‘I know the one you are really asking about,’ Joan said, not in the least fooled, and shook her head as Jeanette started to protest. ‘You would be wise to leave him well alone.’
‘If you know his reputation, then you must know his name,’ Jeanette persisted.
Joan rolled her eyes. ‘If you have to be curious, he is Thomas Holland, one of the sons of Robert Holland of Thorpe. The fairer one with him is his brother, Otto.’
‘Why would it be wise to leave him alone?’ The idea that this Thomas Holland might be dangerous sent a delicious shiver up Jeanette’s spine.
‘Because your rank is far above his and the King will want to arrange your marriage for advantage to the crown.’
Jeanette sniffed in disgust. ‘That’s exactly what my mother would say. It’s not as though I’m about to marry him!’
‘Even more reason to keep your distance!’ Joan leaned in closer and lowered her voice. ‘His father betrayed his sworn lord, Henry of Lancaster. He was supposed to come to his aid in battle and he stayed at home instead. The King pardoned him all past transgressions, but his enemies bided their time, and they ambushed and beheaded him for his want of loyalty.’
Jeanette thought of her own father who had also been executed, caught out by the shifting sands of court politics. She had been too young to remember him, but she had been told the story, and knew he had been wronged. She didn’t judge – she had learned not to believe everything she was told. Besides, a child was not its parent, God forbid. People always had their reasons for what they said and few were pure of intent. ‘But he is a household knight,’ she said. ‘He’s guarding the Queen, so King Edward must trust him.’
‘He and Otto have proven themselves in loyalty and battle,’ Joan replied, ‘but you should still keep your distance. Being loyal to the King and fierce fighters does not mean they are like lap dogs. Imagine wolves instead.’
Joan’s warning only stoked Jeanette’s interest, not least because she and Thomas Holland shared a common bond regarding the fate of their fathers, and she could add sympathy for him to her curiosity. The notion of him being untamed was an intrigue, not a deterrent.
The sun set behind their ship and the moon rose in a broken silver path across the sea. People wrapped themselves in their cloaks and went to sleep. Jeanette dozed, but could not settle for her mind was still buzzing like a midsummer hive, and eventually she rose and tip-toed from the deck shelter. The sea had calmed from its earlier choppiness and was an undulating black glint. The heavens were an endless vista of stars, and she felt herself expanding to join all that space. This was whatmattered in the world; this was beauty, this was God – not that deck shelter of petty rules enclosing the mounds of sleeping women amid aromas of wine and vomit.
In the darkness a shape moved quietly to join her, and she gasped in alarm before she recognised the knight she now knew as Thomas Holland.
‘Mistress, should you not be soundly asleep with the Queen’s ladies?’ he asked, his voice pitched low.
She heard the soft clink of his sword hilt against its fixings and the faint creak of leather. The feel of him so close raised the hair on her nape and she had to strive to control her voice. ‘Are you going to send me back there?’
‘I am not your guardian, demoiselle, but it is my duty to ensure the safety of all during the voyage. If you fell overboard now, who would know until the morning?’
‘I am perfectly safe, as you can see,’ she replied pertly, ‘unless you think a sea monster is going to rise up from the depths and snatch me off the ship.’
‘No, but there are far worse fates than sea monsters, mistress, believe me.’
She shivered, feeling his breath against her cheek, but she wasn’t afraid. The sensation was as new and exquisite as the voyage itself. Lady Katerine was always warning her about worse fates, although she was never specific as to what they might actually be. ‘No one will harm me on this ship,’ she said. ‘Their lives would be forfeit – a single scream would be enough.’
‘You would not have time to scream,’ he answered. ‘You are fortunate that I am honourable and diligent in my duty.’
Unable to think of a fitting retort, Jeanette lifted her gaze to the night sky. ‘Why would anyone want to sleep rather than see and feel all of this?’ she asked. ‘One is being alive; the other is not.’
‘True,’ he said, after a hesitation, and leaning beside her, loosely clasped his hands. ‘Have you sailed before?’
‘Only on rivers and inshore,’ she said. ‘But this is like riding a horse – a wild one. Have you, sir?’
‘Many times, demoiselle, enough that I would rather roll myself in my cloak and value sleep above novelty. But you remind me of that first sense of wonder, and you are right about riding wild horses – although I wouldn’t encourage it on land,’ he added with a smile in his voice. He straightened and stood with legs planted to keep his balance. ‘But sleep is also a necessary thing. You should bid me goodnight, and return to the ladies, for whether you are safe or not, you will be reprimanded if they find you gone.’
She gave an uncaring shrug. ‘I am always being scolded for this or that. I shall tell them that I wanted to be sick, and better over the side than in their shelter.’
He gave an amused grunt. ‘You have a good excuse at hand, but in truth, I cannot go to my own slumber unless you are safe with the other ladies, for it is my sworn duty, and I am sure you would not want me to be wakeful the night long.’
His tone was light and teasing, but it kindled a flame in the pit of her belly. ‘No,’ she said untruthfully. ‘I would not want to be the cause of that.’
She remained a few moments more beside him to make the point that she could stay as long as she wanted, but he was right, and since he was being courteous rather than issuing a blunt command, she was more disposed to cooperate. ‘Then I will bid you goodnight, messire, and I shall sleep well, knowing you have my best interests at heart.’
‘Demoiselle,’ he said, bowing.
Returning to the women’s shelter, she eased in beside Joan, who was awake.
‘Where have you been?’ Joan hissed.
