They had traveled late into the night when Chetwynd turned to signal they should stop to rest the horses. Used to the routine of traveling with him, Isabel slid unassisted from her saddle. Chetwynd checked his horse, then hers, while she walked a short distance to stretch her legs. They had reached a meadow, and the full moon was so bright it cast shadows of the surrounding trees.
Isabel sat in the tall grass and leaned back on her elbows to contemplate the stars. When Chetwynd approached her with the waterskin, she took a long drink.
“How much farther to Aquis?” she asked.
“Not far in distance. But we have to cross those mountains.” He was pointing to a dark formation that loomed on the western horizon. “Aquis is on the other side.”
Isabel could not help but groan at the sight of the high mountains.
“It’s not as bad as it looks from here. There’s a pass we’ll go through. The moon is bright, and there is not much vegetation. It will be light enough to see our way. Once we reach Aquis, we can spend the night in the comfort of my manor house. It will be more restful than trying to sleep in this meadow. Do you think you can continue riding long enough to reach a soft, clean bed?”
“When you put it that way, I’m sure I can.” The thought of sleeping on the ground did not appeal to her. But she lay back to rest, making a pillow of her hood.
Chetwynd stood towering over her, unwilling to get too comfortable. But when Isabel patted the ground beside her and asked what Aquis was like, he crossed his legs and sat down. They had traveled far enough that they didn’t have to worry about being followed.
“It’s a fairly large estate, about the size of your father’s manor. The main source of income is the vineyard, although the farmers also raise other crops. There were already tenant farmers in place when the king granted me the land. I’ve been there several times for short visits, but never spent a long stretch of time there. I think you’ll like it. The manor house is comfortable, and it overlooks a valley where the grapes grow.”
“I’ve always wanted to see a vineyard in operation.”
“Bosco, my chief steward, looks after the place. He’s an excellent manager, and the estate makes a good living. More than enough to support my small army. Bosco’s wife oversees the running of the household. The woman makes the best bread you’ll find anywhere.”
As Chetwynd spoke, he reached out to pull her cloak tighter around her. “Aren’t you cold?” he asked.
Isabel shook her head no. “It’s a lovely night. Is there a swimming pond on your land?”
Chetwynd smiled at her question. He didn’t want to start thinking about Isabel in a swimming pond, so he stood up and extended his hand to help her up. “I’m not sure whether there’s a pond, but you can investigate. You’re just asking me questions about the estate to put off crossing the mountain.”
“You’re getting to know me too well, my lord,” she complained mildly. But Isabel let him help her up. She climbed onto her horse willingly enough, thinking of the soft bed on the other side of the mountain.
The ride up the pass was like a dream sequence. The moon lit the way through huge, dark shapes looming on either side of the trail. Isabel found it comforting to imagine that the moon was a beacon set in the sky to guide them to safety.
As they descended into the valley, the trail became steep. Isabel remembered her fall on a similar descent and used every muscle in her body to hold herself in the saddle. It seemed to take forever to move downhill. By the time they reached level ground, Isabel’s muscles were screaming for a rest.
Chetwynd glanced back at her, then pointed ahead to give her encouragement. She could see a building on a hill in the distance. She nodded, indicating she could make it, and used all her remaining strength to keep from falling out of her saddle. Although it was very early morning, it was still dark when their horses stopped in the courtyard of Aquis.
To Isabel’s surprise, a man appeared to greet Chetwynd and then disappeared again into the main building. She was so tired it was an effort to keep her eyes open. When Chetwynd came to help her dismount, she practically fell on top of him. He gently held her up until two women appeared to help her into the house. They were making comforting sounds, but she was too exhausted to pay much attention to their words. At one point she knew they were offering to help her change her clothes, but when she saw a bed she fell onto it, her face buried in the covers. Ignoring everything else, she surrendered to her need for sleep.
When Isabel awoke, she found herself still facedown on the bed. She felt rested but in need of a wash. The room was large, and the small bag she had packed was on the floor. Although the bed was of ample size, there was no sign of Chetwynd or his clothes.
Using the water basin that had been left for her, Isabel cleaned off as much of the travel grime as possible before changing into fresh clothes. Once she had made herself presentable, she felt ready to explore. She took a deep breath and left her room.
Since there was no one in the dining hall, she took a few minutes to look around at the pleasant but simply decorated room. Someone had taken good care of the hall, as the tapestries were well
