Her Knight Protector Read online

  ‘The villain, he who called himself my uncle, has killed her,’ Katherine said. ‘I do not know his true name, for she called him Edgar—and I have no knowledge of him beyond that, sir.’

  ‘I knew at once that he was not what he claimed,’ Sigmund said. ‘How came he to abduct you, my lady?’

  ‘By trickery,’ Katherine said. ‘I think he meant to force me into signing my inheritance to him, but has discovered a surer way to gain my lands. He means to marry me tomorrow.’

  ‘I shall not allow that to happen,’ Sigmund told her. ‘There are fifteen men here loyal to you, my lady, and he brought no more than ten. We shall take them by surprise and kill them all.’

  ‘But some of you will be killed,’ Katherine said and the thought of more deaths sickened her. ‘Is there no way that I could escape? Perhaps when he sleeps?’

  ‘His men will not all sleep at the same time.’ Sigmund said and frowned. ‘But there is a way out, my lady. If that is your wish…’

  ‘A secret way to leave this place?’

  ‘Yes. Your uncle told me of it a few days before he died. It has been used in times of trouble in the past, when we were besieged. I speak of many years ago, before my time. In your great-grandfather’s day there was often trouble, for King Stephen could not control the unruly nobles of this land and there was always fighting amongst them.’

  ‘Then I shall leave this night,’ Katherine said decisively. ‘I shall need a man I can trust to guide me back to Banewulf—and my good Maria must stay here, for I will not have her risk her life.’

  Maria protested at this, but was quietened when the steward told her that she would slow down her lady’s escape. She embraced Katherine with tears in her eyes, telling her that she would pray for her safety.

  ‘I shall send for you as soon as I am safe at Banewulf,’ Katherine promised, and Maria nodded, though her eyes were moist with tears and it was clear that she disliked being left behind.

  ‘I shall give you two men I would trust with my life,’ Sigmund said. ‘One is my only son, the other my sister’s boy. Horses will be waiting for you in the woods yonder. Jacob and Fernor will come for you once it is safe and lead you to safety, my lady.’

  ‘You are good to risk so much for me. The fraud will be very angry when he discovers I have gone. He may seek to punish you.’

  ‘Do not fear for us, my lady. We shall find some way to mislead him.’

  ‘Will you not come with me, Sigmund?’

  ‘My duty to you compels me to stay here. My son and his cousin will lead you to safety.’ He glanced down at the body of the murdered woman. ‘She arrived alone only an hour or so ago and said that she was expected, poor lady. You should go up to your bedchamber, my lady—until all is made right here.’

  ‘You will give her Christian burial, Sigmund. She was not my friend, but I would never have wished her to die so terribly.’

  Sigmund made the sign of the cross over his breast. ‘Had I come sooner I might have prevented it, but I fear I had other tasks. Forgive me, my lady. I would not have had you exposed to such a terrible thing as has happened here.’

  ‘I shall go and pray for her soul,’ Katherine replied, her throat tight with emotion. ‘Treat her kindly, Sigmund, for my sake.’

  He bowed his head to her and Katherine went to the spiral steps and walked slowly up to her bedchamber. She had begun to feel shivery and her body was trembling. She sank to her knees in front of the wooden cross set high on the wall, bending her head in prayer.

  ‘God have mercy,’ she said. ‘Forgive her, for she sinned without knowing what she did, and forgive me that I have not yet fulfilled the trust that was put in me.’

  She stayed for several minutes on her knees, and then rose. Maria was waiting for her and, as she saw Katherine’s face, she came to put her arms about her as the tears burst out.

  ‘Weep not for her, my sweeting,’ Maria crooned. ‘She would not have wept for you.’

  Katherine drew away, wiping her eyes. Tears would not help. She must prepare to leave this place when the time was right.

  ‘I shall take only what I need,’ she told Maria. ‘I did not order all my clothes packed before we left Banewulf. I shall take only those things that may be necessary to aid me in this escape.’

  ‘You have no money,’ Maria replied. ‘But you may sell something if you need it, though perhaps your steward will supply you with silver for the journey.’

  ‘I believe you may rest easy in your mind,’ Katherine said with a faint smile at Maria’s anxious words. ‘Sigmund’s son and nephew are to help me, and he will see that we have all we need.’

  ‘He is sleeping,’ Sigmund said when he came to her chambers later that night, bearing a purse of gold, which he gave into Katherine’s hands. ‘I was able to get this for you, my lady—though he hath taken the keys into his own keeping. I had it in my rooms, for I was to have paid certain accounts, which shall now be left for the moment.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Katherine said and handed the moneybag to Maria. ‘You have helped me to escape a fate I consider worse than death this night, and shall be rewarded for it one day—if I live to recover my inheritance.’

  ‘I was charged to take care of you, my lady. My late master would have demanded more of me—and I would give it if necessary.’

  ‘I would have no bloodshed,’ Katherine said. ‘You do not know how I came to escape, Sigmund. Remember, you know nothing of this.’ She reached out to press his hand. ‘Please, I do not want to hear of your death.’

  ‘You shall not if I can prevent it,’ he replied with a smile. ‘Come now, quickly, my lady. He sleeps, but I know not for how long. I tried to give him drugged wine, but he drank only ale and water. I think he guessed the wine might be drugged and forced us all to drink the same ale as he all night.’

  ‘I shall never forget you…’

  Katherine and Maria followed quickly behind him as he led them down the spiral steps and out into the courtyard. They hurried across the shadowed cobbles and into the chapel. After dipping to the altar respectfully, he led Katherine round it, and there behind a heavy drape was a small alcove where two young men stood waiting. One of them pulled a lever in the wall, causing it to slide back with a heavy grating noise.

  Maria stepped forward to embrace her, then retreated, her face a mask of resignation as one of the men came forward, beckoning to Katherine.

  ‘This way, my lady. I am Fernor and have pledged my life here at this altar to keep you safe this night.’

  ‘And I, my lady.’

  Katherine thanked them. They drew her into the darkness of a narrow passage, and she turned to see Sigmund watching her anxiously before he closed the door after them.

  Jacob had taken a torch from a sconce in the wall. It smelled of burning pitch and the smoke made Katherine catch her breath. She controlled the urge to cry out in fear as she was urged deeper into the passage, which led down some steps and had become cold and damp.

  ‘This takes us below the drawbridge and the moat,’ Fernor told her. ‘We must be as quiet as we can, because our men have been replaced on watch by the Baron’s men. If they hear anything, they may alert him too soon. We shall not be safe until we reach the horses and my servant, who watches them for us.’

  Katherine nodded, but made no reply. Indeed, she was not sure that she could reply. He hurried her on, then placed his finger to his lips, pointing upwards.

  ‘The drawbridge is above us.’

  Katherine heard a loud clanking sound and guessed that the bridge was being let down. The clatter of horses’ hooves across the bridge seemed to echo loudly in her ears and the noise was deafening.

  Fernor looked up in alarm. ‘Someone new comes,’ he said. ‘We must hurry, for if they discover that you have escaped they will scour the woods.’

  Katherine followed as he set off at a run, her heart pounding wildly. She could not bear it if she were discovered and taken back to marry that impostor against her will.

 
; It was so cold and damp and dark, and it seemed like a terrible nightmare that would never end. The hem of her under tunic was wet from water that had seeped into the underground tunnel by the time they finally emerged into the sweet night air.

  It was said that demons and devils were abroad at night, but Katherine did not care. She had never been so glad to be out and was trembling from head to foot as Fernor threw her up into the saddle and mounted before her.

  ‘It is best this way, my lady,’ he told her. ‘For we may be pursued and I know this forest better than you.’

  She put her arms about his waist, a silent prayer in her heart.

  ‘May God keep all my people safe this night,’ she whispered. ‘And deliver me safely to those who love me.’

  Chapter Ten

  ‘You have come. Thank God for it!’ Alain said as he met his brother on the road to Banewulf. ‘I would have gone on alone, but together we are so much stronger.’

  ‘Our father set spies to watch where they took her,’ Stefan told him. ‘He was uneasy in himself after they had taken Katherine and is distressed by what has happened, Alain. He sent word that she has been taken to Rotherham, to the house of her uncle. Our father has asked me to beg for your forgiveness.’

  ‘I find it hard to forgive, for he should never have given her up,’ Alain said and his mouth was set harsh, all trace of his merry smile gone. ‘I pray that nothing has happened to her. If Katherine is harmed— I do not believe that I could bring myself to set foot at Banewulf again.’

  ‘You blame Father,’ Stefan said. ‘I would have felt as you do once, but I know he did only what he thought right, Alain. This man’s claims to be her uncle appeared genuine and he had the law on his side. You must try to find it in your heart to forgive Father.’

  ‘At this moment I can think only of Katherine and what may be happening to her,’ Alain said. ‘I blame my father for letting her go, Stefan, but above all I blame myself. Had she been my wife it could never have happened.’

  His eyes were bleak as he stared into the darkness of the night sky.

  ‘I can only pray that we are not too late…’ He spurred his horse forward, knowing that time was of the essence. While Katherine was at the mercy of those unscrupulous men anything might happen.

  ‘Wake up, damn you!’ Baron Ravenshurst was furious as he gazed down at the sleeping form of his erstwhile friend. ‘Thought you would cheat me of my share, did you? You shall shortly discover your mistake, Achrington.’

  The other man opened his eyes as a flacon of water was dashed into his face. He swore and jerked away, staring up at the Baron in bewilderment for a moment.

  ‘What was that for?’ He blinked as he recognised the man, his skin going a sickly yellow colour. ‘Don’t blame me, Hubert—it was all that scheming bitch. Well, she won’t trouble either of us again. She’s dead.’

  ‘Katherine of Grunwald is dead?’ Ravenshurst growled, misunderstanding him. ‘You fool! You stupid fool.’ He took the other man by the shoulders and began to shake him as a dog with a rat. ‘If you have ruined it all by your stupid blundering, I’ll kill you.’

  ‘No…’ Edgar of Achrington coughed and fought him off. ‘Not her—the other one. Celestine.’

  ‘Oh, her…’ Ravenshurst released him and he fell back against the cushions of his couch. ‘She doesn’t matter. We’re well rid of her. I thought you meant Katherine. Where is she?’

  ‘In her chamber.’ Achrington turned pale as he realised his fate once Ravenshurst found out what he had planned to do. ‘I thought to wed her—to make sure of her inheritance. They are sure to discover I am an impostor one day, and if she is my wife…’

  ‘I care not what you do with her once I have what I want,’ Ravenshurst said, causing the other man to sigh with relief. ‘The Manor of Rotherham was always your part of it—but I want something else. Once I have that I shall leave you to your fun.’ His mouth curled in a sneer. ‘Methinks I shall pay the lady a little visit—she will be sleeping and may be more amenable now that she has had time to think on her fate.’

  He went to the door of Achrington’s chamber and yelled for the steward, glaring when Sigmund arrived clutching his bedgown about him.

  ‘Ah, there you are, you lazy fellow. Where were you when I arrived? You should be whipped for your neglect. Take me to the Lady Katherine of Grunwald at once.’

  ‘Yes, my lord,’ Sigmund said. ‘If you would care to follow me, sir. I believe the lady retired to her bed soon after she arrived, for she would not see me. She dismissed her women and said…’

  Ravenshurst was not so easily deceived as his fellow conspirator and smelled a rat. Something was wrong here. He would swear it. The steward was lying and not as subservient as he pretended. He grabbed Sigmund by his gown and shook him until he gasped for breath.

  ‘You had better not be lying. If she is not in her bed, you will be sorry, sirrah.’

  Sigmund said nothing. He had known that he might pay the ultimate price for his lady’s freedom, but his loyalty was such that he was prepared to pay it if need be.

  ‘I am sure you will find she is sleeping, my lord.’

  He led the way to Katherine’s solar and wakened Ethel, who was lying there on a straw pallet.

  ‘Go and fetch your mistress down, woman,’ he said, giving her a warning look.

  ‘I dare not wake her, master.’

  ‘Do as you are told,’ Ravenshurst said. ‘Or you will feel my hand across your head.’ He raised a fist at her. Ethel gave a cry and shuffled off as slowly as she could manage. Giving a shout of anger, Ravenshurst followed, pushing her aside so that she tumbled back, down the stairs. He burst into the bedchamber, and, seeing that someone was sleeping in the bed, pulled back the covers with a cry of triumph—only to discover that it was but a roll of straw. ‘What trickery is this?’ he cried and turned about just as Sigmund came up the steps behind him. ‘Where have you hidden her? Speak up or you will not live to see the dawn.’

  ‘Is she not sleeping, sir?’ Sigmund asked. ‘The Baron told me I was not to disturb her and I believed she was sleeping. I came to tell you that the Baron has called for his horse. I think he is trying to run away.’

  ‘Damn him! He hath her hidden somewhere else—or has the cup more like.’ Thrusting Sigmund to one side, he ran down the stairs and through the hall into the courtyard, where he discovered Achrington about to mount his horse. Grabbing hold of him, he pulled him back and threw him to the ground. ‘What have you done with her?’

  Edgar of Achrington had made a sudden dash for freedom. He had remembered that Ravenshurst was an unforgiving devil and his nerve had broken. Better to escape with his life—especially as he had no idea what it was that his erstwhile friend wanted so badly. It would do him little good to plead his innocence if Ravenshurst decided that he was hiding something.

  ‘I know nothing,’ he said as he lay quaking on the floor. ‘She told me nothing of a cup…’

  ‘Damn you, you lie!’ Ravenshurst cried, pulling him to his feet and smashing his fist into his face so that he sagged and would have fallen again had he not been held in a tight grip. ‘Tell me where she is or I’ll kill you!’

  ‘I told you I don’t—’ Achrington got no further for the other’s fist smashed into his face once more, sending him reeling back and into the murky waters of the moat. He splashed helplessly around in the darkness, crying out for help until, receiving no reply, he went under the black, stinking water for the last time.

  ‘Good riddance,’ Ravenshurst muttered. ‘So perish all cheats.’

  He glared and shook his fist at the moat as if he would have liked to strike Achrington again, but then he turned towards the house. Katherine might have escaped. He would question those likely to know and then, if his suspicions were correct, he would set out after her.

  God pity those who had helped her to escape, for he would show no mercy. With Celestine dead, that fool Achrington drowned and Katherine gone he was back at the beginning, his tempe
r raging and ready to boil over.

  Someone in this house knew where she had gone, and they would talk by the time he had finished with them!

  ‘I am exhausted,’ Katherine said. It was morning now, the sun beginning to shed its warming rays over them, trickling through the canopy of the forest. They had been riding throughout the night, not daring to stop lest they were pursued, and now she was weary, her limbs aching. ‘We must stop for a while and find somewhere to rest and refresh ourselves.’

  Fernor glanced at her, his gaze narrowed and anxious. He did not wish to alarm her, but he had heard dogs baying some minutes earlier and believed that someone might be following them. It could not be long once her escape became known.

  ‘I know a place where you may rest,’ he told her. ‘It is but a few leagues from here, my lady. A house run by the good nuns and hidden away from the common view. It may be best if I leave you there and continue alone to Banewulf. Sir Alain’s men may return with me to fetch you.’

  Katherine hesitated, then shook her head. ‘I thank you for the thought, good sir, but I would rather go on to Banewulf. If we may just stop for some wine and food…’

  Fernor looked at her doubtfully, but made no attempt to dissuade her from her purpose. Yet the tiredness in her face made him anxious. He whispered to Jacob, who nodded and rode back the way they had come, towards the sounds of the dogs, which were coming ever closer.

  ‘I heard dogs baying a few minutes ago. Jacob has gone to draw off their scent,’ he told Katherine when she gave him an inquiring look. ‘If it is us they are pursuing, he will lead them a merry dance and give us a chance to get away.’

  ‘Then we must not waste time, but continue,’ Katherine said, raising her head, a determined expression on her face. ‘I can manage without rest for a while longer.’

  ‘Forgive me, my lady. I know you must be very weary—but I would not have you taken prisoner again.’

  Katherine nodded, but said nothing. She felt as if she might faint from weariness but refused to give in. She would rather die than let that impostor take her back again.