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to
hide. He made himself as comfortable as possible on sacks of grain and tried
to
sleep, but he kept seeing her sad eyes in his mind.
Chapter 23
T he next morning, Elizabeth waited in the kitchen as Adalia prepared food
for
Anne. Elizabeth felt rather dazed, and she told herself it was lack of sleep.
Adalia gave her several worried looks, but did not pry beyond an initial,
hesitant good morning.
It wasn t just lack of sleep overwhelming Elizabeth. She did not know what to
think about John, his gentleness, his understanding. She felt unworthy of his
attentions, when she herself did not know yet what to offer him in return.
It seemed like it would have been a simple thing to offer her own hesitant
confession. Hadn t she already wondered if she loved him? Shouldn t
lovemaking
have convinced her of that?
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Instead it made her pull back, and John didn t deserve that, not after
everything he had sacrificed for her.
She was a coward, and she was startled and disappointed by that fact.
Yet was it cowardly to want to spare him, should her feelings prove less than
his? Plenty of people had good marriages without true love.
But not her parents, she thought with sadness. They d shared everything
together, even death.
How foolish she was to think that she had loved William. There had been none
of
this whirlwind of emotion this fear, this ecstasy, this despair.
This terror. How would she bear it if something happened to John?
 Anne?
Elizabeth shook herself back to awareness to find Adalia watching her with
concern.
 I ve called yer name twice now, the cook said softly,  but I couldn t hand
a
full tray to a woman who wasn t payin attention.
Elizabeth tried to smile.  Forgive me. My thoughts have been scattered. I m
here
now.
  Tis a good thing. She looked about and whispered,  He will make it all
right.
Elizabeth smiled brightly.  Who?
Adalia only shook her head and handed her the tray.
Elizabeth walked through the great hall, ignoring the looks of sympathy she
was
still receiving. What was surprising was how many soldiers watched her, too,
and
that made her uneasy.
At the base of the tower, she found Bannaster waiting for her, and now she
understood the soldiers curiosity.
Still holding the tray, she curtsied.  A good morning, my lord.
 Good morning, Anne.
He looked at her so innocently, as if he hadn t chased her through the
corridors
of Castle Alderley, trying to bed her.
But why was he waiting for her?
 I will accompany you up to visit Lady Elizabeth, he said.
 My lord, permit me to go up first, and prepare her for you. She likes her
hair
styled just so 
 Such vanity is unnecessary with me, he said.  Lady Elizabeth s beauty is
readily apparent. I will follow you up.
Neither soldier looked at her as they stepped aside. Bowing her head,
Elizabeth
stepped past the viscount and preceded him into the tower and up the stairs.
She
kept expecting him to touch her, and that made her climb so quickly that she
was
breathless near the top.
What did he want? Did he mean to hurt Anne by telling her that John had been
driven from the castle? Did he wonder if  Lady Elizabeth had somehow been
aiding her betrothed?
Elizabeth knocked on the door, calling out, as she had before, that Lord
Bannaster was accompanying her this day.
She heard him chuckle, but he said nothing as they waited.
Anne took a long time coming to the door. Had she received another basket
that
she needed to hide? Finally, she opened it and stepped back.
 Good morning, Lord Bannaster, she said in a soft voice.
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 Aye, it is, he said agreeably.
He was too insufferably pleased with himself. Thank goodness Elizabeth had
already explained the revelation of John s true identity to Anne. Yet her
maid
did not know that John had returned, and was even now hiding in the castle.
Perhaps her ignorance was for the best.
 Might I break my fast with you? he asked.
Anne gestured to the table, and they both sat down. Elizabeth silently split
the
meal onto plates between them.
When they were eating, Elizabeth retreated to a corner chair and picked up an
embroidery hoop to pretend to busy herself.
Bannaster handed Anne a chunk of bread.  I am sure your maid told you that
John
Russell had been spying on us all.
Spying was an interesting way to put it, but Anne only inclined her head to
wait.
 He is determined to have you, even though the king knows by now that he is
unsuitable to become an earl.
 And how does the king know that? Anne asked.
 My cousin was sending a man to investigate Russell s castle and finances. It
cannot look good for him. Since it is only a matter of time before the
contract
is invalidated, I have decided that to protect you, it is best if I decline
guardianship of you and offer marriage instead.
Elizabeth poked herself with a needle and tried not to wince.
Anne stopped pretending to eat.  You may offer marriage, my lord, but that
does
not mean 
He interrupted her, and his smile seemed forced.  Offer is the wrong word. I
intend to marry you, Lady Elizabeth. Russell is a scoundrel unworthy to serve
my
royal cousin. I will present the king with our marriage. He will void the
betrothal contract negotiated by a dead king. What bishop would stand against
him?
 You cannot force me to wed you, Anne said.
Her voice was shaking now. What would happen if she were pushed too hard?
Would
she betray herself by looking to her lady s maid for guidance?
Bannaster smiled.  I won t have to force you to marry me.
Anne rose to her feet.  And I will not let you& touch my person, as if that
would
convince me to marry you!
 I won t do that either, Bannaster said calmly.  Russell is in disgrace, and
his unworthiness will already be apparent to the king. I have told the parish
priest that we wish to be wed on the morrow, and that I have already purchased
a
special license to be married without the banns being read.
He had planned for this a long time, Elizabeth realized in growing fear.
Bannaster stood up, and Anne just stared at him, her fear apparent.
 I suggest, my lady, that you prepare yourself for a beautiful ceremony. And
stop looking as if I mean to harm you! he added with distaste.
After he d left the room, Elizabeth closed the door behind him and crossed to
Anne, who sat still, looking ashen.
 I won t let it come to this, Elizabeth said fiercely.
 I know you won t. But I fear for what you will do.
 He put it out of my hands, she answered softly.  I think I might have only
one
option.
 Elizabeth, you re frightening me.
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 You don t need to be frightened anymore.
By that night, John had already overheard the news Bannaster planned to marry
Lady Elizabeth on the morrow. A feast had been ordered, and servants moved
about
too quietly. John had to wait to go to Elizabeth until the sounds of supper
overhead faded away.
He  borrowed a cloak, and used the hood to hide his face. By now he knew the
corridors well, and understood where to hide when he heard someone coming. At
last he was able to knock softly on her door, and when she opened it, he
slipped
inside. Immediately, he drew her into his arms. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]