The moment his back was turned, the other rapacious barons would seize some of what was his, especial y since there was no crowned head in England. However, now that he had discovered Salisbury had sailed, he made his decision. He looked at Falcon de Burgh and said, "I"m sending my men home again, but I"m traveling on to Normandy. Have you any knowledge of Richard"s condition?"
Estel e pressed her lips together. John would become king and this man before her would rise even further in power.
De Burgh, needing to be rid of him without delay, shook his head, but added the spur. "Wil iam Marshal is guarding the treasury, so al the important n.o.bles are there in case England"s future needs deciding upon." De Burgh read his mind as Chester silently added, They wil be when I arrive.
Chapter 7.
It was early the fol owing morning that the messages reporting King Richard"s death arrived, just as Estel e had prophesied they would.
Jasmine answered a low knock upon her chamber and was disconcerted to find the powerful figure of de Burgh fil ing the doorway when she opened it.
"May I enter?" he asked quietly as she made no offer to invite him in. After a brief hesitation she stepped aside.
"May I sit?" he inquired politely as his large limbs bent toward a chair.
"No!" she screamed. He jacknifed out of the chair in reaction to her alarm. She ran to the chair and picked up a tiny bundle.
"It"s Quil ," she explained defensively. "You almost squashed him."
He looked at her as if she were mad. "A hedgehog?" he said with disbelief. "Is this another creature you use for your hocus- pocus?" he demanded, ready to forbid any further dabbling in her ridiculous magic.
"No, it is not. It is a pet. Betrothed to you am I not permitted even a pet?" she asked with loathing.
Irritated that she had put him in the wrong so quickly, he replied, "Of course you may have pets, but p.r.i.c.k won"t last long if you let him up on chairs.
Jasmine blushed profusely. "His name is Quil , sir. Did you wish something in particular?"
"I know you wish to return to Winwood Keep, but I do not believe it is a safe place for two women alone now that we have received news that England is without a king."
"So, it is official that Richard is dead? You see, Milord de Burgh, my grandmother has seen the future. Now you have proof of what she foretold. John wil be crowned king."
"I have no such proof. I put no credence whatsoever in Dame Winwood"s prophecies, I a.s.sure you. King Richard received a fatal wound it is as simple as that," he said flatly. She had given him no argument about returning home, and he was suddenly suspicious when he saw that her luggage was stil packed. "It is agreed then? You wil stay at Salisbury for now?"
"No," she replied stubbornly. "Must I stay here?"
"If I wish it," he answered.
She turned from him in anger, giving him her back.
His eyes traveled the length of her appreciatively, noting that her bottom formed a perfect heart. He felt himself harden. He longed to touch her.
"If John is crowned, then his wife Avisa wil be queen." She turned to face him. "I wish to go to visit Avisa at Cirencester. I realize it is a great distance from here, but I wish to be the first to join the queen"s court."
He thought, Cirencester is only forty miles from here, but I suppose to a young woman who has been pent up her whole life, it seems a great distance. "John is not the heir to the throne and Avisa is not queen. You have a female"s il ogic of facts."
"But Estel e "
"Is a raddled old trout who has fil ed your head ful of arrant nonsense," he finished.
Her hand swept back and flew forward at his words, but he grasped her fragile wrist and held it immobile. "Were you going to strike me, mistress?" he asked with disbelief.
"Let me free," she whispered.
He laughed at her. "You don"t get things from a man by striking him."
"I want nothing from you!" she cried.
"Strange. A moment ago you wanted me to take you to Avisa at Cirencester. What wil you offer me if I let you go?" He slanted an eyebrow.
"What do you want?" She had begun to breathe heav-ily with her agitation, and he watched in fascination the rise and fal of her tempting b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
"I want to dip my finger in your pot of honey."
She gasped; he grinned with delight. He unclasped his strong fingers from her wrist and she rubbed at the ache they left, backing away from him with untrusting eyes.
"You wil learn that I do not like impudence, especial y in a wife."
"You dream, de Burgh! I"m not your wife yet."
"Never use that tone of voice with me again, mistress, it pleases me not." His words were like the crack of a whip, and she knew she had gone far enough.
She lowered her eyes. Perhaps she would take Estel e"s advice and use a sweet tongue to get her own way, for she was determined to go to Cirencester. "Milord," she breathed, and lifted her lashes to peep at him prettily. "If you should receive messages indicating that John is to become our king, would you then take me to Avisa?"
He was on the point of agreeing to accede to her wishes when she cooed a little too sweetly. "I"d feel so safe with such a strong escort as you, m"sieur."
He exploded, "I cannot be cajoled by flattery, mistress, it is a witch"s trick. I am a busy man while your father is away. I suggest you occupy yourself learning how to run a household.
According to al reports you are useless. You would do wel to take lessons from your sisters." He strode from her chamber satisfied that he had put the little minx in her place. He reckoned without Jasmine. His words were like a slap in the face to her, comparing her so unfavorably with her sisters.
Wel , she would show him! She wouldn"t stay there another day, no, not another hour. If he wouldn"t escort her to Avisa, she would find another who would.
She waited until de Burgh had ample time to get back to his blacksmith"s forge, then she sought out her grandmother in the stil room. "Estel e, I have permission to visit Lady Avisa, soon to be Queen Avisa, at Cirencester. My things are al packed.
Hurry and make ready. De Burgh is providing one of his men to escort us. Darling, you were right. A few sweet words and he was wax in my hands," she lied.
She hurried out to the stables and looked over the men as eagerly as they looked at her. She soon found her mark, a young squire of about sixteen, yet long-limbed and wel muscled. He was in her father"s service rather than de Burgh"s, which suited her better. "Ah, you must be the young man Milord de Burgh described to me," she said airily.
"Me, my lady?" the lad said, blushing.
"Yes, you. What is your name?"
"David, my lady," he said, his heart hammering in his chest at her closeness.
"You are to escort my grandmother and me to Cirencester.
When you have saddled our horses, you may come to the castle for our baggage. We brought our own packhorses."
He nodded that he knew which horses and packhorses had come from Winwood Keep, but he could not credit that he was to be entrusted to take the beautiful Lady Jasmine to Cirencester. "Perhaps it was not me Milord de Burgh meant, my lady," he said doubtful y.
"Of course it was you. He told me you were handsome and wel made and I distinctly recal he used the name David. He has made a point of knowing al the men of Salisbury who serve my father. No one escapes his notice, David. He must be most favorably impressed by you to choose you for my escort."
"Thank you, my lady, it is indeed a great honor, one I"m sure I am most unworthy of," he said, dazed.
"Pooh," she said prettily, "don"t stand about being modest. I wish to leave immediately."
In the courtyard, Estel e was busy giving David order regarding her precious cargo and how it should be distributed on the packhorses. She never traveled without her magic paraphernalia and her apothecary case containing her potions, herbs, and elixirs.
Jasmine was in a panic to be gone, so final y she simply brought down her riding crop on her white palfrey"s rump and it surged ahead, out of the courtyard, heading toward Salisbury Plain. David had no choice but to fol low her leading the packhorses. As for Estel e, it took her quite some time before she was able to catch up with the little cavalcade. At least five miles had been covered before she came abreast of Jasmine. "Your wicked juices overflowed, did they not?" she asked with a shrewd glance.
"Oh, I"m sorry I was riding too fast for you, Grandmother."
"That"s not what I meant, and wel you know it. You took off as if the Devil was after you because you don"t have permission for this little jaunt, do you?"
"Estel e, whatever makes you think such a thing?" she asked.
"De Burgh wouldn"t let you travel with only one escort, and he certainly wouldn"t have chosen a handsome youth like David to take you gal avanting across the country. He"s like a dog with a bone."
"Estel e, I swear to you I asked his permission to go to Cirencester."
Dame Winwood let out a raucous laugh. "And he said no, didn"t he? If you think he wil release you because you lead him a merry chase you think wrong. Such a one as that would fol ow you to the ends of the earth."
By this time David had had a chance to gather his wits, and he had come to the same conclusions as Dame Winwood.
However, he was caught between the kettle and the coals. He couldn"t make her return to Salisbury and he couldn"t abandon the ladies, ergo he must carry on with this journey and pray that nothing untoward befel his charges. Already the sweat trickled down his back at the thought of what de Burgh would do when he discovered her gone and caught up with them.
By the time they reached Marlborough on the great Roman road that ran east-west from London to Bristol, the sun had begun to set. Estel e, practical as always, decided they could go no farther. This main road had inns for those who traveled, and while they waited out- side, she sent David in to secure them a room. They had no money, so it would have to be procured on the strength of the Salisbury name.
The common room at the White Boar was fil ed with smoke, tempting aromas of food and ale, and a motley col ection of merchants, mercenaries, men of the cloth, and thieves. David, desperate to find the ladies safe shelter for the night, was a trifle loud in identifying his party. Wishing to impress the landlord with the status of his charge, he cal ed, "The Earl of Salisbury"s daughter wishes shelter for the night." He certainly gained the innkeeper"s attention, but unfortunately every other ear in the place was p.r.i.c.ked, most out of sheer curiosity, but some out of pure greed. One man took a swift look at the women as they entered and slunk off to make himself a profit.
He made straight for Hagthorn Castle where the notoriously cruel and rapacious Roger de Belame often paid for information that would give him an advantage in acquiring more of this world"s goods than he had been al otted.
At first the guard on the gate refused him entrance because he knew the uncertainty of Belame"s temper when disturbed at his dinner, but the fel ow was adamant. When he divulged the Salisbury name, the guard bade him wait at the entrance to the dining hal and made his way to the dais. A pang of resentment stabbed him as he saw his fel ows were wel into their wine cups while he had the misfortune of standing guard tonight. " "Tis Ravener, milord, with some tale of Salisbury"s daughter staying at the White Boar. He"s likely mistaken. What would she be doin" in these parts?"
De Belame put down his goblet and wiped his beard with his sleeve. The workings of his mind were devious.
" "Tis possible. She could be on her way to Castlecombe to do the yearly tal y. Tel Ravener I"l have a word with him."
Ravener"s thirst grew apace as he wended through the hal .
"How do you know it"s Salisbury"s daughter?" Belame demanded.
"Her escort demanded a room for her. Said plain as plain it were fer the Earl of Salisbury"s daughter."
"How many retainers?" BelamS asked.
"Only two ... a man and a woman."
Belame looked satisfied. "You did wel to bring the information. Help yourself to some wine for your trouble."
Ravener blinked rapidly, getting up his courage to protest.
"Milord, I was hoping for coin. I could have flogged their packhorses and made a tidy profit, but I chose to come al the way to Hagthorn,"
Belame considered for a moment before summoning the guard who was standing aside. "Put him in a guest chamber,"
he muttered.
It took Ravener only a moment to discern his meaning. s.h.i.t, he should have settled for the wine. Now he would spend the night below in a dank cel with rats for company. Fear rippled along his spine. Perhaps Belame" wanted no witnesses to what he was about to do. Ravener blurted, "I won"t talk!"
Belam6 replied, "You have the right to remain silent . . .
forever." A bold plan was forming in Roger de Belame"s head.
He got the idea from something another baron had already done. You needed permission from the king to marry an heiress, but since there was no king at the moment it needed only a forced marriage and consummation and the deed was done the lands secured. Dawn would bring him a fine prize indeed.
When Falcon returned to the castle for supper, he was sorry that he"d spoken so sharply to Jasmine. She didn"t show her face in the dining hal and he missed her. A mere glimpse of her brought him pleasure, and when he could contemplate her lovely face and form al through a meal it made it seem like a banquet. He would seek her in her chamber before he retired and tel her that she could go to Avisa if John was to be crowned king. He wanted to see the corners of her mouth lift when he told her. He wanted to kiss the corners of her mouth . . . For over an hour he savored the antic.i.p.ation of being alone with her, knowing antic.i.p.ation was sometimes more pleasurable than the reality. Falcon knocked low and, when she did not answer, thought she was asleep.
He knocked again louder, then threw the door wide to reveal the empty room devoid of the baggage. He opened the inner door of the chamber, knowing he would find Dame Winwood"s room empty also. He swore a fertile oath and kicked a stool across the room. The old b.i.t.c.h, aye, and the young b.i.t.c.h too, had gone home to the keep after he had told them plainly it was not safe.
It was ful dark and the moon was rising as he strode into the knights" quarters. He picked three of his own and three Salisbury men to take with him to Winwood Keep. As he would leave them there as a guard, he picked older men who were veterans and could be counted on to defend a keep should the need arise. Within quarter of an hour they had packed their belongings and were in the saddle riding south.
Falcon de Burgh was stunned to discover that Jasmine had not returned home. That left only one alternative, which his mind almost refused to acknowledge. In al his life he had never had an order seriously disobeyed, and it had not occurred to him that he would ever suffer wil ful disobedience at the hands of a woman.
"She dared!" he said in amazement. "She actual y dared." In that moment he knew that when he got his hands on her, he would beat her. "Sorry, lads," he mut- tered, "I"m afraid we"l have to turn about and ride north to Cirencester."
Not one man thought to grumble, though it would be tomorrow before they got out of their saddles, but de Burgh was angry for them. His men would miss their ale and their comfortable beds because of the whim of a wil ful wench. He would wash his hands of her! Then he grudgingly acknowledged that the very reason he was riding toward her, at once angrily and eagerly, was that he fancied she was the right wench for him.
Chapter 8.
Daylight dawned very early on this May morn. Jasmine and Estel e did no more than wash their hands and faces. They broke their fast with bread and cheese left over from their supper and slipped down to rouse David who had slept with the packhorses for safekeeping.
The early mist in the hol ows of the meadows would burn off once the sun was ful risen. They were two or three miles past Marlborough when suddenly, from behind a copse of trees, four armed men bid them halt. David had his sword out instantly and was doing an admirable job of defending the women when one of the men who was not engaged with the young t.i.tan simply rode up behind him and stabbed him in the back.