Threatened [W&W Book 2]

Chapter 14

Anya was walking down the hall towards the sitting room when she saw Lady Daphne exit. The lady smiled at her and said, "You might want to wait a bit. They're busy right now. Have you seen Sir Thomas recently?"

"My apologies, I'm afraid not," Anya said carefully.

"A pity. I'll just have to search him out myself. Good day," Lady Daphne said breezily and she wandered down the hall, a glaring contrast to the general bustling mania of the castle inhabitants.

Anya was not sure whether she should interrupt her lady or not. Missus White had sent her there to see to Lady Theresa and ignoring the housekeeper's orders might get her in trouble. Anya also might be in trouble if she interrupted the lord and the lady's reunion.

She decided to move closer and then decide, which would surely fulfill both duties.

The door remained slightly open. Anya could hear Lady Theresa's voice. "I'm glad that you're back, Lord Keaton. I was most worried."

"You hardly needed to be. You know that I was simply out on the king's business," he said lightly.

"I also know that the king's business is unlikely to be simple."

"But it is," he repeated lightly.

"Or safe. I was talking to Jim and—"

Lord Wildwood interrupted her. "Jim told you what I was doing was dangerous?"

"No, he's irritatingly loyal to you. But I'm not a fool, Wildwood! I can read between the lines. You don't know what it is like not knowing what you are doing or where you are."

Anya heard Lord Wildwood sigh. "I know you are not a fool, my lady. But I think it's safer—"

"So you are doing something dangerous!" Lady Theresa cried. "I thought that you never used to have much to do with the king! Why is it that now he suddenly wants you to be running around doing dangerous errands?"

"Lady Theresa, the political situation has been growing increasingly dire the last few years. No doubt you were sheltered from that while being controlled by Lady Francine, but there are spies and plots in abundance. I had remained out of it, but our journey to the capital brought us into the spotlight. The king was reminded that I am a valuable ally. He knows I'm loyal and he saw my power."

"A pity, that," she said dryly.

Lord Wildwood continued. "I can hardly turn my back on my king or my cousin in their time of need. I can't imagine what Her Majesty would do if something happened to the king."

"She would be devastated."

"I know how I would feel if I lost you," he said. The monster of guilt resumed its dreadful gnawing at Anya's heart.

Lady Theresa laughed. "You're not going to sidetrack me with sweet talk, Wildwood. Just tell me what you have been doing."

Lord Wildwood sighed. "Very well. I've been using my abilities to spy on a few suspicious lords as well as setting up information networks and all manners of other uninteresting work. I've found out nothing of interest and it is a rather frustrating ordeal. I spent every moment wishing that I could just come back to you."

"Then I'll go with you the next time."

"You most certainly will not."

"I most certainly will. The only way you kept me here was with that nonsense about preparing the wedding. As if Missus White could not have handled it! You know as well as I that she is dreadfully competent," Lady Theresa said begrudgingly.