Page 2 of One Knight in the Forest

Foreboding rippled through Magdalen, but she managed to maintain her smile as Edwina strolled away. Once the sound of her footfalls had faded, Magdalen picked up the missive and opened it, the crisp parchment rasping against her fingers. Lines of black ink scrawled across the cured skin.

My lord,

Redmond will be lodging at The Merry Hen the night of the 21st.

Did the note refer to Lord Redmond, one of the prominent officials in King John’s London court? He’d visited Glemstow last summer. Holding her breath, Magdalen read on.

You are to use the entire contents of the vial. Pour it into his drink. This will ensure swift death—

Magdalen gasped.

Do not fail us.

Her head reeling, she braced both hands on either side of the linen chest, the parchment trapped between the wood and her fingers. William was going to commit murder.

The letter wasn’t signed, so ’twas impossible to know who had ordered him to do such a terrible thing.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

How did she tell Edwina? Her friend would be devastated, her marriage likely destroyed.

Why, why, would William be involved in such a vile plot?

Her throat knotted with fear, Magdalen quickly searched in the chest for the vial. ’Twas not to be found. After carefully pushing the loose panel back into place, she shut the linen chest. Still holding the missive, she searched the table by his side of the bed.

Naught.

The twenty-first was only a few days away.

A sickly chill settled deep within her, for until that vial was found and destroyed, Redmond’s life was in grave danger. So, too, was hers, now that she knew of the plot. She was a terrible liar; she’d never be able to look upon William without betraying that she knew more than she should. She’d believed him to be a hero, but he’d fooled her well, just as he’d fooled Edwina.

Oh, God, what was she going to do?

Anger simmered, while her thoughts leaped and tangled like a trapped deer. She couldn’t tell Edwina. She didn’t dare. She would never intentionally put Edwina in peril; Edwina’s not knowing protected her.

Magdalen shivered and looked down at the crumpled parchment. Oh, mercy, but she truly had no other choice. She must do whatever she could to stop the murder.

Or die trying.