by June Francis
‘Aye. But where did you go when you went out in search for me? I saw no sign of you.’
She thought he sounded suspicious and her hurt deepened. ‘Perhaps you weren’t looking for me, but someone else?’
Before he could reply, a servant entered and placed food and ale on the table. It was not until the man had left that Alex said, ‘You make that sound as if there was something wrong in doing so. I told you where I have been.’
She reached for bread and salted pork and said firmly, ‘Are you certain you have told me all that you did?’
‘Is this what marriage is about?’ Alex picked up the jug and poured the ale. ‘I suspect that you are going to tell me you saw me somewhere else.’
‘From what you have just said, you did go somewhere other than to spy on my evil stepbrother,’ she said, a flush on her cheeks. ‘You certainly missed seeing him when you were seeing someone else.’
Alex was astounded. ‘Of what are you accusing me?’
‘I saw you with that religious in the church in the Steel Yard. You were in an embrace and she was kissing you!’
‘You’re mistaken. If I had an assignation with Ingrid, I would certainly not arrange to meet her in her nun’s habit in a church,’ he said firmly.
He sounded so positive that Rosamund was immediately filled with doubt. ‘But he seemed familiar and definitely reminded me of you.’
‘It was not me.’ His voice was carefully controlled. ‘Now I’d like to know what you meant by my missing seeing your stepbrother?’
Rosamund felt ashamed of her suspicions. But if it was not the Baron who had been with Ingrid, who had it been?
‘Well?’ demanded Alex, slapping the table with the flat of his hand.
She started and looked at him and the expression in his eyes caused her to take a deep breath. ‘It was Edward who attacked me. He-he threatened me and you.’
Alex’s expression altered. ‘Did he hurt you?’ he rasped.
‘No doubt I shall be bruised where he seized me, but he was more intent on—on telling me that I would never escape him and you were going to die.’
Alex swore. ‘How did he know I was here? I was so careful.’
‘He seemed to know there was something between us.’
‘You mean he knows that we’re wed?’
‘No, I feel sure he did not know that and I did not enlighten him. He did think us betrothed, though.’
Alex was silent and then said, ‘Eat your breakfast. We need to leave soon.’
‘Might it not be best if we travelled by barge with Lady Elizabeth?’ asked Rosamund.
‘No. It is possible that she might have a relapse and be unable to make the journey. It is vital that we reach Richmond as soon as possible.’
‘Because of these plans to do with your father?’
He did not answer, but carried on eating his breakfast.
She took a mouthful of ale and forced some food down. At least she could be glad that he had not been unfaithful to her so soon. The ache in her heart had abated and she felt much better. ‘You said that you spoke to the guards.’
‘One of them.’
‘You did not speak to Joshua?’
‘No. He must have been the other one.’ He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Why?’
‘What is your opinion of him?’
‘He seemed a sturdy fellow. Why do you ask? Do you think he could be the spy in the camp?’
‘No! Joshua is no thief.’
Alex frowned. ‘You know this man?’
She smiled. ‘I have known Joshua all my life. He is the man I pretended to be—Master Joshua Wood, woodcutter. He taught Harry about woodcraft and they used to practise swordplay together with wooden swords. That was until Father bought Harry a short-sword. He grieved with me when we believed Harry to be dead.’
‘Why did you not tell me this earlier?’ he said mildly, not wanting her to suspect that he was a little envious of the obvious affection that she bore this man.
‘I only discovered he was here a short while ago. You may ask the other guard about our meeting.’ She reached for the honey.
‘Did you speak of Harry to him?’ Alex bit into bread and smoked pork.
‘I would have done so if the priest had not arrived just then,’ replied Rosamund.
He nodded. ‘Best that you do not tell him. If he was such a friend to Harry, we do not wanting him taking off in search of him.’
Rosamund’s expression lightened. ‘I had not thought of his doing so. But why should he not help us?’
‘Because Lady Elizabeth needs him here.’
Rosamund fell to thinking, remembering him saying, Is this what marriage is about? when she had doubted him. ‘Do you regret marrying me?’ she asked bluntly.
‘What a question to ask me,’ said Alex. ‘Why? Are you regretting the match we have made? It is not too late for an annulment, if that is what you want. I will be honest and say that I believe your godmother tricked us into marriage because she believes you are carrying my child. I only pray that she will live long enough to realise her mistake.’
Rosamund heaved a sigh. ‘She might believe that is so, but we both know that I am not carrying your child. Maybe she has regrets about her own childless state and wants me to have a child so she can be a proxy grandmother.’
‘That’s understandable. She has made you the recipient of most of her fortune. If all she asks in return is for you to provide her with a proxy grandchild, then the least we can do is to grant her wish,’ he said, sounding exasperated.
‘So you don’t want an annulment?’ murmured Rosamund, aware of a sudden welling of happiness.
‘Not at the moment,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Perhaps it makes sense for me to take a wife now instead of waiting until my thirtieth birthday. I could be dead then.’
Rosamund’s happiness faded. ‘What a thing to say! You have destroyed my appetite. I will go and fetch my baggage and hopefully I will not have been widowed by the time I return. You will not forget my godmother’s message before we leave?’ She did not wait for his permission, but hurried from the room.
‘Damn!’ Alex threw down his own napkin and went after her, but she was already out of sight. She must have run like the wind, he thought. He had no idea of the whereabouts of her bedchamber, but was determined to reassure her of his affection and his determination to stay alive before they left for Richmond. He could so easily imagine the atmosphere between them on the journey if he did not put matters right.
He tried several vacant bedchambers on the first floor before he reached one that was locked. From inside came the sound of pacing feet and a voice muttering, ‘If I am widowed, what good is it if Godmother leaves her money to me? Edward will find some way to get at me and the money. I might as well be dead now.’
‘Rosamund, open this door,’ commanded Alex, worried by what he had overheard. ‘We must talk.’
There was a long silence before she answered him. ‘We have talked enough. It is obvious to me that you do not know how to handle a wife.’
‘That is most likely true because I have never had a wife before,’ said Alex patiently. ‘But there could be that in our future that would make us both happy. Tell me, Rosamund, have you ever slept with a man?’
‘Who have you in mind besides yourself?’ She laughed a mite hysterically. ‘If you suspect that Joshua and I might have had a youthful liaison, then you are mistaken. Joshua never laid a finger on me, unlike that cur, Edward.’
Alex felt a familiar anger at her mention of Edward. ‘Unlock the door, Rosamund,’ he said in a gentle tone. ‘We cannot waste time arguing like this if we are to go to Richmond.’
He heard a bolt being drawn, and the door swung open. He noticed the tearstains on her face before she turned away and picked up her baggage. He experienced a rush of compassion and wanted to protect her not only from other men’s angry attentions, but his own.
‘Give that here,’ he said.
She handed the bag to him.
‘Are you going to beat me when we get to Richmond?’
Alex dropped the baggage and kicked the door shut behind him. He seized her by the arms and drew her against him. ‘How can you believe that I would beat you?’
‘A husband owns his wife. He is free to do with her what he wills,’ she said on a sob. ‘Edward beats Marion and he would have done the same to me if Father had not forbidden it.’
Alex had difficulty controlling his rage, thinking she was in a real muddle, but knew it would be a terrible mistake for her to see his anger explode. ‘Rosamund, Rosamund,’ he whispered against her ear. ‘I would not treat you so cruelly. When I hold you in my arms like this, I want to make love to you, not beat you.’ He nudged up her jaw with his chin and covered her lips with his own and kissed her gently. He wanted her, but was certain that whilst she was in such an emotional state that matters between them could go badly wrong. ‘But now is not the time,’ he said softly, releasing her and reaching for her baggage. ‘I will meet you downstairs.’
Rosamund was mollified, but she would have preferred him to go on holding her and speaking in that gentle, caring voice. ‘You will not forget to ask Lady Elizabeth for the missive you are to hand to the controller of the royal household?’ she reminded him.
‘I had forgotten,’ he said wryly. ‘I can see it is going to be useful having a wife. Thank you.’
He left her alone to collect herself and returned to the bedchamber that had been allotted to him last night. He put on his hat and cloak and picked up his gauntlets and saddlebags and went downstairs.
After saddling up his horse and fastening on the pillion seat, he led his steed to the front of the house and went inside in search of Rosamund and Lady Elizabeth.
Her ladyship was not in her bedchamber, but he found her in the parlour eating bread and honey. He half-expected to be asked why he had taken so long preparing for the journey. Instead, she simply handed him a sealed parchment and wished him a safe journey. He thanked her, but paused to ask whether she knew that one of her guards had worked as a woodcutter on Appleby Manor.
‘No, I did not know that,’ she said, showing interest. ‘I presume you are talking about the man that my captain of the guard hired while I was staying at Lathom House.’
‘Aye. Joshua Wood. It has occurred to me that you have a man here who would recognise Rosamund’s stepfamily on sight.’
‘What are you suggesting?’
‘If he is the man Rosamund believes him to be, then he will have their measure and warn us if he should discover anything that could be a threat to us.’
She nodded. ‘I will send for him as soon as you and Rosamund have left for Richmond and speak to him. I pray God that we all have a safe journey.’ She offered him her hand.
He raised it to his lips and kissed it.
As he turned away, Rosamund entered the parlour. He thought she appeared much calmer. ‘So you both are here,’ she said. ‘I have come to say farewell for the moment, Godmother. I look forward to seeing you at Richmond.’
‘Come closer, my dear,’ wheezed Lady Elizabeth. ‘I would kiss you farewell.’
Rosamund did as asked and was aware of her godmother’s close scrutiny as she kissed her cheek. ‘Have faith, my dear,’ said Lady Elizabeth. ‘Now go and enjoy each other’s company.’
Rosamund thanked her and followed in Alex’s wake. When they arrived at the gates, Rosamund was disappointed not to see Joshua on guard, but she made no mention of him. However, they had not travelled far when Alex said, ‘I spoke to Lady Elizabeth about Joshua Wood.’
‘What did you say to her?’ She could not conceal her apprehension.
‘I told her that you trusted him and that he could be useful. If Fustian were to return here or his mother or brother, he would recognise them and know what to do.’
Relief flooded her being. ‘Thank you. I beg pardon for misjudging you.’
‘I have misjudged you on several occasions, so I ask your forgiveness.’
‘It is important that we trust each other,’ she said awkwardly.
Alex nodded, considering being more open with her. Sooner rather than later he would need to tell her that he was the bastard son of a Scottish earl—he was not looking forward to doing so.
Chapter Eleven
Despite having visited London once before, Rosamund had never travelled as far as Westminster and she was determined to enjoy the experience despite her worry over Edward’s threat. Her husband, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned about what her stepbrother might do and also appeared to know exactly where he was going and who lived where. He pointed out the riverside residences of the bishops of Exeter, Bath and Wells, as well as the palaces of the prelates of Carlisle, Durham and Norwich.
‘One expects a king to live in a palace. But there is something amiss with the church, whose task it is to preach a gospel of self-sacrifice and love for the poor and needy, when its leaders are living in such luxury,’ said Rosamund. ‘I don’t suppose you will agree with me.’
‘Why should I not?’ asked Alex. ‘It is true that as we near Westminster you will see the hospital of St Mary Rouncel-well, but then comes the Archbishop of York’s manor. There should certainly be more provision for the homeless, sick, elderly and poor and I believe change is coming.’
Rosamund was glad that they saw eye to eye on what she considered an important matter, but was curious to know more. ‘What do you mean by change? Is it that you believe the rich and proud will repent of their ways? I find that difficult to believe.’
‘Some will, but it is those who are educated and can read and want change that will foment it. Holy writ is being printed in such great numbers that there will be those who will speak out against the church and demand reform.’
‘It has already begun,’ said Rosamund with a stir of excitement. ‘I remember Joshua’s father talking about the hedge priests that his grandfather had told of to his father. They wandered the country preaching equality for all men and an end to war. They had read the gospels for themselves and paid a terrible price for saying the church was corrupt. Many were burnt alive.’ She shuddered.
Alex was surprised that his wife knew of such horrors and should be willing to talk about them. ‘From what I have learnt from history, it is that change nearly always involves bloodshed,’ he said. ‘I doubt if even a king could reform the church without rebellion and suffering. Shall we speak of other matters? I would that you were not made unhappy with such thoughts.’
‘You would have me blind to the truth?’ she asked.
‘No. But we have talked enough of such a disturbing subject,’ he said firmly.
Rosamund was silent for a while, but felt rejuvenated by their conversation so far. ‘Tell me, have you ever been to Richmond before?’ she asked.
‘I have not been inside the palace, but I have seen it from a distance. It is similar in design to Lathom House.’
‘Is there a reason for the palace’s similarity?’
‘I have forgotten who told me that the King so admired Lathom House that, after the Palace of Sheen was severely damaged by fire six years ago, he decided to have a new one built to a similar design. He renamed it Richmond because he and his father were once Earls of Richmond.’
‘I presume they were named after the Richmond in Yorkshire,’ said Rosamund. ‘I am glad I will be able to compare the two buildings for myself.’
He nodded. ‘Look, there is the ferryman. Fortunately the boat is on this side of the river, so there will be no delay in his taking us across to the other side.’
It was as he said and soon they were set ashore on the south bank of the Thames. Here was St Thomas’s Hospital, as well as Bermondsey Palace whose lands stretched as far as Lambeth. They took the road to Putney and rode in silence for a while, busy with their own thoughts.
Rosamund determined not to think too far into the future because that meant worrying about what steps Edward would try to take to punish her and destroy her husband. Of course, she should
not be underestimating the Baron and remembered thinking that here was a man strong enough to deal with her stepfamily. She really should have more faith in him.
She allowed her mind to drift into imagining what it would be like travelling to Sweden to begin a completely different life in a foreign country. She would need to learn Swedish if she was not to be solely dependent on this rich, well-travelled husband with an estate and a business to oversee. This Baron whom she had known less than two weeks. It was a daunting prospect. And what about Harry? What if he did not return to England by the time the Baron decided they should visit his homeland? Perhaps she should discuss that with him when the time came.
She glanced at Alex. ‘You said earlier that you have seen Richmond Palace from a distance. For what reason did you travel upstream away from the sea, and the business affairs that might interest you there?’
Alex wished that Rosamund had not asked that question. He sensed that she would know if he prevaricated and he had a growing conviction that his wife could match his grandmother for intelligence and courage. She was no mad girl, but a woman who thought deeply about important matters.
‘I have some knowledge of the area due to having travelled by boat as far as Thistleworth,’ he said.
‘What is at Thistleworth?’ she asked.
‘Syon House. It is an abbey of the Bridgettine Order and but a league or so from Richmond.’
‘I have not heard of that Order before,’ said Rosamund, her interest roused. ‘I would hear more.’
‘It was founded by St Birgetta of Sweden and is open to both men and women.’ He did not add that it was there that he and Harry had taken Ingrid last year. She had told them that she was one of the saint’s true descendants, despite Birgetta’s line having died out with the death of her granddaughter, Lady Ingeborg Knutsdotter, the Abbess of Vadstena. He remembered Ingrid staying at the convent, saying it was a place she liked to retreat to when possible.
‘Is Birgetta the Swedish name for Bridget?’ asked Rosamund, rousing him from his thoughts.
‘Aye.’
Rosamund was reminded of the girl destined to marry William. ‘I wonder if my stepbrother’s intended bride travelled to London in Lady Monica’s train,’ she said. ‘Her name is Bridget McDonald.’
