""I am here before my time," he said. "Richard is yet King, and I stand now with him, and am just come from mustering my following at Roxford. He has promised me your hand when the rebellion is ended.
Therefore, I have you sure, whoever conquers; for in the battle I shall so play as to be with him who wins." . . . He drew back the arras--then paused as though the thought had just come: "Perchance it will interest you to know that a certain Aymer de Lacy has left England and returned to France."
""It is a lie--a lie of your black heart!" I cried.
"But he only smiled maliciously and went out. And thank G.o.d, since that evening I have never seen him more.
"And now is my tale most told. For a week longer I dwelt in that room, and saw no person but my dumb attendant. At a strange hour on the night of the seventh day, there came a knock at the door and, without staying for permission, a robed figure entered.
""Be not alarmed, daughter," it said, as I sprang up. "I come to take you hence."
"It was the Abbot Aldam himself, and my anger arose.
""Since when, Sir Abbot," I demanded, "has the Abbey of Kirkstall become the prison for abducted women?"
""Since it pleased me to a.s.sist a friend in need," he answered.
"Coming near, he scanned my face and figure; and suddenly he put his arms about me and kissed me on the mouth."
De Lacy struck his gauntlets against his greaves.
"G.o.d! I am glad I killed him," he gritted.
"So am I, dear," said the Countess--then went on: "I tried to reach my dagger, but Aldam caught my hands and kissed me twice again.
""Be not so timid," he laughed. "There are many of your s.e.x come to this room, and far different from a simple caress is the toll they pay.
But you are Darby"s, so must I stop with that . . . yet I would it were otherwise," and his look was so cruelly devouring I fled to the far side of the room.
"There I waited, ready if he sought again to touch me, to sink my dagger in his breast. But he had bound his pa.s.sions, seemingly, for he sat down and bade me prepare to leave without delay. And gladly did I comply, caring little where I went, so that I left this vile priest"s clutches.
"When I had done, he took my bundle and a candle and led the way through a hidden panel in the corner opposite the door. We pa.s.sed along a narrow corridor, with the roof almost against our heads, and descended a score of stone stairs into a tunnel, deep and foul. How far we went I cannot even guess, but presently there was another ascent of stairs, and after a bit of fumbling, the heavy door swung back and I felt a rush of night air and saw the moonlight.
"Thrusting the Abbot aside, I sprang through the opening . . . and into the arms of Simon Gorges.
""Your pardon, my lady," he said; then freed me, but stood within easy reach. He was alone, and beside his horse was another with a woman"s saddle. He saw my eyes upon it.
"We are for Roxford Castle," he explained.
"Listen, Gorges," I said. "What will you have to take me back to Pontefract? Name your price, man--I am rich and can pay a royal ransom--and you shall enter the King"s own guard."
"He shook his head. "I have served the Lords of Darby all my life, and my sire and my grandsire before me. No gold nor rank can buy me from my duty. To me you have been committed, pending my lord"s return; and so long as I have power to keep you, I must obey."
""It is an ign.o.ble task you are a.s.signed," I began.
"But he would not hear me. "You forget, my lady, that I am of those you and your station deem ign.o.ble. Yet, none the less, am I ashamed of this business--though, since my lord commands, it is not for me to question nor delay. Therefore, I pray you, let us mount and be going?"
"I saw he neither could be bought nor persuaded, so I let him lift me into saddle and we set out for Roxford. On the way, I asked why I was being so moved about, though I had no hope he would tell me; and for a while he made no answer. Then, to my surprise, he said: "What do you think would be the reason?"
""Can it be that Lord Darby is suspected of my abduction?" I cried.
And the hope that had almost died came back to life with a bound.
""Will you promise never to betray me to him?"
""I promise," I answered, all a tremble.
"So he detailed how, as Flat-Nose, he had been sought over all England; how at Sheffield, you, Aymer, had come upon him and Lord Darby together, and had carried his master to the King at Lincoln; how he, himself, escaping, had galloped back and hurried me to Kirkstall, a.s.suming that Roxford would be visited by Richard"s order; how Darby had bested you with the King; and how Buckingham"s rebellion had sent you and Darby with the army to the South.
""For the time Roxford will be in no danger of a searching party, so you are being returned there," he ended. "But if I know aught of Sir Aymer de Lacy, my lord has not yet won his bride."
""Lord Darby told me that the King had promised him my hand--and that Sir Aymer de Lacy had gone to France." I said.
"He looked at me with a smile.
""I never contradict my master," he replied; but there was vast encouragement for me in his tones.
"And I slept that night as I had not for weeks; nor troubled that I lay once more at Roxford Castle. For after my heavy gloom and dark despair, even the smallest hope was mountain size and promised sure release. And so I waited; confident and strong. Last evening near sundown the Abbot Aldam came; and as I saw him, all bedraggled, cross the courtyard on foot and unattended, I felt that my deliverance was near. No one of his rank and station would travel so, except his life were jeopardized, and I cried out in joy at his undoing. Then I sent for Gorges and learned the Abbot"s tale--that he had escaped by the pa.s.sage used for me, and that you were even then at Kirkstall.
""To-morrow"s sun will see Sir Aymer before the barbican, my lady," he said. "And though we shall hold the castle to the final stroke, yet it will be a losing fight; for we are few in number, and when one falls there will not be another to step into his place. And so will it be that you have seen the last of Simon Gorges, whose greatest shame is to have been your jailer."
"He bowed awkwardly and was going when I stopped him.
""Your lord and the Abbot of Kirkstall can learn courtesy and chivalry from you," I said. "But what profit can your death be to Lord Darby?
When I am found here, his end is sure. So when the last hope is gone--the castle lost--promise me that if quarter be offered, you will not let it pa.s.s; take your life and you shall have service under me."
"He was embarra.s.sed by my praise and earnestness. "Your ladyship is gracious; yet must I think upon the matter," he stammered; and hurried out as though afraid I might persuade him more.
"Therefore, dear, as on the stairway I heard him accept mercy on my word, you will grant it to him?"
"He is your prisoner, sweetheart, and we will have him here," said Aymer. "You are his judge."
Presently, with helmet in hand and bladeless scabbard by his side, but still in his harness dinted and hacked in the recent fight, Gorges appeared; and halting at the threshold, bowed to the Countess; then saluting the Knight with formal motion, stood at attention.
"Flat-Nose--for by that name I know you best," said De Lacy, "you yielded prisoner to the Countess of Clare. Advance and receive your sentence."
Gorges came forward and knelt at her feet in silence.
"Simon," said Beatrix, "you were kind to me when most I needed kindness; will you now take your life from me in earnest of my grat.i.tude?"
"That will I, my lady, and gladly," Gorges answered frankly and at once.
"And will you wear the badge of Clare and be my chief retainer?"
The soldier hesitated and glanced uncertainly at De Lacy.
"You are bound no longer to Lord Darby"s service," Sir Aymer admonished. "He is traitor to the King, and will die on the block within the month."
The Gorges raised the hem of the Countess" gown and kissed it; and taking her hand placed it on his head.
"I am your man," he said. "Henceforth do with me as to you may seem good."