Page 78 of Her Dark Seduction
The camp consisted of a number of tents. I shared the smallest with Celia and Geoffrey. De Tourrard told me if I escaped he would devote his life to hunting me down and ensuring Geoffrey suffered for my disloyalty. Convinced Celia hated me, he took delight in insisting she care for Geoffrey in front of me. But when Celia and I were alone in our tent she handed my son over, keeping watch while I held him in my arms and took comfort in nursing him.
The first night de Tourrard went to the village to search the tavern. I lay awake trembling with fear that he would find and kill Vane, but he did not. He returned and flew into a rage. Nobody in the village had heard the name Sawford. Celia suffered from his anger, returning from a summons to his tent with fresh cuts on her face, one eye already swelling.
“You must leave,” she pleaded, “before he turns his attentions to you.”
“I cannot. He’ll track me down and Geoffrey will suffer. I must think of my son.”
“Your son will suffer at his hands no matter what you do. For his sake, you must get away. But not to the village—de Tourrard spoke of a sickness which has taken many children’s lives. The churchyard is piled with their bodies. He intends to burn the village at first light tomorrow.”
The sickness.
Churchyard piled with bodies.
Only death will separate Geoffrey from me.
Only death…
Geoffrey would be safe in death.
“I cannot leave,” I said, “but I have a plan if you’ll help me.”
****
As night fell, I approached the village via the river, avoiding de Tourrard’s watchmen. By the time I found the house I sought, my legs, wet from the river, were ice cold. The house looked the same as when I’d first seen it, the same stack of barrels beside the door.
Thankfully, the moonlight shone bright enough to guide me to Jack’s house. Sickened by what I had done in the graveyard, I lifted my hand and knocked on the door.
Before I lost my nerve and ran, I heard shuffling footsteps and the door opened a little way.“Who is it?”
“’Tis me—Lisetta.”
The door opened more fully. Jack stood before me, his expression hard.
“What do you want?”
“To warn you. You must leave. They are looking for Vane.”
“I already know that, woman,” he snarled. “They were looking for him in the tavern, declaring him a traitor to the crown. But none betrayed him. You betrayed him though, did you not? Just as you betrayed young Tom.”
“Tom? How do you know he’s dead?”
“He was discovered a few days ago at Midford tavern—his throat slit. How could you? We brought you into our home! Get out of my sight before I do the same to you.”
“Please, Jack,” I cried but he slammed the door in my face. I pounded on the door, not caring that my fists began to bleed.
It opened again to reveal both Jack and Lily.
“Leave us alone, bitch!” Lily cried. “Have you come to betray us too?”
“No!” I pleaded, “I have come to give you your nephew.Please! His best chance is with you.” Only then did they notice my basket. It contained two bundles. One wriggled and squawked in protest, the other lay horribly still. Setting it down I picked Geoffrey up.
“Please take him.” I held my son out to Lily, my heart breaking at the thought of giving him up. “Then you must leave. De Tourrard will burn the village at first light. His men have surrounded the village but if you leave by the river you’ll pass unnoticed.
Lily ignored the child in my arms.
“Do you deny you brought them here?”
I shook my head. “Forgive me. All I can do now is ask you to leave and give my son a good life.”
