‘It was a farewell kiss?’
Smiling was suddenly not as easy as it had been a moment ago. ‘Of course, my lady, what else might it be?’
Until Anna poked her head through the entrance of the Basilica Cistern, she had had no idea how long they had spent underground. She emerged, blinking, into daylight.
Morning light. It is early morning, we have spent a day and a night in the cistern! Lord, look at all those people…
The square was alive with people pushing this way and that. Recoiling in surprise, Anna instinctively moved closer to William—the contrast with the quiet in the cistern could not be more marked. His body was warm and solid and his hand slid round her waist, steadying her. She struggled with a most improper impulse to lean against him.
‘It is safe, my lady.’
His hand lingered, his thumb gave her waist a small, secret caress. She had no inclination to push it away. There must be something wrong with her—she had never felt the slightest desire to permit Romanos Angelos the liberties she permitted this Frank. I enjoy kissing William and, what is worse, I should like to kiss him again. I am saddened that he is so eager to leave the City. A barbarian! My father would be so disappointed in me.
‘If you look carefully,’ he continued, ‘these are townsfolk, not soldiers.’
A measured glance confirmed this. A man with the build of a blacksmith was carrying a child on his shoulders, a woman was leading a mule piled high with trunks and boxes, another had a baby slung in her shawl. Ordinary citizens. There was a burly man hauling a hand-cart packed with clay amphorae, there were a couple of black-robed priests…
‘Everyone is smiling,’ Anna said, much struck by the contrast to the anxious expressions she had seen near Hagia Sophia. Had that really only been yesterday? Had they really spent a night in the cistern?
A laughing woman ran up and thrust a spray of
laurel leaves at her. ‘Such news! Such good news!’
As the woman made to run on, Anna caught her sleeve. ‘What has happened?’
‘We have a new Emperor!’
‘General Alexios?’
‘Yes! Emperor Nikephoros has abdicated!’ The woman bobbed a curtsy and ran off, leaving a trail of leaves and flowers in her wake: daisies, violets,
laurel, bay.
Emperor Nikephoros has abdicated? Worries crowded in on her. What might this mean for Katerina and me? Princess Theodora was related to Emperor Nikephoros…isn’t she also a distant cousin of General Alexios’s wife? Sweet Mother, I need to think about this…
This could be disastrous! Emperor Nikephoros was old and feeble, but at least with him as Emperor we had a chance of covering up Princess Theodora’s absence from the Palace. We cannot hope to fool a man like General Alexios, he is far too astute.
Wide-eyed, Anna exchanged glances with William. ‘Can this be true?’
William shrugged.
‘William, you don’t understand, Emperor Nikephoros can’t have abdicated—it’s almost unheard of!’
‘Be thankful, my lady. It was likely the only way to avoid bloodshed in the streets.’
William was watching her, the spring sunlight full on his face.
Lord, he is tall. And how fair his hair is. William is a giant of a man, just like a Viking. And how green his eyes are! So green. Anna had been struck by their colour in the slave market. She had thought William’s eyes were a match for Erling’s, but out here in daylight she realised her initial perception had been flawed. William’s eyes are clearer and brighter than Erling’s ever were. Sunshine after rain. And how carefully he studies one…
His hand fell from her waist. ‘So General Alexios is now Emperor? I take it he is the man the army acclaimed?’
‘Yes.’
‘A new Emperor,’ he murmured, looking towards the Milion Arch.
The Varangian Guard were holding their position in the Augustaion. Anna could see the morning sun glittering on the crescent-blades of their battleaxes. The Guard looked as immaculate as they had done when she and William had entered the cistern, they were ready for whatever Fate flung at them.
William tapped the sword against his calf and looked down at her. ‘Those men are not holding their ground for nothing, there may yet be trouble and I want you out of harm’s way. Come on, my lady, it is past time I returned you to the Palace.’
* * *
‘If only I had not lost a shoe,’ Anna said, limping along at the edge of the square.
‘Are you certain your foot isn’t hurting?’ William’s eyes gleamed. ‘I can carry you if you like.’
‘Thank you, but that will not be necessary, my foot does not hurt in the slightest.’ Imagine the scene should Father hear I was carried into the Palace in the arms of a half-naked barbarian!
Fortunately, William was swathed in her cloak and thus far his half-naked state had passed unnoticed, as had the sword. Uneasily aware that it was dangerous for William to be bearing arms within the Palace, Anna turned towards the Palace gate. Somehow I must get that sword off him, every moment he carries it, he risks arrest.
‘Not that gate, if you please, my lady,’ he murmured.
‘Why ever not?’
Through the cloak, the sword hilt gently nudged her thigh. ‘I may be…remembered, particularly by a guard with a dent in his helmet.’
‘Very well, there is another gate farther along.’
William trusts me enough to escort me back to the Palace. The question is—does he trust me enough to allow me to disarm him?
They skirted the Palace wall, coming to a street where the air was heavy with rich scents—musk, sandalwood, spices…
William’s eyebrows rose and he looked enquiringly at her. ‘The local brothel?’
‘Sir William! No such establishment would be countenanced so near the Great Palace.’ Anna pursed her lips, really, at times the man was impossible! ‘This is the street of the perfumiers.’
Sweeping past him, she spoke to the guards and they went through an arch and into a courtyard.
William kept close, mouth edging into a smile. He inhaled deeply. ‘I see the fragrance of the…perfumiers carries right into the Palace.’
Anna sent him a severe frown. ‘They are perfumiers, I swear it.’
‘Of course they are.’
His tone of disbelief drew a withering look from her, but she held her tongue, William seemed to enjoy baiting her. It was a supposition that was borne out when they crossed one of the busier courtyards.
Anna had just nodded at an elderly courtier whom she recognised as a friend of her father’s, when the edge of William’s cloak fluttered in the corner of her eye.
‘William!’ she hissed, as that broad chest, that broad naked chest, was revealed. ‘Keep the cloak fast, you cannot wander the Palace half-dressed! I have my reputation to consider.’ And someone may notice that sword…though I dare not mention that here, I cannot risk a public argument.
Green eyes were lingering on her mouth in a way that reminded Anna of his farewell kiss and made her forget the dangers for foolhardy slaves who carried swords
in the Palace. Then he shrugged and tugged the edges of the cloak together. ‘As you wish, my lady.’
‘You are a wretch, William.’ He expects me to give him his freedom straight away, but I do not know that I can. God knows I want to free him, but first I must find a better way to escape marriage with Lord Romanos.
He gave her an unrepentant grin and her toes curled. ‘So I have been told, my lady.’
Anna maintained a stoic silence until they reached the entrance to the Boukoleon and had climbed up to the Princess’s apartments. The wind from the sea was swaying in the curtains, bringing the screaming of the gulls into the reception chamber. Polished floors dazzled where the sun fell on them.
Anna eased off her remaining shoe. Juliana was sitting at the other end of the chamber, sewing in the light from one of the windows. Other than Juliana, the apartments seemed empty, Anna sensed immediately that Kat
erina was not there.
Oh, no! Did she not get back safely?
Juliana set her sewing aside and scurried over. ‘My lady, are you all right?’
‘I am well, I thank you.’
‘Praise God, you are in one piece! We feared for you when you did not return yesterday. But just look at you! What happened to your veil? And your gown is torn, and—’ Juliana broke off, disapproval springing into her eyes. ‘Saints, why have you given that slave your cloak?’
‘Never mind that.’ Anna waved Juliana’s disapproval to one side. ‘Where is the Princess? Did she not return yesterday?’ She was conscious of William stalking the length of the apartment, throwing open doors, peering into bedchambers.
Juliana began wringing her hands. ‘Why, yes, my lady, she did. Commander Ashfirth found her in Hagia Irene. He sent her back with one of the Palace guards.’
‘Thank God.’ Anna was transfixed by Juliana’s wringing hands. Why is she doing that? ‘Where is the Princess this morning?’
‘Last night Commander Ashfirth came to the apartment himself and, when he left, he took the Princess with him.’
Anna’s eyes widened. ‘Have they not returned?’
‘No, my lady.’
‘And this was last night, you say?’
‘Yes, my lady.’
‘Where did they go?’
‘They didn’t say.’ When Anna made a sound of exasperation, Juliana added, ‘I am sorry, my lady, they left in such a rush that—’
Anna brushed Juliana’s excuses away. ‘Never mind. Commander Ashfirth will doubtless keep her safe.’
At least I hope he will. Katerina, what have you done? Holy Mother, help me. General Alexios is bound to want to meet Princess Theodora and I am not confident we shall be able to deceive him. Yet deceive him we must, if we want to protect the real Princess. I can only pray that matters of state will keep our new Emperor so busy that he has no time to worry about meeting a distant cousin of his wife’s…
‘Lady Anna?’ William strode back to her, eyes serious. ‘Where are Daphne and Paula?’ He frowned at Juliana. ‘Did the Princess take them with her last night?’
Juliana looked taken aback to be addressed so directly by a slave. ‘N-no.’
‘Then where in hell are they?’
‘I…I am sorry, I do not know. I went out for a moment and when I returned there was no sign of them. Sylvia had gone, too.’
William’s brow wrinkled. ‘Sylvia?’
‘Sylvia is the wet-nurse,’ Juliana told him.
Anna blinked. ‘Juliana, you must have some idea where they went?’
‘I…I am sorry, my lady. Sylvia was here at cockcrow, but I have not seen her since. She…she left no message.’
William swore. ‘God help us!’ Rounding on Anna, he took her by the elbow and marched her to the brazier at the far end of the apartment. His mouth was tight, his eyes bleak. ‘You assured me the children would be safe.’
‘They are, I am sure of it! Ka—Theodora swore to look after them, she would never allow anyone to hurt a child.’
‘Then where the devil are they?’ Jaw set, William waved at the empty pallet where Paula had slept. The copper bath was leaning against the wall nearby, the willow basket of baby cloths was tipped on its side, linens trailing out over the marble tiles. They left in such a hurry that someone dropped it.
There was a lump in her throat. Anna tried to swallow. ‘William, I am sure they are being looked after.’
His fingers were crushing her elbow, his eyes were like chips of green ice. ‘They had better be.’
The children mean so much to him. Too much for there to be no connection between them…are Daphne and Paula his daughters? The suspicion had no sooner formed, than the words tumbled out. ‘You are very fond of Daphne and Paula.’
‘What of it?’
‘William, are they yours? Are Daphne and Paula your daughters?’
Dark lashes came down, shielding his eyes, and beneath the growth of several days’ beard, his cheeks flared crimson.
Chapter Seven
‘Are they mine? What a question!’ William leaned in, mouth tight. ‘No, my lady, they are not. Jesu, what kind of a man do you take me for? When I saw you by that monument I was on my way home, I had no intention of returning. Is it likely I would leave my daughters behind me?’
Anna’s heart thumped. He is carrying much anger. I will not let him see that he is alarming me. I will reason this out calmly. William is a warrior, he will have been trained to be dispassionate, yet that is not what I see. How can he have so much feeling for two small girls, if they are not his?
A cold lump settled in her stomach. Is William lying?
‘For God’s sake—’ his voice was hard ‘—can’t a man admit affection for a child without confessing paternity?’
Juliana’s eyes were narrow as she watched them, curiosity was fighting with disapproval at Anna’s shocking behaviour. Her lady was allowing a slave to argue with her!
I had better be careful of what I say, rumours spread round the Palace like wildfire…
‘Yes, yes, naturally you feel affection for them,’ Anna said, in as soothing a voice as she could muster. ‘After all, they shared your captivit…’ A muscle tightened in William’s jaw and Anna trailed uncomfortably to a halt.
Stupid. Mention of his captivity had merely added fuel to the fire of his anger.
Releasing her, William raked his fingers through his hair. ‘Since I have not actually left Constantinople, I thought to see them once again. I hoped to see them safe.’
Anna tipped her head back to meet those hard green eyes. Lord, but he was tall, the man towered over her. Are all Franks as tall? When Anna had first seen William in the slave market, she had not realised quite how large he was. And later, when she had tended him, she had been more concerned about the possibility of broken bones than to take his measure.
Despite the privations he had suffered, he was an exceptionally vigorous man. What must he be like in full health? As Anna stared at him, she realised that this was the first chance to study him properly. They had spent hours talking in the cistern, in truth, because of their time alone together, Anna had spent longer talking to William than she had to any man. Most of that time they had been in the dark. His physical nature had been hidden from her.
Except when we kissed…
Put those kisses out of your mind.
Compelling though those kisses had been, Anna had kissed him because…because she had been frightened by those mercenaries…because William had saved her…because—
Now it is you who are the liar. You kissed him because you are attracted to him, dangerously attracted.
This man is a Frank, a barbarian! You scarcely know him. You are still in the dark concerning his nature, those little girls might well be his daughters—he might even be married! You would not like to think so, but what sort of a man is he? Put those kisses out of your mind. Set your mind to devising some other way of avoiding marriage with Lord Romanos.
A muscle was jumping in that strong jaw, the green eyes watched her, hard as glass. Determined. Anna could see how William would have fought to become a knight. A man like William would brook no opposition… .
With a sigh, he looked away, rubbing his forehead.
His head pains him. It is because he is hungry.
‘We should eat,’ she said softly.
The fair head nodded. ‘That would be good, perhaps then I will be able to think straight.’ The anger was fading from his eyes. ‘Although I have to confess I would rather see the girls safe.’
Anna looked at Juliana. ‘Juliana?’
‘My lady?’
‘Please send to the kitchens, Sir William and I are ravenous.’
Juliana’s eyes bulged. ‘Sir William?’
‘Yes,’ Anna spoke firmly. ‘This is Sir William Bradfer, he is a knight visiting from Apulia.’
‘I thought…but…but…my lady…he’s a Frankish knight?’
&n
bsp; ‘He is.’
Juliana shook her head, her jaw gaped. ‘But, my lady, you cannot give a Frankish knight the run of the Princess’s apartments! It…it is not done, it is not seemly!’
Anna sighed. ‘Juliana, neither of us has eaten in an age, we shall worry about the conventions later. In the meantime, we would like fish, and bread, and cheese…bring fruit, pastries, whatever you can lay your hands on.’
‘And beef,’ William murmured. Anna’s listing of food had filled his mouth with saliva. ‘I would kill for beef.’
Juliana gave a grudging curtsy. ‘Very well.’
When Juliana had gone, Anna looked William’s way. ‘Daphne and Paula are being well cared for, of that I have no doubt,’ she said, even as it dawned on her that she believed him when he said that the girls were not his. William was no liar. It was likely he felt protective towards them because he had known fear and uncertainty himself as a child. However fond of Sir Bruno he had become, it could not have been easy when his mother sent him away. ‘But as for you…’ Reaching up, she unclasped his cloak.
William caught her hand. ‘Careful, my lady, what about that reputation of yours? What about those conventions the maid is so concerned about?’
Colouring, she brushed his hand aside. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I want to see if your bruising is fading, and then we shall find you fresh clothing, proper clothing. We can’t have a knight looking as though he has joined a troupe of tumblers.’ She gestured imperiously at a guard hovering by the great double doors. It was the young Varangian that William had met the day before.
‘You there, Kari?’
‘My lady?’
‘Sir William needs new clothing—hose, a shirt, a tunic, that sort of thing. And a cloak. I should like everything to be of good quality.’ She frowned at his feet. ‘And new boots. You might find spare ones in the
armoury.’
Kari looked as startled as the maid had done. ‘Commander Ashfirth will not like—’
Chained to the Barbarian Page 10
