through the mud and the gathering gloom of dusk. 'Sir, he acknowledged.
'Nothing, Oliver replied, his gaze upon Catrin's husband. 'A confusion over name and identity.
The rain whispered down and the cart driver yelled at Louis to get out of his way.
Louis turned in a slow circle meeting the gaze of everyone, lingering upon Oliver with derision and finally closing on Catrin as if they were alone in a bedchamber. 'Do you remember Chepstow, Catty? he asked huskily, 'That first year?
She said nothing, but bit her lip and leaned into Oliver's body for protection, her knuckle-bones showing white where she clutched his mantle.
'Or Christmas at Rochester — that game of hunt-the-slipper? It wasn't all bad, was it?
Catrin's throat worked. 'It was false, she whispered.
His lips stretched in a mirthless smile. 'Was it? Then we were both duped. True or false, for what it is worth, I did love you, Catty. Remember that if you forget all else. Turning, he walked with light step to the side of the bridge, and just as lightly leaped off into the murky water of the Frome before anyone could move to stop him.
Catrin's cry of denial was swallowed up in the rush of the crowd to the side. There was nothing to see but churning brown water, flowing fast in spring spate. No head broke the surface, no string of bubbles showed where he had gone down.
Catrin covered her face with her hands and pressed herself into Oliver's cold, muddied breast. Expression grim, Oliver set his arm around her shoulders.
'Be washed up on the strand next tide, observed the cart driver with grim cheer. 'Last one did after the winter storms.
'Unless he survives, Oliver said. It was not logical that Louis could live — he had jumped in the water wearing his sword and a heavy quilted gambeson — but Oliver still had a nightmare vision of Louis crawling out of the water on to the riverbank and grinning at him like a demon while he wrung out his clothes.
'No. Catrin sniffed and raised her face, dabbing at her eyes with the edge of her wimple. 'Living would mean a slow death as an outcast, and I know that his vanity could not bear it.
Oliver touched her wet cheek, his eyes questioning.
'He had leprosy. She swallowed, struggling again with nausea. 'He… he asked me for an ingredient for the cure, and when I refused because it involved a stillborn child, he lost his temper. The rest you know.
Oliver wrapped his arms around her, encompassing her in love and comfort, sharing her anger, absorbing her grief. Around them the crowd dispersed and the cart rumbled through on its way into the town. One guard returned to his post. The other went to report the incident and instigate a search.
'Home, Catrin said, clinging to Oliver. 'Take me home. 'You are home, he said, burying his face in her half- exposed hair. 'For ever.
On the eve before Henry's army marched out of Gloucester, the body of Lewis of Chepstow washed up on the estuary shore. Three days it had been in the water and now it was bloated, the skin heavy grey-white. There were tears and contusions where it had struck stones and driftwood. The brave blue colour had washed out of the tunic and one shoe was missing in parody of the time before when he had pretended death by drowning.
Oliver crouched by the corpse, his nostrils filled with the scent of the sea and the taint of decaying flesh. As the sheriff's men looked on, he made identification and then gently turned the right wrist. The lesion was where Catrin had said it would be; pale as the body was pale, but still evident.
'Poor bastard, one of the men muttered.
Oliver stood up and looked down at the remains. Gulls wheeled and cried. The sun slanted, filling his eyes with light. 'Bury him deep, he said. 'And let God be his judge.
Chapter 36
There was sunshine in the hollow this morning, bright liquid gold filled with a heart of green dapple and birdsong. Oliver drew rein to inhale the heavy aroma of the April forest and turned to look at the troop of soldiers riding two abreast behind him.
Spear points glittered, armour and harness were burnished. Shields were carried on their long straps, slung round to the back. For all the array, there was no danger of battle. King Stephen had been in his grave since autumn's end. Eustace was dead and Henry sat upon the throne of a relieved and peaceful kingdom.
The land bore scars of the conflict, some that were healing, others that were still raw wounds. Oliver opened and closed his left hand, feeling the strength and the weakness against the leather brace encircling his forearm. He looked at the ploughlands, tipped with new green, and his spirit rose to meet them.
Half-turning, he smiled at Catrin. 'I once rode this way despairing that it would ever be mine again, he said. 'And if not for Godard, I would have died in this hollow here without ever knowing that a day like this could exist. His glance swivelled further to the huge man sitting on a tall bay gelding, two small boys perched up with him, one copper, one dark.
'I couldn't leave you, my lord. Besides, you saved my life once on the road. Godard waved dismissively but Oliver could tell that he was touched and pleased at the acknowledgement. The hostel-keeper was wearing his best tunic for
the occasion and his dark beard had been severely barbered by Edith, who was riding in the baggage wain with a consignment of her famous ale for the feast to come.
'Why have we stopped? Simon demanded, craning round at Godard and then looking at his father. 'Are we nearly there?
'Almost, Oliver replied, with a fond glance at his sons. 'Twenty years is a long time to be gone. The moment can ripen a little longer. He drew a deep breath of the air in the hollow which marked the boundary of Ashbury land.
Simon wrinkled his nose, the concept of twenty years being completely outside his grasp. Henry yawned and sucked his thumb. Rosamund sat her pony demurely, but the way the small animal sidled and swished was a sign of its rider's suppressed excitement.
Fond pride and amusement in her eyes, Catrin eyed her daughter and smiled. She knew how Rosamund felt. There was a pleasant churning in her own vitals as she thought of what the day was to hold, and she was filled with joy for Oliver. At last he was returning to the lands that had been his family's, time out of mind. Not only that, but he was bringing the future with him.
There had been no encounter with Odinel the Fleming. He had died of a septic wound in the same month that Henry became king. His wife and daughter had gone to London to live with a distant relative whose, lands were not in dispute.
Catrin was glad that it had not come to a fight. From what they heard, Odinel had been a decent man for a mercenary, honourable by his code. Apart from the few months when Randal de Mohun had been captain of the garrison, the people had not suffered unduly from a foreigner's rule.
Oliver gathered up the reins and heeled Lucifer's flank. The grey paced forward on the path. For a moment Catrin admired the sight of man and horse in fluid motion before riding up to join them. There was a glow about Oliver today, as well there should be. The planes of his face were relaxed and there was a curve to his lips. Nothing could mar the pleasure of the day.
It was almost two years since Louis had died. At first the memory of that day, the ghost of his presence, had cast a long shadow. There were times when even in death it would have been all too easy for Louis to have sundered the bond between Catrin and Oliver. And because it would have been too easy, because neither of them wanted Louis to win, they had fought — with each other and then side by side; emerging from the fray strong and polished. Louis's shadow still lingered, but it was small now and insignificant. They could turn their backs on it and walk in the sunshine. Husband and wife. She touched the talisman of the woven love knot around her neck.
Oliver must have caught the movement for he glanced at her, a question in his eyes.
'I was thinking of our wedding day, she said with a smile.
Oliver returned it. 'It is not every couple who have England's King and the heir to the throne as groomsmen
