‘You didn’t think that I came here unaccompanied, did you?’ she said, with a twinkle. ‘Not after all your warnings about the dangers to a woman travelling alone. I left Raoul stabling the horses at the inn. We were told by the innkeeper that you had mentioned visiting this district, so I came to find you.’
‘I see.’
Raoul suddenly broke off from what he was saying and looked towards them. He murmured something to his companion, who nodded and then hurried off. Raoul came striding towards them.
‘No doubt you are surprised to see us, Jack,’ he called. ‘But we came to prevent you from making a fool of yourself by challenging Gaston de Briand to a fight to the death.’
Jack shot Anna a startled look. ‘What did you tell him?’
Raoul answered for her. ‘That you wished to revenge yourself on the man who sentenced you to six years of slavery. What more is there to tell? Are we to presume, Jack, that you haven’t met with Gaston yet?’
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I have no quarrel with the Comte de Briand’s son. There’s been some mistake.’
Raoul nodded. ‘Indeed there has, for Gaston is the Comte de Briand. His father died five years ago, stabbed in the back by an unknown assassin.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘Now the old Comte, he had many enemies. A most unsavoury character, accused of the most unspeakable deeds. I should have guessed it was he to whom Anna referred when she told me that you were determined to kill the Comte de Briand.’
Jack felt as if a weight had fallen from his shoulders. ‘All this time I’ve nursed a deep hatred of the old Comte. I can scarcely believe that he’s been dead these past five years.’
Raoul smiled. ‘Believe me, my friend, it is true. No longer do you need to risk your life, avenging yourself on a man who has been duly punished. Hopefully, he is now rotting in the fierce flames of hell. So now you can come with me to Bruges.’
‘Much as I would enjoy your company,’ said Jack, swiftly recovering from the shock of this welcome news, ‘I cannot accompany you to Bruges. I will be returning to England as soon as I can. There is something I must tell you, Raoul. This boy here…’
Raoul glanced at Philippe. Then he gave the boy a second glance before looking at Jack. ‘You will explain?’
‘I was about to…this boy is my son, Raoul. Monique de Briand was his mother.’
There was a stunned silence from Raoul. Then he took a deep breath and said, ‘I am beginning to understand. There were rumours when Monique de Briand went missing that either her husband had secreted her away and kept her a prisoner in a dungeon, or that she had a lover and had fled with him. Not for one moment did I think that you could be that lover, Jack.’
Jack said wryly, ‘You knew the Comte, so you can guess why I couldn’t chance the affair being gossiped about even by my friends in their cups.’
‘I wish you could have trusted me. I could perhaps have been of help to you,’ said Raoul seriously.
‘And risk your life?’ snapped Jack. ‘As it was, someone betrayed us and Monique paid with her life.’
Raoul frowned. ‘He was a wicked man.’
‘Enough said.’ Jack looked down at his son. ‘Philippe, this man you see before you is my friend, the Comte d’Azay. You will make your bow to him.’ His son gave him an uncertain look, but a nudge in the back from Hortense was enough to make him obey his father.
Watching father and son, Anna felt something twist in her heart. ‘Is Jack not fortunate, Raoul, to have a son to share his home? I am certain that once they grow accustomed to the change in their circumstances they will find pleasure in each other’s company. They will be able to share so many pastimes. Music, fishing…’
‘It is possible that it will turn out that you are right, Anna, but this situation needs consideration,’ interrupted Raoul. ‘How is Jack to cope single-handedly with the boy? Unless this woman he is with…’
‘Hortense took care of him for me,’ said Jack. ‘But she cannot come to England with us.’
Raoul frowned. ‘Then I can see trouble ahead for you, Jack. It is a lot to expect a boy brought up in France to settle in England amongst strangers, not knowing a word of the language.’
‘He does speak some English,’ said Anna, annoyed with Raoul for creating difficulties. ‘And Jack will be able to converse with him in his own tongue, as well as improve his English.’ Her tone was confident. ‘He will want him to be part of his family. I’m sure he will adapt.’
Jack wished he felt as certain of that as Anna did. ‘He’s going to come as somewhat of a surprise to them,’ he said, expecting verbal explosions from his family when they set eyes on his son.
‘It appears to me, Jack, that what you need is a little more time to consider matters,’ said Raoul. ‘You would be better leaving the boy here with your having no wife at home to be a mother to him. You could pay this woman to continue to care for him.’
Anna looked at Jack in dismay. Surely he would not agree!
Chapter Eleven
‘I couldn’t do that,’ said Jack. ‘Anna is right. My family will accept him once they have got over the initial shock and it will be for his sake as much as mine.’
Raoul shrugged. ‘If that is your decision.’
‘It is.’ Jack hesitated. ‘Have you eaten yet?’
‘Non! We arrived but a short while ago,’ answered Raoul. ‘But we are staying at the inn where you breakfasted. What will you do? Stay here with your son or return to the inn with us? Have you bespoke a chamber there? If not, you can share mine. I have arranged to meet a friend.’
Jack hesitated. Then he turned to Hortense and said, ‘I need to speak with my friends. I will return later and we will discuss my plans for Philippe.’
‘The English lady, she will be returning to England with you when you take him to your home?’ asked Hortense.
‘Why do you ask?’ queried Jack.
‘She is pretty and has a kind face. Philippe will need kindness shown to him in the days to come.’
‘He will receive it,’ said Jack firmly, placing a hand on his son’s head. ‘I will see you shortly, Philippe. You must not be scared of me.’
The boy made no answer, but only looked at him.
Jack sighed. ‘I shall fetch my horse and then we’ll return to the inn,’ he said.
A relieved Anna bid Philippe and Hortense, ‘Au revoir!’
Then she began to make her way back to the inn. She wanted some time alone to think about the miraculous change in Jack’s life and what it could mean to her.
Jack and Raoul followed her a few moments later. ‘You should marry Anna, my friend,’ suggested Raoul. ‘Despite your scandalous behaviour, I am certain she will have you.’
‘The thought had occurred to me,’ said Jack, leading his horse by the reins. ‘Although I am not so certain as you that she will accept me.’
‘She is fond of you, Jack. Why else do you think we are here? I am sure she would consider a proposal from you. Her self-esteem is not high after what she discovered about her parents. The boy needs a mother and it is time you took a wife. I deem it a highly sensible solution to the problem that faces you.’
‘She told me that she would prefer to enter a convent rather than marry where her heart was not involved. She will not make a marriage of convenience.’
‘L’amour!’ exclaimed Raoul, rolling his eyes. ‘Besides, her heart is engaged. Did you not see her face when she gazed down at your son? She is already half in love with him.’
Jack made no answer. He guessed what Raoul said was partly true. He sensed that his son would be more willing to come with him if he knew that Anna would be living with them. But how to voice a proposal to Anna needed some thought.
They came to the inn and saw her waiting for them outside.
‘I will see to your horse,’ said Raoul, ‘whilst you arrange for the hire of the parlour and a meal to be served there for yourself and Anna.’
‘Thank you for your consideration,’ said Jack stiffly. ‘But what
about you?’
‘I will visit my friend Jules and dine with him. I haven’t seen him for several months and he is a collector of parchments; it’s possible he might be interested in buying Anna’s. That is if you, both, are agreeable to my broaching the matter with him?’
‘You’d best ask her yourself,’ said Jack drily.
So that is what Raoul did.
‘I don’t see why not,’ said Anna, pleased at the possibility of making a sale so soon. ‘Some French coin would be very useful.’
Jack turned to Anna. ‘Are you willing to eat alone with me, Anna—or would you rather forgo my company after my show of ill temper at Raoul’s?’
She thought there was a strained expression about his eyes and mouth. Not surprising in the circumstances. She smiled. ‘Of course I will break bread with you, Jack,’ she replied, slipping her hand through his arm. ‘It seems an age since we dined together on the ship. Although, of course, we were never completely alone then.’
‘And our circumstances were very different,’ he said, relieved with her answer.
‘Aye. The direction of our lives has changed in the short time we’ve been in France. We’ve both discovered truths about our pasts that, whilst very different from what we expected, nevertheless, mean…’ Her voice trailed off.
‘Mean what?’ asked Jack, remembering the feel of her in his arms. It would be extremely pleasant waking up every morning with Anna beside him.
She hesitated. ‘That we both now must consider the future.’
‘That is true. Perhaps we can discuss it over a meal?’ he said, despite there being little time to mull over what he was going to say to her.
He had words with the innkeeper about a private parlour and a light meal and in no time at all they were being shown into the inn’s private parlour. A fire crackled on the hearth, sending shadows dancing round the limewashed walls. They sat opposite each other at a small table. Jack waited until drinks were poured before saying, ‘Are you sure you want to return to England, Anna?’
‘Indeed, I do,’ she answered, removing her gloves. ‘I have had enough of travelling for a while and consider it time to sort out my affairs at home.’
‘Then you are willing to travel to England with me and Philippe on the Hercules?’
‘Of course.’ She smiled. ‘He’s a fine boy, your son. He might be a little scared of you at the moment, but no doubt he will get over that once he knows you better. You will take him straight to your house in Kingston-on-Hull?’
‘Aye. I hope you don’t mind?’
‘Of course not. I understand why you wish to see him settled into your home as soon as possible. I presume you will be able to provide me with an escort to Rowan?’
‘Of course. If that is what you want,’ he said gravely.
‘I have nowhere else to go.’
‘You have changed your mind about entering a convent?’
She did not immediately answer him, remembering her stay there almost a year ago. It was true that she had found peace behind the convent walls, but it was not where she wished to remain for the rest of her life. If her journeying had taught her anything, it was that she had more to offer than prayers and piety.
‘Anna?’
She looked at Jack. ‘Aye. I deem that God did not intend me for the devotional life after all. I believe the gifts that he has given me would be more useful out in the world.’
Jack felt some of his tension evaporate. ‘I am relieved to hear it.’
She smiled. ‘Have you any suggestions about what I should do with the rest of my life, Jack? I would appreciate your advice.’
He marvelled that she could be so forgiving and willing to seek his help. ‘You are a constant surprise to me, Anna. How can you ask my advice, knowing what you do about me?’
‘Perhaps it’s because of what I know about you that I can ask. You have suffered and have seen life as I will never see it. What do you consider will make me feel useful and happy?’
Jack did not immediately answer. He was thinking over what Raoul had said about Anna being already half in love with his son. He felt a stab of envy. Was it possible that she would accept a proposal of marriage from him solely in order to be a mother to his son? He was not as confident as Raoul that she would accept him. He certainly had not forgotten how she had responded to his lovemaking.
‘You’re deep in thought, Jack. Is it that you deem me useless?’ she teased.
Jack reached for his wine and took a mouthful, ‘I do have a suggestion to put to you.’
‘What is it?’
Before he could reply a serving-woman entered, carrying a tray. Both waited impatiently as she set before them two bowls of creamy mushroom soup. As soon as she departed, Anna picked up her spoon and dipped it in the soup. She did not wish to appear too eager to hear what he had to say, so supped the soup and broke off a chunk of bread from the loaf. Slowly, she lifted her eyes and gazed at him. She thought he appeared oddly unsure of himself. He was fiddling with his spoon and gazing at a point somewhere over her shoulder.
Then suddenly he said, ‘Knowing you were homeless, I once suggested that you might like to stay at my house in Kingston-on-Hull. That offer still stands. I know you need to sort out your affairs, but surely you could leave matters to Owain a little longer? I wondered if you might like to live with me and Philippe?’
‘In what capacity?’ asked Anna, her heart increasing its beat.
‘I need a woman to keep house for me and to be as a mother to Philippe.’ He reached across the table and placed his hand over her free one. ‘I know you are a good woman, much too good for me.’
‘Nonsense.’ Her fingers trembled in his grasp. ‘You know what I am.’
‘Indeed, I do. I admire you more than I can say, Anna. You are brave and true.’
The colour rose in her cheeks. ‘You flatter me, Jack.’
‘It’s true,’ he protested. ‘You have all the qualities that I admire in a woman. I deem you would make an ideal chatelaine.’
‘Chatelaine?’ said Anna slowly. ‘What do you mean by that word? It’s French, isn’t it? Raoul used it, I think.’
Jack nodded, wondering what was holding him back from asking her to marry him when it was eminently sensible to do so.
Anna wondered why he hesitated so long. After the flattery, was he now reciting to himself all the traits that made her unsuitable to be a mother to his son? She could not bear the silence any longer. ‘You don’t have to answer, Jack. I know a chatelaine is the mistress of the house. She holds the keys to every cupboard and chest. You could say that she is the key to the smooth running of the household.’ Her tone was brittle. ‘But whether she is the master’s concubine or his wife depends on his commitment to her.’
He paled. ‘It’s exactly for that reason I’m making a pig’s ear of this proposal. My intention was to ask you to marry me.’ His fingers tightened over hers. ‘I know that I might not be the husband you would prefer, but it’s possible that we could still make a good match of it.’
‘You mean you believe that we can support each other for fairer or fouler, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health?’ she demanded.
‘I would swear it before God, and, once having made such a vow I would do all in my power to keep it.’ He realised he was crushing her fingers and begged her pardon. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed each finger. ‘I will protect you from those curs that insulted you. I will also provide for you from my own wealth, so that you can keep Fenwick Manor for your own. If we were ever to have a son, then you could give it to him.’
It was a generous offer in the circumstances; a bride or her father or brother was expected to give a dower to her future husband. Yet Anna would have preferred him to make a promise to give her his love. Instead, Jack was being eminently sensible and so must she, even though she tingled with each tiny kiss he planted on her crushed fingers. No longer a green girl with romantic dreams, it was best that neither she nor Jack d
eceived themselves into believing their marriage could be aught else than one of convenience. A contract that bound them together. She was suddenly filled with doubt. Could either of them really settle for less than they’d had with their previous lovers?
‘You truly tempt me to accept your proposal, Jack,’ she said in a low voice.
‘Do I? Then say aye.’
His smile was one of such charm that she almost agreed there and then. But she told herself that she had acted hastily so often in the last few weeks that this time she must give more thought to such an important decision. A sigh escaped her. ‘Your offer is honest, generous and fair. I have no doubt that I could fill the role you have in mind for me, but I cannot decide such an important matter without giving it more thought,’ she said.
Her answer was a blow to him and he dropped her hand. ‘Of course! It was foolish of me to expect an immediate answer,’ he said in clipped tones. ‘How long do you think you will need to make a decision? I have it in mind to leave Amiens as soon as possible.’
‘I will sleep on it and give you my answer in the morning.’
‘Then I will hope your answer is the most sensible one,’ he said with chilling politeness.
‘Indeed,’ she murmured, thinking there was that word sensible again. She set aside her soup bowl for the serving maid to remove. Realising that if she did not make conversation it was likely that the rest of the meal might pass in an uncomfortable silence, she forced herself to say, ‘Tell me about your house, Jack.’
For a moment she thought he was not going to answer, but then he looked across at her and said, ‘At the moment that is all it is: a house. I would like you to turn it into a home where a young boy, who is bound to be a little frightened and bewildered once in England, will in no time at all stop feeling an outsider and start feeling this is where he belongs.’
June Francis Page 18
