Page 20 of Raven's Rise
“He must value the lady’s safety highly,” Simon murmured.
Rafe disagreed. “He wouldn’t weep if the lady didn’t make it to the end of her journey. But the money is another matter. That’s what we’re really guarding.”
Simon chewed his lip. “Did Lord Otto say that to you?”
“No,” said Rafe. “He didn’t have to. You’ve got to learn to listen to what these lordsdon’tsay. It’s just as important as what they speak in words.”
“God’s wounds, I’m even greener than I thought,” Simon groused.
“That’s why you enlisted me, is it not?” Rafe clapped him on one shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie that he didn’t really feel. Yet it seemed to mean a lot to the other man.
“I suppose so. Well, I’ll learn a lot on this trip, that’s for certain. And we’ll see both the lady and her dowry safe to her destination.”
Rafe was going to have to teach Simon the trick of expecting the worst.
Chapter 7
Freedom. Glorious freedom.
Angelet’s spirit lightened the moment her carriage left the grounds of Dryton. Even though she had grave doubts regarding her ultimate destination, she was away from the place that oppressed her for so long, and the air was cool and clear, and she could pretend that all was well.
That morning, the small cortège had been ready to go, making it clear that Otto had planned this for some time, waiting until the very last moment to tell Angelet her fate. His trickery irked her, but what could she do? Facing the inevitable with grace was her only option. So she cooperated with Otto. She allowed the meek Lady Katherine to assist her in final preparations for the journey, suffering her mother-in-law’s platitudes about how fortunate she was to be going to Basingwerke.
Katherine had carefully folded and packed the completed altar cloth, putting it into Angelet’s possession rather than alongside the chest of gold. “Keep this safe, dear. You put so much of your heart into it. You can hand it to the abbot personally. No matter what may happen, you’ll have a lovely gift to give. And soon enough, perhaps, you’ll get a visit from Henry. I’ll ask my lord Otto about it…” The older lady trailed off. She’d never spoken very much, and this speech seemed to use up all her words.
Father Mark bid her goodbye as well, commending her to God and telling her he would pray for her happiness always. “Your soul is a candle in the dark, little Angelet,” he said. “You hardly know your influence. Faith and charity and love are your most powerful gifts.”
“Not embroidery?” she asked wryly.
He chuckled. “When you sew with faith and charity and love, my daughter, then yes.”
“I’ll miss you.” Father Mark was the only person she would miss from Dryton.
“God willing, we’ll meet again.” He kissed her forehead and spoke a blessing.
Otto himself was less sentimental. Right before they left, the chest had been ceremoniously loaded onto the carriage that Angelet would travel in. She didn’t like that decision at all, but she had little say in the matter.
Upon being told, Sir Rafe nodded crisply. “Of course, my lord. A sensible decision to put all the valuables in one place. It will be easier to guard.”
“All the valuables?”
“The gold and the lady,” Rafe said. “What could be more valuable than the life of one we’re meant to escort?”
“Ah,” Otto said, clearly having forgotten that Angelet was worth anything at all. “Yes. How true.” He turned to her. “Angelet, come with me.”
“In a moment, my lord.” She handed Rafe her own bag. “Please put this in my carriage, where I can get to it easily.”
Rafe took it. “What is it?”
“Just a few personal effects.”
“I thought you were giving up all worldly goods at the end of this journey.”
“But not until theendof the journey, Sir Rafe,” she countered impishly. She was feeling remarkably good, and excited to be leaving Dryton.
She followed in Otto’s wake, curious as to what he could want. A final warning, probably. She was to keep her mouth shut and not interfere with anything. She was not to have more fits—as if she chose to! She was not to smile or laugh, or enjoy her brief time of relative freedom before the gates of the nunnery would slam shut and lock her away for life.
“Yes, my lord?” she asked politely. “What is it?”
