Chapter 14
A breeze caressed Catherine’s fevered skin as she made her way across the clearing, toward the path that cut through the fallow field.
With each breath, she inhaled the fertile scents of fallen leaves and sun-warmed grass, but she had no will to enjoy autumn’s bounty this day.
Her stomach felt sick, the echoing notes of the nones bell matching the relentless thrumming in her ears.
In a few moments she was going to reach the abandoned crofter’s hut and come face to face with Eduard’s evil spy.
Her fingers tingled, and she kept flexing her hands to keep them from going numb. Trying to force herself to focus, she patted the handle of the sheathed dagger she’d secured at her waist as protection. ’Twas little comfort, considering the ordeal that lay ahead, but ’twas better than nothing.
The wind seemed to pick up, gusting through the trees as she approached the old cottage. It crouched like a troll in the woods, with chunks of thatch missing from its roof and several boards hanging askew. A fitting choice, she thought, for Eduard’s misshapen spy.
She paused at the portal, trying to gather her courage to go in and face the man. But then the door creaked open, and she forced her trembling legs to carry her into the cottage’s dim recesses.
It was quiet inside. A film of grit seemed to blanket everything in the oppressive atmosphere, and a damp, musty smell assaulted her.
Rubbing her eyes, Catherine squinted, trying to make them adjust from the light of outdoors.
Where was the wretch? He’d arrived first, the open door made that clear.
Was he hiding to frighten her? Was this some perverse game he played, worthy of his evil master?
A grinding crunch sounded to her left, and she swung her gaze to the spot.
The hunched man stood half in shadow, his form partly illuminated by daylight streaming in from the shutter he’d just opened.
Dust motes danced in the slash of light, swirling round him.
He stepped closer, and Catherine forced herself not to shrink back.
As before, only his thin, pale lips showed beneath the folds of his hood.
“Have you come alone?” he asked in a low rasp.
“Aye,” she whispered.
“You’re certain that no one followed you?”
She nodded mutely this time, feeling what little courage she’d mustered beginning to fade. This man, this spy, held her children’s lives in his hands. Holy saints, what could she do to stop him from making them suffer for her mistakes?
“Please,” she blurted, “please don’t let Eduard hurt my babes. I’m begging you, do not to tell him of—”
“Hush, Catherine,” the man said softly, and she stilled, feeling a tingle go up her spine at the change in his voice. There was something about it. Something that struck a chord at the very center of her…
“There’s no need to fear,” he continued, his tone gentle and melodious. “I’ll not be telling Lord Montford anything, except to go straight to hell where he belongs, to roast with all of the other demons and villains.”
With that the man slowly straightened until he stood miraculously transformed, just as tall and true as any other healthy person.
When he lifted his hands to his hood, Catherine gasped; her heart skipped a beat as he swept the dark material back to expose his face and the silvery waves of hair atop his head.
After staring for several moments, her voice finally squeaked past the tightness in her throat.
“Heldred? Sweet Mother of God. Heldred, is it really you?”
“Aye, my lady, ’tis me,” he answered quietly. “Blessed be, but ’tis good to speak with you at long last.”
Shock dissolved into happy tears as Catherine threw herself into the old man’s arms. He hugged her tight to him, and she heard the catch in his breathing as he stroked her hair softly.
In all of her years as Geoffrey de Montford’s wife, Heldred had been the only person, other than her own children, to show her kindness and love; the old weaver had been the first in her life to treat her gently, with courtesy.
Though their stations in life were different, they’d become friends.
She remembered how his sun-browned cheeks had wrinkled with smiles every time he helped her, teaching her new skills to perfect her weaving, and she’d never ceased to feel grateful for his care of her.
Now she pulled back, gazing at his dear old face and spilling questions at him in a confusing stream. “Why did you—how did you know where to find me, and what do you know about all this—?”
Heldred shook his head, smiling. “Ah, lady. I suspected something foul from the moment Lord Montford announced you dead.” He stroked his finger over her wet cheek.
“When I slipped past the guards and found Elise’s body in your tomb, I saw the truth of his evil deed.
I decided then that he had brought you here as his own sister, though at first I didn’t understand why he would commit such blasphemy.
I came here to watch over you and to be sure that he planned no other harm. ”
Suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place.
Gripping his hand, Catherine smiled at him through her tears, “’Twas you all along, wasn’t it?
You were the one who sent me that pot of salve for my blisters.
And those bouquets of flowers—and the padded weaving mat that appeared in my chamber just last week.
All this time, it was you! But why did you not reveal yourself to me?
Why did you let me think you were one of Eduard’s spies? ”
“For the fears that I caused you, my lady, I am heartily sorry,” Heldred murmured, bowing his head.
“But I needed to keep my disguise to be sure that none other might recognize me and report of it. I didn’t want to endanger you in any way, so I watched and waited.
” Shadows deepened his brown eyes. “And I learned. I think I understand, now, my lady, why Lord Montford sent you here. It has to do with your husband, does it not?”
Catherine released his hands and stepped away. “Aye. Eduard wants me to prepare the way for Gray’s murder, so that he can assume Gray’s power and lands. If I refuse, he’s vowed to kill Ian and Isabel as punishment.”
Heldred cursed under his breath. “’Tis as I suspected.” He looked back to Catherine. “When is the deed to be committed?”
“I do not know. The order is certain to come soon, though. Eduard has been away with the king for nigh on two months already. ’Tis why I planned to escape tonight.”
“But why have you not—” Heldred paused, studying her. “I mean no offense, my lady, but why have you not confided in Lord Camville? I’ve noticed in these weeks of watching that he seems to be a kind man. A powerful man, in a position, surely, to help you.”
Catherine felt her cheeks heat. “Gray is a good man, Heldred. The finest I’ve known. I had resolved to tell him, and in truth, an opportunity to confess presented itself but a week past, when we were away from both the castle and Eduard’s spies. But I let the chance slip by.”
Heldred frowned. “When was that?”
“The day of the village fair.”
“Ah, yes,” Heldred said. “I remember. Sir Alban left to find you and Lord Camville in the forest after the brawling began at the marketplace.”
Catherine nodded, the heat in her cheeks intensifying. She remembered all too well those moments in the glen and the passion she and Gray had shared. But she couldn’t bring herself to tell Heldred, dear as he was, the full reason behind why she’d remained silent.
Finally, she settled for an explanation of a different kind.
“Gray left that same afternoon at the king’s command.
He went to Cheltenham, to assist in a grand assize there.
It’s been six days already, with no telling when he’ll return.
” She looked away, so that Heldred wouldn’t see the pain in her eyes when she added, “And that is why I must leave tonight. I cannot continue to risk my children’s safety by waiting longer. I am only indulging myself if I do.”
Heldred drew her gaze again, his dark, wise eyes searching hers. “You feel deeply for your husband, then, lady?”
She tried to blink back stinging tears, but in the end, she just nodded and forced a watery smile. “Aye, Heldred. I love him. My heart aches to think that I must leave him. But my children must come first. I know that, and yet I—”
Her voice cracked, and with an oath, Heldred gathered her to him like a wounded child.
All the anxiety of the past week seemed to overwhelm her, and she let herself weep into his kind embrace, clinging to him for strength.
It felt so good to have the comfort of this old friend; he knew her true identity and could share her burden, even if only for a little while.
When the worst of her crying had passed, Catherine hiccuped and wiped her nose with the scrap of linen he offered her. “Thank you,” she murmured, trying again to smile. “The only bright spot in all of this is finding you, Heldred. That, and knowing I’ll see my children again tonight, God willing.”
“Aye. If there be any justice in this world, you and they will live safely together once more.” Heldred stood straighter. “I want to help you to it, my lady.”
“What?”
“I wish to go with you, to assist you in freeing your children from Faegerliegh Keep.”
“Nay, Heldred. I’ll not have you risking yourself more. Coming here and taking a disguise to watch over me was danger enough.”
“And what of the twins’ safety, lady? Will you be content to pass by what help I can offer? Are not two rescuers better than one?”
Catherine frowned at her old friend, taking a breath in preparation to argue with him, then clamping her mouth shut when she realized that he was right.
She sighed. “You have a point. But attempting a rescue at Faegerliegh will be dangerous, as you well know. The intricacy of the corridors alone will daunt us, not to mention the guards Eduard has surely posted everywhere.”