Anne Herries - Her Knight Protector

It would be pleasant to walk for a while. At least then he might settle himself, put his mind at rest. Something had been bothering him for the past few days. Something to do with Celestine, with the sly look he had caught in her eyes at times—or was it Katherine who bothered him? The two seemed bound together in his mind, both part of the puzzle that plagued him.

Celestine was undoubtedly beautiful, a woman that any man might crave in his bed, and, for a short time, he had felt desire for her—but there was something about Katherine that made him want to protect her. She was vulnerable, in need of his help, and sometimes when he looked into her eyes, a strange desire to sweep her up and ride off with her, to protect her all his life, came into his mind. It was foolish, for she was not at all the kind of lady he had thought to make his bride.

He walked as far as the end of the garden, gazing down at the city below, which was for the most part in darkness. The moon had been obscured by clouds and for a moment the sky was almost pitch-black. But he could hear voices—a man and a woman arguing. The man sounded angry and impatient.

‘You make little progress, my lady. My patience grows thin. If she gets clear to England…’

‘I have done what I could. Your men had their chance. You should blame them, not me. I did my part in the affair.’

‘Have you seen nothing of it? She does not confide in you?’

‘I am trying to win her trust. These things take time, sir. You are too impatient.’

‘If I thought that you had betrayed me…’

‘You would kill me?’ Celestine’s laughter was soft and mocking. She was clearly unafraid of his threats. ‘Where would that get you, my friend? Without me she will cling more closely to our gallant protector—and I do not think you have the courage to challenge him.’

‘Damn you!’ There was a growl of anger, swiftly followed by a curse. ‘I swear I’ll kill you one of these days, Celestine.’

‘But you love me—you love what I do to you, my sweet, don’t you? I can make you purr like a kitten if I choose, do not forget that. I think you protest too much. Was it not I who—?’

Her words were cut off abruptly and the sounds became more intimate. Alain had no doubt of what was happening somewhere in the darkness. Celestine knew this man well, that much was certain. She had met him here by appointment rather than chance.

He frowned as he turned and walked back towards the house. Just what had he overheard? Was Celestine plotting with someone to steal Katherine’s treasure? And, if so, who was that person? Ravenshurst—or another?

Alain had heard enough to put him on his guard, though not enough to give him proof of the suspicions he had been harbouring since Celestine joined them.

It was true that she was one of the loveliest women he had ever seen. Her smile had taken his breath away, making him desire her, but almost at once he had begun to wonder what lay behind the mask. Her story did not ring quite true and he had seen a look in her eyes at times that had put him on his guard. And now he was sure that his instincts had been right. She was no friend to Katherine, for all her pretence.

Yet he could not be certain of what he had heard. Those few whispered words might mean anything. It was of a surety that the Lady Celestine must be watched, and closely. And he must be very careful. If he showed too much kindness towards Katherine, Celestine would be on her guard and he believed she had a clever, devious mind. His only chance of discovering what she plotted was to flatter her, make her believe that he was charmed by her—and that meant she must not suspect his true feelings for a moment.

‘Did I not tell you that the lady would cause us trouble?’ Bryne said the next morning when they were visiting their warehouse to inspect a new cargo of silks and spices that would be worth a small fortune once it was transported to England or France. Alain had told him of what he’d overheard the previous night and of his half-formed suspicions. ‘If Hubert of Ravenshurst is involved in this, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.’

‘You think he will pursue her even to England?’

‘I think it likely.’ Bryne frowned. ‘Do you believe in this story of the Holy Grail? Stories of its whereabouts abound, Alain. Legend has it that it was brought to England long ago, and Arthur’s knights searched for it in vain. Yet now it seems it was in the Holy Land all this time. How can anyone be sure where it has been all these years?’

‘That is the problem. To prove it is the precious cup is a task that may take a man his lifetime…’

‘A man would have to be very certain to follow such a cause, Alain.’

‘Katherine hath not named the treasure she carries, but it is the one item that men have searched for ceaselessly—think of it, Bryne. The cup that our Lord drank from on that last night. Think of the satisfaction there would be in giving that to Christendom.’

‘One of the most holy relics imaginable,’ Bryne said and frowned. ‘If Ravenshurst believes she has it— I think him capable of any crime to obtain it. Have you thought what it would be worth? There are those who would pay a king’s ransom to have it in their possession.’

‘Ten times as much as many kings could pay, I dare swear,’ Alain agreed. ‘But Katherine believes it should be given freely to the church and I agree with her. It should not belong to one person, but to the whole of Christendom.’

‘Indeed, I agree,’ Bryne said, looking thoughtful. ‘Yet men go to war for far less. I dare not think what trouble such a relic could cause, for if it were given to one church others would claim it as their right.’

‘I think Katherine wanted to give it to the Pope had he been in Rome.’

‘She will give it to no other but his Holiness?’

‘She says not,’ Alain replied with a frown. ‘She is determined to take it with her, perhaps to ask her uncle’s advice. Which means it will probably go to King Philip of France… He is a good Christian knight—but think you he is a proper guardian for such a treasure?’

‘She hath the right to do as she pleases if her father discovered it.’ Bryne’s gaze narrowed in thought. ‘Do you believe it to be genuine and not one of the relics that anyone may buy on the streets of Palestine and Rome?’

‘I do not know for certain that it is the cup Christ used at the Last Supper. It might be something of less importance—but I may know more of its provenance when I have read Baron Grunwald’s writings.’

‘You have not finished your study of them?’

‘Hardly begun. The lettering is small and not easy to decipher, and indeed some of it is in code. I dare say Katherine’s father wished to protect his discovery.’

‘It is a dangerous burden she carries, Alain. You realise what this means, of course?’

‘It means that I must stay by her side until the treasure is no longer in her possession. To desert her would almost certainly mean her death. Whoever was with Celestine last night was determined to have it, no matter the cost.’

‘Have you told Katherine that?’

‘No, for she would likely deny me the right to protect her. The lady is more spirited than most.’ Alain smiled at his own thoughts. In appearance Katherine seemed little more than a child, but as he came to know her he saw that she was brave and true, and had a fierce pride.

Bryne chuckled. ‘And her guardian a veritable dragon. I think Maria trusts no one, including me. Yet even so she and Katherine are no match for the like of Ravenshurst—and if he knows of the treasure then others soon will, for he indulges too often in his wine and in his cups runs loose at the mouth. It is a pity that this treasure, whatever it may be, was not left where it had lain since that time.’