Christopher started to laugh. “There is time yet still.”
“Is there?” David said as if surprised. “Good. I plan to tie him in a sack and throw him in the river.”
“I am too big for a sack,” Peter said.
David shook his head, heading off towards the camping army. “Never underestimate my determination to shove you into a sack. If you don’t fit the first time, I shall figure out a way.”
Peter was grinning, receiving a gentle slap to the head from his father as they followed David towards the army. Already, the smells of food and bread were in the air, but Christopher wasn’t much thinking on that. He was thinking of the daughter he was going to have to trust to men he’d known, loved, and served with for years, only somehow it was different now.
It was Christin.
And Alexander.
He was going to have to trust that Alexander would keep her safe.
He could only pray.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The Cock and Bull Inn
When Christin had departed Norwich, she’d had the satchel she’d packed for her escape into the town with Alexander, which someone had managed to pick up when she had dropped it in the fight against Gerard and Sean. It must have been one of the royal soldiers, who had carried it with him and then given it to one of the servants at the inn, who delivered it to her. Suddenly, she found herself with a sleeping shift along with clean clothing, a comb, pins for her hair, soap, and other necessities.
She considered herself very fortunate.
Sean had disappeared and although she’d waited for him, patiently she thought, it became clear that he wasn’t returning any time soon, so she sent for a bath and food, which were brought to her in that order. The bath was nothing more than a big pot and a stool, which she sat upon while she washed with several inches of hot water in the bottom of the pot, but it had been heavenly and she’d put on her sleeping shift by the time the food arrived.
The meal was a stew with great hunks of cream-colored bread with a dark crust and butter on the side. The stew had beans and cabbage and barley in it, and it was quite delicious. She ate two big bowls of the stuff along with most of the bread, stuffing herself while she waited for Sean to return.
But still, he didn’t come back.
With all of the food gone and the bath water cold, Christin decided to stop waiting for Sean and simply go to bed. She was exhausted. Crawling into the rather small bed that had a surprisingly clean, if not slightly stiff from being boiled, coverlet, she fell asleep quickly, only to be awakened by someone whispering in her ear.
“Cissy?”
Startled by the heated whisper, she threw up a balled fist just as she caught a glimpse of Alexander’s face. His catlike reflexes prevented her from making contact with his nose as he caught her fist in one of his big hands. She looked astonished and he simply grinned.
“That could have been disastrous,” he teased. “I rather like my face the way it is.”
“Sherry!” she gasped. “How in the world did you get in here?”
He sat on the edge of the bed, still holding her hand, only now he was kissing it. “You have a window that is shockingly easy to climb through,” he said. “All I had to do was shimmy up the tree outside and grab hold.”
She sat up, looking to the open window. The shutters and oil cloth had been pushed back, letting the cold night air in. A little more alert now, she realized what he’d done.
“Then I am glad you were the one who discovered that,” she said, yawning. “It would not do for some cutthroat to crash into my chamber.”
He was still grinning, still kissing her hand. “I am a cutthroat and I did crash into your chamber, but at least I mean you no harm,” he said, watching her smile. “At least, not in the literal sense. Are you well after your adventure today? I saw Sean in the livery. He told me everything.”
She nodded. “I am fine,” she said. “But I have a confession to make. I was outside of my apartment when they set upon me. I was going to meet you in the stable, but they were waiting for me. I tried to get away and that is how they were able to catch me. There were just too many of them.”
His smile faded. “I told you to stay in your chamber. Did you think I did that just to hear the sound of my own voice?”
She was properly contrite. “Nay,” she said. “I am sorry. I suppose I was simply eager to see you. I could not wait.”
Of course, he couldn’t become cross with her when she put it like that. He sighed heavily, eyeing her appropriately so she would know he was not pleased with her behavior, but she smiled sweetly at him and he surrendered without a fight. He put his arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“You are forgiven,” he murmured. “Truth be told, I could not wait to see you, either. That’s why I climbed in your window.”
Christin clung to him, drawing strength from him in a way she never knew possible. When he held her in his arms, it was as if nothing in the world could touch her. She felt safe and warm and deliriously happy. But she knew it was only temporary, at least until they resumed their trek to Bishop’s Lynn.
She relaxed her hold.
“Did Sean tell you about his plan for FitzRoy?” she asked softly.
Alexander loosened his grip so he could look her in the eye. “Aye,” he said. “I know it is a lot to ask of you, but I also know you can do it. You simply have to look at this like any other directive from William Marshal. You must become that agent that is hardened and focused – no emotion, no past, and no future. You live, and remain, in that moment – the moment that Robert FitzRoy becomes your prey. Focus on your task and you will succeed.”
She nodded. “I will,” she said. “But where will you be?”
“I will be close by,” he said. “I am riding with Sean disguised as a royal knight. In fact, we are all going to be with you.”
“Who is ‘all’?”
“Maxton, Kress, Cai, Bric, Kevin, and Sean,” he said. “Your father is not far behind us and he will be engaging the royal soldiers, keeping them occupied while the group of us escorts you to FitzRoy. That way, whatever happens, we can cover our tracks without any witnesses. And we shall cover yours.”
“My father is in on this plan, then?”
“He has been trailing us. Kevin rode back to find him, so if he is not aware of the plan now, he soon will be.”
“He must be terribly worried.”
“I am sure he is. But he knows we would not let anything happen to you. I would not let anything happen to you.” He looked her over, studying her lovely face. “Nothing will go wrong, Cissy. But we will all be there in case something does.”
She felt much better hearing that. Truth be told, she was apprehensive and understandably so. There was so much at stake and the burden of it was heavy, crushingly so, but Alexander was absolutely right – she needed to treat this situation like any other mission. FitzRoy was her prey. When he put it that way, she was able to feel more confident about it.
“I am glad,” she said softly, leaning her head against his, feeling him gently kiss her forehead. “I feel much better knowing you will be there. But this… this is my fight, Sherry. I am the target, after all, and I will fight my own battle.”