“There is no solution. I won Hastings. All is mine. All will remain
3 ‘ mine. Everything you reasoned is true. You poisoned my men. Will they live?”
“Aye^ why not? Marjorie said it would just bring them low for a day or so. I asked her how she knew so much about poisons. She told me that she read many of Hastings’s herbal manuscripts. Well, she read about poisons. I nearly strangled her when I learned from one of my men that she had poisoned you, Hastings. But you escaped death and so did Marjorie.
“You two were to be unconscious as well. Actually, nearly everyone in that village will be vilely ill for a day. We didn’t know which ale stall you and your men would visit, so Marjorie had to poison all the ale. It wasn’t difficult to do, yet you two escaped. How?”
Hastings looked him straight in the eye. “You are a wicked man. You will gain naught from this save my husband’s enmity for the rest of time.
I suggest that you flee like the coward you are. King Edward will never allow you back at Sedgewick. You will live and die an outlaw.”
“She is right,” Severin said. “Why have you attacked us? As you said, it will gain you naught. As for your solution, you haven’t one. Why?”
Richard de Luci crossed his arms over his chest. He looked beyond Hastings to the dozen men stretched on their backs, all unconscious, some snorting, some moaning and twitching. They were all covered with their blankets.
“It is difficult,” he said slowly, his eyes on Severin again, hatred deep in them. “My Marjorie wants you, Severin. But not just you, of course. She wants Oxborough as well as you. She wants to be a countess. She fears poverty, for her second husband left her with nothing. I have led her on, for she is a fine piece in my bed. Ah, but you, Hastings. I have determined that there is but one road for me to travel, and it will be my solution and my salvation. I will kill Severin, wed you, and take you into hiding until you are with child. I ask you, what would King Edward do then? Kill me, the man who sired the brat in your womb? I don’t think so.”
“He would kill you,” Severin said. “Even if you could weasel your way out of the king’s wrath, Lord Graelam de Moreton would kill you.”
“Not if I had Hastings, Severin. She is the key to everything. She and her womb.”
“You are too late.”
“Shut up, Hastings.” Severin spoke low, but one of de Luci’s men heard her and shouted, “My lord, I don’t understand, but she says you are too late.”
“Too late for what, Hastings?” Richard de Luci walked toward her, smiling at her, sheathing his sword. “What?”
“I will kill you if you harm Severin. That is why you are too late. I love my husband and I will kill you.”
“Ah, so that is it. Well, we will see.” De Luci nodded to his men. Their sword tips were on Hastings in but a moment. “Now, my lord Severin,” de Luci said, “throw down your sword and your knife and let my men bind your hands.”
! I*
11
There was no hope for it. He saw the tip of one man’s sword pressed lightly against Hastings’s throat. He would kill that man. But now, he couldn’t do anything. Severin hated it, but there was no choice. There would be another time. He would see to that. But not now. Now, de Luci held control. De Luci took Hastings’s arm and pulled her away from Severin.
“You harm her in any way and I’ll kill you.”
“My lord Severin, both you and your wife are so taken with each other. Am I to believe that you want her for more than the wealth she brought you?”
Severin stared at the man, saying nothing. He wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. De Luci raised his hand. In the next instant, one of his men brought the butt of his sword down on Severin’s head./He collapsed where he stood. Trist mewled loudly and slithered fromEeneath his master.