned. Of course a beautiful young woman such as Lady Ophelia would not want to be married to Edwin now that he had only one arm.

The only thing that had changed was that he was misshapen. Crippled. Lame.

But there was also the fact of his family’s being falsely accused of treason and the time it had taken to prove they were innocent. Perhaps she did not wish to attach herself to his family’s scandal.

In the end, not even his title of Earl of Dericott, nor his wealth and current good standing with the king, had been enough to induce her to marry him. Had she ever felt any love for him at all? The rejection was like a fist to the stomach.

No doubt this Earl of Cavendish’s son had all four limbs intact. No doubt he was strong and capable of holding his wife in both arms.

He knew very little about her, truthfully. Perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps she would not have made a good wife.

Edwin wadded the parchment in his fist.

At least now he could allow himself to think the thoughts that came to mind when he was with Audrey, the thoughts that made him be so abrupt with her when he was feeling as if he was betraying Lady Ophelia. Now he was free to think... and pursue.

But would she reject him as Lady Ophelia had?

***

Audrey walked the next day to the church for the girls’ lessons. The guards were carrying the baskets of food for her, as usual, when she caught a glimpse of a blonde woman in the village who looked like Maris.

Audrey slowed down and stared at the woman, who turned and walked in the opposite direction and disappeared around the side of the baker’s shop.

Audrey felt sick down deep in her middle. The woman couldn’t be Maris, could she? But Lord Dericott did say he would tell her father that she was at Dericott Castle. Had her father told Maris? He would not do that, would he? But Maris could be very persuasive. Or perhapscalculatingandmanipulativewere better words.

Audrey’s heart beat erratically as she thought about Maris coming here to do some terrible mischief to her.

She glanced to her right and her left at the tall, strong guards carrying her baskets. They would never let anyone hurt her. But they would leave her at the church for her lessons. Would Lord Dericott come back to escort her home as he had done the day before?

No, she would not allow herself to fret and worry. And besides, she had only imagined she saw Maris.

When she reached the schoolroom, Engeram was there, as he sometimes was, after the end of his lesson with the boys of the village. The guards set down the baskets and turned to leave. She opened her mouth to call them back, but she stopped herself. She was being childish. But the uneasy feeling in her chest grew heavier as she watched them walk out the door.

“Is anything amiss?” Engeram’s brows drew together in a look of concern.

“No, no. All is well.” She would have to explain about her sister, and that would take entirely too long.

The children began to arrive and Audrey barely noticed when Engeram left. She shared the contents of the baskets with the children, who delighted in the food as always. Lessons went better than ever, as the girls were learning and discovering more words.

By the end of the day, Audrey’s head ached, as it sometimes did when she was tired. She glanced at the empty doorway, but Lord Dericott was not there. Her heart sank a little.