Page 60 of To Love

Elara pulled open the heavy oak door.

“We have her, belowstairs. In the solar chamber. Alden is with her now.”

“Who do you have?” she asked, confused.

“The traitor, my lady. We have a traitor.”

When they walked into the chamber, the maid sat in a chair, Alden towering over her. As Darien had warned her, Lila refused to speak. Elara moved closer, watching the young woman.

Fear.

That was fear in her eyes, even as she attempted to pretend otherwise.

With a hand on Alden’s arm, Elara gently guided him away from Lila. Understanding his fury, if Lila truly was involved, as they suspected, Elara also understood that the maid would not talk if she was terrified.

Pulling a wooden chair close to her, Elara sat on level with the maid, and looked into her eyes.

“Lila.” She took a chance, guessing at this next bit but knowing that convincing the maid they knew more than they did was essential. At present, they knew only she was up and about the castle at a time she should have been sleeping, and that she’d followed Alden and attempted to listen to him and Roland speaking. “Why did you give aid to Father Percival?”

Elara watched her every movement.

Wisely, Darien said Alden had not mentioned the priest but only asked why she had followed him. He’d not accused her of being their traitor. Had stuck only to the facts he knew for certain. And in doing that, he allowed Elara to ascertain the information they needed.

No words were necessary. She had hit the mark squarely, so Elara doubled down.

“We know he recruited you, just not the reason. Tell me. I will ensure you will not be punished.”

The maid considered it, but Lila would not be broken so easily.

“I do not know . . .do not know . . .” She stumbled on her words. Uncertain. Scared.

Elara pushed harder.

“If we leave this chamber without your confession, I cannot”—she adopted the tone Elara had heard her father use during questioning many times—“I will not help you.”

At that, the maid began to cry.

Elara was not surprised by her tears. In fact, she expected them. Turning to Darien and Alden, she bid the men sit. Though confused, they did so.

Neither knew how intimidating they were, even without their armor or weapons.

Turning back to the maid, she looked directly into her eyes, and said, “I will help you, if you allow me. But I will not ask again, Lila. Why did you allow yourself to be forced to do the priest’s bidding?”

It was a risk, and Elara knew it well. It was possible he was not involved, and their advantage would be lost to Elara’s aggressive questioning. But they had little time before the men left on a campaign that, if it were a trap, could see people she cared about hurt.

People she loved could die.

Even now, Elara could feel Alden’s presence at her back. Her fear for him, for her father, put a fire in her eyes. She knew it from looking at Lila’s expression.

And that’s when Elara saw it. The movement was subtle, but noticeable enough that Elara fully understood.

“Who is the babe’s father?”

Lila looked from her to Alden, then back to Elara. “Sir Aldric Langley.”

Her shoulders fell. His father was one of the most influential barons supporting Empress Matilda. There was little chance he would be disciplined, but every chance Lila would father a bastard babe. Though the situation was not uncommon, it was disheartening nonetheless.

“How did Father Percival learn of it, and what were his motives for undermining our order? And why did he not simply reveal us?” Alden asked.