There was no sound from the city, no braying donkey, no guffawing from the guardhouse, just an ominous silence. It was as though someone had muffled the city by dropping a cloak over it. Everyone is waiting, but what are they waiting for?
Katerina didn’t want to wait a moment longer, she couldn’t bear it. She had never felt so edgy!
Where is Ashfirth?
‘Sylvia?’
The maid looked up from Paula’s side. ‘Despoina?’
‘Is there any news from outside the Palace?’
‘News?’
Katerina let the curtain fall back into place. ‘It is like a grave out there. Do you think the Guard have been routed?’
Sylvia lost colour. ‘Heaven forbid. But, no, Princess, I do not think so, we would surely have heard if battle had been joined. I was told the Varangians were to be deployed a stone’s throw from here.’
Sylvia had to be right, she had to be. It was surely far too quiet for there to have been fighting nearby; they would have heard shouts, the clash of arms, screams…
‘The lighthouse is out,’ she murmured.
‘My lady?’
‘Never mind.’ Striding to the doors, Katerina flung them open. She was in luck, Ashfirth’s manservant was in conversation with the guard. ‘Hrodric, the very person!’
‘My lady.’ Hrodric bowed.
Does he know I am not the Princess? Has Ashfirth told him? Ashfirth had said he would not reveal that she was an impostor to anyone, but she had seen how close he was to his manservant—Ash might confide in him.
‘Hrodric, have you had any news?’
‘No, my lady, we have heard nothing.’ Taking her arm, Hrodric led her, politely but firmly, back into the apartment. ‘Please wait in here. Commander Ashfirth said he would return as soon as he is able.’
‘Yes. Thank you. I…I do not like this waiting,’ she admitted, as Hrodric followed her in and closed the doors. If Hrodric had been told that she was an impostor, it was not affecting the way he treated her; he was as gentle and courteous as ever.
Conscious that Hrodric had not left the apartment, she returned to where Sylvia sat with the children. Paula’s fretting had disturbed Daphne, the smaller child was lying wide-eyed in her basket. She was not complaining, but she was sucking very hard on her thumb.
‘Come to me, sweet,’ Katerina said, bending to pluck Daphne from her basket.
Sylvia watched her adjusting the little girl’s blankets. ‘There’s no need to do that, my lady. Daphne can’t be hungry after all she has eaten today, she will go back to sleep if you leave her alone.’
Katerina hugged the child to her. ‘Likely she has been left alone too much in her short life, she can go back to sleep in my arms tonight. In any case, I have need of the comfort she can give me.’
Cuddling the child, Katerina turned and walked past the Frank’s empty pallet towards the light burning on a wall-sconce at the far end of the room. The curtains shifted in the breeze, the light flickered and blew out, and a nearby brazier glowed like a dragon’s eye. And, despite the warmth of Daphne’s small body, her skin had come out in goose-bumps.
‘It isn’t easy, the waiting, is it, my lady?’
Hrodric spoke in her ear; her heart jumped to find him so close.
‘No, I hate it. I am all nerves tonight.’
Hrodric’s eyes were sympathetic. Reaching for a taper, he relit the light on the wall-sconce. Cupping Daphne’s head as she rocked her, Katerina studied him. There were deep lines about Hrodric’s eyes, and his hair was grey at the temples. She judged him to be a good ten years older than Ashfirth. It was possible he had served Ashfirth’s father before Ashfirth. ‘Have you known the Commander long, Hrodric? Did you come with him from Ringmer?’
‘Aye. Originally I was Thane Aiken’s manservant.’
‘I thought as much.’
‘After the Great Battle, I returned to serve Ashfirth’s mother, Lady Mildryth. She sent me after Ashfirth when he had to leave Ringmer. Almost lost him altogether, but managed to catch up with him in Honfleur.’
‘Honfleur?’ Katerina pressed a kiss on to Daphne’s cheek; the child’s eyes were drooping, she was already half-asleep.
‘A Norman port across the Narrow Sea.’ Hrodric’s gaze was unfocused as he remembered. ‘Captain Brand was with him, except he wasn’t a captain then, of course, any more than Ashfirth was Commander. They were both boys.’
‘I imagine he grew up quickly.’ It was hard to imagine Ashfirth Saxon as a young boy, cast adrift from everything and everyone he knew. Ashfirth’s early life had been no easier than hers.
‘That he did. I did my best to watch over him, not that he needed much watching over.’
‘No.’ She glanced at the child. Asleep. ‘But it is good to know he was not alone. Do you miss Ringmer, Hrodric?’
‘Not any more, the Commander is the best of masters. He made it easier at the beginning and then one day I realised—’ Hrodric cleared his throat and looked quickly away ‘—my home is with him and—’
The apartment doors flew open and Ashfirth himself strode in. His helmet was under his arm, and some black smears on his cheeks had made his face a devil’s mask.
He looked unharmed. Relief weakened Katerina’s knees; the same emotion was reflected on Hrodric’s face.
‘It is good to see you, sir,’ Hrodric said, quietly. He went to take Ashfirth’s helmet and battle-axe, setting them on a nearby table.
How does Hrodric stand it, how does he remain so calm? He loves Ash, it must tear him apart every time Ash prepares for battle. When you love someone…when you love…
No! Katerina’s blood chilled. Was this love? The agonised waiting in case he had been harmed; the savage despair at the thought of him marrying someone more suitable…
I cannot love him, I cannot! For how can he love me when he finds out who I am?
Even as she cradled Daphne to her breast, her eyes were running over every inch of Ashfirth that was not hidden by his chainmail, she could not stop herself. She must check him for injuries; she had to know he was whole.
No! This cannot be happening…
I do not love this man!
So why do I want to fling my arms round him? Why does my bloodstream heat when he touches me, when he smiles at me?
‘I need to speak to the Princess,’ Ash said.
‘Here, Hrodric, please put Daphne back in her basket. Gently now, she is asleep.’
Lifting the infant from her, Hrodric backed softly away.
Ashfirth took her arm and another weakening rush of relief ran through her. Katerina swallowed. She found herself reaching out to touch the dark streaks on his cheek. ‘You are quite unhurt? What is this? Why, it’s soot!’
Ash smiled. ‘Probably.’ His teeth were very white in contrast with the soot and the dirt, and his smile reached deep inside, warming her to the core. ‘One of the furnaces in the copper-maker’s street was left unattended.’
‘It caught alight?’
He nodded. ‘It took a number of us to put it out.’
And then she saw it, a reddish mark on the back of his hand and felt his pain as her own. This is love. ‘You have burnt yourself!’
‘It’s nothing.’
Shaking her head, she towed him back to the other end of the chamber.
‘Sylvia?’
‘Despoina?’
‘Where is that salve that Anna used on William?’
Sylvia reached for a willow basket and drew out a small clay pot. ‘Here.’
‘My thanks. Is there fresh water?’
‘I shall fetch some at once, my lady.’
Amused by such fuss over what was a very minor wound, Ash allowed her to lead him into the light of a table lamp.
‘Here, Commander.’ She pushed him on to a stool and frowned over the back of his hand.
Ash nudged her with his thigh. Her face was so serious. ‘It is a very small burn, my lady. I am sure there is no need—’
She shook h
er head, her veil rippling out about her. ‘I won’t risk it getting infected.’
The water was soon brought and Ash submitted to his hand being washed and dried and rubbed gently with salve. A bandage was produced. If he were honest, he was enjoying her attention—the clean, fresh smell of her and that subtle hint of roses and musk was a balm for his soul. And a far more effective balm than that mess she was rubbing on his hand.
Although I would far rather she addressed me as ‘Ash’ than ‘Commander’. She is trying to distance herself from me, but she cannot do it. Her nature is too generous, she is giving to a fault and she cannot help but become involved in everything that goes on around her. For all that she has been wounded in the past, her essential nature remains unspoiled. Her warm heart is revealed in everything she does, from the way she was cradling that infant when I walked in, to the way she insists on binding my hand…
Ash watched the concentration with which she began winding the bandage round his palm and allowed himself a slight smile.
‘That Frankish slave you found at the market had far more serious hurts,’ he said, watching her face for her reaction.
‘Oh, hmm, yes, I suppose he had.’
‘Did you tend his wounds too, my lady?’
Startled brown eyes looked into his. ‘William? Heavens, no. It was unnecessary, Anna saw to his hurts.’
Ash’s smile widened. She cannot hold herself aloof from me. She glared at him and his smile faded. Tying the last knot with rather more force than was necessary, she straightened. ‘You command the Emperor’s Guard, your sword arm cannot be put at risk.’
‘Such loyalty.’ He flexed his hand. ‘And I thank you, my lady, it does feel much better.’
Those large eyes were on him again, they were full of shadows. ‘Have you seen Lady Anna again?’
‘I take it that she has not returned?’
‘No.’
‘I haven’t seen her since I saw her fleeing those mercenaries in the company of the Frank.’
Katerina had not moved away; indeed, she was standing so near, her leg was touching his thigh. Experimentally, Ash shifted, pressing closer. She held her ground. He was tempted to pull her on to his lap, but the watchful maid and the children at the other end of the chamber constrained him.
She may have refused my offer of marriage, but she does not seem to object to my person. She would not stand so close if she did; she would not bandage my hand with such care…
An image of Katerina cradling another baby—their baby—flashed into his head. Ash felt his heart begin to soften, before he caught himself up.
This is neither the time nor the place for such daydreams!
He tried to shove the image aside, but he must be more exhausted than he had realised, for he could not shift it.
Katerina, holding our child…
She was gesturing at the windows overlooking the City. ‘What’s happening out there?’
‘I wish I knew.’ Ash rubbed his face and suppressed a yawn. He was weary to the bone and now that he was at last sitting down, it was catching up with him. He could not remember when he had last slept properly. Or eaten, for that matter. He had been walking a tightrope for days.
‘It has gone very quiet.’
‘Yes. I’ve stood down half the Guard, they are grabbing some food.’ He found himself wrestling an impulse to rest his head against her belly. He glanced at the maid. Oh, to hell with it. He took Katerina’s hand and at once her fingers curled into his. He smothered another yawn. ‘Negotiations are apparently underway.’
Her head tipped to one side. ‘Between the Emperor and General Alexios?’
‘No, between the Emperor and the Patriarch. Or so we were informed, but—’ the yawn finally escaped ‘—no one seems to know what is really going on. Lord, I must keep moving or I shall be snoring.’ He hauled himself to his feet. ‘Events still hang in the balance, that being so, I should like to take you to a place of safety.’
Slowly she shook her head, she was staring down at her hand as if startled to see it clasping his. Releasing him, she picked up a length of spare bandage, coiled it into a neat roll, and set it carefully on the side table.
‘You think General Alexios will win the day.’
‘It is possible. As I said, events hang in the balance. Whatever happens, I must see you safe.’
‘Surely this apartment is as safe as anywhere? Why, we are above your barracks, are we not?’
He caught her wrist. ‘There is somewhere safer. Come, my lady, you may bring only what is essential.’
Her chin lifted, her eyes shone in the lamplight. ‘I have nothing of value since you took the jewel box. Were you thinking of returning it?’
He frowned. ‘Of course I shall return it—did you not get my message?’
‘Kari gave me a message, but—’
‘You did not believe it!’ The flare of anger caught Ash by surprise. So much for him thinking that she felt warmly towards him—he was deluding himself! She mistrusted him, as she mistrusted all men! He had been out of his head with worry—for her, for the Emperor, for his soldiers—yet he had taken the trouble to let her know that her valuables were safe.
And she did not believe him.
I have not given her any reason to mistrust me…whatever has scarred this woman has left her loving nature whole, yet she is walking around with a festering wound in her soul. She has lost the ability to trust.
Which raises some important questions—has she been scarred to such an extent that she will never trust anyone—ever? Will her wounds twist her loving nature out of true?
Lord, I pray not.
‘You need to talk about your past,’ he said, tightening his grip when she would have pulled back. ‘You need to talk to someone who will hear you sympathetically, otherwise whatever happened to you will fester in your soul and destroy you.’
Her chin lifted. ‘I have talked about it.’
‘To Lady Anna?’
‘Yes, she knows what happened.’
Ash tightened his grip on her wrist. ‘Then it is time for you to try trusting someone, you are going to have to take that risk some time.’
The chin inched higher. ‘I trust Lady Anna.’ With a sidelong glance at Sylvia, she lowered her voice. ‘I trust the Princess as well.’
There was hope to be found in those words, but Ash felt his stomach cramp. I want you to trust me!
‘Commander, I shall trust you to return my jewels.’
Cursing under his breath, for that was not what he meant and she knew it, Ash grabbed his battle-axe and started for the door. ‘Very well, my lady. Since your jewels are essential to your happiness, your jewels are what you shall have.’
He stalked past the maid, Katerina’s wrist firmly in hand. The maid had picked up on his anger; her eyes were round as pennies.
She started to her feet. ‘Despoina, are you all right?’
Katerina nodded. ‘Thank you, Sylvia, everything is quite all right.’
Sylvia subsided and they left the apartment. Ash forced his grip to ease and hustled her past the startled guard and down the wide stairs.
Flinging back the door of his chamber, he dropped his axe on his bed and snatched her jewel box out of his coffer. He thrust it into her arms.
‘There,’ he spoke through gritted teeth. She was cradling the enamelled box in exactly the way she had been cradling the infant. ‘Happy?’
She nodded, but she was lying, she looked anything but happy, her mouth had turned down at the corners. It was still—Holy Virgin—it was still the prettiest mouth in Christendom, it still looked ripe for kissing, even when it was unhappy.
He folded his arms, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. ‘What in Hades happened to you?’
‘C-Commander?’
‘You can tell me. What did your father do? Or was it that other fellow, your lover? What makes you value the contents of a trinket box more than life itself?’
Vehemently, she shook her head. ‘That’s a r
idiculous thing to say, of course I value life! It is just…it is just…’ Her brown eyes were huge, they seemed to draw Ash to her, even with fierce disappointment clouding his judgement. He felt his anger begin to subside. ‘It is just…I have found a use for these trinkets, as you call them. A good use.’
Ash ran his hand through his hair. His stomach growled, he could only hope that she had not heard it. ‘A use for them?’ He frowned at the box. The slave market! ‘You mean to sell the contents and buy more slaves?’
‘Yes, I shall sell everything. I want to buy as many slaves as possible.’
‘Will you free them, too?’
‘Yes.’
‘There are thousands of slaves in Constantinople—you can’t free them all.’
‘I know.’
Why? Why this obsession with slaves? Ash opened his mouth to ask her, but there was a rap on the door-frame and Hrodric appeared in the opening, holding Ash’s helmet. ‘Commander, you might need this.’ He lobbed the helmet at Ash.
With a sigh, Ash set his jaw. ‘Thank you, Hrodric.’ I forgot my helmet? Merciful heavens, Katerina scattered his wits. The question remained though. Why? Why would one of Princess Theodora’s ladies-in-waiting be so determined to free slaves?
Later, if God wills it, there will be time to discuss this later.
Reaching his spare cloak down from a peg, Ash tossed it round her shoulders. ‘Come.’ He extended his hand to her and managed to smile. ‘While we wait for the wheels of diplomacy to turn, I shall take you to safety.’
Clutching the box in one hand, she placed her other hand in his and he led her, more sedately now that his anger was fading, out of the Palace and into the night.
As they picked their way across the shadowy courtyard, she glanced up at the lighthouse. ‘No light tonight?’
Ash grunted. ‘Ordered them to douse it.’
‘Because the fleet has sided with General Alexios?’
‘Yes. Had to do something while we waited for the Emperor and the Patriarch to finish their discussions.’
In silence Ash escorted her past the lighthouse and across a dimly lit expanse of grass. She had the jewel box firmly under one arm. He pulled her past the fountain that was shaped like a giant shell; it was grey in the gloom. Her eyes took in the statues of the dolphins frolicking in the centre, she was biting her lip.
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