Free A Knight's Persuasion by Catherine Kean

fist slammed into her head.
    “Nay!” Juliana screamed. “Mayda!”
    Eyes rolling, Mayda keeled sideways, then backward. Toward the gaping space between the merlons.
    Juliana hurried forward, trying not to jostle Rosemary, heedless of the wind buffeting her and slowing her down. “Mayda,” she shrieked. “Beware!”
    Mayda bumped against a merlon, then staggered. Her hands flew wide, a frantic attempt to regain her balance. “Juliana—” she groaned.
    Landon lunged forward and shoved her. Hard.
    Mayda’s hands flailed, grasping for a handhold. Seizing only air.
    “ Mayda! ” Juliana shrieked.
    With a shrill cry, her friend fell backward over the side. Her scream carried, and then . . . abrupt silence.
    Several yards from Landon, Juliana stumbled to a standstill. Horror pounded inside her. Her whole body shook as she looked from Landon, his seething stare upon her, to the dark, vacant space where Mayda had disappeared.
    Rosemary bawled.
    The wind hissed, cold and . . . empty.
    “Mayda,” Juliana whispered, pressing her arm across her churning stomach. “Oh, God!”
    Over Rosemary’s cries, Juliana heard shouts somewhere down the wall walk. Castle folk were investigating the scream. At the same moment, Landon glanced over the battlement, as if to see what had become of his wife.
    Could she have survived such a fall? Not likely. Not when the almost dry moat was strewn with rocks.
    Mayda was dead. A demise she’d feared days ago.
    Even as bile stung the back of Juliana’s mouth, another, more deadly thought snared her focus. She was the only one to have seen what happened. A witness to a lady’s murder.
    Landon would no doubt convince any curious folk that what had taken place was an unfortunate accident. He was lord of Waddesford; his statement wouldn’t be questioned. Hers, however . . .
    She took a shaky step back. He’d murdered once tonight. Would he kill her this evening, to silence her? Then would he do away with his daughter, whom he’d never wanted?
    As he tugged down his sleeves and faced her, Juliana scrambled backward toward the doorway. She’d whirl around and run—
    Movement on the wall walk snared her gaze. A slender figure emerged from the shadows close to Landon. Veronique . Raising her hands, she started clapping.
    Merciful God!
    As she strolled into the pale moonshine, light swept over her waist-length red tresses that brushed against her long black cloak. The vibrant, reddish hue, unnatural for a woman her age, looked even more eerie in the moonlight. Not only was Veronique applauding, but smiling as though she’d witnessed a superb performance.
    “Well done, Landon.” Each of Veronique’s words sang with triumph.
    “Well done?” Juliana choked out while forcing her shocked body to continue backward. Get to the doorway , her mind screamed. Save yourself. Protect Rosemary, as you promised. Hurry!
    “I killed my wife.” Landon sounded stunned. Did he not believe what he had done?
    “You did what was necessary.” At his side, Veronique reached up a hand, turned his face so that he looked at her, and kissed him full on the lips. Pressing up against him, she said, “Now you are free. No one will separate us.”
    Juliana swallowed. There could be but five steps left till she reached the doorway.
    “Aye.” Landon exhaled a sharp breath. “But—”
    Four .
    “You had no other choice,” Veronique murmured. “Do not worry. We will ensure her death is considered no more than an accident.” Veronique’s gaze fixed on Juliana. “Starting with her.”
    Run!
    Juliana spun and bolted into the stairwell.
    Her bare feet skidded on the rough stones. Rosemary, bouncing in her arms, shrieked. Her cry echoed in the passageway, the sound mirroring the frantic scream rising inside Juliana.
    “She cannot get away,” Veronique snapped from the wall walk.
    “I know,” Landon said. “Guards!” he yelled. “Guards!”
    Juliana heaved in a breath. She must get out of the castle.
    How?
    No