Eliza Knight - The Rules of Chivalry (21 page)

Bernard’s shoulders relaxed. “And you’ve done a
mighty job of taming the master’s beasts, Captain. And soon the lady shall be more than safe behind the abbey walls.”

Theodore bobbed his head in a nod. “I’d thought you a man of honor, Captain, glad to see my instincts were not wrong.”

Michael was pleased he’d returned to favor in the men’s eyes. “It appears, from what Arthur has said though, Lord Kent believes I am here for more devious reasons.” He glanced at Arthur. “What is he paying you to sneak about and follow me?”

Arthur licked his parched lips.
“No—nothing.
I retain my life.”

“But your lord has not protected you from me,” Michael drawled.

The boy shuffled on his feet, his eyes darting from one man to the other. “
Wh
—
what do ye mean,
Cap’n
?”

“You are here, and caught. Now that I know you work against me, what’s to say I do not dispose of your treasonous arse right now?”

Arthur dropped to his knees, surprising all three men, who each took as much of a step back as they could in the cramped musty corridor.

“
Cap’n
, please! I beg of
ye
! Do not kill me. I can serve ye, and serve ye well.
I shall report to Kent
nothin
’;
that I see
ye
only about
yer
duties.” Arthur clasped his hands in front of him and looked at the low ceiling of the tunnel, mumbling something about God and his mother.

Michael raised one brow in a bit of shock and humor. “I won’t be killing you boy. While I think you are in great need of a loyal and honest heart, rule three states to protect the weak and defenseless—and you my boy are both of those in abundance. However, I stand by my rule to never turn a back on a foe, and believe you
me,
I will not take my eyes off you.
Stand.”

Arthur struggled to gain his footing, his knees
knocking violently. Finally, with a deep held breath, Fletch lifted the boy up by his shoulders.

“Thank you, sir,” Arthur muttered, looking down at the ground.

Michael gave a terse nod. “You will come with us as we traverse these tunnels. Fletch will instruct you in your new duties as his page. One false move and you will regret it. If you can show us you are honorable, you will be rewarded with more than your life,
Arthur. Remember your namesake and
be true to it.”

Arthur nodded emphatically, the fear receding in his eyes to be replaced with something akin to hope.

“Lead the way, and show me what it is I must see,” Michael indicated to Bernard and Theodore.

Chapter
Eigh
teen

E
lena gazed out the window of her chamber toward the lower bailey. At this early hour, when dawn had barely broken, the sky was an illuminated gray, and fingers of fog spread wide over the grounds. A worker here and there could be seen trudging to their posts, but the courtyard would not be teaming with life for another hour or two yet.

She blinked rapidly, trying to take the sting from her eyes. She had not slept the night before.
The cause of her sleeplessness due to many things.
Would Kent change his mind and not allow her to go to the abbey? Would Abbot
Hunsden
deem her not worthy and turn her away? Would they be attacked along the road? And the questions most haunting her sleepless night were of Michael. How could she make amends with him? Could she ever recover the words she’d thrust into his heart like a dagger?

Movement in the bailey just below her window caught her attention, and she leaned out to look closer, her hands pressed to the cool moist stone of the windowsill.

“Michael,” she breathed out in a whisper.

He stopped his long strides and gazed up toward her window, even though there was no way he could have heard her say his name. He was thinking of her too! Her heart lurched at the realization.

When his eyes caught hers, his lips parted as if he were to say something. His brows were furrowed, but his expression was not one of anger or frustration. Instead,
an intensity
filled him, an urgency that was evident despite the dim light of pre-dawn. She wanted to run down the narrow winding stair and fling herself into his arms. Kiss him until they both felt no more pain.

But she reined in her strong emotions, pressed her lips
together and pulled back inside the darkness of her chamber. Was she not already in danger because of her impulsive behavior? Was not Michael’s life also in peril
? If she had not wish
ed for him to come to England out of selfish reasons, then he would be happily ensconced elsewhere
.
Not dealing with the horrid deeds—the attack, the murder—most likely arranged by her husband to send some sort of message.

For whatever reason, and she couldn’t fathom how he’d figured it out, Kent knew of her affections for Michael. Obviously his spy ring went further than even she realized. A paranoid flutter of her mind wondered if one of her ladies was on Kent’s side, but she quickly thrust it aside. She knew her ladies better than anyone, and all of them had been by her side through the worst of it, suffering along with her. She trusted them with her life.

When again she looked out the window, Michael was gone.

She breathed deeply in regret and closed her eyes to ward off tears. Despite how wrong it was, she wanted him to hold her, to seek comfort from his warm embrace. Why did life have to be so rigid, and she do the right thing? She was so confused. Her heart screamed for her to go to Michael, and yet her mind slammed down the portcullis through the gate that would lead her to him.

A small
tap-tap
on her door, had Elena jumping, her bare toes stinging against the cold wooden floor. She pressed her hand to her heart to quell its erratic pace. Was it Michael?
She gulped praying at once that it was
and
that it was not him.

“Enter,” she said hoarsely, and then again a little louder, “You may enter.”

Raelyn
open
ed the
door
, and despite her need to separate herself from Michael disappointment swirled in Elena’s belly.

“My lady, all has been prepared. Your steward arrived moments ago with word that St. Augustine’s Abbey is willing
and pleased to have you join them for however long you seek solace.”

Elena nodded and watched as
Raelyn
floated on nimble feet to her wardrobe to lay out the only gown left there.
Raelyn’s
excitement rolled off her in waves. Her betrothed would meet them at the abbey, where they’d be married and
Raelyn
would leave Elena’s side to make her own way as Countess of Warwick.
Her lady pulled out a chemise, hose, stays, and riding boots as she hummed a tinkling ballad.

“That is good news indeed,” Elena s
aid hating the way her voice wa
vered.

Raelyn
must have noticed the tremble in her reply and looked up sharply, her gaze meeting Elena’s. She stopped what she was doing and came toward her. Without asking for permission, she pulled Elena into her arms, stroking her hair down her back.

“Oh, my lady, all will be well.”

Elena pressed her face against
Raelyn’s
shoulder and slid her arms around her lady’s waist. She let her tears fall freely against the soft satin of
Raelyn’s
gown, and listened to the crooning of her dearest lady friend.

“You shall be safe there, and I have a feeling, a deep sense that soon happiness will be with you always. Do not fret, Elena. Do not cry.”

Elena pulled away, kissed
Raelyn
on the cheek. “You have been forever, the best of my women, the best of friends. I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done for me,
Raelyn
.”

“And because we are sisters, although not of the same blood but of heart, you do not have to thank me. I would do it all again, just as I know you would do it for me.”

Elena nodded, a smile curving her lips.

“Promise me something.”
Raelyn’s
eyes were suddenly filled with intensity.

“What is it?” Elena held her breath, feeling the magnitude of
Raelyn’s
unuttered request.

“Do not lose the love that has found you once more.”

Elena took a step back, shaking her head. “What are you saying?” Michael’s face floated into her mind.

“You know of what I speak. Do not let him leave England, Elena. You can only find love as great as the one the two of you share once in a lifetime. When you are in the room together the air fairly sparkles with tension and emotion. Do not forsake him.”

Aye, Elena did know what
Raelyn
meant. She’d poured tears on her maid just
the night bef
ore
,
telling her all that had been between them,
their
hand
fasting
, their lovemaking and their argument, the harsh words she’d spoken.

“But how can I? I am already married. ‘Twould be the death of us both.”

Raelyn
shook her head. “I know, I know.
But…
’
tis just…”

Elena pressed her hands into
Raelyn’s
and squeezed gently. “You need not say more. I will speak to him. I will make things right between us again, even though I know he will never be mine in God’s name, perhaps he
will stay in Kent’s service…
” Her voice trailed off as she knew the magnitude of what she would be asking him to do. To forgo his own life and stay by her side even though there was nothing he would gain from it. She just prayed his love for her was strong enough to withstand it.

*****

The ride to the abbey was quiet, save for the pounding of horse’s hooves against the earth, and the chink of metal from swords and armor worn by the two score guards escorting them.

And if
Elena
was completely honest, those noises were nothing compared to the roaring of her heartbeat.
B
lood
rushed around in her brain frantically, making on odd humming noise in her ears.

Elena rode between two guards and Michael in front of her. Her ladies were behind her, equally surrounded and then more retainers behind them. Riders had gone ahead of the entourage to make sure the road was clear of ruffians, and would-be attackers. And the men Michael sent behind to make sure no one followed her escort
was
not left unnoticed by Elena.

Kent had not yet
risen
when they left, and so she’d requested the steward tell him she’d departed. Her husband would be of ill temper knowing she’d left without bidding him farewell. Perhaps her error in doing so was now going to cause them a backlash from his anger.

Thank God for her training as a child. She wouldn’t give up without a fight should they be attacked. The press of her bow and quiver against her thigh where she’d attached it to her saddle made her feel safer, but still, she’d rather they pick up the pace, so they might reach the abbey before nightfall.

She’d yet to find out all Michael knew about the situation at Kent and the tunnels, given the circumstances she wasn’t surprised he didn’t want to confide in her. And she had not yet found a time where she could ask to speak with him in private, to make amends with him. But that was not for lack of trying. She’d opened her mouth to utter the words requesting for him to ride ahead with her, but found no words would issue. Even when they’d stopped to rest the horses and break their fast, she had started to approach him, only to turn away in a moment of cowardice.

The longer the day went on and the more he ignored her, the more she thought it hopeless to even seek him out.

Her musings were interrupted when suddenly Michael jerked around in his saddle to stare, at first she thought at her, but then she saw that indeed his eyes were not looking at her,
but beyond her.

Then she heard it, the neck-breaking pounding of horse hooves, and the shouts from men.

She turned in her saddle to see the men Michael had sent to scout behind them, rushing toward their entourage.

The men were flushed, the horses foaming at the mouth, showing they’d been ridden hard and fast. Michael called a halt to his men, and whirled his horse around to ride toward his retainers.

Elena pulled on her horses’ reins, and would have ridden after Michael, intent on finding out what was happening, had his man Jon not put a hand on her reins to stay her.

“My lady, I can best protect you if you stay put.” His eyes bored into hers and held no room for argument.

She nodded briskly, and turned to each of her ladies, trying to offer soft words of comfort to them.
But even still, having the retainers flying down the road looking as if the very devil were after them left everyone on edge.
Her husband was bent on seeing her truly finished and dead in a ditch. It may be that the devil was after her indeed.

In an effort to take everyone’s concentration from Michael’s animated discussion with the retainers, and the scowls on their faces, she asked, “How much longer until we reach the abbey, Sir Jon?”

The newly knighted young man, colored at her use of his title. “We have not much further to go, mayhap two hours. We should be there before nightfall, I imagine.” His voice trailed off as his gaze turned toward Michael, most likely realizing that whatever it was that had caused the alarm would hold them up in arriving at the time he suggested.

Michael turned, his gaze meeting hers, his expression stricken. He appeared to issue orders to his men, and then turned his horse toward her, trotting briskly. Elena’s heart constricted. What news could they have brought?

“My lady, if I may be permitted to speak to you in private?”

Elena nodded immediately and Michael led the way to the edge of the road, his eyes scanning the forest at their backs. She was anxious to hear what he had to say, and at the same time relieved to have him finally alone so she might apologize.

“Michael, before you tell me whatever it is that is
transpiring,
I must apologize for my harsh words to you.” Her hands came up to cover her heart, and she gazed directly into his eyes. “What I said was wrong, and I know how wrong it was, I spoke… I honestly spoke to hurt you
,
to push you away.”

His gaze pierced hers. “Why?” His voice cracked with emotion.

“To save us.”
She chewed her lower lip, wanting to reach out and hold his hands in hers, rest her head on his shoulder as she poured out her heart to him. But she sensed the urgency in his demeanor and knew she had only a moment more to pour out her heart to him before he bade her hush so he might convey to her the issue at hand. “Our love, our liaisons, they are known to too many, and should Kent find out, he will have us executed for our treasonous behavior. Adultery is a sin.” She took a deep
breath,
her eyes cast to the ground, then raised them again. “I thought to push you away because it is so hard for me to stay away from you. But even after only a short time, I could not let you think I meant those things, for I did not.”

Michael’s eyes showed sadness.
“Oh, Elena, my love.
Kent knows.”

A gasp escaped her lips. “No.”

Her champion’s head dropped briefly before he met her eyes again. “Aye, he does, and he has sent men even now to ambush us. We must make haste to the abbey.”