Sharon Schulze - The Hidden Heart

Rannulf stepped into the chamber and bowed. “My lord.”

“FitzClifford.” Talbot motioned him to a chair before the fire. “’Tis a pleasure to meet you at last.” He picked up an intricately chased ewer from a nearby table. “Wine?” he asked as he poured a measure into a silver goblet.

“Aye, thank you.” Rannulf took the drink, casting a swift look about him while Talbot poured himself wine and resumed his seat on the settle.

The lord of Ashby enjoyed his comforts, from the look of it, for his garments appeared as costly as his surroundings. Gold threads shimmered in the fanciful design embroidered about the neck and cuffs of his deep green tunic, and his boots and belt were the finest leather. Rannulf sipped his wine—a vintage worthy of the cup, he noted without surprise—and glanced down at his own much simpler garb. Though the soft wool and well-worn leather were of good quality, he’d never felt the need to adorn himself in the vivid colors and elaborate embellishments so popular at court.

Besides, why should he bother? He’d no desire to draw attention to himself, be it from his peers—or from women.

He’d no place for either in his life.

Why, then, did the mere thought set up a deep yearning for all he’d lost?

He quashed the hint of weakness and buried it once again. He deserved nothing more than this new life he’d fashioned for himself—one of duty, of honorable toil, of atonement for his sins.

Though it would never be enough, he could do naught but try.

Rannulf forced himself to sit back in the chair and bring the chalice to his lips, to savor the wine and smile with pleasure at finally meeting his overlord.

“I’m pleased you’re able to join me at last, FitzClifford. I’ve need of your men, ’tis true, but I’ll be glad of your company as well.” Talbot’s mouth curved in a wry smile as he shook his head. “Especially in this latest venture the king has set me upon.”

Interest piqued, Rannulf straightened. “And why is that, milord?” He raised his cup and took his time draining it, watching Talbot closely all the while.

“It seems I’ve angered the king yet again.” Talbot thumped down his goblet on a side table and leaned forward.

“Yet again?” Rannulf asked. “‘Tis’a habit, I take it?”

“So it seems,” the other man muttered. “Although perhaps ‘angered’ is too strong a word. Our liege finds me more of an annoyance, a fly buzzing along the fringe of his notice.” He grimaced.

“’Tis dangerous to upset the king, milord, no matter the degree. Best pray he doesn’t decide to slap away the annoyance with the blade of his sword.” It wouldn’t be the first time their liege had dealt thus with his own nobles. But Talbot must know the king well enough to realize that fact. “I’m surprised you’re still here to tell of it.”

Talbot sighed and glanced up, meeting Rannulf’s curious gaze. “I’ll not be here for much longer,” he said wryly. “Nor will you. By the king’s decree, we’ve been banished to the hinterlands—at least until his anger abates, or he grows bored and calls me back.”

By Christ’s bones, was he to be tarred with the same brush as Talbot? Rannulf bit back a groan of frustration. While ’twas his intent to stay close to Talbot for the nonce, he’d no desire to draw King John’s attention.

Though he had no intention of sharing that bit of information.

“Where are we bound, milord?” he asked, though the answer mattered to him not a whit. He had his orders and his obligation to his overlord to consider as well. ’Twas idle curiosity that brought the question to his lips, nothing more.

Talbot rose and crossed to the table to pour more wine, then set his cup aside untouched. “I’ve the writ here someplace,” he muttered. He opened a plain wooden box—conspicuous in its simplicity—that sat next to the ewer of wine, and shuffled through the jumble of scrolls before drawing forth a beribboned parchment. “The king leaves little to chance,” he said, moving closer to the fire. “My orders are set forth here, couched in such terms as to make it appear that I deserve congratulations on my good fortune. I’m to be warden of a keep, and guardian of its lady.” He unrolled the missive and scanned it. “Of course, judging by the king’s mood when he bestowed this upon me—” he brandished the parchment in the air “—’tis just as likely that condolences would be appropriate.” Scowling, he cast another glance at the decree, then held it out to Rannulf. “What do you think this means?”

Rannulf rose and took the scroll, turning the document into the light as he held it open to read.

The words shone dark and clear to his disbelieving gaze before the shadows he’d thought locked deep within his heart broke free and jumbled the letters into a meaningless scrawl.

But that one brief glimpse had been time enough to etch the image upon his brain—and his heart.

Talbot had become guardian of the lady of I’Eau Clair....

Gillian.

Rannulf could have sworn his heart ceased to beat for a moment from the shock of seeing her name. It took several attempts before he could force his voice past his lips. “Congratulations, milord,” he said, his hearty tone at odds with the sense of panic rushing through his veins. “A Marcher keep, it says.” He reached for his drink and brought it halfway to his mouth before he remembered ’twas empty. Biting back a curse, he pretended to drink, then set the cup aside and scanned the words again. He’d best proceed with care, lest he reveal more information than the brief missive contained. “And a noble lady.” He glanced up at Talbot, who stood poised by the fireplace, worry—or was that confusion?—written on his handsome face. By sheer force of will Rannulf curled his mouth into a careless grin. “Just think of the possibilities.”

“Believe me, I have.” Talbot sat down abruptly, slumping into the chair, his fingers clasped tightly on the carved arms. “Given the king’s mood, I‘Eau Clair Keep is likely naught more than a crumbling ruin, and its lady a crone stooped and withered with age.” He grabbed his wine from the table and gulped it down. “Or a babe still wrapped in swaddling bands. Either way, ’tis no prize I’ve won, FitzClifford. Of that I have no doubt.” He stared into the flickering fire, his expression grim.

Rannulf’s mind reeled. If Talbot knew the truth of the situation, they’d have left London already. He could only be grateful for his overlord’s ignorance.

But such good fortune couldn’t last. Talbot could scarce avoid the king’s command for long. Rannulf considered ways to elude this trap before Talbot was ready to set out for I’Eau Clair, but even as his frantic brain sought shelter from his predicament, he knew there was no escape.

He had his orders, to stay with Talbot at all costs, to observe this crony of the king’s. ’Twas a stroke of luck that the man was his overlord, giving him the perfect opportunity to obey Pembroke’s command. Even if it were possible to send word of the situation to Pembroke, Rannulf knew his orders would not change. Indeed, he could well imagine Pembroke’s pleasure that fate had placed Rannulf in the perfect position to not only keep a close eye on Talbot, but on Pembroke’s godchild as well. Pembroke could not have arranged the matter better had he set it up himself.

Had Pembroke arranged it thus? He bit back a curse. Nay, his foster father would have told him of Lord Simon’s death, warned him that Talbot was bound for I’Eau Clair. Besides, wouldn’t Pembroke have arranged the wardship for himself, had he any say in the matter? Despite his quarrels with the king, he was Gillian’s godfather. Who better to protect her, after all?