After almost ten days of continuous riding on horseback Eleanor was fatigued, saddle-sore and emotionally exhausted. She felt empty, bereft, and couldn’t wait to get back home...home to Tallany, where she could finally breathe again.
Over the last week and more she had relived everything that had happened in Winchester over and over again in her head. That terrible confrontation with her husband that had broken her heart into a thousand pieces. And then what had happened the following morning, when she’d been presented to King John, and his shocking behaviour.
No wonder the Rebel Barons had risen up against him. She now understood more powerfully the reasons why they wanted to pin the King to his words so that he could no longer break his promises. That was the one hopeful thing to have emerged whilst she had been on this horrendous journey. And she hoped for the sake of all their futures that the Rebels were successful.
Everything she had heard about the King had been confirmed in his behaviour towards Hugh, punishing him for his failure to secure the silver from the outlaws. From Le Renard.
From her.
And, despite knowing of her involvement with the outlaws, Hugh had still stepped in to protect her from the King in that horrible chamber. He’d acted selflessly, without considering the possible danger he’d put himself in.
But that didn’t mean Hugh had forgiven her...
Whenever Eleanor considered what she had lost her eyes would suddenly fill with tears, blurring her vision. She had sacrificed her own happiness with Hugh, the man she realised she loved, with her involvement with the outlaws, and even though she knew that she would never regret it...
No, she would never regret her actions as The Fox. Not only had it been a necessity to do what she had done, but her achievements were something she was immensely proud of. Le Renard and the outlaws had given Tallany much-needed hope during very difficult times.
So, yes, despite everything Eleanor was proud of her achievements as The Fox and she must never forget that...
‘We shall stop for a while by the river, Eleanor.’
Hugh’s voice broke through her musings but she didn’t respond, having missed what he had said. He rode alongside her and took her reins, slowly bringing her horse to a halt.
‘I think we could all do with a respite, my lady, don’t you? Come, you must stretch your legs and partake in some food and ale.’
He dismounted and came to help her, clasping her waist with two big, strong hands, lowering her to the ground. They stood facing each other, eyes locked, before Hugh looked away and broke the contact.
He stepped to one side and escorted her to the side of the riverbank where Will, who would be accompanying Hugh to meet with the Scots, and some of their men, were tethering the horses to a tree. They were joined by Eleanor’s women, who helped lay out and prepare a meal of cold meats, bread, cheeses and fruit.
Eleanor sat on the mats that had been laid on the ground and helped pass around trenchers of food and pour mugs of ale from the flagons they had brought with them.
Hugh ate with the men while she sat and nibbled some dried fruit with a handful of nuts and watched him, contemplating her situation, or rather her relationship with her husband, as she always did when her mind wandered.
Hugh was once again being courteous, and showing her every consideration on their journey back, but he kept his distance from her, as before. This time, though, Eleanor knew the reason why. And this time she didn’t blame him.
‘You have wounded me more than you’ll ever know...’
How many times were these words going to spin round and round in her head, compounding her guilt? And yet Hugh had never revealed to King John that she was the one who conspired with the outlaws. For that alone she was indebted to him, even though he wanted nothing more to do with her.
Eleanor had wanted to tell him the rest. About her dissembling as Le Renard. About everything...
But she couldn’t do it. If Eleanor had thought Hugh’s reaction had been bad when he’d learnt of her betrayal, God only knew what he would do if he learnt the truth about The Fox.
But it did not sit well with her, hiding this—another secret—from him. There was no point, anyway, now that she had all but retired her alter ego. And with everything that had happened it might now have to be an indefinite retirement.
‘Eleanor, may I talk with you? Mayhap we could walk along the river for a moment...if you would honour me?’ Hugh said, standing over her.
‘Of course.’
They walked along the bank, taking in the winding expanse of river that disappeared into the thickets and hills beyond. Hugh strolled beside her with his hands behind his back as she picked a leaf and twirled it between her fingers.
‘You must be happy that we’re almost back in Tallany, Eleanor?’
‘I am, yes.’
As well as relieved and thankful to be away from the nightmare at court.
‘Good, good... And, as you know, once you’re safely back I will be leaving for Scotland immediately.’
She did know—but not that he had to go straight away. ‘I see. And how long will you be gone?’
‘I’m not entirely sure. However long my mission will take with the Scots and their newly anointed King,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I will make sure that everything is in place before I leave. You will have a few of my best men to stand in my stead, as well as the new steward of Tallany, of course.’
Eleanor looked away and bit her bottom lip at this reminder of having had Gilbert Claymore replaced by someone Hugh could trust.
He regarded her. ‘I also want to say that what happened in Winchester with King John was terrible.’ He exhaled slowly before adding, ‘I have been thinking it over and I hold myself responsible for what almost happened.’
Eleanor touched his sleeve. ‘But it didn’t, and I have you to thank for that.’
‘Even so, I should not have brought you into that environment in the first place.’
‘From what I have heard, I am not the first woman the King has tried and succeeded in using in that way to get through to good, honourable men...like you,’ she said, flicking her eyes in his direction. ‘As well as many of the Rebel Barons. They must act with heavy hearts for what they believe. Their decisions cannot be taken lightly.’
Hugh copied Eleanor and picked a leaf off a nearby shrub. ‘Yes, these are very difficult times.’
She nodded. ‘With many honourable men on both sides in this bitter conflict.’
And a terrible king who was at the centre of it...
‘Indeed.’
‘I hope that the differences between King John and the Barons will soon be resolved,’ she said.
‘I do too. It would be good for the sake of the kingdom if matters were finally resolved and the country would come together again as one.’
As it would be good if they could come together again... Ah, if only that was a possibility...
Hugh ran his fingers through his hair. ‘However, that is not what I wish to talk about. Let me say again that I’m sorry I put you in that hostile situation with John.’
She turned to face him. ‘But you didn’t, Hugh. The “hostile situation” that we both faced was because of the outlaws and the silver they stole from the King.’
‘At least you realise that.’
‘I’m not stupid.’
‘Oh, I know, my lady. But tell me something: would you have ever stopped your secret assignations with them? With the outlaws?’
She shook her head slowly. ‘No, I don’t believe I would.’
He regarded her for a moment with the ghost of a smile on his lips. ‘I’m glad, at least, of your honesty. And that’s what I believed too. Which confirms to me that one way or another, whatever your intentions, I would always have found out about you.’
‘If you know anything about me, Hugh, you’ll know that I, too, never do anything lightly.’
‘And neither do I, Eleanor.’ He sighed. ‘I have fought all my life for what this kingdom stands for...for our anointed King, for our liberty, and more importantly for the law of the land. Without those foundations holding the country together there will only be madness and chaos.’
‘But what if the root of that foundation is rotten?’
‘Then you mend it. Listen to me, Eleanor. Whilst I appreciate, now more than ever, the real hardships people face, there are other ways.’
‘How? Through careful negotiations? The law? Why, even now the Rebels are trying to compel John to sign this Great Charter, to keep him to his word, but he won’t do it.’
Hugh exhaled through his teeth. ‘Can you not see what would happen if lines were drawn between King John and the Rebel Barons?’
‘They already have been.’
He shook his head slowly. ‘This is just the beginning—the situation could get much, much worse. It could come to the country tearing itself up, brother against brother. We have to move to broker peace, rather than to full-scale combat. We do not need a hot-headed king and equally hot-headed reactionary behaviour from the Rebels. It would spell disaster for us all—and especially the ordinary people of this kingdom.’
She rubbed her forehead, pondering on everything her husband had said. It was certainly a different view on a complicated situation which was far more volatile than she had believed. Its implications far wider.
Hugh turned and folded his hands on either side of her shoulders. ‘Promise me something, Eleanor. Promise me that you will not be meeting with the outlaws. That you’ll stop.’
‘Hugh, I wasn’t going to.’
‘Look what happened in Winchester. And the King doesn’t even know about your involvement...for now. Next time I might not be there.’
‘I’ll manage.’
‘That is not enough. I don’t want you to just “manage”. We’ll talk on my return, but I want your word, Eleanor.’
She met his eyes and saw the concern there. ‘Very well.’ She swallowed. ‘You have it.’
‘Thank you.’ Hugh exhaled slowly. ‘Come, let’s get back to the others.’
‘Wait... Tell me, why didn’t you tell the King of my involvement?’
‘I could never do that,’ he said softly. ‘It is and always will be my duty to protect you.’
‘Despite what I have done?’
‘Despite everything,’ he murmured.
Eleanor turned away, not meeting his eyes. ‘And you really must leave so soon?’
‘I must. The King demands it of me.’
‘I know, but is that...? Well, is that the only reason?’ Eleanor wasn’t sure what had possessed her to ask, nor whether she really wanted to know.
He stopped and clasped her elbow. ‘You and I could do with some time apart,’ he muttered. ‘Who knows? It might be a good thing for both of us.’
He was right. Mayhap they did need time apart. But how was she to make things right between them if he wasn’t there? Not that she knew how to...
Eleanor realised with a heavy heart that nothing would ever be the same. Everything had changed irrevocably and they could never go back. It had always been going to end this way once Hugh found out about her involvement, had it not?
They were on different sides and always would be. He would always believe the outlaws to be nothing more than criminals, whilst Eleanor knew that, despite breaking the law, they were a force for good. If only she could make Hugh understand that...
But that was just futile. Everything else might have changed, but that never would.