“We’ve been here for a fortnight now,” complained Augustin. “I need more money if you want me to stay here much longer.”
“I’ve paid you well, and you are also getting paid to work as Lord Conlin’s guard,” she reminded him.
“I am a mercenary. I could be making twice as much back in France.”
“We can’t leave yet. I haven’t found the man I want to marry.”
“If you want me to stay to protect you and also keep your secret, you will have to give me more money.”
She let out a deep sigh, reaching into her pouch for the few coins she had left in her possession. “D’accord. Je te paierai plus d’argent,” she told him, agreeing to pay him more money. She slipped the coins out of her pouch and dropped them into Augustin’s hand.
Claude rounded the mews with his squire right behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Evelina half-hidden in the shadows, giving a mercenary money. Felix crashed into the back of him since he stopped so suddenly.
“My lord. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were stopping,” said Felix.
“Felix, look! I told you something was deceiving about that woman.” He pulled Felix back out of sight, and they peeked around the side of the mews. “Did you see that?”
“See what?” asked Felix, stepping out to look, but Claude pulled him back into the shadows again. The mercenary went back up to the battlements while Evelina hurried to Rose’s side at the front gate. “I can’t see a thing,” complained Felix, trying to see over Claude’s shoulder.
“It was Evelina. I saw her giving that mercenary money.”
“What mercenary?” asked Felix.
“Egads, Squire, try to keep up.” Claude pointed at the mercenary climbing the battlements. “That one. She paid him coins.”
“She did?”
“I also heard them speaking in French, which tells me they were trying to keep others from hearing their conversation.”
“What did they say?” Felix stretched his neck, trying to get a look at the mercenary.
“I heard something about a secret. Then I thought I heard Evelina say she was going to pay him more money.”
“What does that mean?” asked Felix. “Is she a whore?”
“Highly unlikely. If so, the mercenary would be paying her instead. Keep an eye on the mercenary and try to find out all you can. See if he’ll tell you where he came from or why Evelina was giving him coins.”
“Aye, my lord,” said Felix, taking off at a brisk pace for the battlements.
Claude turned the corner of the mews and crashed into Evelina. He put out his hands and caught her by the shoulders.
“Watch where you’re going, my lord,” she said snidely.
“What were you doing behind the mews?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I was with my squire, coming to see the men off on their trip.”
“What squire?” She looked around him but, of course, Felix was already gone. He didn’t want to tell her he sent the boy to spy on the mercenary, so he decided to ignore her altogether.
“Lady Rose,” he called out, leaving Evelina, hurrying to Rose’s side.
“Sir Claude. There you are,” said Rose, rubbing her belly.
“We need to leave, Toft,” Lord Conlin called out from atop his horse. The other barons and their families had left earlier that morning.
“Ye are no’ leavin’ before ye give yer wife one more kiss,” said Isobel, reaching up as Conlin reached down from the horse to kiss his wife. Their three sons gathered around her, bidding their father a safe journey.
“Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Toft.” Rose hugged and kissed her husband right in front of Claude. It made him very uncomfortable. He wished it was him she was kissing and hugging instead. He should be married to her right now instead of Toft.
“Claude,” said Toft, clasping hands with him. “Can I count on you to watch over my wife until my return? Will you treat her as if you were me?”
“I will,” said Claude.
He heard Evelina clear her throat, trying to say something without coming out with words. He could only imagine what message she was trying to give him.
The party left, and Rose wiped a tear from her eye. “Claude, I am so frightened to birth this baby without my husband or father here.” She reached out and hugged Claude. He slowly put his arms around her.
“It will be all right, my lady. I am here and will serve you however I can. I will nurture you and protect you. There is no need to fear anything as long as I am at your side.”
It felt damned good to hold Rose in his arms, although it was very awkward with her large stomach in the way. Thoughts flitted through his head of when he’d first met her. They were both so young. He was the one who needed comforting, being in a new land and finding out John was his father. He hadn’t thought his parents were going to end up together. Neither did he think he would ever be the son his father wanted him to be. Rose had been there to support him. She had been the one to comfort him and encourage him, making him feel his life wasn’t as awful as he thought.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Evelina holding Harry’s hand. She had a smirk on her face, making him feel uncomfortable that he held Rose in his embrace. He couldn’t help thinking of all the horrible things she said to him last night. She’d accused him of still being in love with Rose and wanting Rose to be in love with him as well. It wasn’t at all the truth. Or was it? He released Rose and quickly stepped away.
“Claude Jean,” called his mother. Celestine approached, holding Charlotte’s hand. His father, John, was with them.
“Mother,” he said, reaching out to hug her, just to keep away from Rose when Evelina was watching.
“Son, I have to leave for Winchelsea,” said his father. He clasped hands with Claude and slapped him on the back to say goodbye.
“Safe journeys, Father.”
“After Rose’s baby is born, I want you to come to Winchelsea for a while,” John told him. “You have yet to see the new castle. It is in the final stages of being built.”
“I will,” Claude promised. “I’d like to pay a visit to Hastings as well while I’m here.”
“I’m not sure that is a good idea,” John told him. “The ruins of Hastings Castle are only a reminder of a dreadful day. It upsets me still.”
“I know it won’t be easy, but that is where my grandfather lost his life. I would like to pay my respects,” Claude told him. “Perhaps seeing it again will help me come to terms with what happened.”
“You are a fine son, Claude,” said his father with admiration in his eyes. “I am proud of you. However, I don’t like the fact you have inherited your grandfather’s demesne because it only takes you away from me. I feel as if I have already missed out on so much of your life. Will you ever consider making England your home? If so, I have a place for you in Winchelsea.”
“I don’t think so, Father. France is my home, and it is where I will stay.”
“I understand.” John’s eyes held sadness as he said his goodbyes to Charlotte and Celestine, and rode out through the gate.
Leaving his father so soon after first meeting him at the age of five and ten years old was not easy. Claude would have liked to spend more time getting to know the father he lived without for most of his life. John Montague might not have always been honorable, but he changed for the better after getting back together with Celestine. Claude didn’t know how his mother ever worked through the hardships in her life. Being away from her, living in France, is one of the things Claude regretted.
“Ladies, I invite ye to join me in the solar to do some sewin’,” Isobel told the noblewomen of the castle. “I am stitchin’ a blanket for the new baby.” Rose rubbed her hand over her stomach and smiled, looking downward. Claude had never seen the girl so happy in all her life. Her complexion almost seemed to glow.
“Claude, please come to the solar with me,” Rose begged him.
“Me?�
� He looked around at the ladies of the castle watching him intently. His mother nodded slightly. They all seemed eager to have him there except for the nursemaid who was scowling at him.
“I have been feeling a few light pains,” said Rose, rubbing her belly. “Oh, I felt the baby kick. Claude, you must feel this. You won’t believe it.” Rose grabbed his hand and laid it on her stomach, covering his hand with hers to hold it in place. Sure enough, Claude felt a kick against his hand and jumped back in surprise.
“Does the baby always kick that much?” he asked, having never felt anything like it.
Celestine laughed. “Claude, you kicked like a mule before you were born. Your grandfather used to say that meant you were going to be trouble.”
“Well, I hope this baby isn’t any trouble,” stated Rose. “Come along, Claude. You promised Toft you would be here for me, and I don’t want you out of my sight until after I give birth.”
Rose held on to his arm and started for the castle.
“Evelina, bring Harry to the ladies solar as well,” said Rose. “He likes to play with the thimbles.”
“Of course, my lady.” Evelina followed at the other side of Claude, holding on to Harry’s hand. Why did this make him feel so uncomfortable? It was bad enough that he had to be in the ladies solar instead of on the practice field with the men. But now, Evelina would be there watching his every move, giving him that all-knowing eye, trying to make him feel guilty that he was watching over Rose. Well, he was just going to have to show her that he was a knight doing his duty, at the service of Lady Rose, the daughter of the lord of the castle. There was naught to feel guilty about since he was only doing as asked by Rose and Toft.
Evelina couldn’t believe the way Claude doted over Rose, watching her every move. First, he gave her the sewing basket, and then he sat at her feet holding out his hands and letting her use them as spindles when she decided to wind yarn.
Most of the women were sewing and talking, but since Evelina was posing as a servant, they mainly ignored her. Harry fell asleep on a bag of wool the spinners used to make yarn for the tapestries. Feeling bored, she picked up a piece of stitchery and pushed the needle through the cloth, making small, beautiful stitches, following the pattern of flowers trailing across the bottom edge.
It felt good to be, once again, doing the actions of a lady. Being a servant was humiliating and much more work than she had thought it would be. Lost in her work, she jumped in surprise when Claude appeared from out of nowhere, bending over and whispering in her ear.
“For a nursemaid, you seem to know a lot about stitching.”
“Oh, I was just trying it since Harry fell asleep. It looked like fun.” She placed the stitchery down on the bench next to her, glancing up at Claude who towered over her.
“Really.” He reached down, picking up the stitchery to inspect it. “I have never seen such small, elegant stitches before. Your work is accurate and surpasses the skill of any of the noblewomen. Where did you learn to do this?”
“I’m a fast learner,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t ask more questions. She had to turn the conversation around quickly. “I noticed you were very skilled in using your hands as spindles for Lady Rose’s yarn.” She stifled her giggle. He had looked so silly. A big, strong knight, playing handmaid to a lady was very funny, indeed.
“I am at my lady’s service. No matter what she requests of me, I will do it. After all, I am an honorable knight, and it is my sworn duty.”
“If you say so.” She fussed with the wimple covering her head.
“Claude,” called out Rose. “I feel like riding. Will you see to our horses anon?”
“Riding?” Claude stood up with a jolt. “Please beg my pardon, Lady Rose, but I am not sure it is a good idea in your condition.”
“Aye, Rose,” said Isobel. “Ye should no’ be on a horse when ye are gettin’ so near to givin’ birth. Ye ken yer faither willna allow it.”
“Isobel, my father isn’t here to stop me, and neither is Toft. They have kept me from riding for months now, and I feel like I am going to go crazy if I don’t get out. Claude will watch over me. There is nothing to worry about.”
“I agree with Isobel,” said Celestine. “I don’t think you should go either. What if the horse gets spooked and throws you?”
“Rose, ye have already lost two bairns and canna risk losin’ another one,” Isobel warned her.
“I suppose you’re right,” said Rose with a sigh. She struggled to stand up. Claude shot across the room and was there at her side immediately. With his hand on her arm, he guided her, not letting go even when her balance was secure.
“Thank you, Claude. I am so glad you are here to help me.” Rose covered his arm with her hand.
“It is my pleasure, my lady.”
There was no mistaking the look of love in Claude’s eyes. Evelina shook her head, getting to her feet as well. Didn’t the man realize how foolish he was acting? Perhaps, she would have to point it out to him again.
“If I can’t mount a horse, then I want to ride in the wagon,” Rose announced. “It is a beautiful day, and I would like to take a basket to the coast and sit on the grass as we eat the food. I long to walk barefoot along the shore and let the waves lap at my feet.”
“Rose, that is no way for a lady to be actin’,” Isobel reminded her. “How will it look if ye are seen with a man who isna yer husband and yer feet are bare?”
Rose chuckled. “I think the part that bothers you the most, Isobel, is the fact I will be shoeless. I doubt that you have ever been without shoes in your life.”
“Isobel is right. You should stay at the castle,” said Celestine. “You know your father doesn’t like you anywhere near the docks.”
“I won’t be by the docks. I just need to get out in nature,” said Rose.
“I will protect her, Mother,” Claude told Celestine. “I am a knight now, not a boy anymore.”
Celestine and Isobel exchanged glances. Isobel nodded, and Celestine smiled at Claude. “Of course, Claude. What was I thinking? I’m sure we have nothing to worry about if you will be with Rose.”
“I will take the nursemaid with us so there will be no chance for idle gossip,” said Rose.
“What?” Evelina looked up in surprise. The last thing she wanted was to have to go along as a spectator with those two. “I have to look after Harry,” she said, splaying out her hand to the little boy sleeping on the bag of wool.
“We’ll take my squire instead,” Claude blurted out, giving a sideways glance to Evelina.
“I’ll watch my son,” said Isobel. “Evelina, ye go along with Rose in case she needs another female.”
“Yes. We’ll take your squire as well,” Rose told Claude. “That way, Evelina will have someone to talk to.”
The look of disturbance on Claude’s face almost made Evelina laugh. But he didn’t say a word against the idea. Instead, he forced a smile and patted his hand atop of Rose’s.
“Whatever you wish, my lady,” Claude answered. “I will have my squire make the preparations right away.”
Chapter 6
Claude directed the horse toward the coast. Rose sat on the bench seat next to him, looking as beautiful as ever with the sun making her golden hair glow. It was a sunny day and quite warm. A walk near the ocean would feel nice. Claude enjoyed his time alone with Rose, but what he didn’t like was the fact that they’d had to bring his squire and the nursemaid along.
He glanced over his shoulder to see Felix sitting on the back of the open wagon, dangling his feet over the edge. Evelina sat with her back against the sidewall, clutching the basket of food in her arms.
“Where would you like to stop to eat?” Claude asked.
“Anywhere,” grumbled Evelina. “It is so bumpy in the back of this cart it is making me feel ill.”
“I was talking to Lady Rose,” Claude told her.
“Oh.” Evelina threw him a disgruntled look and turned her head the other way.
“Stop up ahead, just under that large tree.” Rose pointed to where she meant. “It is where Toft and I often have an outing. I wish he could be here with us today, don’t you, Claude?”
“Aye,” he answered, hearing Evelina release a puff of air from her mouth from behind him.
Claude stopped the wagon and put his hands on Rose’s waist to help her from the cart while Felix took the basket of food from Evelina and headed over to the big oak tree.
Evelina wasn’t used to riding in the back of carts. She stood up just as the horse moved and she almost fell.
“Oh, Claude, help Evelina from the wagon as well,” said Rose.
“I don’t need help,” she spat, taking a step forward, getting her foot caught on the hem of her gown and almost falling again.
“Squire, get over here and take care of the horse,” Claude shouted, stomping over to the back of the wagon and holding out his hand. “Come,” he told her.
“I said I don’t need help,” Evelina repeated.
“Lady Rose asked me to help you and so I will. Besides, if I don’t, you might land flat on your face. You act as if you’ve never ridden in the back of a wagon before.”
She had ridden in the front of wagons, but the back was always for servants. If her father knew she was dressed in a coarse, brown, woolen gown and riding in the back of a hay wagon, he would be furious. Then again, if he knew she was working as a servant, he’d be madder than hell.
She wondered if her father had his men out looking for her and how long it would take him to figure out she had stowed away with a mercenary to England.
“Come on,” said Claude impatiently, closing his hands around her waist and lifting her from the cart.
“Oh!” she cried out, holding on to his strong shoulders so she wouldn’t fall. He set her on her feet. When she looked up, he was staring down at her mouth. His hands lingered on her waist. Mayhap it was only her imagination, but she felt as if he wanted to kiss her. A shiver of desire swept through her. This was the second time he had touched her and, both times, she felt a heat spiraling through her with his contact. She didn’t understand it at all. Memories of yesterday filled her head of how she thought he was going to kiss her then, too. Then she remembered how foolish she felt when he hadn’t. She didn’t want to go through that again.
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