The only thing she was able to do right that morning was to gain Henry’s attention without the notice of any of the lords surrounding him. He was still dining in the hall when she entered with Piers. As it was his habit to eat standing up and moving about as he talked to his courtiers, it did not attract notice when he approached Leonie.
“Has your husband gone straightaway to the lists?” he asked.
Henry was in high good spirits, and she prayed that would aid her.
“He is not coming, my lord.”
Henry frowned. “Whyever not?”
She explained, finishing, “I saw no other way to protect him.”
“Protect him! I think he is in need of protection from you!”
“I did what I thought best, Your Majesty,” she replied miserably. “I am not sorry I saved him from possible injury, only that it was necessary to do so.”
Henry shook his head in amazement. “You do not know your husband, Lady Leonie. You have done him no favor. My son Richard is also a tourney follower, and he has told me he has seen Rolfe d’Ambert receive wound after wound, and still go on to win the day and a fortune in ransoms. There are few to equal him on the field. He can be near to death and he will still fight. That is his way—the way of the wolf. He did not get that name simply because of his dark looks, my dear.”
“I—I did not know that, Your Majesty.”
“He is not going to thank you, my dear,” the king said, sighing.
“I know,” she replied.
“I hope you have not come here to seek my protection?” he asked shrewdly.
“No, but I beg an escort to take me home, Your Majesty. I fear Rolfe’s men will not do so without speaking to him first.”
“You want to run from his anger?”
“Not…run, exactly. Merely give his temper time to cool before I must face it.”
Henry chuckled. “It will not be as bad as all that, not unless he must go looking for you to hear your explanation. No, I will not help you run away from your husband, but I will give you an escort to return to him.” With a flick of his wrist, Henry summoned three men to his side and gave them their orders. To her he added, “I suggest you tell him the truth. Perhaps he will overlook your foolishness this time.”
“The truth? He already knows why I didn’t want him to fight today.”
“Ah, but the reasonbehindthe reason, my dear. Tell the man you love him. It is astonishing what that single admission can do.”
She was dismissed.
She took the opportunity to leave quickly before Sir Piers took notice and followed with more questions. Confess to a love she did not feel? No, that was not so. Confess to a love she—she was not going to think about it just then.
When she returned to the city palace, she found Richard Amyas in the stables. His impatience to be gone was obvious, and it was easy to convince him that Rolfe would be delayed for a while yet and that he should go on ahead to join Sir Piers on the tourney field. He left immediately, taking only two of the men-at-arms. That left Leonie the remaining eight, one of whom was the master-at-arms, Guy of Brent.
Leonie had never had reason to speak with him before. She did so now, using a tone that brooked no interference. He was not like Piers or Richard who would feel it was their duty to question her. Guy simply did as he was told and ordered one of the baggage wains readied. He sent men with her to collect her trunks.
Damian was more difficult to deal with. She did not want him to remain there to tell Rolfe she had gone, nor could she tie and gag Damian and bring him along. She waited until her trunks were removed and the maids gone before she launched into the lie that would delay Rolfe’s following her.
“The king has bid me move to Westminster Hall until my husband is in a reasonable enough mood to listen to my explanation about what happened.”
“That is wise, my lady,” Damian replied solemnly. “So you have the king’s protection?”
“Yes. Stay with my lord until he awakens.”
She looked at Rolfe once more, knowing that the next time she saw him, his face would not look as peaceful as it did then. A shiver passed down her spine. Was she making it worse by leaving? She could only pray that time would calm him.
Chapter 35
LEONIE directed her escort off the main road and into the woods late that afternoon, despite the dire warnings of Guy who swore it wasn’t safe to travel except on the main road. But Leonie was not worried about cutthroats or wild animals. She was buying herself more time, for Rolfe would go directly to Crewel, assuming that was her destination, while this route would take her around about, finally coming from the east to Pershwick. Oh, she would not compound her mistakes by pitting Pershwick against her husband, but hopefully he would think twice before beating her at Pershwick.
