His Runaway Maiden

by June Francis

  The man pursed his lips and scratched his head. ‘Now there’s a question. Josh, who’s new and from the north, was checking the perimeter wall earlier. He said there were bits of mortar and brick dust on the ground, as well as a broken branch from a tree. It’s as if someone had tried to breach the wall.’

  ‘I’d like to speak to this Josh,’ said Alex.

  ‘He’ll be here later,’ said the man.

  Alex thanked him and decided to take a walk and see for himself if aught of interest was happening at the Steel Yard or Fustian’s house. Hopefully, by the time he returned, the other guard would be back on gate duty and he could have a word with him.

  Rosamund arrived at the gates without seeing anyone. She hailed the guard on duty and asked if he had seen the Baron that morning.

  ‘Aye, Baroness.’ He looked at her with interest. ‘The Baron, your husband, went out.’

  Being addressed as Baroness gave Rosamund an odd feeling and caused her to feel tied to the Baron in a way she had not done so far. Her dark brows knit and she gnawed on her lip, wondering where he could have gone. She thought of Ingrid and was suddenly uneasy.

  ‘Ahhh! I remember where he was going now. I shall go and find him,’ she said brightly, and slipped out of the gateway.

  She noticed that there were several pairs of footprints in the snow and had no trouble distinguishing those of her husband’s boots from the others. First, they were larger, second there was a jagged cut on the leather of the left one. She had noticed such marks when he had left footprints in the mud near a stream several times. It was also a fact that the footprints looked to be the freshest. She began to follow them and managed to do so all the way to a gateway in the Steel Yard, close to the quayside.

  She drew her hood further over her head and gazed at the open gates. There were no guards and few people going in and out. Why had the Baron come here? Was it because he expected to find Ingrid here? She felt desolate and stood a moment, trying to decide what to do. The sun was rising in the sky and there was little heat in it, but maybe it was strong enough to soon melt the snow and destroy her husband’s footprints. She made up her mind and headed for the gates.

  Once inside, she saw that the Steel Yard was like a proper little village with workshops open for business, shops, houses and a church. Despite the earliness of the hour and the weather, there was much hustle and bustle going on inside, but when people called to each other it was as if she had stepped inside Babbel and she could not understand a word. Dismayed, she realised also that people’s feet had already turned the snow into slush here and she no longer knew which direction her husband had taken.

  Frustrated, she decided to make for the church to find some peace and pray. Once inside, she stood in the gloomy interior lit by a few candles and sent up a prayer. Then she made for the door, only to pause at the sound of voices. She could not make out what was being said, but one of them was definitely female. She melted into the shadows as two people appeared at the far end of the church. Her eyes caught the gleam of a man’s fair head in the candlelight before he put on his hat. He had his back to her so that she could not see his face, but with a jerk of her heart, she realised there was something familiar about him. She heard the woman say something and, although, Rosamund had heard Ingrid speak only the once, she recognised that voice. Even as she stood there, she saw the woman draw the man’s head down towards hers and they kissed.

  Rosamund could not bear to watch them any longer and blundered out of the church, heedless of the noise she made. She ran towards the gates, sliding in the slushy snow and almost losing her balance a couple of times. She was aware that she drew attention to herself, but did not stop until she was through the gates and heading towards the Thames. There she stopped to catch her breath and gaze out over the river at a yellowy wintry sun reflecting on the surface.

  How could Alex kiss Ingrid when only a few hours ago he had sworn fidelity to herself? He might have acted as if he hated the woman he believed to have betrayed him, but obviously the tidings that Rosamund had brought him yesterday had melted his fury, and he had not been able to resist her when he saw her again.

  Tears filled Rosamund’s eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She wiped them away fiercely with the back of her glove and began to trudge towards the Strand. She felt cheated and utterly miserable and kept her head down so no one could see her tears. She was within yards of the gates of her godmother’s mansion when a hand seized her shoulder from behind. She tried to turn round, but that hand was relentless and its fingers bit into her flesh through her cloak and gown. A terrible fear seized her and she was unable to cry out for help as her hood was drawn back.

  ‘So it is true,’ hissed a hated voice against her ear. ‘What a foolish woman you are! Will you never learn that you cannot escape your destiny? You were mad to believe you could. Accept, Rosie, that one day I will have you. You will be my slave and beg me to be merciful to you.’

  ‘Let me go!’ she gasped. ‘You are too late!’

  ‘You are talking of your betrothal to that Swedish fool. Don’t get too fond of him, Rosie. He doesn’t have much longer to live.’

  Rosamund felt faint and struggled to stay conscious then suddenly she was free. She staggered and fell over in the snow. Edward’s voice came to her on the breeze. ‘I’ll see you again soon, Rosie, and when I do there’ll be no escaping me then.’

  She tried to get up, but was trembling so much that her feet kept slipping. Then she heard a voice saying, ‘Mistress Rosamund, are thee all right? That man! He reminded me of Master Fustian. What was going on there?’ The next moment she was being lifted up by two strong arms and gazed in disbelief at the stocky young man staring anxiously into her face.

  ‘Joshua, it can’t be you! Oh, this is all too much.’ She burst into tears.

  Laughter rumbled deep in his throat. ‘’Tis me, and I’m right glad to see thee, Mistress Rosamund.’

  She clutched his arm and smiled through her tears. ‘I never thought I’d see you again. I feared that she might have done away with you.’

  ‘Naw, Lady Monica just gave me my marching orders. If it weren’t for thee, I’d have left when thy father died.’

  ‘It’s like a miracle,’ she whispered. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I’m one of Lady Elizabeth’s guards.’

  She gazed into Joshua’s broad face with its broken nose and could not be more pleased. ‘How did this happen?’

  ‘When Lady Monica turned me off, I goes to the Earl of Derby and asks can he give me some paid labour. He had nuthin’!’ Joshua pulled a face. ‘But as luck would have it Lady Elizabeth was staying there with her entourage, so I got gabbing with me mate here.’ He jerked his head in the direction of the other guard. ‘He told me that one of the other men had taken ill and died. So I just stepped into his shoes.’

  ‘I am so pleased,’ said Rosamund, remembering how Joshua had grieved for Harry as much as she had done. She was about to tell him the news about her brother, when the other guard spoke up.

  ‘I hate to remind yer, Josh,’ he said, ‘but this here lady’s husband is the Baron. Best not be too familiar.’

  ‘Lor! Thou’s right, Will. I’d best be keeping me distance.’ Josh moved away from Rosamund to take up a position the other side of the gate.

  She was now feeling extremely peculiar. She had run the gauntlet of so many differing emotions in the last hour that, having lost the support of Joshua’s arm, she needed to rest a moment, so leaned against the gatepost.

  ‘Surely we don’t have to stand on ceremony, Josh? I’m still the same person you knew back at Appleby,’ she said in a low voice.

  ‘I doubt it, Mistress Rosamund. I mean, Baroness,’ he said, standing at attention. ‘For thee to be here means thee has changed.’

  ‘I don’t feel different towards you, but I suppose it is true that I have changed. At least the Baron believes so. I must tell you, though, that—’ Her voice broke off at the sound of approaching foots
teps. She began to tremble afresh. Was it her husband or her stepbrother returning?

  The priest stopped and smiled at her. ‘I saw your husband a short while ago, Baroness. He told me that Lady Elizabeth has survived the night.’

  ‘Indeed,’ said Rosamund, attempting to put some steel into her spine and a welcome in her voice. ‘She opened her eyes and spoke to me and I am sure that she will be pleased to see you.’

  ‘What a strong will she has, but she might yet have a relapse, so I must make haste and pray with her. You will accompany me?’

  Rosamund glanced at Joshua, but he was staring straight ahead. She decided to tell him about Harry later. Her legs were feeling shaky, but she managed to walk beside the priest to the house. She lingered in her godmother’s bedchamber only until the lawyer arrived. Then she asked to be excused and went upstairs to her bedchamber, where she collapsed on the bed.

  She attempted to blank out all thought of the last hour, but it was impossible for her to do so. Her fear and pain was too great. Her husband loved another woman and her stepbrother had found her and was determined to punish her for running away. She thumped a fist into the pillow, thinking she would rather die than be taken by him again. But how had Edward discovered that she was here with the Baron? Had Ingrid told him? Had she had time? Thinking of her husband with her brought tears to Rosamund’s eyes again.

  Perhaps she should kill herself. Belladonna would do the trick. She gasped. What was she thinking of! What purpose would killing herself serve? She would fight them both, Edward and that woman who would steal her husband.

  Chapter Ten

  Rosamund sprang off the bed. She also had to consider Harry. She longed to see her brother again—what if he returned to England, only to be told that he’d had a sister, but she was dead. There was also Richmond to see! She was supposedly riding there with her new husband today. Was there any way she could escape being alone with him, knowing that he had betrayed her within less than a day of them plighting their troth? She felt that ache in the region of her heart again and determinedly tried to ignore it. Had she not survived years of lack of love and bullying? Why was she getting so fussed? Their wedding had taken place to please her godmother, so maybe she was expecting too much of him in wanting him to remain faithful. But the thought of him kissing another woman still hurt.

  A sigh escaped her. She would go down and discuss the journey with her godmother. Pray God that she had not had a relapse and was well enough to go to Richmond. She hoped the gowns in her possession would be sufficient for her stay at the royal palace. She was apprehensive about what lay ahead. Presumably the troupe would still be part of the entertainment, but with her godmother no longer able to dance, would the Baron still take part? She remembered how much she had enjoyed dancing with him yesterday and the kisses they had shared. Obviously, they had not meant anything to him. It was then she recalled her godmother suggesting that she try on Lady Joan’s costume. Would it be worth doing so? She would see if the gown was still on the chair in the hall because, if they were to go to Richmond, she would need to pack it.

  Rosamund searched for the black-and-silver costume, but it was not there, so she hurried to her godmother’s bedchamber and was pleased to find her sitting in a chair with a metal box on her knee. She marvelled at her powers of recovery.

  ‘There you are, my dear,’ wheezed Lady Elizabeth, closing the lid of the box and turning the key in the lock. ‘Am I to presume that the Baron has not yet returned?’

  ‘Aye. Surely he cannot be much longer?’ said Rosamund brightly. ‘He was not clad for outdoors. I hope he does not catch a chill.’

  Her godmother smiled. ‘You already sound like a wife. As soon as he returns you must have breakfast and set out for Richmond. I still have a few matters to deal with before I can leave. They will have made ready a suite of rooms for me and my entourage. In case I am delayed, I will write a message with instructions that you and the Baron are to have one of the finest bedchambers. After all, you were cheated of your wedding night,’ she added with a twinkle in her eyes. ‘Tonight I want all to go well for you both.’

  ‘What if the Baron does not return?’

  Lady Elizabeth’s eyes clouded. ‘Don’t be gloomy, my dear. I haven’t gone to all this trouble to see you married to have my plans thwarted. If he has not returned within the hour, I will send some of the men to make a search for him. In the meantime, I will give orders to have my barge made ready. As long as there is no trouble with the tides or the river freezing over, then all will be well.’

  ‘Perhaps I should travel by barge with you?’

  Her godmother gave her a sharp look. ‘There is no need for you to fear being alone with the Baron now you are married. He will take care of you as I intended.’

  Rosamund was starting to wonder if her godmother’s difficulty with breathing last evening had been feigned, but decided it was best not to speak her thoughts. She did not wish to disillusion the old lady about the man she put so much faith in. Instead, she said lightly, ‘I had forgotten that the Thames was tidal.’

  ‘It is, indeed, but we are miles from the sea. The horse ferry at Westminster will take you across to the south bank. Unless the weather worsens, the journey should only be of a few hours’ duration. You will arrive there well before nightfall,’ said Lady Elizabeth.

  No sooner had she finished speaking, than there came a knock. ‘Enter!’ she called.

  The door opened and the Baron entered. He looked at his wife and said without preamble, ‘I hear you left the grounds in search of me. You should not have done so. One of the men said you were attacked opposite the gates.’

  Lady Elizabeth looked at Rosamund in astonishment. ‘You made no mention of this to me.’

  She flushed. ‘No. I did not want to distress you, as it was, one of your guards came to my rescue.’

  ‘I am truly shocked that you should be set upon so close to my gates.’

  ‘I am sure it will not happen again,’ said Rosamund, not wanting to upset her further by telling her the identity of her attacker. ‘I had naught to steal.’

  Alex frowned. ‘Even so, it was foolish of you to go out alone. If the guards had not seen you, then you might have been seriously hurt.’

  ‘I would prefer you not to make a fuss,’ she said stiffly, annoyed that he should scold her. Where had he been when she needed him, but out meeting his former lover? ‘I shall not do it again,’ she added, an angry gleam in her eyes.

  Alex wondered why she was so vexed with him. Was it not natural for a husband to be concerned about his wife’s safety? ‘I should hope not. Anyway, I bring tidings.’

  ‘What tidings?’ asked Lady Elizabeth eagerly.

  ‘Lady Monica and her party have arrived in London.’

  It was just as they had expected, but the news caused Rosamund to feel quite sick. ‘How do you know this?’ she asked.

  ‘I have been having Fustian’s house watched and I was fortunate enough to see his wife, Marion, with an older woman whom she addressed as Lady Monica.’

  ‘She must have ridden like the wind to get here,’ said Rosamund, thinking it was not surprising the Baron had been out so long if he’d visited both the Steel Yard and her stepbrother’s house.

  ‘Or flew on her broomstick,’ muttered Lady Elizabeth.

  Alex smiled and pressed his wife’s shoulder gently. ‘You must not fear them. I have the right to protect you now.’

  ‘Spoken like a true knight,’ said Rosamund lightly.

  Lady Elizabeth sighed. ‘Just the kind of husband I wanted.’

  Alex stared at her. ‘You certainly seem to have made a miraculous recovery, Lady Elizabeth.’

  ‘The power of prayer,’ she said piously, touching the amber-and-silver crucifix hanging from her girdle. ‘I deem that God has healed me in order that I can make the journey to Richmond. Hopefully I will be able to leave within a few hours. As I have already said, I will travel by barge, so as not to exert myself too much. I have suggeste
d to Rosamund that the pair of you ride to Richmond as soon as possible. We need to make certain that one of us arrives at the palace to execute your father’s plans.’

  Rosamund thought she must have misheard her godmother’s words. Had the Baron not told her that his father had played no part in his life? So what were these plans they were talking about?

  ‘I see the sense in what you say, Lady Elizabeth, but if you fail to reach Richmond, then I will have to reconsider our plans,’ said Alex. ‘I say that Rosamund could still be of help to us.’

  ‘I do not know of what you speak,’ said Rosamund. ‘What I wish to know is whether I will still be taking part in the dance? If so, I must inform you, Godmother, that Lady Joan’s gown has gone missing from the hall.’

  ‘Do not concern yourself about it,’ said the older woman. ‘Most likely one of the servants has picked it up. I will see to it that it is packed with my baggage, along with the masks I have ordered, which are yet to be delivered.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘Now, enough said, my dears. You must eat before setting out on your journey. Breakfast will be served in my parlour,’ she wheezed.

  ‘Baron, your wife can explain to you my plans for your arrival at Richmond. Go now! I must write a message for you to take with you.’

  Rosamund and Alex accepted their dismissal without comment and left the bedchamber for the parlour. She sat down at table, but he went over to the fire and held his hands out to the blaze. ‘It is still very cold out. You must wrap up well.’

  Rosamund wondered how he could speak of such mundane matters when he was such a deceiver. ‘Godmother said that we are to take the horse ferry at Westminster and cross to the south bank. We should reach Richmond before nightfall,’ she said in a colourless voice.

  He slanted her a frowning glance. ‘You are still upset by what happened outside the gate, I deem. You must not go out alone again.’

  ‘We have already had this conversation,’ she muttered.