Where Love Has Gone

by Speer, Flora

  No one was in the room, so Elaine went to the north windows.

  “From this height I can see almost the entire harbor, but I don’t see the Daisy,” she said. “Do you suppose they faced trouble at sea, as we did on land?”

  “More likely, they faced bad weather,” Desmond responded. “It scarcely matters, since we are here with a night and perhaps part of a day to spare.”

  They both turned at the sound of a footstep. The tapestry was drawn back to reveal an archway behind it and a tall man with red-gold hair entered the room. His tunic and hose were deep green, which Elaine recalled was his favorite color. His belt was of gilded leather with a knife fastened to it within easy reach of his right hand, but he wore no sword. A heavy gold chain around his neck was his only adornment.

  “Royce,” she cried, sinking into what she hoped was a creditable curtsey despite the stiffness in her hips and knees after a long day on horseback.

  “Elaine? What are you doing here? Dear girl, how glad I am to see you!”

  Royce opened his arms and Elaine walked into them and rested her head on his broad chest, feeling as if she had come home. They were not related by blood; he was only her father’s childhood friend and her sister’s godfather, yet she loved him as if he were blood kin.

  “Well, Desmond?” Royce said.

  Elaine was aware that he was looking at Desmond over her head. After a moment, she felt Royce’s arms tighten around her and she knew Desmond had given a sign that she could not see.

  “What happened to Aglise?” Royce asked, still speaking to Desmond.

  Elaine blinked hard against the tears suddenly threatening to overwhelm her. Fearing if she tried to say anything she’d begin to cry, she held on tight to Royce and let Desmond do the talking.

  “Aglise is dead,” Desmond said softly. “What’s more, we have uncovered evidence of a plot to kill King Henry on the first day of May. Unless I’ve counted wrong, that is tomorrow.”

  Royce went absolutely still. Then he took Elaine by her shoulders and held her away from him so he could look into her eyes.

  “It’s true,” Elaine said, wiping away the recalcitrant tears that flowed in spite of her efforts to control them. She couldn’t break down now. She and Desmond had too much to tell. “We believe King Louis has placed a spy here at court,” she added.

  “Louis has more than one spy in Henry’s court,” Royce told her. His long, elegant fingers brushed the teardrops from her cheek.

  “This spy uses pigeons to send messages,” she revealed. “He has been corresponding with Lady Benedicta about a scheme for the French to seize Jersey and the other islands in the Narrow Sea. Aglise found out about the plan, so Lady Benedicta killed her.”

  “Benedicta? That pious creature committed murder?”

  “And then killed herself,” Elaine added.

  Desmond took up the story, recounting how he and Cadwallon had at first been misled by Aglise’s liaison with Lord Bertrand, and how Elaine had provided the information they needed to make sense of apparently disconnected details.

  “Good God!” Royce exclaimed. “Bertrand seduced Aglise? That villain! Elaine, I swear to you, old friend of mine though Bertrand is, he will pay for what he did to my godchild. But tell me now, how did you discover the information Desmond mentioned?”

  “When I was packing Aglise’s clothing, I found a coded message sewn into the hem of her sleeve,” Elaine said. “Desmond was able to decipher it. That’s how we learned of King Louis’s plan for murder and invasion, and of Lady Benedicta’s involvement in the scheme. Lord Bertrand claims he knew nothing about it.”

  “Really? I’ll soon learn the truth of his assertion. Where is Cadwallon?” Royce demanded of Desmond.

  “He’s aboard the Daisy, guarding Lord Bertrand and our squires, one of whom was stabbed by Lady Benedicta, and the other nearly drowned by French spies,” Desmond said. “I’ll explain about all of that later. We knew we had to warn you and King Henry as quickly as possible. Elaine suggested we split our group into two parties, one to travel by land and the other by sea, in hope that one group would reach you in time to prevent the murder and the French invasion.”

  “Good thinking,” Royce said, smiling at Elaine.

  “I don’t know how the Daisy is faring. So far as we can tell, she hasn’t tied up at the docks here,” Desmond said. “Elaine and I had to fight off two attempts to stop us. We have concluded that Sir Edmund, the man currently holding the fortress at St. Lo, is a part of the French scheme. Furthermore, I can report to you, my lord, that Elaine is as brave and resourceful as any man.”

  “She is her father’s true daughter.” The approval on Royce’s handsome face warmed Elaine’s heart.

  “When will you warn King Henry?” she asked.

  “I’ll do it at once. I’m sure he will want to speak with both of you later. Elaine, my dear, I am sorry to tell you, your mother is also here at court.”

  “Of course, she is.” Elaine put up both hands, holding her suddenly aching head. In fact, there wasn’t a single part of her body that didn’t ache. “How I wish I didn’t have to tell her about Aglise.”

  “I think it’s best if we don’t immediately reveal your presence to anyone,” Royce said. “Though it’s not entirely proper for an unwed girl, I suggest you stay here in my rooms, where you can be private, and where you may rest until after I see King Henry. Do you have another dress?”

  “Yes, in my saddlebag It’s probably in a sadly wrinkled state by now.”

  “No matter. Under the circumstances, Henry won’t care if you are slightly untidy. I will order hot water, so you can have a bath. Remain here until I make the arrangements. Desmond, come with me.”

  The men left and Elaine, after another glance out the northern window, sat upon one of the stools and leaned her shoulders against the big table. She was almost asleep when Royce returned.

  “Come,” he said, picking up the saddlebag Desmond had left behind. “Your bath is ready, and I think you need to sleep.”

  “What about King Henry?” she asked.

  “Desmond and I have spoken to him. He is warned, Elaine, and that was the purpose of your frantic journey, was it not? Henry wants to see you later tonight. You have time enough to bathe and then sleep.”

  He lifted the tapestry and she followed him through the arch and into his adjoining bedchamber. The first thing she noticed was a tub filled with water, a large bowl of soap, and a pile of crisp, linen towels. The second thing she saw was the bed. Draped in deep green wool, large and comfortable looking, it seemed to her to offer sanctuary from all of her recent worries.

  “You will be undisturbed here until it’s time for you to attend King Henry,” Royce said.

  “Where is Desmond?”

  “Paying a call on the barber, after which he will visit the bathhouse. He will join us later.”

  Though his tone was mild, Royce’s eyes were sharp, missing no shadow of emotion on her face, nor any trace of concern in her voice. Elaine had the oddest sensation that he knew what had transpired between herself and Desmond. But, Desmond would not talk about that – or would he? If Royce insisted, demanded, issued a direct order, would Desmond admit having made love to her?

  Left alone, Elaine stood uncertainly for a moment, too weary to think what to do next. Deciding to follow Royce’s advice to bathe and then sleep, she removed her soiled clothing and stepped into the tub, which was big enough for her to sit down. This time, she had enough water, and enough soap, to wash her hair. While the hot water eased away the day’s aches she scrubbed herself from head to toe. The soap was scented with tangy rosemary and the pleasant fragrance cleared her mind as she washed her body.

  When she was finished she pulled from her saddlebag her clean shift and stockings, a pair of soft, indoor shoes, and her extra dress. The blue wool gown was as wrinkled as she expected. She shook it out and draped it over the end of Royce’s bed, smoothing the creases as best she could. Then she pulled on the shift a
nd crawled into bed, feeling lost in its great size…

  “Elaine, wake up.” Royce touched her shoulder. “I’ve brought some food for you. It’s almost time for us to go to King Henry, so you ought to dress now.”

  “The sky is dark. What time is it?” she asked, stretching and .yawning.

  “Nearly midnight.”

  “King Henry keeps late hours.”

  “Tonight, he does. When you are dressed, collect your belongings and bring them into my office. Servants will be coming in here to clear out the bath water and we don’t want them to know I’ve been hiding a lady,” Royce said with a mischievous grin.

  “Think what my mother will say if she learns of it,” Elaine responded with a laugh. “Under these unusual circumstances, I am not at all ashamed to sleep in your bed, but Lady Irmina would doubtless weep and wail and rend her clothing if she knew.”

  “She will tear her clothes only if she thinks she can cajole her beloved Sir Lamont into providing her with several new gowns to replace the one she has destroyed,” Royce said dryly. He lifted the tapestry. “Don’t be too long, my dear.”

  Still smiling a little, Elaine shook her head as Royce disappeared into the adjoining room. She and Royce had seldom spoken aloud about Lady Irmina’s character flaws, but they both appreciated the foolishness of her mother’s shallow, frivolous way of life.

  Gowns, jewels, and a handsome young husband had quickly eased Lady Irmina’s extravagantly displayed grief over the death of her first, much older spouse, who had left her a handsome widow’s portion of land and portable wealth. While Elaine and Aglise had wept for their father, Irmina danced and laughed and flirted, then sent her daughters away from court shortly after her remarriage to Sir Lamont.

  Royce’s raised eyebrows and carefully bland expression during the wedding celebrations had told Elaine he believed as she did, that her mother wanted the beautiful Aglise gone so she’d have no competition from a daughter whose youth and freshness could only emphasize the mother’s age.

  Privately, Elaine had been glad to go. She had worried about Aglise being at court, where noblemen too often were lusty predators eager to seize upon innocent girls whose parents were too involved with their own pleasures to protect their daughters. Elaine had never imagined her sister would fall prey to an older man’s lust on an isolated island far from court.

  Beauty could be a curse, and deadly dangerous, as Aglise’s sad end proved. Elaine was glad to know she was far from being beautiful.

  Not wanting to delay Royce, she ate while she dressed, munching on bread and a few pieces of herb-flavored, roasted fowl, finishing with a small bowl of early berries and washing the meal down with a cup of delicious Rhine wine. Royce always ate well, and she regretted not having time to savor every bite, or to linger over the wine.

  She said as much to him when she entered his office with her saddlebag in one hand and her muddy boots in the other. The warm smile he bestowed on her almost convinced her that the badly wrinkled blue gown and the hair she had worked into a single, thick braid were the latest in court fashion.

  “You look thoroughly rested,” he said.

  “Clean, at least,” she corrected, the remark making his green eyes twinkle. “But, hardly suitable to meet a king.”

  “The gift you and Desmond have given Henry will far overshadow your simple gown,” Royce said. “Thanks to the two of you, he will not only live to see the sun set tomorrow evening, he will also continue to be duke of Normandy. And that, to him, is a gift beyond price. Normandy is his father’s original holding. If the French were to seize it, the loss might well destroy Henry. He’s not a young man anymore, you know. You and Desmond, together, have prevented great harm to your liege lord.”

  “I hope so. But, Royce, we still have to learn who here at court is spying for the French.”

  “I have several possibilities in mind,” Royce told her. “My duties involve identifying and watching such people.”

  “Why don’t you just arrest all of the people you suspect and put an end to the spying?” Elaine spoke without thinking. After a moment of reflection, aware of Royce looking at her with an interested expression that suggested he was following her train of thought, she added, “If you imprison all the French spies whose identities you know, then King Louis will have to place other spies here. And those new people may do great harm before you can learn who all of them are and set a watch on them.”

  “When I retire,” Royce said, “I will suggest you to King Henry as my replacement.”

  “Please, don’t. I don’t like being devious and I couldn’t bear sending good men like Desmond and Cadwallon into danger. But I do thank you for sending them to Jersey. Without their help, I’d still be wondering where Aglise is, and King Henry would be in grave danger.”

  “I had long suspected there was a French spy planted in Jersey,” Royce said. “Your letter provided the perfect excuse for me to send two of my people there to investigate. That’s how devious I am, my dear; I’m a man who will turn the saddest event into a clever opening for my spies.”

  “Nothing you can say will ever convince me you were not deeply concerned about Aglise.”

  “True enough. At first, I feared she had gotten herself into trouble with some man, since she was much like her mother – too beautiful for her own safety and too frivolously inclined to be as wise as such beauty demands. I’m sorry to say that. I did love Aglise.”

  “I know you did.” A tinge of bitterness crept into Elaine’s voice as she continued. “You loved her as an honest godparent should. Lord Bertrand, on the other hand, was a most dishonest foster parent. By the way, has the Daisy arrived?”

  “Not yet. I’m not overly worried, though. Captain Piers is a fine sailor. He’ll see his ship safely to port. After which, I have a few choice words to say to Bertrand.” Royce gestured to the door. “Shall we go?”

  “I thought we were waiting for Desmond.”

  “I assigned him to see to a minor detail,” Royce said. “Desmond will join us shortly.”

  Royce always knew more than he revealed, so as Elaine walked beside him through the darkened castle to the king’s private chambers, she wondered once again if he had learned about the night she had spent with Desmond, and if he was trying to keep the two of them apart.

  Chapter 19

  Henry I, king of England and duke of Normandy, was forty-nine years old. A sturdy man of medium height, his thick dark hair was liberally streaked with silver and his face bore the lines of a hard-lived life. But his eyes were still bright and, from the quick look Elaine had of him as Royce presented her, he appeared to be in excellent health.

  “My lord.” She sank into a low curtsy before him.

  Henry came forward at once and took both of her hands to raise her until she was directly facing him.

  “My lady, I asked to meet you in private so I could personally thank you for your loyal concern for my life and wellbeing, and for the safety of my lands,” he said. “I am sorry to learn of the death of your sister. Royce has told me how she was killed to prevent her from revealing what she had learned of the plot against me.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Not being certain what, or how much, Royce had said to the king, and unwilling to damage Aglise’s reputation, Elaine contented herself with a smile and no further comment.

  “Has the ship Daisy come to port yet?” King Henry asked Royce.

  “No, my lord. I hope to see her at Caen by tomorrow.”

  “As soon as the ship docks, I want Lord Bertrand brought to me, no matter where I am,” King Henry instructed. “He can no longer continue to hold Warden’s Manor in my name. The man cannot be trusted to display the strength of character required for such a position. Nor, from what you’ve told me, did he maintain adequate control over his wife’s activities. When all is said and done, even if he is proven innocent of treason against me, Lord Bertrand is still gravely at fault for his lack of attention to his duties, and for his reprehensible seduction of Lady Agl
ise. For that, he will be punished.

  “Now, what of you, Lady Elaine? Have you seen your mother and told her of your sister’s death? Will you stay in her apartments while you are in Caen?”

  “We intend to speak with Lady Irmina as soon as we leave you, my lord,” Royce intervened before Elaine could speak. “As for Elaine, I have invited her to stay in my rooms, which will be unused, since I expect to be working with you and your advisors for most of the night as you decide how best to deal with the threat of a French invasion.”

  Surprised, Elaine looked sharply at Royce. She had assumed they wouldn’t see her mother until the following day, and she knew nothing of his plan for her to remain in his apartment.

  “Very well,” King Henry said. “Royce, I will see you again shortly.”

  It was a polite dismissal. Elaine and Royce bowed and departed. Once the single guard outside the royal chamber had closed the door, Elaine turned to Royce.

  “Where is Desmond?” she demanded.

  “With your mother,” he answered. “We should join them. I’m sure Lady Irmina is growing impatient.” He took her arm to lead her down the corridor.

  “Why doesn’t King Henry have extra guards?” Elaine asked as they hurried along. “If you don’t know yet who the man is who will attempt to kill him, shouldn’t he be better protected?”

  “I promise you, he’s perfectly safe,” Royce said. “I have selected half a dozen of my best men to watch over him. If you were to try to enter his rooms again at this moment, you would be stopped.”

  “I would?” Elaine looked around. “I see only the one guard.”

  “He is all you are meant to see,” Royce said. “Trust me; I would never put King Henry’s life at risk.”