An Honorable Rogue (13 page)

Rozenn swallowed. She and Ivona were sitting on a bench on the south side of the chapel, and she had just told Ivona about Adam's summons and her intention to settle in England. The news was not being well received, leaving Rozenn in no doubt that there was little hope of Ivona travelling with her to Fulford and so far she had made no mention of her intentions regarding Sir Richard.

'Let me get this straight..." Ivona put her hand to her brow. 'You are considering journeying to a foreign land with
Benedict Silvester
as your sole protector? Granted, the man plays the lute like an angel, but what use will that be if you run into thieves or cutthroats?'

'Maman,
I am going. As I have just explained. Adam has invited us both--in fact, it is more than a request
and
--'

Ivona made an impatient sound. 'Adam should know better. For one thing, I am far too old to consider accompanying you on such a foolhardy enterprise. And as for you--who knows what may happen to you on such a journey?"

This was proving to be every bit as difficult as Rozenn had expected.
'Maman...'
gently, she touched Ivona's arm '...Ben's whole life has been a journey. I think he will know how to protect me.'

'Benedict Silvester, protect you? If he doesn't seduce you, he'll neglect you while he's seducing someone else!'

Rozenn sighed, 'I trust Ben.'

Ivona frowned. 'And I do not."

'Maman,
why do you dislike him?"

'Dislike him?" Ivona looked startled and shifted so that the bench they were sitting on creaked. 'I don't dislike him. He was a sweet child--indeed. I felt very sorry for him losing his mother and having to live the life of a nomad. And he and Adam...' her gaze drifted towards the altar '...they were such close friends. Of course, Ben was the one who found you under the rosebush by the tavern, and when you were children the three of you were so good together. I never had a moment's worry when you were with Adam or Ben."

'What made you change your mind about him? Was it something about Genevieve's?'

Ivona shot her a sharp look. 'You know about that?'

Rose nodded. 'Ben mentioned it yesterday, Ivona. Ben is sorry for the rift between him and Adam. It is my belief he sees this journey as a way of mending things."

Ivona's face was lost behind the fall of her veil. Hearing a muffled sob. Rozenn pushed it aside.
'Maman?'

Another sob. 'Rozenn, I am sorry, but I do not want you to leave. I do not want to lose you.' A tear ran down Ivona's cheek. She wiped it away with the edge of her veil, before straightening her shoulders and giving a watery smile. 'Forgive me. It is just that I always knew that Adam would leave. Mothers know their sons will leave. I am being selfish.' Taking her hand. Ivona drew in a shuddering breath. 'I always wanted a daughter, and though you are not of my flesh and blood, in my mind and heart you have been a true daughter. Yann knew I ached for a girl. Every woman wants a child who will stay at her side and the boys usually leave. That was why when Ben found you, Yann was so swift to bring you to me.'

'I am so glad that he did.' Rozenn said. 'For you have been the best of mothers. I shall be sorry to leave you, but...'

'You are intent on joining Adam."

'Yes.' Rozenn drew in a breath. 'And Ben is to be my escort. Naturally I am sorry if that displeases you,
maman.
Give me your blessing for my journey?'

Ivona squeezed her hand. 'You have it. I cannot go with you, but, my dear girl, of course you have my blessing.'

'Oh, thank you!"

Ivona tipped her head to one side and her veil shifted. 'What will you do in England?'

Rozenn smiled and felt some of the tension inside her begin to ease. 'Who knows? Pray for me,
maman.
I may marry.'

'You would consider Benedict?' Rozenn gave her a sharp look. 'Oh, I wouldn't dream of interfering, dear. But I still maintain that the troubadour's life is not for you.'

Still maintain ?
What did Ivona mean? And then Rose thought of Per and bit her lip. 'The life of a merchant's wife was not for me, either.'

'No.' Ivona shuddered. 'Per was not a good man. Would that we had known that before you married him.'

'Forget him,
maman.
I am trying to. I want to look forward, which is the main reason I wish to travel to England. The past is to be left behind."

'Seriously, Rozenn, might you marry again?'

'It is possible.'

'But not Benedict? You will not marry Benedict?'

Rozenn thrust the memory of Ben's kiss on the jetty to the back of her mind. 'No,
maman,
my friendship with Ben is not of that nature."

Ivona frowned. 'You have someone in mind, I think.'

Rozenn fingered her gold cross, but said nothing--the words would not come. It had been so long since she had seen Sir Richard, and while Adam's message had suggested marriage, she would rather say nothing until a formal betrothal had been arranged. Her dream of marrying Sir Richard of Asculf was only a dream until she had looked into Sir Richard's eyes and he had made a formal offer. Rising from the bench, she shook out her skirts.
"Maman,
I must go, the Countess awaits me in the solar.'

Ivona stood. 'Have you told her yet?'

Rozenn grimaced. 'No.'

'She won't be pleased."

'I don't suppose she will. I shall tell her next.' Impulsively, Rozenn gave Ivona a hug. 'Come with me. I would be glad of your support.'

Ivona's smile was sad. but she put her hand in Rozenn's and as one they turned for the door. 'When will you be ready to leave?'

'Within the week."

'So soon?" Her adopted mother bit her lip. and Rozenn caught the shimmer of tears, swiftly blinked away. 'Still, there's time enough for me to prepare a package for you to take to Adam. He will be missing my quince paste and--'

'I am sure he would like that.' Rozenn made her tone light. 'But try not to send him half of Brittany,
maman.
'

Ben said he would hire a horse for me, but I doubt I will take it to England. I may have to walk once we land, so I'll only be taking the essentials.'

The following dawn, Ben woke before Rose and lay on his pallet, watching her. He was conscious of an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach, as though he had drunk sour wine. He hoped it was not guilt, he had no reason to feel guilt. He had used old friendships before in the Duke's name, and had always found it easy to justify. Brittany was a better place with Duke Hoel at its head; guilt was entirely misplaced.

Rose was curled on her side, facing him across the ashes of last night's fire. During the night her hair had loosened and it lay like a soft brown cloud about her face. Her lips were relaxed, almost smiling; her cheeks were lightly flushed, her breathing soft and even.

The Duke needed Ben to establish reliable links with his men in Brittany. It had been Ben who had given Duke Hoel the idea of involving Adam Wymark, it had been Ben who had persuaded Adam to contact Rose. Rose's journey gave him just the cover that he needed to get to England.

Ben had not felt guilty when he had set the wheels in motion, so why on earth should he feel guilty now, just when everything was moving along so nicely?

Rose was serious about leaving Quimperle, nay, about leaving Brittany.

Good.

She had discussed it with Ivona, who was not choosing to go with her, she had told the Countess.

Good.

All was falling out exactly as he had planned. His stomach churned. Frowning, Ben quashed an urge to cross the room to Rose, to brush aside that dark tendril of hair that was falling across one eye. Was he doing the right thing?

Grimacing, not used to questioning himself like this, Ben rolled on to his back, pillowed his head on his hands and fixed his gaze on a smoke-blackened roof beam. He must make certain she did not change her mind. The Duke's business apart, Rose was a widow, and Ben felt uneasy about letting her remain alone in Quimperle, especially with Mark Quemeneur so hot to marry her. Rose had married a merchant before in search of a comfortable life and it had been disastrous. It was true that at the moment she didn't show the slightest desire to marry Quemeneur--the opposite, in fact. But she had stunned him once before when she had married Per and he wasn't about to risk that happening again.

Rose's ambition might yet be her downfall. Ben understood why she so hungered for respectability, for comfort--it was clearly in some way connected with her being a foundling. And Rose's ambition had been useful to him. Understanding her need to better herself had helped him create this double cover, travelling to England as her escort and as a carefree minstrel trying his luck in pastures new. Understanding Rose's ambitions had enabled him to sweeten Adam's summons with that lure about Sir Richard.

At this moment, all seemed to be going well. He must ensure it continued to do so. As far as everyone in Quimperle was to know, he was simply Rose's escort. He was to take her to... What was the name of Adam's new holding? Fulford, yes, that was it. Fulford in Wessex... Yes. he was to take her there and then...and then...

It occurred to Ben that while they would encounter other people on their journey, he would at times have Rose to himself. The thought was a good one. He could show Rose something of his life and, while it was often a hard life, there were comforts too. Why, she might even like it. His mouth edged up at the corners.

Noblemen and knights alike were generally pleased to see him: they paid him well, they fed him well, they housed him well. Not always, of course. But he did not think that the wandering life was quite as bad as Rose imagined. It would be good to prove this to her, in deeds for once, instead of merely telling her so.

A cockerel crowed out in the street. Rozenn stirred, sighed, and was still, that glossy twist of hair still over one eye.

Quietly, Ben pushed back his bedclothes and sat up. Gathering up his clothes and lute, he slipped into the shop where he dressed quickly and let himself out of the house. There was a slight chill in the air, but the clear sky was already filled with the screech and chatter of swifts and martins. It would soon be warm; he had no need of a cloak. He started downhill.

First, to the castle stables to check on his horse. Piper. A fine-boned brown gelding, a gift from the Duke himself, Piper was Ben's pride and joy. But Piper was not the sole reason Ben was heading for the stables. It was time he spoke to Count Remond's head groom. Quickly, he would act quickly. He had plenty of money and would call in a favour or two. The sooner he got Rose away from Quemeneur, the better, the sooner he got Rose far, far away from Quimperle, the better. The Duke had need of her,
he
had need of her, Quemeneur could go hang.

Once they had put a few miles between them and this place, she would not find it easy to change her mind and return.

It was odd to think of Rose travelling with him day after day, night after night...

His spirits lifted. Only a couple of months ago he would have sworn that nothing would prise her from her place here, that she was stuck in Hauteville, like a limpet on its rock, but everything was changing. The only danger that he could see was that, once on the road. Rose might change her mind. Well, he would urge her on as swiftly as he might and see that she did no such thing. It should be easy.