Page 78 of Wed By Proxy

XXXIV

It was not until that afternoon that Mathilde finally received a visit from Robin. She was back at her loom, but when he entered the room, she was up and out of her seat in an instant.

“Where have you been? I can scarcely believe you have not come to me before this!”

Lettys discreetly excused herself to go and fetch some refreshments.

“I did come,” Robin answered with an insouciance that quite took her breath away. “Only you were indisposed, so I spoke with Lord Martindale instead.”

“Indisposed?”

“Sulking beneath your bedcovers,” Robin elaborated, flinging himself down into a chair.

“I assure you,” said Mathilde drawing herself up to her full height. “I was doing no such thing!”

“In any event,” Robin said waving this aside. “I could not leave Mabel alone and I had to ensure the hens were tended to. Didacus Eaves sent over that goat I wanted from Little Acton on Wednesday.”

“I wonder you have managed to spare me the time now,” Mathilde interrupted him sarcastically.

“You needn’t think to have me dancing to your tune, like everyone else!”

“Rob!”

“It’s the talk of Acton Dymock,” he retorted. “Even Prudie’s climbed down off her high horse now she knows you’re making him crawl over hot coals.”

“I don’t know what you mean!”

“Oh, don’t you, my girl!” Rob snorted.

“In any case,” said Mathilde sinking into the chair opposite. “What news of Prudie and Waldon? It seems I have not seen them in an age.”

“They’re well. Prudie’s family all came over to visit her en masse. Probably to hear all the gossip,” Rob added darkly. “They were fairly astonished to find she and Waldon are handfasted.”

“Oh, of course,” Mathilde said. “I hope she extended all the hospitality of the lodge, and baked them a cake.”

Rob nodded. “Her stepsisters wanted to stay the night in the spare attic room, but Prudie refused them, saying they could not remain overnight without your say so.”

“I should not have refused!”

“I told her as much,” Rob said. “But you know what a stickler she is.” He delved into the neck of his tunic. “I’ve had a letter from court.”

“Court?” Mathilde sat up. “From who?”

“Willard,” Rob answered, unfolding the paper. “He says your disappearance caused quite a stir.” Mathilde winced. “Apparently, he, Gordon and Piers are celebrities now and have been invited to tell their side of the story to the queen herself.”

“Really?” Mathilde asked faintly. “Celebrities?” She gulped.

“So, the cat’s clearly out of the bag about your escape. There’s a passage here about Sir Edgar Hill and Lady Elizabeth Coton that I do not quite follow…” He frowned, rubbing his nose. “Apparently they are putting it about that you acted as a cupid to their romance.”

Mathilde’s eyes widened. Their names did seem familiar though. “Wait a moment,” she said. “Sir Edgar Hill… Was that not the gentleman who asked us to deliver that message to his lady love?”

Rob tilted his head to one side, considering this. “The one I told you were a de Courcey bastard?” he asked after a moment.

“Yes, him.”

“But you didn’t deliver the message,” he pointed out critically.

“Well no, but I did ask Gordon to in my stead. I suppose it’s the story that matters,” she shrugged.