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Chapter 18
“Leave her alone, she’s not a thief,” said Willow, putting her arm around Hazel.
“I’ll kill her, I swear I will,” snarled Bedivere. “No one steals from me.”
Hazel whimpered, and her body shook. She dropped the dagger she’d been hiding behind her back, and it clattered to the floor.
“My stolen dagger!” shouted Bedivere.
Willow saw the anger in the man’s eyes and needed to do something quickly to defuse it. “Hazel, go down to the great hall, now!”
“She’s not going anywhere,” spat the man.
“Go now, and close the door behind you.” She pushed Hazel who ran out the door, slamming it in the process.
“Now that wasn’t a wise thing to do, was it?” snarled Bedivere taking a step closer. He bent down and picked up his dagger, running his fingers along the blade. “She is a thief. I’m going to make sure she pays.”
“You told me you never hurt or killed a woman, or was that just a lie?”
“You know as well as I what is going on. I think Earl Alnwick and Lord Beaufort need to know there is a thief in their midst and that she’s got her brother, a nun, and even you helping her cover up her horrible deeds.” He turned and headed across the room with the dagger clenched in his fist.
“Go right ahead and tell them,” Willow challenged him. “And then I will tell them, as well as your new bride, that you are an assassin who works for the king.”
He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
He stalked forward, not stopping until he had her back against the wall. Leaning over, he brought his face close to hers. “Perhaps, you aren’t the only one with the power of persuasion. I have ways of changing someone’s mind as well.” He leaned over and kissed her hard, pulling her up against his body. Willow dug her nails into his shoulders, trying to push him away, but he was much too strong.
The door banged open. Conrad burst into the room with his sword drawn. “Get your hands off my woman, or I will sever them from your body,” shouted Conrad.
Bedivere spun around, holding up the dagger in front of him.
“What’s going on here?” Lord Beaufort rushed in followed by the earl and a crowd of men.
Willow had to do something fast, or their whole plan will have been for naught. “Isn’t it wonderful? Sir Bedivere found his missing dagger,” she announced to the crowd. “It seems he misplaced it after all.” She made eye contact with Conrad, silently begging him to lower his sword.
It took a moment, but Conrad must have trusted her because he went along with what she said. “Aye,” answered Conrad, lowering his weapon. “That is what happened.”
“Bedivere, what are you doing in here with Lady Willow?” The question came from the father of Bedivere’s newly betrothed. Lady Anabel and her mother poked their heads out from behind the men to watch. “I don’t like this at all. No man who is taking women to his chamber before he’s even married is going to make my daughter his bride. Come, Anabel, I will find you another groom.” He collected up his wife and daughter.
“Wait, it isn’t what you think,” Willow called out after them, but it didn’t look good for her or Bedivere.
“The strumpet is at it again,” mumbled one of the women as the crowd dispersed. Willow’s heart dropped when she heard this. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes. When would she ever rid herself of her horrid reputation?
“No one will call Lady Willow a strumpet,” Conrad shouted, stopping the crowd from leaving as he shoved his sword back in his scabbard. “I was in the room the entire time. She was never alone with Sir Bedivere.”
“I don’t care,” called out Lady Anabel’s father. “I’ve made my decision. My daughter will not marry Sir Bedivere after all.” He hurried down the corridor with his wife and daughter in tow. The marriage was off, and Willow felt as if it were all her fault.
“If that’s true, Lochwood,” said Sir Chester from the crowd, “then why was your sword drawn?”
“Aye. I would like to know the answer to that as well,” said Beaufort.
“Lochwood tells the truth,” said Bedivere, coming to their rescue. “We were comparing the craftsmanship of our blades.” His willingness to help her surprised Willow. “After all, I know a remarkable blade as well as a skilled swordsman when I see one, and Lochwood amazes me.”
“I do?” asked Conrad, confused.
“Sir Bedivere, I am happy that you found your missing dagger,” said Willow, taking control of the situation.
