The queen's own cousin. Timidly Brenna asked, "Was she very beautiful?"
"Beautiful enough to turn the head of every man at court. She had hair the color of a gold sovereign, and a full, ripe figure." Richard's frown grew.
"But Morgan was not the only man in love with her. There were many men who paid her court."
"But of all the men who sought her, Morgan was the one who won her hand."
"Aye, lass, but the price he paid was not worth the prize."
"I do not understand."
"Morgan may have won her hand, but another won her heart. She came to her marriage bed carrying another man's child."
"How horrible."
"Aye. Other men would have had her put away. But Morgan was too tenderhearted for his own good. He reasoned that he would save the lady's honor, even though everyone already knew she was sullied. The other man had refused to do the honorable thing. So Morgan endured the humiliation. But within weeks of their marriage, she fell once more under the spell of her former lover."
"Did no one know his identity?" Brenna asked.
"Nay. She refused to tell even her family who the man was:" Richard shrugged.
"At the time, we thought she was simply so in love, she could not bring herself to speak of him. But later, when it was too late, we realized that she had been warned by this man not to reveal his identity under threat of death."
"How could he claim to love her and still threaten her life?"
"Catherine was too blinded by passion to ask that question, lass. She simply wanted to believe that the rake loved her. But he was merely using her. He coerced her into stealing from Morgan's considerable fortune. This went on for several months, and may have gone undetected even longer had not the man become greedy."
Picturing a youthful, noble Morgan, Brenna felt the sting of tears.
She quickly blinked them away. Though it pained her to hear of Morgan's past, she was now compelled to hear all of it.
"In the library Morgan discovered a strongbox opened. The contents were missing. When he confronted Catherine, she admitted that she had given them to her lover. Morgan flew into a rage and ordered her to tell him the name of the man who had dragged her to such depths."
Brenna sat very stiffly, twisting her hands together until the knuckles were white from the effort. In her mind's eye she could see the young, honorable Morgan being consumed with rage and allowing his heart to harden forever.
"What happened then?"
"Catherine must have feared Morgan's rage more than her lover's. She agreed to fetch the contents. She was gone so long that Morgan sent servants out into the countryside to search for her. Late that night she was found along the road, bruised and bloodied beyond saving. She had been run through by a sword. With her last breath she begged Morgan's forgiveness, then told him she had once truly loved him, but she had been persuaded to give in to the lustful desires of another.
She admitted that she had wanted a father for her child, and had hoped that she could be a good wife to him. But her lover's hold on her was too strong to break. With her last breath she begged Morgan's forgiveness. In her hands she clutched the contents of the strongbox."
Brenna felt her throat go dry. She suddenly knew without asking what the contents of the strongbox were. Running her tongue over her lips she whispered, "Tell me, Richard. Did the box contain the Grey jewels?"
"Aye, lass. The Grey jewels. Including the pieces Morgan gave you the other night. When I saw you wearing them, it was the first time they had been out of that box since that terrible night."
God in heaven. What had she done? Brenna felt a wave of nausea.
Windham had coerced her into doing the one thing Morgan could never forgive.
With her hand to her mouth she let out a cry and bolted from the garden.
"I must speak with Lord Windham."
As Brenna entered Windham's chambers a servant looked up from her chores.
"Lord Windham is gone, my lady."
"Gone? Where?"
"He said he had urgent business at the Crooked Tree Inn in the village."
"When is he returning to Greystone Abbey?"
"He is not, my lady. He took all his things with him, in preparation for his departure to London."
London. Brenna felt a wave of panic. He must not be allowed to take the jewels to the city. She must get them back before it was too late.
Hurrying to her room, Brenna pulled on a traveling cloak and called to Rosamunde, "Order a groom to saddle a mount."
"But my lady..."
"Now, Rosamunde. Hurry. There is no time to explain."
Minutes later Brenna flew down the stairs and out into the courtyard, where a groom stood holding the reins of a horse.
As Brenna pulled herself into the saddle Rosamunde called, "If my lord Morgan Grey should ask, where should I say you have gone, my lady?"
"Tell him I have gone to retrieve something of value. And when I return I will explain everything."
She urged her mount into a run. And as they covered the miles to the village, Brenna's heart matched the thundering tempo of the horse's hooves. What had she done? God in heaven. What terrible thing had she done?
Though it was early afternoon, the public room of the Crooked Tree Inn was filled with the laughing, raucous voices of tradesmen and travelers.
Brenna stood just inside the entrance, uncomfortably aware of the curious glances from some of the patrons. A serving wench whispered in the ear of a big coarse man dressed like a sailor. He laughed, then pulled her down on his lap and kissed her soundly. With a playful slap at his shoulder, she looked up, straightened her skirts and made her way to Brenna.
"Yes, miss. What would be your pleasure?"
"I am looking for Lord Windham. Recently arrived from Greystone Abbey."
"Aye. A fine, fancy man with golden hair and eyes that undress ye every time he looks at ye?" She seemed to assess Brenna for a moment, then gave her a conspiratorial smile.
"His lordship said there'd be a fine lady along soon."
Her words caused Brenna to blink. Had he arranged a tryst with someone? He would not take kindly to her interruption. She would have to beg his pardon and conclude her business quickly.
"His lordship's having a meal in his room. Second floor."
"Thank you."