What does this man have that the women are begging for? What is his secret? Only you know the answer.
Complete the caption by leaving a comment, and I will reveal all in the next post.
She held her breath when he approached, suddenly horribly afraid that she was going to be forced into some new act that she would despise. But when she heard what he had to say, she would have laughed if she did not think he would slap her for it.
Did no one ever defy him? Did no one ever deliberately provoke his anger. A stupid thought, since even when he was not frowning, he was frightening. And no matter how angry he made her, she did not have the nerve to tempt a beating or other added punishment—not yet.
Her feet had felt wooden as she approached him with the soft drying cloth. And his cold voice had not relieved her any.
"On your knees again," he had ordered. "And take care, wench, that you do not miss a single drop of moisture. Do I catch a chill because of your negligence, I will beat you for it."
He said this as if his other threats of beating had lacked substance. She doubted that, but was concerned only with this threat.
Rowena did not have a chance to figure out a way around that sword or the young man holding it. She was lifted off the floor from behind, and Warrick commanded, "Put that away, Bernard, and go and wake the cook." But the moment the boy had left to do as bidden, the hard voice turned softly menacing to whisper in her ear, "If you had not earned a punishment before, wench, you have now—but first I must feed you."
Explain to me why I should not punish you for being where you do not belong!"
"I thought 'twas a punishment, my being sent to him. Now you tell me I am to be punished for doing as I was bidden? if you dare—"
He shook her once. "You were not bidden to come here. If you speak that lie again, so help me, I will not order you beaten, I will do it myself!"
Rowena closed her eyes against full understanding. "She is going to say I stole from her."
"Aye, and her most valuable trinket, a pearl necklace given her by Warrick. Melisant will support her, to say that you were the last one seen outside their room ere it was found missing. Beatrix will then demand a search of the weaving room, as well as Warrick's chamber, and whilst there, she will pull the necklace out of its supposed hiding place, confirming your guilt."
"And she will not even have to insist I be put in the dungeon. 'Twill be done no matter what, until Warrick's return, and he is likely to believe her tale. So often he called me a little thief. He will be forced to punish me severely—mayhap a whipping or—"
...There was the chance that he might believe her if she was given the opportunity to declare her innocence. But 'twas a slim possibility considering what he knew about her—naught much thanks to Gilbert—and she was not willing to risk a whipping or worse just so his daughter could have her revenge against him.
"You see now why I had to leave," she said bitterly. "I cannot acquit myself with other than what I have just told you. 'Tis you who will have to do so by proving my accuser a liar—else will you have to punish me with the severity that this crime demands."
She felt him stiffen [!] at those words. "Damn you, wench, what did you do to cause such enmity in this woman?"
Rowena took heart. The question said he believed her—or wanted to.
"I did naught," she said simply. "'Tis not even me she wants to hurt, but you. And with me gone, she may not have accused me at all, or even reported the theft. 'Twould have served no purpose. With me returned, however, she may yet decide to do it, to force you to punish me."
..."You will tell me who the lady is who thinks to hurt me through you, and you will tell me now."
..."Do not ask me that. If she changes her mind, deciding to do naught, then she redeems herself and should not be punished for what she plotted in the heat of anger. If not, you will know soon enough."
His scowl was blacker than ever... A chill went down her back, for he looked like the very devil, sitting there passing judgment on her...then he sounded like it too.
"I will decide who deserves punishment," he warned her.
Warrick whipped his daughter right there in the hall for all to see, and he used the thick leather of his sword belt. Rowena's leaned back in the chair she had been allowed to use and closed her eyes to it, but she could not close out the sound. It was a brutal walloping. Beatrix's screams became hoarse, her pleadings pitiful to listen to. Rowena had to bite her lip to keep from trying to end it sooner than Warrick deemed sufficient. By the time he was through, his daughter was utterly repentant, and utterly cowed.
"Will you miss me, wench."
"When half my duties go with you."
He whacked her bottom. "That was not a proper answer for your lord."