Chapter Eleven
‘Did you swive her on the floor of God’s House?’ Brice asked under his breath as the lady walked by them on her way into the keep. Giles speared him a look that bespoke of the falseness of such a thought, but Brice shrugged. ‘You were in there a long time, Giles.’
‘In spite of what Soren might tell you, some things are not accomplished quickly, my friend. As you will discover in Thaxted, I am certain.’
‘Mayhap I will walk in and be lauded as the conquering hero? What say you then?’
‘I will add that to my nightly prayers to the Almighty, Brice.’ They laughed at his words and then Giles sobered. ‘’Tis like a boil was lanced—so much had built between us and needed to be released.’
‘A good tupping would accomplish the same release, my lord.’ Brice laughed and added, ‘Or so Soren would say.’
‘I pray it will be so, my lord Thaxted. Soon and often.’
They walked the rest of the way to the stables and mounted the horses waiting saddled for them. Ordering four others to await them at the gates, Giles waited on the lady. Glancing down at the ring he wore on a chain around his neck, he lifted it for closer inspection. Bertram’s ring bore a large red stone carved with his insignia—a raven and a river—and nothing else. Except, he noticed, a large dent-like indentation on the rim of it, cracking the edge of the stone, as though it had been hit with something. Was that how it had been removed from the old lord’s finger? No wonder Fayth became overwrought whenever she saw it.
She came through the door then and he rode over to her, leaning down and holding out a hand to help her mount. Her confusion was clear.
‘You will not walk into the village,’ he said, holding his hand out again. ‘’Tis not safe.’
She gathered her skirts, accepted his hand and, with a foot placed on his, climbed up behind him on the horse. Once she’d settled there and he felt her arms encircle him, he signalled to ride out. As they made their way out of the gates and down the road to the village by the river his heated body reacted to her nearness and soon the ride was more uncomfortable than he’d have wished it to be. They rode along the narrow path and it did not take long before he could feel her fidgeting behind him.
‘Hold there, my lady. Have you never ridden before?’ he asked.
‘You are too tall, my lord. I can see nothing past your shoulders as we ride.’ He thought that made perfect protective sense, but the lady seemed more interested in the sights they were passing.
‘Lady, I am not convinced that you are safe leaving the manor’s walls. Do not give me reasons to return there now.’
Brice smiled wryly at him, obviously enjoying the situation. No matter his friend’s reassurances that no rebels remained on his lands, Giles could not pretend to be comforted by such reports. If his suspicions were correct about Edmund, then they were close by. She did settle behind him then and he enjoyed the feel of her arms wrapped around his waist and her body pressed close to his. They made their way to the edge of the village where more of his men waited.
When his men spread out down the main village path to the edge of the clearing and gave a signal, he let Brice assist the lady down. He had no intention of dismounting, for he could respond to an attack faster and more efficiently on horseback than on foot. Bow and sword at the ready, he turned and positioned himself where he could see the most.
Giles sat watching as Fayth walked down the path and was greeted by more and more of the villagers there. As her presence became known those not working away from the centre of the village all came to see her. Brice, with a nod from him, proceeded ahead and checked some of the storage buildings there while Fayth continued talking. When about an hour had passed and the skies began to grow dark with a coming storm, Giles called an end to it and summoned both the lady and Brice.
Although at first she seemed to be ready to protest, she bade the people a farewell and gave a promise to return. Then she walked to him. She did not hesitate as she approached Giles and somehow that made his heart glad. She looked not with dread as she held her hand out first for his and when he helped her up behind him she seemed to be at peace with him and his orders.
‘A storm is coming, lady. You will have more time on the morrow to see your people.’
‘You will allow this?’ she asked.
‘I would rather if you did not, but with Brice or Roger at your side I will permit such visits.’
She said nothing in reply, but if he was made to, Giles would have sworn an oath that her arms tightened at that moment. When she rested her head against his back, he could not help the smile that broke on his face.
The rest of their journey was silent. He stopped just inside the gates at her request to let her dismount and then rode the horse to the stables. By the time he returned to the hall to discuss his coming journey with her, she was gone. Asking the servants about her led him to the chamber that had been hers. He pushed open the door, unsure of what he’d find.
Edmund advanced as close as he could to the village without being seen. He’d left most of his men at the fork in the river and returned to see what the messenger had reported. Now, not only were the villagers back with tales of the new lord’s words and pledges to protect them, but, worse, they believed him!
His strategy to gain control of Taerford and hold this area of his father’s lands had failed so far—the arrival and success of this Breton knight had put a halt to his control so far. But with help from the other displaced Saxon lords, he planned to wrest this important estate from its invader lord and use it as his base to reclaim the lands that should be his.
Not all Saxons had been thrown off their lands. Those who submitted to William retained theirs, but submitting did not ensure a lord’s loyalties. And with the backing of the Northumbrian earls, though once his father’s enemies, he would remove the Norman blight on their lands.
Forced to creep like a thief behind and between cottages and sheds to remain unseen, he was able to get close enough to see Fayth. She looked well, pale, but unharmed as much as he could tell. The lord brought her to the village himself and sat watching as she spoke to the villagers. The other one, the one called Brice, made his way along the path, looking in cottages as he went. It was a near thing several times, but Edmund was practised now and could move about without being seen.
After some time had passed, the knight called out to Fayth and she went to him without delay. Narrowing his eyes, he watched as they exchanged words and she said farewell to the villagers with a promise to return. And then, without a moment’s hesitation, Fayth gave her hand to the Breton and climbed up behind him!
He could forgive her much for her willingness to place her life in danger for his and to plead for him, which had resulted in his freedom and his chance to regroup and challenge again. Surely, she did what she must to survive and if it meant submission to this Breton puppet of the Norman duke, he would understand. Stepping back into the shadows, he swore an oath on his father’s soul that, no matter what it took to free her, she would not suffer this Breton’s control of her for long.
Leaving three men to keep watch over the village from the other side of the river, Edmund travelled back to his camp, hoping that others brought back news better than his.
