Hostage Bride. Anne Herries

replied. ‘Angelina has returned to England and she gave me permission to visit you while she rests at the inn this night.’

      ‘Rosamunde?’ His eyes opened and he looked at her. ‘You should not be here. There is nothing left for you, child. I have wasted my fortune and there is nothing but debt. Make your life elsewhere and leave me to die.’

      ‘I do not wish you to die, Father. Before I leave I shall see to your bed and have the room cleaned.’

      Her father pushed himself up against the pillows, looking at her warily. ‘If you’ve come to me for money I’ve none to give you. I can hardly feed the servants, let alone pay my taxes. Next time Prince John’s collector comes, he will take what little we have left, but I shall not see it. I shall be in my grave.’

      ‘Are you in pain, Father?’ Rosamunde bent to plump up his pillows. He shook his head. ‘Then you should try to get up and come down for your supper. It will be easier for the servants to clean if you are not here.’

      ‘You want me to live but there’s no hope left, child. All hope fled when she died.’

      ‘Mother would be so angry with you!’ Rosamunde exclaimed. ‘The servants have neglected the house and the yard. She would not have liked that, Father.’

      ‘I know it. She would also be angry that I sent you away to your cousin, daughter, but what else could I do? If you stay here you will end in poverty.’

      ‘Could we not petition the King for a pension?’

      ‘If Richard were home he might do something for us, but he will need money himself. His ransom has not yet been paid. I gave all I had, but I should have thought of you instead, Rosamunde.’

      ‘Do not worry about me, Father. Perhaps I shall find someone who will marry me.’

      ‘If I had a dowry for you it would give you a chance, but I have spent even that, child. Your mother would not let me while she lived, but when she died I spent it on building a tomb for her.’

      ‘Do not look so sad, Father.’ Rosamunde reached for his hand. ‘Tell me, why did you borrow money from my uncle? Where did it go?’

      ‘Where did all the money go? I wasted it on others instead of saving it for my child. Did I borrow from your uncle?’ Her father wrinkled his brow. ‘I cannot recall the debt, Rosamunde, but your mother’s brother is a good man. If he says there is a debt, it must be so. He has helped me many times and I owe him more than I could ever repay. If he asks something of you, you must oblige him for my honour’s sake.’

      Rosamunde’s heart sank. She’d thought for a moment he would deny the debt, but the truth was he was too old and sick to know. He had beggared himself by his generosity and now he was ill. At least she could make sure that he died in his own bed. Angelina had promised the debt would be paid if she took her place, and she’d also promised a gift of fifty gold talents. It was a large sum of money and would feed the household here for months, as well as pay her father’s taxes.

      

      ‘Well?’ Angelina demanded when she walked into the inn bedchamber the next morning. ‘You’ve seen your father—what did he say?’

      ‘He does not recall the debt; he is too old and ill to know. But it does not matter if you are lying. You promised me fifty gold talents if I help you—will you keep your word?’

      ‘Come to me after you’ve delivered the ransom and I will pay you.’ Angelina’s eyes gleamed suddenly. ‘I shall give you my bond and seal it. It will be binding in law.’

      ‘Very well, I shall do as you ask,’ Rosamunde said. Her father had told her she must do all she could for her uncle for his honour and, though he could not have guessed what that entailed, Rosamunde felt duty-bound to obey him. Unless she took the ransom her uncle might languish in prison for ever. ‘If Lord Mornay does not accept me as you, I shall forfeit all right to the money, but if he does I shall return to claim my dues.’

      ‘Yes, of course. There is paper in my coffer. Bring me a quill and ink and I shall write the bond for you,’ Angelina said.

      Her cousin sat down at a board. Rosamunde went to her coffer and brought her parchment, ink, a pen and sealing wax. She read the document. Angelina promised her fifty gold talents and the cancellation of her father’s debt, once Count Torrs was released, and she sealed it with her own ring.

      Rosamunde placed the parchment inside her tunic. ‘If I am to pose as you, I should have servants. Is Margaret to come with me?’

      ‘No, I need her myself. I will arrange for one of the inn servants to go with you.’

      ‘I asked Maire to accompany me here, so I will take her with me. She is old and my father’s other servants will care for him until we return.’

      ‘What will you do afterwards?’ Angelina asked, though for once she could not look her cousin in the face.

      ‘I shall return to my father. I shall send Maire for my money and care for my father until he dies.’

      ‘You should use the money to buy yourself a husband. Not many knights would take you for so little, but you might find a freeman who would wed you. It would set you up in a modest inn where you might earn your living.’

      ‘I thank you for your advice, cousin, but my father needs someone to care for him.’

      ‘Well, you must do as you please,’ Angelina said a little uncomfortably. ‘We shall send three men as your escort, but once you reach Lord Mornay’s castle you and your nurse will go in alone.’

      ‘But why? Surely they will wait and escort me home?’

      ‘They will wait outside the castle for three days. After that, they will leave you to make your own way.’

      ‘Why will they not come in with me?’ Rosamunde frowned. ‘What are you not telling me, Angelina?’

      She sensed that her cousin was hiding something but could not tell what it might be.

      ‘I am telling you how it must be. Lord Mornay demands that your escort leave once you are inside the castle. He will not admit armed men into his bailey.’

      ‘I think there is more to this than you have told me,’ Rosamunde said, suddenly suspicious. ‘Will you not tell me the truth, cousin?’

      ‘There is no more to tell. You should leave now. Lord Mornay expects you before nightfall.’

      Rosamunde inclined her head and turned away. What had she missed that day when she’d overheard her cousin plotting with Sir Thomas to send Rosamunde in her stead? There was something more than the simple payment of a ransom—but what?

      

      Rosamunde noticed the odd looks her escort gave her as they waited for her to approach them. She wondered what they were thinking, but did not ask. She was certain that Angelina had not told her the whole truth.

      ‘Why are you going to this man?’ Maire asked. ‘I have heard of Lord Mornay. He is an evil, wicked man and people fear him.’

      Rosamunde frowned at this; perhaps the old woman was simply exaggerating. ‘I am to take the ransom for my uncle—I told you, Maire. When Count Torrs is free, my cousin will pay me fifty gold talents and my father’s debt is cancelled. I shall come home and look after him—and the rest of you. Somehow I will earn a living for us all.’

      ‘What could a girl like you do to earn money?’ Maire looked scornful.

      ‘I can sew and cook. Perhaps I can make dresses for the wives of noblemen. Even if I earn just enough to buy hens and a cow it will help. We could raise our own pigs and grow our own worts and soft fruits.’

      ‘And what of the taxes? The prince’s collectors took much of what we had the last time they came—armour, silver and pewter that would have fetched far more than your father owed them. If he had been stronger he could have forced them to take just what was