Eleanor kept her eyes shut as Hugh carried her inside their solar, with Will following just behind. Her head was reeling with all she had learnt from her husband and his friend, but she was alert, focussed and calm.
A clear plan began to take shape in her head. A plan that would avenge those men’s deaths at the hands of Lord Balvoire and which, she hoped, would make him suffer. Oh, yes, she wanted to cause Balvoire shame and dishonour—and although she knew it might also affect Hugh, there was no way of avoiding it.
She reflected once again on what she had witnessed in the great hall of Tallany Castle and wondered whether she could achieve what she’d planned. She sent a silent prayer and swore an oath on her mother’s small gold cross.
A flash of vulnerability darted through her mind but she pushed it aside.
This was no time for weakness.
She must have faith and courage and remember that this sacrifice was not about her, or even Hugh, but for the greater good. For justice...and for honour.
Chapter Eight
It had been a few days since the insufferable Lord Balvoire had brought the two decapitated heads to Tallany Castle as his own special marriage gift. Not to mention his attempt to execute Hugh’s prisoners, who were now being held in the castle gaol.
Hugh understood Will’s caution that night, regarding the man, and now, after just a few hours in his company, since they had left the Tallany gatehouse and the demesne beyond, he was close to wringing Balvoire’s neck.
He was an obnoxious windbag who knew nothing of soldiering but had an inflated belief in his own ability. He had to be reminded again and again who was actually in charge of their mission. Lord only knew what King John saw in the man, but no doubt it suited him to have Balvoire toadying to him.
However, Will was right. Balvoire was an ass, but a dangerous one, and Hugh would have to keep his eye on him.
As the new Lord he had to restore peace by upholding the rule of law, and that meant capturing and crushing the outlaws, who were wreaking havoc in Tallany. Taking a strongbox of silver to King John in order to lure the outlaws was a good means to do this, but however Hugh justified it to himself, it did not sit well with him. It made him feel uneasy and pricked his conscience—especially as he was only just beginning to win the trust and respect of the people here.
Hugh sighed, knowing that it wasn’t just the people of Tallany but its mistress as well who had been affected by recent events. Since that night in the hall his wife had retreated back into her shell. She had been withdrawn, agitated, hardly saying a thing. Selfishly, Hugh had wanted to continue from where they had left off with that delicious kiss, but everything had changed.
Even this morning, before they had set out on this mission, Hugh had sought her blessing. It had been duly given, but with cool detachment. Then again, it was no surprise that these events had distressed Eleanor. She might be strong but she was also vulnerable, and she needed his care and protection.
He sighed, turning his thoughts to the task that stretched ahead of him. The path they took was on the fringes of the Tallany estate. The woodland, dense with high looming trees, was dappled with thickets and coppice covering a wide span. A blanket of hazy morning fog hugged the ground, making visibility difficult.
Hugh felt twitchy and on guard. His senses were heightened and he was acutely aware of a possible disturbance further along the path as his small retinue of knights and retainers, which included Balvoire and his men, edged further into the forest.
They were a perfect foil for the much larger cortege ahead, with an even larger strongbox as bait to lure the outlaws from hiding. If everything went to plan then they would not only hand the silver levy to King John but also the outlaws, along with their leader, Le Renard. And once the outlaws were caught Hugh would do everything he could to make Tallany and its people prosperous again.
He listened, trying to distinguish any unusual noises as he looked around in all directions. He knew instinctively that something was wrong. He wasn’t quite sure what, but the feeling was palpable. It was too still, far too quiet...
A sudden sense of foreboding pierced through him and he gripped the dagger at his waist tighter. It was a feeling that he always had before a battle, and here in this damnable forest he couldn’t see the enemy but he could feel them in his bones. They were close—very close.
Hugh bypassed Balvoire and rode to his sergeant at the front of the retinue.
‘We need to pick up the pace. I don’t want us to be far behind Sir William’s cortege or else we risk exposure,’ Hugh ordered.
Balvoire rode up beside him. ‘No need, Lord Hugh. Surely Sir William will send word if they encounter the outlaws?’
‘I have no time for disputes.’ Hugh nodded to his sergeant. ‘Carry on—and make sure you’re vigilant.’
‘Yes, my lord,’ the sergeant said, and he began to dictate a quicker pace, pulling the whole group into a quicker trot.
‘What exactly do you believe will happen?’ Balvoire barked, no doubt furious at being dismissed.
‘As I said earlier, we don’t have time. Now, get your men to the rear, Balvoire. You are leaving it open to attack,’ Hugh said through gritted teeth.
But just then, in the periphery of his vision, he glimpsed what he believed was a flash of movement above in the trees ahead.
‘What the...?’ he muttered under his breath.
Again he saw a shift of movement above him, in the branches of the towering trees. Outlined shapes darted and weaved through, leaves rustled, but he still couldn’t really see anything. It could be birds or small animals. But something in the
