by Connie Mason
"If you bear me any love, Walter, you'll try to talk your father out of what he is planning."
"I'm not going to hurt Mariah, Mama," Walter replied gruffly. "I'm going to marry her. With Falcon gone, naught stands in our way of claiming Mildenhall."
"Mariah will never marry you," Martha warned. "Besides, Mildenhall belongs to Robbie."
Laughing, Osgood pushed Walter aside. "She'll agree. I intend to use her bastard son to force her to our will. Then once Walter gets a son from her, Robbie will quietly disappear." He slapped the rump of Martha's horse and it shot forward. One of Osgood's mercenaries followed.
"When do we leave?" Walter asked.
"As soon as I'm positive Falcon won't turn back."
"How do we get Mariah to raise the portcullis?"
"Trust me, Walter; I have devised a plan that is foolproof. I kept some of your mother's clothing. One of the smaller mercenaries will don the clothing and pose as your mother. When we reach the portcullis, I'll claim that
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Martha became ill and we had to return. Mariah has a kind heart; she'll let us through the gate."
Osgood sent the lookout back up the hill to watch the road.
Four hours later, Osgood's party, which included a woman shrouded in a cloak, returned to Mildenhall. A guard on the wall walk spotted them and gave the warning. Mariah hurried from the keep and climbed the ladder to get a better look.
"What do you suppose they want?" Mariah asked Sir Maynard.
"We're about to find out, milady," he replied.
The group approached the portcullis. Osgood looked up, spotting Mariah immediately. "Lady Mariah, Martha is ill. Please allow us to enter so that your healer can examine her. We cannot continue to Southwold with my wife in this condition."
"When did she become ill?" Mariah called down to him.
"Soon after we left Miildenhall. Look at her—does she not look ill?"
Mariah glanced at the poor woman bent over the saddle, and her heart went out to her. "What say you, Sir Maynard? Shall we allow Dame Martha to enter?"
"I do not trust Osgood," Maynard replied. "I say nay."
"Oh, but look at Martha. She could be desperately ill. I cannot bear to see her that way. Edwina may be able to help her. Order the portcullis lifted so that Martha can enter."
Sir Maynard gave the order as Mariah scrambled down the ladder to await Martha. The portcullis cranked up slowly. Mariah smiled at the cloaked figure as she rode
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through the gate, her shoulders bent, her spirit apparently defeated.
"Martha, welcome—"
The greeting died in her throat as Osgood's mercenaries surged through the opening behind the ill woman. Stunned, Mariah watched as "Martha" ripped off her cloak and gown, revealing a small but burly mercenary. Osgood leapt down from his mount, grabbed Mariah and ordered, "If you value your life, order your guardsmen to back away."
By now, guardsmen were pouring from the keep, their swords drawn, ready to do battle. Mariah detested bloodshed, could not bear to see her faithful men maimed or slain, so she did as Osgood asked. Though surrendering her keep to Osgood infuriated Mariah, what truly terrified her was Osgood's evil intent toward Robbie. She knew he meant her son harm.
Falcon, I need you, she silently implored. Please help me.
Her plea floated upward and sped away on a gust of wind.
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Chapter 11
Becca heard the commotion in the courtyard and ran to the window. Fear raced through her when she saw the activity below. Sir Osgood had returned; he held Lady Mariah captive while his mercenaries were disarming Mildenhall's guardsmen. Panic-stricken, Becca tried to recall what Lady Mariah had told her about safeguarding Robbie should disaster strike.
Suddenly Edwina burst into the hall. "Pack some clothing for Robbie and yourself while I fetch the lad," the old crone said. "You must leave the keep immediately. Sir Osgood means Robbie harm."
Becca didn't ask questions as she flew to obey Edwina.
"Where are we going?" Robbie asked when Edwina burst into the nursery and announced that he and Becca were leaving.
"Sir Osgood has returned and is up to no good. You cannot remain in the keep, lad," she said in a hushed voice. "You mustn't make a sound. Promise now, for your life could depend upon it."
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"Where is Mama?"
"Your mama would want you to be safe. She'll be fine; never doubt your mother's courage or resourcefulness."
Robbie brightened. "Mayhap Falcon will return to save us."
"Aye, lad, mayhap he will. We will pray for that." She glanced toward the door. "Here's Becca—'tis time to leave."
Becca arrived with a satchel filled with clothing. "Give me that," Edwina said. "Bring the lad and follow me."
Cautiously Edwina led them out into the corridor toward the winding staircase. All was quiet below in the hall.
"Hurry," Edwina admonished.
They hastened down the stairs and ducked into the kitchen. The hall and kitchen were both deserted. Apparently, the servants had fled through the postern gate at the first sign of trouble. Edwina hurried Robbie and Becca out the back door and through the kitchen garden.
"Where are we going?" Becca asked.
"Quiet," Edwina said, shushing her.
Edwina stopped before the postern gate, a thick panel that latched from the inside. Osgood might send a man to guard it later, but he was far too busy in the courtyard to attend to it now. The gate was unlatched, proving Ed-wina's theory that the servants had fled through it. Edwina and Becca worked together to pull the heavy gate open, and then Becca and Robbie slipped through.
"Listen carefully," Edwina whispered. "Go to the alewife in the village; tell her I sent you and what has happened here. Ask her to hide you in her cellar until we can send Robbie to London to seek the king's protection. Can you remember that, Becca girl?"
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"Aye," Becca replied. "Aren't you coming with us?"
"Nay, I must stay to help Mariah."
Then, with Becca pulling and Edwina pushing, the gate slid smoothly back into place. Edwina shot home the bolt and returned to the keep.
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Meanwhile, Mariah's guardsmen had been disarmed by Osgood's mercenaries.
"Lock the guardsmen and steward in the barracks," Osgood ordered. Then he pushed Mariah into Walter's arms. "Take your betrothed into the hall." He sneered at Mariah. "Walter has something to ask you, Mariah, and you had best give the correct answer."
"I'll give you naught," Mariah said defiantly.
Walter literally dragged Mariah into the hall. Seizing her shoulders, he turned her to face him. "Will you wed me, Mariah of Mildenhall?"
"Nay, Walter. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever."
"You've just made a serious mistake, lady," Osgood warned. He called to one of his mercenaries. "Hugo, fetch Mariah's bastard!"
Hugo headed purposefully toward the nursery. Mariah tried to pull free from Walter's hamlike hands, but he held her fast. "If you harm Robbie, I swear you will regret it. Falcon will avenge him."
"Falcon has a betrothed now. Why would he put himself out for you and your bastard? He will have no time for you now that he has Rosamond."
Mariah saw Edwina sidle into the hall from the kitchen, and hope flared. Elation replaced that slim hope when Edwina nodded and smiled at her. Mariah knew exactly what Edwina was trying to tell her. Robbie was safe.
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Squaring her shoulders, Mariah said, "I repeat: I will not marry you, Walter Fitzhugh."
"Do you value your son so little that you would risk his life?" Osgood growled.
"My son is my life," Mariah replied.
"Then I suggest you wed Walter with haste. I will send someone to fetch the priest."
Before Osgood could act, Hugo burst into the hall. "The boy is gone!"
Mariah dared a glance at Edwina. A small smile played across her lips.
Osgood yanked Mariah away from Walter and gave her a vicious shake. "Where is he, lady?"
"I know not," Mariah said through clattering teeth. If Osgood didn't stop shaking her, he'd scramble her brains.
"Release Lady Mariah!"
Osgood stopped shaking Mariah as Father Francis ran toward her, his black robes flapping around his skinny ankles.
"Ah, the priest," Osgood said. "You're just in time to perform the ceremony. Mariah and Walter wish to wed."
"Nay, he lies! I have not agreed to wed Walter."
"But you will as soon as we find the boy. Walter, see to it. Search every nook and cranny in the keep." He returned his attention to Mariah. "We'll find him, and when we do, his continued good health will depend upon your willingness to become Walter's wife."
Walter left immediately to direct the search.
"And then what?" Mariah dared. "How long will Robbie live after I wed Walter? I put no faith in your word, Osgood. Edmond trusted you not, and neither do I."
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"You have no choice," Osgood replied. "I know you, Marian. You would gladly sacrifice yourself to save your son."
"Aye," Mariah answered. "But perhaps my sacrifice won't be needed. You have to produce Robbie first."
Osgood dragged Mariah to a bench and pushed her onto it. "Ale!" he called. "And food. We've had naught to eat since we broke our fast this morning."
No one answered his call. "Where are the servants?" he demanded.
Mariah shrugged. "If they were smart, they would have fled at the first sign of trouble."
"Fled? How? I replaced your gateman with my own man."
Mariah remained mute. Let him find the postern gate on his own. Had she known what Osgood intended, she would have fled through it herself. She worried about Robbie and prayed that Edwina had found a safe place for him to hide. As long as Robbie remained safe, Mariah would continue to defy Osgood and Walter. What could they do to her? Even if they killed her, Robbie would still be Edmond's heir.
One of Osgood's men drew a pitcher of ale from a barrel sitting near a sideboard and placed it before Osgood. Osgood drank deeply from the pitcher, too thirsty to wait for a mug. Mariah eyed him with disgust as ale dribbled from his chin onto his stained doublet.
A small smile played at the corners of Mariah's mouth as, one by one, Osgood's mercenaries returned to the hall without Robbie. When the last man had reported his failure, Osgood flew into a rage.
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Rising, he clenched his fist and punched it into the air. "Search again. There has to be a hidey-hole someplace in this keep where a small boy can be concealed."
The men fanned out again. Osgood grew impatient and began to pace. Hours passed before the men returned empty-handed, much to Marian's relief. Osgood then ordered the men into the courtyard and bailey, demanding that they search every building within Mildenhall's walls.
Mariah's heart nearly stopped when, after the men left, Osgood noticed Edwina and beckoned to her. "You there, come here!"
Edwina shuffled forward. Mariah tried to send her a silent message to hold firm against Osgood, but Edwina did not look up.
"What will you have of me, Sir Osgood?" Edwina whined.
"It grows late—fetch food for me and my men."
Mariah rose. "Edwina is a healer, not a cook. I will help her."
Osgood pushed her back onto the bench, more roughly than was necessary. "Nay, stay here. I trust you not."
"Then we are even," Mariah said sweetly, "for I have never trusted you."
Osgood blasted her with a daunting look before waving Edwina off to the kitchen.
Father Francis hurried over to lend his support to Mariah. "Have faith, daughter," the priest whispered. "Our good Lord will find a way to resolve this situation. Last time He sent Sir Falcon to us. Perhaps He—"
"Nay, Father. Sir Falcon has no reason to return. We must find our own way out of this coil."
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"What are you two whispering about?" Osgood demanded.
"I am but lending Lady Mariah courage," Father Francis said.
"What do you know about her bastard's disappearance, priest? Did you have a hand in it?"
"Nay, I was on my knees in the chapel, deep in prayer."
At length, Edwina arrived with a tray of bread, meat and cheese, which she banged down before Osgood. "If your men wish to eat, they can fetch their own food from the kitchen. I am old and frail and not up to the task you set for me."
She hobbled away before Osgood could stop her.
"Belligerent old crone," Osgood grumbled as he began shoveling food into his mouth.
"Edwina did as you asked. Are your men too lazy to go into the kitchen and find their own food?" Mariah asked.
"What are we supposed to do for a cook?" Osgood whined.
"Perhaps one of your men can manage. You cannot blame the servants for disappearing after your mistreatment of them the last time you occupied Mildenhall. If Sir Falcon hadn't arrived, they would have found a way out of the keep then, too, just as they did today."
Osgood grasped her wrist, squeezing hurtfully. "How did they leave if not through the gate?" He stood, knocking down his chair in his haste. "Of course, there's the postern gate! It slipped my mind. I will post a guard there immediately."
Osgood's foul mood continued as Walter and the mercenaries returned to report their failure to find Robbie.
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"He must have escaped by the postern gate," Osgood snarled. "Walter, place a guard there and lock Mariah in the solar. The rest of you search the village." He sent Mariah a look that did not bode well for her. "We will find the boy, and when we do, you will wed Walter."
Mariah clutched Father Francis's hand as Walter jerked her to her feet.
"Let me go with her," the priest said. "We shall pray together for the Lord's guidance."
Walter looked to his father for instruction.
"Nay, there will be no plotting together. Go back to your chapel, priest, and pray that we will find Marian's bastard."
Walter herded Mariah up the winding staircase to her chamber and pushed her inside. Then he closed the door, turned the rusty key in the lock and went to join in the search.
Long before Osgood sent his searchers into the village, Edwina had left the keep. Osgood's guard had let her pass through the gate, having recognized her as Mildenhall's healer. Edwina carried a basket over her arm, informing the guard that she carried herbs to aid a cotter's wife who had just birthed a babe.
Edwina hurried as fast as her old legs would carry her to the home of the alewife. "Did Robbie and Becca arrive safely?" she asked anxiously.
"I hid them in the cellar as you requested," Dame Bertha whispered. "The lad is frightened, and who can blame him?"
"I suspect Osgood's men will reach the village soon to search for Robbie," Edwina revealed. "We don't have much time."
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"They won't find him," Dame Bertha asserted. They'll never find their way into the cellar."
"Aye, that's why I sent the lad here. I have a basket of food from Mildenhall kitchens. I'd best see the lad now, before the mercenaries arrive."
Dame Bertha led Edwina to the stillroom, where she brewed her excellent ale. The yeasty smell of fermenting ale hung heavy in the air. The alewife pushed an empty brass kettle aside and opened the trapdoor beneath it. Edwina scampered down the narrow wooden ladder into a damp chamber that was lit by several candles. Robbie was fast asleep on a pile of blankets. Becca, who sat beside him, rose when Edwina appeared.
"What is happening at the keep?" Becca asked.
"It doesn't look good, lass,. I brought a basket of food. You're to stay here with Robbie until it's safe to leave."
"What of Lady Mariah? Is she ... in good health?"
"She was when last I saw her. Osgood doesn't dare harm her, at least not until Robbie is under his control and Mariah is we
d to Walter. Once that happens, and pray God it does not, both their lives could be threatened."
"I will pray for all of us," Becca said.
"Be prepared to leave when Dame Bertha fetches you. I will try to arrange transportation to London. Once there, you are to seek out the king and tell him what has happened here." She thrust the basket at Becca. "There's a sack of gold coins tucked in the basket. Use it to provide for Robbie while in London. Though you are young, Becca, I trust you to keep Robbie safe."
"I love Robbie," Becca said solemnly. "I will do whatever it takes to protect him. Lady Mariah and Lord Ed-
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mond have been good to me and my family—I can do no less."
Edwina nodded, looked one last time at Robbie and then climbed up the ladder to the stillroom, where Dame Bertha awaited her return.
"When is your next delivery?" Edwina asked, aware that Bertha often sold her ale to surrounding villages and towns.
"My next batch is scheduled to go out tomorrow," Bertha replied. "My husband Malcolm and son Horace drive the delivery wagon and unload it themselves."
"Prepare two empty kegs for the next delivery," Edwina said. "One each for Robbie and Becca. Advise your husband to deliver the lad and his nursemaid to London. Becca knows what to do there."
They discussed arrangements as Edwina helped Bertha close the trapdoor and lug the brass kettle into place.
"I shouldn't be here when Osgood's men arrive," Edwina said. "I must return to the keep before I am missed. Be alert, Bertha. Robbie and Becca must leave soon, before they are discovered. Tell no one they are here."
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Falcon's party was well on its way to London when he abruptly halted and glanced behind him. He distinctly heard someone calling his name, but when he looked over his shoulder, no one was there. He had been bringing up the rear, trying to hurry along the cart carrying Leticia and Rosamond's trunk.