Page 99 of A Touch So Wicked

“I canna make me voices speak when they donna wish to,” Nan defended. “If ye recall, I told ye that danger approached, that ye and Elissa would be parted, but ye chose to ignore me warning.”

Shaking with fury, Damian grasped the old woman’s narrow shoulders. He would have shaken her had Marianne not rushed to Nan’s defense.

“Release her, my lord. Nan is an old woman; she means no harm.”

“Forgive me,” Damian said sheepishly as he released Nan. “I am overset with worry. I would appreciate any news you can tell me, Nan. Have your voices told you anything regarding Elissa?”

“Donna badger her, my lord,” Marianne gently admonished. “Nan can only repeat what her voices tell her.”

“’Tis true, me lord, I can tell ye naught else except…”

“Except what?” Damian asked impatiently.

“The king willna be kind to our lass. All may appear to be lost, but donna despair, ’tis only the beginning.”

“That’s it?” Damian all but shouted. “You’ve told me nothing!”

“I’ve told ye a great deal. Ye must prepare for yer journey, me lord. Yer stay in London willna be a short one.”

Damian felt his control slipping. One more vague prediction from Nan, and he feared he’d wring her scrawny neck.

“Bring my daughter back to me, Lord Damian,” Marianne implored. “I know in my heart that you love her.”

“You are right, my lady,” Damian admitted. “I’ve not regretted wedding Elissa. No matter what it costs me personally, I promise to return Elissa to you.”

The following two days were hectic as Damian prepared for his journey to London. He chose carefully the three men who would accompany him and informed Sir Richard of his decision to leave him behind. At first Richard balked, demanding that he be allowed to accompany Damian, but he soon saw reason and agreed to remain behind to defend Misterly.

“We’ve heard nothing of Tavis Gordon but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him,” Damian explained. “I’m depending on you to keep Misterly safe.”

“You can count on me, Damian,” Sir Richard maintained. “I hope Gordon doesn’t take it into his head to storm the keep while you’re away. It would be just like him to take advantage of your absence.”

“If something unforeseen occurs, send word to me in London.”

Damian left Misterly on a cold day that promised rain. Bad luck struck almost immediately. A day’s journey from Misterly, his horse threw a shoe. The nearest village was several leagues away, forcing him to make an unscheduled detour. Then the rain. It poured down in icy sheets for three days straight, turning the road into a sea of mud that literally slowed their progress to a crawl.

Instead of reaching London two days behind Elissa, as originally planned, the bedraggled party entered the city on the eve of the seventh day.

Chapter Eighteen

Elissa stood before the king, shivering beneath her wet cloak. Rain had fallen steadily during the past several days, leaving her damp and uncomfortable. The journey to London hadn’t been a pleasant one, even though Captain Harding had treated her with grudging respect. She had been put up at inns when possible and had slept in a tent when no accommodations were available. After they’d left Misterly, the weather had turned dreary and cold. Then a chilling rain had begun to fall; Elissa couldn’t recall when she had ever been so miserable.

Adding to her misery, she was taken before the king immediately after her arrival instead of being allowed to change her wet clothing and refresh herself with food and drink. Her knees were shaking as the stout monarch’s disdainful gaze swept over her with what could only be described as curiosity. Lord Pelham, the Prime Minister, stood beside the king’s chair, regarding her with frosty contempt.

“Is this the woman?” King George asked in German accented English so thick that Elissa could barely understand him.

“So it appears, Your Majesty,” Lord Pelham replied.

“Does she know why she is here?”

“She’s been told.”

Elissa blinked. Why were they talking as if she wasn’t there?

“Send for Lady Kimbra,” the king ordered.

Lord Pelham spoke to a footman standing nearby, who left immediately, and Elissa prepared herself to confront her nemesis.

“Elissa Fraser,” the king said, addressing her directly for the first time. “Lord Pelham will explain the charges brought against you while we are waiting for Lady Kimbra to arrive.”