“How can I help them?” Judith demanded of herself. “Gavin said I was to wait for his brother Stephen, but how long? I must get Gavin out of that hole!”
“Yes, my lady, you must.”
“But how?”
Joan was serious. “Only God can answer that.”
That night, Arthur answered Judith’s question. They sat at supper, a meal of soup and stews. Walter was quiet, not touching Judith as he usually did, but looking at her from the corner of his eye, as if he were judging her.
“Do you like the food, Lady Judith?” Arthur asked.
She nodded.
“Let us hope the entertainment pleases you also.”
She started to ask what he meant, but did not. She wouldn’t give the man such satisfaction.
Arthur leaned forward to look at Walter. “Don’t you think it’s time?”
Walter started to protest, but then seemed to think better of it. It was obviously something he and Arthur had discussed thoroughly. Walter waved his hand to two men-at-arms waiting by the doorway, and the men left.
Judith could not even swallow the food in her mouth and had to wash it down with wine. She knew Arthur planned some trick, and she wanted to be ready for it. She glanced about the hall nervously. Again she saw the man she’d seen in the hallway that afternoon. He was tall and slim with dark blond hair with a few lighter streaks. His jaw was strong and set in a firm line above a cleft chin. But his eyes were what held her. They were a deep, dark blue that blazed with the fire of hatred—hatred that was directed toward her. He mesmerized her.
The sudden, abnormal silence of the hall and the sound of dragging chains drew her eyes away. In the bright light of the great hall, Judith didn’t at first recognize the form being dragged between the two knights as human. It was more an odorous pile of rags than a man. It was these few seconds of nonrecognition that saved her. She became aware of Arthur and Walter staring at her, watching her. She looked in puzzlement to them, and as soon as she turned away, she realized that the figure being carried into the hall was Gavin. She didn’t look at him again, but kept her eyes fastened on Walter. That would give her time to think. Why did they present him to her like this? Didn’t they know she wanted to run to him and help him?
The answer came to her instantly as she realized that was just what Arthur wanted her to do. He wanted to show Walter that she did not hate her husband.
“You don’t know him?” Walter asked.
Judith looked up, as if in surprise, at the filthy man being led into the hall. Then she began to smile, very slowly. “It is as I have always wanted to see him.”
Walter gave a shout of triumph. “Bring him here! My lovely lady sees him as she hoped he would be,” he declared to everyone in the hall. “Let her enjoy this moment—she has earned it.”
The two guards brought Gavin to the table. Her heart was beating wildly. Judith could risk making no errors now. If she showed how her heart went out to her husband, that display would no doubt cause many deaths. She stood, her hand trembling, and raised her wine goblet. She threw the contents in his face.
The liquid seemed to revive Gavin, and he looked up at her. His face, lean and sharp, showed surprise. Then wonder. Slowly he looked at Walter and Arthur, who stood beside his wife.
Demari put his arm possessively about Judith’s shoulders. “Look now at who holds her,” he boasted.
Before anyone could react, Gavin threw himself across the table at Walter. The guards who held his chains were pulled forward, stumbling, falling into the dishes of food. Walter could not get away fast enough, and Gavin’s filthy hands closed around the smaller, gaudily-dressed man across the table.
“Seize him!” Walter gasped weakly, using his fingernails to claw at Gavin’s hands around his throat.
Judith was stunned as were the retainers. Gavin must be half-dead by now, but his strength was still enough to pull two men off balance and nearly kill his captor.
The guards recovered themselves and yanked on the chains around Gavin’s wrists. It took three mighty tugs before they succeeded in freeing Walter. The end of a chain was laid heavily across Gavin’s ribs. He grunted and crumpled on one leg for a moment before righting himself. “I will kill you for this,” he said, his eyes boring into Walter’s before another chain was put to his ribs.
“Take him away!” Walter ordered as he rubbed his nearly crushed throat. He shivered as he still stared at Gavin.
When Gavin had been removed, Walter collapsed into his chair.
Judith knew he would be most vulnerable now. “That was pleasant,” she smiled, then turned quickly to the trembling Walter. “Not, of course what he did to you—I don’t mean that. But it was good to know he saw me with someone I could…care for.”
Walter gazed back at her, his spine straightening a bit.
“But of course I should be angry with you.” She lowered her eyes seductively.
“Why? What have I done?”