Page 50 of Bold Angel
“Good eventide, my lady.”
“G-Good eventide, my lord.” Her hand trembled as she lifted the latch, opened the door, and went in.
Smiling to himself, Ral turned and walked down the hall toward the solar. Caryn of Ivesham wasn’t the only one who liked to win.
***
“Milady? Milady, where are you? I bring urgent news from the village.”
“In here, Leofric,” she called from the corner of thestable where she sat cradling the fawn in her lap. The little deer grew stronger and bigger every day. “What is it?”
The young boy raced in, his face flushed with exertion, his narrow chest heaving in and out. “News of the brigands, milady. Me mother has been tryin’ to discover where they camp. She wishes to repay Lord Raolfe for his kindness.”
Caryn gently set the fawn away and climbed to her feet, brushing straw from her tunic and plucking a strand from her heavy braid of hair. “Lord Ral hunts today. He won’t return before nightfall.”
“I could carry a message.”
“I know not where he is. You must tell me, Leofric. I will see he receives the news the moment of his arrival.”
“Me mother says they camp near the pass at Chevrey, on a bend of the River Eden. They lie in wait for the king’s tax collector. No one knows exactly when he comes, but the Ferret means to raid him and steal King William’s coin.”
“Surely the money will be well guarded.”
“Me mother says the band has grown to near fifty men. They were raidin’ to the north, but of late they have returned.”
Fifty men!Surely enough to pose a danger to William’s men—or her husband and his. Caryn’s stomach knotted.
“They’re cutthroats, milady. A dozen good knights and men-at-arms have already fallen to the Ferret’s blade.”
Unconsciously, she trembled. “Mayhap this time Lord Ral will catch him.”
“Aye, milady, ’tis certain the lord will bring them in.”
Surely a man of her husband’s might and skill would be in no danger. Yet Leo’s words of warning still echoedin her ears. “I will tell Lord Ral your mother’s news the moment he returns to the castle.”
“I wish I could go with him.”
I am glad that you cannot,Caryn found herself thinking. And with that disturbing thought, worry for her husband suddenly increased.
***
Caryn paced the hall in front of the fire pit. Ral should have returned by now. Richard had seen to an extra hearty meal and even now it sat steaming in the kitchen. She turned as the door flew open and Girart walked in. Ral never left the castle unguarded. Today he had also left the majority of his men. They were to rest this day and set out in search of the outlaws on the morrow.
Hearing noises in the entry, she hurried in that direction. “Lord Ral?” Caryn asked of Girart.
“Nay, my lady.”
Richard strode in behind him, his face looking grim. “’Tis Stephen de Montreale.”
Malvern.“Sweet God in heaven.” Lord Stephen was the last man Caryn wished to see—especially with her husband gone from the castle. “Must we allow him entrance?”
“’Tis only common courtesy. He travels with but a handful of men. We can hardly refuse him a night’s food and lodging.”
She nodded, knowing it was the truth. “At least there is plenty of food.” And plenty of men to guard the keep. “See him in, Richard.” She steeled herself to play lady of the manor and suddenly found herself looking forward to the task. “And convey to him my greetings.”
Malvern walked in with his usual easy grace, his strides long and supple, though he still wore his chain mail hauberk. His garments were dusty from the hours he had spent on the road, but his blond hair gleamed in the flickering rushlights mounted on the walls behind him.
“My lady.” He bent over her hand, brushing his mouth against her fingers, his lips firm and his breath warm. It was all she could do not to jerk the hand away.
