Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

almost there, Nell. " Matilda made no effort to hide her impatience. She was straining her eyes ahead up the track after Richard as the trees thinned and they crossed a windswept ridge covered in sodden bracken, flattened by the rain. There was a movement in some holly bushes on the hillside to the right of them, and she peered at them, trying to see through the glossy greenery. Her heart began to pound. Something was hidden there, waiting.

Two deer burst out of the thicket and raced away out of sight up the hill. Richard cantered back to her side. He was smiling, but there was a drawn sword in his hand. "I thought we were in for trouble for a moment, " he called. "Did you see? Shall I send a couple of men after them? Then we can make our own contribution to the feast. "

They plunged into the thickness of the forest again, their horses' feet padding in the soft wet leaf mold beneath the bare trunks of ash and beech. From time to time the cold waters of the Usk appeared in the distance on their left, pitted gray with raindrops. Sometimes the track ran straight, keeping to the line of the old Roman road, then it would wander away over the curving contours that followed, among the trees, the gently sloping hills. Slowly dusk was coming on them through the trees, up from the river valley, and with it came menace.

The escort closed more tightly around them and, at a command from Richard, the men drew their swords. Matilda saw his face was concentrated and grim and she felt a sudden shiver of fear.

They rode on in silence through the darkening forest until at last in the distance through the trees they glimpsed the tall white keep of Abergavenny Castle, swimming in the mist that had gathered over the river.

Richard's face grew more taut as he saw it The castle meant sanctuary from the threatening forest. But it also meant facing de Braose and relinquishing to his care the beautiful child-woman who was his wife.

They rode as fast as they could through the half-light across the deserted fields that clustered around a small township, past the church, and up the track that led to the drawbridge and the high curtain walls of the castle. It seemed that they were expected, for the drawbridge was down and the guard stood to attention, allowing them to clatter through into the castle ward unchallenged. There, shadowed by the towering walls, darkness had already come and torches flared in high sconces, lighting the faces of the men of the garrison with a warm unreal glow.

As soon as they were across it the drawbridge began to move, the cumbersome clank of the rolling chains signaling the disappearance of the cold forest as the gates closed and the castle was sealed for the night.

William de Braose was waiting for them on the steps of the great hall. He was a short man of stocky build with a ruddy complexion set off by his tawny mantle, his dark-gold hair and beard catching fiery lights from the torches in the wall sconces behind him. He watched the men and horses milling round for a moment, then he slowly descended the steps and approached his wife, his hand outstretched to help her dismount. His face was thunderous.

Swinging off his own horse, Richard saw with a quick glance that for the first time Matilda looked afraid.

"In the name of Christ and all His saints, what are you doing here?" William roared. He reached up and pulled her violently from the saddle. When standing she was several inches taller than he, a fact of which he was obviously painfully conscious. "I couldn't believe it when my scouts said that you were coming through the forest. I thought I forbade you to leave Bramber till the spring. "

"You did, my husband. " Matilda tried to sound contrite as she pulled the furs more closely around her in the chill wind. "But the weather seemed so good this winter and the roads were passable, so I thought there wouldn't be any danger. I hoped you'd be glad to see me.... " Her voice trailed away to silence and she could feel her heart beginning to thump uncomfortably beneath her ribs. How could she have forgotten what he was like? The hostility with which he always treated her, the cruelty in which he took such pleasure, the rank smell of debauchery that hung over him? In spite of herself she shrank from him and abruptly he released her arm. He swung around on the circle of men that had formed around them, listening with open interest to the exchange. His face flushed a degree deeper in color. "What are you staring at?" he bellowed. "See to your horses and get out of my sight!"

Matilda turned, blindly searching for Richard among the men. He was standing immediately behind her. Gently he took her arm. "Let me help you in, Lady Matilda, " he said quietly. "You must be tired. "

William swung around, his head thrust forward, his fists clenched. "Leave her, Lord Clare, " he shouted. "My God, you'd better have a good reason for bringing my wife here. " He swung on his heel and strode toward the flight of steps that led up to the main door of the keep, his spurs clanking on the hollow wood. Halfway up he stopped and turned, looking down on them. "You are not welcome here, either of you. " His face was puce in the flickering torchlight. "Why did you come?"

Matilda followed him, her cloak flying open in the wind to reveal her slim, tall figure in a deep-blue surcoat.

"I came because I wanted to be with my husband, " she said, her voice clear above the hissing of the torch beside her. "My Lord de Clare was only going as far as Gloucester, but he insisted that it was his