her as a tool to bring the count to heel. She may not be his daughter, but I found the count a man of honour. He might feel obliged to surrender his person to Prince John if his daughter’s companion were in danger of her life.’
‘He should surely be on board a ship or have reached his destination by now?’ Mellors asked.
‘We must hope both he and the gold I sent are safely on their way to Richard. England has suffered too long at the hands of a tyrant and Richard is badly needed at home.’
‘What will the King find if he returns? There are those that believe Prince John will make certain his brother is murdered as soon as his feet touch English soil.’
‘We must make certain that does not happen. In a day or so I shall send out messengers and then, when I have answers, I may have to leave for meetings with men who wish to see Richard on the throne once more,’ Raphael revealed.
‘What of the lady, my lord? Is she to be kept a prisoner?’ Mellors enquired.
‘She has the freedom of the castle but may not leave unless I give the word. It is for her own sake that I keep her here. I believe her to be extremely vulnerable, asher father is unable or unwilling to care for her, and her cousin obviously cares nothing for her safety. Until I can find the time to escort her home, she must stay here,’ Raphael said with a frown.
‘I think she will not be content to be idle for long, my lord. She sent for me this morning and asked that she might be given some work,’ Mellors told him.
‘Is there no mending to be done?’
‘Your father neglected such things. I believe there are whole chests that are filled with linen needing repair,’ Mellors said with a smile.
‘Then show her where they are to be found and let her see to it. You have done well in difficult circumstances, Mellors, but this house needs a woman’s touch. Until such time as the lady Rosamunde leaves—or I find a bride—we may as well take advantage of her industry.’
‘She will need women to help her, my lord. We have none here save her own servant, and an old crone who sits by the kitchen fire and mutters that she remembers the old times when your mother lived.’
‘Is old Deborah still here? I thought her long dead.’ Raphael smiled. ‘Send for women from the village to attend Lady Rosamunde.’ He saw the steward’s expression. ‘What? You think they will not come because of my father’s reputation?’ He frowned, then added, ‘Tell them my father is dead and I am home—ask for their pardon and say I will swear that no harm shall come to any woman who attends the lady Rosamunde.’
‘Very well, my lord.’ Mellors smiled. ‘I think thewomen will remember you. You are not as your father was and they will come.’
‘We must hope that you are right.’ Raphael turned towards the house. ‘My father’s crimes must be redressed. I shall need your help in costing what must be paid to those he harmed. Attend to your other work and then come to me in my solar.’
‘The prince left it in some disarray, sir. It looks as if he—or one of his men—searched for something. The servants are setting all to rights, but I think someone took a silver ewer.’
‘The prince’s men are all thieves and rogues,’ Raphael said, his lips curling in a sneer of disgust. ‘We must think ourselves lucky that for the moment he does not demand the surrender of my father’s lands. As for his search of the solar, there was little to find. My father’s gold has gone to buy Richard’s freedom, and his ledgers are locked in my coffer.’
‘It will be a happy day when the King returns to this country, my lord,’ Mellors said fervently.
‘Pray God it is soon. Please excuse me, I have work to do.’
* * *
‘My lord asks for your help in the matter of some mending, lady,’ Mellors said. ‘We have sent to the village for women to help you, but you will have the charge of them.’
‘I am very willing to set the work in motion,’ Rosamunde
‘He should surely be on board a ship or have reached his destination by now?’ Mellors asked.
‘We must hope both he and the gold I sent are safely on their way to Richard. England has suffered too long at the hands of a tyrant and Richard is badly needed at home.’
‘What will the King find if he returns? There are those that believe Prince John will make certain his brother is murdered as soon as his feet touch English soil.’
‘We must make certain that does not happen. In a day or so I shall send out messengers and then, when I have answers, I may have to leave for meetings with men who wish to see Richard on the throne once more,’ Raphael revealed.
‘What of the lady, my lord? Is she to be kept a prisoner?’ Mellors enquired.
‘She has the freedom of the castle but may not leave unless I give the word. It is for her own sake that I keep her here. I believe her to be extremely vulnerable, asher father is unable or unwilling to care for her, and her cousin obviously cares nothing for her safety. Until I can find the time to escort her home, she must stay here,’ Raphael said with a frown.
‘I think she will not be content to be idle for long, my lord. She sent for me this morning and asked that she might be given some work,’ Mellors told him.
‘Is there no mending to be done?’
‘Your father neglected such things. I believe there are whole chests that are filled with linen needing repair,’ Mellors said with a smile.
‘Then show her where they are to be found and let her see to it. You have done well in difficult circumstances, Mellors, but this house needs a woman’s touch. Until such time as the lady Rosamunde leaves—or I find a bride—we may as well take advantage of her industry.’
‘She will need women to help her, my lord. We have none here save her own servant, and an old crone who sits by the kitchen fire and mutters that she remembers the old times when your mother lived.’
‘Is old Deborah still here? I thought her long dead.’ Raphael smiled. ‘Send for women from the village to attend Lady Rosamunde.’ He saw the steward’s expression. ‘What? You think they will not come because of my father’s reputation?’ He frowned, then added, ‘Tell them my father is dead and I am home—ask for their pardon and say I will swear that no harm shall come to any woman who attends the lady Rosamunde.’
‘Very well, my lord.’ Mellors smiled. ‘I think thewomen will remember you. You are not as your father was and they will come.’
‘We must hope that you are right.’ Raphael turned towards the house. ‘My father’s crimes must be redressed. I shall need your help in costing what must be paid to those he harmed. Attend to your other work and then come to me in my solar.’
‘The prince left it in some disarray, sir. It looks as if he—or one of his men—searched for something. The servants are setting all to rights, but I think someone took a silver ewer.’
‘The prince’s men are all thieves and rogues,’ Raphael said, his lips curling in a sneer of disgust. ‘We must think ourselves lucky that for the moment he does not demand the surrender of my father’s lands. As for his search of the solar, there was little to find. My father’s gold has gone to buy Richard’s freedom, and his ledgers are locked in my coffer.’
‘It will be a happy day when the King returns to this country, my lord,’ Mellors said fervently.
‘Pray God it is soon. Please excuse me, I have work to do.’
* * *
‘My lord asks for your help in the matter of some mending, lady,’ Mellors said. ‘We have sent to the village for women to help you, but you will have the charge of them.’
‘I am very willing to set the work in motion,’ Rosamunde
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