Demon Angel by Meljean Brook Page A

satisfaction.
    Aye, she had sown the seeds well. Wait , Lilith thought, but couldn't give voice to the word. You are fools to have listened to me .
    Isabel's frightened gasp sounded loud as a scream, and Lilith shot to her feet as Hugh bent the lady over the parapet: But he did not toss her to the ground; his hand pushed her skirts up, his fingers roughly sought her femininity. Isabel sobbed as he shoved himself against her.
    "If he throws her over the wall, thinking she is you, her death will be more than you planned. Is this what you wanted?"
    Lilith startled and tore her eyes away from the scene; Michael stood next to her. "Aye," she whispered, but she shuddered as she looked back.
    Hugh had stopped as if frozen, staring down at the woman in his arms. At the tears streaking her cheeks.
    "I think you lie," Michael said.
    "Isabel? My lady? Nay." Hugh groaned the denial, staggering away from the countess. The lady collapsed in a heap. He stared at his hands, at the glistening moisture on his fingers. "Oh, God help me."
    Lilith sprouted her wings, but Michael clamped his hand over her shoulder before she could jump from her perch. "You cannot interfere."
    She halted, her breath coming in sharp pants. "You can."
    He shook his head.
    "You won't ." She called in her sword. Robert was running up the stairs ahead of Mandeville.
    "It is too late," Michael said. "Are you not proud of what you've done, Lilith?"
    It was not only me , she thought, but could not voice her automatic response. Not when 'twas obvious that, had she not interfered, human thought would never have become action. Not when Hugh pleaded for help.
    But did she help him, Lucifer would have no mercy.
    Perhaps d'Aulnoy would. She wavered and waited again. Her success depended on the baron's rage, but perhaps he could forgive what met his eyes as he climbed onto the wall walk.
    Though his expression was tormented, Hugh straightened and stood with squared shoulders as the baron took in the scene, as he recognized the lady in the washerwoman's rags. Lilith recalled Hugh's description of d'Aulnoy: He is a good man . Would he see the clothing, understand what Isabel had tried to hide? Would he think she sobbed from Hugh's rejection of her adulterous advances?
    Indeed, the confusion on the baron's face gave Lilith hope.
    "My lady," the earl said, his voice tight. "Can you explain why you are dressed thus?"
    No mistaking the guilt that trembled over her features. She took a deep, shuddering breath, wiped the tears from her cheeks. Aye, no weakling she. Lilith wanted to slap her. "I sought Sir Hugh's company and did not want to be noticed."
    D'Aulnoy flinched as if struck. "For what purpose?" It was clear he yearned for any answer than the one he suspected, but Lilith knew Isabel would not be other than honest.
    Lilith glanced at Hugh; he stood rigidly, but his gaze was not on the baron or young countess, but directed atop the keep. At her.
    Lie , she urged him silently. Convince him she seduced you but you resisted. You owe me a He .
    A half-smile curved Hugh's mouth, and he spoke before Isabel could answer. "I took advantage of the friendship my lady and I cultivated while in France, my lord. Then I brought her up here—nay, forced her here—with a threat on your life. She attempts to protect you by claiming this was of her own volition."
    Isabel shook her head. "Nay! Only after I came did you threaten—"
    "Do you see?" Hugh laughed. "Marie de Lille and I have been planning to reach this moment; we were so successful that, even now, Isabel worries that you will challenge me for daring to force my touch upon her and fall before my sword."
    "What madness is this?" Lilith whispered.
    Michael's smile could have been carved from stone. "He is saving his lord and his lady from your scheming. Rape, treason, and murder? Justifiably punishable offenses. The baron will feel no guilt after, and the lady will eventually make peace with her part in this—for obviously , 'twas all a