Rowan's Revenge

by June Francis

  Kate glanced up at the darkening sky. ‘I believe we’re in for a storm. So now isn’t the time to be leaving Chester. You can have your time to think, Mother.’

  ‘That is all you have to say?’

  ‘I, also, need to think.’

  ‘Then we will go back to your uncle’s house and in the morning I will decide what to do,’ said Beth, grimfaced.

  Diccon looked dismayed and opened his mouth as if to speak, but already his mother was forging ahead against the wind. He glanced at Kate and then led the horse east along the river bank.

  As a huge raindrop splashed onto Kate’s face, she followed them, knowing Owain was bound to be angry when he discovered her absence. She could only hope he would forgive her.

  Huddled beneath his sodden cloak, Owain was in a foul mood as he entered Chester. The storm had broken a short while ago and he was soaked to the skin. As he passed through the almost deserted streets, he knew that only through an amazing stroke of luck would he find Kate that evening. He was so angry with her that if he had caught sight of her then he’d have spanked her. He could only pray that she was safe with her mother and brother and had not encountered their enemy. Merlin’s hooves clip-clopped on the cobbles as they made their way through the glistening streets to the Falcon Inn.

  He dismounted and went inside and bespoke a bedchamber for the night before going outside again and stabling his horse. He knew he was in for an anxious and uncomfortable night.

  Kate stood in the lane outside her uncle’s house, stroking Epona’s neck, turning over in her mind all that her mother and aunt had said about Owain. The sisters had agreed that Kate was far too trusting of Master ap Rowan and it would be best if she never saw him again. They didn’t have to say they believed he had compromised her because it was there in their faces. Her mother had wanted her to promise that she would take the mare to the livery stables and ask for it to be returned to Rowan Manor, along with his ring, and then come straight back. Kate was furious at being treated like a child after journeying so far from England and arriving back safely.

  ‘I know I shouldn’t say this,’ said Diccon, coming up behind Kate, ‘but I think it’s a mistake returning the horse.’

  She whirled round. ‘I agree, but you heard what Mother and Aunt said.’

  Diccon nodded. ‘She’s frightened and I can understand that. But I don’t see much of a future for us staying here in hiding. I’d probably end up as a shoemaker. Nothing wrong with shoemakers, but I would rather risk trusting your Master ap Rowan and have the chance of returning to Merebury than stay here. We’ll have to keep it secret from Mother, mind. She’s going to worry when we vanish, but that’s what mothers do.’

  Kate nodded. ‘She’ll probably guess where we’ve gone. But as Owain wishes to speak to her, no doubt we’ll be back here before too long.’

  Suddenly they heard their uncle’s angry voice from inside the house. ‘Let’s go now,’ said Diccon urgently.

  ‘Help me to mount,’ whispered Kate.

  ‘Best we go downhill towards the river.’ Diccon bent and laced his hands together for her to place her foot in. He flung her on to the horse’s back and wasted no time dragging himself up behind her. Kate dug in her heels and urged the mare down the lane.

  Owain stepped outside the Falcon Inn and breathed deeply of the crisp air, tinged with wood smoke and dung. He walked across the street and strode swiftly in the direction of the abbey, gazing into the faces of passers-by as he did so. His concern for Kate was a tightness in his chest, so that when he spotted a youth and a figure, whom he took to be a novice, astride a recognisable, dappled grey horse, he tore after them, shouting, ‘Stop, thief!’

  Kate was oblivious to the commotion breaking out behind her. That was until Diccon was suddenly dragged from the saddle. Before she could turn and see what had happened, she felt a tug on the back of her tunic and was pulled from the horse. She protested loudly and struggled to free herself, but her assailant was strong and forced her round to face him. Instantly she recognised Owain and her heart leapt with gladness before plummeting into her stomach.

  ‘By all that I hold holy, Kate, I’ll wring your neck if you ever run away from me again,’ said Owain in a seething voice. ‘Have I treated you so badly that you need must don that filthy tunic again and vanish into thin air?’

  ‘Owain, h-how did you know where to f-find me?’ she stammered.

  ‘Does that matter? Did you give no thought to the danger? You could have been abducted, tortured, killed.’

  A slow smile warmed her eyes. ‘You were worried about me.’

  ‘More fool me,’ he rasped, shaking her.

  She clung to him, only to wrench herself out of his arms when she heard a pain-filled yelp from her brother. She flew at the burly citizen who held a struggling Diccon. ‘Let him go,’ she ordered, hitting the man with her fist.

  Owain pulled her off him and said to the man, ‘Release him. I made a mistake. But you have my thanks for acting so swiftly.’ He took a coin from his pocket and tossed it to him. The man caught it deftly, thanked him and walked off through the dispersing crowd.

  Diccon rubbed his posterior and gazed at Owain. ‘Are you Master ap Rowan?’

  ‘Of course he is,’ said Kate, frowning.

  Owain glanced down at her. ‘Where is your mother?’

  Kate did not answer. Her emotions were in turmoil.

  Diccon said, ‘At the house of my aunt and uncle in Souters Lane. We were coming to you, but Mother has lived with fear too long to trust someone who is acquainted with the friar and the Comte.’

  Owain stared at him intently. ‘Kate told you that…and yet you appear to trust me.’

  ‘I doubt my sister would have arrived safely in Chester if you weren’t to be trusted.’

  Kate raised her eyebrows, but was silent. Owain smiled. ‘Your brother is definitely a youth of some intelligence. I must speak with your mother. Perhaps the news I have to tell her will make her think better of me.’

  ‘News? What news is this?’ asked Kate swiftly.

  ‘It is for your mother’s ears first,’ said Owain. ‘Now, up into the saddle with you, Kate.’ Before she could prevent him, he seized her by the waist and lifted her on to the mare. Taking hold of the reins, he indicated that Diccon walk beside him. ‘Tell me, who do you think killed Sir Roger?’ asked Owain.

  Diccon gave him a sidelong, wary glance. ‘Perhaps the friar or the Comte. Or even one of those knights who gave him money and took part in his evil revels.’

  Owain’s step faltered a moment. ‘You saw coin changing hands?’ Diccon nodded. ‘Do you know what happened to the money?’

  ‘My father told me he had found the hiding place where they stored the chests of coin. They were not big, otherwise it would have taken more than two men to move them. Father removed one and hid it somewhere else. I believe he knew his life could be in danger and wanted to provide for us.’

  Owain nodded slowly. ‘No doubt his theft definitely sealed his fate.’

  Diccon’s head shot up and dark colour stained his youthful cheeks as he glanced at his sister. ‘You promised not to speak of that.’

  ‘I didn’t! Master ap Rowan is hazarding a guess to make you reveal more.’

  Owain’s lips curved into a grim smile. ‘Not quite the words I would use, Kate.’

  Diccon rushed into speech. ‘Father wanted to initiate me into the old ways. Kate told me it could lead me into danger, but I did not believe her. Then Sir Roger asked to see me and wanted me to…’ The youth paused and swallowed before continuing in fierce tones. ‘I believe it was then that my father realised his mistake. He wasn’t in it for gold. Sir Roger was bestial and greedy.’ He paused to take a breath. ‘The friar was false to his calling; his worship wasn’t for nature, but took the form of invoking his—his Satanic majesty as he called Ol’ Nick in a way that froze the blood.’ Diccon moistened his lips.

  ‘What of the Comte?’ murmured Owain. ‘I suspect he had a deeper pu
rpose for involving himself with Sir Roger.’

  ‘Murder,’ whispered Diccon. ‘Although he also was interested in the devil and the old ways. He said that the blood of the ancients ran in his veins.’

  Owain said sharply, ‘Never mind that now. You spoke of murder. You know for certain he murdered Sir Roger?’

  When the answer came it was not from Diccon, but from Kate. ‘Nay! Diccon speaks of Father. We found him with his head broken. Of course, we were meant to believe that he’d fallen from a crag, but we had seen what happened from a distance.’

  Owain lifted his head and gazed into her sad but beautiful face. ‘I knew of his fall, but not that there were witnesses to it. You should have spoken of this to me sooner, Kate.’

  ‘And given you more reason for suspecting the Fletchers of Sir Roger’s murder,’ she said with a wry smile. ‘Besides, I had given my promise.’

  ‘So what happened?’

  Diccon answered. ‘We saw two robed figures arguing and struggling with each other on top of a crag. We knew one was Sir Roger because he had his hood down. The other we were certain was Father. Suddenly two more robed figures came on the scene. It was difficult to recognise them with their hoods up, but voices carry on the wind and we were convinced they were the friar and Comte d’Azay. They joined the struggle and for a moment I thought Sir Roger was going to go over the edge, but instead it was Father who plunged to his death.’

  ‘I’ll never forget his dying scream,’ said Kate.

  ‘But we couldn’t be sure which one killed him. We were convinced that if we dared to accuse any of them then, they’d find some way to silence us,’ said Diccon.

  ‘Could you hear what they were arguing about?’ asked Owain.

  ‘Not clearly enough that we could make sense of it,’ said Diccon. ‘Neither could we be sure whether we had been recognised by them. Mother told Lady Catherine what had happened…but surely she wouldn’t have mentioned it to Sir Roger?’ There was a puzzled note in his voice.

  ‘Yet you suspect she might have,’ said Owain.

  Kate sighed. ‘She could be stubborn and rash. Then Sir Roger demanded the heriot due to him after Father’s death. We could not afford to pay it and Mother told him so. He said we’d have to leave Merebury if it was not paid by nightfall of the following day, but he did not live that long…’ She paused, expecting Owain to speak, but when he was silent, she continued, ‘Lady Catherine insisted that we all went away immediately. She just wouldn’t listen to reason when we said that people might suspect us of having a hand in his death by leaving in a rush. She gave Mother some money and insisted she and Diccon stay with my aunt and uncle here in Chester until our return from pilgrimage. I never thought we would be away so long, not knowing she had it in mind to delay our arrival until the saint’s feast day. I think we must have stopped at every shrine on the way.’

  Owain muttered, ‘I wonder if she did speak to him. But we’ll never know now. Let’s pass over it and tell me, Kate—did Lady Catherine have much to do with the Comte when he visited the manor?’

  Kate’s brow knitted. ‘I remember he tried to flirt with her, but she was not interested. Then something must have happened because, one day, I came upon them talking in the garden. They were so engrossed in what they were saying they did not notice me.’

  ‘Did you hear any of their conversation?’ asked Owain.

  Kate smiled faintly. ‘They were speaking in French and I could not understand all what they said. I did wonder whether she was asking him about his home in France.’

  Owain frowned. ‘It’s possible that your father’s death was an accident.’

  They stared at him in astonishment. ‘Why should you think that?’

  ‘If he’d stolen a chest of money and hidden it away, they’d want to find out where it was before killing him.’

  Diccon nodded. ‘Of course!’

  ‘You don’t know where your father hid the chest?’ asked Owain, raising an eyebrow.

  Diccon returned his gaze woodenly. ‘He wouldn’t tell me. I think he considered it too dangerous for me to know.’

  ‘I can understand a father thinking like that. Yet our enemies might believe you have that knowledge,’ said Owain grimly.

  Diccon agreed. ‘That’s why I didn’t argue with Lady Catherine when she told us we had to leave Merebury. Our enemies might also believe Mother knows, so I wanted her safe.’

  ‘Of course you did. And yours and her safety is as just important to me as that of Kate. But there comes a time when one has to come out of hiding. I must speak with your mother and persuade her to trust me.’

  Chapter Eleven

  Owain watched Kate’s mother seat herself on the wooden bench in the garden to the rear of the house. He could tell from the way she plucked at her apron that she was not as calm as she appeared on the surface. ‘There is nothing for you to fear, Mistress Fletcher,’ he said gently. ‘I hold you blameless in the matter of Sir Roger’s death. It is a different matter altogether that I wish to talk to you about. It concerns Kate.’

  She darted him a glance. ‘Will you wed my daughter? You have certainly compromised her, Master ap Rowan.’

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘Is that what she said?’

  ‘No! But I can read between the lines. If you know she has been left Merebury, then perhaps you intended to seduce her from the beginning.’ There was a tremor in her voice.

  Owain said stiffly, ‘There has been no seduction.’

  Beth flushed and lowered her eyes. ‘I beg your pardon. But you must understand a mother’s concern for her only daughter.’

  ‘Of course.’ His voice softened. ‘But let us put this matter aside for the moment and discuss the reason I wished to speak to you alone.’ He paused. ‘Sir Thomas told me that you went through a simple form of marriage in your youth with his cousin, Sir Arthur Stanley.’

  He heard her sharp intake of breath. ‘It was kept quiet. How does he know of this?’

  ‘Sir Arthur was dying and he sent for him. You and his child were on his conscience and he wished to make some provision for you both.’

  Beth’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I thought he had forgotten us,’ she whispered.

  Owain smiled. ‘It seems you were unforgettable. He gave Sir Thomas a gift of money for you both—fifty pounds for you and a hundred for Kate—with the added proviso that Sir Thomas find a suitable husband for his daughter.’

  Beth swayed and seemed on the verge of collapse. Swiftly Owain sat beside her and took her hand, patting it. ‘Fifty pounds! And a hundred for Kate,’ she gasped. ‘I always knew Arthur to be a sweet youth, a little weak perhaps, but…’ A beauteous expression lit up her face.

  Owain was curious. ‘How did you meet?’

  She turned to him eagerly. ‘I was gathering wild herbs for my mother. I didn’t know who he was at first because he was dressed in homespun and told me he’d been snaring rabbits for the pot.’ Beth’s eyes took on a distant expression. ‘Naturally I took him to be a poacher…but I didn’t hold that against him, although I worried in case he was caught.’ A gentle smile played about her lips. ‘He wasn’t particularly handsome, but he was kind and so different from the lads I knew. He would tell me stories and read tales of chivalry and romance from a book. Eventually he told me who he was and suggested a secret marriage. I was young and innocent and loved him so I agreed. We plighted our troth in front of a wandering priest, both of us knowing that it could be some time before we could tell our parents the truth. We spent what time we could together…always away from prying eyes. Then I discovered I was with child.’ She sighed.

  Owain could imagine what it must have been like for them both. ‘So you had to tell your parents.’

  Beth nodded and her face clouded. ‘My father beat me and called me filthy names and demanded to know the name of the man, but I wouldn’t tell him. When I was able to walk again, I went in search of Arthur and told him about the baby and what my father had done.’ She grimaced. ‘I thought he cou
ld make everything right. It’s true he told his parents that we had been married by a priest, but they said it was no true marriage. They already had a bride in mind for him…an heiress. I was wilful as a child and could be stubborn. I insisted that we were truly wed and he stood by my side and agreed. But they determined to separate us and paid my father to agree to my removal to a small manor near Lathom. They paid Richard Fletcher to go through a form of marriage with me. He was a widower and had lost his children to fever. He wasn’t a bad man, but I thought my heart would break. Then my Kate was born and she brought light back into my life. She was fair just like Arthur with the same blue-green eyes. No wonder I could never forget him.’ She fell silent.

  ‘You will need to tell her about her father,’ said Owain.

  Beth nodded. ‘I will do so now I know that he did not forget us. Lady Catherine’s father was aware that she was a Stanley and allowed Kate to learn to read and write alongside his daughter. He used to say that one day Sir Arthur would remember his first love and Kate would take her rightful place.’

  Owain nodded. ‘My orders from Sir Thomas are to take you both to Lathom…but first we must go to Rowan Manor. Kate needs to dress in a manner fitting for a lady.’ He helped Beth to her feet.

  ‘And what are your intentions towards my daughter, Master ap Rowan?’ she asked, cocking her head on one side, her eyes as bright and sharp as a robin’s. ‘I deem she has a fondness for you. I do not want her heart broken.’

  ‘I will be honest with you, Mistress Fletcher. When I set out on my search, gaining possession of Merebury by marrying the Lady Catherine was uppermost in my mind. My father and I had quarrelled and I needed land to breed horses. Since my return to England my father has died and I have inherited Rowan Manor. Now I wish to marry Kate because…she is Kate. Adorable yet maddening, self-willed but full of courage, beautiful, kind, determined…’

  Laughing, Beth held out a hand. ‘Enough! You have my consent.’

  He gave her a smile of such sweetness that Beth felt a flutter beneath her ribs. ‘Hopefully, Sir Thomas will agree that I will make her a suitable husband,’ he said ruefully.