In spite of his light manner, Alyx worried about his words all day. She wasn’t a lady and she didn’t know how one should behave. How could she possibly meet this paragon, Judith Montgomery, dressed in a sooty, scorched, shapeless sack?
“Alyx, what’s wrong with you? Are those tears I see?” Raine asked from beside her.
She tried to smile and indicate that there was something in her eye and she would be fine in a moment. After that, she tried to control herself better, but by the time they rode into sight of the Montgomery castle, she was ready to turn tail and run.
The massive stone fortress, centuries old, was even more formidable than she had imagined. As they rode closer to it, the old stone walls seemed to be crushing down on her.
Raine led them to the back entrance, to announce their arrival to as few people as possible. The path to the gate was lined with high stone walls and as they rode, men called down in joyful greeting to Raine. He seemed so at home here that the man she knew began to seem far away. The men who obeyed him without question, the whole vast scope of this place, was closer to the real man than the artificial outlaw camp.
They rode into a courtyard and, to Alyx’s astonishment, houses, looking comfortable, with many windows, were inside the walls. In the few castles where she and Jocelin had sung, the people still lived in the towers, which were so uncomfortable most castles had been abandoned.
They had barely stopped when out of a little walled garden came running a breathtakingly beautiful woman wearing a gown of flashing red satin.
“Raine,” she called, running, arms open.
She can’t sing, Alyx thought defensively, watching her husband leap from his horse and run toward the woman.
“Judith,” he said, grabbing her, twirling her about, feet off the ground, kissing her mouth, in Alyx’s opinion, much too exuberantly.
“My lady,” came a voice to Alyx’s left. “May I help you down?”
Her eyes never leaving Raine and the exquisite Judith, she let herself be lifted down.
“Where is she, Raine?” Judith was saying. “Your message was so garbled we could hardly understand it. We must have misheard because it seemed the messenger was saying your wife was about to be burned the stake.”
“True I rescued her at the very last moment.” His voice held a great deal of pride. With one arm around Judith, he led her to Alyx, whom he casually embraced. This is Alyx and this vision is my unworthy br
other’s wife.”
Alyx nodded once, openly staring at her sister-in-law. She’d never seen anyone who looked like this before: gold eyes, auburn hair barely visible under a pearl embroidered hood, a small voluptuous figure.
Judith pulled away from Raine. “You must be tired. Come with me and I’ll have a bath brought for her.” She took Alyx’s hand in hers and started toward the house.
“Oh, Judith,” Raine called from behind them. “Alyx lost her voice because of the smoke.”
Beside her, Alyx felt Judith stiffen and knew it was because Raine dared to marry someone like her. Rapidly, she tried to blink back tears.
“You are tired,” Judith said sympathetically, but there was an edge to her voice.
Alyx had no time to look at the house as Judith led her up the stairs and into a large paneled room. Alyx’s house in Moreton could have been set in the room at least four times.
Heavy footsteps on the stairs made Judith turn. Raine stood just inside the doorway, grinning. “She’s pretty, isn’t she?” he said fondly, looking at Alyx. “Too bad her voice is gone, but I’m sure it’s only temporary.”
“No thanks to you,” Judith said, leading Alyx to a chair.
“What does that mean?” Raine asked, bewildered. “I rescued her.”
Judith whirled on him. “From what? From Pagnell’s trap? She was used as bait to lure you to him. Raine,” she calmed, “I think you should leave now. I don’t think your sweet little wife wants to hear what I plan to say to you.”
“Sweet!” Raine snorted. “And what reason do you have to be angry with me?” He was offended.
“You are trying my patience, Raine,” she warned. “Alyx, are you hungry?”
“Look, Judith, if you have something to say, say it.”
“All right, then we’ll leave this room. Your wife needs her rest.”
Alyx was beginning to get an idea of what Judith had to say. She grabbed her sister-in-law’s hand and with her eyes urged her to continue. There were so many things she would like to say to Raine.