Lord of the Manor (Trysts and Treachery Book 5) by Elizabeth Keysian (best romantic novels in english txt) 📕

way that either of us would have imagined. This sacrifice cuts me to the bone, but I hope you’ll forgive me for making it and understand that there’s no alternative.”

He clutched his hand around the jewel and leaned against the wall of the cell, waiting. The constable must come soon to bring him bread, or to let Simpkin in when he came with that blanket Cecily had promised, and some decent vittles.

How could the woman have deceived him so? But had he ever given her any reason to trust him with her secrets? As she’d said, what had remained hidden was to protect others, not just herself. He’d given her every cause to dislike him when Kennett’s greed had forced him to claim fees for renewing the leases on the cottages. Now that he understood better how the village worked, he knew full well why that proposal would have caused hardship and why Cecily, quite justly, had opposed it.

Her experiences had made her loath to trust a stranger, particularly the one she considered to have deprived her of her home. She’d fought him with every ounce of her being—he should have suspected that when she suddenly offered her own and her “uncles’” help, it was a smokescreen for something else. But what that something was, she’d not been prepared to share with him.

She had felt so soft and sweet in his arms on that Christmas night and had answered his kisses with an innocent hunger that incited him. How fortunate that he hadn’t pursued his advantage any further, knowing what he now knew.

But she had touched something inside him, ignited a flame that would not be quenched. It was more than desire, more than admiration—it was, he very much feared—love. Which meant he must safeguard Cecily at any cost, either by giving her the protection of his name, or getting her out of danger—well away from Temple Roding and Kennett. The idea of her in that serpent’s coils was anathema. He’d rather recant his own faith and flee with her—abroad if need be—than see her a victim of that man’s cruelty and spite.

A shadow filled the window slot. “Master Smythe?”

Relief flooded through him. “Swaffham! You heard, then?”

“Aye.” Allan’s bailiff spat onto the cobbles outside. “That venomous worm Clark has bribed a crooked constable and his cronies. They have no evidence of wrongdoing on your part—only hearsay. I’ve made inquiries, and none of the villagers are prepared to support Clark’s assertions. Much of that is down to the efforts of a certain young woman—I’m sure you know who I mean—and her kin. But I expect your decision to put off charging for the leases until the spring has also influenced everyone. Clark will have to part with a great deal of coin if he is to bribe any of them to change their minds.”

Cecily! She’d been working on his behalf. Good—it meant she cared enough to make the effort. He smiled.

“In good spirits, I see, despite your injuries. We will bring a counter-charge of assault, methinks. I have already spoken to the local magistrate to see if the constable can be held to account, but it seems that only coin will set the wheels of the law running smoothly hereabouts. Right glad am I that I live in a town and not the countryside. It feels positively feudal.”

“Then what are we to do?”

“I shall raise coin on your behalf and stand surety for your release. It will absorb the rents I collected at Christmas, however, which is a shame.”

“Nay—don’t waste those on setting me free. We need that money to pay Simpkin—and Lettice when she returns—and to buy winter feed for the animals. It was my folly that put me in this cage, and I’ll have neither beast nor man suffer for it. Take this, sell it, or offer it in lieu of coin, and do what you can. I can’t do anything in my own cause until I get out of this place.”

Allan pushed Hannah’s bejeweled miniature portrait between the bars. If Swaffham noticed a pause before Allan let go of the object, he gave no sign of it.

“This will certainly oil the machinery of the law and borrow you the freedom you need to clear your name. Have no fear—I’m your man, steady and true. And if you’re unable to pay my wages for a month or so, I shall not complain. I’m no pauper, having other accounting work to do besides that of the commandery. And it would gall me to see that conniving Kennett Clark triumph over us after all our endeavors.”

“It does dent one’s faith to see such villains prosper. Were he not my wife’s only surviving relative, I would have cut off the acquaintance long since.”

“Ah, speaking of acquaintance—your serving wench, Cecily, gave me a basket for you. But I’ll have to fetch the constable to open the door, so I can give it to you.”

“Stay. How did you know I was here?”

“Cecily rode over to tell me, on that monstrous stallion of yours. She is naught if not courageous, that girl. You have a propensity for winning the loyalty of your servants. I can’t imagine my maid bestirring herself much on my account.”

Cecily had ridden Baldur to find Swaffham? After he’d told her to lie low, avoid Kennett and keep herself safe? Would she never hearken to his advice? He rolled his eyes. The Hospitallers must have had their work cut out for them when they tried to raise her.

Despite the fact that they, too, had beguiled him, he couldn’t hate them for it. Even though they were of the old faith, every single one of them had more grace, more honor in his little finger than Kennett Clark had in his entire body.

Swaffham bade Allan adieu for the time being, and he moved back to prop himself against the wall again, considering it both safer and cleaner than the floor. His hand automatically reached for the comfort of Hannah’s miniature portrait.

Of course, it