Defiant Read online

  “Your timing is impeccable,” she said. “We just finished your gowns last night.”

  The dresses she produced were beautiful with the exception of all the black material. Kellen and I changed and stood in our positions for the hemming.

  “Have you heard anything about the king retiring to his hunting retreat soon?” Kellen asked again.

  “Not the king but the prince,” one of the seamstresses said. “It would seem he’s not yet ready to return to palace life and wants the solitude of the retreat.”

  “And his wife is okay with living in the woods?” Kellen asked.

  “So it would seem,” another said. “Not much is known about his wife.”

  “Other than she comes from the north, correct?” I said.

  The girl nodded.

  “I hear the women wear pants in the north,” Kellen added. She was good at directing the conversation to keep the appearance of idle gossip.

  They continued to share unimportant tidbits, such as the length of time the prince had been away, which we all knew; and the fact that the King was impatient for his son’s return so the next generation might produce an heir. Again, more common knowledge.

  “Perhaps that’s the reason for the retreat,” Kellen said, making my jaw drop. She laughed at me. “What? Mr. Bentwell’s book collection includes some romantic pieces, too.”

  That set the girls giggling, and a few vowed to visit Mr. Bentwell.

  When we were finished, they wrapped the gowns then led us out to the waiting room. Luck was on our side that we’d only just left with our heavy packages when we spotted Maeve walking toward us.

  She smiled in greeting. “I’m so glad you remembered the gowns. It completely slipped my mind. Come, we had better return to the estate. With no one there to answer the door and turn visitors away, the gossips are sure to speculate on what is happening.”

  We followed her back the way she’d come.

  “It’s understandable you forgot,” Kellen said. “You’ve been dealing with so much for us.”

  “The dresses are lovely,” I added. “Thank you for selecting them.”

  Maeve smiled back at us.

  “It was no trouble. I hope you didn’t need to stand too long to get them fitted.”

  “Not too long,” I said.

  “The girls distracted us with conversation,” Kellen added as we reached the carriage.

  “Oh? Anything interesting?” Maeve asked, letting us enter first.

  Kellen was dying to share the news just as much as I, but I was faster as we settled into the carriage for the journey home.

  “It’s not the king who’s coming to the retreat but the prince and his new wife,” I said.

  Maeve gave us an indecipherable look before smiling kindly.

  “Yes, I just heard the same at the guard house.”

  “Did they offer any help in finding Judith and Anne?” Kellen asked.

  “Unfortunately, two housemaids do not warrant their attention. If someone of more note goes missing in the same manner, then perhaps the guard will be interested. Until then...” She lifted a shoulder and looked out the window, visibly upset.

  The rest of the carriage ride was made in silence. When we stopped before our stable, we saw a carriage already waiting in the yard.

  “Drat and bother,” Maeve said under her breath.

  “I’ll fix some tea and bring it in to you,” Kellen said.

  “No. You can’t be seen serving tea. But if you’re willing to fix it and leave it in the dining room, I’ll gladly fetch it from there.”

  Hugh helped Maeve down then took our packages into the kitchen while Maeve went directly to the visitors. We waited until everyone was inside before sneaking into the house through the kitchen door.

  Hugh stood by the hearth, looking at the flames.

  “Are you all right?” I asked softly.

  “No. I feel so empty inside. Don’t leave the house.”

  He turned and strode out. Both Kellen and I watched after him.

  “He seems odd,” Kellen said after a moment.

  “I think he was in love with Judith.”

  Kellen looked at me, her brows high.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “I saw him hitting a post after he couldn’t find her. And heard him say he felt empty without her.”

  “Poor Hugh,” she said, her expression changing to one of pity before carefully clearing.

  I knew how she felt. If she let pity in, she’d open herself to all the other emotions waiting to take control. Yet, closing herself off wasn’t going to help her deal with the drastic changes that continued occurring in our lives.

  “Is it ever going to get better for us?” I asked.

  Kellen came and wrapped her arms around me.

  “Don’t give up hope. Not you, Eloise.”

  I hugged her in return.

  “I’m trying not to. I just can’t bear the thought that Judith and Anne might be lost to us for good.”

  “I know. But remember, we can’t change what’s already happened. We can only steer the course for our future.”

  I nodded and helped make the tea. When we were finished, we left the tray in the dining room before returning to the kitchen. Without speaking, we grabbed our cloaks and slipped out the door, ignoring Hugh’s protective warning.

  The walk through the woods was peaceful. Birds chirped, and small animals chittered at us from still barren branches.

  “It’s starting to smell like spring,” Kellen said quietly.

  I inhaled deeply, loving the smell.

  A soft sound drew our attention. We paused and listened. I pointed to our right but motioned for Kellen to continue to follow me in the direction in which we’d been headed. Circling around, I spotted Kaven through the trees and stopped Kellen from going any further. He’d obviously noted my presence before, and I didn’t want to risk him coming after me…us…again.

  Bow gripped in his hand, he had his head tipped up to the sky. As I watched, he lifted the bow and rapidly fired two arrows with barely a glance before looking at the sky again.

  Even from this distance, I could see the rage in his stance.

  “Where are you?” he roared, scaring the birds and setting my heart hammering.

  Motioning to Kellen, we backed away. But not toward home. Once he was out of sight, I lifted my skirts and hurried toward the retreat. Who knew how much time we had before he returned there?

  Neither Kellen nor I spoke when the king’s lodge came into view. She followed me to the back where I tried the door and found it locked. I looked at the stone work and started tying my skirts together.

  “Are you sure?” Kellen whispered.

  I nodded.

  “Hide in the shrubs and call if he comes. I’ll leave through the same window.”

  She moved back to stand watch as I used the stones to climb to a second story window. My fingers grew numb in moments from the damp and the cold on the rock, and my feet slipped twice. But I’d fallen that height before and knew it wouldn’t hurt. Much.

  Bracing my weight on my forearm, I used my other hand to push at the window and was rewarded when it swung inward without a sound. My muscles protested as I hauled myself over the ledge, but I made it.

  Standing carefully, I looked around at the bedroom. Well-stuffed bed. Neat linens. Dust free baseboards. No cobwebs on the ceiling. A room meant for the royal family, then.

  On light feet, I crept down the hall and peeked into each room. I wasn’t sure what evidence of a murder or magic would look like, but I felt certain I would know it when I saw it.

  In a room at the far end of the hall, I found a multitude of covered furniture and other items. Some of them looked familiar, and I realized they were the ones I saw unloaded from the wagons. I frowned as I studied the number. So many things to be unloaded then shoved away for storage. Why not air them in preparation? Unless, perhaps, the prince and his wife’s arrival was delayed or unknown. That would be an exp
lanation for Kaven’s anger just now.

  I lifted the cover from a few pieces and admired the pretty floral designs. After finding a box with lavish jewels, it became obvious that all of the items belonged to the princess. Tucking the box away, I moved to leave. A partially exposed painting behind the door caught my eye. It was a woman’s bare shoulder.

  Creeping closer, I pulled back the oil-cover and stared at a young woman who looked very similar to me. Her blue eyes seemed to lock with mine as I studied the blonde hair piled high on her head and threaded with ribbon to match the green of her dress. The painter had perfectly blushed her cheeks. Yet, she lacked life. She looked tired.

  And I knew why.

  A familiar green amulet lay nestled on her breast. A glint of light reflected on the stone, hinting at an unnatural life I knew it possessed.

  Kellen’s soft dove call reached my ears, and I hurried to cover the painting. Racing down the hall, I made it back to the bedroom when I heard the front door open.

  Kellen was below, motioning for me to hurry. I didn’t hesitate to throw my leg over the ledge and start my descent, not wasting time to close the window. I dropped the last few feet and took off at a run, trusting my sister to keep up with me.

  We didn’t stop until we reached the clearing where we collapsed in a heap on the bench beside Mother’s grave.

  “Did you find anything?” she asked, her breathing ragged but her voice soft.

  “A picture of a woman wearing the same necklace as the one delivered to Mother.”

  “Was the King in the picture? Or the Prince?”

  I shook my head. “Only her.”

  She sighed, and I understood why. A woman wearing the same necklace wasn’t the evidence we needed, but clearly Mother’s death was linked to the royal family. I wanted to rage and kick something. However, the sudden baying of hounds warned me I didn’t have the time to lose my temper.

  “We need to get inside,” I said, grabbing Kellen’s hand.

  It wasn’t until the kitchen door was firmly closed behind us that I breathed a little easier.

  “What will prevent Kaven from coming here?” she asked.

  “Nothing, but I don’t think he will. Whatever he has planned, I believe he needs to remain hidden for a while longer. If he was ready to strike, we would be with Judith and Anne right now.”

  “You believe he’s acting on his own then?”

  “If he doesn’t come pounding on our door, yes.”

  Kellen considered me for a moment and nodded.

  “Let’s start dinner.”

  Maeve found us in the kitchen an hour later.

  “Mrs. Wineford just left,” she said. “Thank you both for the tray and for preparing dinner. Tomorrow, we’ll return to town to search for help.”

  “Perhaps, instead of all of us going, I can go with Hugh,” I said. “That way, someone will be here to answer the door.”

  She considered me.

  “Are you sure? Hiring kitchen help might not be easy.”

  “I’m sure. You’re doing so much for us already while Kellen and I sit idle.”

  She waved away the comment and joined us at the table.

  “Really, I’m doing very little but deflecting unwanted questions and listening to frivolous gossip for hours on end.”

  “I think we need to start setting aside certain hours for people to call,” Kellen said. “Our new help can turn visitors away on our behalf and let them know the appropriate hours to call again. As you said, with royalty soon to be in residence at the retreat, the rush of visitors will only grow.”

  Maeve’s expression lit up.

  “That is a marvelous idea. It would free up my time so I can attend to other neglected matters. I have no idea what the expenses are for the estate or any repairs that might be needed. I should probably speak with Hugh after dinner.”

  “I can fix a plate for you to take to him.”

  “That’s a lovely idea. We need him to keep his strength for us during these trying times.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Are you feeling well?” I asked Hugh.

  His pallor seemed a little ashen in the morning light. Perhaps it was the jostle of the wagon on an empty stomach.

  “I’m fine. Please stay close to me today. Maeve is worried you’ll find trouble.”

  “Trouble? Me?” I grinned because he knew me well. He didn’t grin back.

  My humor died at the absence of his. I knew why he was so subdued. No matter how much I tried to tell myself that Judith was somewhere else, alive and well, I knew it was a lie. My heart wanted to break. Judith had been like a second mother to Kellen and me. Stern when we were trouble, loving when we needed comfort. But most importantly, always there.

  “I miss her so much,” I said.

  “Don’t talk like that,” Hugh said gruffly.

  I nodded and looked away so he wouldn’t see the start of my tears, which I fought to blink back. He was right. I couldn’t think like that. There had to be hope.

  We traveled the rest of the way to town in silence, and Hugh parked the wagon not far from the market district.

  “Where do you want to start?” he asked.

  “I was thinking of ordering some breakfast at Crumbs and Casks and asking the serving girl if she knows of anyone who might be looking for kitchen work.”

  He grunted his acknowledgment and followed me down the street. When it came time to order, he left me at my own table and moved off to the bar. I didn’t mind. It would be odd for an employee to be seated with me.

  Along with a delicious meal, the serving girl gave me a few names and directions for finding the women. Hugh forestalled me from searching them out, though.

  “First, I need to deliver a message to the Brazen Belle,” he said. “The staff should be awake by now.”

  The name struck a familiar chord, and I didn’t remember why until I saw a face I recognized. The old woman from the woods was sitting in the sunlight on the porch while shucking some peas. She didn’t glance our way as we approached.

  “Stay right here,” Hugh said, stopping me from stepping onto the porch. “This is no place for a young miss.”

  I nodded and watched him go inside. The old woman winked at me and tossed me a pea.

  “How’s the pig?” she asked as I munched on the sweet green.

  “Still big. But he seems happy enough.”

  The woman snorted.

  “If he’s happy enough, it means you’re feeding him too much. Cut the portions. Are you walking him?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Is he finding anything for you?”

  “Truffles.”

  She cackled and slapped her knee.

  “He would have a good nose that one. Tell him that’s not good enough. He can do better.”

  I nodded just as Hugh returned.

  He glanced suspiciously at the old woman.

  “What were you telling her?”

  “We were talking about the pig,” I said to Hugh.

  He came down the steps, grabbed my arm, and led me away.

  “You aren’t supposed to speak with the women there,” he said.

  “Was that a whorehouse?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. Behind us, the old woman laughed again, and Hugh lengthened his stride, his face reddening.

  “I promise, Hugh. We were strictly discussing the pig. I wasn’t educated in any way.” I eased my arm from his grasp and patted his shoulder. “Besides, the woman is harmless and hardly a whore, given her age.”

  He gave a quick side-glance and seemed to relax a little.

  “Before we visit the women the serving girl mentioned, I have a stop I’d like to make,” I said.

  Hugh followed me through the winding roads of Towdown toward the center of the city. The palace was just barely visible above the rooftops when I saw the home I needed.

  “How much further are we going?” Hugh asked. “I think we’ve been gone too long. We don’t want to worry Maeve.”

&n
bsp; “She won’t be worried. She knows I’m with you,” I said with a quick smiled. “Besides, the house we need is just there.”

  As I pointed, the door opened, and Anne’s mother stepped out. I waved when she spotted us.

  “We shouldn’t be here,” Hugh said.

  “Nonsense. We need to ask after Anne.”

  He followed me, his growing nervousness clearly visible. I couldn’t blame him. My stomach was in knots.

  “Hello, Mrs. Tiller.”

  “Eloise, dear. I didn’t expect to see you.”

  “I know. I apologize for coming unannounced, but I needed to know if you’ve seen Anne in the last few days?”

  “No, but I know she’ll visit when she has time. She loves your family. I was so sorry to hear about your mother, dear.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Tiller.” I swallowed hard, struggling with what I needed to say next. She noticed.

  “What is it, dear?”

  “I truly believe Anne loves us as much as we love her. That’s why I’m here. She’s missing.”

  “Missing?”

  “I found her cap in the woods. Nothing else. Judith is missing, too.”

  Mrs. Tiller lifted her hand to her mouth. The color left her face, and her eyes started to water.

  “We’ve searched the woods and notified the guard. I don’t know where else to look. I’d hoped I would find her here,” I finished sadly.

  Mrs. Tiller remained quiet for a moment, her gaze unfocused. Then she shook her head, turned around, and went inside without another word.

  “We shouldn’t have come,” Hugh said softly. “You’ve brought nothing but pain.”

  I wished Hugh was wrong. I’d desperately hoped that Mrs. Tiller had seen Anne.

  “Come,” Hugh said softly. “It’s best if we leave searching for help for another day. We should return home.”

  Maeve had entrusted me with the task of returning with the help we desperately needed. Yet, while obligation urged me to disagree with Hugh’s insistence we leave, I found myself nodding in agreement instead. After seeing Mrs. Tiller’s devastated expression, I no longer had the resolve to bring more people into our home. Would we be heartlessly risking someone new without first determining the root of our problems? Lost in thought, I followed Hugh.