The Warrior and the Dove - A Short Novel (Medieval Chronicles)
Page 15
“Oh, sweetheart. Why do you think I wanted you away from there?” He bent and kissed her very gently. “But I’m sorry I yelled at you like that. All afternoon I’ve been picturing everything that could have gone wrong. I think I went a little mad.”
“I have been doing the same,” she admitted solemnly. “But we can’t let ourselves think about what might have happened. It serves no purpose. And besides…” She beamed up at him. “I didn’t really disobey you. I did leave the hall.”
“Aye,” he said. “Only to return seconds later. I should have known better than to issue such an order. And don’t think I’m not aware of your strength and courage, my darling girl. ’Tis just that where your safety is concerned I’ll probably never be entirely rational.”
Annith smiled to herself. “Well, I dare say such a situation will not occur again,” she said soothingly. “Instead, we shall grow old together and you’ll be able to tell our grandchildren how you rescued me from an evil monster.”
“Nay, I shall tell them you had the courage to rescue yourself, and then I came along and slew the evil monster.”
“So you did. And then our people were happy again and feasted long into the night.”
“They certainly did. But there is one thing you’ve forgotten, my love.”
“What is that?”
A very wicked, very male gleam came into his eyes. “If you’re thinking of telling this story to our grandchildren, we’d better get started creating their parents.”
Annith broke into laughter. The joyful sound was cut off seconds later by the warm pressure of Hugh’s mouth on hers.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The morning of their departure dawned bright and clear. A perfect day for travelling, Annith thought as she watched various chests being loaded onto the baggage wagons.
Elsewhere in the bailey, horses were being saddled, men-at-arms were checking weapons, and Martin and Herleve were exchanging farewells with Auden who had returned from Kenilworth the day before.
“I thought you had only one change of clothes,” Hugh observed, coming up to her as yet another chest was hoisted onto a wagon. “Isn’t that why I summoned a clothier from Gloucester? His seamstresses can’t have made enough robes in a few days to fill those chests.”
“Indeed not.” Annith glanced down at her new garnet-colored travelling gown with its wide sleeves lined in gold silk. “He must have had them working day and night to finish this one as well as my shifts. As for the chests, one cannot throw everything in together, Hugh. Or,” she added with heavy meaning, “stuff your good tunics into those packs you were using. Then there are your boots and belts. Are they to go in with my shifts?”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” he replied wryly.
She beamed at him. “And for the small inconvenience of an extra chest or two you will not need to purchase any gowns for me for at least a year.”
He grinned. “You intend to go about naked?”
“Eyes of the saints!” She glanced around to make sure no-one had heard the outrageous question. “Try to keep your mind out of the bedchamber, Hugh.”
“Difficult to do that when we spend so much time there. And I am not talking about sleeping.”
Annith choked on her laughter. “You are impossible, my lord. I was going to say that I can fashion my own gowns from the wools and velvets and silks I purchased from the clothier. If there is one thing I learned at the priory ’tis how to sew a fine seam, and there may not be a seamstress at your manor.”
“Very commendable, my heart, but I can afford to keep you in new gowns.” He quirked a brow at Ranulf as his friend strolled up to them. “Are we ready to leave?”
“We are, and not before time if you want to make it to Ross today.”
“An easy ride,” Hugh said. “We’ll stay there overnight, then on to Buckland in the morning.”
For all the seeming chaos of preparation, the company fell into formation with surprising speed. Again Hugh’s standard-bearer led the way, with Hugh and Annith behind him. Ranulf, Herleve and Martin were next, then the men-at-arms, followed by the baggage wagons.
As they started, Annith glanced back at her childhood home. It would now be a place they would visit only once or twice a year, she thought, and that was how it should be. Hugh’s manor would become home to her. She was looking forward to bringing warmth and happiness and love into a place that, she suspected, had lacked those creature comforts during Hugh’s early childhood.
Movement caught her eye, and she saw Auden waving from the top of the outer stairs. One of the maids was standing close by his side, looking up at him admiringly. Annith smiled at the sight and waved back.
They passed through the gates and a cheer went up from the villagers and serfs lining both sides of the road.
“Everyone appears to have downed tools this morning,” Hugh remarked. But he was grinning as he handed Annith some coins to throw to the children. Blessings and flowers showered them in equal abundance until they turned onto the road to Gloucester, and the noise slowly faded into the distance.
A little way further on, the road divided. They stopped to farewell Martin and Herleve, who were returning to Crofton with Ranulf and four men-at-arms. Which meant, of course, that everyone except Hugh’s soldiers had to dismount so Annith could embrace her friends.
“I’ll miss you,” she told Herleve, blinking away a tear. “God bless you both for all you’ve done. I’ll send a letter with Auden as soon as he joins us. And you must write back.”
“That I’ll do, my dove. Off you go now, and God keep you safe.”
They mounted again and the company separated, Annith waving until the others were out of sight.
She turned to Hugh with a rather misty smile, and he reached across the small space between their horses to take her hand. “We’ll see them again, sweetheart.”
“I know. ’Tis just hard to say farewell. I was like this at the priory, too.”
Hugh turned briefly to his men and told them to go on ahead.
“Aye,” he said very soberly, when the company was out of earshot. “I’m taking you away from everything you’ve known. I knew it the morning we were married. You gave me so much trust, put so much faith in me. I will always cherish that gift,” he vowed, gazing into her eyes. “I will love you and protect you for the rest of my life.”
“Oh, Hugh.” She blinked back another rush of tears, happy ones this time. “It doesn’t matter where you take me. I would follow you to the other side of the world. Wherever you are is home to me, the place of my heart, always.”
He leaned over to kiss her, and in that sweet, breathless moment they exchanged a silent vow of love that they knew would last a lifetime.
Then Hugh released her and gathered up the reins. “Let’s go home,” he said. And with their hands still linked, they turned their horses westward, toward their home and their future.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN