Her Knight Protector

by Anne Herries

  ‘You may weep if it makes you feel better,’ Alayne told her with a smile. ‘I am not surprised that you feel weak, my dear. You were very ill and have lain in this bed for more than nine days.’

  ‘Nine days…’ Katherine looked at her in horror. ‘I have been in a fever for nine days? ’Tis a wonder I did not die of it.’

  ‘You might have died if it had not been for this lady,’ Maria told her. She looked at Alayne with a rare approval, for there were not many who earned her respect. ‘I do not think that my cures would have helped you this time, my love.’

  ‘Oh, Maria…’ The tears that Katherine had tried so hard to control trickled down her cheeks. ‘’Tis no wonder that Sir Alain grew tired of waiting for me to recover.’

  ‘He said he would be only a few days,’ Alayne told her. ‘He has stayed away longer than I imagined. Yet he knew that I would not leave you while you needed me. And Sir Bryne was here to watch over us if we had needed him, though I have my own servants and we are well protected.’

  ‘Oh, I do not reproach Sir Alain,’ Katherine said as she recovered from her tears. ‘He has already done much for me and I have no claim on him.’

  ‘It is not like Alain to desert his friends. I have begun to wonder if he has come to harm, for he took only a few men with him—’ Alayne stopped as she saw Katherine’s face pale. ‘No, no, I am a foolish mother. I am sure he will return just as soon as he may.’

  ‘He may be in danger because of me…’ Katherine cried in anguish, her hands plucking at the bedcovers. ‘I should never have asked for his help. If anything happens, it will be my fault.’

  She was so distressed that Alayne did not ask what troubled her. Instead, she offered her another drink, this time a soothing draught that made Katherine’s eyelids seem heavy.

  ‘Rest now and you will feel better when you wake,’ Alayne told her soothingly. ‘Perhaps my son will have returned to us by the time you are well enough to leave your bed.’

  She watched as Katherine drifted into sleep, feeling cross with Alain for staying away so long. He had not made plain his intentions towards this girl. Were they to think of her as his future wife? Maria had told her that she was not entirely friendless, for she had an uncle in France, but it was clear that she had formed a deep attachment to Alain. It was very remiss of him to simply ride away and abandon her.

  Alain cursed the time spent kicking his heels, waiting for Prince John to see him. He had brought a message from the moneylenders of Italy regarding the ransom that was being demanded of King Richard. It was an assurance that help was available, if needed, to obtain the release of the King.

  When Prince John had finally agreed to an audience, he had refused to listen to Alain’s words, dismissing the help offered as unnecessary.

  ‘My brother hath made his own bed. If it be made of thorns, let him lie upon them until he rots! I’ll not go cap in hand to any moneylender for his sake! Be damned to all the gold merchants, for they are nothing but bloodsuckers.’

  ‘But my lord…’ Alain was silenced by the look of hatred the Prince directed at him. ‘The King has been captive too long…’

  ‘I did not give you leave to speak.’ Prince John’s eyes flashed with imperial pride. ‘You have delivered your message. Go now and bother me no more or you may rue the day you took it upon yourself to be my brother’s lackey.’

  Alain bowed his head, leaving the great chamber without another word. His feelings were of anger and frustration. He had wasted his time at court and would have done better to stay at the inn with Katherine. At least he knew she was not dead, for Bryne had sent word that she seemed to be recovering. She was safe and well cared for with his mother and Bryne. She did not need him and he was needed elsewhere, yet it chaffed him to think of her ill and took all his strength of purpose to keep from returning with all speed.

  Alain was restless for he had believed he would be free once his message was delivered, but the King’s brother had been so dismissive of it that he knew he must find others who would listen. It seemed that Richard’s release might hinge on a promise of payment, for the sum demanded was more than England’s king could rightly pay and would beggar him and his kingdom.

  Yet there were men who would raise coin if need be for the return of England’s rightful king, and he must seek them out before he could consider his duty done. All personal feelings must be put aside until he had done all he could to secure Richard’s freedom.

  ‘I insist that you come home with me,’ Alayne said as she saw how difficult Katherine found it to walk even a short distance. ‘You must not think of returning to France for the moment. You are far too weak and the journey would probably kill you.’ Besides, from Maria’s account, there was no telling what kind of a reception the girl would receive.

  ‘But you were on your way to London with Marguerite,’ Katherine said awkwardly. ‘You cannot wish to return home for my sake. Perhaps I should just stay here until Sir Alain returns?’

  ‘No, I could not allow that, my dear. Nor is there the least need, believe me. Marguerite is to continue to London with an escort,’ Alayne told her. ‘She is to stay with Sir Stefan and the Lady Elona, and their children. I shall return home, for my husband will wish to hear my news. Besides, nothing will persuade me to leave you here alone.’

  ‘You are so kind…’ Katherine looked at her uncertainly. Indeed, she was still feeling far from well and would have found it hard to manage by herself. ‘But what of Sir Alain? What will he think if he returns and finds I have gone?’

  ‘My son shall be told of your whereabouts. It is his own fault if he is anxious.’ Alayne frowned. ‘Sir Bryne says Alain has sent word to him, to say he has been delayed at court, and I believe that to be true, but he might have spared the time to write a letter to us. It is thoughtless of him and so I shall tell him when we next meet.’

  ‘Please do not quarrel with him on my account. Sir Alain has more important things to attend,’ Katherine said in his defence. ‘After all, I have no claim on him, and I dare say he will write to you when he has time.’

  ‘My son was never one for letter writing,’ Alayne admitted with a wry smile. ‘Well, we shall not fret over his absence, for no doubt he thought you safe in my care—and that is why I must insist that you return with me to Banewulf.’

  ‘But…what of Celestine?’ Katherine hesitated. ‘Is she to come with us?’

  ‘The lady left us this morning quite early,’ Alayne answered with a quick frown. ‘I fear I spoke sharply to her more than once, for I found her in your room when you were sleeping, and thought she had been searching your things. I asked her to explain and she said she did not care to be accused by me and would stay here no longer.’

  ‘She may have been looking for something she thinks I have.’

  ‘Well, I do not think she found it, for I saw her enter and came immediately. I do not trust that lady. Her beauty hides a sly, greedy nature. And I am glad she has decided to leave us.’

  ‘But where could she go?’ Katherine was puzzled. ‘I did not think she had friends in this country.’

  ‘She had money,’ Alayne told her. ‘I was informed that she had taken passage on a ship and was leaving this evening on the tide. I do not know if she spoke truly or if it was a lie—but for the moment she has gone and I do not think she will follow us to Banewulf, for I should not welcome her there.’

  ‘Yes, I believe she had gold and jewels, though she was careful to keep them hidden.’ She smiled at Alayne. ‘I confess that I am relieved, my lady, for I did not feel easy with her near, though that may be unkind of me.’

  ‘I do not believe she was your friend,’ Alayne replied. ‘I have met others of her kind, and I believe she cares only for herself.’

  ‘Yes…’ Katherine wondered if she ought to tell this kind friend of the treasure she carried, but decided against it for the moment. If Celestine had left them, she must have been convinced that the treasure did not exist. Why else would she have made up her mi
nd to go? Unless she had simply grown tired of waiting for Sir Alain to return. She looked shyly at the lady who had been so kind to her. ‘Is it truly your wish that I should return to stay with you at Banewulf?’

  ‘Yes, most truly. I would not otherwise have asked you.’ Alayne smiled at her. ‘My tiresome son promised you his escort to France, I understand?’ Katherine nodded. ‘Sir Bryne has offered to take you in his stead, but I have asked if he will escort Marguerite to London and he has agreed. The men Alain left here to protect you will accompany us to Banewulf, and there we shall wait until he chooses to return.’

  ‘It must be something very important to keep him so long—do you not think so?’

  ‘Indeed, I hope it is, for I shall burn his ear when he returns otherwise,’ Alayne replied, looking cross. ‘This is not the behaviour I expect of my son! It was unkind of him to desert you, and so he shall hear from me.’

  ‘You must not scold him for my sake,’ Katherine said again with a smile of such sweetness that Alayne cursed her son for being a fool. Whatever errand he was on could not be as important as this girl! ‘If it were not for Sir Alain, I should have died in Italy when those men tried to abduct me. I owe him my life—and now I must thank you for saving me from the fever.’

  ‘Well, we shall forgive him if he has a good excuse…but come, you have not given me your answer, Katherine. You will come to stay with me for a time, will you not?’

  ‘I should be happy to do so—but perhaps I ought to tell you that there could be danger for your family if I do.’ Katherine looked at her anxiously. She would be alone if Lady Alayne went home and left her, but her honesty would not allow her to keep secret the fact that there might be danger in helping her.

  ‘Why—what can you mean?’ Alayne saw the indecision in the girl’s face. ‘You need tell me no more than you wish. Am I to understand that you have been in danger yourself—and not just from those brigands?’

  ‘There is someone who would take something I have sworn to see safely to its destination,’ Katherine answered. ‘This knight is called Hubert, Lord of Ravenshurst, and he would steal my…treasure if he could. Indeed, he has tried at least three times, and I believe that Celestine had some part in this affair.’

  ‘Ah, I see.’ Alayne nodded her understanding. ‘You need say no more. I have heard of the Ravenshurst family—and they are all rogues. You will be safe enough at Banewulf, and you may put your treasure in my husband’s strongroom if it pleases you.’

  Katherine smiled, feeling relieved. ‘I thank you, my lady—and I am grateful for your offer of hospitality.’

  ‘Very well. I shall go now to write to my husband and tell him to expect us. And after that I shall instruct my servants to begin the packing, for the sooner we leave this wretched inn the better…’

  Katherine smiled, but the smile faded from her eyes as Lady Alayne left the room. More than two weeks had passed since Sir Alain left her in the care of his friends, and they had had no word of him directly. Was he in some trouble? Was it because of her—because of the treasure she carried?

  She had begun to think that instead of being blessed the relic was cursed, and her heart ached with her fears for Sir Alain. She knew that he would never love her as she loved him, but she could not bear the thought that harm might come to him because of her.

  She prayed that God would send him back to his home before too long had passed.

  Alain came out of the silk merchant’s shop, having placed an order for a vast number of the expensive goods he had found on offer there, which would be delivered directly to Banewulf. He had bought presents for his mother and sister, and a warm, fur-lined cloak for Katherine, as he had remembered that her old cloak was sadly threadbare. He was feeling pleased with himself. At least this day’s work had not been wasted. And it was good to be home in England at last. The years of war had been long and hard, though he had never regretted his decision to take the Cross. He had fought fiercely and for a cause he believed in, and his only regret was that they had not been able to take back Jerusalem.

  Many of his comrades would never see their homes again, for they had died on the battlefield, of fevers and wounds, or been taken hostage on their journey home. To journey so far abroad was a hazardous business and Richard was not the only one to fall victim to treachery, but not all men could count on friends to aid him and raise a ransom.

  Alain had done his best to aid the King’s return, and could only hope that it was enough. Having pledged money to help pay Richard’s ransom and obtained other pledges from men of like mind, he believed that it would not be long before the King was released and on his way home. It would be a bad day for England if Prince John were to gain the throne permanently.

  As he hesitated, feeling the bite of an icy wind, he saw a small cavalcade of riders pass by on the opposite side of the street. They had not seen him, but he had recognised at least one of them. Now what was the Lady Celestine doing here?

  He heard her laughter, and saw the knight turn to look at her, and in that moment something came to his mind. He had seen the Lord of Ravenshurst only a few times, but he was almost certain that it was he. So the lady had gone back to him, had she? Just what kind of a game was she playing? And why had she left Katherine? Pray God nothing was amiss!

  No, no, he reassured himself. Katherine was recovering from her fever and safe with his mother. He need not fear for her. Yet the nagging doubts plagued him as he returned to his lodgings. A little smile touched his mouth as he realised that somehow Katherine had wormed her way into his affections more deeply than he had realised or wanted. Perhaps it was her air of fragility that made him think her younger than she was at the start, Alain reflected, or merely that she wore the most shapeless, ugly gowns he had ever seen. At least his gift to her would enable her to have two or three new gowns.

  He smiled as he summoned his body servant and told him to prepare to leave London. It was time he returned to the inn. Katherine would be impatient to leave for France—and yet he was not sure that he would feel easy in his mind about delivering her to this unknown uncle. Perhaps he would wait for a while, discover what he could about Baron Grunwald.

  Chapter Six

  ‘That colour suits you well,’ Alayne said as Katherine looked at her for approval. ‘I thought that Marguerite’s old clothes might fit you—they are things she had before she was wed and have been packed in a trunk since then. She will never want them again and I know she would be pleased for you to have them.’

  It was surprising the difference the clothes had made, revealing the truth that Katherine was indeed a woman, and not a child.

  ‘It is kind of you to give them to me—if you are sure your daughter will not mind?’ Katherine touched the material of the tunic reverently. She had never worn anything so fine, for her father had not been able to afford such luxuries. ‘This is beautiful—and I love the colour. I have nothing but brown or grey of my own.’

  ‘Yes, I had noticed,’ Alayne told her with a gentle smile. Katherine’s clothes were a disgrace, but had probably served their purpose. No doubt her father had sought to keep her looking as plain and childish as he could for her own safety, for they must have encountered men of all kinds on their travels, and had the girl been dressed fittingly her figure would have been revealed as that of a young woman. ‘I dare say your clothes were very suitable for travelling, Katherine—but you are a lady, my dear, and you should be dressed according to your rank. Besides, that green is a good colour for you, and brown makes you look like a—a small brown bird. Yes, that is what I see when I look at you in that old brown tunic, sweet Katherine—a wrenna.’

  Katherine trilled with laughter, for she knew the bird Lady Alayne spoke of. It was the tiniest, most insignificant bird of all that crept along the hedgerows and hid itself whenever possible.

  ‘Oh, you do not need to tell me that I am plain,’ she said merrily. ‘My father always told me it was so and I know it as the truth.’

  ‘Your father was wr
ong, my dear,’ Alayne said and handed her a mirror of burnished silver. ‘Look at yourself and tell me if what you see is ugly.’

  Katherine took the mirror uncertainly. The image it showed her was of a young girl with shining hair and eyes, and a soft mouth that looked—yes, it looked quite nice when she smiled.

  ‘Is that truly me?’ she asked as she handed the mirror back.

  ‘Yes, Katherine. The new way of doing your hair hath much improved your looks. You are not pretty as some women are, but none can deny that you have some indefinable quality all your own.’

  ‘Marguerite is beautiful. You cannot say that my looks compare to hers!’

  ‘No, nor would I pretend that they do,’ Alayne said and laughed because she saw that Katherine was not hurt or distressed by the truth of her appearance. Indeed, her eyes danced with amusement, for she was the least vain of women. ‘But you do have a certain sweetness…a charm and innocence that many men would find enchanting. You should not think yourself plain, Katherine. Say rather that you are attractive, and now that you have made up some of the weight you lost when you were ill I think you look very well, my dear.’

  ‘If I do, it is due to you, my lady,’ Katherine said. ‘You have fed me so well that I could not fail to feel better—and you have given me these lovely clothes. How shall I ever thank you?’

  ‘By being your own sweet self,’ Alayne replied. ‘You must know that I have become very fond of you these past weeks. I shall be sorry when I am forced to part with you. Can I not persuade you to live with us? Must you return to France? I would be happy to have you here as my daughter and friend.’

  ‘How kind you are,’ Katherine said. ‘But I fear I must return to France one day. However, if my uncle should not want to take me in…’ She faltered, for she did not know what she would do in such a case.