Shackles of Honor (66 page)

“But surely you’re only guessing at…” Cassidy began.

“I saw it. With my own eyes
,
I witnessed it,” the woman confessed. Katie began to sob bitterly.

“And you never spoke of it? You never told Mason or his father or anyone?” Cassidy cried out.

“No,” she answered flatly. “Katie was now parentless. No one to care for her. I had seen with my own eyes what Blythe was capable of. Capable of killing! I knew her life would not be worth the embers in the fire were Blythe or Syndle to know who she was. I
…
I did not even tell Katie of this until yesterday when she came to me with concern for your safety. Until yesterday, Katie had no knowledge that Blythe and Syndle were her brother and sister. Or that Blythe had killed her mother and young Jillian.”



It was only natural that, after hearing this story so connected with the infamous cliffs, Cassidy should find herself at the place. After the revelations of Katie’s grandmother, Cassidy had begged Nobel to accompany her there. Oh, there was much to th
ink on. And Mason must be told, t
he moment he retu
rned!
It was all too horrifying
—a
lmost too fantastic to be believable! To think that the Carlisles had harbored such villainous souls under their own roof for so long. And there were other questions that nagged at Cassidy’s mind. Now, knowing what she did, knowing of what Havroneck was capable…she wondered about the other deaths. The sudden death of Katie’s father, head manservant at
Carlisle
. And who should be waiting to step into his shoes? None other than Havroneck. If a man were capable of killing such innocence as Jillian, capable of sending his own mother over the cliffs, then…what of Lord Carlisle? Was his mysterious illness due to Havroneck’s presence at Carlisle Manor as well?

Shaking her head violently to dispel thoughts of such incomprehensible ideas, Cassidy closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply of the fresh sea air. She fe
lt almost numb in her knowledge: h
er own life was in danger. She knew it. She’d known for some time that it was her life that someone wanted ended, not just her presence at
Carlisle
. Now she knew for certain who wished her harm. She’d known it all along
—s
een it in his eyes. Somehow she’d always felt Havroneck’s hatred of her. But for what reason? He had hated his mother because of the lies with which he’d grown up. He’d hated Lord Carlisle for not being his father. He’d hated Jillian for being beautiful and indifferent to him. No doubt he hated Mason for being the son of the manor, for inheriting everything Havroneck never would. But why then, why had he chosen to terrorize her? Did it not make more sense to attack Mason? Or Devonna
,
for that matter?

“It’s…it’s all so…so…” Nobel stammered, the first words either she or Nobel had uttered since leaving Katie sobbing in her grandmother’s lap and heading for the cliffs.

“So inconceivably evil,” Cassidy finished for him. “To think that someone so trusted in the household, someone so close to the family…”

“I understand now why Mr. Mason…uh…his
l
ordship was so determined that Fieves,
Dalton
,
and I guard you and milady, miss. Always before Havroneck was left in charge of things when Mr. Mason or his father, before he was taken so ill, was away. I…I was surprised when Mr. Mason…his
l
ordship ordered me to stay with you. I couldn’t understand why he gave me specific instructions to let no one attend to you and his mother. He must’ve had his own suspicions.”

“Then why would he leave me…us? If he suspects Havroneck is up to the devil’s work…why leave?” Cassidy asked more to herself than Nobel.

“Please, miss. Let’s return to the manor. It’s now known that you’re not safe nor milady. And…and I’ve never liked this place anyway. It holds even more alarm for me now than ever, after what I just heard of it.”

“Mason,” she said aloud. Oh, why had he left? He must be told! He would believe her. For all that she was to him, she knew he would believe her. Perhaps she would have him hear the tale himself from Nobel
,
who had also witnessed the telling of the story. Or perhaps even from Katie’s Nanna. Turning from the cliffs and the sea, she began to walk quickly toward the house. The winds off the water seemed to follow them as she called to Nobel, “Make haste, Nobel! Make haste!” She found herself running frantically to seek out Mason immediately upon his return, to warn him! For in her heart, she was assured Havroneck meant him harm as well.



Cassidy and Nobel returned to the manor to find Lady Carlisle resting, Fieves and
Dalton
with her faithfully on guard. Cassidy was relieved to find her sleeping, for she did not want to reveal her newly gained knowledge to her. Yet she knew that, were Lady Carlisle to even look upon her, she would sense that something had happened. She asked Nobel to accompany her to Mason’s study. She would wait for him in his study
;
she would wait for his return and immediately tell him all she knew. His study exuded his presence, for it smelled of him, housed his things. He spent long hours there, especially since his father’s death, and it was his essence there that comforted Cassidy.

Nobel waited outside the door. “In case Havroneck should return,” he mumbled after tucking a pistol into the waist of his trousers at his back.

“Sit and wait,” Cassidy told herself out loud. “Just stay in one place and wait. He will be back soon enough.”

The overpowering feeling of impending doom was thick in the air. Cassidy could hardly keep herself from being wracked with trembling. Diversion was what she needed—just a short diversion until Mason returned to her. Her entire body was engulfed with goose pimples even for the extreme warmth of the room. Going to the fire, she stood before the large hearth
,
telling herself over and over to relax
—o
nly to wait. Mason would return soon. He must!

Having found herself unable to face the hot heat of the fire, she turned her back to it and began visually searching the room for distraction. When there seemed to come none whatsoever, her eyes glanced down at Mason’s desk sitting not too far from where she stood. A drawer stood ajar, a bottom drawer of the desk, near to the floor and shallow in its depths. Several parchments protruded haphazardly from its interior.

If nothing else, Cassidy knew Mason to be rather careless about the cluttering of his desk. She smiled at the knowledge of this wonderful imperfection in him. For lack of anything better to do with her time, she went to the drawer and opened it, intent on setting to order the documents within. Kneeling and withdrawing the parchments
that
threatened to take flight from the drawer, she began placing them in neat order on her lap. Though she had no care and no mind to know the contents of the documents, something caught her eye. She picked up two of the papers, one in each hand, and looked at them carefully, for they appeared to be written in a manner used in organizing verse. They were very similar to the poetic description of the woman sleeping
that
she found on Mason’s study floor some time before. She could not help herself. She began to read the contents of one of the parchments.

It is the flavor of your mouth I desire.

The thought of it I cannot banish.

I have desire for you that cannot be assuaged.

And I will not sell my soul for a lie…

For I crave you…in all cravings mannish.

To look upon you, To touch you…

I may satisfy this.

To hold you, To own you…

To savor your lips.

But beyond…I must needs stay.

And I can.

For I am an honorable man.

Still, it is the flavor of your mouth I most desire.

For I can drink of it.

And I have.

Have bathed in the warmth of it.

Have tasted its flavor.

For this…I cannot deny myself longer.

And as yo
u walk near to me

Or g
lance at me from across a space

Or simply breathe….

Then I cannot refuse myself the one part of you allowed me.

And I take your mouth…With my own
…

And for this moment…

It will atone.

Astonished by the depth of emotion portrayed in the poem, by the intimacy implied, Cassidy momentarily forgot the horrors revealed to her earlier, momentarily setting aside the knowledge of murder and danger. Placing the parchment in her lap as she knelt, Cassidy drew another from the drawer and read on.

You were reading today as I watched you

Sitting beneath a tree, your book in hand…

And I watched you.

The sun, warm bright, as you brushed away a lock of your hair
,

The grass soft and fragrant and green as you lingered there.

No thought of me was in your mind.

No thought of me.

And I watched you.

A swan called to you from the lake
,
and you looked to her.

Put aside your book as you looked to her.

And you
thought of her beauty, no doubt,

Of the pure white of her feathers…

And I watched you.

Cassidy gasped aloud, one hand going to her mouth as she felt hot, stinging tears filling her eyes. Setting this parchment aside, not even finishing the reading of what was written, she plunged her hand into the drawer, withdrawing multiple documents. Some were not documents but only bits of paper torn from something else. Rummaging among them, she could tell at once that each was written in a similar style. One read:

I held you this night
,
and I knew heaven.

Should I pass from mortal life this moment…I am fulfilled.

I am made of deviancy,

For only fear would send you to me. Only fear would find you in my arms…In my bed
…