Page 104 of His Betrothed
Chapter 29
The privy chamber rang with shrill screams as the courtiers stumbled back from Shaw’s wildly waving sword. Before the soldiers could even react, Alex grabbed one of their swords and tossed it to Spencer, who rushed to put himself between Roselyn and Shaw.
Queen Elizabeth rose to her feet. “By Christ’s wounds—”
But Spencer heard nothing else as his sword crossed with Shaw’s andhe felt the consuming power of redemption and victory so near at hand.
“Give it up, Shaw,” he ground out as they circled each other. “No one can save you.”
“A nasty limp you have there, Thornton. Let me put you out of your misery.”
In a flurry, Shaw launched wild blows that Spencer desperately parried. More than once, he barely missed being skewered before he finally cut Shaw’s sword arm. WhenShaw tried to turn and run men blocked his escape, and he was forced to face Spencer, who held his sword at the ready.
In a low voice, Spencer said, “No longer are there men to hold me in place. That was the only way you could defeat me.”
With a cry of rage, Shaw brought his sword down toward Spencer’s head. Their blades met and slid together and they glared at each other across them.
“Yougambled with your loyalty and lost,” Spencer said. “Give up.”
“I’d rather you kill me!”
“Coward.” He knocked the sword from Shaw’s hand, and stepped back as the soldiers surrounded the traitor.
Spencer turned slowly around to see the proud smile on his mother’s face, and the tears on Roselyn’s. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to tell her of his love and beg her to allow him to remain ather side forever.
But there was still the queen to deal with, and granting permission to marry was something she insisted on. And he still had so many questions.
“Your Majesty,” Spencer said, “if you needed to see proof of my loyalty, why was no effort made to question me these past days? I lived practically in comfort.”
The queen regally seated herself. “Lord Thornton, we were merely keepingyou safe.”
“Safe?”
“Sir Rodney had been under suspicion because of the behavior of his mother, who had recently begun to live well beyond her family’s means—and made sure all knew it.”
Shaw gaped up at the queen. “But…Mother insisted…she made me…she wanted…”
“In the end, it was your choice, Sir Rodney,” the queen said coldly. “We were forced to protect Lord Thornton from your desperate acts,and Lady Thornton obliged us by guarding Lady Roselyn well. The final proof was that letter. Well done, Lady Roselyn.”
The soldiers led Shaw from the chamber.
Spencer looked at his mother, who remained near Roselyn. “Madre, you knew everything?”
“No, my son, but one does not disobey an order from Her Majesty.”
Queen Elizabeth smiled. “Lord Thornton, you have performed admirably in our service,and the crown thanks you. Do you have information for us?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The Spanish will not be invading.”
The court was suddenly silent, as if the security of the country rested on him.
“They could not join forces with Parma’sarmy in the Netherlands,” he continued, “and by the time I left the ship, they were already running out of food and powder.”
The queen raised her chin. “It isas we suspected. British power rules in the end.”
Queen Elizabeth rose from her chair and stepped down to the floor, her vivid gown glistening under the candlelight. “Lord Thornton, did our royal mission finally lift you out of your sulk?”
He stared at her. “Your Majesty?”
