Camilla stared at Ned in horror for a long time, hoping he'd only said that as dark jest. But he just looked back at her calmly.
"You don't mean that." she finally whispered.
"It's the truth, my lady. Ask one of the servants to let you peer into their mouth, if you like. All you'll see is a stump where a tongue used to be."
"But w-why…why would he do something so beastly?" she stammered, nausea roiling in her belly and making her want to gag.
"Why else? To keep them all quiet, of course. Powerful men keep powerful secrets." Ned fiddled with the silver buttons on his cuff. "Haven't you ever wanted to make sure your secrets kept?"
"Not to the degree that I'd go and remove someone's tongue for it!" Camilla shuddered, then sat up straight. "Wait a moment! One of the maids spoke to me this morning. A young black haired girl who often attends to the marchioness."
