Telepathy of Hearts (20 page)

“The maid does not want you. She runs to the hills to be free of you. Let me have Eleanor. I can unite the
Cousins as easily as you. Matheus, you never wanted her you said so yourself. Find yourself a love match and you
'll save our souls from the damnation of civil war. What say ye?
”

Opening his hand, Matheus could see blood. His fist had gripped so tight, his own nails had punctured his skin. His shoulders shook and he could taste his vomit as it rose in his mouth. He pulled his arm back, his fist flew and struck Richard. Falling to the floor, his head hit the flags.

Matheus stood over the person he
had
once called friend. Lifting his boot, he put it onto Richard Sline
's throat. Sline grabbed at his ankle, writhing in panic as the breath left his body.

“I cannot kill you in God
's house. Be sure, Richard it is not this house that protects you. I am not bothered about my soul, for I do not fear the lynch for slaying you here. If it meant Eleanor was safe, I would fall on my sword in front of you and be as godless as Godwin. But others would come for her. As for you Sline, you are not worthy of the sight of her eyes let alone her body.
”

Richard squirmed on the floor, holding his throat. His face was as red as the blood that seeped from the gash were Matheus
's fist had caught him.

Turning around
,
Matheus
exited the chapel but not before he
growled
,
“And Sline, you are quite right. I do not love her
…I worship her.
”

* * * *

Godwin was as furious as his Master. With twenty of the men, they searched for Sline
.

“I would love to make ready a bog for him
—they can go to the underworld as easy as they go to the upper one.
”

Matheus did
not mention a word to Eleanor, b
ut he alerted Goody to the seriousness of the situation.

“Bloody Yorkists, you are beasts, the lot of you,
” she hissed.

“My father was Lancastrian, Goody, and it was my mother who was a Yorkist and a gentler woman you could not meet. You do not like me, well I know that. But we both love Eleanor.
”

Goody interrupted, wagging her fingers.
“Some have done so a lot longer than others.
”

Matheus wiped his face with his hand and growled back,
“I just want to keep her safe.
”

Goody softened to the man who stood before her. Gentling her tone she said,
“How old are you, Sire? Twenty? Twenty-
four or five perhaps. And how long widowed?
”

“I
'm twenty-
four, and I lost my wife as our son was born dead four years ago. Why do you ask?
” Matheus went and sat on the bed at the side of Eleanor. Raking his hair through his hands. His hand left his hair for hers and he stroked her locks. She mewled lightly in response to his touch.

Goody waddled over and took his shoulders in her arms.
Pulling him to her ample breast she cuddled him.
“I don
't dislike you Sire. In fact, I think you
're a handsome beast for a bull. I just didn
't want to lose my Eleanor. I lost my baby at birth too. I know your pain, child. God saw my grief and sent me Eleanor to wet nurse. I know she is a little wild
,
b
ut she is everything to me
—
my babe is everything.
”

Relaxing his shoulders for the first time that night, comforted by the motherly touch, he replied,
“I have no desire to break the bond you share. I was hoping you would be there to support us with our
children if
God grants us them. I do love her
,
Goody. Since that day in the throne room, I think I always have.
”

“I know, son. I know,
” Goody soothed.

* * * *

“Today, wife you have the pleasure of riding with Godwin upon his lap.
”
Putting on a smile, he added,
“I have some hunting to attend to. I am mighty jealous, so please do not sit upon his little dagger or as the stable lad says his little lance, which has neither my length
n
or girth
—
apparently.
”

“No Arthur?
” Eleanor enquired

Thinking on
his feet
,
Matheus replied,
“He
's a little lame and Arthur is an old man. You know the weight and size of Godwin.
”

M
atheus gave the appearance
all was well. He was like a swan on a flat lake. Above the surface as a swan glides, moving with grace and calm, so Matheus appeared able and unruffled. Below the surface just as the swan
's legs thrash to swim, his nerves thrashed, twisting him to the point he feared his loss of control.

He spoke the truth; he was hunting. But not for deer or boar. His quarry was Richard Sline. Godwin was an excellent swordsman. His hands so large he could crush a skull. But his tracking skills were poor. Matheus had no choice. In order for Richard to be caught, he had to leave her.

There was no need for words; the Knight and his Man at Arms exchanged knowing looks as Matheus rode away.

“Right, my Lady, can I help you
mount
up
?
”
Eleanor
was about to swing her leg astride.
“
Oh no you don
't
;
my Lord will have my guts for his garter strings if you ride astride.
” Godwin winked as he spoke, settling his charge in front of him and making sure she rode side-
saddle.

Goody nodded approvingly.
She had been fussing over
her
babe
all morning and reciprocating
Matheus
's
nervous glances
. Now that Eleanor was settled with Godwin, she seemed to relax.
She rode to the side of them. Her mount was only a pony, but still her small legs hardly passed the saddle. The beast
's legs made four strides for one of the destrier
's
.

Eleanor had been watching and listening to the exchange between
Goody and Godwin
since they set off. Stopping to water the horses gave Eleanor an opportunity to taunt Goody about it.
“You
're sweet on Godwin, aren
't you?
”

Goody blushed and stumbled over her words.
“Stuff and nonsense. You talk like a fool, child
.
H
e is a giant of a man and godless, and I am no taller than his sword belt and have the love of the Lord in my heart.
”

Eleanor was having none of it. Laughing, she made kissing noises.
“Oh Godwin, what big hands you have and your feet too, they are quite enormous. Have you a big dagger?
”

“I do
, my Lady,
” Godwin supplied
.
“In fact,
'tis a thing that
Celts are known for
—the size of our daggers and handsome it is too.
” With that he pulled out a dagger.

“See Goody;
that is impressive.
Celts have extremely big ones.
”

Lifting each lady onto her mount, Godwin kept his eyes sharp and his ears open. The scout came back to report that all was
well. He had seen their lord, b
ut no one had found Sir Sline.

Droplets of dew had frozen like
precious jewels on spider webs.
Snow decorated the branches as if the lacing trim on fine gowns.
Clicks and crackles could be heard as th
e horse
's hooves snapped twigs, but otherwise, i
t was a still morning. As midday approached
,
apart from the water break, the party had been in the saddle for over three hours
.

“Goody posset, Goody. I need to go.
”

Eleanor was interrupted by Godwin in
her attempts to alert her nurse
maid.
“My Lady do you wish me to stop.
”

“You
Celts have ears like bats too? Next you will be telling me that God is a woman.
” Eleanor was half embarrassed and half chiding him as she spoke. Either way, she had gone scarlet.

Godwin rose his brow and started to speak.
“Actually
,
my Lady
—
”

Eleanor
's raised hand and
oh really
expression quietened him. He lifted her down as if she was no weight at all
and then
turned and called for some soldiers to accompany them.

Hands on her hips with quite the expression of disquiet she chided him.
“Really?
Pray no
…really Godwin? Do you really think I am going to run away?
”

His large brow pinched and his lips straightened His expression showed he had no idea what to say back.

Goody saved him by sounding quite knowledgeable
.
“
'Tis boars, my dear. Huge, they are size of bulls. These woods are known for them. Is that not what Master Matheus has gone hunting for, Godwin?
”

Nodding his head in encouragement the
Celt joined in.
“Yes indeed he is, and some as big as me. Really
,
they are.
”

Eleanor scowled. Her needs were more important than the size of boars. The men stood behind some trees and waited.

“I can
't relieve myself with you listening.
Please let me go deeper into the woods.
” Eleanor had an air of desperation in her voice.

Godwin went against his gut feeling and agreed.
“Women. Why can
't you be as us and stand? Five minutes, my Lady and do
not
go far.
”

One of the soldiers replied before Eleanor had chance too.
“Be less fun if they were Master
…like us
,
I mean
would
be odd them having a John Thomas and all.
”

Godwin hit him around the head for being an idiot.