Page 75 of Never Love a Lord
“I told you Piers and I would do all we could to help Sybilla. You don’t trust me.”
“You’re not us, Oliver,” Cecily said simply.
“She’s right,” Piers said calmly. Then he turned to look at Alys over his shoulder as he drove the cart. “I’m sorry, love. I’m only glad that you are unharmed.”
“You’re apologizing?” Oliver said in a strangled voice.
Alys reached up and patted her husband’s broad back from her seat in the cart bed. She looked rather mollified. “It’s quite all right, darling. I daresay that soldier is going to have a fantastic ache in his skull when he awakens, thanks to you. You’re such a wonderful protector.”
Cecily looked up at Oliver expectantly and batted her eyelashes.
“I think not,” he grumbled. “Once we return to Bellemont, you are not to leave the grounds—nay, the keep—nay! Our chamber, until after this child is born.”
Cecily sighed and rolled her eyes toward her sister.
Alys spoke up again. “Since we are nearly to London, can we please talk about what is going on with Sybilla? What did the two of you learn at Fallstowe? Was that indeed Sybilla in the midst of the king’s men?”
Oliver was still too befuddled to speak, and so Piers added his calm commentary. “We think so. Graves is tending to Lord Griffin’s child at Fallstowe. Sybilla went willingly.”
“Why is Graves tending to Julian Griffin’s infant?” Cecily asked. “Where is Lord Griffin?”
“He is also under arrest,” Oliver said. “Apparently he is being accused of collusion with Sybilla in treason against the Crown.”
“What?” Alys gasped.
“Graves hinted to the fact that any tender feelings your sister held for Lord Griffin were reciprocated.”
“I don’t understand,” Alys said. “Then why would Sybilla willingly go to the king if it meant her certain trial and possible death?”
Cecily nodded slowly as she spoke. “Because she is doing what Sybilla does best. Protecting. Defending. She is going to confess to save Julian Griffin. It’s why the child was left behind—because Sybilla has every intention of Julian Griffin returning to claim both his daughter and Fallstowe.” She looked up at Oliver. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
There was no trace of anger left on her husband’s face. “I fear you are, my dear.”
Chapter 25
Julian was treated with slightly more deference once released from his conveyance into a rear entrance of the king’s home, but he paid it little heed. His mind raced with the idea of Sybilla already inside, already in the midst of a terrible interrogation.
What had she told the king?
What would Julian tell him?
He was snaking through the underground corridors, a handful of the king’s men buffering him fore and aft; from what, Julian could not say. Escape was the last thing on his mind while Sybilla was locked away somewhere inside the palace, and Lucy leagues away at Fallstowe. So many lives depended on his being exactly where he was at precisely that moment.
The corridor opened up into a wider hall, and as the party accompanying him spread out, Julian spied young Erik, advancing toward him like a squall on the horizon.
One of the king’s men stepped in front of Julian’s protégé, and Julian could not have been prouder when Erik shoved the man aside as one might swat at a persistent fly.
“Lord Griffin,” Erik said. He stood there expectantly, his brows drawn down over his youthful face, his eyes sparkling with anger and confusion.
“Have you seen her, Erik?” Julian asked.
The man nodded succinctly. “It was I who encountered her upon her arrival.”
“Is she well?”
“I cannot say,” Erik replied, his face taking on a deeper expression of frustration. “Is it true?”
“Where is she?” Julian was forced to begin walking forward once more as the king’s man gave the command, but Erik fell into step beside him. “Has she seen Edward?”
