June Francis

by Convenient Wife Rebel Lady

  He groaned inwardly. How could he possibly allow her to travel through France without him? If aught were to happen to her, the family would never forgive him. Although, if he were dead, would that matter? But he did not want Anna raped and murdered or experiencing a living hell in an Eastern harem. So, he would either have to accompany her to Vitré or have to confine her to her cabin and set a guard over her when they anchored close to shore.

  No doubt she would be furious with him and would try to reason with him when he refused to do what she wanted and sent her back to England. She would probably never forgive him. But why should that worry him? They might never meet again. Would she grieve for him if news of his death reached England? If she knew the whole truth, then perhaps she would decide that it served him right? He thumped his pillow. But why should he care what she thought of him? He would leave it to God to judge whether he had justice on his side, and eventually fell asleep.

  Jack woke just before dawn. He rose and went to speak to the sailors on watch. Then he checked the wind’s direction and the ship’s exact location before having a word with Peter. The anchor was hauled up and they proceeded to sail north whilst keeping the coastline within sight. With God’s good grace they might reach a cove a few miles south of St Malo, near the house of an old merchant mentor of Jack’s.

  Jack and his master mariner were both of a mind that it would be unadvisable to sail into the harbour at St Malo. At one time the port had been the see of Brittany’s Archbishop and the church’s rule had held sway; this was often in open defiance of the feudal Duke of Brittany. More recently the city had declared for the King of France, so it was likely that English ships could be St Malo’s sailors’ prime target for piracy. It made sense to keep the Hercules’s presence secret as long as possible.

  Having decided not to worry her head any more about the dangers that might lie ahead of her, Anna slept heavily. But by the time she woke and came out on deck, it was to discover that the ship was under sail. She hurried to where Jack was sitting under the awning, quill in hand.

  ‘What is happening? I thought we were going ashore,’ she said.

  He glanced up at her. ‘We will eventually. We’re heading for a landing place situated only a few miles from the road that leads to Rennes. Vitré is a few miles east of Rennes.’

  ‘Oh!’ Anna was so surprised by this information that she sank on to an upturned barrel without another word. She arranged her grey linen skirts to give herself time to think before she spoke. ‘I thought you had almost decided to send me back to England.’

  ‘I’ve changed my mind,’ he said, without looking up from his task.

  ‘So you are going to arrange for me to go to a religious house and then to travel to Vitré?’

  ‘I’m going with you.’ He glanced up at her. ‘You were right. I would like to see if Raoul is alive and well. Master Dunn will to take the ship to Calais. Hopefully at least one of us will be able to rejoin the ship some time in September.’

  She felt a flood of unexpected happiness and touched Jack on the shoulder. ‘Thank you. I’m so glad you’ve changed your mind. I will feel so much safer in your company.’

  Trying to ignore the warmth spreading through him from that brief, gentle contact, Jack gave the page his close attention and murmured, ‘If Raoul is at home and prepared to have you stay with him, then I will leave you in his care and travel to Amiens to complete my business in France.’

  ‘I see.’ She was curious to what this business was, but did not ask. ‘Shall we be walking to Vitré or shall we buy horses? How far is it?’

  ‘I am hoping my retired merchant friend will either loan or sell me two of his horses.’

  ‘That would make our journey so much easier and the parchments will be safer, too.’

  ‘You still plan on asking Raoul to sell them for you?’

  She hesitated. ‘If his mother is still alive, I might need them as an excuse for my being there. She might have loved my father and I would not wish to disillusion her.’

  ‘That is thoughtful of you, Anna,’ he said, putting down his quill. ‘I also had it in mind that you will need me to act as interpreter. Although Raoul speaks some English, he is not fluent in our language.’

  ‘And you consider my French will be inadequate,’ she said, without rancour.

  ‘As I might have already said, I know what it is like to be a foreigner in a foreign land.’ He smiled. ‘Other foreigners always seem to talk twice as fast. Now why don’t you go and see Cook? He’s been baking this morning and there is fresh bread to be had.’

  Chapter Seven

  Anna was about to accept her dismissal when her curiosity overcame her. ‘What is that you’re writing?’

  ‘It’s a message for my brother. Hopefully Peter will be able to hand it over to a courier going to England when he reaches Calais.’

  ‘I see.’ She hesitated before asking was it possible for her to write a message to Owain and Kate to be delivered.

  ‘If you wish. I cannot guarantee if it will reach them, but I could say the same about my own missive,’ said Jack. ‘You will tell them about Raoul?’

  ‘Aye,’ she said firmly.

  Anna left him to get on with his message, whilst she went in search of breakfast. Afterwards, she packed her saddlebags and wished she’d had the time to pack more clothes. She would have liked to have presented herself in better style to Raoul, but there was naught she could do about it. At least the gown she wore was fresh and hopefully they would not be on the road too long. She spread her wet gown from yesterday on a keg in the hope it might be dry enough to take with her when they left the ship. Then she spent some time, composing and writing a message to Owain. This time she did not spare his and Kate’s feelings, informing them of all that had happened the day her house had been struck by lightning. As she wrote she mourned the loss of the few items of furniture that she had chosen herself and spared a thought to having them replaced one day. She exempted Jack of any blame in her having made the decision to go to France, explaining that she had put him in a position where it would have been difficult for him to refuse to take her aboard his ship. She wrote about the voyage and told them a little about Raoul. She finished by saying that they must not worry about her and signed off with the words: Anna, with love. May the Trinity keep you all.

  She frowned, hoping they could understand her script as she had written in the margins and on both sides of the paper. She took it to Jack and asked him to seal it for her as she did not have the means to melt wax. He did so and placed it with his own. She asked him whether she should leave her lute and the remaining parchments in the drawer beneath the bunk. He nodded, taking a key from his belt and handing it to her, telling her to lock them inside. She hoped to be able to recover her property some time in the not too distant future.

  It was evening by the time the Hercules sailed into a small cove. They dropped anchor alongside a wooden jetty that jutted out into deep water. Jack slung his and Anna’s saddlebags over his shoulder and jumped down on to the jetty. Then he turned and held out a hand to her.

  She grasped it firmly and felt a tremor run up her arm. Such a reaction to his touch caused her to release his hand the moment her feet landed on the jetty. Her behaviour must be circumspect at all times and she had not forgotten how she had warmed to his touch in the cabin. To ease any constraint there might be between them because of their situation, she sought for something to say.

  ‘Tell me, Jack, does this whole bay belong to your merchant friend?’ she asked.

  ‘Aye. He purchased the bay and part of its hinterland at a great price from the Duke of Brittany.’ Jack kept his eyes fixed ahead as they trudged side by side up the beach towards the trees beyond.

  ‘I presume there is a spring, or a well, nearby,’ she said, noticing several of the mariners had come ashore with water containers.

  ‘There is a spring. Its water is crystal clear and deemed sacred by one of the Celtic saints.’

  ‘Which sa
int?’ she asked.

  ‘Her name has slipped my mind, but no doubt Henri will be able to tell you.’

  ‘Is he married?’

  ‘A childless widower. When last I stayed with him, he was planning on giving some of his money to finance a row of alms houses to be built for the poor of St Malo.’

  ‘That was generous of him. I look forward to meeting him,’ said Anna, smiling. ‘He will not mind the ship mooring here overnight?’

  Jack glanced up at the sky. ‘It’s going to be a fine night, so it has been decided that Peter will steer by the stars and put as much distance as he can between the Hercules and St Malo.’

  ‘Do you deem that your friend will have heard the news that you’re alive?’

  ‘Possibly. He might also have news of Raoul. Agents throughout Europe keep in touch with one another, not only about the availability and cost of merchandise, but anything that might affect their clients and the various markets.’

  Anna considered asking Jack about the man who had wanted him dead, but one look at his serious profile decided her against it. They reached the trees and walked in silence for a while. Then a clack-clacking noise close by caused her to shrink against him as a large black bird flew over ahead. ‘It’s only a jackdaw,’ he said, grasping her fingers and squeezing them reassuringly before releasing them.

  She accepted his word for it, but kept close to him. ‘Have we far to go?’

  ‘A quarter of a mile or so. The trees will open out soon.’

  It seemed to Anna that he had no sooner spoken than there was a lifting of the gloom beneath the trees. The dying rays of the sun slanted through the branches of oak and beech, lighting their path. After walking a little farther, the trees petered out altogether and they came to a meadow of tall grasses dotted with wild flowers of a variety of colours and hues. A couple of hundred yards farther on was a wall with a pair of closed gates set in it. Above and beyond the wall was what appeared to be a large stone building with a watch tower jutting out from one corner. As Anna gazed at the tower, she thought she detected movement.

  ‘I think there’s someone up there,’ she said in a low voice.

  Jack nodded. ‘I remember Henri liked to keep a look-out. There’s a marvellous view over the sea up there, so he can watch for ships coming and going.’

  ‘Then he’ll know we’re here,’ said Anna, glancing at Jack.

  ‘Aye. But whether he realises it’s the Hercules anchored in the cove, I can’t say.’

  ‘Is there a way you can signal to him, so he’ll open the gate?’

  ‘I intend shouting a halloo.’

  She watched Jack cup his hands to his mouth and call up to the figure in the tower. She presumed he was shouting in French, although she could not understand a word of what he said. Apparently the man did because he vanished from their sight.

  ‘You’re certain your friend will help us?’ asked Anna, hoping to enjoy the comfort of a decent bed now she was at last in France.

  ‘Aye. Henri Lampaul knew my father and took me under his wing when I returned to France after he was killed.’

  There was the sound of footsteps the other side of the gate and a male voice bellowed more words that Anna could not make head nor tail of. Then she noticed Jack’s look of dismay. ‘Henri is dead. It is his brother who was up in the tower.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Jack.’ She hesitated. ‘Does that mean he won’t let us in?’ Even as she spoke there was the noise of bolts being drawn the other side of the door.

  ‘He is honour bound to offer us hospitality. The trouble is I don’t like Maurice Lampaul. We have met on several occasions and I couldn’t take to the man. He has something of a reputation.’ The gate swung open. Jack added hastily, ‘Breton is spoken here, so you will have to trust me to say what is wise in the circumstances. If you feel you can’t do that, there is still time to return to the ship and forget finding Raoul.’

  ‘No. Let us go on,’ she said.

  Jack gave one of his rare smiles. ‘I thought you’d say that. We continue on the understanding that you do exactly what I say. It is for your own safety, Anna.’

  She nodded.

  The gate had opened to reveal a stocky figure. It was obvious from his clothes that the man was a peasant for he was wearing a floppy straw hat, a smock and hose. When he opened his mouth to speak, they could see that most of his teeth were missing. Anna did not wait for him to finish speaking but swept past him through the gates and into a garden that consisted of rows of vegetables and fruit bushes. In the middle of this abundance ran a winding path constructed of flat stones of different shapes. It led to what appeared to be the back entrance to the house. A man of enormous girth suddenly appeared in the doorway.

  Jack caught up with her and seized her arm. ‘Slow down, woman! Walk more sedately so we can reach him together. I have been thinking. I suggest we pretend to be husband and wife.’

  Anna stared at him in amazement. ‘Why?’

  Jack met her eyes squarely. ‘I don’t trust him.’

  ‘Why? You mentioned he has a reputation. Is it that he has a bad reputation with women?’

  ‘He is married but unfaithful and treats his wife and daughters like chattels.’

  ‘I see. Are they here?’

  ‘The servant says not.’

  Anna almost said that they would go back to the ship, but what would that serve? She had her mind set on finding Raoul. ‘You can’t believe that he would come creeping into my bedchamber during the night?’

  Jack gave a mirthless laugh. ‘I’m not prepared to take that chance with your safety. If you find the notion of us sharing a bedchamber utterly repellent, then say so and we will return to the ship.’

  ‘I would trust you before him. And at least we don’t have to worry about a wedding ring as I am still wearing Giles’s.’

  Jack was glad she spoke so sensibly and he touched her cheek lightly with the back of his hand. ‘I won’t let you down.’

  ‘I should hope not. Tell me if our marriage is one of convenience or a love match?’

  He looked surprised. ‘Does it matter?’

  ‘Of course it does. It will affect the way we behave towards each other. Is Master Lampaul likely to know about your disappearance? If so, he will wonder how long we have been wed and that is something else for you to consider.’

  Jack scowled as he rubbed at the scar on his face. She could tell he had not thought about that either. ‘Obviously I should have given more thought to my suggestion instead of blurting it out the way I did. I’d best tell him that it happened recently, but that we’d had a fondness for each other for years; otherwise why would you marry one with such a scarred, ugly visage as mine?’ Before she could deny that he was ugly again, he added, ‘Now we’d best make haste to greet him or he’ll be wondering why we delay.’

  Without more ado, Jack searched for Anna’s hand and led her towards their host. She was glad of the reassuring pressure of that firm grip. When he relinquished her hand so that she could greet Maurice Lampaul, she had to steel herself not to show her revulsion when he slobbered over her hand. There was an expression in his unusual pale silver eyes that convinced her that Jack was right to be suspicious of this man.

  ‘Bienvenue!’ said their host.

  ‘Merci, monsieur,’ she replied, managing to resist wiping her hand on the back of her skirt.

  As Maurice Lampaul led them into a hall he conversed idly with Jack in what Anna presumed was Breton. The room was furnished with heavy dark wooden furniture and there appeared to be porcelain statuary and objects of silver and enamel on most surfaces. Anna accepted the offer of a chair close to the fire and watched as Jack placed their saddlebags on the floor beside her chair.

  There was a sound at the door and she looked up to see a middle-aged woman enter the hall. She wore a russet gown fastened up to her throat and her hair was completely concealed beneath a wimple. She carried a pitcher and, going over to a side table, she poured wine into pewter drinking vessels, b
efore carrying them over on a salver. Anna wondered who she was, but their host did not introduce her, so Anna could only presume the woman was either his housekeeper—or possibly a lover. Unsure how to greet her, Anna remained silent.

  Jack spoke to the woman and she answered him with a grave smile before turning to Anna and handing a goblet to her. She spoke softly in French, informing Anna that although Master Lampaul had already dined, food would be set before them whilst a bedchamber was being prepared for her and her husband.

  Anna thanked her and then took a sip of what proved to be an excellent vintage. She tried not to think about their retiring for the night, but that proved impossible. It was more than two years since Giles’s death and she felt a certain trepidation at the thought of sharing such an intimate space with Jack for a whole night. She presumed he would allow her time to undress and get into bed before he came upstairs. Doubtlessly he would consider it proper that he didn’t share the bed with her. Hopefully there would be a truckle bed or at least a chair for him to sleep in. She sipped her wine and was glad when candles were lit in a silver candelabra that was placed at the centre of a table.

  Anna and Jack were waved to chairs by their host and they sat down. A couple of servants brought in bowls of chicken, beans and onions in a wine-and-cream sauce and set them before them. Jack smiled at Anna across the table. ‘I hope you are hungry, sweeting? Doesn’t this food look appetising?’

  His use of the endearment startled her. ‘Very appetising, my love,’ she said, with a flush on her cheeks. She was aware of Monsieur Lampaul’s eyes upon her and was glad that her gown was of sober hue and fastened up to her throat. ‘Does Monsieur Lampaul know I was a widow before I married you?’ she asked in a low voice.

  ‘I told him that I had known you since you were a girl and that I had promised to return and marry you after my next journey abroad. He asked whether you had remained faithful while I was absent.’