The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim #7)(73)

“God will punish you for this.”

He slapped her cheek. Hard. The sharp sound resounded through the narrow stone stairway. The stinging in her cheek brought tears to her eyes as she covered her burning face with her hand.

“That is only a small taste of what you will get if you do not obey me.”

She refused to look at him, and he started up the stairs, pulling her after him. No one had ever slapped her before. She burned with the humiliation of being struck in the face.

“If you will be a good girl, I shall bring Muriel to you. But if you try to escape or talk to King Richard, I shall have my men snap her neck like a twig.”

Her stomach boiled. She could possibly break free from his grasp by punching him in the throat or kneeing him in the groin, but three of Shiveley’s men followed closely behind them. She could never get away from so many.

God, save Westley from the moat and from Shiveley’s men. She could not bear the thought that he had drowned. Perhaps he had been able to get out of the moat under cover of darkness. After all, he was not unconscious this time when he fell into the water. Please don’t let him die. And rain down Your fire and brimstone on the head of Shiveley and all his evil men. Repay him evil for evil.

When she reached her room, Shiveley left her inside, closed the door, and locked it. She tried to open it, just in case, but she was well and truly locked in.

She went and found her handheld looking glass. Her left cheek showed the bright-red outline of four fingers, and her lip was swollen and bleeding from a cut at the corner. “God, please keep Westley and Lord le Wyse safe from these evil men.”

She wiped away her tears and dabbed at the spot of blood on her lip.

The door opened again and Muriel stumbled in. Her skin was pale, she seemed thinner, and her lip was swollen. Her dress was also dirty. And Muriel’s dress was never dirty.

Afraid her embrace would not be welcome, Evangeline approached her slowly. “Muriel, are you well?”

“I’m so sorry they found you, Evangeline. I prayed Westley and Lord le Wyse would keep you safe in Glynval. I tried not to tell them, I tried to be strong . . .” Her eyes were large and strangely vacant.

“It is all right. It is my fault they found me so quickly, actually.” If she had stayed in Glynval like Westley had asked her to . . . they still would have found her eventually.

Evangeline noted a bruise on Muriel’s cheekbone. “I’m only sorry they hurt you. Because of me.”

“Truly, it could have been much worse.” Tears welled in her eyes and her bottom lip trembled.

“Oh, Muriel, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” Her horror reduced her voice to a hoarse whisper. “I would never wish any pain on you, please believe me. I should have come back to Berkhamsted with you.” An ache stabbed her heart as if it truly were breaking in two.

“No, Evangeline.” Muriel shook her head. “You always think everything is your fault, but it’s not. This was Lord Shiveley’s doing, not yours. Besides, I knew this might happen, but I risked it because I . . . wanted to be with Frederick.”

“Frederick came to tell us you were in the dungeon and he was afraid of what Shiveley would do to you. He is the reason we came, to save you and to save the king. He thinks Shiveley eventually hopes to usurp the throne.”

“Yes, poor Frederick. And now he is in the dungeon. I just saw them taking him there, along with Lord le Wyse.”

Someone pounded on the door, making them both jump.

“Hurry up in there! Get dressed, or I’ll come in there and dress you myself.”

“That’s Shackelford.” Muriel dashed over to Evangeline’s trunk to pull out her best dress. Her hands were shaking as she held it up.

“Muriel, I’m so sorry for what they did to you.”

“Never mind that. Let us make haste.”

“But I learned some things while I was in Glynval, how to defend myself. Perhaps I could help us both escape.”

“Shiveley has too many men. They would only capture us again. He is determined to have you, Evangeline.” A haunted look shone out of Muriel’s eyes, something completely unfamiliar. “We cannot escape.”

She did not want to be the cause of further punishment for Muriel, so she hurried to get out of her men’s clothing. “Do not worry. We’ll get out somehow.”

Muriel nodded but did not look at her. They both worked to get Evangeline’s clothing off her and the dress on. As soon as it was in place and laced up, Shackelford pounded on the door again.

“She’s ready,” Muriel called.

The door opened, and Shackelford stepped forward and took hold of Evangeline’s arm, then addressed Muriel. “You go down ahead of us.”

Muriel went out the door and they started down the stairs.

As Evangeline entered the Great Hall, Lord Shiveley looked up at her and smiled. “Here she is, my king. I told you my men would find her.”

Richard’s face was like a mask as he stared at her. “Evangeline, you made us very sad when you ran away.”

She stared back at him. Richard, please realize that this man is not your friend. He is evil! She wanted to scream it out. But if she did, good people would get hurt, or even killed. Muriel. Frederick. And Lord le Wyse. It felt like a bad dream, seeing the king but not being able to ask for his help.