It Had To Be You

Chapter 28 of "A Sword for Wellington", Book Three of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea and continued with A River Trembles. Now the Chosen Court seeks another Arthurian treasure. New here? Save this post and have a binge read. You deserve it.

Sir Hugh and Gwenddydd wait for the Duke’s arrival. Their romantic encounter is interrupted by Wellington, who asked Gwenddydd to deliver her gift the next day. The couple decide to celebrate, but Gwenddydd needs to change out of her blood-stained clothing first. They find Lady Meredith shrieking and naked in bed with Gerald Pendyr and if you think that escalated quickly, we then find out how Gerald ended up in Meredith’s bed and what made her scream. (No, not that. Well, not that particular shriek anyway.)

Remember from two chapters ago, how Jasper got a letter from his apparently-not-dead brother Ladon and then the drawing room door burst open? Read on…

I stared. Miss Jones stood in the drawing room doorway, sword drawn. Beside her stood Sir Hugh Devenish, puzzlement softening his fierce brow.

Llyr and Jasper moved to the fore, shielding Ondine and I.

“What is the meaning of this?” Jasper barked. He pointed his crutch at Miss Jones and Sir Hugh.

“Lady Meredith had a vision,” Miss Jones declared, brandishing her sword. “Miss Pendyr is in danger. You will come with us.”

:I had no warning,: Llyr thought to me. :How did she have a vision?: His concern radiated along our bond.

“To where? We already know about the danger.” Jasper flung the letters at them.

Keeping one eye on us, Sir Hugh bent and picked them up.

“What does it say?”Miss Jones scanned the room, darting a glance over her shoulder.

“It seems that Monsieur Peeters was ordered to kidnap Miss Pendyr.”

“And?”

“And kill the rest of them.”

Her gaze swept over us, returning to focus upon me. “Miss Pendyr, your father is quite worried about you. He waits for you at our hotel.”

“Lady Meredith had a vision?” I asked, not moving. How many prophets were there? I stepped forward, finding and clasping Llyr’s hand, squeezing it in reassurance.

“She is occasionally gifted with the sight.” Sir Hugh seemed on edge. “It would be more helpful if she could divine when Napoleon will arrive.”

“Go pack,” Miss Jones ordered. “We have a carriage waiting. Lady Meredith believes you need to move out at once and I agree. A hotel suite is easier to defend than an entire house.”

Sir Hugh Devenish dispensed further orders. “Miss Jones will go with the women and keep them safe while they pack. Gentlemen, with me.”

Llyr stopped my forward movement with a hand. :We should leave for the coast at once,: he thought, including Ondine in his thought. :We can have royal guards waiting for us there.:

I shook off his hand. :And what about the sword? We cannot leave it behind.:

“What seems to be the problem?” Sir Hugh advanced into the room.

“I do not understand why you would help us,” I told him, “when you have been against us until now.”

He pinked. “You are British citizens. Of course we will protect you.”

“Jasper?” I murmured. “Do we go?”

“If it keeps you safe, Eidothea, we must.”

With our trunks loaded on the back of the carriage, we traveled the short distance to the Hôtel Bellevue. I sat inside with Jasper, Ondine and Miss Jones. The latter kept staring at the road behind us.

Ondine clutched at my arm. :Cychwr is in jeopardy. I must go and warn him.:

:No, it’s too dangerous,: Llyr, seated outside next to the coachman, thought to us.

I agreed. :He’s not in any peril. He’s not of the Chosen Court.:

:But he’s Llyr’s friend. My lover. He could easily be a target.: Her fingers dug into my arm. :I should go to him—:

:I’ll go,: Llyr said from his perch. :Cychwr needs to gather the royal guards to protect you, Eidothea.:

:To protect us. There will be no point in protecting me if you fall into their clutches. Ladon will be on the coast, along with his cronies, both dreigiau môr and human. Here, at least, we only have to deal with the human ones. Llyr, I will not lose my prophet—you cannot go alone.:

Jasper nudged my foot with his. “What is it?” he asked in a low voice. “What’s the matter?”

“We are worried about Cychwr’s safety.”

“Who is Cychwr?” Miss Jones glanced at us, frowning.

“A dear friend. He waits on the coast for us. He might be at risk also.” I flicked my attention to Jasper. “Llyr cannot go on his own to warn him.”

“I would send word, but with Ladon taking control of my father’s network, the letter would likely be compromised. We cannot go this minute and I imagine our hosts have a lot of questions.” Jasper looked at Miss Jones, who gave a curt nod.

Sir Hugh Devenish had ridden ahead. By the time passengers and luggage had been unloaded, rooms had been obtained next to theirs. I had not noticed, but the English had started to leave Brussels, unable to bear the uncertainty of not knowing when Napoleon’s forces would arrive.

We gathered in the small parlour that divided Sir Hugh’s bedchamber from his aunt’s. I stopped inside the door. My father, in bare feet, lacking waistcoat, jacket and cravat, came out of Lady Meredith’s bedchamber with his arm about her shoulders.

The older woman had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She wore nothing else but her shift. I averted my gaze from the scandalous sight.

Ondine took charge. Her arm went about Lady Meredith’s shoulders, turning her out of Father’s loose embrace. “Miss Jones, do you have a maidservant? The lady needs to dress.”

Grumbling, Lady Meredith shook her off, the blanket falling from her shoulders. “Not yet. I need to see for myself that Mr. Pendyr’s daughter is safe.”

“I am here, Lady Meredith.” I closed the gap between us, accepting the retrieved blanket from Ondine and tucking it around her shoulders. “Your warning came in time.”

Her shaking fingers brushed my cheek and rose higher to my eyepatch. “I saw—”

I drew her hand away from my face. “I am sure you saw true, but let’s get you dressed and get some tea into you.”

Ondine and I guided her back into her bedchamber. Miss Jones followed close behind. I took in the scene of rumpled bedsheets and clothing scattered on the floor. I covered my mouth, eyes wide.

:Your father appears to have—: Ondine’s eyes sparkled.

:Don’t say it!: I begged. I began gathering my father’s clothing and boots.

She guided Lady Meredith to sit at the dressing table. “She’s had a shock,” Ondine murmured, ignoring my stomping about the room. “Tea will help but I can try healing her?” She looked to Miss Jones for permission.

“Heal?” Miss Jones frowned. “She has no visible wounds.”

She had no Chosen Mark either. I had checked as much as I dared while we retreated to her bedchamber. “I do not know if that is wise, Ondine.” I paused in my collecting clothes and finished via thought. :She will not expect dreigiau môr healing.:

“I have a healing gift from the Lady,” Ondine told Miss Jones. “It is not like a doctor’s. I will be gentle.”

Miss Jones nodded, accepting Ondine at her word. “Go ahead.”

Ondine laid her hands upon the crown of Lady Meredith’s head. After a few moments, the older woman uttered a soft moan, her shoulders slumping. Her eyes fluttered open.

She blinked up at Ondine. “Who are you and what are you doing in my bedchamber?”

Miss Jones hastened to Ondine’s side. “She’s Miss Pendyr’s friend. Do you remember your vision?”

Lady Meredith twisted in her chair to look at the bed and saw me with an armful with my father’s clothes. She paled. “Oh, Lady, you know!”

I nodded. “I had no idea,” I managed to say. “I will be back shortly.”

My cheeks pink, I left the bedchamber and thrust the remainder of my father’s clothes at him, placing the boots on top of the pile. “Get dressed.”

“Daughter…”

I turned away. “That is a private conversation for later.” I returned to Lady Meredith’s chamber, not wanting to be in either room, but finding Lady Meredith a more tolerable choice.

Ondine and I helped Lady Meredith dress. She dismissed us, insisting on being the only one to help Miss Jones change out her blood-stained clothing. Banished from the bedchamber, I found Father had dressed and seated in the window sill. Two pots of tea sat on a low table. Sir Hugh had brought in extra chairs in addition to the sofa and chairs already in place.

When Miss Jones and Lady Meredith emerged, I noted the embarrassed looks my father and Lady Meredith exchanged and that they refused to make eye contact again.

I did not know what to think, and worse, did not have time to think because as we took our seats and brimming tea cups, Sir Hugh’s interrogation began.

Sir Hugh held up the letters Jasper had thrown at him earlier. “It seems my aunt’s warning was not necessary. Who is this Ladon?”

“My brother. He’s properly Lord Tregallas now.” Through our bond, I experienced how that stuck in Jasper’s craw.

Sir Hugh gave back the letters to Jasper, his eyes narrowed. “What does this Monsieur Peeters do for your family?”

Jasper’s expression smoothed. “My family is in the antiquities business. We search for old artefacts, various objets d’art, valuable items and put them in the hands of interested collectors for a price.”

“They belong in a museum,” grumbled my father from his perch by the window.

“I got some of them to the Ashmolean,” Jasper gritted out through clenched teeth.

“You!” Lady Meredith gasped out, pointing at Jasper. “You came to the house, poking your way into our circle.” She turned to Sir Hugh. “Nephew! This man is not to be trusted.”

Sir Hugh’s frown deepened. “For more reasons than that, aunt.” He glared at Jasper. “Why would your brother wish to kidnap Miss Pendyr and kill the rest of you?”

Jasper and I exchanged glances.

:Don’t tell him.: Llyr sat next to Ondine, having been unable to secure a place next to me.

:Did you have a vision about this?: I frowned at him, staying Jasper with a hand. He caught our silent exchange and waited.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling. :No, but Eidothea—:

“Well?” demanded Sir Hugh.

“It is a long story and one that you will not believe,” I told him, trying to buy enough time to decide how much to reveal.

Sir Hugh managed a smile. “My horizons have expanded quite considerably since Miss Jones came into my life.”

I did not miss the fond look they exchanged. They sat across from each other, he in a chair and Miss Jones by Lady Meredith’s side on the sofa.

“My answer will provoke many more questions.” I sipped at my tea, feeling its warmth seep through my chest. “As I also have questions, I suggest an exchange.”

Sir Hugh set down his untouched tea cup. “You first.”

“Ladon wants revenge for his father’s death.”

“You’re at fault for that?” Sir Hugh glanced at Miss Jones, a look of disbelief that he couldn’t quite hide.

“Indirectly.” I moved my tea cup from my lap to the table. “How do I explain this?”

Sir Hugh’s eyes narrowed. “You and your father are a rival organisation. You ordered his death.”

A laugh escaped my lips. “By the Lady, no! What an imagination! Would he not have gone after my father instead?”

“Then explain it,” Sir Hugh got out between gritted teeth.

“I believe it is my turn for a question. The dead assassin—” I did not wish to mention him, to bring attention to the connection, but I had to. “—he told Miss Jones he was Chosen. Lady Meredith has visions. I thought … I thought my—we were the only Chosen ones.”

Miss Jones answered. “Olwen was Chosen to bring Caledfwlch to this time because it is needed again. There is a conflicting prophecy that it is Napoleon who gets it.” She frowned. “You are after it too. Is that why you are also Chosen?”

I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Partly. The sword is a key piece of what my Chosen Court has been called to do.”

“What is this Chosen Court?” Sir Hugh asked. “I have never heard of it.”

“I am not surprised.” I kept calm, although my heart raced. The bond between myself and the Chosen Court thrummed with anxiety. “It is the first such court in centuries.”

“You hesitated after mentioning the assassin. I have my suspicions, but why?”

Jasper claimed my hand. “We should tell him.”

I nodded.

“The assassin is Monsieur Peeters’ son,” Jasper said. “I do not know if my father’s agent knew of his son’s involvement. They never spoke of him. Their departure is badly timed, if so, but the sword is not mentioned in my brother’s letter. Ladon would love to thwart us in that if he could.”

Hugh relaxed a little in his chair, stretching out a leg. “I already knew the young Monsieur Peeters was the assassin. I saw the portrait in your house today.”

“The agent’s house,” Jasper corrected.

“The new Lord Tregallas wants revenge on Miss Pendyr.” It did not sound like Sir Hugh wholly believed that.

“Yes,” I told him. “The return of the Chosen Court upended his family’s desire to rule. It’s a long story, but for the Court to bond, we needed the greal and Ladon tried to stop us.”

“The holy grail?” Sir Hugh blurted. Both Lady Meredith and Miss Jones came to a stiff attention.

My shoulders lifted. “Sort of? Lots of the legends and stories simply are not true.”

“I should know,” Jasper put in, “because I used them to search for it.”

“You said it was your Court.” Sir Hugh had a way of picking at the threads of my story, at the secrets I still wanted to keep.

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