“What have you to say?” Nor turned to the young runaway.
The young man pulled away from his guard and dropped to his knees. “I beseech you, Sir. I made a terrible mistake. Yes, I hired three men to help me attack the camp of the Lady and her maid—but only to retrieve my Camilla. The plan was to make it appear a simple raid. They would take the three women, give me Camilla and release the other two. I…I… I believe now that they were in the scheme for greater profit and absconded with your wife and her other maid. Sir, I plead for mercy!”
“Please, Lord,” Camilla broke free and rushed to her lover’s side, burying her face in his arm. She looked up after a wrenching sob, “Never, Sir, did my love wish to harm my lady. I swear, Sir. On my life!”
“It will be your life, b***h,” Nor roared, “if
