Chapter 15
They rode onward through the woods. Rafe had been quiet, occasionally checking over his shoulder as they rode. But he seemed pensive rather than worried.
At last he spoke. “Perhaps we’re going about this wrong. I’ll return you to Dryton, and…”
Alarm welled up in her. “No, please don’t! I beg you not to do that.”
Rafe looked surprised at her vehemence. “I know it wasn’t the happiest place for you, but you’ll be safe there.”
“I’m not certain of that.”
“Why?”
She shook her head. “It’s difficult to explain. But I have this sense that it would go badly should I return, if only because I’d have to explain a journey alone with you. Otto would lock me up in the closest nunnery to hand. And you’d likely not get a chance to explain anything. Otto isn’t the most temperate of men.”
“Then what? We can’t just wander.”
Angelet had been thinking of precisely that issue all morning. What she wanted was to get to her son. More than anything. If she had Henry safe by her side, she could face down Otto, no matter what. But she wasn’t sure she could tell Rafe that. Judging by how he’d spoken of his own parents, he wouldn’t understand the depth of her own need to find her son. She had to think of another plausible destination. Then one came to her.
“Would you escort me to my true home? That is, my family’s home in Anjou?”
“You want me to take you across the channel?” he asked in surprise.
“My family has the means to pay you for your trouble,” she promised recklessly. “And in any case, you’ve already told me that you have no plans.”
Rafe frowned, considering her request. “Even if I agree, there are obstacles, not least of which is who you are…of who your family supports. Any port city held by the king may not allow you to leave, even if you could afford to pay passage.”
“Then we’ll go to a port city held by the empress,” she said. “Like Wareham!” Wareham was in Dorset, near where Henry was being fostered. Once they got closer, Angelet could reveal her true plans to Rafe.
He shook his head once. “Wareham? That’s a long way, Angelet.”
She felt his resolve slipping, and pressed on. “I’ll pay whatever price you set for your services. From where we are, the fastest way to Wareham is through Shropshire, is it not?”
“Yes,” he said, looking displeased. “I don’t wish to travel that way.”
“Why not? Is it dangerous?”
Rafe didn’t answer directly. “I have to think on this. I’m not agreeing to do it yet. For now, let’s just find somewhere safe for the night.”
Angelet held her tongue after that. She wasn’t sure what else she could do to persuade Rafe to agree to her new plan, and from what she knew of him, he liked to come to his own decisions. But if only she could get to Henry! Without Rafe to guide her, she had no hope of doing so.
She had to persuade him somehow. She bit her lip. She knew of one thing that often made men more agreeable. If she accepted Rafe’s offer, he’d be more inclined to indulge her, wouldn’t he? And she had wanted to say yes long before, anyway. She’d just been too nervous to take the step. But with this added incentive, perhaps accepting his offer would benefit them both. She closed her eyes. Oh, be honest, she told herself. You’re dying of curiosity.
The day was quiet, with no hint of pursuit. A little after nightfall they reached another village, this one tucked into the bend of a river, running high from the previous early rains.
Rafe arranged for a room and food, and care for the horses, all while Angelet stood about feeling useless. She attracted puzzled looks from the patrons of the main room, and no wonder. She wore the same gown as she’d been wearing when they escaped the robbery, and now it was quite dirty from days of riding and negotiating forest paths. Her cloak fared no better, now sporting patches of mud and several rents she would have to mend when she had a moment’s peace. The quality of her clothing and shoes told the world she was a lady, but the state of them suggested she was little more than a beggar. She pulled the hood of her cloak a little tighter over her head. Before they entered the village, Rafe suggested she hide her hair, since the silvery-blond was so noticeable.
As if Rafe himself could escape notice! He stood there dressed in all black, commanding attention with his stance and his looks. His thick, black hair fell across his face, making her itch to push it back behind his ear, partly to reveal those deep blue eyes. From the way the barmaid kept staring open-mouthed, Angelet knew virtually all the women in sight felt the same way. And why not? He was by far the most handsome man around. And he could be hers, if she asked.
Her gaze drifted to his shoulders and arms, the outline of the muscles evident even under the thick knit fabric of his clothing. She remembered when he’d helped her down from the horse with those arms, and blushed to think how much she wanted to linger in that embrace. To be so close to him that she could simply wrap herself around him and forget everything that happened.
“My lady?” Rafe asked quietly.
She jumped, not realizing that he’d rejoined her, and now stood in front of her, those lovely eyes searching her face. “What? Excuse me, my mind wandered…” How it had wandered.
“You’re tired,” he said, putting a hand to her elbow to steady her. “The good news is that we’ve got a private room upstairs.”
“What’s the bad news?” she asked anxiously.
“The bad news is that the bath is in the innkeeper’s home at the back of the property, so you’ll have to walk a bit.”
“The bath?”
He smiled. “The innkeeper is named Sarah. She mentioned she had a bath and that you might want it. So I paid the fee for you.”
“Oh, that would be a marvel,” she said.
He chuckled at the feeling in her words. “I thought you would enjoy that. Let’s find the room first, though. Follow me.”
Upstairs, the room was one of the best they’d seen thus far. Sarah kept a very tidy inn. Angelet put her small bag down while Rafe walked around the perimeter of the room, in a ritual she now recognized as his usual security.
Then Rafe turned to her. “I can risk letting you go to the bath on your own, yes?” he asked. “There’s been no pursuit, and the village seems calm. Everyone I’ve seen appears ordinary enough, and no hint of unsavory types…other than me, of course.”
She smiled at that. “You’re not the rogue you claim to be.”
“I’m twice the rogue I claim to be,” Rafe said jovially. “But I’ve been acting honorably for you. Well, as honorably as a man like me can, anyway.”
“Rafe,” she said quietly. “About that. I have been thinking.” Oh, she’d been thinking.
“Yes?”
“Your offer to me,” she said, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound cool and calm about it. “The one you made before all this happened. I would like…I might…we could discuss it further.” Lord, this was embarrassing.
Rafe was evidently enjoying her discomfort. His smile was slight, but unmistakable. “You mean my offer to be your lover, on your terms?”
“I’m not agreeing to anything yet,” she said hastily, heat coursing through her and no doubt making her cheeks cherry red. “I only meant I was…am interested.”
“Well, if you’re interested, my lady, then we can discuss it further. Tonight.”
“Yes. Tonight.”
“As you command.” His tone was mild, no more sensual than before. But she still nearly fainted at the promise in the phrase. As you command.
“I’m going to find that bath now,” she announced, as if the matter were closed. Too late she realized that talk of her bathing was hardly likely to distract him from the previous topic.
“Enjoy yourself,” Rafe said. “Sarah will meet you downstairs and show you where to go. And don’t take all night,” he added. “I’m looking forward to our discussion.”
She forced herself to walk slowly out of the room, instead of running away from that knowing smile.
Downstairs, Sarah led her though an inner courtyard busy with activity from the visitors and workers. There was a tremendous din, partly because a couple of dogs had been cornered by a large orange cat.
“Hark! Stop playing, you beast!” Sarah yelled toward the cat. “You’ve mice to be killing!” She turned to Angelet. “He’s normally quite good at keeping the mice down. But any tom will get diverted from time to time. You’ve been on the road a while.”
“It feels as though we’ve been traveling forever,” Angelet confessed. “But in truth, it’s only been a sennight. Or so. We ran into bad luck, and lost most of our things to thieves.”
“May the Devil pinch all thieves and brigands!” Sarah said. “At least you have your lives. I expect your husband made them run. I know a soldier when I see one!”
“Ah, yes,” Angelet said nervously. Was it a sin to allow someone to think that she and Rafe were a married couple? “He’s always defended me.”
“Would that I could have said that about my man, may he rest in peace. But all he defended was his wine and ale. Left me the inn, though, and I thank him for that.” By that time, Sarah had ushered Angelet into what must have been her own bedroom. A wooden tub sat near the fireplace and a maid was already filling it with steaming water. “We like to bathe on Saturday, before we all go to Sunday mass,” Sarah explained. “The town’s women can pay a penny for a bath. But this water’s fresh boiled, and Grisa here makes a good oat soap.”
The maid gave a pleased nod.
Sarah made to leave, but Angelet said, “One more request, if I may.”
Angelet needed a new dress, yet brand-new dresses weren’t laying about, waiting to be purchased. She had to either find a woman with a spare dress to sell, or purchase fabric to sew her own. Both options required time, which was not in abundance. Angelet had asked the innkeeper’s wife last night, but got a mere shake of the head. However, she was in luck this time.
“I’ve a gown that would fit your frame,” Sarah said. “It’s a plain one, to be sure.”
“I do not require ornament,” Angelet said. “Just a good, clean, sturdy outfit. For I’ve got more travel ahead. If you can give it to me to wear after my bath, I’ll get the money for it from my…husband.”
“You wash up and I’ll find it. Grisa, attend this lady, and don’t be saucy, for she’s a fine lady, anyone can tell. A lady is still a lady in rags, while gold cloth won’t make a churl into a king.”