“What is it, you old hag?” Gavin demanded.
“My lady. I fear for her.”
Gavin would have gone to great lengths to keep from hurting a woman. Even seeing Alice as she truly was, he couldn’t demand that she tell him where Judith was. Now he grabbed Ela’s arm. “What are you saying? I grow tired of this game of hide-and-seek. Where is my wife?”
“I meant no harm,” Ela whispered. “I only tried to get you back for my lady. It was what she wanted so much. I always try to get her what she wants. But now I’m afraid. I wish the Lady Judith no harm.”
“Where is she?” Gavin demanded, tightening his grip.
“She has locked the door and—”
“Go!” Gavin said and pushed the woman. He and Alan followed her across the courtyard to the tower. Please, God! Gavin prayed, let nothing happen to Judith.
At the first pounding on the door, Alice jumped. She knew the bolt wouldn’t hold long. She took a long, sharp knife from her side and held it to Judith’s throat as she untied the binding ropes. “Come,” she said as she grabbed the oil in the other hand.
Judith felt the blade at her throat and the heat from the pot of oil near her cheek. She knew that the slightest movement could startle the nervous Alice and release the oil or push the knife into her throat.
“Up here!” Alice commanded Judith as they slowly made their way up a narrow wooden stairway to the rooftop. Alice stood back, away from the edges, her arm around Judith, holding the knife closely to her neck.
Gavin, Ela and Alan burst through the doorway seconds later. When they saw the empty chamber, they followed Ela up the stairs. They all froze at the sight of the wild-eyed Alice holding Judith.
“My sweet Lady Alice—” Ela began.
“Don’t you talk to me!” Alice said, tightening her grip. “You said you’d get him back for me. But he hates me—I know he does!”
“No!” Ela said, taking a step forward. “Lord Gavin doesn’t hate you. He protects his wife because she’s his property. No other reason. Now come and let’s talk. I’m sure Lord Gavin will understand why this has happened.”
“No!” Alice sneered. “Look at him. He despises me! He snarls at me and looks as if I were the lowest form of life. And all for this red-haired slut!”
“Do not harm her!” Gavin warned.
Alice cackled. “Harm her! I will more than harm her. See this?” She held the pot of oil aloft. “It is very, very hot. It will scar her face. What will you say when she’s no longer so lovely?”
Gavin took a step forward.
“No!” Alice screeched. “Get up there!” she commanded Judith, pushing her closer to the edge near a chimney pot.
“No!” Judith whispered. She was very frightened but her terror of heights was even greater.
“Do as she says,” Gavin said in a low voice, realizing finally that Alice was not sane.
Judith nodded and stepped up on the edge of the roof. In front of her was the upward thrust of the chimney. She grabbed it, her arms tightly rigid.
Alice began to laugh. “She fears this place! She is a child, and you wanted this bitch over me. I am a true woman.”
Ela put her hand on Gavin’s arm as he started forward. The two women were in a precarious position. Judith’s eyes were glazed with fright, her knuckles white as she held onto the bit of brick in front of her. Alice waved the knife and the pot of boiling oil about wildly. “Yes,” Ela said. “You are truly a woman. If you will come down, Lord Gavin will soon be sure of that.”
“Are you trying to trick me?” Alice asked.
“Have I ever tricked you?”
“No,” Alice said and smiled down at the old woman for a moment. “You are the only one who has always been good to me.”
The momentary lapse of concentration caused Alice to stumble. Ela grabbed frantically at her beloved mistress, catapulting her body from the slate roof of the manor. Alice grabbed at her maid at the same time as Ela pushed her mistress to safety. Ela fell over the side of the house, taking several seconds before she hit the stones below. Alice fell backward, away from the edge, thanks to the sacrifice of her maid. But the pot of oil in her hand fell with her, spilling across her forehead and cheek. She began to scream horribly.
Gavin made one leap across the roof to where Judith still clung. Her extreme fear of heights and her resulting iron grip on the chimney had saved her life.
Alice’s screams filled the air as Gavin pried Judith’s fingers loose from the brick. He held her close, feeling her body tighten, her heart pounding.