Page 81 of A Knight’s Vengeance

The fire popped. She jumped, and jumped again as the chamber doors crashed against the walls. Geoffrey stood outlined in the embrasure. The doors slammed, cloaking him in shadow.

Her trembling legs were as weighty as stone. They refused to move. She waited, frozen, as he stalked toward her. Closer. Closer. He halted a breath away, his eyes flashing pure fury.

He stared at her, his silence as frightening as lashing words. When he spoke, his voice was a cold, dangerous rasp. “What did you put in the ale?”

Elizabeth inhaled through tight lungs. “H⁠—”

“Answer me!” He grabbed her, and his fingers dug into her arms.

“Herbs.” She gasped. “Chamomile, valerian, monkshood⁠—”

“Monkshood? From the garden?”

Her head jerked in a nod.

“’Tis poisonous.” He sounded both incredulous and appalled. “You thought to kill Dominic?” His gaze sharpened. “Or did you wish to kill me?”

She shook her head. “We did not mean to harm anyone.”

“Then why poison the ale?”

A shuddered breath tore from her lips. “’Twas not poison. Mildred and I brewed a sleeping potion, which we poured into the jugs. We⁠—”

“You planned to escape.”

“’Twas all we intended. I promise you.”

His gaze raked over her face, and searched her features with such merciless intensity she could not breathe. “What other trickery have you concocted?”

“None.”

“You lie!” he roared, his breath scorching her cheek.

She squirmed and fought his crushing hold. “I do not!”

With one hand, Geoffrey caught her chin and trapped her so she could not turn away. “I will know all of your deceit, and far more, by the time I am done with you.”

A tremor raked through her. “You will punish me… here?” Her gaze darted past him to the bed, streaked with sunlight.

His mouth curved into a brutal smile.

“Please—”

“One wicked deed deserves another, does it not?”

Panic shortened her breaths. “Y-you do not understand.”

“I understand all too well,” Geoffrey snarled. “The one person in this world that I love as my brother, that I trust above all others, lies unconscious and near death because of you. Did you once think of the consequences of your deceit? Did you consider the possible outcome? How much of your sleeping potion might be too much for a man or woman?”

“You dare to call me a murderess?”

“If Dominic dies, damsel, you will be.”

“How dare you accuse me of such a crime. You, a man who slaughters helpless children.”

“I do not kill children.” He answered with such quiet conviction she almost believed him.

“You killed Jeremy. Remember?” she said in a tight voice. “Or have you forgotten?”