Fugitive Countess

by Anne Herries

  Anton was engaged in conversation with the captain of the royal guard, and did not see her as she approached her palfrey. Instead, Miguel came up to her. She was reluctant, but could see nothing for it but to accept his help. He stood for a moment looking at her, his expression telling her that he was angry, and resentful about something.

  ‘You have been fortunate, lady. Do not imagine that Anton’s attentions mean more than mere courtesy. He has no love for such as you. His wife was a beautiful angel and his heart lies in her grave—where he put her.’

  The words were spoken in hushed tones that only she could hear, but in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

  ‘I do not understand you…’

  ‘He mourns her because he killed her. He may use you as a whore, but he can never love another woman. His sin will haunt him for his whole life, as he deserves. Be warned for your own sake.’

  Marietta shuddered as he took her and threw her into the saddle none too gently. For a moment she looked down at him. Miguel’s intense look sent shudders through her. She had thought previously that he disliked her, but he had never spoken out like this—did he hate her or was he jealous?

  Could he be jealous of Anton? Surely not? She had always thought they were the best of friends, and she was sure that Anton trusted him.

  Why had he said such things to her? Marietta did not truly understand what lay beneath the warning. Was he warning her against Anton? He had claimed that Anton had killed his wife…almost accusing him of murder.

  There was some mystery here. She sensed that there were things she could not know…things hidden in the past that cast a long shadow and would affect the future.

  Anton was mounting himself. He glanced at Marietta and nodded his head, then turned and smiled at Miguel. The friendship between them was plain to see. For a moment Marietta had thought she should speak to Anton, tell him what Miguel had said to her, but his smile made her change her mind. He would not believe her. He would think she had made it up.

  Marietta thought she understood Miguel’s outburst. His manner had always puzzled her, but now she thought she had solved the puzzle. He wanted her himself, and because she had shown her preference for Anton he had tried to turn her against him.

  She could not tell Anton because he would think she was being spiteful. Besides, she did not wish to cause trouble between them. If she decided to accept Anton’s offer of marriage, Miguel would have to accept it or return to Spain.

  They had been riding for the best part of the day before Anton finally called a halt. He had chosen to stay at a different inn from the one they had used as they journeyed to London.

  ‘I am trying to stay away from the high roads,’ he told her as he came to help her dismount. ‘If we were followed to London our enemy may be waiting for us to return the same way. At the moment we are too many for Rouen to risk falling on us in open countryside, but in woods the advantage might lie with him.’

  Marietta looked at him anxiously. ‘Do you think he will try to snatch me again?’

  ‘I think he might kill you this time.’ Anton’s expression was grave. ‘If you were dead he might try to claim guardianship of your son. He does have a claim, for he is Charles’s half-brother.’

  ‘He would kill him!’ Marietta’s eyes opened wider as she stared at him in horror.

  ‘If the claim was made Henry would take the boy as his ward. He has told me that I would be appointed Charles’s guardian until he came of age.’

  ‘So the Bastard must kill us both…’

  ‘I am sure he would wish to be avenged on me for more than one reason,’ Anton told her. ‘I know that the reckoning must come, but I want it to come on my terms. Once you and the child are safe with my uncle I shall seek him out and settle this thing.’

  ‘You will risk your life again for my sake?’ Marietta felt her throat tighten. ‘I…do not wish you to die in my stead.’

  Anton laughed softly. ‘Have you not forgotten I bested him once before, lady? This time I shall kill him.’

  ‘Can it not be settled some other way? I would not be the cause of any man’s death—and I do not want you to risk your life.’

  ‘You should not concern yourself, Marietta. These things are best left to men.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps…’ She sighed. ‘I am tired and my mind sees too many terrors.’

  ‘You need to rest. I sent ahead to secure rooms for us at the inn. Go to yours and lock your door. Open it only to someone you know, or the host’s wife. I think it would be best if you supped alone again.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps you are right.’

  Marietta felt tired after so much travelling. She wanted to see her son again, to feel safe and relaxed in Lady Claire’s home. Perhaps then she would be able to think clearly about the future.

  Marietta turned her head as Anton brought his horse alongside hers the next day. She had hardly spoken to him since they had left the inn that morning, but she knew that he had to be alert to all the dangers they might face on the journey, and did not expect to be noticed. He had more important matters on his mind.

  ‘We shall spend one more night on the road,’ he told her. ‘Tomorrow at dusk we should reach my uncle’s house if we continue to make good time.’

  ‘I shall be glad of it. I must confess that I begin to feel weary.’

  ‘It is not to be wondered at,’ Anton said, looking at her in concern. ‘We have been constantly on the road since we returned to England. But I thought you would wish to be with your son as soon as it could be achieved.’ He lifted his brows in enquiry.

  ‘Yes, I long to see him. Thank you…’ She met his searching gaze. ‘Last evening, if I seemed to question your judgement…please forgive me.’

  ‘It is forgiven. You know little of me, Marietta. I took you to London, where you might have met your death, and I have sometimes been harsh with you. How should you know what kind of man I am?’

  ‘You have saved my life and pledged to help my son. Believe me, I trust you no matter what…’

  ‘You have heard something ill of me?’ Anton’s eyes darkened. ‘I believe I may guess. Please accept my word that I regret sincerely what happened. If I could bring Isabella back to life—’ He broke off as one of his men shouted to him. ‘Excuse me. I must see what is going on; there may be a trap up ahead…’

  Marietta watched him as he rode on with two of his men to investigate a small commotion. The rest of the party was told to halt, and she saw that the men had their hands on their sword-hilts lest this was a diversion to mask an attack on them. However, a shout that all was clear started the train of men moving again, and as Marietta came up to the little cluster of wagons and horses in the clearing ahead she saw that they were travelling players.

  She greeted Anton with a smile as he rode back to her. ‘Is all well, sir?’

  ‘They are a band of travelling players, Marietta. I have asked them to join with us. When we stop for the night they will perform one of their miracle plays for us.’

  ‘A play?’ Marietta’s laughed. ‘It is a long time since I saw a play. Sometimes the players and mummers came to my father’s house, but at the castle we had our own troubadours who played and sang for us. The Comte did not encourage bands of players for he thought them vagabonds.’

  ‘Some undoubtedly are, but others are honest entertainers. You will enjoy the performance, and so will my men,’ Anton said, looking more cheerful than he had when he’d left her. ‘We are almost at the inn, Marietta, and then tomorrow we shall reach our journey’s end.’

  And then she must give him her answer, as she had promised. The only trouble was that she was still not sure he wanted her for herself and not just as a mother for his daughter.

  Marietta joined some other ladies who had assembled in the inn yard to watch the players set up their scenery. Torches blazed in every corner of the yard, concentrated around the stage so that everyone could see the actors. A mood of excitement had descended, because it was not often that such a tr
eat was offered.

  Anton had set some of his men to patrol the yard so that others might watch in safety, but still the feeling was relaxed. Marietta had begun to hope that perhaps Rouen had stayed in France. Perhaps he had decided to be satisfied with what he had—though she knew that the revenues he could extract from the peasants would not long pay for his extravagances. The Bastard must get his hands on her husband’s gold, or he would have to find some way of earning more for himself.

  The entertainment opened with a display of tumbling, juggling and fire-eating, which brought some gasps from the watchers. Then the play began. It was the story of the adoration, telling of how the three kings and the shepherds heard the news of Christ’s birth and came to worship him in a stable.

  ‘Only one more night and then you will be safely with your cousin.’

  Anton’s voice made Marietta turn to him. His face was in the shadows and she could not read his expression.

  ‘Shall you be glad, Marietta?’

  ‘I shall be glad to rest for a while,’ she said, ‘and to hold my son in my arms. I have missed him, and I am anxious that he has fretted for me, even though I know he has been well cared for. I have always nursed him myself. Even when my milk dried I spent hours holding him and singing to him each day.’

  ‘You are a loving mother—and will, I think, make a good wife to some fortunate man.’ A wistful expression was in his eyes. ‘I think of my daughter often.’

  ‘You must be missing your daughter. You have left her too long for my sake.’

  ‘She is safe with my mother, but I shall send for her as soon as we reach my uncle’s. I intend to stay for a while, and I want you to meet Madeline as soon as possible.’

  ‘Yes, I should like to meet her. I should enjoy seeing you together. You are so good with Charles. I think you are a good father.’

  ‘You are a generous and loving woman. My daughter would be fortunate to have you as her mother—and I to have you as my wife.’

  ‘Anton…’ Her lips parted on a soft breath of need. ‘I have been thinking…’

  ‘You need not answer yet. Wait until you are with Claire and your son. Tell me your answer then…’ He smiled. ‘Look, the play reaches its end. Come and meet the players and tell them you enjoyed their work.’

  ‘Yes…’ Marietta smiled up at him. When he behaved like this she was certain of her answer. Indeed, she felt foolish to have doubted, for he had shown her that he was an honourable man in so many ways.

  She turned her head, feeling that she was being watched. A man was standing in the shadows, staring at them. Was it Miguel? Had she been right to think he was jealous? Or was she letting her imagination run away with her?

  For a moment she was tempted to tell Anton that she was disturbed by something Miguel had said to her at the start of their journey, and yet she did not want to spoil this evening. She felt happier than she had for years. There would be time to tell him another day. After all, Miguel was unlikely to do anything to harm his friend or her because of a little jealousy…

  Marietta lay sleepless for a while after she retired. She could still hear noises from the inn yard, people laughing and talking. Some of them had drunk too well of their host’s good ale and were celebrating noisily.

  She had almost made up her mind to accept Anton’s offer of marriage. Perhaps he did not love her as she loved him, but he felt passion for her. She recalled the tender way Anton had loved her that night, the exquisite feeling that had taken her to the heights of pleasure. The touch of his hand on her cheek in the yard had sent shivers running through her, making her ache with the need to lie in his arms once more.

  Snuggling down in her feather bed, Marietta drifted into sleep. Something at the back of her mind was vaguely troubling her, but she could not put her thoughts into words. Perhaps it would come to her in time…

  Chapter Nine

  ‘Marietta, my dear! I am so glad to see you home again.’ Claire Melford drew her into a warm embrace. ‘I was devastated when they snatched you from us, and I feared for your life.’ She drew back to look into Marietta’s face. ‘You have suffered no harm?’

  ‘None save for a few bruises when they bundled me into the wagon and I fought them.’ Her eyes were anxious as she looked at Claire. ‘My son is well? Has he fretted for me?’

  ‘He was a little miserable at first, but I have spent time with him and he seems content. I am sure that he will be glad to have you home, Marietta. Come, let us go up to the nursery. Ease your mind concerning his welfare and then we shall take some refreshment, for I am sure you are hungry and tired from the journey.’

  ‘A little weary,’ Marietta confessed. ‘I am much better now that we are here.’ She hesitated for a moment and then turned to Anton. ‘I must thank you for bringing me here. When shall I see you again?’

  ‘You will see me in the morning. I too have travelled much, and I do not intend to leave again for a few days at least.’

  ‘Oh…I am pleased…’ For some unaccountable reason her heart leaped. She smiled at him, then turned and followed Lady Claire from the room.

  ‘So, do you think you’ve heard the last of Rouen?’ Harry asked as the ladies disappeared from view. ‘Did you have any trouble on the way here?’

  ‘The King sent an escort of his own men. I think it would have been a bold man who attacked us. We were too strong a force, and to attack men wearing the King’s livery would be treason. If the rogues were taken alive the punishment would be harsh for such crimes.’

  ‘Yes, I know it.’ Harry looked thoughtful. ‘So you think the Bastard is waiting his time?’

  ‘What would you do in his place?’

  ‘Wait my chance to strike. You were expecting him to move against you. He will seek to take you by surprise.’

  ‘I have ordered my men to patrol outside the estate. I do not think they will try to storm the house, for that would bring the King’s wrath on them—but they will try to snatch her again if they can.’

  ‘So what do you plan?’

  ‘He will not expect me to go looking for him. I shall send out scouting parties. If we discover they have a camp nearby, we shall make a surprise attack. The Bastard of Rouen is a vindictive man and a bad enemy. This will not be settled until he is dead.’

  ‘Henry does not approve of the Barons fighting amongst themselves. If you seek Rouen out you risk the King’s displeasure.’

  ‘I know Henry would have us all live in peace with one another. His father called a halt to the old way of settling quarrels, and he has followed—but there are times when only blood will settle an affair such as this.’

  The Earl nodded. ‘I know you speak truly, Anton, but I would still advise you to tread carefully.’

  ‘I thank you for your good advice, but I must do what is necessary to keep her and the child safe.’

  ‘Yes, I see you must.’ Harry smiled oddly. ‘You know you may call on me for anything you need?’

  ‘Yes, indeed,’ Anton smiled at him. ‘You are my mother’s brother, sir, and she has told me that I may always count on you.’

  ‘Catherine and I were close when we were young, as twins often are,’ Harry said. ‘I think of her and enjoy her letters, though we do not meet as often as I should wish.’

  ‘Perhaps you will do so soon.’ Anton lifted his gaze. ‘For I hope that you will attend my wedding?’

  ‘You are to marry?’ Harry’s gaze was thoughtful. ‘Ah, yes, I see—have you spoken to the lady?’

  ‘This business with the Bastard must be settled first—and there is something else I need to sort out. I am expecting news from Spain, though it may not arrive in time…’

  ‘If you have a problem you may share it with me, Anton.’

  ‘My problem is that I am not certain. Something hovers at the back of my mind, but I am not sure enough to speak of it…’

  Marietta spent an hour sitting by her son’s cradle. He was sleeping peacefully, his fist curled against his mouth, his skin pink and warm
. Her heart wrenched with love. The worst part of her ordeal had been the fear that something might happen to her beloved child, but here he was, safe and sound, and now she could begin to put the terror behind her.

  She could not help wondering if the Bastard of Rouen was still out there, perhaps hiding in the thick woods that bordered the estate on three sides. On the fourth side were open meadows, where sheep grazed and a river wound its way lazily through the lush valley. The Earl of Rundle’s home was a stout building, more comfortable and warmer than the castle where she had lived with her husband. She thought that she could live happily in a house like this, but she was not certain where her future lay.

  Lady Claire had said that she might make her home with her, but Marietta knew that she ought to marry if she could—a good man who would help her son to grow strong and learn all the things he should know. Charles had scarcely known his father. She had a duty to provide him with another—a man who would care for him as if he were his own. However, she was not sure that she was worthy to accept Anton’s offer of marriage. And could she truly be content to be married to a man she loved so desperately, yet who had never shown that sort of love to her?

  Sighing, she left the child to the care of a servant and went to her own chamber. Rosalind greeted her with glad cries, embracing her warmly.

  ‘We feared for you, my lady.’

  ‘I think I should have died had Sir Anton not come for me. The Bastard would have forced me to wed him, and I would have cut my wrists rather than lie with him.’

  ‘Sir Anton is a good man. You should think of wedding him, my lady.’

  Marietta looked at her for a moment, then smiled. ‘He has made me an offer, Rosalind, but I am not sure why he wants to marry me. My future is still uncertain, and I fear that he may only have asked because he is a man bound by honour, not by love.’

  ‘I have seen the way he looks at you. Besides, Sandro told me he was like a madman when he first discovered that you had been abducted. I do not believe that he is indifferent. You should give him some encouragement, my lady. He would make you a fine husband.’