Chad snorted quietly. “Quite a dilemma, I should say.”
“Indeed, it is. But will you answer my question?”
“What question?”
“How do I know you are telling me the truth?”
He had her by the elbow, looking down at her in the darkness. He could just see the outline of her heart-shaped face. “You do not,” he said quietly. “You are going to have to go on something called faith. I believe you have heard of it.”
It was a clever statement. She was studying him, too, in the darkness. She didn’t know why she should trust him, or have faith in him, but, at the moment, she had little choice. “I could run away, you know.”
He nodded. “You could,” he agreed. “But we are surrounded by swamps and if by some miracle you made it through them, where are you going to go? Back to Newington? It would be a simple thing to go back and get you.”
He was right. She really had nowhere else to go. That realization gave her a sinking feeling in her stomach, already quivering with the cold. She felt rather sick about the entire situation and she supposed there really wasn’t anything she could do about it. Feeling cornered, and somewhat resigned, she sighed heavily.
“So I must have faith that you are telling me the truth?” she asked.
He nodded. “I swear upon my oath as a knight that I am,” he said. “I will protect you with my life until such time as it is no longer necessary. Do you believe me?”
She didn’t want to insult him. “I suppose I must.”
He simply nodded his head and pulled her along, out of the bramble and back into the cold, damp trees. “You will not regret it,” he said quietly, still watching the road even as he pulled her along. “I shall take you safely to Canterbury and once I deliver you to my mother, all will be well again. My mother will make you warm again and feed you until you are bursting.”
It sounded rather wonderful, to be honest. She was so cold and miserable that, at this point, she was willing to go with him without a fight, the lure of warmth and food too much to resist. Moreover, it was as she had said – she had little choice in the matter. It was time to put that faith he spoke about to the test.
“Very well,” she said reluctantly. “I will go peacefully.”
Chad didn’t say another word. Soon, they were both rushing through the trees, heading off to the south and away from the swollen creek and Henry’s two men. But the rest of Henry’s men had made it through and Chad stuck to the trees, paralleling the road, until the sun began to peer over the eastern horizon.
By that time, the mist was laying low and heavy in the fields, and everything was covered with dew. More than that, Alessandria was seriously dragging, exhausted and cold in her damp clothing, lack of sleep and lack of food. Chad offered to carry her but she staunchly refused, struggling to keep pace with him as he left the shield of the forest and raced across a field, heading for the outskirts of the village that surrounded Canterbury.
Once inside the town, he had to stay to the alleyways and side streets, crossing through gardens that were heavy with growth and, at one point, through a blacksmith’s stall. He wasn’t sure where Henry’s men were, for he hadn’t seen them leave Canterbury once they’d followed his men down the road leading into the town, so he suspected they were somewhere about. He didn’t want to run into them.
Finally, the great castle of Canterbury loomed ahead and Chad suspected, if Henry’s men were anywhere in this town, that they’d be camped out watching the gatehouse, keeping an eye on people coming and going. It also occurred to him that they wouldn’t know Alessandria on sight but they would know him. Most of Henry’s men did, especially with a battle so recent. With that in mind, he came to a halt.
Alessandria, dead on her feet, crashed into the back of him. He turned to tell her that he was going to have her remain behind in the alleyway while he approached the castle but one look at her ashen face and he changed his mind. She was so pale that her lips were nearly blue and in the light of the new morning, he got his first real look at her.
Even with the white face and blue lips, he could see that she was absolutely stunning in beauty. Her hair was a rich, dark red, more brown than red, and dark brows arched intelligently over eyes the color of the sea. She had a long column of neck, graceful even with the unflattering, damp, and smelly clothing she was wearing, and he looked down at her arms, realizing he had such a grip on her wrist that her small, calloused hand was turning an odd shade of purple.
The woman looked absolutely miserable but she’d never said a word about it. To Chad, that said something about her character as well as her strength. He was coming to feel very badly for her and he knew he had to deliver her into his mother’s hands as quickly as possible. She looked as if she were ready to collapse. Therefore, without a word, he scooped her into his big arms and made haste towards the castle.
“Keep your head down,” he whispered loudly to her. “Lay it down and keep it down. Hold on to my neck. That’s right; hold tight. We shall be to safety in no time.”
Alessandria was beyond arguing with him at that point. She was so exhausted that she was close to swooning and when he picked her up, she didn’t even have the strength to refuse him. She was so cold that she honestly couldn’t remember what it felt like to be warm and she simply wanted to sleep. She didn’t even care where; they could shove her into a corner by the hearth and she would be happy. At Newington, they slept on the floor, anyway, so she wasn’t used to a bed. But she didn’t tell him that; she didn’t say a word. She simply kept her head down as she’d been directed, cradled in his rather big and strong arms. That part, she rather liked.
Chad rather liked holding her as well but he pushed those thoughts aside, more concerned that Henry’s men were on to him as he came around the corner of the castle, heading for the gatehouse. There was a wide berth around the castle made up of dirt, keeping the village several dozen yards away even though the village surrounded the castle. No one was allowed to build any closer to the castle for fear that structures could be used by the enemy in times of siege, but that didn’t mean that there weren’t many small houses and businesses crowded as close as they could get.
It was from one of these structures that Chad feared he was being watched. In fact, there was a popular inn nearby, in clear view of the castle, where Henry’s men could have been easily watching him. Moving as swiftly as he could, he made his way to the gatehouse without incident, bellowing to the soldiers standing guard to open the gates. Recognizing the earl’s son, they did without hesitation and the cry that Chad had returned was taken up. Chad could hear it echoing all along the wall and into the bailey beyond.
The big, iron portcullis lifted and he slipped under it, quickly, and was immediately surrounded by soldiers who offered to help him with the lady but he shrugged them off. He was struggling at this point, exhausted from travel, exhausted from the run across the swamps. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was carrying the lady, who was a featherweight in his arms. He was, simply, weary.
But he was also relieved. Finally, he felt as if they had made it to safety but he still didn’t feel as if he could relax. He had to get the lady to the keep where his mother would tend her. Slogging through the mud of the bailey, water still puddled from the recent rains, he made his way to the big, squat keep. As he approached, men were coming at him from the direction of the newly-built knight quarters. He could see Jorden de Russe and Rhun du Bois heading in his direction and as he neared the keep, they broke into a run and intercepted him.
“Nay,” de Russe said, blocking his path to the keep and reaching out his big arms to take the lady. “Henry’s men are in there. Your father opened the gates to them and they are all in there. I will take the lady, Chad. You go inside and see what is transpiring.”
Chad let Jorden take Alessandria without a fight. In truth, the news that Henry’s men were actually inside the castle came as something of a shock.
“He let them in?” he said in disbeli
ef. “Did you tell him that they had chased us all the way from Newington?”
Jorden nodded. “I did,” he said, glancing at the pale, frozen lady. “Let Rhun tell you. Let me get the lady to a fire.”
Chad watched Jorden whisk Alessandria away but his view of the man’s retreat back to the knight quarters was blocked by Rhun’ face.
“Your father is loyal to Henry,” Rhun said simply. “That is why he let the men in. He did not want them to return to London to tell the king that Canterbury denied them entrance. Moreover, he wants to know why they have come. He wants to hear Henry’s directive from their own lips.”
Chad sighed heavily. “Did he?”
Rhun shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “Your brothers and cousins are all inside, gathered in your father’s solar. They have been there since dawn. I do not know what has been said so you must go to your father immediately.”
Chad had every intention of doing that. In fact, he found that his temper was rather piqued at this point. He didn’t like that his father had opened the gates to men they had been running from. Men who wanted Alessandria. He took the first step into the keep, pointing in the direction of the knight quarters as he went.
“You and Jorden stay with the lady,” he said. “She is cold and hungry and wet. Make sure she is dried and fed, and protect her with your life. Keep her out of sight until we can settle this. Is that clear?”
Rhun nodded. “It is, Chad.”
He turned and made haste to the knight quarters as Chad continued up the wide stone steps, having recently replaced the retractable wooden stairs. More and more modern conveniences and comforts were coming to Canterbury Castle these days, but Chad wasn’t thinking about any of that. He was thinking of Henry’s men, now possibly filling his father full of the king’s venom, and he wasn’t pleased in the least. They weren’t going to get their hands on the lady and if they did, it wouldn’t be without a fight.
He’d give them a good one.
His fists were balled by the time he entered the keep.
CHAPTER THREE
Alessandria had no idea who the enormous knight was who had taken her into a fairly new structure that had been built against the outer wall of Canterbury, but at this point, she was beyond caring. Her hands and feet were so cold that she could no longer feel them and when the knight set her down, carefully, on a stool in the middle of the structure’s common room, she nearly fell over. The cold, and her exhaustion, gave her little by way of balance.
But she managed to stay upright. She just sat there and shivered as the big knight stood over her, looking at her with a great deal of concern. Finally, she heard him sigh.
“Lady,” he said in a soft, deep tone, “you are clearly in distress. Would you permit me to be of service?”
Alessandria lifted her head to look at him. He had a big head and a big, square jaw, and his long, dark hair was tied at the nape of his neck. He didn’t look particularly wicked and even if he did, she couldn’t summon the strength to fight him off.
“W-what did you have in mind?” she stammered through chilled lips.
The big knight took a knee next to her. “Firstly, I believe proper introductions are in order,” he said. “I am Sir Jorden de Russe. I serve the House of de Lohr. Believe me when I tell you that it is my earnest desire to be of service to you and nothing more.”
Alessandria looked at him, her teeth chattering. “I-if you truly wish to be of service, I could use a fire to dry my clothes.”
“And food?”
“I could eat.”
De Russe swung into action. The first thing he did was reach out to touch her clothing. He simply touched her right sleeve and he could feel that it was still damp. Her wrist was exposed and he brushed her skin, feeling that it was like ice. Quickly, he stood up and disappeared into another room. He was banging around when the entry door opened and the other knight entered. He looked at Alessandria curiously and, lured by the banging in the other chamber, went to see what the commotion was about.
Shivering and twitching, Alessandria could hear the knights in the other room, discussing her situation, and she heard more banging about and doors opening. They were evidently moving from one chamber to another. She couldn’t see them but she could hear them. As she listened with some interest, a small male servant suddenly appeared from the chamber where the knights had been and fled from the structure.
Surprised, Alessandria watched the entry door slam as the man bolted into the bailey. Curious why the man should run like that, she turned in time to see de Russe emerge from the chamber.
“My lady,” he said. “I have moved a bathing tub into the far chamber. I have sent a servant for hot water and something dry for you to wear. If you would come with me, I shall show you where you can rest.”
Alessandria stood up, unsteadily, and moved stiffly in the direction he indicated. The chambers of the knight quarters were all connected, with no corridors linking them, so she passed through one chamber with two beds in it into another chamber with three beds in it, and finally to the last chamber where there was only one big bed and a small window that overlooked the keep and bailey.
Inside this chamber, she found the other knight on his knees in front of a hearth, loading it with wood and kindling. He noticed her when she came in and he smiled politely, but Alessandria was rather wary of the man’s appearance. He had bright blue eyes, rounded big at her approach, which were disturbing. It gave him a rather mad appearance. De Russe, coming in behind her, indicated the knight on his knees.
“This is Sir Rhun du Bois, my lady,” he said. “He is also at your service.”
Alessandria simply nodded, looking around for the nearest stool because she was convinced her legs wouldn’t support her for any length of time. Everything about her hurt. As she went to plant herself on the edge of the bed because there was no chair or stool that she could see, they heard the entry door open and a female voice called for Jorden.
He responded immediately. “In here, Lady de Lohr.”
Swift footfalls approached and, suddenly, there was a tall woman standing in the doorway, her bronze-colored hair pulled back and pinned at the nape of her neck. She was quite lovely and directly behind her came a young woman about Alessandria’s age. The younger girl had the older woman’s hair color but not nearly the woman’s height. She, too, was very beautiful. Before anything could be said, the older woman went straight to Alessandria as she sat on the end of the bed.
“Sweet Mary, look at her state,” she breathed, appearing greatly concerned as she looked over Alessandria’s condition. Then, she turned quickly to the young woman behind her. “Gather something from your sister’s chest. They look to be about the same size. Bring her something warm and bring combs and soaps. And have the cook send food right away.”
The young woman fled but the older woman wasn’t satisfied with the speed in which things were happening. She snapped her fingers at de Russe, although it was not an impolite gesture. It was simply a gesture of haste.
“You have sent for hot water, Jorden?” she asked.
“Aye, Lady de Lohr.”
“I require a blanket or a large measure of linen.”
Jorden disappeared into the next chamber as Rhun, still on his knees, managed to strike the flint on the first try and coax forth a rather healthy blaze. With the knights in motion, the older woman smiled kindly at Alessandria.
“Forgive my haste, my dear,” she said gently. “I am Liselotte de Lohr. This is my home. I will take great care of you.”
Alessandria sensed kindness from the woman. It was in her eyes and expression more than her manner. Her manner suggested that she was no one to trifle with.
“M-my lady,” she greeted through quivering lips. “I am Alessandria de Shera.”
Liselotte put her hand on Alessandria’s shoulder, meant to be a gesture of comfort, but the moment she touched the rank, damp wool, she drew her hand back with a look of horror.
“Sweet Mary,�
�� she hissed again. “We must remove you from your clothing now. Jorden?”
She very nearly bellowed to the big knight, who immediately returned to the chamber, holding a big coverlet in his hands.
“Here, my lady,” he said. “This was all I could find that would be acceptable.”
Liselotte took it from him. “Thank you,” she said. “Now, go inside and find Veronica. I fear she will be overwhelmed with what she must find for the lady. Make sure she brings female servants with her and make sure they bring everything I need to tend the lady.”
De Russe hesitated. “Chad told me not to leave her, my lady,” he said. “Henry’s men are here and they want to take her.”
“Why?”
“Because Henry wants her, my lady.”
“Why?”
De Russe scratched his head, seeing that she wanted an answer. “It is a political move, my lady,” he said. “If you want to know more about it, then you must ask your husband. Meanwhile, I have been ordered to guard the lady and guard I shall. Henry’s men will not take her unless I am told otherwise by Lord Daniel or Chad.”
Liselotte’s eyes flashed. “Ridiculous,” she said. “What on earth could Henry want with this child? Go, now, and do as I say. Rhun will guard the door for now. We will be perfectly safe until you return.”
De Russe turned to do as he was told but he wasn’t happy about it. Chad had told him to remain with the de Shera girl and Lady de Lohr, Chad’s mother, was sending him out on errands. His choice was to either have Chad upset with him or Lady de Lohr. Those being his choices, he chose Chad. Better not to rouse the anger of the formidable Lady de Lohr.
When the door shut behind the big knight, Liselotte returned her attention to Alessandria. She smiled timidly at the girl, knowing that there was something of a mess brewing that involved her and feeling rather sorry for the child. But first things first; the lady needed to be tended and Liselotte indicated the fire.
“If you will, my lady, please stand by the fire and remove your damp clothing,” she said kindly. “I will hold up this blanket to protect your modesty.”
Fearsome Brides Page 42
