Beloved Abductor (8 page)

‘I shall come with you.’ Nell got up. ‘I want to see if Harry has gone to bed as I told him to. He should not have stayed out so late last evening.’

Edmund forced himself to return her smile. ‘Of course. Come, by all means.’ He was aware of Dickon’s eyes upon him. There came a loud hammering. He lifted a startled eyebrow and glanced at Dickon, who rose and went over to the door as the banging continued.

‘I’m coming!’ he shouted. ‘Don’t knock the door down.’ He flung it open, and Sam fell into the hall. He was dragged to his feet by Edmund, who had followed his friend.

‘Sam! What is it, boy, that you make such an uproar? Have you caught a giant fish and wish to tell Harry about it?’ asked Dickon, smiling.

Sam shook his head. His face was flushed, and sweat ran in rivulets down his neck. ‘Tis terrible! Harry’s in the river! I was told to fetch help.’ Sam would have sunk to the floor but for Edmund’s steadying hand.

‘I don’t believe it! It cannot be!’ Nell’s face drained of all colour.

Edmund’s eyes went to Dickon. ‘Best you see to Nell. I shall go with the boy. There could be some mistake.’

‘I should go,’ insisted Dickon, going over to his sister. ‘God’s blood, the boy is supposed to be in bed!’

‘Don’t start worrying before you have to—the riverside is seldom empty of folk on such a fine evening. Build up a fire and get out some dry clothing—perhaps a hot tub, as well,’ he suggested before turning to the boy. ‘Can you still run, lad?’

Sam nodded, and dashed away a smutty tear. Edmund hurried from the house with the lad.

A crowd was coming across the bridge as Edmund and Sam arrived there. People were chattering excitedly, seeming in a good mood. Edmund seized one of the men’s arms. ‘It’s Paul isn’t it?’ he said, jerking him to a halt. ‘Tell me, man, have you seen the boy who fell in the river? Is he safe?’

‘Oh! ‘Tis you, Master de Vert.’ Paul scratched his nose. ‘He’s safe enough, albeit he’s coughing up half the river. I saw some of what happened from the bridge. A young woman went in after him and brought him to the surface. They were carried by the current, but she was fetched ashore with the lad by several of the men. Plucky deed! Risked her life to save young Harry’s.’ He touched his forelock and went on his way.

They made their way across the bridge to where several stragglers could be seen, babbling away in excited voices. Sam pointed to the spot where Harry had fallen in. At last they came to a small group of people on the bank. Harry was sitting up. His clothes still dripped water, and a plump, motherly-looking woman sat on the grass nursing a huddled bundle clad in a yellow under-gown that clung to a shapely figure. Edmund was suddenly filled with a fearful apprehension and quickened his pace. Surely it could not be Felicia—she was supposed to be in the bedchamber. As had Harry!

Edmund stared with dread into Felicia’s face. River, trees, sky and earth seemed to blur into a oneness before they shifted and separated again. Suddenly he realised that her breast was rising and falling with a steadiness that showed she was very much alive. He went down on one knee beside her, feeling weak with relief. He touched her with an unsteady hand. How did she come here? Had she been trying to escape from him? He stroked her wet hair.

‘She’s all right, Master,’ said the woman, nursing her. ‘Just worn out, and a little tipsy, perhaps.’

‘Tipsy?’ Edmund glanced into her anxious face. ‘What did you give her?’

‘Only a drop of this, lad.’ The bearded husband thrust the flask at Edmund.

He took it and drew out the stopper, sniffing it before taking a cautious sip. ‘God’s blood! No wonder she’s passed out.’

‘It won’t do her any harm, sir.’ The woman’s voice was indignant. ‘She was shivering so much that we had to do something.’

‘Of course,’ said Edmund hastily. ‘I understand.’ He unfastened his surcote. ‘Here, let me take her.’ He turned his head slightly. ‘Sam! You give Harry a hand up, if he is fit.’ He did not wait to see if Sam did as asked, but eased Felicia on to his outstretched surcote, then slid his arms beneath her and lifted her, wrapping her in the garment.

Her eyelids flickered, then opened. She winced, then glanced up at Edmund. ‘I... I thought... I heard your voice,’ she said drowsily, ‘but decided it was a dream. You have not been to see me for—oh! so long. I dreamed Harry was drowning, and I couldn’t reach him.’ She yawned and then her eyes widened as she looked about her. ‘It wasn’t a dream?’

‘No—but you did reach Harry, and he is safe,’ said Edmund reassuringly.

‘I did?’ She stared at him. ‘Are you angry with me?’

‘Not at the moment!’ He grinned, and rose to his feet. ‘But the sooner you and Harry are in bed, the better I will like it. Put your arms round my neck. I can carry you more easily that way.’

She stared up into his smiling face and frowned. ‘There is no need for you to carry me at all. It is Harry who needs looking after.’

‘Fiddle! Harry can look after himself. He seems to have got rid of most of the river he swallowed. Besides, he has Sam to help him.’

‘But ...’

‘No buts! As little as you like being held in my arms you will do as you are told.’ He swung her round so that she faced the couple who had helped her, and he thanked them both.

‘It was our pleasure, young Master.’ The woman gave a bobbing curtsy.

‘I, too, am indebted to you for your kindness,’ said Felicia sincerely. ‘I deem your actions helped save my life.’

The husband doffed his cap, and his wife smiled before turning away.

‘Will I go and fetch the lady’s surcote, sir?’ piped up Sam. ‘She left it down by the river where we were fishing.’ He stared up at Edmund and Felicia, his eyes shining brightly and his arm about Harry’s shoulders.

‘Can you swim, Sam?’ said Edmund sternly.

‘Aye, sir. My brother taught me.’

‘Go, then—but be swift about it. Hey, Harry, not you. I’m taking no chances. You must stay close to me!’ Edmund frowned down at the boy as Sam scampered off. ‘If you are lucky, Harry, you just might get away without the hiding you deserve! I doubt that your mother could bear to see you walloped, but I am certain her cosseting and insistence that you stay in bed for the next day or so will be punishment enough. And, doubtless, there will be no more fishing until you learn to swim! Now march!’

Harry pulled a face and marched.

‘Very right and proper too,’ murmured Felicia, a quiver in her voice. ‘You remind me of Father when he used to scold my brother Mark. But his bark was worse than his bite, too.’

‘Surely you cannot suspect I am not as hard-hearted as you believed me to be?’ Edmund’s voice mocked her. ‘I suspect you were trying to escape from me and that was how you came to catch sight of Harry and Sam.’

Felicia made no reply and her heart seemed to bounce against her ribs. He stepped over a tree-root and his arms tightened about her. She looked up at him but his face was in shadow now that they were beneath the trees and she could not read his expression.

‘I know you have been too busy the last few days—too busy to dance attendance on me.’ There was the slightest echo in her reply of the last words he had spoken to her three days earlier. ‘So I decided to seek shelter at the abbey.’

‘You said you never wanted to speak to me again. Yet surely you have not been lonely? You have had Dickon dance attendance on you.’

There was a note in his voice that surprised her. ‘Surely you can’t believe that I and Dickon–’ Her voice trailed off.

‘He considers you a comely woman and there is much about my friend that must appeal to you,’ said Edmund stiffly.

‘I would not deny that he is an attractive man with a pleasant friendly manner but it was never my intention to seduce him.’ Her tone was icy. ‘Neither has he been my only visitor. Nell and Harry have also sat with me and attended to my needs. Without them, I might have attempted an escape earlier. I really must return home. I am concerned about my cousin Joan.’

‘There was no need for you to seek help from the abbot, because I–’

Before he could finish what he was saying, Sam appeared, clutching Felicia’s surcote.

‘It is a bit dusty, but unharmed.’ He held it up to her, but Edmund told him to hold on to it. ‘You have done well this evening, young Sam. Do you think that you could go ahead with Harry? His mother will be pleased to see you both.’

The boy nodded, and Harry groaned. The next moment they both set off ahead of Edmund and Felicia at a run. Felicia thought that now Edmund might finish what he had been about to say but at sight of the constable’s men, she realised that it was unlikely because they were the objection of the men’s attention. ‘You could put me down now. I think I could walk as far as the house,’ she whispered. Edmund made no move to do as she asked. ‘Surely you do not think I will attempt to run away now?’ she added, struggling in his hold.

‘Stop that,’ he said in a low voice, feeling himself harden. ‘Consider the dampness of your gown and your appearance if you were to walk through the streets.’

Felicia flushed. ‘Your surcote will cover me,’ she said.

The corner of his mouth tilted up, and Felicia was suddenly aware that his surcote was slipping and he was looking at her in a way that caused her to blush. ‘You should avert your eyes,’ she whispered.

‘I’d rather look at you than the ground. I must tell you that before Sam appeared with the shocking tidings that Harry had fallen into the river, I was on my way to tell you that, when you are able to ride again, I shall take you to Meriet.’

Her spirits soared. ‘You were? Does that mean you believe me innocent of all your accusations at last?’

They had arrived in the market square and Edmund came to a halt. ‘I admit that I should not have punished you for your cousin’s sins. I beg your pardon for using you so disgracefully and in a manner that you judged as similar to that of your cousin,’ he said awkwardly.

Felicia realised what it must have cost him to make such an apology. ‘You are forgiven! I will add that if you had not abducted me, I would still be my cousin’s prisoner and his treatment of me does not bear contemplating.’ She twinkled up at him. ‘Will you really escort me to Meriet?’

He smiled. ‘You have my word.’ He began to walk again across the square to Dickon’s house. ‘How long have you been able to walk without difficulty?’

She shrugged. ‘It was slow and painful at first. I tell you now that if you had not quarrelled with me and swept out of the room in a rage, I would not have got out of bed and discovered that the door to the garden was left open. Really, I could no sooner lie meekly back after that than you could stay here, as Nell said, in safety and not go and seek out the Lord Edward.’

‘I was not the only one who was angry that day,’ he said dryly. ‘It seems that the safe and easy way is not for either of us.’ On those words he carried her into the hall.

Screens had been set about the fire, and although there was no one in sight, they could hear the sound of voices coming from beyond the screens, as well as the splash of water. A serving-maid bustled in with a pail, and slopped water on the floor, barely noticing Felicia and Edmund as she retreated behind the screens.

‘Good! Nell did get the tub out,’ said Edmund. ‘A hot bath is just what you need. It will loosen any stiffness and chill from your bones.’

‘But...’ began Felicia, when she was interrupted by an unearthly yell and the sound of tippling water.

‘No more, Mother! No more! All this water cannot be good for me. Look! My skin is changing colour!’

‘And a good thing too,’ said Dickon sternly. ‘The worry you caused your mother, my lad! You stink of the river and fish, and goodness knows what else.’

‘Don’t shout at him, Dickon,’ came Nell’s flustered voice. ‘He has had enough of a shock. But the saints only know how we shall get the mud from his hose.’

Felicia and Edmund exchanged glances, and she wrinkled her nose. ‘I suppose I, too, stink of the river.’

Edmund smiled, but did not reply.

‘And where did you leave Edmund and Felicia, did you say?’ came Dickon’s voice again. ‘I wonder if I should go and find them.’ He sounded worried.

‘We are here,’ called Edmund, edging round the screens.

Felicia was instantly aware of several pairs of eyes upon her.

Nell stopped rubbing Harry’s hair and dropped the cloth. She moved forward swiftly, her hands outstretched. ‘I do not understand how you did it, but I am in your debt forever for saving Harry’s life.’

Edmund set Felicia down. ‘Now is not the time for questions, Nell,’ he said firmly. ‘As soon as Harry is out of the tub, Mistress Meriet must have a hot bath.’

‘Of course!’ Nell smiled her heartfelt thanks and gazed at Felicia with sympathy. ‘You are dripping wet. We will chase these men out and fill the tub again. I have a herbal mixture that will be just the thing for you.’

‘Thank you,’ murmured Felicia, not sure how to cope with Nell’s effusive gratitude.

‘Mary!’ Nell turned to the serving-maid. ‘You will prepare Master Harry’s bed before you fetch some more water to be heated. Dickon, could you help me to lift Harry out of the tub?’

‘Of course, sister.’ Dickon moved swiftly. He cast a smile at Felicia. ‘You will always have our sincere gratitude. Harry is a ruffian, but he is all we have.’