It had been a fateful year. It was not only the year that Duke William took the English crown, it was also the year that Aude’s father, Sir Hamon, had died.
With her grandfather in exile and the family lands confiscated, her father had been a landless knight like Sir Olivier. Sir Hamon had longed to inherit Crèvecoeur and Corbeil, but with his father’s lands held under steward ship for the King, he had never lived to see that hopeful filled.
Poor Father. Tears pricked at the back of Aude’s eyes.
In 1066, the Duchy had been buzzing like a hornet’s nest; talk of war had been on everyone’s lips. Her father had resolved to go to the seaport of Dives where he would enlist with the invasion force. He had been full of optimism concerning his future.
‘Mark my words, Aude,’ Sir Hamon had said as she had ridden up with him to a bustling inn near the Dives shipyard where Duke William’s fleet was being built. ‘This venture of the Duke’s will be the making of our family.’
Blinking firmly, Aude dismissed the memory. It only made her sad. That night near the Dives shipyard had been the night her father had died, killed not while fighting gloriously for his Duke, but in a squalid tavern brawl.
She had been thirteen years old.
Aude shot Hugh a sidelong glance. Sweet Mother, let Hugh forget me as I was at the time. The shame of it! For in 1066, Aude had been serving her impoverished father as his squire, and when Hugh and Edouard had arrived to join the mustering troops they had found her clad in boy’s clothing—a short tunic and cross-gartered hose. Her cheeks warmed as she remembered. She had only been thirteen, of course, but…
‘Aude?’ Gently Hugh removed her finger from her mouth.
‘Mmm?’
‘Is some thing wrong?’
‘No. No, not at all.’
In truth, far from appearing shocked at the sight of her, Hugh had been kindness itself in Dives. He had taken the trouble to endorse her childish wish to become Countess of Beaumont, even going so far as to encourage Edouard to arrange for her betrothal to Count Martin. Hugh had not mentioned her clothing, but she had sensed his disapproval.
Had what happened that year affected the way Hugh thought of her?
Aude’s pulse jumped. It could be her imagination, but it seemed to her that the liking she and Hugh had always felt for each other might be changing. Another surreptitious glance revealed him to be studying her, running his gaze up and down her body.
Her pulse began to do more than jump, it began to race.
Did Hugh like her looks now she had grown into a woman? Another brief glance con firmed that he did. Hugh Duclair was drawn to her. Some of the worry had left his expression, his eyes were watching her warmly. The careful way that he had handed her into this barge told her that he respected her, while his gaze told her that he liked her looks. For her part, Aude liked him, far better than Sir Olivier, for example. And as for Hugh’s form… She sighed. The image of that lithe, half-naked body tossing her belongings about the docks was only too easy to recall.
It was a pity Hugh was leaving under such a cloud, she could do with a friend who liked her for herself, and even though her brother had for bid den her to speak to him, she yearned for his friend ship. This man attracted her in many ways. She stole another look at him. Wide shoulders, strong limbs, upright posture…
Hugh was noble by birth and noble in his bearing and nothing, not even banishment, would take that away from him. Perhaps it would not take him long to prove he was innocent of the charges against him.
She felt adrift. She must be realistic. There were many reasons why Hugh was out of bounds to her and, given his banishment, it was impossible that their childish friend ship would survive, never mind grow. From midnight tonight he should not even be in the Duchy. Anyone caught helping him after then would be in serious trouble.
After midnight, anyone associating with Hugh Duclair could be brought to court to answer charges of aiding and abetting a traitor. At best they risked disgrace, at worst, execution. Aude’s relationship with Hugh might have been a bright thread running through her life, but she must resign herself to the loss of it. Much as she might wish otherwise, their childish friend ship was over.
She would never kiss him.
Holding down a sigh, she moved to the ship’s hand-rail. ‘You will stay out of Normandy?’ Knowing Hugh, he would fight like a demon for his reinstatement. ‘I don’t want you to get yourself killed; if you come back to the Duchy, your fate will be uncertain.’
‘I will do what I must. As well as clearing my name, there is a matter of some family silver which has gone missing. And in order to regain my lands I will have to take the kiss of peace from King William in person.’ His mouth twisted. ‘Given that our Duke has been neglecting his Norman territories in favour of his English kingdom, I may have to travel to England for that.’
‘Yes, I hear the Duke has been fully occupied with enforcing his authority as King.’ With a heavy heart, Aude stepped on to the ramp. ‘Hugh, wherever you go, I wish you well. It is not likely that we shall meet again and I am sorry for it.’
‘No, we shall not meet, and I too have my regrets. I beg that you remember that.’
What an odd thing for him to say. She stared blankly into his eyes, but they were un read able.
‘Aude, there is some thing else.’ A simple touch on her arm had her stopping in her tracks. ‘Do not let a rift form between you and your brother—he means well. He wants the best for you and one day you will realise that.’
‘Hugh, Edouard barely knows me. After he went to be fostered with you at Freyncourt, we rarely saw each other. Why, I saw him no more that I saw you.’
Blue-grey eyes watched her. Mysterious, breath taking eyes, eyes that dropped briefly to her lips and lit up every time he smiled. ‘He wants the best for you.’ Taking her hand, he lifted it to his lips. Another tingle flew up her arm. Aude’s throat worked; it was dry as dust.
Darting a glance at Edwige, Hugh lowered his voice, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. ‘What are you going to do in Honfleur?’
‘What, apart from escape Edouard’s plans for me?’
‘Aude—’ strong fingers tightened on hers ‘—Edouard would never force you.’
How could Hugh know that? No matter. ‘I sail to England,’ she said.
‘England?’
Those tiny caresses had started again. Hugh’s thumb was moving gently over her knuckles; she wondered if he realised what he was doing. It was very distracting, it made her heart pound. And the air in this inlet…it must be the heat of the day, because there didn’t seem to be enough of it.
‘Mmm, I have an estate in Wessex.’ She watched his thumb, back and forth it went, back and forth. She let her hand relax in his. Hugh’s touch was most pleasant, once one got used to the unsettling effect it had on her senses. And why on earth was it so hard to concentrate on their conversation? She looked up in time to see that Hugh’s eyes had narrowed in that intent way he sometimes had when some thing caught his attention.
‘You have an estate in England? That’s the first I have heard of it—I didn’t know your family has interests in England.’
‘We didn’t until recently. Count Richard gave me the estate when he broke our betrothal agreement.’ The way Hugh was watching her mouth was making Aude absurdly self-conscious. Cheeks burning, she tugged at her hand, but he would not give it up.
‘Aude, what’s the matter?’
‘N…nothing.’
‘Count Richard married a Saxon, I hear.’
‘Yes, he married Lady Emma of Fulford. Count Richard insisted on giving me the estate by way of compensation, though I assured him there was no need. It is called Alfold and I hear it is much run down. I should like to set it in order.’
‘Alfold, you say?’
‘Yes.’
‘And it is in Wessex? Is it anywhere near the city of Winchester?’
‘I believe it is. Why?’
The broad shoulders lifted. ‘I he
ard the King has a residence there. Aude, were you very upset?’
‘Upset?’
‘When Count Richard set you aside. I assumed you were not because I know how you cared for Martin.’
‘No, I was not upset. I like Count Richard very much, but it is as you say, Martin was the man for me.’ Even as Aude spoke, the words seemed to freeze on her tongue. Was that the truth? Was Martin truly the man for me? Did I ever feel half the sense of…connection that I feel with Hugh Duclair?
Hugh’s gaze was steady, but a line had formed between his eyebrows. Aude became conscious that the soft caresses had stopped as suddenly as they had started. ‘He still is, I think.’
Aude gave a little nod, but it felt like a lie. Is Martin still the man for me? Had he ever been? True, I enjoyed talking with him, but there had always been that sense of distance. Have I been living a dream?
Carefully, Hugh released her. ‘Does Edouard realise you are determined to set out to this Alfold of yours tomorrow? Surely he has noticed your belongings are missing from the lodge?’
Grimacing, Aude waved to where her travel ling chests were roped together on the deck. ‘As you see, I have acquired new baggage.’
‘Ah.’ Hugh’s forehead cleared as he took in the boxes. ‘So your old ones have been emptied and left behind as decoys?’
‘Yes.’
‘And these painted coffers here, they are yours?’
‘Yes, they are mine.’
‘When do you leave?’
‘Tomorrow morning.’
Hugh’s mouth curved. ‘Poor Edouard, he doesn’t stand a chance, does he?’
At twilight the Abbey wall cast a thick shadow. Striding to the place he had appointed for the rendezvous, Hugh Duclair settled himself on the grass and leaned against it. He had his cloak on and his hood up, because both he and Aude’s brother—the person he was meeting—did not want it generally known that they were on speaking terms.
A moth fluttered past.
While he waited, Hugh looked towards the port. Aude would doubt less be in the Abbey Lodge behind him. Perhaps she would be settling down for the night. Did she sleep with her hair loose? Was it soft to the touch? Little Brat, who would have thought it? Such a slender waist, and those breasts…
Heat rushed to his loins. Hard in an instant, Hugh was rampantly—and extremely in appropriately—aroused. Those breasts, they were even more fascinating than when he first noticed them…
Aude’s breasts had long been some thing of a distraction—Hugh had first noticed them when he had been seventeen. He and Edouard had arrived at Dives to enlist with the Duke’s war party. Since Edouard had been fostering at Freyncourt, Hugh had come to see him as a brother.
But before they embarked for England, the two young men found them selves arranging Sir Hamon’s funeral.
At the dockside inn, Aude—dressed in a scandalous short tunic that did little to shield her rapidly developing body—had flung herself into Hugh’s arms and wept her grief out on his tunic.
‘What happened, Aude?’ Hugh had asked, gently stroking her shoulders while the questions lined up in his mind. What had Sir Hamon been thinking about to allow her to continue acting as his squire? Yes, Sir Hamon loved his daughter and wanted her with him, but surely the man must have seen that the time for their masquerade was long past?
Aude had wriggled closer, and the soft young breasts pressing into Hugh’s chest had pushed his indignant questions to the back of his mind.
‘I didn’t see. I had gone to bed, was deep asleep.’ Aude had lifted her face to him, amber eyes glassy with tears. ‘Knives were used. I am told that Father didn’t suffer, that it was quick…’
Hugh had murmured sympathetically, even as he felt his body betray him. A heaviness was gathering in his loins. Afraid of frightening his friend’s innocent little sister, he had edged care fully back. Aude’s breasts, Lord, that tunic scarcely contained them…
Gently, shocked at himself, he had transferred Aude to her brother’s arms.
Grimacing, Hugh shifted against the cool stone of the Abbey wall and forced his attention back on to his surroundings. A row of houses adjacent to one of the quays, glared violet in the last of the light. Above a stand of trees a cloud of star lings formed and reformed, making swirling black shapes in the dusky air.
A couple of minutes passed and the flare of lust subsided, but Hugh’s thoughts were lingering in that inn at Dives. After Sir Hamon’s funeral, Hugh had been concerned for Aude’s future, which was why he had encouraged Edouard to arrange for her betrothal to Count Martin de Beaumont.
He winced at how blunt he had been, but he had been young and hot to go to war. And time had been short.
‘Have you given any thoughts to marriage, Aude?’ he had asked. ‘Is there anyone you particularly like?’
Aude’s face had frozen; she had given him the strangest of looks. Then she had laughed, before finally saying, ‘I like Count Martin de Beaumont.’
Edouard’s eyes had widened. ‘Count Martin? But he’s—’
Hugh had kicked his friend into silence. ‘I wasn’t aware you had met Count Martin?’
‘Yes. Father and I attended the Easter Mass in Beaumont, and afterwards Count Martin found us a place in his house hold. He was kind to us and I like him.’
Given that Aude had to be sent some where safe while he and Edouard went to England, the betrothal to Count Martin had seemed ideal. Martin of Beaumont had been one of Duke William’s most trusted nobles, one of those chosen to remain in Normandy to guard the Duke’s interests while the Duke was abroad.
At that moment, at one of those houses by the quays, the dusk seemed to solidify as a man in a cloak separated himself from the shadows. Edouard.
Smiling, Hugh rose to his feet.
‘Hugh.’ Edouard nodded a greeting at him. ‘Aude told me about Louise. I am glad she is safe.’
‘Yes, I am very grateful Aude got her out of the river.’
‘And I have to thank you for saving Aude.’
‘It was my pleasure. Edouard?’
‘Hmm?’
‘I daresay I shouldn’t tell you this, but you do realise that Aude is still set on leaving?’
Edouard’s face went still. ‘I thought we agreed that you would not speak to her!’
Hugh grinned. ‘That became somewhat impossible after what happened at the river today. Anyway, I thought you might care to know, she is determined to get to England, to see that estate she has been given.’
‘Yes, I knew that, she and I have discussed it.’
‘Did you realise she is planning to leave tomorrow?’
‘So soon? No, I wasn’t sure, she was rather evasive…but I thank you for telling me.’
‘At least she has sense to have arranged for an escort.’
‘That is a relief,’ Edouard said. ‘And what about you? Are you set to go?’
‘I plan to leave at dawn tomorrow.’
‘You have found another barge? Good.’
‘Yes, and that brings me to a slight problem I thought I ought to mention.’
‘Yes?’
‘It is Aude’s barge,’ Hugh said. ‘She has booked it to take her to Honfleur; already her baggage is stowed on board. And like the last one, there is not enough room for both our parties…’
‘You are not thinking of offloading her baggage again?’
Hugh spread his hands. ‘What would you suggest?’
Edouard flung his head back and gave a crack of laughter. ‘Hugh, she will want to kill you!’
‘Quite probably.’ Hugh sighed. ‘Edouard, I want you to know, I am grateful for your support.’ In his present cir cum stances, it ought not to matter that he was running the gauntlet of Aude’s anger again, but…damn it, it did.
‘Lord, man, I have done nothing.’
Hugh shook his head. ‘You are making enquiries on my behalf, and at the moment, believe me, that is not nothing.’
‘It seems little enough.’ Edouard frowned. ‘
I would like to do more.’
‘Keep your ear to the ground. The man I am searching for is Brother Baldwin. He was last seen at St Aubin, but one rumour puts him in Rouen, another in England. In short, he seems to have vanished without trace.’
Edouard rubbed his chin. ‘He may be dead.’
‘That is possible, but make enquiries for me, will you?’
‘Assuredly. Where will you go?’
Hugh grimaced. ‘I don’t like it, but if nothing solid turns up, I shall have to go to England.’
Edouard lifted a brow. ‘To plead your innocence before the King? That’s a dangerous strategy.’
‘If all else fails I will have no choice. The King scarcely sets foot on Norman soil these days, I will have to face him in England.’
Edouard grunted. ‘I wish you well. In the event of my discovering anything to your advantage, we need to arrange how to keep in touch.’ His expression became thoughtful. ‘All roads seem to be leading to England. I can see that shortly I will be visiting my sister at Alfold.’
Hugh’s face darkened. ‘No! I don’t want Aude dragged into my affairs.’
‘I agree—believe me, that’s the last thing I want. Surely we can meet without Aude knowing it? At summer’s end I will visit her in Wessex. Send word to me at Alfold and I will quietly arrange to see you and give you any news.’
Hugh looked doubt fully at Edouard. ‘Aude need not be involved? It will be bad enough implicating you if things turn sour, but I will not risk Aude too.’
‘I swear it, man, Aude need not be involved.’
Chapter Five
The sun was not yet strong enough to cast more than a greenish pall over the river barge under the overhanging willows. It was so early that the bell for prime was in competition with the dawn chorus. In the trees, blackbirds, doves and robins were stirring, and on a ledge on the cliff opposite, a cormorant had spread its wings out to dry.
Hugh’s boots sounded hollow on the deck as he strode to the ship’s master. ‘Here.’ He tipped coins into the waiting hand. ‘I will double it if you can cast off within the hour.’
Wessex Weddings 05 - Her Banished Lord Page 6
