“But one day—”
“If that day comes, another tunic can be made.” He turned down the corridor. “Now let us see if my king’s crisis has been sufficiently averted to see hungering bellies filled.”
She followed in silence until they descended the stairs up which sounded the din that revealed the exuberance of those gathered for the delayed meal. With a note of hope, she said, “Crisis?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I am sorry to disappoint, but whatever message was delivered, it is with regard to his duchy.” Though that did not mean it would not impact what happened in the Fens, he thought. And it could benefit the resistance, especially if once more William moved too quickly.
Realizing she had halted, Guy turned and looked up at her. “Lady?”
“Would you tell me what is happening with the resistance?” At his hesitation, she said, “As the woman who tends me is close-mouthed though she is Saxon, I cannot know if my prayers have been answered.”
He knew what she asked, and as he could see no harm in easing her mind and the scrape of benches and chairs told William’s guests had yet to settle down to the meal, he said, “Thus far, no retaliation against Hereward and his followers, though greater the temptation for how emboldened they are by their victory and the loss of so many of our men.”
“Who, doubtless, shall be replaced,” she said.
“They are en route,” he confirmed. “The rebels have increased their raids and, until the day past, struck nearly as often in the day as the night. Though they do damage in seeking to further weaken our positions, I believe they have another motive.”
“That motive?”
“They search for you.”
She gasped. “I pray not. As I am of no great use to the cause and none at all now I am a captive, better they think me dead than risk their lives.” Her frown deepened. “You said things changed on the day past.”
“A single, half-hearted foray. Though it is possible they have accepted you were lost to the marsh, methinks it more likely infiltration of one of our camps yielded talk of your capture and removal from the Fens. Thus, they accept there is naught they can do to aid you.”
She nodded slowly. “When your new forces arrive, what then?”
Though he could provide no details of William’s plan, he said, “As you know, my king is far from done with your cousin. Thus, we have not been idle.”
“And that is all you will tell,” she said with accusation.
“That is all.” Guy turned forward and led her off the stairs.
Chapter Thirteen
The entrance of William’s captive caused a stir, though not as great as it would have had Guy and she sought seating minutes later when deference to the announcement of the meal’s blessing would hush all.
“Pray, the table most distant,” the lady said as he moved his gaze over the half dozen below the high table in search of enough bench to accommodate two. Though they could have sat nearer, and that honor was due him as leader of the elite force, they lowered to the end of one of several benches crowded by men-at-arms who would later patrol the walls.
When he looked to the high table to confirm what was felt, and William gave a nod and turned his attention to De Warenne, Guy bent his head to the lady. “Your presence is noted.”
She turned her face to his, and he was struck by how much could be found in her unusually large eyes. He had heard it said those spots of color with which one looked out upon the world were a window to the soul, and all the clearer where there was trust, but in that moment it seemed more a door thrown wide. In the next, it was slammed closed as if she realized the danger of allowing an enemy to know who she truly was—or in the case of the conquered, who she had been and did not believe she could be again.
The lady cousin of Hereward had been happy once, he was fairly certain, and thought it possible she had been of mischievous bent.
Having turned her regard on William who continued to converse with De Warenne, she said, “His presence is noted as well. Now if he will ignore me, mayhap I can rouse enough appetite to pass the time until I return abovestairs.”
“Likely, that will be hours, Lady. As you are the only real spoils of his first attempt to take Ely, he wants you seen as has been denied him a sennight.”
“I am surprised he allowed me out of the manacles,” she said, then frowned. “The one three spaces removed from your king who threatened to give me to his men—I was right in believing him Taillebois the drunkard?”
Seeing and feeling the hatred emanating from he who stared at her, Guy said, “Aye, the Sheriff of Lincolnshire who was the first sent to the Fens with forces of sufficient strength to end the problem of Hereward—or so my king thought.”
She looked around. “Methinks he would do worse than give me to his men.”
Because Ivo knew this lady’s efforts thwarted his informant, Guy thought and was tempted to warn her about Theta. However, since it would distress her knowing a traitor sauntered among the resistance, scooping up and delivering their secrets to the enemy, he would say naught. Too, he must not forget Ivo’s pretty eel was a weapon of his liege and what she supplied could end the confrontation sooner.
“I fear you are right,” Guy said. “Best to go nowhere near Taillebois.”
Once the priest had blessed the meal, all fell to eating and drinking, many conversing across mouthfuls and laughing between gulps.
The lady spoke little over the next hour, but for as much as she did not wish to be here, she made good use of the time, exhibiting
