by Julia Byrne
“What?” She sat bolt upright. “What does the King have to do with us? I didn’t exchange any vows with de Beche, I swear it.”
“I know, darling. But given that you have a castle and lands that must be held for Henry, you need him to approve your husband.”
“But ’tis de Beche who is my guardian,” she whispered.
“Not any longer,” he stated with deadly purpose. “He forfeited those rights the instant he conceived his plans for you. Make no mistake, Edward will hear about that as well.”
“Oh.” But still she gazed at him, her eyes wide. “Will the King be very angry with you for marrying me without his leave?”
“Nay. Henry has a kindness for me, and Edward and I have been friends since we were boys.” He grinned. “Nor does it hurt our cause that I just helped rescue the King from captivity. Given the current state of the royal exchequer, I can expect to pay a fine and all will be well. They will probably be only too happy to let me deal with de Beche, too.”
“Hmm.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “He will want me back. We can use that.”
“Use you as bait? Not in this—” Hugh stopped dead, swallowing the flat refusal he’d been about to utter. Annith was right. Every protective instinct he possessed was horrified at her suggestion, but the hunter in him was already considering it.
“Mayhap,” he amended. “’Twill take some planning, my sweet.” He rose with her in his arms and crossed to the bed to lay her down. He leaned over, bracing his hands on either side of her. “But now I want you to sleep,” he ordered very tenderly. “I’ll be right there at the table if you need me.”
Her eyelids were already drooping. She was utterly exhausted, he thought. His brave little love. He bent down to kiss her cheek and she murmured something too softly for him to hear.
“What was that, sweetheart?” he asked.
But she had already plummeted into the depths of sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When Annith woke next morning, sunlight was streaming into the room through the unshuttered window, and she was alone in the bed. It must be late, she thought drowsily, wondering where Hugh had gone.
She turned her head and there he was, lounging back in the chair, long legs outstretched, his booted feet crossed at the ankles and propped on the table. His elbows were resting on the arms of the chair, his fingers steepled as he gazed thoughtfully out of the window.
Planning, she thought. She could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind. There was still much to be done, but for this moment she was content to lie there, to watch him, to feel her heart throb simply from looking at him. She had told him she loved him last night, just before she had fallen asleep. How could she not? She’d had no defenses left after remembering all that had happened, and he was everything to her. Husband, lover, protector.
“Hugh,” she murmured.
Her voice was barely a breath, but he turned his head sharply as though he’d been waiting for her to waken, and lowered his feet to the floor. He rose and came across to the bed to lean over her as he had last night, his fists braced on either side of her. She expected a kiss, a wicked look, even a smile, anything but the searching intensity with which he studied her.
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked.
Annith smiled up at him, wondering if he would say anything in response to her declaration of love. “I feel rested,” she said. “I feel like me again.”
The intent look in his eyes gave way to amusement. “Would that be Annetta or Annith?”
“Who would you prefer?” she asked, giving him a mischievous look.
Without a word, he lowered himself on top of her, taking some of his weight on his forearms, but pinning the bedding around her so she was effectively trapped. He framed her face with his hands, a smile curving his mouth as he gazed down at her. “I think Lady Annetta can be reserved for others,” he murmured. “But when ’tis just us, you’ll always be my sweet, passionate Annith, who nearly sent me out of my mind with need last night.”
“Ohh.” She blushed, and tried to banish a sudden pang of wistfulness. Was Hugh going to ignore what she’d said? Mayhap he thought that would be the best course if he couldn’t return her love. But need was better than nothing, she told herself. He desired her. She knew he would always protect her. He was kind and honorable. Sensible females did not expect more from marriage, and often didn’t get that much.
“Is that why you have me pinned in here so I can’t even touch you?” she demanded, taking refuge in raillery. She tried to get an arm free. “Because you don’t wish to lose your mind.”
“Something like that,” he said wryly. “I’m staying on this side of the bedding so I’m not tempted to make love to you until you can’t get on a horse this afternoon.”
“Oh.” Annith stopped wriggling. “We’re leaving today?” She took stock of the faint tenderness in her body, not to mention various twinges in muscles that were unused to riding, and sighed in reluctant agreement. “Mayhap I will grow used to you in time.”
He grinned. “You will.”
“You did feel very big last night,” she went on thoughtfully. “Do you think you might be a bit smaller next time?”
Hugh burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he rolled off her and nearly landed on the floor.
Annith struggled free of her cocoon, sat up, and leveled her brows at him. “It seemed a reasonable question,” she said, affronted, and that set him off again.
Despite her indignation, she felt a smile curve her mouth. It was good to hear him laugh. It reminded her of the happy times with her family. She mentally added shared laughter to the treasures their marriage had brought her. Then she sobered. There were still obstacles to be overcome before she and Hugh were free to share anything, and one of those obstacles was occupying her family home at this very moment.
Sensing the change in her, Hugh’s laughter died away and he sat up on the side of the bed. “Don’t worry, darling. All will be well, trust me.”
“To the ends of the earth,” she said valiantly, as one ready to face any danger.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that bad.” He smiled and got to his feet. “I’m going to talk to Will. I’ll have one of the maids bring up some food for you, and more hot water for another bath.” He leaned down until their lips almost touched. “’Twill ease the soreness occasioned by causing me to lose my mind,” he murmured wickedly. And smothered her indignant protest with a lingering kiss.
* * *
The rest of the morning had flown by far too quickly. After Annith had breakfasted, bathed, and dressed in her new clothes, with her hair braided and confined in the gold mesh crespinette, she had joined the men in the hall. The look in Hugh’s eyes when he had seen her dressed as a lady, and Will’s friendliness, had soon overcome her shyness and she had readily answered their questions about her lands and the number of men-at-arms at de Beche’s disposal.
Then Will had been called out to the bailey, and Hugh had succumbed to her plea to be shown the town. He had been watchful the whole time, his alert gaze seeming to examine every person who had business in Worcester that morning, but no one had approached them or taken any undue interest in her.
After visiting a goldsmith’s shop where Hugh had bought her a delicate gold wedding ring, they had returned to the castle to dine with Will, then Hugh had brought her up here to the ramparts. The autumn breeze was brisk, plucking at her hood and ruffling Hugh’s black hair, but she was snug enough, wrapped in her cloak and standing within the shelter of his body while they watched the activity along the river and he pointed out various landmarks.
“And over there,” he said, looking toward the south-west, “Is the road to Hereford and Buckland Manor beyond.”
“You’ll be glad to be going home when this is done,” she murmured, hearing the anticipation in his voice. “How long is it since you’ve seen your manor?”
“Years.” He smiled down at her. “As for glad, aye, there’s much t
o be done. According to the steward, my father abandoned interest in the place years ago, if he had any to begin with. But ’twill be different now. With the barons’ wars all but over, Edward can afford to let most of his men return to their lands. And I hold a strategic position near the Welsh border. He’ll be content to leave me there.”
“I’m looking forward—” She stopped abruptly, tension gripping her, as a man rode into the bailey. He dismounted and glanced nervously around as though not sure if he was in the right place.
Aware that Hugh had gone very still in response to her sudden silence, she leaned forward, trying to see the man’s face.
“Do you know him?” Hugh asked.
“Aye,” she whispered, although there was no chance they could be overheard. “’Tis de Beche’s messenger. He came to the priory once a year. For the past three years only—there were others before him.”
“Well, well,” he murmured, and she could all but see the wave of predatory anticipation surge through him. He took her hand and led her toward the stairway. “Come, little dove. Let’s hear what the fellow has to say.”
* * *
By the time they reached the hall, after leaving Annith’s cloak in their chamber, Will Beauchamp was seated at the high table, drumming his fingers on the wooden boards while he contemplated the man standing before him. Neither contemplation nor drumming appeared to fill the fellow with anything but dread. His arms twitched and he started wringing his hands.
“My lord, I beg of you to cry the lady’s description through the town. She is not at the priory. I have been there twice now. Who knows what dire fate has befallen her. She must be found.”
“She has been found,” Hugh said quietly behind him.
The messenger leapt into the air as if he’d been stung by a horde of wasps. He spun around and blinked at the sight of Annith, standing very straight, her hand resting on Hugh’s arm.
“Lady Annetta!” he exclaimed. “You are…you are well!”
“Did you expect her to be otherwise?” Hugh demanded with a narrow-eyed glare.
“Uh…uh…”
“This fellow claims to be a messenger in the household of Baldwin de Beche,” Will drawled while the courier stuttered. “Do you know him, lady?”
“I do,” Annith said. “He is what he claims to be.”
“Then there’s no need to toss him into a cell,” said Will, with an affable smile for the courier, who promptly blenched. “He’s all yours, Hugh.”
The man looked from one to the other. “My lords?”
Hugh held up a silencing hand. He led Annith over to the fireplace, and seated her on the settle there. Knowing he blocked the messenger’s view of her, he lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Stay here, sweetheart,” he murmured for her ears alone. “I think we can turn this to our advantage.”
She nodded, but her eyes were anxious. He touched her cheek briefly, turned and strode back to the courier.
“What are you called?” he asked curtly.
“Au…Auden, my lord.”
“I assume de Beche is concerned for the safety and whereabouts of his ward.”
“Aye, my lord. You could say that. Beside himself, as it were.”
“Indeed?”
Auden wrung his hands again. “In truth, he is a man possessed, my lord. He has men out everywhere. That is why I must be gone from here. I beg you will be of a like mind as Lord Beauchamp, and not throw me into a cell. I must return and tell my liege the lady is safe. He will wish to come and fetch her home.”
“Calm yourself, messenger. You will, indeed, return to de Beche. And you will inform him that Lady Annetta has been under the protection of the Deputy Sheriff of Worcester who has appointed Lord Hugh de Verney, and an escort of men-at-arms, to return her safely to her home. Furthermore, you will tell your lord that his ward has been ill after falling and hitting her head during her journey to the priory. She suffered a grievous loss of memory, otherwise a message would have been sent to him days ago.” He paused. “Clear so far?”
Auden nodded violently. “Loss of memory. Message days ago.”
“We will leave Worcester when Lady Annetta is fit to travel, but will ride in easy stages, spending a night on the road so as not to tire her. You may look to see us in two or three days’ time. A woman will travel with us, of course. To preserve the proprieties,” he added blandly. “I’m sure your liege lord will agree they must be strictly observed.”
“Aye, my lord. Uh…anything else?”
Hugh raised a brow. “Should there be?”
Auden cringed. “I thought… Mayhap my lord de Beche will ask how the Deputy Sheriff came to find the lady.”
“I will tell de Beche anything he needs to know. You may go.”
“Aye, my lord. At once, my lord.” Auden turned, clearly eager to flee, but halfway to the door he caught sight of Annith, and halted.
“I did my best, lady,” he said sadly. “I am sorry ’twas not enough.”
“What the devil does that mean?” Hugh thundered. He strode down the hall after the messenger, motioning Annith to stillness when she rose to her feet.
Auden stumbled back several paces. “Naught, my lord, naught. Just that I lied to my liege about the lady’s age.”
Hugh halted in front of the man. “Explain yourself,” he ordered. “Have no fear. De Beche will not hear of any lie from me.”
“Th…thank you, my lord. ’Twas the first year I was sent to the priory, the year Lady Annetta turned thirteen. My liege asked me if she had reached marriageable age. It seems he had never bothered to ask how old she was when he was given wardship of her. But—she was so young, so innocent.” Auden hung his head. “My older sister was married at thirteen to the man who took my father’s lands, a man as vicious as de Beche. She died in childbirth a year later. I was too young to save her, but I could protect my lady, for a while anyway, so I lied. I said she was eleven.”
Hugh’s brows went up. The man had fallen in love with Annith, he thought. Not a lustful love, but the protective love he would feel for a child, or a lady beyond his reach. “That was risky,” he said. “What if de Beche had gone to see her?”
Admitting his lie seemed to have lent Auden some courage. He straightened himself. “She was very small, my lord. In truth, she looked no more than eleven or twelve at most.”
Hugh nodded, keeping his face expressionless with an effort. Thirteen! De Beche had wanted Annith for his vicious games thinking she was only thirteen.
He eyed Auden narrowly. “Did you know that de Beche was the intended bridegroom?”
“What!” Auden reeled back as if Hugh had struck him, the horror on his face full testimony to the fact that he had been ignorant of his master’s intentions.
“Nay, my lord. Never! I thought mayhap he would sell her in marriage to a knight who had wealth but no lands of his own. Such arrangements are common, and he is always in need of money, but that he—”
“He is always in need of money? Why?”
Still rattled, the courier shook his head. “He has expensive tastes, expensive friends. And he likes to wager. I am usually travelling on some errand or another, but I know that much.” He eyed Hugh nervously. “Is that all you wished to know, my lord?”
“Aye, you may—” Hugh broke off when he realized Annith had come up to them. His mouth kicked up at one corner. He should have known she would not stay put if she had something to say. “My lady?” he questioned coolly, but he knew she could see wry amusement in his eyes.
She laid a hand on his arm, instinctively linking herself to him. “You did well, Auden,” she said gently. “Thank you for your protection of me. It means more than you know.”
Auden gulped and flushed to the roots of his hair.
“Aye,” Hugh agreed in fairness. “You did do well, Auden, but if you take my advice, you’ll start looking for another lord to serve once you’ve discharged this errand. You may look to me for a recommendation if you need it.”
&
nbsp; “Thank you, my lord,” Auden said, brightening. And taking Hugh’s advice for the dismissal it was, he bowed and scuttled out of the hall.
A short silence ensued before Will spoke up from the end of the room. “Do you think he can be trusted?”
Hugh turned and ushered Annith back to the high table. They sat on a bench so he could keep her close by his side.
“Given the man lied to protect my lady, I think so,” he said. “But I was careful not to say anything that would do more than whet de Beche’s curiosity to know what happened. And remember I have an advantage. As far as de Beche is concerned, Annith fled to avoid marrying him. He doesn’t know she overheard his plan to sell her to his friends before murdering her.”
She shivered against him and he drew her closer. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It doesn’t make pleasant hearing, I know.”
“Nay.” But then she smiled at him. “Thank you for saying what you did to Auden.”
He grinned. “As if I had a choice when I could see those same words ready to tumble off your tongue. But I meant it. With luck, that hapless courier will want a recommendation badly enough to be lingering at your castle when we get there. I didn’t want to question him now, in case he’s forced to tell all that was said, but he’ll know the names of de Beche’s friends.”
“He didn’t seem to know anything else,” Will observed judiciously.
Hugh started to answer, then glanced at Annith. “Sweetheart, this changes our plans. I want to give Auden time to reach de Beche well in advance of us, so we’ll leave tomorrow. A night at Crofton to ensure all is well there and to tell Martin and Herleve what’s happened, and we’ll head for your lands the next morning.”
“I would like to see Martin and Herleve,” she agreed happily, and sent him a mischievous glance. “But what shall we do this afternoon, my lord?”
Hugh grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “You, my love, will go up to our chamber and fetch your cloak. I’ll take you to visit Prioress Edith so she can see for herself that you have come to no harm.”
