Page 99 of His Betrothed
To her utter surprise, the soldier holding Spencer motioned to another, who picked up the cane from the floor.
They pulled him towardthe hall, but came up short as a small woman blocked their way. She was dressed in a fine black gown, and her gray hair was neat beneath a smart black capand veil. Though Roselyn couldn’t see Spencer’s face, his entire body became rigid.
“Madre,” he said simply, with a short nod of his head.
This formidable woman had obviously faced too much in her years in England to be cowed by mere soldiers.In a lightly accented voice, she said, “You heard the young lady. Where are you taking my sons?”
As the company of soldiers moved past her, escorting Spencer and Alex from the room, their leader said, “They go to the Tower, my lady, where we take all traitors.”
The fear that spread through Roselyn was like a slow death in icy water, but she had sworn to herself that no longer would she hideaway from the real world. She would take chances, brave danger—anything to free Spencer.
She lifted up her skirts and began to run, catching up with the company of soldiers as they reached the door leading to the gardens. She clutched the door frame and called, “Spencer!”
He looked over his shoulder, as the soldiers pulled him toward the river.
“I can help you!” she cried. “Trust me!”
“No!”He turned toward her, but was dragged backward. “This is my battle and I willwin it. Go back to Wight—go back to John. Stay safe!”
She stood in the doorway long after the soldiers had loaded Spencer and his brother onto a barge. Though she knew he was only trying to protect her, his words still angered her, as if after all the intimacies they’d shared, she would abandon him.
With a sigh, shefinally closed the door, then turned and found the hall scattered with servants watching her with expressions ranging from disgust to interest to amusement.
She lifted her chin, hoping they’d disperse without her insisting on it. But they continued to stare until an older gentleman smartly attired in blue and gold livery stepped forward.
“I think it is time you left, mistress,” he said calmly.
“Left?” she repeated, using the haughtiest tone learned from her mother. “I have business here.”
“I am quite certain the master no longer needs your particular business.”
He thought she was a harlot! Before she could defend herself, a woman’s voice called, “Hold!”
Spencer’s mother stood at the top of the stairs, as regal and unsmiling as the queen. Roselyn felt a tremor of worry, imagininghowshe would explain her actions to the viscountess.
“Young lady,” Lady Thornton said, “I believe we have met before, but your name eludes me.”
Roselyn walked forward and stopped at the foot of the stairs. “I am Roselyn Harrington Grant, my lady.”
There was a moment of tense silence, and she was certain that Lady Thornton must be feeling nothing but hatred for her.
Lady Thornton glanced atthe man who’d asked Roselyn to leave. “Allbright, please have the servants return to their work. See to it that within two days this house is as I last saw it.”
There was a sudden flurry of movement, and the hall was soon deserted but for Roselyn and Lady Thornton. Roselyn remained still, waiting for anger and condemnation as Spencer’s mother descended the stairs, but the older woman only said,“Please walk with me, Lady Roselyn.”
With Roselyn silent at her side, the viscountess toured the hall as if she’d never seen it before. It was difficult for Roselyn to hold her peace when she wanted to blurt out the danger Spencer was in and beg for Her Ladyship’s help.
Lady Thornton came to a halt before a recessed shelf set in the wall, lit with candles. Proudly on display was the statue ofher naked son—with wings.
Lady Thornton shook her head. “Madre de Dios, but he makes it like the shrine of a saint, does he not?”
Roselyn couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “I think it was done in pride and jest, my lady. I understand that Alex presented it to Queen Elizabeth, though it seems the queen did not wish it displayed long.”
She was beginning to realize who was the trulyscandalous twin.
“You seem to know much about my sons, for someone who wanted no part of this family.”
“I have only met Alex today, my lady, but I have spent much time with Spencer this last month.”
