The Lord's Forced Bride. Anne Herries

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СКАЧАТЬ been for the shifty look of the men who had left as soon as he arrived, Andrew might have tossed the scrap of parchment into the fire, but something made him slip it into his jerkin. It was probably nothing, and yet he had an uneasy feeling that those rogues were up to no good. Were they planning to murder someone? Had the whole of this note contained instructions for someone’s death?

      Andrew went to the window and looked out. The three men had mounted up and were about to ride off when something clicked in his mind. He had surely seen at least one of them before. He could swear that he had wounded the man with the lank hair and a scar on his cheek only a few weeks back. It was when he had come upon the young man fighting so valiantly for his life in a clearing!

      He swore in frustration, for if he had recognised the man sooner he might have called a constable and had the rogue arrested. He was certain now that they had been plotting something. There was nothing he could do, for men like those three were plentiful and, despite all the measures the King had taken to control the lawlessness that had once been rife in England, murder and robbery happened all too often. It was perhaps unwise to travel alone, though Andrew was now in the habit of doing so when he could. He dressed modestly and never carried much gold so as not to invite attack.

      He had no idea who the rogues had in mind and could have done little to stop them if he had. He could only hope that the young man he had helped once before had arrived safely at his destination. It was odd that he should have forgotten the rogue until the last moment, but perhaps that was because he had other things on his mind.

      ‘Take care of yourself, my dearest,’ Lady Melford said and embraced her daughter. There was a suspicion of tears in her eyes despite her warm smile, as she had hoped to be there to guide her daughter through the difficulties of making a first appearance at court. ‘Remember that I shall always love you. I shall be thinking of you while you are away, Catherine.’

      ‘Thank you, Mother,’ Catherine said and hugged her. At this moment of parting she could not help feeling nervous. It was true that her maidservant, Tilda, was to accompany her, but she would have liked to be able to ask her mother for advice when they attended the court. Lady Melford had shown her how to curtsy and told her always to behave modestly, and Catherine knew that her brother would be there. None the less, now that they were about to depart, she could not help wishing her mother was coming with her. She turned to her sister and kissed her cheek. Anne had been pale and silent the past few days, refusing to tell her what was upsetting her. ‘I shall bring you a gift from London—what would you like, dearest?’

      ‘I want nothing,’ Anne said and shrugged off her sister’s hand.

      ‘I shall find some trinket that will please you,’ Catherine promised. She was thoughtful as she turned away, giving her hand to her groom. She smiled at him as he helped her to mount her palfrey. Catherine was an excellent equestrienne, well able to ride herself, and preferring it to riding pillion as was the custom for many ladies. ‘Thank you, Dickon.’

      Her father had made his goodbyes earlier as he was still unable to walk more than a few steps from his bed, but he had kissed her forehead, told her to mind her brother and Lady Anne and wished her well. Her brother was waiting for her, and Catherine’s serving woman, Tilda, was riding pillion behind one of the several grooms, and was just ahead of Catherine as she gave the reins a little flick and rode after them with Dickon following at her back. They had three more grooms and six servants trained as men-at-arms riding with them, because it was as well not to go unprepared, and Rob had wanted his daughter to be well protected on the road. Their baggage was carried on a cart that was protected by another three men and had set off an hour earlier so it would be waiting for them at the inn where they had arranged to spend the night.

      The times might not be as lawless in King Henry VII’s England as they had once been, but there were still beggars roaming the country, and sometimes bands of robbers who might attack the unwary. Lord Melford had made certain that his daughter would be shielded from any such attack.

      Catherine felt excited to be starting her journey. Her grandfather, Owen Davies, had given Catherine her palfrey for her last birthday, and it was a spirited beast, but well trained. She had called it Frosty because of its pure white coat, and loved it dearly.

      It felt good to be out riding with her brother and their attendants, and as they passed through the countryside near Melford people came to the side of the road to wave and bow their heads respectfully. Robert of Melford was respected as an honest, fair man; his people liked working for him, because he was a generous master and treated them with the respect he showed to others. This reflected in the way they treated his family, and the women waved to Catherine as she passed, wishing her a safe journey. She smiled and waved back to them, her feeling of excitement growing all the time, though she was also a little nervous, because she had never been further than Shrewsbury in her life.

      Once she had left her home far behind, her nerves began to settle and she felt a return of the excitement she had experienced at the start. Her disappointment at leaving her mother and sister behind was fading as she wondered what it would be like at court. Her mother had told her that some of the ladies would be wearing wonderful clothes and jewels, and her brother had some beautiful things in his saddlebags that Lady Melford had told her she might borrow for her court appearance. She knew that she was to have some new gowns when she reached town, for her mother had written some two weeks ago to order them from a dressmaker she patronised when in London, and Catherine would be fitted when she arrived. It was all so very exciting that she had begun to wish the journey over.

      It was midday when they stopped to take some refreshment at an inn her father had recommended. Messengers had gone ahead and the landlord came out, bowing and smiling as he welcomed Lord Melford’s son and daughter into his house. Hot soup and fresh bread were provided, which were washed down with ale. The drink was very strong and Catherine took only a few sips, though she enjoyed the chicken broth.

      They stopped only long enough to rest the horses, soon setting out again on the second stage of their journey. They would sleep at the house of one of Lord Melford’s friends that night and go on the next day. Catherine was used to riding distances of some leagues, for she had been to Shrewsbury a few times with her mother, but she had begun to think that she would be glad to reach their final stopping place for the day.

      It was as they reached a narrow road that was bordered on two sides by dense trees that some men rushed out from the trees and tried to grab Harry’s horse. Taken by surprise, he was slow in drawing his weapon and the men dragged him from his mount. Catherine screamed and the armed servants rushed to assist Harry, but one of the ruffians held a dagger to his throat.

      ‘Come any nearer and he dies!’

      ‘Let him go!’ Catherine cried, jumping from her horse and rushing towards them. ‘You can gain nothing from harming him!’ Fear for her twin made her rush at the nearest man, throwing herself at him, kicking and punching him with her fists. ‘Let my brother go, I tell you!’

      Some of the men-at-arms had dismounted and were hesitating, half-afraid to attack even though Catherine was still fighting valiantly. However, the sound of a bloodcurdling yell and the crack of a musket from behind the rogues made the one holding Harry jump as if startled, and in that instant Harry broke free and drew his sword. The men-at-arms set upon the rogues as soon as they saw that Harry no longer had a knife to his throat and a bloody battle ensued; in seconds two of the rogues lay dying on the ground and three more fled into the trees, where they were set upon by a roaring fury on his horse. He cut down two of them, and the third was pursued by the men-at-arms.

      Catherine was shaking, trembling with fright. It had all happened so quickly and she had acted impulsively without a thought for her own safety. Harry drew her into his arms, comforting her as she burst into tears.

      ‘Hush, СКАЧАТЬ