are safe enough for the moment. The prince does not know you came as the count’s daughter. I have told him you are my kinswoman and for the moment he has accepted it. He came here looking for money. I shall give him a small donation to his coffers and hope that he will leave us in peace,’ Raphael revealed.
‘You lied to me!’ she gasped.
‘Because I believed you were lying to me, and I needed the truth if I am to help you. If the prince knew your identity he might still make you his prisoner,’ he pointed out.
‘Where is the prince?’
‘Resting. He leaves in the morning.’
‘Will you let him take my uncle with him when he leaves?’ she asked breathlessly.
‘I have already informed the prince Count Torrs escaped before you arrived,’ Raphael said, deciding that it would be best to tell her as little as necessary. If, God forbid, she was ever held as the prince’s prisoner she couldn’t tell what she didn’t know. ‘You will not be required to pay the ransom.’
‘Will you allow me to leave? One of my escorts is here in the village waiting for me,’ she said.
‘My men knew his intention and it was reported to me. Fitzherbert has been sent away. You will remain here under my protection for the moment,’ Raphael told her.
‘But if…’ Rosamunde’s knees trembled. ‘Am I your prisoner?’
‘We live in uncertain times, lady. You would not be safe if I let you leave here. I cannot be sure you have told me the whole truth but, even if you are Rosamunde and not the lady Angelina, you must remain here until I have time to escort you to your home.’
‘Fitzherbert would have seen me home.’ She gave him an accusing look. ‘Why did you send him away?’
‘For his safety and yours. If Prince John became suspicious and believed you were the count’s daughter, he might take you with him. Here you will be my guest, though not at liberty to leave. The prince might yet castyou into a dungeon and, if the count did not surrender or pay the ransom demanded, leave you to rot.’
Rosamunde shivered. ‘And you—what do you want of me, sir?’
‘What makes you believe I want something of you?’ he parried lightly.
‘Why did you take my uncle captive and hold him for a ransom?’
‘You ask too many questions, lady. I shall answer when I am ready. At the moment I have a royal guest to keep happy or we may all be in trouble.’
He gave her a look that made the back of her neck prickle.
Rosamunde stared after him as he turned and left her. She was still shivering but more from apprehension than from fear. He’d said she was under his protection and told her she would not be asked for the ransom—but he wanted something of her. Otherwise he would have provided her with an escort and sent her home.
Chapter Four
R aphael watched as the prince and his escort rode away the next morning. He had given him five-hundred silver talents, but he knew it was not enough to satisfy the greedy prince for long. He’d wanted its equivalent in gold and would no doubt return to demand more before long. If a tribute was not offered freely, the next thing would be a visit from the prince’s tax collectors. Any noble who refused to pay might be subject to a royal decree and the confiscation of property, or even his estate. The poor of the land suffered far worse injustices, for the tax collectors had been known to strip a village of all its grain, pigs and any other item of value. It was hardly to be wondered at that the people cried out for help and, it was said, held the outlaw Loxley in high regard, often protecting him from the Shire Reeve of Nottingham.
‘Did he suspect anything, my lord?’
His steward’s question brought Raphael from his reverie. ‘I think he may have been suspicious but he knows nothing for sure—besides, the lady is only cousin to the count’s daughter. She was sent in her cousin’s stead. However, that might not save her if she fell into the prince’s hands. He might try to use
‘You lied to me!’ she gasped.
‘Because I believed you were lying to me, and I needed the truth if I am to help you. If the prince knew your identity he might still make you his prisoner,’ he pointed out.
‘Where is the prince?’
‘Resting. He leaves in the morning.’
‘Will you let him take my uncle with him when he leaves?’ she asked breathlessly.
‘I have already informed the prince Count Torrs escaped before you arrived,’ Raphael said, deciding that it would be best to tell her as little as necessary. If, God forbid, she was ever held as the prince’s prisoner she couldn’t tell what she didn’t know. ‘You will not be required to pay the ransom.’
‘Will you allow me to leave? One of my escorts is here in the village waiting for me,’ she said.
‘My men knew his intention and it was reported to me. Fitzherbert has been sent away. You will remain here under my protection for the moment,’ Raphael told her.
‘But if…’ Rosamunde’s knees trembled. ‘Am I your prisoner?’
‘We live in uncertain times, lady. You would not be safe if I let you leave here. I cannot be sure you have told me the whole truth but, even if you are Rosamunde and not the lady Angelina, you must remain here until I have time to escort you to your home.’
‘Fitzherbert would have seen me home.’ She gave him an accusing look. ‘Why did you send him away?’
‘For his safety and yours. If Prince John became suspicious and believed you were the count’s daughter, he might take you with him. Here you will be my guest, though not at liberty to leave. The prince might yet castyou into a dungeon and, if the count did not surrender or pay the ransom demanded, leave you to rot.’
Rosamunde shivered. ‘And you—what do you want of me, sir?’
‘What makes you believe I want something of you?’ he parried lightly.
‘Why did you take my uncle captive and hold him for a ransom?’
‘You ask too many questions, lady. I shall answer when I am ready. At the moment I have a royal guest to keep happy or we may all be in trouble.’
He gave her a look that made the back of her neck prickle.
Rosamunde stared after him as he turned and left her. She was still shivering but more from apprehension than from fear. He’d said she was under his protection and told her she would not be asked for the ransom—but he wanted something of her. Otherwise he would have provided her with an escort and sent her home.
Chapter Four
R aphael watched as the prince and his escort rode away the next morning. He had given him five-hundred silver talents, but he knew it was not enough to satisfy the greedy prince for long. He’d wanted its equivalent in gold and would no doubt return to demand more before long. If a tribute was not offered freely, the next thing would be a visit from the prince’s tax collectors. Any noble who refused to pay might be subject to a royal decree and the confiscation of property, or even his estate. The poor of the land suffered far worse injustices, for the tax collectors had been known to strip a village of all its grain, pigs and any other item of value. It was hardly to be wondered at that the people cried out for help and, it was said, held the outlaw Loxley in high regard, often protecting him from the Shire Reeve of Nottingham.
‘Did he suspect anything, my lord?’
His steward’s question brought Raphael from his reverie. ‘I think he may have been suspicious but he knows nothing for sure—besides, the lady is only cousin to the count’s daughter. She was sent in her cousin’s stead. However, that might not save her if she fell into the prince’s hands. He might try to use
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