"Mayhap you would, to steer the suspicion elsewhere when he is finally killed the next time," Gerhard snapped back, and then added, "And who would believe that a lady as little as you would scare off an attacker anyway? Why did he not just knock you out, too?"
"I have no idea," she said stiffly. "But I ken I didna harm Alex and never would. You on the other hand seem to be busy pointing the finger at me. Mayhap that is yer attempt to keep suspicion off yerself."
"Me?" Gerhard barked with disbelief. "Why the devil would I harm Alex? And I certainly would have no reason to dose him...unlike you."
"Oh, aye, but mayhap the dosin' was merely to point the guilty finger in me direction. As fer why ye'd harm him?" Her eyes narrowed. "I keep recallin' the day me family and I arrived at d'Aumesbery and ye had trouble introducing yerself. Ye hesitated and then just settled on referring to yerself as 'his man' and that a tad bitterly."
Alex glanced to Gerhard with surprise. "You are my first, Gerhard. Why would you even hesitate to say so?"
The soldier looked uncomfortable and then grimaced and admitted, "I was not sure I still was your first."
"What?" Alex asked with amazement.
"Well," he said a bit bitterly, "as your first, I should have been the one left behind to tend to d'Aumesbery while you were away on this journey, so when you trained someone else to run the keep while away and brought me along on this trip, I thought mayhap you felt I am too old for the position of first and were looking to replace me."
Alex clucked his tongue with irritation. "Why did you not just ask me? I left another in charge and brought you because d'Aumesbery is relatively safe and threat-free at the moment, but I was riding into an unknown situation here. If Evelinde was miserable and being abused I could not simply leave her here and not do anything about it, so brought my best and most trustworthy men, including you, my first, with me in case we had to battle to get her away."
"Oh, Alex, that is so sweet," Evelinde said, smiling on him widely.
Cullen looked less impressed and said dryly, "Ye'd need more men than ye brought with ye fer that, brother."
Alex grimaced. "I most like would have tried sneaking her away somehow rather than take on you and your men could it not wait until I could bring back my full army."
"Hmm." Cullen nodded and then glanced to the others. "'Tis obvious no one is above suspicion here."
Though his words and tone were hard, Alex noted that the man cast an apologetic glance Merry's way as he said it and recalled his stating his opinion that she was a fine woman. He didn't think Cullen truly thought her behind these attacks on him and was glad for it.
"And," Cullen went on, distracting him from his thoughts. "Since Alex needs his sleep and I like mine, and I ken I won't be gettin' any if Evelinde is up half the night fretting ower her brother, no one is sleeping in here with him. Merry, we'll fix ye a fine room down the hall," he said gently and then turned a less gentle glance to Gerhard and Godfrey. "And ye two may get yer arses below with the rest of yer men. I already have two of me own best men on the door guarding it and they'll remain there all night. Now, everyone out."
Alex saw Merry hesitate, but then she nodded and moved toward the door, only to pause there and wait until everyone else but Cullen and Evelinde had left before nodding a somewhat stiff good night to them and leaving herself.
"I fear I have hurt her feelings," Evelinde murmured as she watched her go.
"She will get over it," Cullen said gruffly and slipped his arm around his wife's shoulders to lead her to the door. "She kens is only out o' worry fer yer brother."
"Aye." Evelinde leaned into her husband as they walked. "Still I feel bad. I like her and truly do not think that she is behind it, but this all started after the wedding. I get the feeling that means something, but cannot sort out what. None of it makes any sense really. Why make Alex randy and then try to kill him? If they are trying to kill him," she added, worrying the problem fretfully.
Cullen rubbed his hand over his wife's back as he urged her through the door before him. "Let it go, wife. Ye'll no sort it out tonight. 'Twill just keep ye awake fretting, and I have better things fer ye to be doing in our bed than fretting."
"Oh, Cullen, I do love you." Evelinde chuckled as the door closed behind them.
Alex stared at the closed door as blissful silence fell around him and then shook his head with mild disgust. It seemed that taking a blow to the head made people think you'd lost your wits, because no one seemed to care what he thought or felt. They'd snapped and snarled at one another as if he was not even there, his wife even going so far as to hush him when he'd tried to speak. And Cullen hadn't even asked how he felt the sleeping arrangements should go. The man was laird here and his word was law, but not over Alex or his people. As Lord D'Aumesbery, he was the one in charge of them, but apparently the Devil of Donnachaidh didn't think so, and Alex suspected that was all down to his being stuck in this bed all day, appearing an invalid.
Well, Alex thought, he would correct that impression on the morrow. He was getting out of this bed first thing in the morning and taking charge of matters. And he would also sort out what was happening and who was behind it, he decided firmly and then blew out the candle still burning on the bedside and settled under the linens and furs.
However, it was a long time before Alex was able to find sleep. The room was incredibly quiet and the bed seemed extremely empty without Merry there. After tossing and turning for a while, he slipped from the bed and--relieved to find he wasn't quite as weak as the first time he'd tried to rise--made his way to the chair by the fire to think over the problem some more. It was near dawn before Alex gave it up and slipped back into the big empty bed. As he drifted off to sleep he decided he just didn't like not having Merry there and wasn't going to sleep alone again...even if he had to leave Donnachaidh to do it.
"I truly am sorry, Merry," Evelinde said for the third time in the last half hour since Merry had joined her at the trestle table to break her fast. "I really do like you and I do not believe you are behind any of these attacks on Alex, but--"
"'Tis all right," Merry interrupted quietly. "I do understand. Ye love yer brother and so ye're doing what's in his best interests."
"Aye, but I feel bad you went to bed last night thinking I suspect you. I just--"
"Well, I was a little hurt," Merry admitted quietly. "But I still understood even then. Ye've no need to keep apologizing like this." She patted her hand soothingly and then added, "Besides, 'twas Cullen who ordered the sleeping arrangements last night, and his suspicions were fair. He kept Gerhard from staying with Alex, too, and I am grateful for that."
"Aye."
Merry quirked one eyebrow at her troubled expression. "What is it?"
"'Tis just...Well, Gerhard was at d'Aumesbery my whole life and I thought I knew him well, but..."
"But?" Merry prompted.
"His time on the Crusades seems to have changed him somewhat. He is harder than I recall and yet softer in some ways as well." Evelinde scowled as she tried to explain and then burst out, saying, "Do you know when I came to the table this morning, he was telling Cullen he did not think there was any way Edda could be behind all of this. That she was not as bad as everyone thought, had nothing to gain from it, and was basically an unhappy woman who was sadly misunderstood."
Merry's eyebrows rose slightly at this news and she glanced around the great hall in search of the man.
"He was up talking to Alex with Cullen earlier and then went out to the bailey for some reason," Evelinde muttered unhappily, sending a glare in the general direction of the stairs. "I cannot believe the man would take her side like this. He saw how Edda was all those years after she married my father. Granted, he left with Cullen on crusade ere my father died and Edda did keep herself somewhat reined in while he still lived, but she was still unpleasant and cold to everyone. And yet he appears to be falling for her line about being unhappy and behaving badly and now regretting it. I mean, I understan
d you believing it. You never met her ere a month ago, but how Gerhard could--" Apparently realizing she was ranting, Evelinde reined herself in and smiled wryly. "I am sorry. I shall give you indigestion with such talk while you are trying to break your fast."
Merry smiled faintly but asked, "Is it not possible she has changed?"
Evelinde considered the suggestion and then nodded reluctantly. "I suppose 'tis possible. Howbeit it was only weeks ago that she arranged the marriage between Cullen and myself."
"Aye, and that obviously worked out well," Merry pointed out.
"But that was not her intent when she petitioned the king to arrange the marriage," Evelinde said solemnly. "All we knew of Cullen was that silly reputation he has as the Devil of Donnachaidh."
Merry had to repress a smile. That silly reputation was well-earned. Cullen had gained it in battle and he truly was a Devil under such circumstances, wielding his sword with deadly speed and accuracy. He was an opponent to be feared and respected. However, it appeared he was a much different person with those he cared about.
"Nay," Evelinde assured her solemnly, "Edda's intent when she arranged to marry me off to Cullen was not to see me happy. I merely got lucky that way. Howbeit, if you wish to see Edda's true face, then when you return to d'Aumesbery, you should tell her how blissfully happy I am. I doubt she will be able to maintain a sweet disposition then."
"'Twill make her furious," Evelinde's maid, Mildrede, said solemnly, drawing Merry's gaze to where she sat. The woman looked grim and knowing, and Merry glanced down unhappily, finding it difficult to imagine that the sweet dear woman who had been so kind to her and made her feel welcome at d'Aumesbery could be the same one these women knew.
"I can see what we are saying is not sitting right with what you know of Edda," Evelinde said sadly, and then added, "But mayhap you could err on the side of caution for now? For Alex's sake?"
"Aye," Merry agreed. She would be happy to err far on the side of caution to keep her husband alive. Her feelings for the man were growing by leaps and bounds since the night before they'd set out on this trip. She was now certain he wasn't a drinker, but had been suffering the effects of some drug, and having got to know him as she had, Merry was starting to think she could be as happy with Alex as Evelinde was with Cullen, and that was saying something. The day she'd arrived at d'Aumesbery she was sure she'd been landed in hell, but now her future was showing the possibility of being closer to heaven.
If her husband could care for her in return, Merry thought suddenly, knowing the future might not be so bright if he didn't. It would be hard indeed loving someone who did not love her back, but he did seem to like her, and always showed her courtesy and consideration, and she hoped over time that could turn to love.
Merry's main concern at the moment was this business of the dosing and the attacks. While she feared losing him before they could enjoy the happiness Evelinde and Cullen had found, she also feared the possibility that Alex might believe Gerhard's accusations and suspect she was behind it all. Love did not come without trust, and she wanted that love and trust.
"What do you suggest?" she asked quietly, determined to do anything she could to earn Alex's trust and love.
"Mayhap you could just be cautious and when you return to d'Aumesbery, suggest Alex send Edda away."
Merry nodded unhappily at the suggestion, willing to do so to earn her husband's trust, but displeased with the possibility of hurting the woman who had been so kind to her.
"Not forever," Evelinde said quickly, apparently spotting Merry's reluctance. "After all, she may very well have turned a new leaf."
Merry couldn't help but laugh at the doubt Evelinde couldn't hide.
Grimacing, the blond rushed on, saying, "Perhaps you could just suggest she go to her sister's for a visit."
"She has a sister?" Merry asked with surprise.
"Aye. Lady Helen. She married Lord Alfred Duquet some twenty years ago, long ere Edda and my father were ordered to marry," Evelinde told her, and then added, "I do not think the two get on well, though. At least Lady Duquet never visited d'Aumesbery and Edda never went to visit her. Actually," she added dryly, "Edda has never visited anyone at all in all the time I have known her. I suspect she has no friends. I have always put it down to her unpleasant demeanor."
Merry murmured something of an acknowledgment, but she was wondering to herself why Edda had never mentioned having a sister. They had spent a lot of time talking the three weeks before this journey had parted them, and Alex's stepmother had told her much about her childhood and life at court, but had never once mentioned having siblings. Strange, she thought, but then shrugged the matter away. From what Evelinde had just said, it seemed obvious the two were not close; perhaps that was why.
"Sending her to visit her sister would not give her offense did you frame the suggestion right," Evelinde went on. "And it need not necessarily be permanent. Once you and Alex have sorted out this mess and caught her ally--I mean, the one responsible, and determined whether he worked alone or with someone else." She shrugged. "If 'tis not she he was working with, you could have her back."
"Aye," Merry agreed, but she was still wondering why Edda had never mentioned having a sister. It seemed an odd bit of information to leave out. The woman had always given the impression that she was alone in the world but for Alex and herself. Strange, Merry thought, and then glanced around in question when Godfrey suddenly appeared at her side, a fretful look on his face.
"What is it, Godfrey?" she asked, concerned by his expression.
"My lord Alex is up," he announced in an exasperated tone. "I told him you would not be pleased, but he insisted I help him dress. I did, but then came directly to you to tell--"
His words died, and the boy turned away with alarm as a crash and commotion sounded behind Merry.
She followed suit and swiveled abruptly on the bench in time to see her husband tumbling down the stairs, Merry was on her feet at once and rushing toward him.
Alex landed at the bottom of the stairs with a curse, followed by a groan as his body announced the various new aches and pains he could add to the one in his head. He then thanked his lucky stars that he had been clever enough to hold on to the banister as he descended. He'd done so just in case his legs weren't as steady beneath him as he'd hoped, but that hold on the sturdy wooden rail had probably saved him breaking his neck. When his foot had slipped on something on the stairs, his grip on the rail had kept him from pitching headfirst to the bottom. Instead, he'd slid down the steps on his behind and back, gaining more bruises, but keeping his neck intact.
"Husband!"
"Alex!"
He cursed under his breath again as he recognized the worry and upset in his wife's and sister's voices as they rushed across the great hall toward him. Godfrey and the maids were following. Of course, they had witnessed his clumsy moment. No doubt this would simply reaffirm their view of him as an invalid, and that was the last thing he wanted at this moment. Alex had determined to dress and rise this morning with the express purpose of appearing capable and in charge so that no one would kick up a fuss when he once again exerted his position as Lord of d'Aumesbery. He was determined he was not going to sleep alone again tonight, but knew he had to appear strong and able to be sure his decisions were not overridden. This was not a good start.
"Husband?"
"I am fine," Alex said firmly, forcing himself to sit up as Merry dropped to her knees on one side of him and Evelinde on the other. "Truly. I merely slipped on something on the stairs. It could have happened to anyone."
"Mayhap your legs are not yet quite strong enough to carry you," Evelinde suggested quietly. "We should return you to your bed for another day or two and--"
"Nay," he said sharply, and then forced himself to smile to ease the effect of the snap in his voice. Getting to his feet, he spoke more calmly as he added, "Nay. That is the last thing I need. I need to be up and about. I am not an invalid, Evie."
She smile
d faintly at the old nickname, but also tried to put herself under his right arm, even as Merry moved to wedge her shoulder under his left. Alex sighed inwardly, but merely stepped back from them both.
"My legs are perfectly fine. I am just clumsy," he assured them both solemnly. Though that wasn't absolutely true. After the tumble he'd taken his legs were a little shaky, but he'd die before admitting that and being forced back to his bed. "Allow me to escort you back to the table, ladies."
Alex crooked out his elbows so that both his wife and his sister could slip their arms through his, and after a brief hesitation, each did. He let out a relieved breath then and walked them back to the table where they'd been seated when he'd made his grand entrance.
"How are ye feelin'?" Merry asked anxiously as they paused at the table and each began to reclaim her seat.
"Fine," Alex assured her as he settled to sit on the end of the bench between his wife and the chair where his sister sat. "I have a bit of a headache, but otherwise I feel fine."
"I shall mix ye up a tonic to ease it and--" Merry had started to rise, but paused and glanced to him in question when Alex caught her arm.
"I do not want a tonic," he said firmly, noting the worry and hurt this brought to her face.
He didn't understand it until she settled to sit again and said a bit stiffly, "Then perhaps Evelinde or her Aunt Biddy would be kind enough to mix one up fer ye."
Alex realized then that she thought he was refusing because he didn't trust her and might suspect she was behind the dosing. He didn't wish to address the issue there in front of everyone so merely said, "I do not wish a tonic at all. The headache will pass in its own good time, and I wish to maintain a clear head for our journey."
"Journey?" Merry and Evelinde asked together.
Alex could feel them peering at him wide-eyed from either side of him, but didn't glance to either woman. Instead, he smiled at the maid who had arrived with some mead, bread, and cheese to break his fast and merely said, "Aye. Gerhard is gathering the men together right now so that we can return to d'Aumesbery."