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“The poor girl loved him so much,” Deb said, more than bubbling at the prospect of repeating gossip. “But he didn’t care about lady Odella. Why, he didn’t even attempt to keep his mistress a secret, either. He was only marrying her because of her dowry.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Bria said. Mistress, she thought. That doesn’t surprise me, either. “Go on. How did he kill her?”
“Well, the poor girl was brokenhearted. She wanted to end their betrothal, and he just poisoned her. Killed her in his own bed. They buried her but a month ago, and here he is tryin’ to get your hand in marriage.” Deb shook her head.
A scowl marred Bria’s forehead. She couldn’t picture Terran Knowles poisoning someone. He was a fighter, and poison had always been the coward’s way to kill someone. Bria looked at the servant girl for a long moment. She was a wealth of knowledge, knowledge she needed. “Are you still seeing that innkeeper?” she wondered.
“Yes,” Deb replied, bowing her head somewhat shyly.
Bria nodded. “He must hear all the gossip about Knowles.”
Deb nodded. “Oh, yes, Scott does. Being that he works near the village just beyond Castle Knowles, he hears plenty, m’lady. Why, little Ben Johnson was nearly killed the other day when–” Deb stopped herself short. She curtsied to Bria. “My apologies, m’lady. I know how you don’t like me to gossip.”
“It’s all right, Deb. I need to know as much as I can about my suitors and how they rule their lands, don’t I?”
Deb burst into a wide smile. “Of course, m’lady. Of course you do.”
“Now tell me about little Ben Johnson.”
Deb nodded. “Two of Knowles’ tax collectors were riding through town when little Ben, he’s the alemaker’s son, ran out into the street after a toy. One of the horses spooked and reared, nearly throwing one of the tax collectors from his saddle. Little Ben went to apologize to the man and those ruffians beat the poor child! Just for scaring a horse!”
Bria’s jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed slightly. “Is he all right?” she asked after a moment of controlling her anger.
“Yes,” Deb answered. “Scared to death of the tax collectors now, if he wasn’t already. He’ll steer clear of them.”
“Tell me what else you’ve heard,” Bria urged.
Deb’s face all but glowed. There was nothing she liked more. But before she began, a boy raced through the kitchens, brushing past her skirt. He carried a handful of carrots. Bria recognized the dark hair and wiry body instantly. Her eyes widened, following the boy’s path through the kitchen. “Wasn’t that Garret’s squire?”
Deb nodded her head.
“Bradley!” Bria hollered.
The boy skidded to a halt and returned to Bria’s side, an apologetic look on his face. “I didn’t step on your toes, did I, lady?”
Bria shook her head. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you return to Castle Dysen?”
“Lord Knowles took me on as his squire, lady,” Bradley replied, looking shyly away, shifting from foot to foot.
“You’re Knowles’ squire now?” Bria asked, amazed.
“Aye, m’lady,” Bradley answered. “Please don’t be mad at me. When Sir Garret died, I just didn’t know what ta do. My father is poor an’ we have no coin ta –”
“Did you approach Knowles?”
“Oh no, lady!” Bradley exclaimed. “I was too afraid of ‘im. Lord Knowles came ta me.”
Bria was dumbfounded. It didn’t make sense. When Bradley was lost and alone and unsure, Knowles had taken him under his wing -- but Knowles wasn’t that kind of man.
Bradley took a step back toward the doors. “If’n you’ll excuse me.” He held up the handful of carrots. “I’m tryin’ ta make friends with Lord Knowles’ horse.”
Bria could only stare at the boy as he turned and raced out of the kitchens.
“Lord Knowles must have put some kind of spell over the boy,” Deb said.
Bria scowled. It just didn’t make sense.
Bria rubbed her eyes as she mounted the spiral stairway to her room. She feigned fatigue, but inside a renewed vigor bubbled for the events to come. After Bradley had left, Deb had given her very valuable information she could use for weeks to come. She felt vibrant and anxious and even a little frightened at what the future held. She had a lot of work to do.
