Raven’s Rise Read online

  “True,” he admitted. “What harm is there in a little flirting?”

  “You might break a lady’s heart.”

  “I never have before.”

  “I doubt that very much. You likely have cut a swath through the country, now full of women lovesick at knowing that you’ve smiled at them once and will never pass by again.”

  “Now who’s the flirt?” Rafe asked, his eyes warming. “You look like an innocent, but I suspect you’re more than you seem.”

  “I’m a widow,” she said suddenly. She touched the moonstones. “My husband gave me this necklace as a wedding gift.”

  Rafe looked chastened. “I did not mean to be impertinent.” His smile returned. “Well, I did a little. It’s been said that I’m incorrigible.”

  “Have no fear, Sir Rafe,” she said. “You will not break my heart.”

  “I would not dare,” he returned. “And anyway, what chance would I have with a woman about to take the veil? You must be ready to leave all such worldly things behind.” His tone was light, but there was skepticism in his eyes.

  “I hope to find peace at Basingwerke,” she said. She couldn’t outright lie about her situation, but she could dissemble. Think of Henry. Think of seeing him again.

  “Do you not have peace now?” he asked.

  Angelet saw Ernald staring at her hungrily from where he sat. She turned back to Rafe. “No. It is difficult to explain. Please do not ask me anything further.”

  He relented immediately. “Then I will ask you if you’d like a little more wine.”

  “Very kind. Thank you.”

  Following the course of sweets and nuts, during which even more wine was poured, the hall grew noisier, filled with the contented babbling of dozens of people, full and drunk and happy.

  Just as Angelet was about to excuse herself, Otto stood up once again. “Attention!” he called. “Attention!”

  “Saints help me, now what?” she muttered, fearing a worse announcement than before.

  The room fell quiet. Otto gestured for two servants to bring something toward the center of the hall, just in front of the high table. They rolled in a small cart on which was set a heavy wooden chest, the lid on but not secured. Next to it on the cart was a coil of heavy chain and a great iron lock. The contents must have been heavy, to judge by the grunts of one servant.

  Everyone strained for a better look. Those in front leaned in over the tables. Those in back rose to their feet to see.

  Otto chuckled as he walked around to where the chest sat. He made another impatient gesture. “Candles! Bring some here to better show the spectacle!”

  Rafe leaned over to Angelet, whispering, “What manner of magic trick is this? Will some bird fly out of the box?”

  “I know not,” Angelet replied, equally perplexed. “Otto is not above a little showmanship, but I have no idea what he has planned tonight.”

  The candles were brought, and soon a pool of bright light shone on the chest and on Otto’s face. His expression was almost smug.

  “I announced earlier that the lady Angelet was traveling forth on a journey to take the veil. Well, a nun’s place at Basingwerke Abbey does not come without cost. A bride of Christ must still bring a dowry with her.”

  He seized the lid and swung it upward. The squeak of the hinges was a little comic, but that meant nothing in light of the revelation of the contents.

  Gold. Gold and silver coins glittered and gleamed in the candlelight, drawing shouts and excited gasps from the viewers. Angelet herself was stunned. She didn't think she’d ever seen so much wealth in one place before. That was her dowry?

  She glanced over at Rafe, expecting to see him also agog over the display. Instead, he leaned back a little, his eyes narrowed as he studied not the gold, but Lord Otto.

  Otto himself was still basking in the attention of the whole crowd. His long fingers curled around the lid, and then snapped it shut. “There, there. You’ve all seen the dower gift, and you’ll be the last people to see it, until the abbot himself receives the chest.” Otto picked up the coiled chain and began to wind it around the chest, looping it several times, tightly enough to make the chest impossible to open without removing the chain first.

  And that would also be hard to do, because Otto’s final touch was to loop the end links of the chain into the heavy wrought-iron lock. He snapped the lock shut. “Safe and secure,” he declared, holding aloft an iron key. “May this gift bring favor from heaven, and may Angelet’s holy service bring equal favor.” He turned to her. “You will say prayers for the Yarboroughs, Angelet. Every day.”

  Angelet nodded wordlessly. So Otto found a use for her after all.

  Chapter 5

  From the moment he saw the lady Angelet earlier that day, Rafe knew he was in trouble. She’d been high above him, watching from her room, and the wind had picked up that pale blonde hair and waved it like a banner in the sun.

  How was he supposed to ignore that?

  He had no reason to think that he’d see her again, but then she appeared in the great hall, looking even more beautiful at close range. Nothing like his usual fare, but striking. Slim and pale, with long hair so light blonde it was nearly silver, and she possessed wide-set, light green eyes that he wanted to swim in.

  Before dinner, when Rafe still didn’t even know the name of the woman, he already wanted to throttle the stupid lordling who was mocking her. That the man should turn into such a sniveling coward the second Rafe confronted him only added to his fury. The lady had been so dignified, even when she was being assailed with harsh words. She was obviously hurt, but she didn’t snap back or let the man’s behavior drag her own down. Maybe that was why Rafe jumped in. Someone had to defend her, and it looked like no one in this whole hall of people was willing to take the task on.

  Granted, Rafe hadn’t realized he was challenging the lord’s heir until he’d committed. But it wasn’t as if Ernald had many supporters leaping to back him up either. Only a few sycophants lingered behind the young lord. None of them looked like a threat.

  Still, Rafe used the pretext of protecting her to sit next to the lady at supper. He enjoyed every moment of her company, and the subtle way she deployed her wit, unafraid to exchange a barb or two. Her unusual beauty also helped keep his attention—not that she was anything like his type. She was too willowy, and too fey. He got the sense that those pale green eyes saw more than most mortal eyes. Lady Angelet was in danger of being carried away by fairies. Perhaps he could negotiate to be her protector. He certainly carried enough iron and steel to keep the otherworld at bay.

  Rafe had caught himself and steered away from further ideas about getting closer to the lady. She was a dinner companion, nothing more.

  Then Lord Otto spoke.

  Whatever she said afterwards, Angelet had been stunned by Otto’s announcement. Rafe saw it in her face, and that gave him grave misgivings about the job. He had no issue with escorting a woman to a nunnery—he didn’t want to escort a woman against her will, however. And from Angelet’s horrified expression when the news was announced, this decision was not of her choosing. But when he tried to ask her about it, she insisted she really did want to go. What could he do?

  He could drink, and he did so, slowly, his mind working the whole time. For some time after the lady Angelet had excused herself for the evening, Rafe remained at the table, drinking the wine provided. He’d been a soldier for far too long to pass up the opportunity to drink on someone else’s bill. The wine was quite good, the ale barely drinkable. The wine must have been imported from a good vineyard, while the local brewmaster had some lessons still to learn.

  Eventually, Simon beckoned, and Rafe stood up, walking over to him.

  “Come, let’s go outside,” Simon said. “We ought to talk.”

  Rafe agreed wholeheartedly. Once they got to the courtyard, Simon took a huge breath of cold night air.

  “Did you see that chest of gold?” Simon demanded, as if there was the slightes
t chance that anyone could have missed it.

  “I did. So that’s what it costs to have a holy sister pray for you every day,” Rafe said. “The price seems steep, but then, glory is often more expensive than you first expect.”

  “That is cynical, Sir Rafe,” Simon said. “Surely Lord Otto’s motives are pure. The lady wishes to join the nunnery and that is the cost.”

  “I’m not sure she does wish it. She was as surprised as anyone at the news.”

  Simon looked uncomfortable. “Well, that may be, but if so, it’s not for us to decide. It’s between the lady and her family.”

  “And the soon-to-be paid abbot! Otto’s buying much more than a place in the cloister for his daughter-in-law. He’s buying bragging rights and influence in the church. Mark my words, the lady is the least important part of this transaction.”

  “You should not say that. Reducing a holy vow to a mere exchange in the marketplace is…”

  “Blasphemous? It’s true all the same. That man was putting on a show in the great hall, burnishing his name by creating a scene. And worse, he made our task harder.”

  “How so?”

  “Do I have to act it out for you?” Rafe asked. “After that spectacle, rumors will be flying on the road before us…rumors of a small cortège weighted down by a chest of gold! We’d attract attention no matter what with a noblewoman like the lady Angelet in tow. But now we’ve got to worry about thieves and bandits who know exactly what sort of prize we carry.”

  “But the chest is chained up. Locked,” Simon protested.

  “So? All they have to do is take it…after killing us, of course. The chain and lock are impressive, but an axe will open that chest soon enough. Otto was a fool to advertise the gold.”

  “Is it advisable to call our client a fool?” Simon asked, looking around to see if any of the locals had overheard.

  “He’s not paying us to flatter him.” The more he thought about the whole scene, the angrier Rafe got. “Why couldn’t he have interviewed us about the job first, instead of making us wait until tomorrow to discuss it?”

  “Will you refuse it?” Simon asked worriedly. He and his friends were the ones who needed the job, not Rafe. But Rafe was the logical person to take the lead and speak to Otto on behalf of all the others.

  “It’s too late tonight to say anything,” Rafe replied. “I’ll speak to him on the morrow.” Then he smiled. “Perhaps this can be turned to our advantage. The extra risk requires extra reward, after all.”

  “Be careful.”

  “Not to worry, Simon. I know what I’m doing.” Rafe didn’t actually, but he knew there was something to be gained from a negotiation. However, to truly gain an advantage over their potential employer, Rafe would need more information.

  And the person who had that information was Lady Angelet.

  Rafe left Simon behind and returned to the main house. He had a fair amount of experience when it came to finding women in a discreet manner, so even though he’d never been inside of Dryton before, he was able to navigate the narrow hallways and rooms without attracting attention. He hoped to find Angelet in an out-of-the-way place so he could get some more honest answers out of her than he had so far.

  However, when he caught sight of her again, she wasn’t alone.

  Ernald had her by one arm, and despite Angelet’s efforts to extract herself from his grip, he kept her close, until she was backed against a wall and couldn’t go any further.

  “…never do this,” she was saying as Rafe got closer to the pair. “Just let me go!”

  “You’ll be gone soon enough,” Ernald returned. “You sure you didn’t tell him to do that? To get you out of Dryton? I know you’ve been trying for years to get out of here. Marry me, and you’ll be able to travel if you want. If you’d only listened to me—”

  “No! I’m not interested in that,” Angelet said. “I’ve told you that over and over.”

  “Shame.” Ernald leaned over, eclipsing Angelet’s form, hiding her expression from Rafe. “Then give me a goodbye kiss, Sister.”

  Angelet’s next words were cut off as Ernald tried to claim a kiss.

  Rafe covered the last fifteen paces at a speed he usually didn’t try for. He clamped his hand down on Ernald’s shoulder.

  A second later, Ernald was flying backwards until he stumbled against the far wall. Rafe stepped between Angelet and the now-prone Ernald, keeping his back to the lady.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Ernald hissed, rubbing at his jaw. “You hit me, fool!”

  “I did,” said Rafe. “I suppose I could have waited for the lady to slap you, but I’m impatient. And it would hurt more if I hit you.”

  The other man stood up, leaning against the opposite wall for support. The candle burning in the sconce a few feet away cast stark, deep shadows over Ernald’s face. He sneered. “Aren’t you the high-minded protector. Do you always lurk in corridors, waiting for women to save?”

  “Not always, but I’ll step into the role when needed.”

  Ernald rolled his eyes and attempted to skirt around Rafe to get to Angelet. Rafe shifted and half-drew his dagger.

  “Stop.”

  “Do you dare get in my way?” Ernald asked with honest amazement.

  “I dare a lot of things,” Rafe drawled. “Which is why I’ve got plenty of notches in my sword while you’re too cowardly to attack anything tougher than that over-cooked roast from supper. If you take another step toward the lady, I’ll open up your stomach with this blade and pull out what’s left of your meal.”

  Ernald paled, but said, “That’s disgusting.”

  “So is raping your sister-in-law.”

  “I don’t have to listen to this slander,” Ernald snarled. “I’ll report your actions to my father. Once he’s heard what you’ve done, he’ll never give you the job of escorting Angelet anywhere!”

  Rafe kept his gaze steady on the lordling and made sure to keep himself between him and Angelet. “Guess you’d better hurry off, then.”

  Ernald’s eyes slipped past Rafe, but he must have realized that even if he ordered Angelet to leave with him, Rafe wouldn’t permit her to go. He turned and stalked away down the hallway.

  Behind Rafe, Angelet let out a sigh of relief.

  He spun in time to see the disgust on her face as she watched Ernald’s retreat.

  “That happen often?”

  “He wouldn’t have….” she started to say.

  “Are you that innocent despite having been married? I was watching him all night. He looks at you like a wolf looks at a sheep. You’re better off leaving this place.”

  “I’m glad to be going.”

  “Even to a nunnery?” he asked shrewdly. The few words he’d overheard suggested not.

  “Um, yes.” She looked at him with those wide, green eyes. “But now the journey will be delayed. I am so sorry to cost you the position!”

  He smiled at her. “I haven’t lost it yet. Not till Otto himself says so. How much weight will Ernald’s words have?”

  She frowned, thinking it over. “He’ll lie, change the story to one that suits him better. He’ll say he found you attempting to ravish me, and that he’s the hero. Ernald will claim to have stopped you from attacking me.”

  “In that case, surely he’d have grabbed you and taken you away to safety. You’d be in Otto’s presence when Ernald gives his account.”

  “True!” Her eyes lit up. “And Otto will certainly ask me what happened. Ernald and he have crossed words often enough that he won’t trust Ernald’s account alone. If I can’t be found, the whole charge might fall apart.”

  “Where can you hide?” Rafe asked. “Especially if Ernald raises a fuss and asks for a search?”

  “I know a few spots where I’ll be quite safe,” she said, smiling. “Listen. Should there be a search, someone ought to find me. If it happens, come to the chapel with one of your companions. You both can meet me there—I’ll keep an eye out for you from my hiding spot—and I
’ll say I was in prayer the whole time. Then it will seem that Ernald made the whole thing up.”

  “Good enough.” He touched her hand. “By the way, I wasn’t in the hallway by chance. I do have questions for you about this journey.”

  “Then we’ll talk more. Later. I don’t want to be found by Ernald or his lackeys just now.” She paused. “Why did you intervene? You could have walked away.”

  Rafe said, “Let’s just say that I like you better than Ernald. And he needed a reprimand.”

  Her fleeting smile felt like a spring breeze. “Find me in the chapel. Good luck!”

  * * * *

  Angelet knew of many hiding places around the manor of Dryton, because over the years she learned it was better to be forgotten than noticed. Thus, she had favorite spots to dash to no matter where she was, whether on the grounds or in the manor house itself.

  When Sir Rafe left her, she slipped down another hallway and hid in a shadowed alcove when she heard two other people walking toward her. She held still, scarcely breathing. From the tone of their conversation, it was only two servants. But she knew Ernald would be out to find her very soon.

  So Angelet kept moving whenever she was alone and unwatched, making her way toward the chapel. Ernald probably would send men to the chapel looking for her, but she had a hiding place there too, a nook behind a curtain where Father Mark kept extra candles and oil. From there, she’d be able to see anyone who entered the space. When she saw Sir Rafe, she’d reveal herself again.

  The chapel was empty when she got there. Father Mark went to sleep quite early, since he rose during the night to observe Matins and Lauds, the holy offices that took place during the hours before dawn.

  Angelet entered the quiet chapel and moved to the hiding place. She took a few deep breaths, thinking of what an odd day she’d had. First Sir Rafe arrived, disturbing her placidity like a stone thrown into a pond. Then there was Otto’s surprise announcement, and Ernald’s display of dominance. Thank goodness Rafe appeared to thwart him. Angelet didn’t think Ernald would have gone beyond a kiss, but that was bad enough. She never liked Ernald, even when she first came to Dryton. Hubert had been sincere and sweet. Ernald was the opposite, selfish and calculating.