They arrive in an inn’s courtyard, the shadow of Rochester Castle looming in the near background, its great walls towering above in crude nobility.
Raoul grins as he reaches up to help Roselyn dismount. She looks over toward Cassandra who is struggling to get of her mount, helped by Jean. She looks back at Raoul with a twinkle in her eye.
‘Come Cass, let’s get indoors.’ She hurries toward the entrance which gets Cassandra all flustered as she is still slowly trying to descend from the mule, she calls out, her head in its mane. ‘Wait, Roselyn!’
Roselyn doesn’t wait. Instead of going into the entrance, she doubles back and sneaks down behind a parked carriage where she grins at Raoul, pressing a finger to her lips. Raoul struggles not to laugh.
Jean breathes a sigh of relief as Cassandra finally lands onto the cobbles. She looks around and tuts with disapproval on seeing Raoul with the amused expression on his face. ‘Your lady has gone indoors.’
Cassandra turns on him. ‘And you can stay away from her. You’re rotten and vicious.’
He looks at her innocently. ‘What have you got against me?’
‘You have done untold damage to the innocent blood you have shed. You’re rotten. An assassin!’
Raoul shakes his head. ‘You have it all wrong.’
She looks him in the eye. ‘There must be something hard with people whose work is killing!’
‘You’re not so perfect, talking like that about people you don’t even know.’
Cassandra turns and storms toward the entrance where she turns back. ‘I know, I know.’
Raoul looks at Jean who can see the funny side. Jean collects the horses to have them stabled. Also, with an amused expression on her face, Roselyn appears from behind the carriage. ‘She really has it in for you.’
Raoul makes a sound. ‘Silly old stoat!’
She laughs, ‘Raoul, don’t speak like that about my Abigail.’ They both walk very slowly toward the entrance in step. Roselyn looks around in case anyone can eavesdrop. ‘At my home we have a garden which overlooks the river. We have a landing stage there. You can find me there as I walk there every day at midday. It’s easy to get a wherry on the river.’
‘A wherry?’
‘A small boat rowed by a waterman who taxi people around.’
‘We can still meet.’
‘Yes, we can find a way.’
‘That will please me.’
They hear Jean coming up behind them. ‘The horses are settled for the night. We still have thirty miles to travel tomorrow and we have the river to cross, so it will be a long day again.’
A first-floor window opens and Cassandra leans out. ‘Roselyn dear, there you are. That rogue told me you had come indoors.’
Roselyn looks up innocently. ‘I had, but when I could not find you, I came out here to look.’
Jean knows she is lying but is somewhat amused as he whispers to her, ‘Shame on you, my lady.’
Cassandra calls down. ‘Come up now. There is food in the room.’
Roselyn gives them a curtsey, ‘Goodnight gentlemen, until tomorrow.’
They watch as she leaves.
After supper in their room, Cassandra brushes Roselyn’s hair. ‘That young man. I’ll be delighted to see the back of him. I don’t trust him, or his uncle. An executioner, really!’
‘They have escorted us safely.’
Cassandra doesn’t agree. ‘But that is quite different. They are fighting men, they take life.’
Roselyn smiles, ‘Very useful to have to guard us Cass. You’re being horribly unfair.’
‘I’m sorry child. Forgive me. I’m a little tired. Thankfully we will be parting from them tomorrow.’
Roselyn sighs. ‘Yes. But I do wish you would speak more kindly. Think what they have done for us.’ She laughs. ‘And Raoul has such a wonderful voice. When he sings, it sends shivers down my back.’
Cassandra makes a noise. ‘Yes indeed. And handsome. Well enough for a mountebank.’