Chained (Chained Trilogy) (26 page)

The maid’s gaze was far too knowing. Fortunately, Caden had nothing to hide. He truly needed to know the truth behind this alliance between Dinasdale and Lerrothe.

“She is miserable,” Lynet confessed, her voice a hushed whisper. “Lady Gwen never wanted the match, truth be told. Lord Clarion was wary as well in the beginning.” Her freckled cheeks glowed with twin spots of red and she lowered her eyes. “Truth be told, m’lord, there was talk of approaching your lord father to speak of an alliance.”

Caden’s eyes darted up to the dais where Gwen sat silently beside her prince. “A marriage? Between our houses?”

Lynet nodded. “Lord Clarion thought if marriages could be made between the Toustains and the Maignarts, we could further strengthen our bond as one realm. There was talk of marrying Gwen’s brothers to the daughters of House Durville. Also, of wedding Gwendolyn to you.”

Caden stroked his jaw, his mind reeling at the possibilities. He had heard nothing of these plans, and knew that
Guyar had been hoping he would take one of his daughters to wife. Still, he had two others who needed husbands, and Gwen had two unwed brothers who were of an age to marry. Jarin and Asher could have been paired with Dinasdalian ladies to further strengthen the ties. “This is a brilliant idea,” he said, knowing deep down that if he’d been approached with an offer of marriage—an offer of the beautiful Gwendolyn Toustain—he might have accepted it if for no other reason than the fact that he wanted her. “What happened to change Lord Clarion’s mind?”

“King Henry Bainard changed it,” she said with a shake of her head. “They descended upon Seahaven last year and Lord Clarion feasted them for weeks. By the time they left, he’d persuaded Lord Clarion to marry
Lady Gwen to Prince Gaiwan. I suppose it was too good to refuse. Lady Gwen will be queen of Lerrothe someday.”

Even though he’d only just met the woman, Caden would have been willing to wager that Lady Enid had much to do with the decision regarding this marriage. “It is strange,” he mused, “that King Henry would want Gwen for his son when he could have had Princess Helena of House Arundel. She is royalty, as is he, and Lerrothe could have united with all of Alemere.”

Lynet nodded. “Aye, that is what Gwen said when she was told of the agreement. She did not understand it either.”

Something about this felt wrong, but Caden still could not puzzle out just what. He now understood why his father had been so paranoid. Lord Theodric had been right to feel that way. “Thank you, Lynet,” he said as the second course was replaced with a third. “You have been most helpful.”

More than you know, girl,
Caden thought, sifting through all of the information she’d just given him. Suspicions were beginning to form, but he could not do much while trapped within the walls of Seahaven. It was time for him to return home.

***

Lord Orrick had arrived just as the dessert course was being taken away, and Gwen had never been happier to see him. She excused herself from the great hall, much to her mother’s annoyance, and escorted him to her father’s solar, taking Espan as well. Gaiwan protested, but Gwen’s promise to break her fast with him in the morning pacified him and she was free to leave. Once alone in the solar, Orrick refused refreshment, despite his hunger.

“It can wait,” he insisted. “There are other matters that cannot.”

“Then you know,” she said. “Espan has told you that we hold Sir Caden Maignart.”

The steward spoke up from his seat at the table, fresh parchment and quill in front of him. “I thought it prudent, milady.”

She nodded. “You did well,” she assured Espan. “I have been thinking on the matter,” she said, turning her attention back to her uncle. “We cannot mend this unless we return him to Lord Theodric.”

Orrick nodded. “Aye, but it would be better if we knew for sure
if he or one of his vassals hold your brothers. Has there been word from the riders you sent?”

Gwen shook her head. “No
t for over a week, and I do not know what to think about that. If they have found Evrain and the others, perhaps they have joined their forces with his. If they lost men in the skirmish, they would have need of more. They could have already set sail for Camritte, in which case a messenger could arrive to tell us such any day.”

“Or,” Orrick countered, “they are still searching and yo
ur brothers have not been found. Lord Theodric may well have them. If not Theodric, then one of his vassals. We cannot know for certain.”

“If he does not have them, we have only made this worse by taking Sir Caden. In that instance
, we have no choice but to give him back.”

“Not if the sack of Heywick was his father’s work.”

Sighing, Gwen ran a hand over her weary face. “There are too many possibilities, too many things we do not know, and I am not certain anymore that those raiders were sent by the Maignarts. Perhaps one of his vassals acting without his leave, but not the high lord himself. The helm Lord Humber presented to me belonged to the man who raped and murdered Lady Breena, but Sir Caden carried the very same helm on his person when we took him. Lord Humber’s was merely a replication of Sir Asher’s helm, which can only mean that he was not the man responsible. Sir Marcel executed the wrong man.”

“With that act, he may have brought our doom,” Orrick muttered. “Lord Theodric will not forgive
it.”

Gwen began to pace. “Then we will make amends. Espan, I want provisions prepared and one hundr
ed men-at-arms to serve as my escort. We ride for Daleraia in three days. Send a rider to Minas Bothe immediately with a message for Lord Theodric. Tell him that I am returning his heir to him, and hope that he will receive me to peaceably settle our differences.”

Orrick’s mouth fell open in shock. “Gwendolyn, surely you do not mean to accompany him!”

She paused in her pacing to stare at her uncle. “Aye, I do. My father charged me to speak with his voice. I will do so when I treat with Lord Theodric.”

“It is too dangerous,” he warned. “If the Durvilles or the Goodwins are responsible for the attack, or the kidnapping of your brothers, you will be a prize too great to resist.”

“I will risk it,” she insisted. “Perhaps along the way, I will encounter the riders I sent in search of them. Whatever the case, it must be done and I will be the one to do it.”

“You have always been willful,” Orrick said, grasping her shoulders tightly, “but I fear it will lead you into trouble. If you will not listen to me, I will have to take measures to prevent you from leaving Seahaven. When your father named you castellan, he could not have had this in mind. It is folly.”

Gwen pulled out of his hold, backing away. “You are my uncle, and I respect you above every other man in the world beside my lord father. I pray you, do not ruin that by seeking to stand in my way. I won’t stand for it.”

Orrick crossed his arms over his chest. “There is nothing you can do, unless you mean to physically restrain me yourself. I will have your father name me castellan in your place and send Brennus to Freyvale to rule in my stead until Evrain is found. It may even be best for you to return to Lerrothe with
your betrothed to remain until the wedding. You will be safe there.”

Her heart sank as she realized that her father would likely side with Orrick in this.
Panic set in at the thought of being forced onto a ship with Gaiwan and sent away to Lerrothe. She was not ready, not when so many things required her attention here. She could not leave without saying good-bye to Jorin, or knowing that her brothers were at least alive.
I must not let it show,
she told herself, squaring her shoulders and raising her chin.
I can outsmart him, I know I can.

“You are right, Uncle,” she said. “I was foolish. Perhaps cousin Brennus would be best suited to this task. I will not leave Seahaven if he will agree to be Sir Caden’s escort.”

Orrick was visibly relieved. “That would be wise, my dear. I am glad you are able to see reason.”

Gwen forced a smile and took her uncle’s hand. “
Let us retire for the night. It is late, and I know you must be tired from your journey. We will speak more in the morning, and I will send for Brennus after I’ve broken my fast with Prince Gaiwan to inform him of his task.”

Orrick bowed over her hand and kissed it. “You are as
intelligent as you are lovely, Niece,” he declared before leaving her alone with Espan in the solar.

She turned to the steward once they were alone. “Espan, I want that message sent, now.”

Espan frowned. “Milady?”

“You heard what I said,” she replied testily, her nerves badly frayed after the trying day she’d had. “Send the message just as I ordered. Once that is done, ensure that my uncle is catered to this evening. I want his cup constantly filled with wine.
Slip a few silvers into the hand of his page if you must, but see it done. Then, when he retires for the evening and falls asleep, I want his door bolted and guards posted without. He is not to leave that room.”

Espan’s eyes widened in horror. “Milady, you mean to imprison your uncle? For how long?”

Gwen turned to leave the solar. “Three days,” she called over her shoulder. “See it done or the consequences will be dire.”

Espan did not protest or try to follow her, and G
wen assumed he meant to obey. She certainly hoped so; her plans hinged upon it.

Gwen was grateful that t
he halls were dark and quiet as she made her way back toward her chambers. Their royal guests were out of her hair for the night, and she was free to fall into bed and surrender to the fatigue weighing upon her. Morning would be soon enough for her to act upon the plan she’d thought of just a moment ago in the solar. She had no intention of bending to her uncle’s wishes, which he would learn soon enough.

Gwen was so deep in thought, she did not see the shadowed figure waiting outside the door to her chambers until it was too late. A strong arm wrapped around her, and wet lips descended upon hers before she could so much as gasp. Gwen realized that her guards were gone, and wondered what folly had caused them to abandon their station. She struggled against a hard male body, choking on the scream welling up in her throat. One hand imprisoned her wrist as the other clapped over her mouth.

“Shhh, cease your struggles, my love. It is I, your betrothed.”

Gwen breathed a sigh of relief and took a slow, deep breath as he pulled his hand away from her mouth. “Gaiwan? By the gods, you scared me half to death!”

His lips caressed her ear. “Forgive me, sweet Gwendolyn. I did not think. I only knew that you looked entirely too lovely at dinner, and I wished to steal a kiss from your sweet lips. As well, I had hoped to offer you comfort. You must be absolutely distraught over the loss of your dear brothers. I hope you are not too cross with me.”

Gwen pressed her hands against his chest, trying to put a bit of distance between them, but Gaiwan was insistent. “My prince,” she said carefully. “Please, it is not wise for you to be here at this hour. Someone might
see. Servants gossip, you know.”

“If any servant speaks a word against you, I’ll have his tongue.”

You’ll have need of it once you lose yours down my throat,
Gwen thought as he hungrily pressed his mouth to hers again. She suffered the kiss in silence, knowing that he would become petulant and angry if she refused.
Make him happy
, she reminded herself as she tried to enjoy his kiss.
Gain his love and your life will be easier for it.
However, Gwen found it easier said than done. She could not help but compare this kiss to another, and found Gaiwan’s lacking.

When Gaiwan pushed her door open and propelled her inside, urgency began to swell in her again. Her betrothed did not know that Sir Caden was being held in her room—only Brennus, her uncle, Espan, Lynet, and the guards knew of his presence there. Gwen resumed her struggle, fumbling for an excuse to give Gaiwan as to why he could not have access to her chambers.

“Please, my prince,” she whispered. “We are not yet wed, this is highly improper.”

Gaiwan’s grip tightened on her waist as he lifted her, carrying her toward the bed. The room was dark, save for the meager moonlight filtering through an open window. She could not see Caden, but felt his presence
; knew that he was there, in the shadows. That he would be a witness to her shame made her humiliation even more acute

She heard the soft clink of chains, but Gaiwan was oblivious as he climbed onto the bed, looming over her ominously. His hand found her face, his touch surprisingly gentle considering the circumstances.

“In the eyes of the gods we are one,” he reminded her. “I have had your maidenhead, Gwen. All that remains are a few words to be said in front of a priest. In Lerrothe, we do not place as much stock in these things as you. In my eyes, and the eyes of the gods, you are already mine. Will you refuse me, darling?”

“I am not property to be claimed by any man,” she protested, squirming in his hold. “Let me go.”

Gaiwan’s expression changed from one of petulance to one of anger. The hand upon her face tightened, his fingers biting into her cheeks. “No one refuses me,” he hissed, giving her a rough shake. “Least of all you. It will go easier for you if you do not fight me.”