Beloved in His Eyes (Angel's Assassin #2)(19)

“Will Captain Gawyn be joining us tonight?” Justina wondered, perhaps a bit too hopeful.

Aurora stared at her for a long moment with bright blue eyes, as if seeing something in Justina she liked. “I do not think he will make it back in time. He had work to do.”

Justina’s face fell in discontentment. She hadn’t realized how much she had looked forward to seeing him. “Oh.”

“You will stay until he returns? I know he would be disappointed if you were not here.”

“I...” Justina lowered her gaze to her lap where her hands were clenched nervously. She couldn’t stay forever. Uncle Bruce needed their help on the farm. She and Adam should be returning to Auch, they had responsibilities. “I...”

Aurora reached out to put her hand over hers. “I know you have a lot to do in Auch.”

Over Lady Aurora’s shoulder, Justina locked eyes with Adam.

“You said we could stay one more day,” Adam pleaded.

Justina sighed and nodded. “I did. Only one more day.” She hoped Gawyn made it back, so she could… so she could what? He was captain of the guard. She was a farmer. She was being impractical thinking they could be anything.

Adam clenched his fist in a gesture of excitement. Aurora nodded in acceptance, but she had a pleased glint in her eyes that confused Justina.

Aurora suddenly turned, and Justina saw a dark-haired man at her side. She wasn’t sure where he had come from; she hadn’t seen him enter the room. Her throat clenched tight and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Tremors shot up her spine. Fear gripped her in a tight embrace.

It was the monster.

Justina froze as the monster bent to kiss Aurora’s head. Her mind screamed in denial. She saw images in her mind from the square. Lady Aurora laying a hand on his arm. She remembered her calling, ‘Damien.’ Like a curtain being drawn aside, the name of the monster became clear, ringing over and over in her mind. Damien. Damien. Lord Damien.

“Justina, this is my husband, Lord Damien,” Aurora introduced.

He locked gazes with her.

Damien! her mind shouted. The monster. He was the one she had seen. Her mind instinctively returned to that horrible moment in time. She had accompanied her father to the market that day. It was the first day her father let Adam remain home alone. Her father had said he had business to attend to. He always had business to attend to.

Her father told her to run and get herself a tart. What a treat! A tart! He had given her coin, telling her he would meet her. He had to relieve himself. He kissed her forehead and she raced away as her father ducked behind a building. She returned, having eaten half the tart. She turned the corner...

Her father lay on his back in the dust of the street. A man dressed in black stood over him. He wiped a bloodied blade on the front of her father’s tunic. When he stood, she saw him. She saw his face! And it was the same face she was staring at now.

It was a long moment before she realized he had spoken and the three of them were staring at her. Murderer! her mind screamed. But she knew she couldn’t accuse him. He was a powerful lord and she a commoner. Tears filtered across her eyes. She felt helpless to move, to speak, to exact vengeance. He had killed her father. He had taken him from her.

“Are you ill?” Lady Aurora asked.

Justina tore her gaze from Lord Damien’s dark one. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. She couldn’t stop the trembling in her voice. “I don’t feel well.” She couldn’t stay here. Her hands were clenched into tight balls. She couldn’t remain here for one more moment. She stood and whirled with such speed that she knocked her chair over. She didn’t look back, but hurried from the head table, walking at a quick pace down the long aisle. The room wavered before her eyes; warmth descended over her like a blanket. She didn’t see the knights stop to look at her. She didn’t see the servant carrying the large tray that she almost ran into.

This was wrong. All of it was wrong. Lady Aurora didn’t care about them, didn’t care to protect them. She was plying them with sweets and pretty clothing and large rooms for the sake of her husband. She was trying to atone for what Lord Damien had done by giving them a horse!

Her throat closed as she reached the door. Her stomach clenched tight and nausea rose in her mouth.

“Justina?”

She looked up to see Linda standing near her. Aurora had sent Linda, not to see to their needs, but to watch them. How gullible she had been! She had wanted to believe that her lord and lady wanted what was best for them. But why would they? They were nothing to them. Peasants. They had shown no interest before.

Linda lay a comforting hand on Justina’s shoulder.

Justina yanked away from it. She didn’t want to wear these tainted clothes. She trembled violently. “Show me back to my room.” She just wanted to go home.



Justina paced the darkened room. The firelight from the hearth was the only light in the room. It washed over her as she paused to stare deep into the snapping and hissing flames. Then, she whirled and stalked back into the darkness. She had quickly changed clothes back to her cotton dress and bodice. She hated the beautiful dress and the large room and even the sweets on the table. She hated Acquitaine. She hated Lady Aurora for making her feel welcomed and safe. It had all been a ruse to protect her husband. And she had the coin to do it.

Justina turned and moved toward the light of the hearth. She was only waiting for Adam. Once he came, they were leaving. They would never, ever return here.