Chapter II

 

GRIFFITH SWORE under his breath. Sweat beaded his brow and his chest heaved. The captain bent over to catch his breath and scanned the forest as though expecting more assailants.

Ellie observed all from the undergrowth where she had hidden when the outlaws attacked. When the danger had passed, she emerged from a shrub and dusted the dirt from the long sleeves of her gown.

“Captain Griffith, are you all right?”

He turned at the sound of her voice and she was startled by the shock in his face. She knew she was somewhat dirty, her hair in a tangle and out of its braid and that her gown torn, but she was otherwise unharmed. The only explanation for the look of horror in his eyes was that he believed her to be an apparition. Ellie laughed. “It is me, Captain Griffith. I left the carriage at the start of the attack and hid in the bushes, just there.” She pointed. “I observed all including the cowardice of my father’s driver. I daresay he will run all the way back to Dorchester.”

Captain Griffith remained rooted to the spot, staring at her. “What are you doing here? I told you to remain in the carriage.”

“Yes, I know and I am sorry I did not obey, but when the driver lost control of the horses, it naturally followed that the bandits would make off with the carriage. I did not want to put you to the bother of going after me so I got out. Oh! I have a surprise for you.” Ellie lunged into a nearby shrub and pulled out a quiver of arrows and a bow. “I retrieved these.”

He glanced down the road after the disappearing carriage in deep distress. Ellie touched his shoulder and pressed the bow and arrows into his hand.

“You are overcome, Captain Griffith. You fought bravely. You mustn’t blame yourself. You did all you could. How terrible it must have been for you when the villains drove off and you thought I was inside. I would have called out to you but I did not want to make matters worse. I could have been abducted, which may have been the reason for the attack. Though how could they know we would be travelling this route?”

“They could not. I told no one, save the driver. They must have been waiting for any carriage at all to leave the high road. It was a safe gambit a luckless traveller would take this route given the heat. Forgive me, my lady, I am just astonished that you had the presence of mind to escape the carriage when the attack occurred.”

Ellie shook her hair free of several twigs and brambles that had been caught in her braid. “My mother and father are continually astonished when I exercise common sense. I ought not to be offended if the Captain of the Guard is equally surprised. I was watching the proceedings quite closely. I witnessed your efforts to clear the path of the tree and then when the attack came, the driver shouted and I knew I must escape the carriage. It seemed the sensible thing. If the driver was overcome and you were killed, my best hope was to take to the woods. So that is what I did. I am sorry I frightened you.”

“I am relieved, my lady. That is all.”

Griffin sank to his knees at her feet and unbuckled the brigandine. He tugged it free of his body. The padded gambeson worn underneath was constructed of layers of wool. The garment offered protection from a blade but it was ferociously hot. Sweat beaded his neck and brow.

“We must get you something to drink, captain.” Ellie glanced about, her head tilted, listening for the sounds of running water. “Our provisions were in the carriage. There is a creek nearby. I can hear it.” She turned in the direction the sound was coming from and pointed. “There. The sound is faint—the stream is a goodly distance away. Wait here and I’ll return with—” She looked at his quiver. “If you would be so good as to empty your quiver of arrows, captain, I will fill it and return straight away.”

Captain Griffin only shook his head, a smile briefly creasing his face. “You have keen hearing, my lady. We will go together. The stream is not far from here. In any case, there may be others hiding in this wood and I would not leave you unprotected for my sake.”

She would have helped him to his feet if she thought he would accept her help. Ellie was accustomed to her father’s soldiers, the servants and tenant farmers knowing how to take care of themselves better than she herself did. Oftentimes she envied their skills and native abilities and the adventures they might have that she could not in her towered room and the grand hall.

It was another fault of hers, Ellie thought ruefully, to envy those less fortunate. She picked up her skirts and fell in step behind Captain Griffith who led her into the forest.

†

SIR TYNDALE paced Canterbury Castle hall listening to the driver’s account of the ambush. Captain Griffith had performed most heroically, yet ultimately failed to keep the Lady Elspeth from abduction. The carriage carrying his betrothed had been spirited away.

“How, by all in heaven, did they know Lady Elspeth was travelling today? The Earl swore to keep the news to his household alone. I have not spoken of this journey another living soul outside of Louis the Dauphin. This attack is a blatant attempt to stop the marriage from coming off and undermine our hold on England. Where is the carriage?”

“It has not been recovered, my lord. Nor is there any sign it has been burned or pawned. These were no ordinary outlaws.”

“I am well aware these were no ordinary outlaws! Am I speaking to hear my own voice? The attackers were men loyal to King John. It was not the carriage they were after but Lady Elspeth. What I am trying to ascertain is how did the loyalists gain privileged information to the lady’s travel plans?”

Tyndale glared at the driver who stood in the corner twisting his cap. “Well?”

“I dunno, sir. We was doing fine time on the high road when Captain Griffith ordered me off to the route through Weald Forest. Even if the foul creatures knew of the young lady’s travel, they could not have known we would divert to the forest, sir.”

“Why take that route? It is dangerous is it not?”

“Aye, but it was terrible bad with the heat on the high road and the horses were suffering as was the lady. The wood is cooler, my lord.”

“Am I to concern myself now with the comfort of horses? As for Lady Elspeth, she is unused to any form of discomfort and would complain regardless. You and Captain Griffith ought to have paid her no mind and spared the carriage. Easily the most costly item lost in this enterprise,” Tyndale muttered.

His men and the fool driver glanced at each other nervously. “My lord?” ventured his second-in-command. “Is it the carriage you wish us to recover or shall we continue the search for her ladyship?”

“Her ladyship, of course,” said Tyndale impatiently. “What else would I have on my mind at such a time? My betrothed is missing, abducted by knaves, and my men stand before me empty-handed with nothing to say on the matter.”

“My lord, I must protest. We have said plenty on the matter. We have stood here this past hour detailing every effort that has been made to recover Lady Elspeth.”

“I am corrected,” Tyndale acknowledged with a bow. “You have not said anything that is of value. Value, gentlemen, is the return of the lady or knowledge of her whereabouts.”

“Surely Captain Griffith has gone after her and will recover the lady in short order,” offered the driver timidly.

“I would be inclined to agree with you but as some time has passed since the calamity occurred, I have lost confidence in the good captain. If he knew his job, he would have returned with her ladyship by now.” Tyndale eyed the driver balefully. “Even you, fool that you are, had the wit to take to the high road and prevail upon a passerby to transport you to Canterbury. Who is this man, Griffith? Is he aware of the tremendous importance of this mission? Lady Elspeth is to marry me within the fortnight. The Dauphin expects it. If the wedding does not come off our foothold in England is a precarious one without Dorset. Lady Elspeth is the key, do you understand? Reginald, take two of your best riders and find her. Perhaps the captain was wounded in the attack and this idiot driver was unaware. Whatever the cause of the delay, be it that he has found her ladyship or that he is still searching, offer him all assistance.”

“As you wish, my lord. My lord, should we send word to the Earl of Dorset and alert him to his daughter’s abduction? If he is petitioned for ransom, he will want to know why.”

“Then let my future father-in-law ask me if it comes to that! We will tell him nothing, do you understand? It is critical this wedding go off as soon as can be. Now, away with you. I have business with the Dauphin’s ambassador.”

 

THE STREAM WAS exactly where Captain Griffith said it would be and as cold and clear as glass. She cupped her hands and drank deeply while he stood guard watching the trees. Ellie lay on the bank and stretched her limbs. The summer heart bore down and warmed her bones. She closed her eyes and smiled. “My father will be wild with rage when he learns of this.”

“I imagine he will not learn of the attack until you tell him yourself. The driver would have been picked up on the road and arrived at Canterbury by now. Lord Tyndale will try to recover you as soon as possible without alarming the Earl.”

“Which do you think will upset my father more: the loss of the carriage or his only daughter?”

“It is hard to say, my lady. The Earl was truly pleased with that carriage.”

Ellie laughed. “That he was. I believe I will keep today’s adventure to myself for as long as I can. I’ll tell my father about it when I am safely married and beyond the reach of his censure. You will have to shoulder his criticism alone, Captain Griffith. Shall we walk back to high road? Perhaps we will meet with another carriage going to Canterbury.”

“Nay, my lady. Night will be falling soon and it is not safe on the road. We’ll make camp and start out in the morning.”

Her eyes flew open and she sat up. “Really? That is wonderful! Shall we make our camp here, Captain? This is a lovely spot. I have not known a prettier place in all of England. Mark the abundance of flowering shrubs. I wish now that I had not been so lazy with my tutors and I could identify them.” She drew a bloom to her nose and inhaled its fragrance.

“That flower is called a honeysuckle, my lady.”

Ellie gazed at him in wonder. “Is it? You are a wonder, Captain Griffith. Have you made a study of botany?”

“I have acquired the knowledge from the friars who were my travel companions when I was a soldier-for-hire. We often made camp in the forests and to pass the time, they taught me the common names of various plants.”

“Well, I have never slept out-of-doors.” She removed her shoes and stockings. “You are blessed with greater knowledge of the world than I am, sir.”

“My lady, what are you doing?”

“I mean to stand in this little stream. You may keep watch or join me; I will not tell Papa if you do. This is a splendid diversion, is it not? I did not think I should be so grateful for highwaymen. The day is fine, the birds are singing. There is wonderful freedom in being robbed.”

Griffith’s helmet had been lost in the raid on the carriage along with her trunk of fine clothing, the bridal veil and the gift for her betrothed.

Ellie hoisted her gown to her thighs, draping it over her arm and waded into the water. She shrieked, laughing “It is freezing! It is so very cold, Captain Griffith! Come, you must try.”

Her guardsman had stripped down to his linen shirt when they first arrived at the stream to drink and be refreshed by the cold water. But now he had taken a position a small distance away and was keeping watch on the surrounding wood. He wore the quiver of arrows and bow slung on its leather strap across his back. His hair and shirt were still damp from the stream. Griffith’s expression was glowering and grim but he looked so handsome standing in the dappled light. Ellie longed to bridge the gap between them.

“Our attackers are long gone from here, Captain. They have all they came for and we are perfectly safe to enjoy this fine afternoon. Won’t you join me?”

“Where there is one band of outlaws there usually follows another. I would rather keep watch, my lady.”

“Suit yourself.” Ellie shrugged but she was disappointed. He was young and she was young and it had been many years since she’d been alone with a playmate. Not that Griffith was a playmate—not remotely so. But they could have such fun if he would but try.

She gave a second shriek of laughter as she lost her balance and thrust her arms out to catch herself from falling. “I may never get another day such as this for as long as I live! Ladies of the court live very dull lives. My mother said I will spend most of my days at embroidery. I believe she thinks this an enticement for my mother loves nothing better than to sit at her canvas. I was rarely given leave to play outside. My parents worried excessively about my safety. I am safe enough here with you though. Mother and father will not begrudge their daughter her last chance to be a child. Captain, you must! I beg you!”

She hiked her skirts higher, shrieking and laughing with the cold as she waded deeper into the clear water that swirled and bubbled around her legs.

Griffith moved from his spot, following her with his eyes. The water sparkled as it flowed around her thighs. They would need something to eat for dinner and the stream was plentiful with fish, he decided and sat down to remove his boots and his breeches. Griff waded into the stream behind Lady Elspeth, pinching an arrow in his bow.

“You changed your mind! You have made me very happy, Captain!” Ellie cried when she saw him.

“We will need something to eat if we mean to camp overnight. That is all I am doing, my lady. I am sorry to disappoint you.”

“I am not in the least disappointed. On the contrary, I am wild with delight. How shall we do it? Catch the fish, I mean. Do you shoot them with your arrow? And does that usually work, Captain?”

“Usually ... though it is somewhat quieter for the fish when it does....” Griff squinted into the foaming water.

“There. There is one.” She pointed.

Griffith let fly the arrow and missed. Lady Elspeth lunged for the startled fish and caught it in her hands. She shrieked and tossed the squirming wet thing at Griffith who caught it like a ball and flipped it to the bank.

“Do it again!” he shouted as he set another arrow in his bow.

Lady Elspeth scanned the water, keen-eyed, looking for the flash of a fin. Silver, fat and unaware—Griffith saw it first, swimming in an eddy.

“There!” She pointed.

The arrow flew.

The lady darted for it. She lost her footing and fell into the water, catching the feathered tip of the arrow before she went under. Ellie surfaced, holding it up triumphantly. The fish thrashed on the arrow’s sharp, piercing end. Griffith took it out of her hands and then reached down to grasp her arm and help her up. In that moment, the fish thrashed in the final throes of death and Griffith was thrown off balance. In an effort to save his catch, he hurled it to the bank before falling with a great splash into the stream.

Lady Elspeth grabbed hold of him, laughing so hard she could hardly draw breath. Between the two, they managed to struggle to their feet, supporting one another, she holding his hand and he drawing her up by the elbow. Water dripped into their eyes. They both turned to admire the two fish on the bank.

“My apologies, my lady,” Griffith said quickly. He had his hands on her—a thing he must never do.

“Please Griffith, we cannot be lady and captain here or we shall never survive the night. Let us do away with titles for now. You shall be Griffith and I shall be Ellie. Much easier, don’t you think?” She pushed a heavy lock of wet hair off her face and beamed at him.

She was a golden-haired beauty with wide grey eyes that shone silver in the sun and darkened to storm clouds when she was angry. Captain Griffith knew her moods, her voice, her many interests and accomplishments. He certainly knew more about Lady Elspeth than she knew about the man assigned to guard her on this journey.

“As you wish, my lady—I mean, Ellie.”

Ellie nodded and pushed him, laughing. “You are soaked through to the skin.”

“So are you.”

“But we have fish! We managed that very well, I should say. I am quite proud of our catch.”

He helped her to the bank and she flung herself down on the soft summer grass.

“The day is still hot,” he observed. “Our clothes should dry out by morning. I’ll gather wood for our fire while you get out of your wet clothing.”

Her grey eyes widened. “I beg your pardon, Griffith, but what am I to wear if not this gown? My trunk is still in the carriage with the outlaws. I dare say they are half-way to London by now and my trousseau will be sold in the market square.” She lay back against the grass with a sigh, seemingly content to stay that way.

Captain Griffith watched the girl with hooded eyes, keeping his thoughts to himself. “Wrap yourself in my cloak for now until your gown dries out. You risk catching a chill sitting in wet clothes and Sir Tyndale will be grieved to be presented with an ailing bride.”

“But what about you? What will you wear?”

He laughed. “I could remove every stitch of clothing and still have less to conceal than you. You take the cloak and I’ll wear my breeches. The hose and shirt will dry out in short order.”

Griffith removed his linen shirt that clung to his skin. He peeled off his hose and slipped his dry breeches on as quickly as he could. Griff tried not to look as she did the same under the cover of his cloak. He saw her arms moving under the rough wool and then the creamy muslin gown was tossed to the grass, followed by her light shift and binding. Ellie gathered the edges of the cloak over her bare shoulders and collected her clothing to spread it over the low shrubs at the edge of the wood. She turned back and caught him sitting on the grass, his knees propped up, watching her. He was bare-chested wearing only his breeches and his boots. Without his sword and brigandine and Ellie without her gown and coronet, they could be any two young people alone in a wood.

The danger in this arrangement was not lost on Griffith. Elspeth was exceedingly desirable to all men but to him in particular. He noticed her the day of his arrival at Dorchester Castle two years before and had been watching her ever since.

Griffith jumped to his feet and brushed the grass from the coarse wool breeches. The wool was itchy in places he dared not scratch in front of a lady. “I’d better fetch wood for our fire before we lose the day.”

“Griffith, is there anything I can do while I am waiting?”

He paused. “Do you know how to gut a fish?”

She shook her head, but appeared interested.

“All right,” he said. “I’ll show you when I get back. I won’t be long.”