Epilogue
Not long after Tristan was captured, the orders came through. Sir Robert and the other prisoners were to be exchanged for Stephen and his other men who sat with him in Bristol prison, including Sir Baldwin of Clare, Rupert’s master.
She felt happy for Rupert, that he would see his master again and regain his rightful place in Stephen’s court, but she also felt a tug at her heart, for Theobold would be leaving. Now that he was soon to be out of jail, he would be leaving to aid with the prisoner exchange, she assumed.
Bronwyn still worked in the kitchens, but the other cooks mostly left her alone.
When word got around that she had helped foil plans to kill Sir Robert, she wasn’t treated poorly, but the other cooks kept a distance.
Thanks to Master Christopher’s spreading rumors about her, she had no friends amongst the other servants, nor anyone to talk to.
Lady Susanna eventually admitted that Tristan had asked her to do these things, but she maintained that she was not at fault, it was all his doing.
Bronwyn paid a visit to Sir Robert in the cells, along with Theobold, who attended to his every need. Sir Robert stood when she approached, and said, “Hello, Mistress Blakenhale.”
That brought a slow smile to her face. He’d actually addressed her properly.
“Sir Robert.” She nodded. “I wanted to ask… What did that note that I was sent to deliver to you that day say?”
His face darkened. “It is none of your concern.” Then he paused.
“It held the news from the empress that their supplies were running low, due to Matilda burning the city, and she wanted to leave via a small escape that very night and make for Gloucester. Her earls and knights would lead, I would provide the rearguard.”
He looked at her. “It also held an order to kill you. It said, ‘The bearer of this message is untrustworthy and should be killed.’”
Bronwyn gasped. She’d unknowingly delivered her own death warrant. A shiver spiraled down her spine. “But you didn’t kill me.”
“I had no reason to. You’d only delivered a message.
And I could see that the empress likes you.
I knew the handwriting was from Sir Miles himself, but I didn’t know why he would want you dead.
So I decided to ignore that part of the message.
Besides, Theobold hasn’t stopped talking about you, and he is a good judge of character.
Even if the characters are kitchen maids.
” He paused. “I think Sir Miles is mistaken. No doubt his mind was twisted by the devious young squire Tristan, and he doesn’t know whom to trust. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tristan revealed himself to Sir Miles after his pretend death, to work behind the scenes.
“Mistress Bronwyn, you must understand that we rely on our squires for everything. We need them. Closer than brothers or sons or nephews, they are like family, but more. They look after our animals, our bodies, our lives. We rely on them implicitly, and we have great trust in them. In turn, they trust that we will look after their futures and give them every opportunity. With us, they can see the world. It is an attractive concept, and not one people take lightly, but it changes lives.”
She glanced at Theobold in the corner of the cell, his face unreadable in the darkness.
Sir Robert said quietly, “I will let Theobold make his own choices about whom he courts. I make no apology for disapproving of you, because of your different levels of station. He will be a knight. You are a maidservant. I see no chance of upward advancement for you.” He looked at her. “But I have been wrong before.”
She cocked her head at him.
“His choices may not be his own. And in love, they are not always what I would choose for him. But I will not stand in his way.” Sir Robert scratched his chin.
He needed a shave. “Thank you for saving my life. I do think Tristan would have killed me if you hadn’t woken me with your fighting.
A lesser woman would have screamed and ran, but you stayed and fought.
If only you’d been born a boy, I would have taken you on as a squire or page. ” He smiled.
Bronwyn knew it was meant as a compliment, but it made her inwardly bristle at being deemed unworthy due to her sex.
He added, “You should be wary. Lady Susanna may escape the noose, but Tristan will likely hang or be offered the chance to join Stephen’s ranks, as I was.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Really?”
“It happens more often than you’d think. Men change allegiances in war all the time.” He gave her an even look. “What will you do now? The queen likes you, as the empress does. Will you stay here, or join us to return to the empress?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
“You’ll need to decide soon. We are to be exchanged very soon.
From what I gather, the queen herself, and her son, Prince Eustace, will ride to Bristol to be tokens of good faith, and then Stephen will return here, by which time I will be exchanged.
Theobold, however, will travel with you and the others to rejoin the empress.
” Sir Robert grunted and his grim expression returned.
She sensed rather than heard the low rumble of discontent from Theobold’s corner of the cell. No doubt they had had disagreements about this, with Theobold not wanting to leave his master’s side.
“What is it?” Bronwyn asked.
“From what the men tell me, this prisoner exchange was arranged without the empress’s consent.
With my return, she loses a valuable bargaining piece.
Losing Stephen won’t lose her the war, but it will cost her.
Maud will have a fit of temper.” Sir Robert shook his head.
“Whatever your choice, I hope you make the right decision. God be with you.”
Bronwyn let out a small sigh. She knew Theobold watched her, but she did not want to stay. She turned to go, when Theobold said, “Wait.”
She turned around.
“Don’t go.”
She returned to the bars. Theobold had taken the place of Sir Robert.
He smelled, and his dark curls hung around his head.
He needed a shave, and a bath, considering the small fuzz of dark facial hair creeping along his chin.
But she still fancied him terribly, and thought he looked rather roguish being a bit dirty. “What is it?”
“I can’t promise I will always put you first. In fact, I cannot promise that at all.”
She tossed her head. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t walk away from here right now.”
“Because I’m asking you. Stay.”
She looked at him.
“I’ve never felt this way about a young woman before. There have been other girls, some I’ve fancied, but never… Not like this. I am to go to the empress’s court. Say you’ll come with me. I don’t want us to be separated.”
Her heart fluttered and her blood raced in her veins.
“I may have to go on a mission soon to help with the exchange, but, Bronwyn… Will you wait for me?”
She met his eyes. They watched her, sharp and hawk-eyed. Something about him seemed dangerous, as he was only a hair’s breath away from drawing a weapon. But at the same time, he looked so vulnerable, she ached to smooth away his greasy curls and comfort him.
“Please, Bronwyn. Wait for me, and I promise I won’t dally with any other woman. I will be true to you, if you are to me.” He reached for her, through the iron bars, and tugged on her fingers, taking her small fingers in his. “I promise you, my own will be true. I will not love another but you.”
She emitted a soft gasp. He was spouting poetry.
Here, as they stood face to face on opposite ends of a jail cell.
Did she love him? She thought she just might.
Her heart lifted. His eyes shone, and they were like black pools that threatened to draw her in.
Part of her never wanted to leave, and if she were to drown in his affectionate gaze, then so be it.
A snort from the back of the cell brought her back to reality. “For God’s sake, boy. Leave the girl in peace. And leave the poetry to the minstrels and jonglers. I’m hungry. See if there’s any food to be had, will you?”
Theobold released her hand immediately.
She bowed and walked away, feeling slightly embarrassed that Sir Robert had overheard all of that, but there was also lightness in her heart. Theobold was so intense, it had made her shiver when he’d looked at her.
As she passed by Lady Susanna’s cell, she stopped. “Are you well?”
Lady Susanna cursed and strode up to the bars, her face contorted with anger. “This is all your fault. If you hadn’t started pointing fingers and sticking your nose into things, none of this would have happened.”
Bronwyn faced her. “Your sweet mask is slipping, Lady Susanna. You knowingly tormented the empress and helped Tristan try to kill Sir Robert. Can you really blame me for your actions?”
Lady Susanna glared at her. “You’re wrong. You don’t have a clue. He will come for me. He will rescue me.”
“Or he’ll watch you hang if he stays that long.
” A part of her wanted to torment Lady Susanna, to hurt her feelings and lie, and tell her that Tristan was already flirting with other women.
His words about wanting Lady Alice rang in her head.
She was sure that given the opportunity, he surely would turn from Lady Susanna for the next-best option.
But that wasn’t the case, and she felt bad for Lady Susanna.
The handsome young man she’d fallen for was a traitor, and he’d used her for his own ends.
She left amidst the sound of Lady Susanna’s hissing.
Tristan was in the cell farthest from the entrance, which had an armed guard outside it, watching. She had nothing to say to him, so she left the jail, and almost as soon as she had, she ran into Lady Alice.
“Oh, Bronwyn, just the girl I was looking for. I thought you’d be down here. What are we going to do?” Lady Alice wrung her hands. Her energy was like a bird, darting from place to place.
“What do you mean?”