Page 32 of Retribution

Cleodora was appalled and trying hard not to show it. She was a possession, after all. Possessions didn’t have opinions and they didn’t refuse demands. But this demand…

It was horrifying.

“You… you want me to seduce both Sir Aidric and the king?” she finally said, her voice trembling. “But… why? Why should I do it?”

Cambridge held up a finger as if a great idea was about to come forth. “Because Edward intends to kill me,” he said, his tone a frightening hiss. “I cannot get close to him to defend myself. He would never allow it. But you can get close to him. He would never suspect you.”

Cleodora could no longer mask her shock. “Suspect me for what?” she said. “What would you have me do?”

“My lady… he will kill me if he is not killed first,” Cambridge said, his manner again pleading. “Will you not help me? Will you not return the loyalty and gratitude I have shown you by doing this one thing for me? Will you not help me?”

She was starting to tremble. “Help you do what?”

Cambridge reached out and grasped her by the hand. It was meant to be a pleading or a comforting gesture, but it only served to reinforce how trapped she truly was. She couldn’t get away if she tried.

“I will provide you with the means,” he said as if he truly, deeply, sincerely wanted to convince her that this was all in the course of saving his life. “I have a ring—a gold ring—and the setting that holds the jewel comes away and there is a tiny compartment inside. I will provide you with the ring, and the poison that will go into the tiny compartment. All you need to is put that poison in Edward’s cup. It is very simple and no one will suspect. But in order to get close to Edward, you must befriend his knight. I realize this is a great deal to ask, but my life depends on it. And your father’s. Will you not do it?”

Cleodora was beyond shocked. She was stunned, horrified, and everything else in between. She was well aware of what he was asking her—every appalling, evil step of it, from seducing Aidric to killing Edward—and he was trying to convince her that it was in self-defense. More than that, he was trying to convince her that if she didn’t do this, her father would suffer and she would be the most ungrateful creature on the planet. Even as she gazed at him, knowing what she knew and feeling what she felt, she knew what her answer would be.

She couldn’t refuse him.

God help her if she did.

For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She lowered her gaze, hand to her chest, feeling the air go in and out of her lungs but not feeling as if she were breathing at all. If she did not agree to this, her life would be over. Cambridge wouldn’t simply let her gracefully bow out and return to Cornwall. Not at all. He would bury her body and make sure her bones were never discovered. She would fade away as if she never existed. Images of her death flashed in her mind until she began to feel faint, but it didn’t change things.

Cambridge was waiting for an answer.

Struggling to compose herself, she nodded her head.

“If… if that is your wish, my lord,” she said, barely audible. “But… but are you sure I am the best person for this task? I know nothing about killing or spying. I do not know if I will be convincing enough.”

Cambridge seemed genuinely grateful that she wasn’t blatantly refusing him. He squeezed her hand and let it go.

“You will do very well,” he said. “You are charming and intelligent. Tonight, the only thing you need do is form a friendship with St. John. Be witty and kind. The man will surely be unable to resist you and once he responds to you, I will help guide you on how to continue the relationship. But tonight… simply enjoy yourself and seek the man out. That is all.”

That is all.

Well, that wasn’t all. There was far more to it than that, but she didn’t say so. All she did was nod and that was enough for him. He stood up from the chair he’d been sitting in and headed for the door.

“We shall be departing for Westminster shortly, so gather your things and go down to the ward,” he said. “The carriage has already been brought around, I believe. I will see you down there.”

Taking a deep breath to try to regain some of her splintered composure, Cleodora stood up from her stool. “I will be there, my lord,” she said. “And… and thank you again for this lovely garment. I shall endeavor to represent Cambridge with honor tonight.”

He simply nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, before quitting the chamber. That left Cleodora standing there, still in shock at the conversation they’d just had, still trying to process what was now expected of her. At that moment, it all seemed to tumble down on her and her knees buckled, sending her back to the stool again.

Burying her face in her hands, she wept.

CHAPTER TEN

Westminster Palace

“This arrived for you this morning, Aidric,” Britt said. “For some reason, they kept it at the gatehouse and are just now sending it over.”

Aidric was in the gathering chamber that the Guard of Six used for their formal meetings, looking over a vellum that had the guest list written on it. He’d just received it from one of the king’s clerks. Britt was standing a few feet away with a large, canvas-wrapped parcel in his hands and Aidric glanced up from the vellum, peering at it curiously.

“Who is it from?” he asked.

Britt cocked an eyebrow. “I was told the messenger was from Thornhill.”