Page 26

B ronwyn tensed. Who was this man who’d covered her mouth? Should she bite? Scream? Would he slip a knife into her guts or worse, turn her in to the empress to be tortured? Had it all been for naught?

She struggled and the arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. Whoever it was, the man smelled of the river, sweat, ale, and horse. He murmured, “I’m going to move my hand away. Don’t bite me, and don’t scream.” He slowly removed his hand.

Bronwyn turned her head. “Theobold?”

“Sssshhh.” He held up a finger for silence.

She clamped her mouth shut and not a moment too soon, for there inside the tent walked a few men.

She peered through the gap in the chests and as the light increased—for one of the men carried a torch—she spotted the familiar faces of Sir Ranulf de Gernon, one of the two men who had fooled the chatelaine of Lincoln Castle into letting him and his knights in, leading to the Battle of Lincoln.

With him walked Edmund the healer, as well as Sir Miles FitzWalter.

Bronwyn swallowed. These were dangerous men. She barely breathed, barely made a sound.

“What was that trouble just now? Some squire and his lady?”

“Aye,” the guard said. “Got ourselves a pair of lovebirds wandering around. Just being friendly.”

Sir Ranulf snickered. “Just as well you turned them away.”

Sir Miles shot him a dirty look. “Friendly how?”

“The lad offered us drinks.”

“You’re sure that’s all they were after?” Sir Miles asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Bronwyn’s muscles began to ache. She shifted slightly and her hair brushed against Theobold’s face.

He sniffed, too quickly.

She knew that telltale sign. In seconds, he sneezed.

“What was that?” Sir Ranulf asked. “Is there someone else here?”

“Come out now, whoever you are,” Sir Miles said calmly.

Theobold leaned back and rubbed his nose. He looked at Bronwyn and motioned for her to get up. When she shook her head, he said loudly, “Come on, love, there’s no use hiding.” He stood and pulled her up.

“Theobold. What are you doing here?” Sir Miles asked.

“What’s it look like?” Theobold gave the men a lazy smile. He wrapped an arm around Bronwyn’s waist, and she looked up at him in annoyance. He shot her a wink and a look that said, play along .

The men exchanged amused glances. Sir Ranulf laughed. Sir Miles was less amused. “I see. Theobold, you do choose curious places for your dalliances. But then, I don’t imagine there’s many who would take you willingly, knowing your family. Even with your looks.”

Bronwyn sensed Theobold grew angry. His body stilled as if cold, but waiting, as if in the breath before a fight. She touched his arm and said, “I’m sorry. We were looking for somewhere quiet to be alone, and…”

“How did you get in here? There are guards posted outside.”

The guards peeked at her and frowned. “Who are you?”

“She’s with me,” Theobold said, pulling her closer against his side. “I let her in through the back. Just wanted to impress her and find a place we wouldn’t be disturbed.”

“What a curious choice. You didn’t fancy bringing the girl to your own tent?” Sir Miles asked.

Theobold swallowed.

Bronwyn felt Sir Miles’s eyes on her, assessing her. “Sorry. It was foolish of me. I’ll go.”

“ We’ll go. I’m not letting you out of my sight that easily,” Theobold told her, his eyes looking into hers as if she were the only one in the room.

The only one who mattered. She could imagine falling into those dark eyes of his and never wanting to leave.

A black curl fell into his eyes and her fingers itched to smooth it away.

Sir Ranulf coughed. “All right. All right, already. I’ve seen enough lovers for one night. Clear off, the pair of you. Find somewhere else to fool around. We’re here on the empress’s business, as you well know, Theobold. Out.”

Theobold pinched Bronwyn’s rump. She squealed and jumped, smacking him on the arm.

The men laughed, and she glared at Theobold, her cheeks flaming. He grinned and pulled her by the hand, away from the back of the chests and out in front, around the men.

“Gentlemen,” Theobold said, not letting Bronwyn’s hand go.

A quick flip of the tent flap and they were back in the open night air. The darkness was lit by the bonfire, and dark shapes of men and women dancing and drinking filled her vision. The air was warm from the warm bodies and the ground crunched under the weight of dozens of dancing feet.

She tried tugging her hand free, but he wouldn’t let go. “ Theobold .”

“Wait. We need to talk.”

She let him pull her through the crowd of people, past the dancers and couples. He ignored the admiring glances of young women, and some had crestfallen looks as they saw him pulling her by the hand and probably assumed the worst, whereas other people watched and gossiped, talking.

It wasn’t until they’d cleared most of the crowd, past the bonfire, and approached the trees, that he let her go.

They were mostly alone as they stood away from all the people.

The air was cold here, and at the outskirt of the woods, it was pitch black and her visibility was poor.

She shivered yet did not feel afraid of him, only as if she were in trouble.

“Talk,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why on earth were you in the empress’s tent hiding?

I saw you go in with that apron on your head.

If you’re in that great a need of a kerchief to tie your hair, I’ll get one for you.

But imagine my surprise when I go in and you’re no longer wearing it. What’s the meaning of this, Bronwyn?”

She looked at him. He was tall and looked pale in the slim moonlight. “I, uh…”

“Don’t lie. It doesn’t suit you. I’d like to know what you were doing there, why you involved Rupert and a lady-in-waiting in your plans, and just what you thought you’d accomplish.”

She cocked her head. She realized then that he was quite smart. He’d seen right away that it had all been a ruse to allow her to sneak into the tent.

“For God’s sake, Bronwyn, I’m on your side. What do I have to do to make you trust me? I just saved you—again. Possibly from execution.”

She glared and walked up to him. “By pretending we were lovers. You made me look a fool.”

“No, I made you look innocent. I saved your life. Do you know how serious it could have been if they’d discovered you without me? If they’d found you there alone, they’d have taken you in for questioning, and I can’t have that. I won’t.” His expression was grim.

She lifted her chin, frowning at his dark eyes. “By pinching me and putting your arm around my waist?”

“It was an act, Bronwyn. They know I’m popular with the ladies, so they believed the lie. I saved you.” He snorted. “Why are you angry? There’re worse things that could happen. And there are a lot of young women who would love to be in your position.”

She laughed. “Yes, I know it’s a lie. I heard you telling Lady Morwenna the other day you’d never be with someone like me. A servant.”

He stared. “That’s what you’re annoyed about?” He laughed.

She turned her back on him.

He said behind her, “Bronwyn. I said that to her because Lady Morwenna has the mouth of a fishwife, and no secrets of her own. She respects no one but perhaps the empress, and if I were to say I fancied you, then she would make life miserable for us both, believe me.”

Bronwyn whirled around and put her hands on her hips. “I—oh.”

They stood very close.

“That’s no reason to make the men think we are lovers,” she whispered.

The right side of his mouth curled into a smile.

“I can’t believe that’s what you’re worried about.

Not the fact that you could have been imprisoned.

” He shook his head. “I suppose I should be insulted, but I want to know. What were you doing there in the first place? Why did Lady Alice pretend to faint?”

She looked at him. “You won’t tell a soul? On your honor?”

He looked back at her. She felt his eyes searching hers, as if for an answer. A beat, then two.

“On my honor, I shall not tell. But I want to know, Bronwyn, what is it I’m keeping a secret.”

She told him. Starting with the crown reappearing amongst Lady Alice’s bedding and her begging Bronwyn to help hide it, leading up to her plan to return it.

Theobold stared at her, eyes wide. “ That’s what you were doing?”

“She was being framed. I think Lady Morwenna planted it in her bedding and that’s why she accused Lady Alice.”

“No. Don’t start on that line of thinking. You’re wrong.”

“And why is that?”

“I know her. Lady Morwenna can make mistakes, but she wouldn’t be so brazen as to steal a crown and then try to blame it on someone else. Besides, Lady Alice has been suspected for a while now.”

“What do you mean?”

He glanced this way and that. “I mean, that what I heard was that she was in Stephen’s court for a time. Got pretty comfortable over there with some of the men.”

“Only Rupert.”

“Aye. And who does he serve? One of Stephen’s men. That alone puts her under suspicion.”

“But she’s innocent. She didn’t do anything.”

“No, of course not. Except shove the crown at you and leave you to clean up the mess. Never mind it got one maidservant killed and put you in danger.” He cursed. “God, Bronwyn. You knew I was tasked with searching for the crown, so why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know you that well. I didn’t know if I could trust you.” Her mouth went dry.

“And now?”

She could feel his eyes seeking hers. When he took her hands in his, she didn’t stop him. They were warm, and a part of her felt safe. “I…… I couldn’t be certain who to trust.”

“So you decided to try and use your friends and handle things yourself.” He dropped her hands and ran a hand through his curly, dark hair. “Of all the hare-brained schemes… I can’t believe you were so foolish. So you thought you’d simply return the crown, yeah?”

“Yes. It did work.”