18: Ungentle Negotiations
Chapter 18 of "A Grail for Eidothea"
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Thinking of Llyr, I stepped back and slipped.
Jasper reacted, pulling me to him by my waist. I stared up at him, surprised. His face showed shock also, but softened into … something else. My heart pounded.
How could I allow him to hold me like this? Just days ago, I had been in Llyr’s arms. Perhaps my morals were loose after all.
“Is this how we stop an argument?” Jasper’s lips twisted. He stepped back, releasing me only when he was sure I would not fall. “Shall we return to Mrs. Smythe?”
We were quiet during the return journey, Mrs. Smythe snoozing next to me. Arriving back at Psygota Mawr, we deposited Mrs. Smythe at the parsonage and headed toward my home. Jasper sat beside me and we conversed about his travels, a safe topic given the coachman could hear us.
The carriage slowed to a halt. My home was not yet in sight. The coachman tipped his hat. The narrow lane way meant a gentle negotiation of two-way traffic. Rare, this far from the village but not unheard of.
A rider appeared and stopped alongside us. I squinted, the setting sun in my eyes.
Beside me, Jasper stiffened. “Ladon,” he acknowledged.
The elder brother swung off his horse and entered the carriage, sitting opposite. “How delightful to run into you both like this. Practically unchaperoned, brother. Were you planning a little sport before returning the girl to her father?”
“Do not be crude, brother.” Jasper’s accent on that last word seemed to hold particular meaning.
“Crude?” Ladon leaned forward, our knees touching. “Perhaps. Alas, Miss Pendyr needs to be thoroughly searched before she returns home. You see, we were unable to find a certain item there…”
“What have you done?” I seethed. “You dare search my home?”
“And you. Made quite a mess of the place. So good of your intended to spirit you away for the day so we could take our time.”
I stared at Jasper. He had betrayed me?
“Do not make me a part of this,” snarled Jasper. His furious tone allayed some of my concern. He glared at his brother, his hand finding mine and grasping it.
“Would you rather search the girl instead?” Ladon drawled, his gaze traversing my figure.
I clutched my pelisse collar close about my neck. “You would not dare!”
Jasper launched himself at Ladon, landing one solid punch before it devolved into a flailing brawl.
I took the opportunity to escape the carriage. I called out to the coachman for help but he sat immobile, staring ahead, more statue than man. Ladon’s horse skittered away. I ran for home.
Behind me, I heard shouts and curses. I glanced over my shoulder. The coachman remained still but Ladon flung himself out of the carriage and came after me. His horse bolted down the path, away from both of us.
I kept running, hoping Jasper would follow, knowing I could not outrun his brother.
Heavy footsteps thudded close behind. In two more steps, he pulled my bonnet from my head, the ribbons strangling me. I came to an abrupt halt.
Ladon grabbed me around the waist. I fought, scratching and kicking, twisting my body away from his.
His hand plunged into my bodice.
I bit his arm.
He cursed, loosening his grip, and slapped my face. “I don’t have to take the ring from you by force,” he snarled. “I could beguile you in a heartbeat to surrender yourself body and soul to me.” He licked his bleeding lip. “But this is more exciting.”
We both went down, tackled by Jasper. He hauled his brother off me, landing a punch on Ladon’s face. I rolled to relative safety.
Jasper seemed to have gained the upper hand, but I did not wait to be sure of it, resuming my flight home.
I arrived to find the house in complete disorder. Jenni swept shattered glass in the hall. She saw me and cried out, dropping her broom with a clatter.
She ran to me, enveloping me in a hug and pushing the door closed behind her—but not before we both glanced down the empty laneway.
Father emerged from his study, pistols in hand. “Armed thieves! Eidothea, are you unhurt? The blighters were masked. Did they accost you too?”
I sank onto the steps and felt through my gown for both necklace and ring. Safe. I let out a long and shaky breath.
Fists pounded on the door, slow and heavy. Father took aim. We heard a thud, the sound of something sliding against the wooden door and then silence.
We looked at each other. ”Where is Aunt Norah?” I whispered.
“Abed,” Jenni murmured, moving to stand between the door and I. “You should go upstairs.”
I remained. Hiding would not save me.
Father crept past us, reaching the front door, pistols cocked and ready. He opened the square peep hole and took a sidelong look through it. Cautiously, he opened the door.
Through it, fell a semi-conscious Jasper Tregallas. He rolled onto his side, looking up through the blood streaming down his face. “Eidothea?”
I leapt into action. “Father, help me bring him inside.”
We dragged him across the entryway and propped him up against a wall.
“I am here,” I told him.
He fumbled for my hands and I gathered his in mine. He squeezed my fingers. “I needed to be sure … you were safe … need to get home.”
“Not in that state,” Father informed him, kneeling next to me. “You need a doctor, but I fear it is not safe to send for one.”
“They are — gone,” Jasper managed. “I sent them off. Need to get home.”
“Let’s clean you up first.” I glanced at my father. “The sofa in your study?”
Between the three of us, we managed to careen down the hall into Father’s study. I gasped. Not a single book remained on the shelves and lay scattered across the carpeted floor. I cleared off the sofa and we lowered Jasper onto it.
“They destroyed the place,” Father growled. “But they did not take anything. Not that I have thoroughly checked.” He rubbed the robe burns on his wrists. “I will send for the constable tomorrow.”
“No need,” Jasper croaked from the sofa. “I will handle it.”
“Nonsense, sir! We must—“
I forestalled Father’s protests by holding up the ring. “They were after this.”
Father’s gaze narrowed. “Dreigiau môr?”
“The Honourable Mr. Ladon Tregallas,” I replied.
“Without the knowledge of my father,” Jasper put in. “I am certain. Ladon likes to run amok with his little cadre of dreigiau môr friends. That is why I need to get home, to make sure he is punished.”
Jenni appeared with hot water and washcloths. I sponged the blood from Jasper’s face. “You are not going anywhere by yourself.”
His pale blue gaze regarded me, wincing in pain. “What if I am wrong and this is my father’s doing? He would not scruple to take the ring from you.” He shook me off, groaning. “You cannot be left unprotected. I will go home and write to let you know how matters are resolved.”
“You are not going anywhere,” I repeated. “Not until you can walk unaided. Now lie still…”
A scalp wound caused the wash of blood on his face. Once bandaged, his pale freckled skin seemed stark against the red and purpling bruises on his face. I smoothed ointment over his bloodied knuckles.
Father looked up from the mess of papers strewn across his desk. “Mr. Tregallas, do me the kindness of taking a deep breath.”
Jasper did so and his breath caught. He clutched at his side.
“You have cracked a rib,” Father guessed. “Daughter, help me with his coat and then I will see to the rest.”
I started to protest but stopped. Neither man needed to know I had already seen a man naked once or … twice. The coat dealt with, I excused myself.
Evening came on. Cook had returned the kitchen to a state fit for cooking, but our repast was a simple vegetable soup. I took a bowl into Jasper.
When he had finished, I took the bowl, placing it on the floor as I knelt by his side. His wary gaze tracked my movements. I laid my hand over his. “Thank you,” I murmured. “You could have gone along with your brother today.”
“I never go along with Ladon.” His lips twitched. He winced, touching the bruised corner of his mouth. “When I get home and write to you, if I call you ‘my honey girl’ all is well, and if I address you as ‘my dear Eidothea’, you must run as far and as fast as you can. Go to Bath and find the Greal … and if you are not successful, do not come back and do not write me. You will not be safe. And if I do not write—“
My fingers tightened around his hand. “Do not say that. Do not even think it.” I surveyed his face. “Is that even a possibility? If so, then you must stay here.”
“If this is not my father’s work, there is a remote chance that he will abandon the long game for the Grealseeker ring. We were meant only to be a breeding pair. He tasked me with getting the ring once he saw it but…” Jasper shrugged and winced. “He is a ruthless man.”
Carriage wheels grated on the graveled drive. We both stilled, gripping each other’s hands.
A sharp rap sounded at the front door. My father passed by the study, pistols in hand again. “Who is there?” he called.
“Brenton. I am a steward at the Tregallas estate. His Lordship heard that his son had been injured. Is he here?”
“He is.” Father called through the closed door. “But I am not opening the door to a stranger this night. Come back tomorrow.”
“I have a carriage to bring him home,” Brenton persisted. “If you will not bring him out, we will wait until morning. I cannot go back empty-handed.”
Jasper pushed aside my hands and struggled to rise, gasping and wincing. “It will do no good to delay meeting my father and may even make matters worse.”
I helped him to his feet. “I should run?”
“Let me see how matters stand first. We can play the long game as well.”
With an arm around my shoulders, leaning heavily against me, Jasper managed the distance from the study to the entryway. Father frowned to see us, but unbarred the door. He slung Jasper’s arm around his shoulders and bade me open the door.
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Very exciting episode!