Page 75 of The Herald's Heart
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
As she descended to the caves, Larkin thought about the various ways the earl could protect the box from water damage. The best method was to keep it away from water. Were there passages that did not flood? Perhaps hidden by rock falls or with entrances as difficult for humans to access as it might be for the sea? In pursuit of such places, she wandered farther than she intended. But, truly, she could find the marriage box here, because, after wriggling her way up into an opening in the roof of an unexplored cavern, she discovered a cave that had no marks from the tide.
She raised her lantern and peered into the narrow opening before her. Did the passage end here, or was there a chamber beyond? Perhaps the passage split again, like the three previous ones she’d explored before finding this unexpected hole. She would have to force her way in to find out what lay beyond. No matter what she found, ’twould be the last exploring she did this day.
She walked forward, her shoulders brushing the rock on either side. Loose stone fell to the ground behind her, and small pebbles crushed underfoot. She emerged into a small cavern with three passages splitting off. ’Twas filled with rubble and natural ledges that faded into the darkness of the passages. ’Twould take hours to search this place.
Off to one side, more stone scattered from roof to floor. The cave was none too stable. She’d best go for help. At the roof opening, she lowered her lantern to the floor first, then gripped the edge, and let herself down. As she lifted her lantern, the light increased oddly, and she found her way blocked by Baron Le Hourde.
“How did you escape?”
“The same way I managed to bar the passage door, to shoot arrows at you, and place gold in your pockets after pulling a wall down on top of you, all without being anywhere near this keep.”
“Unless you had help, you make no sense.” Help was an absolute necessity, but who? And was that person near? She had a slim chance of escaping one assassin, but not two. Yet be it a hundred, she would not die without a fight, and heaven help her, if possible she would take every one of them with her.
He smiled. “You’re not as stupid as most women. Yes, Cleve has been a great help to me, especially after I put his wife and child in the dungeon at Rosewood. I only fed them if he did my bidding.”
“You are a madman.”
“Like all women, you talk too much. I’ve a better use for your mouth.” He eyed her as a farmer might examine a prize cow. “You’re a bit older than I like, but then so was your mother.” He grinned.
Never show fear. Larkin took a casual step to the side. “Did you like killing her?” Horrified that she could even ask such a question, she tried to keep her tone conversational and edged to the side again. Maybe, if she were very, very lucky, she could distract him until their positions were reversed.
He mirrored her every move. “Nay. She died all on her own. I would have kept at her a lot longer if she’d had the courtesy to live, the bitch. But I did kill your father.”
“Why?” She sidled toward the opening once more and resisted the urge to shield herself with her hands.
“He insulted my liege lord. The earl should have punished him. Instead, the pious weakling locked himself in that chapel of his and prayed for God’s vengeance. As the earl’s loyal man, I did what he should have done. I’ve always done what the earl should have done. Though it took a while, I made sure Hawksedge rewarded me for my loyal service, or all would know that murder had been done in his name.”
“What do you mean?” She nearly stumbled on fallen rock. If she could keep him talking and moving until he no longer barred her way, she had a chance to escape.
“The earl didn’t kill his wives. Hell, he didn’t even swive them. I had to do that for him too. After we raped that nun, he turned monkish and resented the necessity of making an heir. He wanted to dedicate himself to God, and spent every possible moment on his knees.”
Terror streaked down Larkin’s spine. “You raped and killed his wives?”
“Aye.” He strutted as if proud of his accomplishments. “Those women weren’t worthy of the earl. Not after I’d been in their beds.”
“Did they not tell the earl?” She felt the wall at her back and spied the edge of the exit from the cave.
“The first one tried to turn him against me. He beat her for lying, but I did the rest. I always thought he was grateful that I’d done his work for him.” Le Hourde smiled.
“Why?” She echoed and crept to the left.
“How should I know? But ’twas a treat to know the earl would have beat the others for the lying sluts they were.”
She had to keep him talking. If he was talking, he wouldn’t attack her. “You could not know they were sluts.”
“I know a slut when I see one. I’ve pleasured too many women not to know.” His grin broadened. “Aye, killed ’em with pleasure.”
He was mad, and she had to get away. “You mean there were others besides the earl’s wives?” Behind her, the stone disappeared.
His eyes narrowed, but the grin never left his face. “Enough. Lift your skirts. I’m tired of waiting.”
She bunched her skirts in her free hand. The hand that carried her lantern tightened around the handle. The object was her only weapon.
“That’s right, Lady Larkin. If you’re good, I’ll let you live long enough to see that bastard Talon once or twice before I kill him.”
She raised her hem to her knees, hoping to lure him close enough to strike him with the lantern. “What if I tell him what you’ve done?”
