Astride his black destrier, Ash looked down at Justin as they passed the two-story townhomes on the outskirts of Clipston. “Remember, you must stay with me or the men-at-arms at all times.”
Justin guided his brown and white pony around a rut in the road; the two armed guards riding in the rear followed the boy’s lead. “I know, Uncle. You have told me three times already.”
Ash grinned. “I wanted to make very sure you understood.”
Justin rolled his eyes.
Turning his attention back to the street ahead, Ash noted how quiet the town was, compared to the last time he’d visited. Without a noble wedding to bring crowds out into the street, folk were either busy indoors or going about their daily chores. A short distance ahead, children shouted, laughed, and tossed wooden blocks into a bucket; Ash spurred his mount ahead of Justin’s and then guided it to the side of the street, so as not to disturb their game.
“I am starving,” Justin said, his voice carrying over the echoing clip-clop of the horses’ hooves.
“The men-at-arms can take you to buy a meat pie,” Ash said over his shoulder. “Then, they will escort you to a spot where you can practice with your bow.” While Ash had allowed Justin to come along, he didn’t want the boy at his meeting with Rosetta’s sire; the information Ash had to share was far too dangerous.
“Can I get the pie soon?”
“Aye. In a few moments, when we reach the town square, we will go separate ways. The baker’s shop is in the square.”
“Good. I did not realize that being your squire would make me so hungry.”
Ash chuckled. Justin had done an admirable job as squire so far. Mayhap the boy was more ready to begin his training as a page than Ash had thought.
The road opened into the town square, the old stone church directly ahead. In his missive, Ash had advised Lord Montgomery to meet him under the towering oak at the far corner of the church cemetery. They would ride on together from there to the meadow by the river, a suitably remote spot to have their discussion, and, if his lordship desired, Ash would take him to the site where Rosetta had found her ring. Ash had already forewarned his guards that they would be responsible for Justin for a while.
Ash headed for the side of the church, where he would have a clear view of the oak. Lord Montgomery was there, waiting. Ash raised his hand in greeting. His lordship answered in kind.
Halting his destrier, Ash turned it to face his men and Justin. “We will meet up outside the baker’s shop later this afternoon.”
“Aye, milord,” the guards said.
Justin, however, wasn’t paying any heed. He was staring at the tavern.
“Justin,” Ash said.
The boy didn’t immediately face forward. “Uncle—”
“Squire,” Ash said, more sternly. “You are supposed to listen.”
Frowning, Justin pointed to a window on the building’s upper level. “Why is Rosetta in the tavern?”
Rosetta turned away from the window, hurried to the bed, and yanked aside the blankets, sending wilting petals flying to the floor. A shame to ruin perfectly good sheets, but she would ensure the tavern owner was paid for his loss.
With the dagger, she cut wide strips of cloth from the top sheet. Her hands shaking, she braided the fabric, working as quickly as she could. There was no telling when Edric would return. When he unlocked the door, she wanted to be long gone.
Raised voices carried from down in the town square. Was Edric railing at the poor man at the church again, or had he found someone else to scorn?
She tied the lengths of braided linen together, realizing as she did so that she hadn’t made the makeshift rope long enough. Cursing under her breath, she cut more cloth.
Hurry. Hurry!
Again, cries rose from outside. The rumble of a passing cart distorted the sound, but still, one of the voices sounded like Ash’s.
Hope bloomed inside her, urging her to run to the window. She crushed the foolish emotion. Ash wouldn’t be in the town; he was at Damsley Keep. Her frantic mind was playing tricks on her.
Exhaling an unsteady breath, she grabbed her linen rope.
A dull thud came from outside the window. Was someone throwing stones?
She moved to the window, just as an object sailed through. She squeaked and stumbled back, as an arrow landed on the floorboards.
She recognized the arrow. ’Twas one of Justin’s.
Ash stared up at the woman leaning out over the sill. Justin was right; ’twas most certainly Rosetta, still garbed in the cloak and gown she’d worn when she’d ridden away with Edric.
What in hellfire was she doing in Clipston?
“Uncle, why is—?”
“I do not know, but I will find out.”
Rosetta disappeared back inside the tavern. Misgiving roiled inside Ash as he spurred his horse closer to the building, for his gut instinct, which had never failed him, told him she was in trouble. “Rosetta!” he called.
“Rosetta!” Justin shouted, his voice blending with Ash’s.
She didn’t reappear. Mayhap she hadn’t heard them?
“Rosetta!” Ash cried again.
Still, she didn’t come to the window. Someone—likely Edric—could be preventing her from answering, or she could have left the chamber. Fury welled up inside Ash in a violent tempest. Even if it turned out that his instinct was wrong, that all was well, he wanted to know why she was in the tavern and not on her way to Millenstowe Keep as arranged.
Justin swung down from his pony. “Since I am your squire, I will go inside and—”
“Wait.” Ash dismounted to stand with the boy. “’Tis a gallant offer, but we cannot just barge into the tavern. We do not know who else is inside, and we might put Rosetta in danger.”
The boy’s eyes lit with understanding. “Chivalrous knights must always put the lady’s safety first.”
“Exactly.”
Remembering that Lord Montgomery was waiting for him, Ash turned to his men. “Go to the church cemetery and fetch his lordship. Tell him to bring his guards.”
As his men-at-arms rode off, Ash studied the window again. If he could somehow climb up the outside wall and peer in, to see what was going on inside—
“I have an idea, Uncle.”
“Mmm?” Ash scratched his chin while his mind calculated the best way to scale the wall.
“I can fire an arrow through the window. She will know we are here.”
God’s bones!
“If anyone besides Rosetta is in the room, they will likely come to the window. I will act as though I am just a witless six-year-old who has no idea how to use a bow, and that I fired the arrow into the building by accident.”
“’Tis a brilliant idea. Do it,” Ash said.
Justin nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired. The arrow hit the wall near the window and dropped to the ground.
Damnation! Ash bit the inside of his cheek and fought the urge to take the bow and fire it himself.
Justin growled with frustration and nocked another arrow.
“Lower your right arm,” Ash said as the boy aimed. “A little more… Fire!”
The arrow sailed through the open window.
Rosetta picked up the arrow and ran to the sill. Ash stood below, Justin beside him.
Oh, thank God!
She smiled, fighting tears. “I am so glad to see you.”
“What are you doing in Clipston?” Ash called up to her.
“Edric is going to force me to marry him. Today.”
Ash’s face darkened with rage. “The conniving—” His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword.
“There are two armed guards at my door,” she cut in. “The only way for me to leave is by the window.” She held up her braided cloth rope. “I made this, but I have nowhere to secure it—”
“Is there a heavy table in your chamber? Or a bed?” Ash asked.
The bed. Of course.
She left the window and tied one end of her rope to the bed frame. Returning to the sill, she tossed the other end out. It tumbled down to hang several yards above the ground.
As she grabbed her voluminous skirts, readying to climb out, she heard a key grating in the lock. Edric was returning.
With a frantic gasp, she put both hands on the sill and swung one leg over. The silk of her gown snagged on rough wood.
The chamber door opened. “Rosetta!” Edric cried.
He ran to her, his footfalls as loud as the hammering of her heart. She caught hold of the rope and tried to get her other leg over, but her skirts were firmly caught. Snarling, he seized her arm and hauled her back into the room. Fabric tore.
She screeched as she fell hard on the floorboards.
“Edric!” Ash bellowed from the ground below.
An arrow plowed into the edge of the window.
Reaching back, Edric yanked up the rope, tossed it on the planks, and slammed the shutters. As she scrambled to get to her feet, her shoes sliding on yards of slippery fabric, he hauled her up. “What were you trying to do? Kill yourself?”
“I was trying to get away from you!” Rosetta lunged sideways, grabbing for the dagger still lying on the ruined sheet, but he got to it first and tossed it under the bed, out of her reach.
“If you are wise, you will let me go,” Rosetta said very firmly. “Ash is here—”
“He will not stop our marriage. I just received word that my men found the priest. They are on their way here.” Edric grabbed her arm as shouts reached her from the tavern’s lower level: Ash was coming for her.
Rosetta fought Edric’s hold, twisting her arm to try and break free. When he refused to let go and attempted to draw his sword, she walloped him hard across the face. He grimaced, but his brutal grip didn’t ease at all.
Pounding footfalls sounded on the tavern staircase, followed by the clang of clashing weapons. Judging by the noise, men were battling on the other side of the door.
“Ash!” she shrieked.
Sweat coated Edric’s brow. Drawing his sword, he said, “Now, you are going to walk—”
The chamber door smashed inward. Ash stood on the threshold, his sword gleaming. He glared at Edric.
“Release her,” he growled, “or die.”