Page 74 of Castle of Refuge

“I love you, Edwin.”

“And I love you, Audrey.”

He loved her! Her tears came faster.

“And now,” Maris said, looking at Audrey but motioning to Umfrey, “we have to decide how to kill your love.” Her lips twisted as if in anticipation.

Was Maris only saying these things? Would she truly kill an earl, a wonderful man like Edwin? But she’d relished tripping her own sister so she would fall into the fire. She’d just laughed at Audrey’s distress over Edwin being killed. And Umfrey seemed to follow Maris blindly, obeying her every whim and wish.

Umfrey lumbered closer to Edwin.

“Not yet,” Maris said, folding her arms over her chest. “I’m thinking. We could make it quick and relatively painless.”

Audrey went numb all over. Surely this was not happening.

“Or we could make it slow.” She tapped her chin. “What do you think, Umfrey?”

“I break neck.” Umfrey demonstrated with his hands how he would do it. “Like chicken.”

Maris laughed. “Just like breaking a chicken’s neck. Very good, Umfrey. Any other ideas?”

“I cut.” Again he demonstrated, this time drawing his finger across his own neck.

“Also very effective,” Maris mused.

Audrey knew it was worse than pointless to argue with Maris or to beg her to have mercy. But she had to try. She had to.

“Please, Maris, don’t do this. Father would not approve. Please.”

“Don’t speak to me about Father.” Maris glared at her.

She had to think of a different tact. “Lord Dericott has never done anything to harm you. He is good to his people, and they need him.”

“They don’t need him.” Contempt oozed from Maris’s expression. “His next brother will simply take over for him.”

Audrey frantically searched her mind for something else. “But if you kill a good man, God will not approve. He will let Satan get control of your mind and you will never be free from his grip.”

Maris half frowned, half smiled. “Try again.”

“Please don’t, for my sake, Maris. We were friends when we were children, were we not? I loved you as my older sister. I would never hurt someone you loved.”

“You ruined everything! You turned Father and the servants against me. You were the perfect one, doing everything right, and I was ‘Mad Maris,’ the strange and unpredictable one. I know what they called me, Father and all the servants. And I hated you for it. It was your fault. Even as children, I was despised and you were loved.”

“I’m sorry, Maris. I never meant to hurt you. I have never turned anyone against you.” Audrey could feel the tears welling up. Nothing she was saying was helping Edwin’s cause. She was making it worse!God, help me!

“Your sniveling entertains me. What other arguments do you have?”

“There is no priest to speak the final rites.”O God, please save us.“And it’s me you hate. Not him. Kill me instead.” How could she live knowing he died trying to save her?

“Audrey, no.” Edwin’s voice was deep and gruff.

“It’s not right for you to die because of me.” Audrey was on the verge of sobbing. She had to control herself and let the numbness take over her mind and heart. But Edwin was looking at her so intently, she could not look away.

“I want to do it. Let me prove I’m a knight, courageous in death. I want to do it for you.”

Her heart swelled at the love she saw in his eyes. She had never dared believe he could love her, but he’d said it, and now he wanted to die for her. It felt so good to be loved—and so horrendous to think of him dying. Good, kind Edwin.

“This life is but a puff of smoke, and heaven awaits us. Don’t cry, Audrey.”