Chapters (76)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- PART II
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- PART III
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- INTERLUDE
- PART IV
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- INTERLUDE
- PART V
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART VI
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- INTERLUDE
- PART VII
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- PART VIII
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
“You’re not following me, you’re running from something else. I will only consider your offer if you answer me fully and truthfully, starting with your next breath. Why are you running?”
“I don’t think I’ll be safe here,” Arable’s words came with a wash of relief she had not expected. “I came here two years ago because I knew Baron de Lacy was a good man, who would take care of me, but I don’t think he’ll be here much longer.”
“You’re referring to rumors, which I have heard, and already discounted.”
“Not rumors,” Arable returned. “Roger is prepared to leave.”
“Why do you say that? Speak now.”
“He told me so.” She shrugged. “He said something about his grandmother’s lands, and that he ‘wouldn’t miss Nottingham one bit.’”
“This happened recently?”
“This happened ten minutes ago.”
The lady’s eyes widened again. A shrill whistle escaped her cracked lips. Then she stood straighter, which appeared to take some effort, to scrutinize Arable.
“You’re not without some cunning. Your desire to attach yourself to me and my family is wise. My father is the Earl of Hereford. He married me to the Earl of Warwickshire, he married my sister Maud to the Earl of Oxfordshire, he married my sister Magdalena to the Earl of Huntingdonshire. My family is strong, and you would certainly be safe with us. But you’re only asking for my help because your current protector has found himself in a momentary decline. Firstly, I would never bet against Roger. And secondly, you’ve shown me your loyalty only lasts so long as it suits you, which is not loyalty at all.”
Arable didn’t know what to say. This had been anything but easy for her.
“But Roger needs friends, and it sounds like you’re one of them. So if he is forced to leave, then yes, you may join me.”
Arable hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until it burst forth from her in a tearful fit. “Thank you, my lady,” she squeaked.
“You can call me Margery.” She softened. “But only in private, of course. I think you’ll learn a thing or two from me. Roger made an unfortunate decision this evening—these raids—because he thought he had no other options.”
“I thought—” Arable sputtered, unsure if she had interrupted the lady’s thought. “Weren’t you the one to suggest these raids?”