The Silent Touch of Shadows (8 page)

‘Hmm.’ Lady Maude stared out of the window, deep in thought. ‘Do you know, I believe your best course would be to go along with it for now, just to appease him,’ she mused. ‘While he’s busy with contracts and such like, we can think of a better solution.’

‘You truly think so?’

Maude nodded. ‘Of course.’

‘I don’t know
 
… If only I’d had a child, then I would have had to stay here, surely?’ Her inability to conceive had been a great worry to Sibell during her marriage, but they had only been married a few months when Roland took it into his head to go off and fight. Maude had assured her these things often took time, but since Roland never returned, Sibell hadn’t found out whether she was right.

‘Perhaps. Knowing your father, I’m not so sure.’ Maude squeezed Sibell’s hands in sympathy, then abruptly changed the subject. ‘Now tell me, wherever did you meet that handsome young man you arrived with? It’s very strange, but I’m sure I have seen him before.’ She shook her head. ‘At any rate, he seemed rather smitten with you.’

‘No, no, it was all friendly banter. He meant nothing by it.’ Sibell felt her cheeks heat up in a fiery blush, and began to stammer more denials, then stopped as she saw the teasing smile on Maude’s lips. ‘Now, Maude, you know a man like that would never be interested in a red-headed beanpole like me,’ she said sternly. ‘You’ll have to think of something better.’

Maude’s eyes twinkled. ‘We’ll just see about that.’

Chapter Six

‘Pleeeeease, Mum! I hate it here and I don’t want to keep moving all the time. The flat we looked at yesterday smelled
gross
.’

Melissa sighed and dug her knuckles into the side of her throbbing head in an effort to ease the pain. ‘Jolie, are you sure you’re not just saying that because you want a dog? You’ll get tired of taking it for walks in no time, you know, and then where will you be? At a new school that might not be any better than the one you’re in already.’

‘Yes, it will. Anything would be better than this one. The kids here are a bunch of wankers.’

‘Jolie!’

Jolie’s expression turned mulish. ‘Well, they are.’

‘Maybe so.’ Melissa didn’t have the energy to argue about her daughter’s use of inappropriate words just then. ‘But why had you never told me before we went to Ashleigh that you hate your school?’

‘I don’t know.’ Jolie shoved her hands into her pockets and refused to look at her mother.

‘Come on, there must be a reason.’ Melissa lifted Jolie’s chin gently so she could see her expression. ‘Tell me. Has someone been bullying you and saying it would get worse if you told on them?’

Jolie shook her head.

‘What then?’

‘Well, I do get bullied sometimes, but it doesn’t matter ’
cos
I don’t like the other kids anyway. I hate the teacher, though, she’s always picking on me. Nothing I do is ever right.’

Melissa could well believe it. Mrs Olsen was not a very sympathetic woman and Melissa had often wondered what had made such a person want to be a teacher. She nodded slowly. ‘I know what you mean. Perhaps we could get you moved to the other class, would that help?’

‘No. I don’t want to stay here. I want to move to Ashleigh.’

‘Jolie, let’s talk about this sensibly. You’re not a baby any more so you should be able to understand my arguments, too. Now, do you really think we would cope, living with an old lady? She’s probably set in her ways and although she said she wants people around her, I don’t think she realises what it would mean. Loud music, noise, having to adapt to change
 
…’

‘It was her idea.’

‘I know, but maybe she hasn’t thought it through. And what if we do move in, but find that we hate living in the country? Dorothy might be terribly sad and even more lonely if we changed our minds and moved out again.’

‘Mum, you said yourself that sometimes people have to try new things, even if they don’t turn out the way you think.’

‘I said that?’

‘Yes, when we were talking about Daddy. He wanted to try something new, so why can’t we? If we don’t, how will we ever know whether we like it or not? We already know we hate it here, so
 
…’

‘I don’t hate it, it’s just not ideal.’

‘Yes, you do. You’re always going on about the landlord and stuff and you’re always miserable. And now we can’t find a new flat, so you’re flapping about that. Maybe in the country you’d be happy.’

Melissa bit her lip. She hadn’t realised how much her unhappiness had affected Jolie or how perceptive her daughter could be.

The truth was that her inexplicable reactions to the house had unsettled her more than she cared to admit. And because she was at such a low ebb, she was apprehensive about leaving London and all that was familiar. She had never been one to take chances, but the temptation to just pack up and leave was great. Ashleigh Manor occupied her thoughts constantly and it was almost as if the house was calling to her, urging her to return. And yet at the same time, something about it set off warning bells in her mind
 
…

Could a house be in your blood? In your DNA?
No, that’s ridiculous.

She thought for a moment, then forced herself to come to a decision. ‘All right, I’ll tell you what – how about a compromise?’

‘What kind?’

‘I think you’re right, we should try living in the country for a while. What if we agree to stay with Dorothy for a few weeks while we look around for a place of our own in the same area?’ Melissa suggested. ‘That way, we could be near her so she’s not lonely, but without intruding on her space. Renting a little cottage or something should be much cheaper in Kent and if there’s a garden, you can have your puppy. How does that sound?’ Even as she made the suggestion, Melissa was worrying that it wouldn’t work out, but she felt she was desperate enough to at least try.

‘Okay, I guess.’ Jolie didn’t sound totally convinced. ‘You promise I can have a dog?’

Melissa smiled and pulled her daughter close for a hug. ‘Yes, sweetie, as soon as we know we want to stay there for good. I promise.’

Sibell smiled to herself as she made her way towards the stables at Idenhurst. Maude was right, of course – the simple act of agreeing to the marriage contract would probably free her from incarceration. At least to the extent that she would be allowed to visit her former mother-in-law and thus be able to make further plans.
I’ll thwart Father’s schemes yet, see if I don’t
 
…

It was dark inside the stables and she stood still for a few moments while her nose adjusted to the smell of horse. When she could breathe easily again, Sibell put out a hand to feel her way along the wall. Maude had insisted that she borrow a mount for her journey home and she was just about to call out for the grooms when she heard the sound of low voices. She hurried towards them, then stopped when she realised the people talking weren’t grooms. There was something furtive about the conversation. On silent feet, she crept closer, crouching down to remain hidden from view.

‘You have need of my services, my lord?’ The whisper was barely loud enough to be heard.

‘Indeed I do.’

Sibell peered over the top of the dividing wall and saw Sir Gilbert standing next to a burly, thick-set man she vaguely recognised from her time at Idenhurst. Sir Gilbert motioned the man closer and Sibell tried to blend into the dark shadows around her.

‘Walter, I need your help. It’s a delicate matter and, as usual, I trust you to keep it to yourself.’

‘Naturally, my lord. What would you have me do?’

‘Did you happen to notice the young knight who arrived here this morning? Tall, fair and with a squire in tow.’

The servant permitted himself a lop-sided grin. ‘If you’ll pardon my saying so, he’s a mite hard to miss, that one. If he stays, he’ll cause a riot among the womenfolk, he will.’

‘Aye, so I thought.’ Sir Gilbert stroked his chin. ‘It should make your task easier. He says his name is Sir Roger and claims to be from a place called Langford.’ His tongue stumbled over the name and he paused for a moment, only continuing after he had cleared his throat. ‘I believe it’s situated north of London, not far from Letchworth, near Hatfield. I want you to go there and find out more about him. As much as you can. And fast.’

‘Very well, my lord. I’ll set out immediately.’

‘Excellent.’ Sir Gilbert untied a leather pouch from his belt and handed it to Walter. ‘This may help to loosen tongues. And Walter, take a good, strong horse. I’ll try to keep Sir Roger here until your return. I want him where I can keep an eye on him.’

If Walter was surprised at his task, he hid it well and, to Sibell’s annoyance, neither did he ask his master why he had developed this sudden interest in the young knight. With a bow he turned to leave.

‘Walter?’

The servant stopped and looked over his shoulder and Sibell held her breath, hoping for an answer after all. ‘Yes, my lord?’

‘Thank you, and God speed.’

Sibell let out the air she’d been holding in, suppressing the feeling of disappointment. She tried to tell herself it was none of her business, but Sir Gilbert’s words refused to leave her mind. Why was he so interested in Sir Roger? Did he mean him harm?
And why should it matter to me?

She waited until the men had left, then quickly made her way out of the stables. So quickly, in fact, that she collided with something very solid in the doorway. Shaken, she looked up, expecting to be taken to task for eavesdropping. She blinked.

‘Oh, it’s you, Sir Roger. I thought you were
 
…’ She bit her lip to stop the words from tumbling out, then sank into a curtsey to cover her confusion.

‘Mistress Sibell. This is a pleasant surprise.’ He took her hand and quickly pulled her up. ‘No need for that.’ He smiled. ‘We’re old friends, are we not?’

‘I
 
… I
 
… if you say so.’ She drew in a deep breath and wished that she could speak two words with the man without blushing. He must think her a complete nodcock. ‘I thought you long gone from here,’ she said, then wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want him to realise she had been thinking of him at all.

‘Indeed, I should have been on my way, but Sir Gilbert invited me to stay a few days.’ He grinned. ‘Do you wish me far away then?’

‘No, er, no, of course not. I mean
 
… it doesn’t matter to me. You must come and go as you please.’ She stopped to take in another huge gulp of air. It was no good. She’d had no practice in the art of flirtation, whereas he had obviously done nothing else all his life. She sighed. ‘I must go and find a groom. Lady Maude is lending me a horse. I bid you good day, sir.’

‘I hope to see you soon again, mistress.’ He bowed, but before he did she saw the twinkle in his eyes. For some reason that made her cross. Wasn’t the man ever serious? Or was he hiding something behind this carefree façade? If only he hadn’t been so charming. If only she knew why Sir Gilbert was worried by his presence.

Thoroughly out of sorts, she went in search of a groom.

Melissa’s surly landlord seemed to have given up on trying to evict her immediately, so she felt it was almost a shame she wouldn’t be staying until the end of the month as she’d said she would, just to spite him. Still, she didn’t trust him and it was a relief to know she wouldn’t have to deal with him for much longer.