“Not a pretty sight is it, my lady?”
She looked up to see Walter lounging on a cushioned chair. His red eyes and his manner showed he was very drunk. His words were slightly slurred.
“But then, I have found you are no lady.” He rose, stood still a moment as he tried to focus, then went to a table and poured himself more wine. “Ladies are true and good—but you, sweet beauty, are a whore.” He walked toward her and Judith stood very still. There was nowhere to run. He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back. “I know everything now.” He turned Judith’s head so she had to look at the bloody figure. “Take a long look at him. He told me a lot before he died. I know you think I’m stupid, but I’m not so stupid that I can’t control a woman.” He pulled her back to look at him. “You did all this for your husband, didn’t you? You came here to find him. Tell me: How much would you have done to save him?”
“I would have done anything,” she said calmly.
He looked at her then smiled, pushing her away from him. “Do you love him so much?”
“It’s not a question of love. He is my husband.”
“But I offered you more love than he could ever have,” Walter said, tears in his eyes. “All England knows that Gavin Montgomery hungers for that Alice Chatworth.”
Judith had no answer to give him.
Walter’s thin lips turned to a snarl. “I will not try to reason with you anymore. It’s far past that time now.”
He went to the door and opened it. “Take that thing away and throw it to the pigs. When you have finished with him, bring Lord Gavin and chain him in the same way.”
“No!” Judith screamed as she ran to Walter and put both hands on his forearm. “Please don’t harm him anymore. I will do what you say.”
He slammed the door. “Yes, you will do as I say, and you will do it before that husband you prostitute yourself for.”
“No!” Judith whispered.
Walter smiled at her whitened face. He turned and opened the door again and watched as the guards dragged Arthur’s body away. “Come here!” Walter commanded when they were again alone. “Come and kiss me as you do that husband of yours.”
She shook her head numbly. “You will kill us anyway. Why must I obey you? Perhaps I will bring our torture to a quicker end if I disobey you.”
“You are indeed shrewd,” Walter smiled. “But I would have it the opposite way. For every act you refuse me, I will slice a bit from Lord Gavin’s flesh.”
She looked at him in horror.
“Yes, you understand me.”
Judith could hardly think. Stephen, she pleaded silently, don’t take longer than you said. Perhaps she could prolong Walter’s hurting of Gavin until Stephen and his men began their attack. The door opened again. Four burly guards entered, Gavin chained between them. This time Walter was taking no chances.
Gavin looked from Walter to his wife. “She is mine,” he said under his breath and took a step forward. One of the guards brought the flat of a sword across Gavin’s head and he slumped forward, unconscious.
“Chain him!” Walter commanded.
Tears came quickly to Judith’s eyes. Tears at Gavin’s bravery. Even though he was chained, he still attempted to fight. Gavin’s body was bruised and battered, weak from near starvation yet he still fought. Could she do any less? Her only chance was to stall for time until Stephen arrived. She would do whatever Walter asked.
He saw the resignation in her eyes. “A wise decision,” Walter laughed when Gavin’s arms were spread out, the iron rings about his wrists. Walter dismissed the guards. Laughingly he threw a cup of wine in Gavin’s face. “Come now, my friend, you must not sleep through this. You have occupied my cellar a long time, and I know you couldn’t have enjoyed your wife much there. Look at her. Isn’t she lovely? I was ready to fight a battle for her. Now I find I don’t have to.” He held out his hand. “Come here, my lady. Come to your master.”
Gavin’s booted foot lashed out at Walter. The little man barely had time to step back.
A small whip hung over a side table. The leather was still bloody from use on Arthur’s body. Walter flicked it, cutting Gavin across the face. A long gash appeared immediately, but Gavin didn’t seem to notice. He lifted his foot again, but Walter was far out of range.
As Walter lifted the whip a second time, Judith ran in front of her husband, throwing her arms out to protect him.
“Get away!” Gavin growled at her. “I will fight my own battles.”
Judith could only hiss at the absurdity of his words. Both of his arms were chained to a wall that was already covered with another man’s blood, yet he thought he could fight a madman. She stepped away. “What do you want?” she asked Walter in a dead voice. She could feel Gavin’s eyes boring into her back.
“Come here,” he said slowly, careful not to get within reach of Gavin’s feet.
Judith hesitated, but she knew she must obey. She took his hand, although his clammy flesh made her skin crawl.