“Aye. If there be any justice in this world, you and they will live safely together once more.” Heldred stood straighter. “I want to help you to it, my lady.”
“What?”
“I wish to go with you, to assist you in freeing your children from Faegerliegh Keep.”
“Nay, Heldred. I’ll not have you risking yourself more. Coming here and taking a disguise to watch over me was danger enough.”
“And what of the twins’ safety, lady? Will you be content to pass by what help I can offer? Are not two rescuers better than one?”
Catherine frowned at her old friend, taking a breath in preparation to argue with him, then clamping her mouth shut when she realized that he was right. She sighed. “You have a point. But attempting a rescue at Faegerliegh will be dangerous, as you well know. The intricacy of the corridors alone will daunt us, not to mention the guards Eduard has surely posted everywhere.”
“That doesn’t change my wanting to aid you.” A familiar glint sparked in his eyes. “Besides, if we find trouble, you can always stun the guards with a few passes of your blade. You know, your first day of training with the sword was inspirational.” He grinned and made a feinting pass at her before letting his imaginary steel tip thud to the floor.
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You saw that too, did you?”
He shrugged. “I followed at a safe distance. ’Twas but a short while after I’d arrived at Ravenslock, and I had to be sure that your new husband meant you no harm by taking you out dressed so strangely and with weapons in tow.”
Catherine’s smile dimmed. Gray had never meant her any harm in the entire time she’d known him. All he’d ever done was care for her and make her feel safe and loved. Shaking her head to push the thoughts away, she said, “I’ll have you know I’m much improved from that first day.”
“Aye, lady, I know,” he said, still smiling. “I’ve been watching.” Then he gestured toward the door. “But perhaps we should go now so that you may get back to the castle. It wouldn’t do for you to be missed on this of all days.”
Catherine nodded, clasping his wrinkled hand in hers. “I had planned to leave after dark, once the Punkie Night festivities were full under way. My maidservants told me ’tis a night of wild revels. The confusion will provide a chance for us to make our escape.”
“’Tis a good plan. We can leave with what we need before anyone even knows we’ve gone. Where did you stow the sack of provisions I saw you gathering?”
“I hid it in the straw behind the stables. I thought it would be easier to retrieve when I needed to get it onto my mount.”
“Clever, my lady. But riding will make it necessary to steal a horse. Two, if I am to go as well.”
“Aye, Heldred, I know. I regret the theft, and yet I cannot see much choice in it. Not if we’re to get to Faegerliegh and spirit the twins away before a search finds us.”
Heldred nodded. “’Tis a boon, then, that I sleep in the stables. I’ve been passing myself off as a groom. In disguise my back looks crippled, but I’ve proved to them that my hands work well.” He grinned, wiggling his fingers. “I can prepare the mounts for us. All you’ll need to do is meet me at the stables as soon as most of the revelers have left the castle.”
“I’ll be there,” Catherine said, opening the door and peering out of the cottage to ensure that the pathway was quiet. All looked bright and deceptively calm. She ducked back inside for a moment to give Heldred a hug and a murmured farewell. But before she could embrace him, he winced and drew in his breath sharply. Startled, Catherine pulled back.
“What is it, Heldred? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, my lady,” he said through gritted teeth, reaching for the pouch on his neck. After fumbling to open the drawstring, he took a pinch of the dried contents inside and pushed it past his lips. In a moment his spasm seemed to pass, and he breathed easier. Apologetically, he looked at her. “’Tis but an old malady of the chest. Nothing that a little cherry bark cannot cure.”
“But it pained you so,” she said, still worried. “Might it not be better to have the castle healer examine you to be sure ’tis nothing more serious?”
“Nay, I’m fine,” he said, waving her off. “I’ll not forestall the rescue of your children for the sake of my aches and pains.”
He smiled tightly again and shooed her toward the door, but she resisted. “I wish you would reconsider, Heldred.”
“Nay, my lady. Please. Speak no more of it.”
She paused, lips pursed at his obstinacy. Finally she just shook her head and said, “If you will not do as I bid concerning this, then you must grant me one other boon.”
“What is it, my lady?”
“To be careful in your preparations for this night. Horse thieving is a serious crime, and I do not know if I could live with myself if anything happened to you because of me.”
He patted her cheek. “Aye, you have my word, lady. I will be fine. I plan to do my work in the shadows, as always.” He smiled, crouching back down into his former, hunchbacked pose, startling her again with the swiftness of his transformation. “People often overlook cripples, you know, my lady. ’Tis easier for most to pretend deformity doesn’t exist.”
She nodded, squeezing his hand before moving to the door.
“Until tonight, then, Mistress Catherine,” he called gruffly.
