Hostage Bride

Rosamunde raised her eyes to his. ‘I—I’m not sure. Should I fear you, Lord Mornay?’

‘Will you not call me by my name? I am Raphael to my friends. I travelled home with them but only one remains; the others have gone on a mission of importance. Sir Jonathan is here and you shall meet him later.’

Raphael? Her heart jerked because it was the name her hero had given her all those years ago. Could it be him after all? No, the youth who had so gallantly saved her kitten could not be the evil man of whom she had been told.

Her mouth was dry as she said, ‘You ask me to use your given name but I do not know you, sir. I am here as your hostage for my father but I beg you will treat me with the honour due to a lady of good virtue.’

‘Supposing I told you that I had already set your father free?’ he murmured in a low voice that did not carry.

Rosamunde’s eyes flew to his face. ‘Why would you do that when the ransom has not been fully paid? What is it you want of me, sir? I beg you, tell me so that I may prepare myself.’

‘You think I mean to disparage you and send you back to your family in shame.’ His gaze narrowed and his voice remained soft. ‘I believe it is time …’

What he meant to say was lost as a commotion was heard from the door and a struggle ensued as his men tried to stop someone entering. Raphael rose to his feet.

‘Who demands entrance here?’

A tall man stepped forward, at least ten armed men at his back. ‘I am Lord Danforth and here on Prince John’s business to see Lord Mornay.’

‘May your business not wait? Come, sir, bring your men and join us. You see that we are at table and there is a lady present.’

‘My business is urgent,’ Henry Danforth said. ‘I have travelled at some speed to bring you the prince’s commands, my lord.’

‘Yet I would ask you to wait, sir. I dare say your errand is important, but I am the master here.’

‘And I am your prince. Will you defy me, sir? I am come to call the traitor Count Torrs to account.’ A sudden hush fell as a man stepped from amongst the cluster of men at Danforth’s back, throwing back the cloak that had hidden his rich clothes and the jewels of state that proclaimed his rank as Prince John himself.

‘The count is not a traitor. He is loyal to the King.’

The words left Rosamunde’s lips before she realised, and brought a sharp look from Prince John.

‘He is a traitor, lady, and you would do well to mind your manners in the presence of your prince.’

‘Be quiet, lady,’ Raphael reiterated urgently in a low-toned voice and left his place. ‘You are welcome, sire.’ He walked towards the man, who was a head shorter and seemed almost puny beside him. Making an elegant bow, he apologised. ‘Had I known you were come in person, I should of course have acquiesced to your wishes immediately. Yet even so I would offer you food and wine.’

‘In private, sir.’

‘Yes, of course. I shall have food and wine brought to my solar.’ He turned his head, ‘Master steward, conduct His Highness to my solar and arrange for food and wine. His men can be accommodated here.’ The steward came hurrying forward, bowing his head. ‘I shall join you in a moment, Highness. I must speak with someone first.’

Raphael returned to his place at board amidst the sound of shuffling as the men closed up to allow the newcomers to find seats. One of the men sitting at the high table got up and offered his place to Lord Danforth, who took it with a word of thanks. Servants hurried to bring him a cup of pewter and a trencher of bread to which was added a mess of meat, worts and rich sauce.

Raphael looked at Rosamunde and his voice dropped to a whisper. ‘I believe you should return to your chamber now, lady. Stay there and do not leave it unless I send for you.’

‘My lord? I do not understand. What is happening here? Why has the prince come? Why does he call my father a traitor?’

Raphael’s hand gripped her wrist. ‘Do not ask questions. Go to your chamber and await my coming. Trust no one else if you value your honour and your life.’

Rosamunde’s heart jerked. She inclined her head. There was something about the sudden arrival of Prince John and his escort that frightened her. Her fear of Lord Mornay had lessened as they had eaten their supper. His warning seemed to imply that she was in danger—

a danger that came from somewhere beyond the walls of his castle.

Leaving the hall with her head held high, Rosamunde wondered what had brought Prince John here—and what Lord Mornay might have said to her had they not been interrupted.

Upstairs in her chamber, Maire was waiting to help her prepare for bed, but she dismissed her, sending her to her own blankets.

‘I shall not retire just yet. I should not sleep if I did and …’ She shook her head as Maire’s brows rose in enquiry. ‘Do not ask for I cannot answer you. I know only that something has happened and I may be in more danger than I was before.’

‘May I ask what brings you here, Highness?’ Raphael said once they were alone. ‘I have prepared a letter informing you of my father’s death and my return and was about to send it to the court in London.’

‘I learned of your father’s death as I travelled from Nottingham and thought it best to speak with you in person. You have here a dangerous enemy of the state—a man I require you to hand over to me immediately.’

‘I do not believe I understand you, Highness. Of whom do you speak? There is no one in my service that would seek to harm England. We are loyal to the crown.’

‘I speak of Count Torrs. Your father had him captured on my behalf, and a ransom was demanded from his family, but I have since learned that he plots with others to murder me and bring havoc to the land while my brother rots in prison.’

‘Where did you learn such a thing, Highness?’

‘From my friend the Shire Reeve of Nottingham. He has served me well on more than one occasion, though as yet he fails to bring the notorious outlaw Rob-in-Hood to heel. That rogue defies my laws and robs my tax collectors. I believe Count Torrs to be in league with outlaws and robbers.’

Raphael’s mind worked swiftly. If the prince learned that he had set free a man he considered his enemy, he might send his army against them. If the King was to have friends when he returned, there must be someone prepared to rally support in secret. Robin of Loxley, a man Raphael had known slightly in the Holy Land, was now an outlaw and lived by his wits; alone he could not rally the noblemen of England to support their king, but perhaps Raphael might. First, he must convince the prince that he was a friend rather than an enemy.

‘Then you have solved a mystery for me, sire. On my arrival I discovered that some rogues had bluffed their way into the castle and rescued an important prisoner. I did not know then that he was held on your behalf.’

A look of anger flared in the prince’s eyes.

‘You tell me the count has escaped? This is outrageous. Your steward has been neglectful and you should punish him and others for this man’s escape.’

‘My steward was in a difficult position, Highness. He did not know when I would return—nor could he have known that my father held the prisoner on your behalf.

He understood it was purely a matter of a ransom. Indeed, I am not certain of the count’s crime or the nature of your agreement with my father,’ Raphael said calmly.

‘He would have kept half the ransom and the count would have been recaptured as he tried to reach a ship. Your father has contributed to my funds on more than one occasion and I have been grateful to him; because of this, I ignored the demands from his neighbours that he should be punished for his crimes against them,’ Prince John replied.

Raphael inclined his head, because the underlying threat was clear. The prince could if he wished charge Raphael with some crime of his father’s and the estate might be forfeit. John’s treachery towards those that displeased him was well known, which was why Raphael had taken care to leave his fortune with the French goldsmith. His father’s estate meant little to him, and he might return to Normandy in time, but if he had a power base in England he might help Richard regain his throne.

‘I believe my father became a bitter man in his last years. It is my hope to make amends and live on good terms with my neighbours. If it cannot be done, I may decide to leave England and live abroad,’ Raphael commented.

The prince’s eyes narrowed. ‘The lady at your board—is she the count’s daughter?’

‘What makes you ask that, sire?’

‘Your father demanded that she bring the ransom in person for reasons of his own. If you have her, then keep her under close guard for we may yet gain something from this business.’

‘Do you speak of a ransom?’ Raphael enquired.

‘It is expensive to hold court and keep the loyalty of fickle nobles,’ the prince said. ‘My purse has too many demands on it and I would take half the ransom, as your father agreed—but it might be that we could use the lady as bait to bring her father back. If he believes his daughter’s life forfeit, he might return and offer his life for hers.’

Raphael’s hands balled at his side and it was all he could do to keep them from the prince’s throat.