Page 47 of Raven's Rise
“But why keep traveling with us?”
“To allay suspicion, or to simply get further from the gold, so that no one else could chase after it. Perhaps they were wary of news getting back to Dryton too soon. I’m not sure.”
“If they did steal the gold on the second night, why try to kill me a few nights later?”
Rafe shook his head. “Again, I have no answers. Maybe Tad had enough stomach for theft but not for murder. So then Dobson tried to murder you on his own and when it went wrong, Tad lied about his involvement to save himself.”
“If Dobson had killed me without raising an alarm, then he and Tad might have taken the chest out of the inn, but then emptied it and abandoned it. Everyone would still think the gold was just stolen. But they would have been able to run away much faster—because they were actually unburdened. Then they’d go back to where they’d hidden the gold once the search for them died down.”
“That’s plausible. But there’s no proof.”
“Does proof matter at this point?”
“I’d like to know the truth,” said Rafe, “or at least enough of it to explain my own innocence.”
She frowned. “Why should anyone blame you?”
“Why not? Otto will seek to blamesomeoneonce he gets word of the loss. And I rode away from the skirmish after the empty chest was discovered…taking along his daughter-in-law.”
“I see your point,” Angelet said, “but I am also your defense. I will explain that I kept the key the whole time, and that everything you did was to protect the chest, and me.”
Rafe gave her a skeptical look. “Women aren’t considered suitable witnesses in a court. Particularly not beautiful, rich, unmarried women who travel in the company of the accused man for days on end.”
“Oh.” He was right. “Then we’ll just have to ensure that doesn’t happen. We’ll both find somewhere safe.”
“And where in all England would that be, my lady?”
Angelet sighed. “I know not. But there must be a place, and we will find it.”
Chapter 15
They rode onward through thewoods. Rafe had been quiet, occasionally checking over his shoulder as they rode. But he seemed pensive rather than worried.
At last he spoke. “Perhaps we’re going about this wrong. I’ll return you to Dryton, and…”
Alarm welled up in her. “No, please don’t! I beg you not to do that.”
Rafe looked surprised at her vehemence. “I know it wasn’t the happiest place for you, but you’ll be safe there.”
“I’m not certain of that.”
“Why?”
She shook her head. “It’s difficult to explain. But I have this sense that it would go badly should I return, if only because I’d have to explain a journey alone with you. Otto would lock me up in the closest nunnery to hand. And you’d likely not get a chance to explain anything. Otto isn’t the most temperate of men.”
“Then what? We can’t just wander.”
Angelet had been thinking of precisely that issue all morning. What she wanted was to get to her son. More than anything. If she had Henry safe by her side, she could face down Otto, no matter what. But she wasn’t sure she could tell Rafe that. Judging by how he’d spoken of his own parents, he wouldn’t understand the depth of her own need to find her son. She had to think of another plausible destination. Then one came to her.
“Would you escort me to my true home? That is, my family’s home in Anjou?”
“You want me to take you across the channel?” he asked in surprise.
“My family has the means to pay you for your trouble,” she promised recklessly. “And in any case, you’ve already told me that you have no plans.”
Rafe frowned, considering her request. “Even if I agree, there are obstacles, not least of which is who you are…of who your family supports. Any port city held by the king may not allow you to leave, even if you could afford to pay passage.”
“Then we’ll go to a port city held by the empress,” she said. “Like Wareham!” Wareham was in Dorset, near where Henry was being fostered. Once they got closer, Angelet could reveal her true plans to Rafe.
