La Flamme (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon

place."
    "Ysabel, you have taken Richard and me into your wagon, giving us your bed, while you sleep on the floor. How can we repay your kindness?"
    "Kindness is its own reward. Once someone helped me when my need was great."
    "Who, Ysabel?"
    "The de Baillards."
    Sabine studied her bare hand, wishing she dared throw Garreth's ring out the window, for the sight of it offended her. Instead, she clutched it so tightly it cut into her palm. "I am angry that I was forced to leave my own home. 1 want to go to my husband and . . . and plunge a knife into his black heart for his treachery."
    "Face your grief now, and later, when you are stronger, you can face the anger. I would caution you that revenge is destructive, oft times harming the innocent." The old woman moved toward the door. "I will go now to speak to Marie and Jacques, then I shall bring Richard to you."
    When Ysabel left, Sabine allowed hot tears to flood her eyes. "Oh, Maman , the pain in my leg is nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart. What shall I do—what shall I do?"
    Marie de Baillard still sat on the steps, holding Richard, while Jacques was gathering their supplies and loading the wagon.
    "I'll take Richard to his sister," Ysabel said, reaching for the young boy. "I will surely miss them when we leave tomorrow."
    Marie tightened her arms protectively about him. "What do you mean, old woman? Those two children will be coming with us."
    "I merely supposed that you would not want to be bothered with them, and that they would be left behind."
    "The girl is not well enough to be on her own, much less take care of this precious child," Marie stated, glancing at her husband. "Tell Ysabel that they must come with us, Jacques."
    He smiled at Ysabel, realizing the game she was playing, then turned to his wife and sighed regretfully. "We cannot keep them with us, Marie—you know this. We have no coins for food. We may even be forced to sell the wagons to pay our fare home."
    "You will not sell my wagon. We will find another way to get home. Have we not always managed? This wagon is the only home that ever belonged to me, and i will not return to France without it."
    "We have never been this desperate," Ysabel said.
    Marie stood up, her eyes sparkling angrily. "Do you think me a fool, old woman?"
    Ysabel met her gaze squarely. "I have never considered you a fool, Marie."
    Marie nodded. "I know the identity of the girl and boy, and I know that they are in danger. So, I refuse to leave them behind to be murdered. They go with us when we leave in the morning." Marie looked first at Ysabel and then at her husband, daring either of them to contradict her. "That is the way it's to be, and I've said my last word on the matter."
    Ysabel feigned hesitation. "The girl is concerned that she is a burden."
    "She is no trouble to me since you have had the care of her. And she eats very little." Marie's eyes were soft when she looked down at Richard. "Besides, he has become attached to me."
    It was all Ysabel could do to keep from smiling. "I'll just see if I can convince the girl to come with us. She may not want to leave England."
    "Then you must make her realize that it is best for them to remain with us," Marie said, finally relinquishing Richard to Ysabel.
    As the old woman passed Jacques, he chuckled and said in a low voice: "Have you no shame, Ysabel, that you trick my poor unsuspecting wife so?"
    "I did not trick her," Ysabel replied. "As she said, she is no fool—she knew what I was doing."

 
     
    11
     
    Sabine had been tense on the long journey, cringing with fear whenever riders would come upon them. She felt safer when they came within sight of Dover.
    Jacques got permission from a farmer to camp on his land, where they would remain until they earned enough money for passage to France.
    Each morning Ysabel would go into Dover and move among the populace, telling fortunes, earning what money she could. Jacques had been a tinker before he became an actor, so he