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

"Then I must raise the money myself. I hid it with the help of my steward at Hay. There was some gold, jewelry, and coin. We put it in coffers and carried it up to the mountains. "

"This money. " Edward was tracing the writing of the document. "Would it amount to fifty thousand marks?"

"As your husband has defaulted we would require the full amount at once, you see. " The younger didn't bother to look up this time. He was still working on his thumbnail.

"I was thinking in terms of the first installment, " Matilda groped for her words cautiously. "There would be ten at least, I should think. I could raise more if I were allowed to go to Wales to—"

"Out of the question, I'm sorry. " Edward drew a parchment toward him on the desk. "Did you make no note of the value of the money you hid, Lady de Braose? Perhaps your steward could be found to bring it. If I may have his name we can send riders. "

"There were about four thousand marks in coin, if you must know. " She shrugged. "Most of my jewelry was there. That must be worth a lot, and my husband's rings and chains, and gold. " She glanced from one to the other, but both men were shaking their heads.

"I'm sorry. It's not enough. " Edward rose, licking his lips nervously. "I must tell you, my lady, that His Grace has ordered that the judgment of the realm be carried out against your husband. He is now an outlaw in this land. The king has also decreed that unless you were able to meet to the last penny the amount required within three days of St. Agnes' feast, the day stipulated in the agreement you yourself signed of your own free will, you should suffer the full penalties for your husband's default. "

He paused as the other lawyer too rose to his feet and began to push the pile of parchments together into a heap. The gesture was somehow very final.

"What penalties?" Matilda heard her voice as a whisper in the silence of the room.

He shrugged. "I have letters for the constable. You and your son, William, are to be removed to the royal castle of Corfe. The other ladies and your grandchildren will remain here for the time being, I gather. "

Matilda looked from one to the other. She could feel her panic rising. "When must we go?"

"Today. As soon as an escort has been mounted. " The two men bowed together and made their way past her to the door. Then they had gone and for a moment she was alone, before the knight who had brought her from the tower was again at her side. "You'd best go and make your farewells, lady, " he murmured kindly. "The constable had an inkling of what the letters were going to say. The men are already summoned to escort you. "

"Corfe, " she whispered bleakly. "He uses that as a prison. "

"No more than any other place. It's a favorite residence of his sometimes. Don't worry. You'll be out of the way there. He'll forget about you soon enough, and then your friends will be able to buy you out. " He put his hand for a moment on her arm, a small gesture of comfort, but she could not help a shiver of terror at his words. She looked at him bleakly for a moment, then, slowly, she followed him back to the chamber she had shared for so many long nights with Margaret and Mattie and bade them a tearful farewell. Then she hugged the two babies and, last of all, her beloved little John, who clung to her, crying.

"We'll see you again very soon, Mother, never fear. " Margaret took her hand for a moment and held it close. "Don't worry. You have many friends and they will all be working on the king to release you. He won't hold you to blame for long for Father's faults. You'll see. "

Matilda forced herself to smile. "Yes, my darling, we'll see, " she whispered slowly. "I'm sure it will all come out right in the end. " And she reached to kiss her daughter one last time.

"Enough!" Sam moved across the room and stood before Jo, looking down at her, his face haggard. "It is too soon. John may intend to kill you, my lady, but I can still save you. " Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself with an effort. "This time I can. This time I shall follow you to Corfe. I shall atone. " He knelt before her and took her hand in his. "Dear God, I didn't mean to make you suffer so. Only a little longer, Moll. Only a little longer. You have to go there. You have to go, but I shall follow you. " He was crying openly now, his face twisted with anguish. "My brother has much to answer for! But he will not be the one to save you. I will get there before him, Moll, I will save you. " He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss upon her fingers. Then slowly he stood up. "And now, to keep you safe till morning. You will stay here, my lady, not moving, until dawn breaks. Then and only then will you set out on your last journey to Corfe. I have one last debt to pay tonight. " He smiled suddenly, straightening his shoulders. "Then I shall follow you and tomorrow you will be mine. "

Letting her hand fall, he went to the TV and turned up the sound. Then, slipping the cassette from the stereo into his pocket, he glanced around the room. Jo had not moved. Her eyes were once more on the TV but they did not register any movement. Her face was pale, and