‘No one knew me as The Fox except Gilbert, Brunhilde and, yes, Father Thomas.’
‘The trinity of the faithful,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘And you were all bent on this madness?’
She nodded. ‘Something had to be done, Hugh. People were starving—actually starving—whilst we were sending box after box of silver for King John’s coffers with the huge increase in scutage levied for more of his disastrous wars.’
She paused for a moment, clearly recalling, remembering...
‘On one particular night I saw the King’s soldiers actually laughing and goading the people as they piled up their wagons with silver. One loathsome yob slapped a young girl he’d propositioned and something inside me snapped... Le Renard was born that day.’
Hugh stared at her in disbelief before moving close, resting his forehead against hers. ‘Your courage astounds me. When I think of how anyone else would have reacted in a similar situation...’ He closed his eyes. ‘But Eleanor, you could have got yourself killed.’
‘We were never caught because we were always careful, selective, making sure we didn’t seize every strongbox moving south. Occasionally we also brought back the Rebel Barons’ scutage—meaning we were protected, up to a point.’
‘I would never have believed it, but I should have known it was you,’ he sighed. ‘Racing on horseback, wanting lessons in combat, talented at chess... It was all there, staring me in the face.’
‘No one, not even the outlaws themselves, ever realised The Fox was me—because it’s outside the realm of possibility for a woman to be able to do all that Le Renard has done. But you...? You would have found out eventually.’ She shrugged.
‘Not even in my wildest imagination would I have thought of this.’ Hugh’s eyes widened as he recalled something. ‘Oh, God! I even fought you—and again you resorted to subterfuge and cheating. From that alone I should have known.’
They fell into silence momentarily. Then, ‘What are you going to do?’ Eleanor asked, and bit her lip.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ He rubbed his forehead. ‘Whilst everything you have told me seems reasonable—admirable, even—you have not only aided and abetted outlaws but you are one. And not just any one, but... Le Renard!’
‘I’m sorry, Hugh, but I was doing my duty the only way I knew how.’
‘Not that you would have done anything differently even if you had, of course.’
‘No. But you have to understand, Hugh, that my first marriage...he... Millais...tried to break me in every way he could. It was a desperate situation. And when he died I put everything—all my efforts—into keeping the people of Tallany, who had suffered with me, safe... As The Fox, I could ensure that no one would hurt us again.’
‘Such bravery...’ Hugh cupped her face, caressing her cheek. ‘You know, Eleanor, he could never have broken you.’ He drew her a little closer into his arms. ‘When all is said and done, you were stronger than him. Your spirit greater. Your heart constant. He couldn’t have changed you, however much he tried.’
Eleanor tilted her chin up and smiled softly. ‘But everything changed once I met you. Once I married you.’
His brow furrowed. ‘I don’t understand...’
‘I...’ She swallowed. ‘I had never met anyone like you before.’
‘That is also the truth for me, sweetheart.’
‘Well, that’s why I...’ Eleanor drew in a shaky breath and met his eyes. ‘I fell in love with you. I didn’t believe it could happen to me, but...but it did.’
If the discovery of Eleanor as The Fox had rendered Hugh speechless, this confession sucked all the air out of him. Yet, he needed to say something. He might be stunned, but his feelings for Eleanor were...were entirely mutual!
Oh, God, they were!
They had been for a long time, if he was honest with himself.
That was why his heart had ached so much when he’d found out about her betrayal. Why he’d needed time away from her...why he’d thought about her all the time and why he’d wanted to come back to Tallany.
Back home...to her.
Yes, indeed, he was in love with her...body, soul and everything in between...and he had to tell her.
Hugh opened his mouth to speak, but Eleanor shook her head and put her fingers to his lips.
‘No, please don’t say anything, Hugh. Just think about what I’ve told you and understand that everything I’ve said is the truth.’
She handed him the fox-trimmed mask and cape belonging to Le Renard.
‘Where are you going?’ he asked, finding his voice, but not the words he wanted to say. Eleanor would hear them once she was ready—and once he understood what it meant for their future.
‘Back to the castle.’
‘Wait. I’ll walk you back. It’s not safe out there.’
She touched his jaw with the ghost of a smile on her lips. ‘I know these woods like the back of my hand, so there is no need to worry, husband.’
And with a nod she left him, to think of all that had just transpired between them in this little hut. This very hut he had followed Eleanor to all those weeks ago.
By God, to think that he had been incandescent with jealousy at the idea of his wife with Le Renard. And she had been the outlaw herself!
He chuckled at his own stupidity as he shook his head. What a fool he had been! He would love nothing more than to get back to what they had once been, and yet everything had shifted. Everything, as Eleanor had said, had changed.
He now knew the truth...
It had been the same when he had found out about Alais Courville and her betrayal. But that woman had thought of nothing but herself, and once the opportunity had come to elevate her position, she’d snatched it without a backward glance.
Eleanor was nothing like her. She was true, loyal and kind-hearted. And being Le Renard had not been a choice but a necessity for her to survive, to heal from past hurts and to be able
