Chapter 17
Elisande knew exactly where they were going. The river mouth. That was where she assumed her brother had gone before—to sail for Ireland to escape the Normans. Except, for some reason, he hadn’t.
From her seat in front of Alger on a borrowed steed, she struggled, but couldn’t break the bonds he had tied her in.
“Stop fighting, Eli. You’re fine. I told you I’d find a way.”
“You have to take me back. You’re going to bring all the king’s men down on your heads. He’ll never let me go.”
“He won’t have a choice. I’m sorry you had to go through all that, but you’re safe now. Two more boats are waiting for the rest of us. We sail with the tide.”
The idea of going anywhere with her brother, let alone both of them, made Elisande consider tossing herself off the horse. She glanced at the rocky ground beneath its hooves and knew she’d never land well enough or run fast enough to escape them … at least not yet.
“What happened?” Sir Rolf said as Henry leaped from his horse as William and the others rode into the courtyard.
Henry looked around, and there was no sign of any kind of attack. His heart began to calm. He must have mistaken the situation.
“Where is she?”
“Who?”
“Lady de Vere.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her in a few hours since she was chatting with Baldwin.”
“Find her.”
Rolf nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
Henry rushed to the solarium, praying he would find her there, but it was empty. He checked the room they had used the night before. Empty.
“Baldwin!” Henry roared the steward’s name.
“He’s here, my lord.” Rolf brought him forward. “He hasn’t seen her either.”
“She went to the kitchens and gardens after you left, my lord.”
“Have you seen anyone suspicious?”
“Lord, the manor is full of strangers to me,” Baldwin said honestly.
“Have you located your lady wife?” the king asked from behind him in the hall.
“No, Your Majesty.”
He turned to his men. “Comb every inch of these grounds. Find her.”
Henry went to the kitchens, but no one had seen her.
“Not yet today, my lord. I thought it strange. Her not checking in on preparations, with all these extra people. ’Twasn’t like her at all.”
“Where is Sayer?” Henry asked, turning to Rolf. “I haven’t seen him since I returned.”
“He was watching over Lady Elisande. I assumed all was well because he planned to stay close to her.”
A shout went up from the gardens.
“Your Majesty! A body!”
Henry ran toward the yell, but William beat him to the source.
“May God have mercy on his soul.” The king looked to Henry. “He was one of your knights, wasn’t he?”
“Sayer.” Henry dropped to his knees beside his friend. He closed Sayer’s eyes and said a quick prayer.
“He was covered with bramble, alongside a hidden gate, Your Majesty.”
William looked to Henry. “He was watching over your wife?”
“Yes.”
“There are tracks leading away from the manor beyond the gate, Your Majesty, my lord. Several horses.”
“Then the only question that remains is, did she leave willingly, or did she get your knight killed as part of her escape?” King William said.
Henry rose with a heavy heart. “She wouldn’t sacrifice anyone. Elisande isn’t like that.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” William said. “Follow their tracks. Find your wife and find out what happened. Report back to me with what you learn. I am curious to know if I misjudged the woman’s character.”
“You don’t ride with us, Your Majesty?”
“Not this time, Henry. You can handle it.”
Henry didn’t know what to make of the king’s pronouncement, but he wasn’t about to waste time.
“Yes, sire.” He looked at Rolf. “I need a fresh mount. You’re coming with me this time. Geoffrey can stay. We’re hunting, and we are not coming back empty-handed.”