Page 77 of Fortress of Snow

Lady Bristow held out a small, rolled-up parchment, and the man took it from her. Then he placed in her hand a leather pouch, like the ones used for carrying coins. Lady Bristow put it in her skirt pocket, just before her arms came up to wrap around the sailor’s neck.

He put an arm around her and they kissed rather violently—quite unlike the kiss Lady Bristow had planted on his lips. Berenger’s stomach twisted.

The two parted. The man seemed to be trying to coax her to go with him back to the ship, but Lady Bristow shook her head and pulled back.

There was nowhere on the sandy shore for him to hide, so Berenger turned and hurried away. Would Lady Bristow’s light catch him? If she sounded the alarm, no doubt the French sailors or pirates or whoever they were would have crossbows and would give chase.

But he rounded the bend without being detected. The only light now was from the pale moon, and he could barely see anything, even his feet beneath him. But that was good. Lady Bristow would not be able to see him either.

He must have missed the path that led back to the castle. Instead, he plunged into the trees that came up to meet the sand of the shore. He waited there, watching for Lady Bristow to come into view.

He did not have to wait long. She must have refused the man’s invitation and continued on her way back, alone, with her lantern. She found the path and set out up the hill to the castle, her stride purposeful.

This was serious indeed. Mistreating the child was enough to make up Berenger’s mind against marrying her, but was Lady Bristow consorting with the French, England’s enemy? She was handing over missives and receiving money. Could she be anything other than a spy for them? A traitor to King Richard and to England?

Though he had no real evidence, certainly it was enough to speak to the king about. In fact, he had a duty to tell the king, who would then no doubt question Lady Bristow about it. But how much better would it be if Berenger could get to the bottom of the lady’s treachery?

Could anything this lady had said be true? The worst part was how she may have duped the king. Could she have discovered important information through her friendship and visit with the king and divulged it to the enemy?

He wished he could find some kind of evidence he could show the king.

He waited a few more moments, then found the path the lady had just taken and walked back toward the castle. He took a turn around the other side of the castle, coming in from the opposite side, away from the ocean shore.

A few candles were lit near the castle’s front entrance, so he took one to light his way back to his room. All was quiet as he mounted the stairs, but as he was passing Lady Bristow’s door, it opened.

“Sir Berenger.” She looked surprised.

“My lady.” He bowed to her.

Be calm. Don’t look nervous or she’ll be suspicious.

Twenty-Two

“Where have you been?” Lady Bristow asked him.

“I took a walk to the village.”God, forgive me for the lie.

“To the village? Why?”

“I was restless. I thought I would get some air and stretch my legs.”

She stared hard at his face, holding up her lantern. “You look a bit flushed. Did you encounter anyone on your way there and back?”

“No one. Everyone must be abed. And you, my lady? Are you feeling better? Did you get some rest?”

“My headache is gone and I feel much better. Thank you for asking.”

“You do look remarkably well,” he said.

“As do you. Would you like to come into my room and have a cup of wine?”

He did need to see the inside of her room.

“Yes. I will come in, for a moment.”

She gave him a smile as she stepped aside to let him into her room, but her eyes remained cold.

Berenger quickly glanced around. There was a screen to one side, a large trunk against the wall near it, and on the other side of the room was her bed; beside it a tall mullioned window looked out toward the sea. Would the ship be visible from that window? He was almost certain it would be, any lights on the ship serving as a beacon or signal.