Page 36 of Retribution

His smile vanished completely at that statement. “He would become angry?”

“Possibly. He does not like me to speak to strangers, much less do something like this.”

Aidric understood, sort of. “He is not cruel to you, is he?”

She shook her head. “He has never struck me in anger.”

“But you fear him.”

She looked him in the eye, preparing to say something brave, but she was hit by those words—but you fear him—because after the discussion she’d had with Cambridge earlier, those words took on an entirely new meaning.

Did she fear him?

She did, especially if she was unable to seduce Aidric so that she could target the king. But she wasn’t an assassin. She wasn’t a spy, or a military man, or anything else. Those actions were so far out of the realm of her character that she could hardly comprehend any of it. She didn’t want to comprehend it. She was caught and she didn’t want to be. She only wanted to live her life and not be charged with murdering a king.

She didn’t want to do it!

Unable to stop herself, she burst into quiet tears. Quickly, she turned away from him so he would not see her make a fool of herself, but he’d already seen it. She could hear his footsteps coming up behind her.

“My lady?” he said gently. “Lady Cleodora? What is the matter? May I help?”

Could he help? Possibly. She didn’t know the man, but she knew that if he was in a position of power, then he must be trustworthy. He’d already proven that to her when he’d saved her life. The problem was that she didn’t know anyone, not anyone who could help her, and she was in a bind. She had no one to turn to. She was absolutely terrified.

She was willing to take the chance that if he saved her once, he might save her again.

“I am in trouble,” she wept, wiping at her face furiously and trying to regain her composure. “I do not know what to do, but I am in great trouble. My lord… you do not know me and I do not know you, but I will tell you something that you must know. It must never get back to Cambridge, however, or my life is forfeit.”

He frowned, but it was with concern. “What is so terrible?” he said. “Has he threatened you?”

She shook her head. Then, she nodded. The pearls on her diadem swayed, one of them hitting her in the eye because she was moving her head around so much.

“I cannot tell you here,” she said. “But trust me when I tell you that this affects me, it affects you, and it affects the king. Will you meet me tomorrow at Adelie’s again? I will tell you there, but I cannot tell you now.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I do not return quickly to Cambridge’s side, he will become suspicious,” she said, wiping her face one last time. “I was only supposed to go to the garderobe. I have been gone long enough.”

She dodged away from him as much as the heavy dress would allow, heading for the stairs. Filly was down there, waiting for her, but Aidric was following. She put out a hand to stop him.

“Please,” she said softly. “You cannot be seen with me. I will speak with you tomorrow, at Adelie’s. If you do not come, then I understand you do not wish to be troubled, but for the king’s sake, you should come.”

“But why?”

“Because his life is in danger.”

With that, she made her way down the stairs, leaving Aidric standing in the moonlight, greatly confused with the turn their conversation had taken.

That wasn’t what he’d expected.

Of course, he’d seen her enter the hall earlier that evening. It was as if a door to heaven had opened up and an angel had stepped through. He couldn’t think to describe her any other way, but along with seeing her, he started to feel a sensation of disappointment and regret. Perrin’s words were swimming about in his brain and he was loath to accept the news that Cleodora was supposed to use him to get close to the king. He didn’t want to accept it, but he knew Perrin would not lie.

It would seem that he was only to be a pawn in her game.

But Aidric was determined to turn the tables on her, which was why when she left the hall, he followed. He wanted to start establishing this relationship they were supposed to form, but the words out of Cleodora’s mouth had confused him. Why would she warn him that the king was in great danger? But perhaps it was all an act—she pretended to be afraid. She pretended to want to tell him something that put Edward’s life in danger. Perhaps she was only acting for his benefit, trying to lull him into a false sense of security. All of those things were possible.

… so why did he feel as if her reaction to him, and her words, were real?

“What happened?”