belongings. That there would be pain he was certain. He had
loved no one else in his entire life. He was close to Edmund and Edmund’s wife
and daughters, but he did not think he loved them. He would grieve if they
died, but he did not feel the same instinct to protect them. He had done his
best to protect Lady Maud and Isabella, but he had failed and they had died. He
knew that it was not his fault entirely, but he knew that he was far from
innocent.
And here was his father’s wife and he wanted to save her
from what was ahead, but he was helpless, as helpless as he had been to protect
his mother. His rôle was to ensure that she arrived safely at Liss, then his
responsibility would end. He could, he would, do no more.
He realised that Lady Alais was looking at him
expectantly. “There is one other thing. Do you think you could manage to wear a
sword? Or would it be too heavy? I could give you the scabbard if you cannot
manage the whole thing. It would at least give the illusion that you were
armed.”
“Let me try,” said Alais. Hugh handed her one of the
swords he had taken from the Frenchmen. He had little hope that she would be
able to hold it, let alone wield it, but it was the appearance that was
important. He wanted to put off attackers. He did not expect Alais to join in
any fighting.
The sword was much too long and heavy for her and, even when
she was on a horse, he could see that she would not be able to manage it. As he
took it back, Hugh hefted it in his hand. “It is not well-made and the balance
is wrong. Perhaps my own sword...”
Alais shook her head. “If the French swords are so bad,
I should feel safer if you kept your own sword.”
“A dagger?” he suggested.
This seemed to be an acceptable compromise. Alais
managed to wear it ostentatiously, so that it would be obvious to even the most
casual of observers. Unfortunately, although she looked extremely comfortable
wearing it and had handled it well when he had given it to her, Hugh knew that
she would be unable to use it and he hoped fervently that such an occasion
would not arise. “At least outlaws will think twice about attacking three armed
men. Very well,” he said, assessing her once more. “You will pass as a boy from
a distance. And when we get to the inn tonight, you must stay silent and not
remove your cloak or your cap until we are alone.”
“I am to be a boy at the inn as well?” cried out Alais.
“Of course, my lady, where else do you think outlaws
find out who are the best people to attack on the road?”
Alais was horrified and then another thought occurred to
her. “And the rooms, my lord, how many rooms will there be?”
“One” said Hugh firmly. “But I will make sure that there
is a truckle bed for you.” It took a lot of effort, but he held her gaze. She
had to understand what a dangerous situation this was. Their mutual embarrassment
was nothing compared to the risk of being set upon by robbers and thieves.
Alais sniffed, this was going too far.
“My lord, this is hardly proper.”
“No. And if I had been brave enough to do what was not
proper for you and your mother and have you both stay here at Hill, she would
still be alive. You would not have been in St Michael’s, but here.”
Alais was silent. It had not occurred to her to consider
that she and her mother might have stayed at Hill, but now it did seem strange
that they had not. She had never considered that they might have stayed there
once she had learned that the manor belonged to her stepson and not her
husband. Alais bit her tongue to stop herself from speaking. Her mother’s death
was her husband’s fault! If he had sent a proper escort for them, they would
have been travelling and not in St Michael’s at mass. He should have sent an
escort for them to bring them from Leigh. “Perhaps,” she said, deliberately, “it
would be better for me to return to Leigh and for your father to send a proper
escort there.”
“My lady,” Hugh
loved no one else in his entire life. He was close to Edmund and Edmund’s wife
and daughters, but he did not think he loved them. He would grieve if they
died, but he did not feel the same instinct to protect them. He had done his
best to protect Lady Maud and Isabella, but he had failed and they had died. He
knew that it was not his fault entirely, but he knew that he was far from
innocent.
And here was his father’s wife and he wanted to save her
from what was ahead, but he was helpless, as helpless as he had been to protect
his mother. His rôle was to ensure that she arrived safely at Liss, then his
responsibility would end. He could, he would, do no more.
He realised that Lady Alais was looking at him
expectantly. “There is one other thing. Do you think you could manage to wear a
sword? Or would it be too heavy? I could give you the scabbard if you cannot
manage the whole thing. It would at least give the illusion that you were
armed.”
“Let me try,” said Alais. Hugh handed her one of the
swords he had taken from the Frenchmen. He had little hope that she would be
able to hold it, let alone wield it, but it was the appearance that was
important. He wanted to put off attackers. He did not expect Alais to join in
any fighting.
The sword was much too long and heavy for her and, even when
she was on a horse, he could see that she would not be able to manage it. As he
took it back, Hugh hefted it in his hand. “It is not well-made and the balance
is wrong. Perhaps my own sword...”
Alais shook her head. “If the French swords are so bad,
I should feel safer if you kept your own sword.”
“A dagger?” he suggested.
This seemed to be an acceptable compromise. Alais
managed to wear it ostentatiously, so that it would be obvious to even the most
casual of observers. Unfortunately, although she looked extremely comfortable
wearing it and had handled it well when he had given it to her, Hugh knew that
she would be unable to use it and he hoped fervently that such an occasion
would not arise. “At least outlaws will think twice about attacking three armed
men. Very well,” he said, assessing her once more. “You will pass as a boy from
a distance. And when we get to the inn tonight, you must stay silent and not
remove your cloak or your cap until we are alone.”
“I am to be a boy at the inn as well?” cried out Alais.
“Of course, my lady, where else do you think outlaws
find out who are the best people to attack on the road?”
Alais was horrified and then another thought occurred to
her. “And the rooms, my lord, how many rooms will there be?”
“One” said Hugh firmly. “But I will make sure that there
is a truckle bed for you.” It took a lot of effort, but he held her gaze. She
had to understand what a dangerous situation this was. Their mutual embarrassment
was nothing compared to the risk of being set upon by robbers and thieves.
Alais sniffed, this was going too far.
“My lord, this is hardly proper.”
“No. And if I had been brave enough to do what was not
proper for you and your mother and have you both stay here at Hill, she would
still be alive. You would not have been in St Michael’s, but here.”
Alais was silent. It had not occurred to her to consider
that she and her mother might have stayed at Hill, but now it did seem strange
that they had not. She had never considered that they might have stayed there
once she had learned that the manor belonged to her stepson and not her
husband. Alais bit her tongue to stop herself from speaking. Her mother’s death
was her husband’s fault! If he had sent a proper escort for them, they would
have been travelling and not in St Michael’s at mass. He should have sent an
escort for them to bring them from Leigh. “Perhaps,” she said, deliberately, “it
would be better for me to return to Leigh and for your father to send a proper
escort there.”
“My lady,” Hugh
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