He would give his life, or more probably his title and his lands, for her safety.
Radulf scowled, frightening several small children. He didn’t notice. Who would have thought the day would come when the King’s Sword would be willing to give up everything for a woman!
Truly, he was his father’s son.
Chapter 10
Lily woke to half darkness and the sound of movement beyond her door. There was laughter, and voices rising and falling. She knew most of those voices; she had traveled with these men for many days now. She felt comfortable with them, which was odd since they were her enemies.
Where was Radulf?
The question spurred her to turn her head, examining the room. She had seen little of it last night. After she arrived at the small chamber, tears, so long restrained, had filled her eyes and run down her cheeks. Alone at last, all hope gone, she had cried herself to sleep.
Voices again, closer now, murmuring at her door. Lily thought one of them was female, probably the innkeeper’s young, shy-eyed daughter. Last evening, while Lily sat by the fire in the steamy warmth of the main room of the inn, the girl had served her ale and a pie straight from the oven. The other guests had been sent packing by Radulf’s soldiers, some of them ejected quite violently with their belongings tumbling after them. Their loud complaints faded only when Jervois handed out coins from the leather purse at his belt.
It was the Norman way to take what they wanted, Lily thought bitterly. Although, she admitted grudgingly, Vorgen would not have bothered to appease them with money . . .
A hard knock on the door, and then again.
Lily sat up—she hadn’t dared to undress—and pushed back untidy hair that badly needed washing and brushing. Her skin was still gritty from the journey, and her clothing stiff with dust. It was long since she had bathed at her leisure and dressed in fine clothes. Another place, another life. All gone now.
“Who is it?” she called out in a voice hoarse from disuse.
“My lady, ’tis Jervois!”
Lily got up and opened the door. The morning sun was glinting through the open door of the inn, while the smells of bread and ale lingered, mixed with pungent woodsmoke.
It was obvious from Jervois’s pallor and dark-circled eyes that he hadn’t slept much. Yesterday, while she ate her pie and drank her ale, Lily had noticed how the captain’s green gaze had ranged continually about the inn, cataloguing its strengths and weak points.
Lily wondered if there was more to his orders than she perceived—she had assumed from what Radulf said that Jervois was to keep her safe.
Maybe her assumptions were wrong.
As if he had read her thoughts, Jervois said,
“Lord Radulf has sent word, lady. You are to accompany me and the men to the castle as soon as may be.”
“Rather a large escort for one woman, Jervois.
There is no need; I do not intend to run away. I want my audience with the king.”
Jervois looked uncomfortable. “You must ask Lord Radulf those questions, lady. I am his captain, that is all.”
“I think you are more than that, Jervois. He has told me he trusts you like a brother.”
Jervois’s tanned cheeks flushed a dull red at the compliment Radulf had paid him.
Lily shot a glance past him into the smoky room. “Where is Radulf?”
“He is still at the castle, lady. But before you join him there, he has instructed me to have water brought for your bath and . . . and your other matters attended to.” He flushed again at Lily’s wide-eyed look, and added in a voice made prim from discomfort, “Lord Radulf orders you to look your best for the king.”
Lily continued to stare in astonishment. Look her best? Vorgen would have dragged her before William bleeding and in rags. “I see,” she managed, but saw not at all. Yet did it matter whether she understood? She was very likely about to be imprisoned for the rest of her life. This might be the last bath she ever had.
Jervois was waiting for her reply, respectful and attentive as always. She managed a smile. “I want to thank you, Jervois. You have been kind to me.”
He did not smile back; there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. “I only obey my orders, lady. ’Tis Lord Radulf you should thank.”
Lily raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
