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  The smithy, muttering under his breath, obeyed, while the soldiers, some of whom were obvious malcontents, returned to the keep. Kenneth watched them all, wondering why neither Lord Adrien nor Lord Taurin had come to see what was happening. Suspicion nibbled at him all the way along the road through the village. Adrien, up high in his wife’s solar for the evening, may not have heard. But Taurin, who slept in the Great Hall, would have noted this commotion.

  Kenneth turned when he reached Clara’s house. All was quiet and even the moon retired behind a bank of leftover clouds. The only light now in the village came from the smithy’s stable. High on the parapet, the number of guards on the battlement was abruptly cut in half.

  Suddenly chilled to the bone, he hurried to the house, his heart heavy with all that had occurred.

  “What happened?” Clara asked as soon as he’d whispered through the door who he was and she’d opened it.

  For the moment it took to bolt the door again, he wanted only to wrap his arms around her warm form and bury his face in her hair. He wanted to find comfort in her presence.

  But what about Rowena? In her determination to keep the mother and child safe, Clara had chosen what could be a death trap for the pair. Her determination and that pride of hers. She would say ’twas her pledge to save lives, but it had been a poor choice. Yet, did she really have a choice? Finally, as he sat down, Kenneth told her everything, including Rypan’s soft words that suggested Taurin was plotting something.

  “’Twas not a ruse tonight?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so. Not a planned one, anyway.” He added, “But Taurin and his soldiers will get increasingly frustrated with each day that they cannot find her.” His next thought bit into his stomach like sour milk. “And we both know how King William deals with disobedience, Clara.”

  “Saxons will suffer,” she said flatly. “I know that. ’Tis why I’m here.”

  Was the threat of death to many Saxons worth the life of one woman? Yet, if she gave the child to his father, her babe would be safe, wouldn’t it? What more could a mother ask for?

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Clara stated. “You think that all of us Saxons here might be punished and you’re wondering if it’s worth it.”

  Kenneth scrubbed his hand down his face, feeling fatigue creeping into his body. “Aye.”

  She stepped up close to him. “And I have disappointed you. Mayhap ’twas my pride that made me hide Rowena in the bog. Or mayhap I didn’t put enough faith in God. But would God protect Rowena? Taurin says she isn’t a Christian. I didn’t even think to ask. Indeed, ’twould have made no matter. I would have cared for her.”

  He blinked. Her faith was true. She would have helped Rowena regardless of the young woman’s beliefs.

  With a tight jaw, he reached for his bundle, where he’d put his small book of verses. “Sit down,” he said. When they were both sitting on the bench, and the lamp was lit, Kenneth opened the book. “’Tis a book of prayers I had to write for my lessons.” He read a few lines, his finger slowly tracing each word so she could see the sound each letter made. “‘For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son.’ You did the right thing helping Rowena, regardless of her faith.”

  “But He still allows us to suffer. He still allows fighting and death,” she said.

  “Physical death, but not spiritual death.” Kenneth sat back. “God loves us, and He wants us to love each other. But tension is so high between Saxons and Normans. Even though we both believe in the same God, this accident of losing Lord Taurin’s horse will add fuel to the fire, I’m sure.”

  “What if it wasn’t an accident?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Clara watched Kenneth’s mouth thin as he spoke. “The horse ran away. ’Twill return.”

  “What if it doesn’t?”

  “They do. Coursers are trained for battle and to return to their stables at day’s end. He will know where the stable is, don’t worry. And no one will approach him to try to steal him, either. Warhorses aren’t pets to come running when is food offered. And they aren’t like that old mare Lady Ediva learned to ride on,” Kenneth said.

  Clara nodded at his words. “Aye, but he’s lost a shoe.”

  “True, horses don’t like a shoe missing. It bothers them as much as ’twould bother you if you walked around with only one shoe. Coursers are very smart. He will return to be fed and sheltered, and to get his shoe replaced.”

  Clara sat back in thought before asking, “What if it wasn’t an accident? What if the courser was hidden in the woods so it couldn’t be found?”

  Kenneth tipped his head, his frown deepening. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

  She swallowed. ’Twas an addled thought, but she’d said it just the same. “What if Lord Taurin told his men to hide the horse?”

  Cold washed through Clara, but she pushed on. “You spoke of a ruse to lure me out, but what if the ruse had a different goal? If Taurin’s horse is missing, ’twould be a good excuse to stay in Dunmow and blame the Saxons for it. Seeing a few Saxons whipped in punishment may make one of them reveal where I am, just as the threat of it in Colchester made the guild masters conspire to be rid of me.”

  Taurin had been in Dunmow Keep for just over a day, and no one had revealed her location, right there in the battlement’s shadow.

  Not even the Norman soldiers who lived at the keep had revealed her location. Did she really deserve their loyalty? Nay, not when she thought of the awful place she’d hidden Rowena.

  Kenneth stood and paced the short distance from wall to wall. “Why would Lord Taurin hide his horse in the forest? Wouldn’t it be dangerous for it? There are wolves and bandits there. They would have to tie the horse up well to stop it from returning to the keep, then it may not be able to defend itself should a pack of wolves attack.”

  He went on, “’Tis hardly wise. The animal is valuable.”

  “True. And they’re hard to approach, let alone ride. I know.”

  Kenneth lifted his brows. “You’ve ridden a courser before?”

  “Just once. And it was no easy feat to mount it, either. They are big, brutish horses who like only one owner.”

  “Whose courser was it?”

  “Lord Eudo’s. He’d left it in the blacksmith’s stables to be shod, along with two others. The back end of the shop collapsed shortly after, pinning the blacksmith under some beams. All the horses needed to be led out quickly, but the stallion refused to obey the blacksmith’s son. I climbed on it and forced it to obey. You need to be firm with them, not allow them a jot of their own way. I ended up leading him and several other horses from the stables, so we could reach the blacksmith.”

  Kenneth shook his head. “You never fail to amaze me. I knew you were confident on horseback when you criticized my riding the day I delivered you here, but I didn’t realize you’d ridden a courser, as well.”

  She shrugged. “I had to correct you. Your technique was flawed. ’Twould become hard on your back as the years go on.”

  “Still, as you said, coursers are valuable animals. ’Tis hard to believe that Lord Taurin would risk his own mount. If the animal was injured, that could end its career on the battlefield and ’twould have to be put down, forcing Taurin to buy and train another. Only a fool would do that.”

  “Or someone desperate who is also wealthy and unscrupulous. Taurin would do anything to get back his heir.”

  “But why would Lord Taurin need this babe? Even if his wife can’t give him a son, he can’t give this child his title because it’s not inherited.”

  Clara heard little of his words. She grabbed his arm as soon as he sat down again. “I must go to Rowena. ’Twas wrong of me to let my pride decide her fate. I need to move her someplace safer.”

  “With Taurin so close? He will stay here until his mount ret—” An idea dawned on his face. “Aye, you’re right. He won’t leave without his horse and he’s a man who would cut off his own nose to spite his face.”r />
  Clara nodded. Her thoughts strayed to Brindi, who’d hidden that apple for fear Clara would give it to Rowena. In her childish mind, Brindi had known Clara would do anything to make sure she got her own way.

  “In the morning, I should go into the keep to see if the horse has returned,” Kenneth said. “But ’twill be unwise to leave the village, or even this house, Clara, for the forests and roads will likely be teeming with soldiers searching for the courser. I expect Lord Adrien will offer his men to help with the search, if nothing else but to hasten Lord Taurin’s departure.” He looked deeply at her. “We should retire. We don’t know what the morrow brings.”

  They sat beside each other for a long moment, listening to the fire crackle and burn down. The sounds of late evening reached them through the wattle-and-daub walls and thickly thatched roof. Clara could hear Kenneth’s quiet breaths, the rhythm a strange comfort to her. She blinked, thinking of poor Rowena.

  Keep her safe, Lord, for I cannot. I have pledged never to hurt anyone, but I am hurting her and the babe in this awful way.

  “Clara?”

  She lifted her head to find him closer. His brown eyes and dark hair caught the flickering light from the hearth. “’Twill all work out. Trust God. And trust me.”

  “I will. But I find myself wanting to break my promise to her and take the babe from her. Rowena is too young to be a mother without help. I can teach her, but not right now. I wonder if I should just take the child, and I hate myself for thinking it.”

  “’Twould keep him safe.”

  She thought a moment, then shook her head. “Nay. A child needs its mother and cannot be separated from her for even a day. After Rowena gave birth, she had trouble nursing her babe. Fear and poor food can do that, and the babe was fussing so. I’ve just not been able to help her as much as I want to.”

  She sighed and wiped her wet eyes. “Oh, Kenneth, I have trapped myself! I cannot keep both the pledge to protect Rowena and my pledge not to do any harm! And if I cannot keep my word, what is it worth? What am I worth?”

  Her lip quivered and she found herself being wrapped in Kenneth’s strong arms. Oh, he felt so good, so warm and comforting when there was no answer for her.

  They sat for a long while, clinging to each other. Then, finally, with reluctance she could almost taste, Clara broke the embrace and bade him good-night.

  * * *

  Kenneth nodded to the young soldier who opened the bailey gate to him the next morning. “Any word on the horse?”

  “Nay, Sergeant. Lord Adrien has, however, ordered all available men to search for it.”

  Kenneth nodded. Aye, ’twas as he suspected. Adrien would not care to have Taurin around any longer than necessary. He hurried into the keep, but found few people there. Even the two barons were gone. He soon learned from Harry that they were out searching for the beast.

  He walked slowly toward Lord Adrien’s office, his feet heavy and tired. Last night, he’d wanted to reach down and kiss Clara again, but ’twould be a dangerous moment of weakness. Clara’s contradictory pledges grieved her and ’twas not the time for passion.

  She may have been upset last night, but Clara needed to sort out her life. He shouldn’t confuse her, and he was the last person who should advise her.

  Aye, they would be a poor match indeed. What kind of husband would he make if he didn’t even know what to do?

  A wail from above filtered down the stairs and despite his churning emotions, Kenneth smiled as he walked along the corridor. The new babe was demanding to be fed, no doubt. A healthy mother, a strong father and a warm home were all a child needed.

  Was Lord Taurin so anxious to get his child because of desperation for an heir? What would happen should an heir not come? Most likely, the estates here would be passed on to his kin in Normandy, but only with the king’s approval. Who was there that Taurin didn’t want to inherit?

  Kenneth stopped. What if he looked at this problem from a different side? Instead of asking what would happen if Taurin was without an heir, should he be asking what would happen if Taurin had an heir?

  If he had estates in Normandy, they would also go to his son. Though the title of baron would be dissolved, it could easily be re-created and placed on the son. Mayhap baronies would be inherited someday, but William had other concerns right now.

  Kenneth grimaced, feeling his head pound. This would all happen only after Taurin’s death. What benefit would it be to him then? What benefit would a son be now?

  The day wore on, and only when several soldiers returned without anything to report did Kenneth consider returning to Clara. She’d promised she would stay hidden, sending Brindi out to anyone who was in need and asking them to come to her hut. Lady Ediva stayed in her solar all day, with Margaret reporting that all was well there and that Clara need not come for another day.

  The day was ending, with the scents of supper settling in around them. Beyond, the chaplain had opened the door to the chapel, preparing for evening services.

  Out in the bailey, preparing to return to Clara, Kenneth stopped. Shouts from outside caused the gatekeeper to hurry to open the large gates. Several of Lord Adrien’s soldiers rode inside hard and fast. Such was the commotion that Kenneth strode down to see what was happening.

  “Did you find the horse?” he immediately asked the lead soldier when he reached him.

  “Not me, Sergeant,” the soldier said as Kenneth caught the foamy bridle. “But I can report that we met with several of Lord Taurin’s men. They said that they had found his mount and that he had departed immediately for his estates to the west.”

  Kenneth straightened. “When was this?”

  “A short time ago. I was commissioned to give his thanks to Lord Adrien for his hospitality and to say that the time had come for Lord Taurin to be on his way. He hopes to reach Broad Oak Forest by nightfall. The king has a manor there that will welcome him.”

  Kenneth tightened his jaw. ’Twas not only ill-mannered to depart on such short notice, without returning to the keep to deliver his thanks himself, but to leave this late in the day was very odd indeed, for Broad Oak Forest was some distance away. Kenneth ordered the soldiers to curry their mounts, then he returned to the keep.

  Later, when Adrien returned, he glared as Kenneth delivered the news. Then, noticing Kenneth’s curious look, he snapped, “Good riddance to him. He turned my keep upside down, and quite frankly, his ill-mannered departure is better than if he’d stayed another night. At least he found his horse and didn’t demand to take mine. I almost expected he would.”

  Kenneth folded his arms. “Some suspect that Lord Taurin deliberately hid his mount.”

  “To what end?” Adrien asked, his eyebrows lifted. “To blame the smithy? That would be pointless. He knew I would support the only blacksmith in the village. The job is too important.”

  “Nay. I suspect to use it as an excuse to stay longer.”

  “Then why suddenly ‘find’ it?” Adrien sat down behind his desk. “Not a likely situation.”

  “I wonder if he felt you would order him gone when it became obvious that his search here was fruitless.”

  “I considered it. But I’d hoped that following Lady Ediva’s advice to gather all the women, modestly dressed, would mean Taurin would take the suggestion that we’d done all we could and he may as well move on.”

  Kenneth lowered his arms. “Bringing the women here worked. I thank you both that you supported Clara in this.”

  Adrien tipped his head, his expression pensive. “Supported Clara? I protected my people. Regardless of what she believes is proper.”

  Kenneth shifted uneasily. Adrien straightened in his seat. “Sergeant? Is there something you should say?”

  “Nay, milord.”

  Adrien rose and walked around the desk. “What is wrong?”

  Kenneth looked up at the older man. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. “Nay, ’tis nothing.”

  Adrien laid a heavy hand on Kenneth�
��s shoulder. “I have known you too long, my friend. You were my squire, now my sergeant at arms and my steward, but you should be far more for your loyalty to me. What is it about Clara?”

  “I’m not so sure I can explain it. Clara was wrong to hide Rowena and her babe, but I did the same thing the day Lord Taurin searched the village homes. I hid her and Brindi.”

  “’Twas for a good reason.”

  “Aye, milord, but shouldn’t I have trusted in you to keep Taurin at bay?”

  “Is that your concern? That I would be disappointed in you?”

  Disappointed. The word resonated within Kenneth. Clara had disappointed him with her choice for Rowena’s hiding place. He hated that Clara didn’t trust those around her. And he hated that he hadn’t trusted Lord Adrien to protect the people of Little Dunmow.

  And now he wasn’t so sure that separating Rowena from her babe was the right thing to do. Not after having met Taurin. And realizing this now, he felt as though he was disappointing Adrien, for surely Adrien still believed that the babe should be taken from its mother, as wrong as it was.

  He looked into his baron’s face and knew he could never speak his thoughts. Adrien had earned Kenneth’s respect a thousand times over. And the older man was now calling him a friend. For once, they were not lord and sergeant. Or even fellow soldiers, who’d fought together at Senlac. They were friends.

  Kenneth felt his heart lift but he still could not state his opinion.

  “’Tis as if a double-edged sword is pressed up to my chin. I move one way, I risk death. I move another way, I risk slicing my face off.”

  Adrien studied him. “I understand. More than you know.”

  Kenneth shook his head. “I refused to trust Lord Taurin. ’Twas Rypan who spoke against the man.”

  “Rypan? He has only ever said a handful of words to me.” Adrien paused. “But they were important ones, in the stable when Ediva had gone on a quest to save my life. That herb the former healer often gave him stole his voice.”

  “Clara refused to dose him with it. ’Tis as if he has improved now.”