Page 44 of Feathers in the Wind
He snorted. ‘Don’t fear, little Puritan, your virtue is quite safe with me, and neither do I intend to kill you, Mistress Gray, although God knows someone else may well want that privilege when we are done. Put some clothes on and come with me, now.’
Shivering from cold and apprehension, Perdita slipped from the bed, pausing only to pull on a petticoat and shoes. She threw a cloak around her shoulders for warmth and followed Denzil out into the corridor.
He put his fingers to his lips. ‘Shhh. We mustn’t wake her.’
Perdita had no intention of wakingherbut she shivered at the thought of Louise, hopefully slumbering peacefully in the best guest chamber at the farthest end of the corridor. They stopped outside the door to Adam’s chamber. Denzil produced a key and handed it to Perdita.
‘You. I've had far too much to drink.’
She opened the door and slipped inside the room. To her surprise, Adam sat in a chair at the table, fully dressed in cloak and hat. He started when he saw her and rose to his feet.
‘What’s she doing here?’
Perdita glanced at Denzil. ‘What do you want of me?’
Denzil smiled, his fingers closing around Perdita’s arm, drawing her in toward him.
‘She's going to let you go. Someone must face Louise in the morning and I don't want it to be me or Robin or that pretty piece he’s so keen on. It will be easy.’ He bent his head to Perdita’s ear. ‘All you have to say, little Puritan, is that you had a spare key and you let him out.’
‘I know I should be grateful to you, Denzil,’ Adam said drily, ‘But, as we have discussed, Louise is unforgiving and you are setting Perdita against her.’
Denzil looked at Perdita. ‘You can go back to your bed, Puritan. I’ll not have it said I forced you to something against your will.’
Perdita glanced from one brother to the other. How could two men who bore the same blood be so different? Were they two sides of the same coin, the opposite and yet the same?
‘I’m not scared of Louise,’ she lied. ‘I’ll take the blame, my lord.’
Denzil threw his arm across Perdita’s shoulders. ‘See, she’ll do it, and what does it matter if she earns Louise’s undying hatred? She’ll be in good company. Those people she can't use, she hates. Louise's philosophy of life is quite simple.’
Adam looked across at her, his eyes dark shadows in the inadequate light. She wanted to tell him that she would walk through the very fires of hell if it meant she could see him free.
‘Good,’ Denzil said. ‘Well, are you going?’
Adam stood up. ‘What about your men?’
‘Sleeping like babies in the barn. There’s no one in the stables. Take Rob’s horse. It’s the fastest.’
Adam smiled. ‘Rob will never forgive me.’
Denzil shrugged. ‘I saw Rob’s eyes tonight. He’d rather see you free than dancing at the end of the hangman’s noose.’ He stretched, ‘God's death but I'm tired. I'm going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, Mistress Gray.’
‘I have no doubt you will be suitably outraged,’ Perdita said.
Adam put a hand on his brother's arm. ‘Lay a finger on her and you answer to me.’
Denzil straightened with drunken dignity. ‘You have my word as a gentleman.’ He bowed and lurched out of the room.
Perdita glanced at the sky beyond the window, already showing a faint lightening of dawn. ‘There’s not much time, Adam.’
He nodded and caught her arm, drawing her toward him. ‘Perdita, how many times can one person be indebted to another?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘By my calculation, this is the third time you have saved my life. What can I do to repay you?’
Her eyes met his. ‘Nothing, Adam. Perhaps one day the debt can be repaid but not here and now.’ She wriggled out of his grasp. ‘You must go. Does your leg need redressing before you leave?’
He shook his head. ‘It’ll do.’
