The Baron's Bride

by Marina Oliver

  Clutching at a sapling Eva managed to take a couple of steps forward, compelling her legs, which trembled alarmingly, to obey her.

  She paused to renew her feeble strength, and then waveringly took another few hobbling steps forward. Another sapling helped keep her upright, but now there was a wider space to cross, and half way to the next support Eva found her legs giving way. She sank to the ground, sobbing with weakness and frustration, and it was there Sir Piers found her when he returned, leading Fleet who was limping badly.

  'What is it? Is she badly hurt?' Eva asked, trying unavailingly to struggle to her feet.

  'She'll not carry you awhile,' Sir Piers replied curtly. 'Stay where you are, don't add to your foolishness. When I've taken the mare to the men I'll come back for you. You're in no state to run away again,' he added caustically.

  *

  Eva, shivering uncontrollably, lay helpless. After what was really only a couple of minutes but seemed hours to the girl Sir Piers came back, carrying Eva's own cloak which she had discarded in her effort to delay him momentarily when she had made her bid for freedom.

  'Can you take off your wet gown yourself?'

  Eva stared at him uncomprehendingly.

  'To wrap yourself in the cloak. You'll freeze to death otherwise before we can return to Holdfast,' he explained tersely.

  Eva took a deep breath.

  'I shall be all right,' she said, her teeth chattering.

  'Do I have to strip you myself ?' he demanded, taking a step towards her. 'Whatever happens you must get out of those wet clothes.'

  Eva struggled to a sitting position.

  'I'll manage,' she said quickly, and somehow forced her cold fingers to untie the laces at the front of her gown. At the back of her mind was the thankful thought that today she wore a gown she was able to deal with herself. It would have been too shaming if she had been forced to accept Sir Piers' help in removing her soaking garments. She shivered suddenly, recalling the horror of those few moments when she had been in danger of drowning, and the relief when she had felt her rescuer's arms about her and known she was secure. She had not known whose arms held her. Would she have felt so safe if she had?

  Safe, she reminded herself gloomily, only from the danger of drowning. The accident had put an end to her first attempt to escape from the detested match with her rescuer. What could she do now? Then she recalled he had spoken of returning to Holdfast. At least she had the journey to her home, for surely they could not start out again that day. It would provide a respite and give Gilbert more time to return from Windsor and approach her father. Or for them to plan another attempt at escaping, together or alone.

  It might serve her purpose to pretend greater distress than was real, she decided. Surely Lady Isabella would permit her to rest after such an ordeal, and even an extra day gained would help. Despite her failure to reach Meadside Nunnery all was not lost.

  So cheerful were these reflections Eva almost smiled when Sir Piers returned. He had wrapped his own cloak about himself but still wore his wet garments beneath. He carried Eva's cloak and crossed towards her.

  'Take off your shift as well. Oh, don't look so terrified, I've no desires apart from getting dry and warm again. I've no wish to anticipate our wedding night, my dear.'

  To Eva's profound relief he turned away from her, showing more delicacy than she had expected of him. She struggled out of the wet clinging shift and thankfully wrapped the thick fur-lined cloak about her cold body. It was then she realised that during her immersion her shoes had been lost, and began to understand part of the discomfort she was in was caused by pricks from holly leaves and brambles she had trodden on while attempting to walk earlier.

  She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and began to hobble forwards. At least the strength had returned to her legs, she thought gratefully.

  She had taken a bare half dozen steps when she trod on a particularly sharp stone hidden by the fallen leaves, and was unable to suppress a cry of pain.

  'I'll carry you,' Sir Piers commented, and before she could protest had swept her up into his arms and was striding along the path towards the place where he had left the other men and the horses.

  Eva instinctively resisted him, and then reconsidered. Much as she disliked this close contact, if she permitted it her claim to be weaker than she was would be reinforced. Much against her inclination she made no reply and lay still in his arms, trying to ignore the sardonic look in his eyes as he regarded her by shutting her own eyes as if in weariness.

  'You'd best sit before me,' Sir Piers remarked a few moments later, and Eva opened her eyes to find him standing beside his own magnificent horse.

  'Where – is Fleet?' she asked, looking round. Only one of their escort was there.

  'I've sent the other fellow on slowly, leading her. She's badly lamed, you couldn't have ridden her, and she'll have to be taken back slowly.'

  'Yes, I know. That is, of course I didn't expect to ride her,' Eva replied quickly. 'The bank had fallen into the river,' she added in a desire to excuse herself. 'I'm not such a careless rider as to lame my horse deliberately.'

  'Only when other considerations lead you to be foolish,' he remarked as he lifted her onto his own horse and mounted. 'You surely did not expect to outdistance me?' he added as he gathered up the reins and, his arms uncomfortably close to her as he circled her body with them, turned his horse in the direction of Holdfast Castle.

  'I – expected you to lose me, there are so many paths,' Eva replied crossly.

  'If so you were unwise to make so much noise,' he responded with a faint laugh. 'A trained army could have moved through such a wood with less commotion. Where were you heading for?'

  'Just away from you,' Eva replied after a brief pause. She had best not inform him of the existence of the nunnery in case she could make another attempt to reach it. There was no sense in giving him information which might help him on a later occasion, should she once more contrive an escape.

  'To live as a hermit, perhaps, or to wait for your lover to rescue you?' he suggested scornfully, and she did not reply.

  *

  He too fell silent and did not speak again. They passed the man leading Fleet some way before reaching the castle, and although Eva demanded to be let down so that she could inspect the mare's injury for herself he disregarded her and rode straight past. Eva could see Fleet was scarcely able to use one foreleg and began to reproach herself bitterly for causing her horse such pain.

  'Don't think to escape me,' Sir Piers warned as they reached the castle and passed under the portcullis. 'I mean to have you.'

  Eva had no time to reply for Lord Henry, forewarned of their approach, was crossing the courtyard towards them.

  'What is it? Have you been attacked? Is Eva hurt?' he demanded.

  'A fall, she fell into the river where the bank had broken, Sir Piers explained quietly. 'She had best be taken to Lady Isabella, she is shaken and cold,' he added, handing Eva down into Lord Henry's arms.

  'I can walk,' Eva said hurriedly, but made no further protest when Sir Piers, having dismounted and handed his horse over to a groom, retrieved her and began to carry her towards the main entrance of the keep.

  Lady Isabella had just appeared, a fluttering, inquisitive bevy of maids and ladies behind her.

  'Take her into the small chamber near the solar,' she ordered briskly. 'I can keep an eye on her there. Then you'd best get into some dry garments yourself,' she added. 'Marie, you may help me, the rest of you get on with whatever duties you have abandoned. Hurry.'

  Thankfully Eva saw them fade away. She submitted to Lady Isabella's ministrations, drank a posset to ward off the evil effects of her immersion, and as she slid into a doze reflected with sleepy astonishment that Sir Piers had not revealed her attempt to escape and Lady Isabella had been surprisingly incurious about the cause of the accident.

  She drifted in and out of sleep for most of the day. Marie sat with her but hushed her when she began to talk
, saying Lady Isabella had forbidden it. After darkness had fallen and she had eaten the food Marie fetched for her, Eva felt restored to normal, but mindful of her plans made no attempt to rise.

  Was it too much to hope Sir Piers would remain silent? Possibly, if his pride were damaged because of her evident determination to escape, he would not speak. Eva brightened, then realised the men who had been with them would have told the rest of the servants, and soon everyone would know. Besides, she chided herself, why should she be concerned? She would go, either with Gilbert or alone to Meadside, and Sir Piers could look to his own reputation.

  She began to wonder how she could speak with Gilbert. If he left on the following day with Lord Henry they could plan nothing, for by the time he returned she would have been forced to set off once more for her home. There was no one she could entrust with a message, for Marie would doubtless refuse to carry one, and no one else apart from Lady Isabella had been near her. Lady Isabella paid her a final visit before retiring, and nodded in satisfaction.

  'You'll not be any the worse for your wetting,' she commented. 'Do you want something to help you sleep again?'

  Eva shook her head. 'Thank you, but no. I feel so weary despite having slept most of the day, I shall not lack for sleep.'

  Lady Isabella eyed her closely, then shrugged.

  'As you please. You may get up in the morning, and then if you have fully recovered you may resume your journey on the next day.'

  *

  When Lady Isabella had left her Eva had no distractions from her worries. By the morning Gilbert would have set off with Lord Henry without her having been able to speak with him, but there was nothing she could do. She could scarcely seek him in the guardroom.

  She began to worry about Fleet, and became so restless that at last she determined to visit the stables and see for herself how the mare fared.

  When the castle seemed quiet and Eva considered everyone would have retired safely for the night the girl rose, dressed in a warm gown from her bundle which had been brought up to the room, and began to feel her way through the dark castle.

  She avoided the great hall and passed silently through the kitchens and out of a small door near the buttery. A gust of wind caught her and almost dragged her off her feet. She gasped as stinging shafts of rain drummed onto her face, and then almost cried out as a quiet figure moved past her through the doorway, coming from the courtyard.

  'Who – who is it?' Eva breathed fearfully.

  'Magda, my lady,' came the soft reply, and Eva sighed in relief.

  'What are you doing here?' she asked. 'It's raining hard.'

  'I couldn't sleep,' Magda replied. 'I came to find a drink, then stepped out to see whether the rain had stopped. It has been coming most of the day. How are you feeling, my lady?'

  'Better, thank you,' Eva replied. 'I couldn't sleep either, and wanted to see how badly hurt my horse was when she fell. Well, I'm not going back now I've come down. It's not far to the stables.'

  Wondering again why she should feel so constrained to make excuses to this maid, Eva nodded in farewell, went past her and out into the courtyard.

  She lowered her head and almost ran towards the stables. She had almost reached them when again she was startled by a movement close by, and realised someone had emerged from the stable doorway. Before she could halt her hurried progress she brushed against the figure and a hand came out to grasp her arm.

  'Careful, the ground is slippery.'

  'Gilbert!' Eva exclaimed in relief and joy. 'Gilbert! Oh, how glad I am to find you! I have been trying to think of a way of meeting with you before you leave tomorrow.'

  'Eva, what are you doing here?' Gilbert asked, and took her in his arms. She clung to him, oblivious of the driving rain.

  'I came to see how badly hurt Fleet was. Gilbert, we have more time now, more chance to escape.'

  'The mare is very lame but will recover,' Gilbert said, and pulled Eva into the shelter of the stables. 'I came to see her as soon as I heard about your accident. That was only at supper, because I'd been out for most of the day. Otherwise I would have asked to see you, you know that. What happened?'

  'I tried to escape to Meadside Nunnery. I ran away when we came near to the river, thinking he would lose me in that maze of paths. I still might have escaped but part of the bank had been washed away, by all this rain, I suppose, and Fleet fell before I knew it had broken. I was thrown into the river. I might have drowned if he had not been close behind,' she added.

  'Foolish one, oh my dearest foolish Eva,' Gilbert said and kissed her gently. 'You should have trusted me. I am sure your father will listen to me after I have been to Windsor. I shall find some preferment on this visit, I know.'

  'Of course, but it might be too late, and Father might not listen,' Eva replied. 'I would feel safer waiting for him to change his mind if I were in the sanctuary Aunt Elizabeth can offer.'

  'You have gained a day,' Gilbert pointed out. 'Does Sir Piers intend to set out in the morning?'

  'No, Lady Isabella said the following day, if I am better. I shall try to delay it.'

  'While I will try to hasten our return from Windsor. Eva, sweetheart, we will succeed, I am certain of it. You must be steadfast, refuse to agree to a marriage. When he realises your determination your father will relent.'

  'You set off early?'

  'At daybreak. If you are to plead sickness or weariness you must remain in bed. We cannot meet again, my dear, until I can follow you home.'

  Eva clung to him in a sudden terror.

  'I'll never see you again, I know it!' she cried out. 'Gilbert, can we not steal away now? I have a strange feeling that if we do not our last opportunity will have been lost.'

  'The gates are closed, Eva, we could not leave the castle,' he said reasonably. 'It's the only way, for me to follow you as soon as I am able and for you to attempt to delay as long as possible.'

  Reluctantly Eva agreed they had no choice. She inspected Fleet with the aid of a candle Gilbert produced and managed to light, and saw that the mare's injuries, badly cut knees and a strained fetlock, would mend in time.

  'You'd best go first, you have a good excuse for being here but it would look suspicious if we were seen together,' Gilbert suggested, and after another prolonged embrace they reluctantly parted.

  *

  Eva ran across the courtyard and crept back up to her room. After sleeping for most of the day, and with the excitement of having seen Gilbert so unexpectedly, she could not sleep again. She was tired and fretful by the time Lady Isabella came to her the next morning and genuinely glad to accept another draught to help her sleep.

  'You'll not be able to set out for a few days,' Lady Isabella said as she sat beside Eva, waiting for one of the maids to fetch the medicine.

  'No, my lady,' Eva agreed meekly.

  'The rain has made the river unfordable,' Lady Isabella went on. 'It would add another two days to your journey to go further upriver and cross where it is small enough.'

  Eva quickly veiled her eyes. Here was hopeful news. Then she realised that if the road to her home was blocked so would be the way to Windsor. There would be more opportunities for seeing Gilbert, and possibly more chances of making their escape together. If they were fortunate Lord Henry might even change his plans and abandon his intention of going to Windsor.

  'You must get up tonight for supper,' Lady Isabella was saying. 'It will be best for you to make an effort, and then you might sleep tonight.'

  'Yes, my lady.'

  Marie came to help her dress in a soft tawny coloured gown, with a girdle of linked gold chains, and coiled her hair over her ears.

  'Lady Isabella wishes you to go to the solar first,' she told Eva. 'How do you feel now?'

  'A little better,' Eva replied, attempting to appear wan, although after her sound sleep she felt as well as ever, completely recovered from her immersion.

  In the solar Sir Piers was waiting, and he came across to greet her, taking her hand i
n his and asking solicitously after her health.

  Eva glanced up at him and saw that his dark eyes were hard and stern although his mouth was smiling. She swallowed nervously. He would be a difficult man to deceive, she suddenly realised.

  'A little better, I thank you,' she murmured in a low voice and he bent down to hear her. She trembled, aware of his strength, and tried to pull her hand away from his.

  'Sir Piers has a gift for you, my dear,' Lord Henry said jovially.

  Eva was unable to detach herself from Sir Piers, he held her hand in so firm a grip. She permitted him to lead her forward and seat her on a stool near the fire. Then he straightened and she thought how well the new and expensive scarlet woollen cloth of his tunic suited his dark looks. He pulled a small pouch from a pocket on his undertunic and opened it. A gleam of gold was displayed and he came closer to Eva and bent towards her.

  With a great effort she forced herself to remain still and not shrink away from him, and he pinned a finely worked brooch to her gown.

  'A first gift, my dear,' he said softly, but his eyes retained the hard look.

  Somehow Eva managed to reply, and to conduct herself with due propriety during the rest of the evening. She found his close attention uncomfortable and longed to escape. But when Lady Isabella remarked she still looked tired and had best retire to bed there had been no opportunity to speak with Gilbert. Hoping he would have the same idea, Eva resolved to go out again to the stables, but to her annoyance found Lady Isabella had arranged for her belongings to be moved back into the dormitory with the other girls.

  'You will be better there,' Lady Isabella said rather obscurely as she motioned to Marie to accompany Eva. Eva had to go. It was impossible to leave the dormitory without disturbing someone, and they were all anxiously eager to hear from Eva herself all about the accident, so it was late when they finally went to sleep. Marie seemed determined to remain at her side when they rose the next morning, and as soon as they had broken their fast Lord Henry appeared beside them in the great hall.