Free Vengeance 02 - Trust In Me by Lana Williams Page A

ground out.
    “Nay, I did not.”
    “You knew.” He repeated the words. “Why else would you beg me to kiss you, try to gain my empathy, and hide your father from me?” He gestured toward Crefton, who stood motionless by her side, his expression oddly blank. “All because you knew my true identity.”
    She shook her head as tears filled her eyes.
    “You used all of your wiles to hide the truth from me.” He turned away from her in disgust then spun back as another thought occurred to him. “Did you torture William? Is that how he received his injuries?”
    “Heavens, no!” She denied it as though appalled at the very idea.
    “Why?” He stepped closer but didn’t touch her. Didn’t dare touch her. Why did she have to be the one who stirred his blood more than any other? “What could he have possibly done to you?”
    She opened her mouth to answer, but he shook his head. “Nay. I would not believe you. Your father will explain.”
    Nicholas studied her face, amazed that she looked so innocent even after he’d exposed her treachery. She said nothing as she looked at her father, her expression unreadable. What was going on in the mind behind that beautiful face? He tore his gaze from her and the temptation she presented and turned to Crefton.
    “Lord de Bremont,” Robert interrupted. “While the circumstances may show us in a poor light, the truth is that Lady Elizabeth – ”
    Nicholas drew his sword and pointed it at the steward who had moved toward Nicholas as he spoke. “Not another word from you. Is that clear?”
    Robert held up his hands, palms out, as he nodded and backed away.
    Nicholas turned back to the old lord as he lowered his sword. “I would hear it from you, Crefton.”
    Crefton cleared his throat. “You certainly deserve an explanation.” He looked at Elizabeth as though to see what he should say.
    She nodded in encouragement.
    “My son, Gregory,” he said, seeming to consider his words carefully, “meant the world to me.” After a long pause, Crefton looked up at Nicholas but gazed right through him. “He was supposed to come home with me.”
    Elizabeth squeezed her father’s arm.
    Crefton gave her a small, sad smile in return.
    Nicholas gritted his teeth in frustration. He did not want to hear this story. “My lord, I appreciate that you’ve lost your son, however – ”
    “Please, Lord de Bremont,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Let him finish.”
    Nicholas looked from Crefton to Elizabeth then gave an impatient nod. What purpose did the telling of his son’s death serve?
    “Aye. We shall finish it! And when we do, the guilty shall be punished!” Crefton’s face lit with a zealous fervor.
    Nicholas stared at him, trying to discern if he spoke of William or a different subject entirely.
    “Father,” Elizabeth said in a pleading voice, “can you explain what happened in Normandy?”
    The strange light faded from Crefton’s expression. “Normandy?” He rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head as though he did not want to speak of it.
    “To Gregory,” Elizabeth prompted him.
    “Why do you insist on this?” Nicholas asked her, his patience at end. “There’s no reason for it.”
    “Gregory was killed in a joust in Normandy when his opponent failed to comply with the tournament rules,” she said in response.
    “No blunted tip,” Crefton said in a sing-song voice. “Pierced his mail. Left him dead.”
    The old man acted daft. Was this why Elizabeth had kept him hidden away or was this another trick?
    “Dead. Dead.” Crefton’s voice cracked as he repeated the word, and he lurched toward Elizabeth who took his arm, steadying him.
    “Father witnessed the entire event, including Gregory’s death,” Elizabeth continued.
    Nicholas frowned. “You can’t think his opponent was William.”
    She shrugged. “Aye, we did. Father and several other witnesses saw him. There was no question as to who was guilty.”
    “My brother would never commit such an