Page 14 of Bold Angel
Ral had been careful to speak Norman French as they planned the attack. Richard had been nowhere near and he hated the brigands nearly as much as Ral, but the maid… Surely her enmity would not lead her to this. Surely she would fear his wrath—would tremble in terror at what would occur should he discover she played a part in the outlaw’s escape.
He tried to imagine the saucy wench cowering infear, saw instead her spitting her defiance like a tiny cornered kitten, and knew in an instant who the Saxon traitor had been.
“’Twas the wench,” he growled, jerking Satan’s rein as he spun the big horse around. “Leave off the search. The whoresons will be long gone by now. We will rout them another day.”
In the meantime, he would see to the maid. The bitch would soon learn the price of her folly.
Chapter Four
Caryn saw the huge Norman’s rage even as he crossed the hall toward the steep stone stairs. Lord Raolfe had stripped off his mail but still wore his heavy leather jerkin. His face was a mask of fury, his strides long and powerful, the muscles in his arms tensing as his hands balled into fists.
Sweet Blessed Virgin!How had he discovered her role so quickly? From her place on the landing, she saw him give terse instructions to Richard that he not be disturbed then continue toward the stairs. Caryn turned away and made a quick dash for her chamber, but if she thought to reach it before he caught her, she had underestimated him sorely.
“Let me go!” she cried out as a hard arm went around her waist and he lifted her off the floor. Instead he kicked open the door and dragged her in, then slammed the heavy oaken planking behind them. Roughly, he set her on her feet before him.
“It was you, was it not? You who warned our quarry?”
“I-I do not know what you mean.”
“Do you not? Art a terrible liar.”
Caryn’s chin went up. She waited for him to go on, her heart hammering hard against her ribs. Sweet Mary, what would he do? She tried to sound calm, but herhands were shaking. She buried them in the folds of her tunic.
“I am sorry, my lord, if I have done something to displease you.”
Anger swept his features, making his eyes turn the color of the gray stone walls around them. He gripped her shoulders and dragged her up on her toes, his jaw clenched so hard he could barely speak.
“You have more than displeased me—as you too well know! Why did you do it? Why!”
Caryn swallowed hard. There was no way around it and she would not cower. She forced her chin up a notch and faced him squarely.
“Because I am a Saxon. Because I owe them some measure of loyalty. They are my people. They are only fighting back.”
“You little fool!” When Ral released her, she stumbled and would have fallen if he had not caught her. “These men are not rebels. They are murderers and cutthroats. Brigands cast out from towns far and wide. They have killed as many Saxons as they have Normans—probably more.”
“What!”
“You did not know that? But then I suppose that you would not, locked away as you have been these three years past.”
“Nay, ’tis not the truth.”
“No? Ask the people in the village. They have come to me for protection. ’Tis for their sake as much as my own that I seek these vermin out.”
“These men are not rebels? You are telling me the truth?”
Ral’s eyes searched her own. He must have seen how troubled they had grown, for some of his anger seemed to fade.
“Their leader is a man they call the Ferret. A murderer and thief, a brigand more ruthless than any I haveknown. ’Tis a name that strikes terror in Norman and Saxon alike.”
Caryn’s bottom lip trembled. Sweet God, what had she done? “I-I did not think… I never would have…” She straightened her spine. “’Tis not enough to say that I am sorry. If only I had known ’twould not have happened.”
“If only you had known…” he repeated, raking a hand through his wavy jet black hair. “Were you not afraid that I would beat you? Had you no care for yourself?”
Surprised at the tone he had taken, Caryn searched his face. “The consequences were unimportant. I believed they were my kinsmen. I felt that I should help them.” She met his hard look squarely. “In truth, I did not think that you would find out.”
“There is only you and Richard who speak my language.”
Caryn gripped his arm. “You did naught to Richard? He is innocent of any crime. Your seneschal had no part in this.”
