Page 87 of Fortress of Snow

“I don’t think there are any towns near here. We might find a barn or stable to take shelter in for the night.”

“In a stable? With animals?” Juliana looked frightened.

Mazy and Sir Berenger exchanged glances. Mazy said, “All will be well. Sir Berenger and I shall take care of you.”

“It will be nice and cozy and warm,” Sir Berenger said, rubbing his hands together and smiling at the child.

Juliana was already less quiet and timid than when Mazy had first met her, but she did not look comforted by Sir Berenger’s words.

When darkness was closing in and the clouds had completely obscured both the waning sunlight and the moon, they found a farmhouse and Sir Berenger asked the owner if they could sleep in his barn. “I am a knight in the king’s service, and these men are our guards,” he said.

“You are welcome to the barn and stable,” the farmer said.

Thankfully, the weather had grown warm enough for most of the snow to melt, so as they lay down in the fresh straw on their blankets, making sure no animals were near Juliana, the child fell asleep immediately. The guards bedded down on the other side of the stable.

From a couple of feet away, Sir Berenger said softly, “I’m sorry I upset you last night.”

“It’s nothing. I shouldn’t have been so angry.”Please let him understand that I don’t want to talk about it.

“I still would like to hire Giles to protect you, to be your personal guard, if you will let me.”

Why was he speaking of this again?

“I don’t want you to go to that trouble and expense for me. It’s not necessary anyway, and I am not accustomed to someone following me around.”

Sir Berenger was quiet.

She went on. “I can take care of myself. And I have enoughmoney to hire a guard myself if I need someone. Already I have two women who work for me, which allows me to travel to the countryside to get more goods.”

Truthfully, she did not know how things had gone in her absence.

After a few moments of silence, Sir Berenger said, “I’m glad things are going so well. You deserve your success.”

“Thank you.”

Truthfully, it would take most of her extra earnings to hire a guard who would accompany her, a large man who would scare away anyone who might wish her harm. And someday, if she was very fortunate and God so willed it, she would have a husband who loved and cared for her, and during what little time she was away taking care of business in the marketplace, her children would be safe at home with a kind and gentle woman servant to care for them. Her husband would love her too much to restrict her to the home, and he would love her too much to leave her without a guard to protect her.

In her mind—and only in her mind—she told Sir Berenger,Youaren’t responsible for me, Sir Berenger, so stop trying to be so good. It is not your place. You are not my husband.

No matter how much she might wish he was.

Twenty-Five

Back home in London, Berenger strode across the lawn toward the door of the Palace of Westminster for his meeting with King Richard.

He’d dressed carefully for the occasion, and he had to take several deep breaths to try to calm his breathing and his heart, which was beating twice as fast as normal.

Once inside, he was led to a private apartment where the king was alone with only one guard standing in the corner and another at the door.

Berenger tried to read his expression. Was that disappointment on his face?

“Come, Sir Berenger.” The king motioned him forward with his hand, and without the usual greetings, the young ruler said, “Tell me why you have decided to reject Lady Bristow.”

Berenger had to swallow past the dry spot in his throat.

“My liege, did you receive the missive I sent explaining everything?”

“I did, but I could hardly believe your words. And Lady Bristow has been here, quite distraught at the way you have treated her. I hope you have a better explanation than you gave in your letter.”