An Uncertain Choice(52)

The abbot didn’t turn to acknowledge me, but instead continued to direct his conversation to the duke. “If he’s not in the dungeon, what’s to prevent him from trying to escape?”

“Because he’s a man of honor,” the duke replied.

The abbot only shook his head, his face filled with scorn.

“In the meantime,” the duke continued, “Sir Collin and Sir Bennet and I will commence a thorough investigation to find evidence that he’s innocent.”

“He deserves death by hanging for taking the life of the sheriff,” the abbot said bluntly. “The law demands it. The people will expect it. And justice must be served. If not, I cannot guarantee what may happen.”

The abbot’s words dripped with a foreboding and an undercurrent of threat.

“If I hand myself over and allow you to lock me in the dungeon,” Derrick said, “then you’ll guarantee Lady Rosemarie’s safety?”

Surely he didn’t think I was in danger.

“You don’t have to do this, Derrick.” Sir Collin’s harsh whisper echoed in the silent hall. “We’ll find another way.”

Derrick spun and glared at his friends. His face was carved granite, his eyes iron. Their expressions pleaded with him.

I didn’t want to meet Derrick’s gaze, but when he turned his on me, I had no choice. He studied my face and something within his eyes pleaded with me to believe him, to trust him.

I wanted to. I didn’t think him capable of murdering the sheriff or harming his friends. But with so much evidence against him, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. I had to get to the bottom of all that had happened too. “Rest assured, I shall start my own investigation into all the recent happenings as well.”

But as I spoke, disappointment filled Derrick’s eyes, as if he’d expected more from me than what I’d given him. “Call the guards,” he said in a hard voice to the abbot, “and you may lock me up.”


Even as he spoke the words, my heart gave a thump of protest. I knew I should have added my objection to that of Sir Collin and Sir Bennet. But how could I proclaim him innocent until I found the real culprit?

As the guards came forward reluctantly and bound Derrick’s hands, I turned to the abbot. “I don’t want him in the dungeon.”

“I know how disappointing this is to you, my child,” he said while starting down the steps of the dais. “But ‘tis best you learn of his true nature before it is too late.”

Disappointment didn’t quite encompass my feelings. It was much more complicated than that. Something about the situation wasn’t right. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the moment, but knew I wouldn’t rest until I learned what was going on.

“Don’t worry,” Sir Bennet called as the guards led Derrick away. “We’ll discover who’s really behind all the murder attempts. And we’ll set you free.”

His words echoed my thoughts exactly. I willed Derrick to turn around and see the determination in my face and eyes, but his head was bent and his shoulders slumped, and as my guards ushered him through the Great Hall, he didn’t glance my way again.




I pressed my face into my hands as I knelt at the prayer altar. Except for the abbot’s soft murmurs in Latin, the chapel was silent.

In fact, the entire castle was silent, as if in mourning with me for all I’d lost.

The truth was I’d grown to care about Derrick more than I’d ever dreamed possible. But now with all the accusations, especially one as serious as murder, there didn’t seem any way possible that I would be able to finish discovering if Derrick had fallen in love with me and I with him.

Maybe God was sending me a sign that I was destined for a life in the convent after all.

“Oh God,” my heart cried out. “Then why did you allow me to care about Derrick so much? Why did you let me experience the love of an earthly man if I’m destined for a life with only you as my bridegroom?”

Had the whole month been simply a test to show me my true destiny? The anguish in my heart spread to every limb, every nerve, every muscle in my body.

“He played you falsely, your ladyship,” the abbot said, standing above me, dangling a long wooden cross on a golden thread from his hand. “He knew if he withheld himself from you, if he was more aloof and acted unworthy of your attention, you would be drawn to him.”

My chest constricted. Was that what Derrick had intended? If so, it had worked. I’d most certainly been attracted to him.

“He was crafty.” The abbot’s voice contained an unusual edge. “But I suppose he decided he’d safeguard his claim on you by scaring away — ?or killing — ?the other two men.”

I still couldn’t believe Derrick was capable of harming his friends. I’d immediately sent guards to begin an investigation. Even so, my time was running out. I’d had so little to begin with. And even if I could find a way to prove his innocence, I doubted there would be enough hours left to finish getting to know one another and truly decide if our affections were indeed love.

“He’s not worth the sorrow, your ladyship,” the abbot said more gently.

At a clearing throat at the back of the chapel, I finally lifted my face and tried to pull myself out of my pit of despair.

“Excuse me, Lady Rosemarie,” came the duke’s voice.