The Lily and the Lion (24 page)

The early morning rays of sunlight struggled to break the cloud cover as we set out. I could hear the caterwauling vendors and smell the vile refuse and wondered, yet again, how so many could enjoy life in London. If I had hoped for any conversation from my companion, this was not to be for she sat brooding and sullen.

It was difficult to understand the route we travelled. I suddenly regretted not thinking to inquire where we were heading but decided against traversing the moving vehicle to ask Lord Wexford.

I must have dozed for a time for I recall waking with the thought that we had left the city. The horses had quickened their pace and our conveyance rocked harder. Anaïs' eyes were closed and I watched, bemused, as a feather caught in the top of her hood and danced this way and that.

Suddenly the coach pitched heavily. Anaïs' eyes flew open in alarm. As we gathered speed we were tossed from our wooden seats. I could hear Simon urging the horses on and we careered even faster. I crawled to Anaïs and, taking her arm, locked us together.

Above the noise of creaking wheels I could hear a horse galloping alongside. Suddenly we were tipped sideways. A blade pierced the canopy above me. Terrified, I pulled up the corner of the rug in the hope that we could hide ourselves. Pushing the whimpering maid under the cover, I watched in horror as Simon struggled with our attacker, a knife held above his throat as we raced, out of control, at breakneck speed. Lord Wexford dropped the reins and attempted to grab the hilt of the dagger, valiantly holding the blade at bay. With a burst of strength he jerked to his feet, and the villain stumbled backwards. The man quickly regained his balance and slashed through Simon's linen shirt to his arm. Despite the pain this injury must have inflicted, my guardian struck the man's jaw, the blow tumbling the interloper to the ground. I gasped as Lord Wexford leaned out over the flailing hooves of the horses and retrieved the reins. He clambered back to his seat and with a quick look over his shoulder, urged the beasts on, desperate to put distance between us and our pursuer.

It was some time before Simon slowed the sweating animals. We left the road and took refuge behind a thick grove of trees. I was struck by a deep sense of pity for my maid as she lay battered and bruised upon the hard floor. Assisting her onto the seat, I repositioned the cushions and covered her with a rug.

‘Leave me alone!' she spat.

Simon climbed into the rear of the chariot. ‘I see your spiteful tongue remains intact.'

‘Oh my Lord!' I cried. ‘You are injured!'

‘The blade opened my arm but I do not think the wound is deep.'

Removing his shirt, Lord Wexford cut away the damaged sleeve, holding out the bloodied rag to me. ‘Here, wrap this tightly around the wound and knot it securely.'

My gaze cast down, for never had I seen a male in such a state of undress. ‘Do you know who he was, that man who attacked us?'

‘No. He may have been acting on behalf of Salisbury or the Black Prince or,' he considered for a moment, ‘a new friend of your dear maid, perhaps. I really didn't have time to ask. In the end it matters little. We must assume that a reward now exists. Any man in need of coin will be more than happy to slit my throat to get their hands on you.'

‘A reward?' I had not thought it. But it did make perfect sense to pay willing men to do the dirty work for you.

‘What are we to do?' I asked, tightly knotting the binding.

‘I know of someone who might assist us but we will not make that destination today. I had intended that we spend the night at an inn. Instead we shall now have to seek a decent barn or haystack.'

I shuddered at the thought, for though I did not mind, I could imagine the ranting of my maid.

‘Rest and stay out of sight,' he instructed as he picked up his doublet.

Our journey continued in a more sedate fashion but now my eyes were fixed upon the faces of those who passed us. How many would recall seeing our party and seek recompense for this information? Suddenly my position seemed far more tenuous than I had previously imagined. Closeted in London I had managed to bury my fears but I could not afford to allow that to happen again.

We reached the village of Attelsdene by late afternoon and Simon spoke with a bearded cleric sitting beneath an old oak. He pointed to a group of buildings further down the road. Anaïs, aware now that we had come to a stop, sat up and took note of the surroundings. Fortunately she seemed content to remain quiet but her face betrayed her sour mood.

‘I am reliably informed that the farm ahead is deserted,' explained Simon as he clambered on to the carriage. ‘The family who lived there died of the plague, which makes it just perfect for us.'

I could see his point. Local villagers were often unwilling to go near the houses left unoccupied by families who had died in such circumstances, so terrified were they of catching the festering disease.

‘I am not sleeping in a plague house,' cried Anaïs from behind us.

‘Oh, don't worry, we're not going to stay in the house. I think the barn will be somewhat safer.'

Anaïs made no attempt to hide her disgust. However, I was weary and needed to rest, so the barn at that point sounded very inviting indeed.

In fact, it was large and draught free with an ample supply of straw. We had plenty of mead, bread and cold chicken, and I set to lighting a fire. Anaïs sat down and immediately grabbed more than her share. But her actions did not go unnoticed and Simon deftly removed the food from her hands.

‘Perhaps you could help with the bedding?' he suggested.

Anaïs turned up her nose. ‘I am the mother of Gillet's child. I am no longer a maid!'

‘I'll bet you were no maid when Gillet had you either!' he huffed, storming out.

Finishing my supper, I turned my attention to the heating of water. I ripped a portion of my chemise to produce a cloth, and with my precious almond soap was about to disappear when Simon grabbed my arm.

‘If you think you are going to slip away and wash, I advise against it.' He smiled, that same annoying, ever present self-righteousness. ‘May I ask you, how many clean-faced itinerants did you see travelling the road today?' It was true, of course. All the traffic I had seen were the poor and homeless, covered in dust from the roads, the dirt a mask to the misery that lay beneath.

‘Well, I am going to wash,' cried Anaïs. She snatched the material from my hand and thrust it into the pot. She wiped her face then dropped the now filthy cloth back into what had been clean water. Poking out her tongue, she turned on her heel and flung herself upon the straw, neatly laid out by Simon. He started to rise after her but I held onto his sleeve.

‘It does not matter, let it go.' This time it was my turn to smile.

In need of fresh air, I stepped outside.

‘Tired?' he asked, his voice so close to my ear that I jumped with surprise.

‘I was earlier but not now.'

‘Then what is it?'

‘I believe I may have allowed myself to be lulled into a false sense of security whilst in London. I did not think Lord Salisbury would go to such lengths to find me.'

‘He has eyes and ears everywhere.'

‘But why? What could he want from me?'

‘This I have been unable to ascertain.' Turning towards the barn, Lord Wexford directed me to a bench located against the far wall. ‘With so little information available to us, we can only assume some things.'

‘Such as?' I asked, keen to learn anything that I could.

‘You are valuable to him. But I would prefer to know precisely what he intended to do with you.'

My stomach tumbled and a wave of nausea washed over me. ‘Am I never to know peace?'

‘Is that what you had at Denny?'

‘Yes, permanency is peace, is it not? There was no question of tomorrow as each day was the same as the last. It may have been mundane but it was secure. It is hard to throw off a lifetime in just a few weeks.'

‘Yes, of course. This I do understand,' he added. ‘But you cannot expect to experience life unless you truly live it. Have you never considered what you have missed?'

‘No, not until recently. The letter from Cécile changed everything.'

‘Then you were happy as a novice?'

‘I am not sure. It was more that I accepted what I was handed. Is it not better to swim with the tide rather than fight against it?'

He seemed to consider my question at length, his gaze searching the night sky.

‘My father was, for a short period, a member of the Knights Templar. He oft spoke somewhat wistfully of the time he spent with them.' Simon's easy manner was refreshing and I relaxed, allowing myself to lean against the barn. ‘Impressed by his tales I joined the group. They were though, by this time, very much a secret society.'

‘Lady Mary said they were heretics and were burned at the stake,' I declared, wide-eyed, aware that Lord Wexford was revealing a great secret.

‘Friday the thirteenth of October. Yes, several hundred poor, innocent souls, but the Templars numbered in the thousands. The rest hid and continue their work to this day, offering protection and care for those in need.' He turned and looked at me, drawing me into his tale. ‘I had been seneschal knight to my uncle during a campaign in Scotland. It became clear that we did not suit one another, so I was encouraged to join the Templars. I was sent to the East, where my interest in healing could be better served. It was there I met my wife.'

I gasped, unable to hide my surprise. ‘I did not realise that you were married!'

‘I am no longer,' he clarified. ‘You see, we believe that choices we make are right for us at the time but that does not mean, in the end, it was so. With maturity and hind-sight we see things differently.'

I was able to comprehend his meaning for I have grown so much in such a short period of time. Would this have occurred had I remained within the walls of the abbey?

‘What was she like?'

He smiled warmly, seeming to cherish the memory. ‘I first saw her helping the Tabib with the tending of a sick child. Her name was Amina. She was tall and strong, her skin glistened like burnished copper, the most exotic creature I had ever seen. Young and foolish, I pursued her, much against the wishes of her chief. Disheartened by all that I had seen in Scotland, I knew she was the answer to my loneliness and I grasped it without care for her or her family. In the end our differences were too great.'

‘I am sorry.'

‘Perhaps if I had swum
with
the tide the outcome might have been different.' His sorrow revealed the genuine man beneath the bravado and my heart was touched. Without thought, I placed my hand over his. Our eyes locked and I was mesmerised by the intensity of emotion pooling beneath the surface. ‘Catherine …'

‘I … I … think I should retire,' I stammered, rising to my feet. I fled into the barn, terrified by the softness of his voice.

He did not follow me.

I was woken the next day by the noise of my guardian hacking away at our transport with an axe. Tearing off the canvas, he suggested that we quickly relieve ourselves as he did not intend stopping at the side of the road. His coarseness is at times quite unbelievable and I think meant to shock and offend.

The new day was bright and cheery and even though my rear end was less than happy to spend another day travelling, my spirits were high and my heart glad. Anaïs climbed into the modified carriage and made herself comfortable. If not for her cold indifference and at times outright dislike of me, I would have considered joining her but chose instead to sit next to Simon.

He was silent that morning, as was Anaïs, so I retrieved my rosary and began my daily devotions.

‘You still pray, then?' He appeared genuinely surprised to see my head bowed. ‘I do not hold much faith in prayer, that I think you know. Do I shock you?'

‘A little, but each of us worship in our own way.'

‘Indeed,' he said, his eyes back on the road. ‘Do you intend to return to a religious institution at some point in the future?'