Read Online The Exiled by Posie Graeme-evans - Free Book Online
Authors: Posie Graeme-evans
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voice, he continued.
‘The fearful events of last night prove to me, and my fellows at the Guild, that the wisdom of our stance is correct.’
Anne sat very still and Caxton found the directness of her eyes disconcerting. He had a distinct urge to lean forward and take her hands in his, to soften the blow to come. He resisted — such a gesture might be misinterpreted.
‘Lady, we cannot admit you to the Guild. It would not be right, not correct.’
Anne bit back a response. In her heart she had known it, but her throat closed over and she was shamed to feel tears gathering in her eyes.
William was mortified when he saw her distress.
‘Sweet girl, surely this is a relief to you? How can it be anything else? As a woman it is not suitable for you to trade — you must see that. I suppose, because you’re young, it seems exciting to you; I promise you it is not.’ Now he did reach forward, he could not help himself. If she would just let him take her hand ...
But she shook her head brusquely, swallowing tears. There was a moment of painful silence, which Caxton tried to fill.
‘I am sorry to make you sad. But there are other, more hopeful things to speak of. Your happiness.’
Seizing the moment, William Caxton hurried on.
‘Except for your guardian, a guardian who does not live in this city, you are a woman alone. Oh, I know,’ he held up his hand as if she had tried to interrupt him; she had not. That rattled her guest. ‘Ah, I know that you value independence, that you have Deborah and Maxim to guard you and that you have some of the means to
be
independent.’
Anne did not look at him, turning her attention to the snow as it fell, faster and faster. ‘But what happened last night will happen again — until you are settled. Safely, happily settled.’
Under strict emotional control now, Anne leant forward to stir the fire, one part of her seeing the snow had suddenly stopped; the world was white, unsullied. There was silence outside the window. That pleased her.
‘But Master Caxton, I am settled. As you see. I am part of an excellent, well-run household, as you say, and I am surrounded by those who have an interest in seeing that my ... independence ...
is
safeguarded, as you know.’ There was truth in this; independence was deeply important to her. If she trusted only herself, then she would never be let down by the actions of others.
William bought a little time to think by walking over to the casements. After a moment he turned.
‘You are a prize, lady, and as such, you are
not
safe. Last night showed us this. At present this city is full of lawless men and that will only become worse, as the year wears on.’
Anne was cool. ‘I am uncertain what you mean, sir. If you refer to the mercenaries, well, Ivan had proved himself their match.’
‘Not the mercenaries, madam. Those who pay them.’
Now Anne was genuinely puzzled. ‘But Duke Charles pays them. He would not harm me. Sir Mathew and Lady Margaret Cuttifer are especial friends of the Court of Burgundy, and through them, so am I. Who else?’
William bowed in acknowledgment before he chose to reply. Yes, it was true. She was favoured by Duke Charles, witness the venison.
‘The duke, yes. He, as I understand it, holds the House of Cuttifer in high regard. But there are others — surely you know?’
Anne was finding it hard to maintain her calm. Her heart was beating faster — she had been badly frightened last night, though she was determined that the little world she lived in, personified by the man standing in front of her, would not know that.
‘Master Caxton, if I listened to every little piece of malicious tittle-tattle from the Markt, I should be frightened of my own shadow.’
Again she laughed, a little breathlessly this time. ‘As it is, I doubt that the Guild of Merchant Adventurers would be so upset should anything happen to me!’
‘Ah lady, you do us a disservice. Many of our members are very worried about your
‘The fearful events of last night prove to me, and my fellows at the Guild, that the wisdom of our stance is correct.’
Anne sat very still and Caxton found the directness of her eyes disconcerting. He had a distinct urge to lean forward and take her hands in his, to soften the blow to come. He resisted — such a gesture might be misinterpreted.
‘Lady, we cannot admit you to the Guild. It would not be right, not correct.’
Anne bit back a response. In her heart she had known it, but her throat closed over and she was shamed to feel tears gathering in her eyes.
William was mortified when he saw her distress.
‘Sweet girl, surely this is a relief to you? How can it be anything else? As a woman it is not suitable for you to trade — you must see that. I suppose, because you’re young, it seems exciting to you; I promise you it is not.’ Now he did reach forward, he could not help himself. If she would just let him take her hand ...
But she shook her head brusquely, swallowing tears. There was a moment of painful silence, which Caxton tried to fill.
‘I am sorry to make you sad. But there are other, more hopeful things to speak of. Your happiness.’
Seizing the moment, William Caxton hurried on.
‘Except for your guardian, a guardian who does not live in this city, you are a woman alone. Oh, I know,’ he held up his hand as if she had tried to interrupt him; she had not. That rattled her guest. ‘Ah, I know that you value independence, that you have Deborah and Maxim to guard you and that you have some of the means to
be
independent.’
Anne did not look at him, turning her attention to the snow as it fell, faster and faster. ‘But what happened last night will happen again — until you are settled. Safely, happily settled.’
Under strict emotional control now, Anne leant forward to stir the fire, one part of her seeing the snow had suddenly stopped; the world was white, unsullied. There was silence outside the window. That pleased her.
‘But Master Caxton, I am settled. As you see. I am part of an excellent, well-run household, as you say, and I am surrounded by those who have an interest in seeing that my ... independence ...
is
safeguarded, as you know.’ There was truth in this; independence was deeply important to her. If she trusted only herself, then she would never be let down by the actions of others.
William bought a little time to think by walking over to the casements. After a moment he turned.
‘You are a prize, lady, and as such, you are
not
safe. Last night showed us this. At present this city is full of lawless men and that will only become worse, as the year wears on.’
Anne was cool. ‘I am uncertain what you mean, sir. If you refer to the mercenaries, well, Ivan had proved himself their match.’
‘Not the mercenaries, madam. Those who pay them.’
Now Anne was genuinely puzzled. ‘But Duke Charles pays them. He would not harm me. Sir Mathew and Lady Margaret Cuttifer are especial friends of the Court of Burgundy, and through them, so am I. Who else?’
William bowed in acknowledgment before he chose to reply. Yes, it was true. She was favoured by Duke Charles, witness the venison.
‘The duke, yes. He, as I understand it, holds the House of Cuttifer in high regard. But there are others — surely you know?’
Anne was finding it hard to maintain her calm. Her heart was beating faster — she had been badly frightened last night, though she was determined that the little world she lived in, personified by the man standing in front of her, would not know that.
‘Master Caxton, if I listened to every little piece of malicious tittle-tattle from the Markt, I should be frightened of my own shadow.’
Again she laughed, a little breathlessly this time. ‘As it is, I doubt that the Guild of Merchant Adventurers would be so upset should anything happen to me!’
‘Ah lady, you do us a disservice. Many of our members are very worried about your
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