April Munday by His Ransom

learning that way.” He smiled, but it made him look even sadder and she suspected that he had wanted to be a physician for more than the last few months.
    “You will not inherit from your father?”
    “No,” he said. “There are three healthy sons from his first marriage. Philippe is the heir. We impoverished ourselves to ransom him a few years ago.”
    “So, it matters not whether you stay here or return south.”
    “I cannot go home,” he said. “Do you think my father would welcome the son who shamed him?”
    “It is his own shame, not yours,” said Rosamunde hotly.
    “No,” he said, at last and she was not sure whether he was agreeing with her or disagreeing. “I have no home there.” She knew that he had not answered her question. A crippled solder was of no use to anyone and he must have given much thought to his future. She supposed he had discounted marriage since few noble women would look at a penniless cripple, regardless of how well-born or handsome he was. It would probably be kinder if her father did keep him prisoner.
    Rosamunde did not think he was lying, so she believed that Guy was mistaken and that Richard was trustworthy. Nonetheless she did instruct Margaret to remove the poisons from the still-room and to lock them in the chest in Rosamunde’s bedchamber. 
     
     
     
    It was Richard who suggested that since the soldiers had to train hard to learn what they would do when the enemy came, so the people in the town should also train.
    “But what should they practise?” asked Guy, who had become even more willing to question Richard’s suggestions since his failure to convince Rosamunde that the Frenchman wanted to kill them all.
    “Getting safely into the castle,” explained Richard.
    “They can do that without any practice,” said Guy dismissively. He glanced at Thomas, his disdain for the suggestion showing on his face. He seemed taken aback by Thomas’ expression of interest.
    “Can they?” asked Richard. “If they are being chased by men on horses with swords at night and if we are trying to keep the soldiers out? How will they act in the confusion? How will they know which way to run? Do they know how to keep out of the way of mounted soldiers?” Richard knew only too well the chaos that followed a surprise night attack. His leg bore witness to that.
    Richard knew it was unlikely that the siege would start like this, but he thought it best to be prepared. If Rosamunde feared that she could be made to surrender by the capture of a few people in the town, it would be as well to ensure that that could not happen.  So Rosamunde agreed that the townspeople must train to ensure their safety, but refused to allow Richard to go and explain to them what must be done. “They will ignore you,” she explained patiently. “Guy can go, for they trust him.” Richard was not insulted. Of course they would trust Guy. They knew him. They did not know Richard. He knew it had been unreasonable to expect Rosamunde to let him go, but if he was to stay here he needed to get to know the people and they would have to learn to trust him.
    Rosamunde was unhappy because she could not go herself and explain to her people how she planned to protect them. The people in the town knew that a siege was expected. They had seen the preparations. They had seen their animals removed along with their friends and family who could be transported elsewhere. The few that remained were scared.
    Guy went into the town and explained about how they should take refuge in the castle and what the various signals would be at different times of the day. The townspeople knew that, although the castle had not been built for their protection, they would take shelter there in times of trouble. But Richard had been correct. It took a long time for that number of people to cross the moat and find safety within the castle walls.
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    Rosamunde woke the next morning feeling