AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 11
“Don’t scream Maira, or you’re going to give away our secret.”
Maira recognized the voice of Jacob and calmed immediately. Once he removed his hand from her mouth, she turned to try to see him in the dark.
“What are you doing here, Jacob?” she whispered.
“I’m here to see you.” Without seeing it coming, she felt his lips on hers. It felt good and she welcomed the kiss. Then his arms went around her, pulling her closer as he hugged her to his chest. “I don’t want to lose you to him,” he said.
“Him? Who are you talking about?” she mumbled into his chest. “And stop holding me so tightly. I can barely breathe.”
“The High Sheriff,” said Jacob, loosening his grip. “I won’t let him take you the way he did Catherine.”
“Catherine,” she repeated, feeling suddenly less excited. She wasn’t exactly sure what Jacob meant, but felt a tinge of jealousy when he said the woman’s name.
“Even though I didn’t know this woman, I won’t be a replacement for her in your game of vengeance against Sir Gregory.”
“It’s more than that, Maira. You see, I want you to be mine.”
“Yours?” she exclaimed, her head spinning right now.
“Shhhh,” he said, putting his finger against her lips. “I want to talk to you but not here. These tunnels lead to every room in the castle. If we can hear what is going on inside the chambers, they might be able to hear us in here as well.”
“So how is it that you know about the tunnels and so do the servants, but not the High Sheriff?”
“When he stole the castle at the death of Lord Emery, he didn’t know and I instructed the servants to keep the tunnels a secret.”
“Lord Emery?” she asked. “The last lord of the castle?”
“Aye. Lady Catherine’s father. We’ll talk in your chamber,” said Jacob, taking her by the hand and leading her through the dark passageways.
“Slow down,” she said, almost stumbling in the dark. Jacob stopped and removed something from the wall. When he did, light streamed in from somewhere. “What is that?” she whispered. She saw his eye light up as he peered into the hole.
“Look,” he said, putting his hands around her waist and holding her in front of the peephole. She stood on her toes and was able to see into the room. She almost gasped aloud when she saw Sir Gregory enter the room, holding the hand of a maidservant.
“Take off your clothes,” ordered Sir Gregory.
“Aye, my lord.” The young woman started to lift her gown but before she could remove her clothes the High Sheriff had dropped his breeches and was bending her over the bed.
“I can’t watch,” said Maira, making a face, pulling away from the peephole. A shiver of disgust ran through her body.
“That’s the man you’re going to marry,” said Jacob, plugging up the hole in the wall.
“Nay! I’ll never marry him,” she remarked.
“Come,” he told her leading her further. She heard him fumbling with something and then heard a scraping sound. Firelight lit up his face. He held a tallow candle in one hand.
“Where did you get that?” she asked in surprise.
“It was here all along, you just have to know where to find it. This way,” he said, leading her to a hidden staircase.
“Where does this lead?” she asked, staring up the narrow stone staircase in awe.
“It leads to the second floor. Are you staying in the room in the far east wing?”
“I am. Why?” she asked him.
“Good,” was all he said. Still holding his hand, they climbed the stairs and then he led her down another corridor. As they passed one chamber after another, she got glimpses of people and heard snippets of conversations from through the peepholes in the rooms.
