The Lady Katherine Chronicles, Number 16
Lady Katherine And The Secret
Seduction
By Sazzy
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Codes: |
uber J/7 |
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Rating : |
NC-17 |
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Setting: |
June 1192, |
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Thanks: |
MercyCroft, Jay, Solise and MF for beta reading this for me :) Plus a small nod to Bailey B’s great fic “Bound” which probably had a subconscious effect on the last scene! |
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Disclaimer: |
This is a work of fan fiction but uses characters that bear a striking resemblance to those that are copyright of Paramount Pictures. No infringement on their copyright is intended by the author in any way, shape or form - this is just a bit of fun. This story includes an all female relationship, so if you don’t like that then look away now. |
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Lady Katherine of
“Diana!”
Despite the repeated hails, there was no sign of the stubborn Goshawk. Katherine kicked out at the dry earth in frustration, sending up a cloud of dust as her boot skidded through it. She’d been looking for the bird for a good half an hour, pursuing her through the woods in the grounds of Chesterfield Hall. Katherine was beginning to think the damn thing had gone for good this time.
As if it wasn’t tiring enough traipsing after the animal, the heat was merciless. The height of midsummer was only a couple of days off, and even under the shade of the trees the air was close and oppressive. The folds of Katherine’s summer dress hung heavy against her legs, sticking to the skin.
Suddenly there was a cracking sound from behind her. Katherine whirled around. “Hello?” There was no answer save the swishing of the dense leaves above in the soft summer breeze. “Diana?” Another sound; to her left this time. “Is there someone there?”
Her eyes probed the wood, scanning urgently back and
forth. A single squirrel darted between
trees, but otherwise there was no untoward movement in the light that filtered
through the leaves from above, picking out patches of brown earth. Katherine was beginning to think it might
have been a touch foolish to come looking for her bird alone, what with the
Ares Syndicate still looming large on the horizon. There hadn’t been any more incidents since
the attempted robbery from her bed chamber at Markham Manor some three weeks
before, and yet she had the feeling that they were just biding their time
before they struck again. Having to sit
around at
In the silence of the forest, Katherine could hear her own breathing, soft and shallow. She tried to take a few deep breaths, calm her irrational fears, but her heart refused to oblige, still beating hard against her chest. Her eyes darted to every small movement of the trees, determined to catch anyone that was watching her. To her paranoid mind it seemed like there were hundreds of spying eyes amongst the mass of greens and browns. Katherine’s hand naturally rested on the hilt of the dagger that she wore at her belt. Down her spine she could feel the slow descent of a single bead of sweat.
She whirled round on the spot several more times, finally deciding that she’d had enough - Diana could fend for herself. Katherine reasoned that the bird would probably turn up when she got hungry anyway. Determining the correct direction, Katherine turned for Chesterfield Hall, thinking they’d probably be wondering where the hell she’d got to by now. She was surprised Tobias hadn’t sent out a search party already.
Walking briskly through the forest, Katherine became aware of something close by, a noise that was out of place amongst the chatter of the birds and the swish of the wind. If she strained she could just hear it – footsteps other than her own sweeping through the dry twigs and leaves. She couldn’t quite tell where it was coming from…behind her somewhere? Katherine quickened her pace. The other steps quickened too. She glanced over her shoulder, but all that faced her was the constant green mass of the forest. By now she was striding swiftly along. Still she could make out the other footfalls following.
Giving up on any form of decorum, Katherine broke into a run. Now she couldn’t tell what the other steps were doing, her own noisy progress as she crashed onwards blotting out any other sounds. The branches snagged her dress and tugged at her auburn hair as she plunged on. Up ahead she could see the trees starting to thin, the edge of the wood getting tantalisingly closer with each frantic step. Then all of a sudden her path was blocked by a body dropping from the trees above. Katherine reflexively screamed and immediately turned on her heel to run in the opposite direction. A hand shot out, grabbing her arm. Katherine swung back at the person, attempting to punch them in the face, but her hand was caught before it got there.
“Katherine!”
Katherine froze at the voice, actually looking at her pursuer for the first time. A pair of blue eyes were staring back at her in bemusement.
Katherine sagged in relief. “Jesus sodding Christ, Anne! You scared me stupid.” She wrested her hand from the other woman, and shoved Anne in the chest, half in annoyance at her own skittishness as much as the young woman. “What did you think you were doing?”
“I was just following to make sure you were all right.”
Katherine couldn’t stand still, pacing around agitatedly, her heart still racing. “Why didn’t you come out when I called?”
Anne seemed confused. “You called?”
“Yes! In the forest, just now!”
Anne blocked her way, catching both Katherine’s hands and bringing them up between them. There was a look of obvious concern on her face, her brow creased, the scar above her left eye furrowed. “You’re shaking.”
Katherine tried without success to pull her hands away. “I am not,” she said indignantly.
Anne guided her closer so that her hands were now squashed tight between them, pressed up between their chests. Katherine could feel the steady beat of Anne’s heart through the material of her dress. It was comforting, reassuring. Katherine’s hands became still.
“I’m sorry for scaring you,” said Anne softly. Her face was hovering so close Katherine could feel each individual breath across her cheeks. “Perhaps I can make it up to you?”
Katherine’s residual trembles of fear turned to ones of anticipation. She was surprised by the strength and suddenness of it. Before she knew what she was doing, she was stepping backwards, dragging Anne with her, the sudden urgency to take things further and forget everything else over-powering. Anne sensed the desire and pushed her on until finally Katherine impacted against a thick tree trunk. Katherine let out a small grunt and then a more guttural sound as Anne’s lips sought out the skin at her neck. Hot fingers wormed their way under the hem of her dress, pushing the light fabric off her shoulders.
A small voice of reason somehow escaped Katherine’s lips. “What if someone sees us?”
Anne didn’t even bother to look up. “They won’t.”
Katherine could feel the young woman’s tongue circling across her skin, while her hands tracked down over Katherine’s hips. Katherine’s mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, determined not to let her lose herself completely, not yet. “But there’s hundreds of people out there at the festival,” said Katherine in between heaving gasps, “And there could be another one with a bird as defiant as mine…”
Anne came up to face Katherine. The predatory look in the piercing blue eyes was enough to stop Katherine dead. “Katherine…,” said Anne slowly, “…just shut up.”
Even if Katherine had wanted to disobey she couldn’t. Anne pressed forwards melding her lips to Katherine’s, jamming her body up against her. The tree poked hard into Katherine’s back providing a stark comparison to the soft flesh covering her from the front. Anne thrust up against her again, hands roaming down and tugging at her skirts. It was verging on rough, but Katherine wanted more, wanted Anne to take her. Whether it was her earlier fright or the fact they were out in the open yet threatened with discovery she didn’t know. What she did know was that she was hot and wet and ready.
Katherine reached up and tangled her hands in Anne’s blond hair, pulling her down, devouring her. There was a low groan from deep in Anne’s throat. Katherine could feel it tickling her tongue. All thoughts of falcons and festivals and potential watchers were long gone now. All that mattered was her and Anne.
Anne’s hands were on her thighs, rubbing across the skin, delving between her legs. Katherine parted them without thought, her body’s instincts taking over. She tipped her head back against the tree, squeezing her eyes shut and moaning as Anne entered her. Katherine dug her nails into Anne’s shoulders, tearing at the material of the young woman’s own dress. She pulled it aside, needing to touch bare flesh, needing to grip onto it. Anne let out a gasping cry as Katherine’s fingers found purchase, her own hand thrusting deeper in response.
Still Katherine needed more. She bent forwards, latching onto Anne’s shoulder with her teeth, nipping, biting, sucking hard on soft flesh. Anne grunted again, jamming hard up against Katherine, another finger working its way up to join the others, filling Katherine. Each small finger movement now caused a flash of desire to shoot through Katherine’s fevered body. Each small flick a juddering burst of pleasure. Katherine wrapped a leg around Anne needing to open herself up more, accept her in fully, make them one. Somehow the young woman held her up as she clung on.
Then suddenly she was there, mouth open wide in a silent scream as the orgasm struck. Her senses were torn to shreds, her body resting heavily against Anne’s. She realised she was lying down, not entirely recalling how she got there. She assumed Anne must have guided them down. Katherine pushed sweat-dampened strands of hair from her face as she peeled herself off Anne. The young woman was lying on her back, looking far too smug. Katherine decided she needed to do something about that.
Without a word she slid down over Anne’s body, fingers seeking out the hem of the young woman’s dress. She found it had already ridden invitingly up Anne’s thighs at some point in the previous exertions, and Katherine didn’t have to push it up much further to reveal all. As soon as her mouth descended she heard a gasp from Anne, even though she wasn’t directly touching the other woman. Slowly breathing in and out a few times, she realised it was her hot breath causing the shuddering reaction.
Katherine continued to tease Anne, getting closer and closer, but still not touching her with her tongue. Only when she could practically feel the eager anticipation radiating from Anne did she finally inch that extra bit nearer, delving her tongue into warm, wet flesh. There was a soft moan from up above, Katherine glancing up to watch the other woman’s ecstasy though not removing her mouth. Instead she swirled her tongue around, before bringing it up to flick across Anne’s clitoris. Each movement brought a fresh shudder from the young woman beneath her.
Katherine built the speed of her sweeping motions until Anne was panting loudly, back arched up off the earth. Anne’s hands gripped tightly onto Katherine’s where they sat on the young woman’s thighs. Nails dug into Katherine’s palms as Anne lost all sense of anything in a juddering climax.
The last whispers of Anne’s cry had only just died when another call took their place. The beating of wings followed on before a regal looking haw landed gracefully right beside them. The bird fixed its amber eyes on the two women, casting a disparaging gaze over the dishevelled pair.
Katherine couldn’t help laughing at the mildly disgusted look, before glancing up to Anne. “At least she has good timing!”
……
A short time later Anne was still adjusting her dress as she walked back across the fields. Glancing to her side, she had to shield her eyes against the beating sun. Next to her, Katherine was walking confidently towards Chesterfield Hall, showing hardly any sign of what had just occurred in the wood. There were a few hairs slightly out of place in her otherwise neat and daringly short hair, but apart from that she just looked like she was out for an afternoon stroll. Anne wondered what she herself looked like. If her outward appearance were anything like how she felt inside, then she would appear as a quivering wreck.
She would have preferred to take some time in the forest before emerging, but Katherine had persuaded her of the urgency of returning to the house. She’d been gone over an hour and didn’t want anyone to start panicking or getting suspicious. Anne thought that rather unlikely. It was chaos back at the Hall, with dozens of guests having descended upon it for the annual falconry festival. They were hardly going to notice if one person was missing.
As Anne considered that thought fully, she had to re-assess her conclusion. She contemplated that at least one person might notice Katherine’s absence – Lady Saskia. Katherine had been somewhat wary of the reception they’d receive from the lady of the manor, not least because of a mysterious incident involving Katherine, Mark and Saskia some years before. Katherine hadn’t given Anne many details, and from the slightly pinched look on her face when discussing it, Anne sensed she shouldn’t press. It didn’t take much deduction to guess that Mark had probably succumbed to the temptation that most men fell to, of following their nether regions and forgetting to engage their brains. Most likely he had made some romantic overture to Lady Saskia. Or possibly the other way around, Anne considered bringing to mind an image of the predatory woman she had met for the first time the day before.
Either way it seemed neither Katherine nor Saskia bore a grudge, since the other woman had been most welcoming on their arrival. In fact she’d been delighted to see Katherine again after so long and had made a point of paying extra attention to her. Lady Saskia was a few years older than Katherine, somewhere in her mid-forties, but age had been exceedingly kind to her. Anne had to wonder which devil she had made a pact with to be blessed with such smooth skin and keen brown eyes at that age. Yet there was something else in those eyes, something of the predator. Give her a pair of wings and she could almost be in the festival herself.
As they neared the expansive house, Anne kept one eye out for the earthbound bird of prey who seemed to be absent for once. There were plenty of other people gathered in the grounds, though, and Anne’s heart sunk when she noticed that one of them was Lord Chesterfield. Even worse was that when his eyes flicked to them at that moment, the smile on his face was obvious. He wasn’t an unattractive man, with dark hair and eyes and a strong jawline to a noble face. The smile currently gracing that face appeared warm. His figure was also surprisingly trim for a noble of his age – most of them had let years of too much good food and ale bloat their body by the time they reached middle age.
Having seen them, he quickly excused himself from his other guests. “Good afternoon, ladies.” The greeting was addressed to both of them, but it was Anne who his eyes lingered on that bit longer. That was highly unusual given that she was supposedly the servant, and usually invisible to the upper classes.
“Good afternoon, m’lord,” replied Katherine for both of them. It wasn’t Anne’s place to speak, unless a question was directed straight at her.
“You found your troublesome bird,” I see, he said, noting Diana’s presence on Katherine’s arm, “And your maid too,” he added, “Though I hope she’s not as troublesome.”
“She has her moments,” replied Katherine.
Anne wasn’t entirely sure she liked being talked about as if she wasn’t there, but realised it was all part of the banter and act Katherine had to put on. She thought it safest to keep her own mouth shut. Despite her best attempts to blend in with the crowd in her role as Katherine’s maid, Anne had already managed to attract the unwanted attention of the lord of the manor. A couple of times she’d seen Lord Chesterfield openly ogling her, often right in front of his wife Lady Saskia. If the lady noticed or minded she didn’t say anything. It didn’t help that Anne was forced to wear a low cut summer dress that displayed far too much flesh for her liking. She would much rather be back in her normal black shirt and breeches, but then she would stand out like a sore thumb and would be banged up in the dungeon faster than you could say ‘outlaw!’.
Anne had mentioned the uncomfortable perusal from the lord to Katherine. She in turn had tried to dismiss it at first, until she herself had caught the man with his eyes practically in Anne’s breasts. Even then Katherine had been reluctant to say anything, wary of offending their host when they still needed to continue their search for the last Ares object. So instead she’d had to ask Anne to grin and bear it and try and avoid Lord Chesterfield as much as possible. That was proving easier said than done.
“If you ever need a hand in that department…” he commented now, the suggestion heavy in his voice.
Lord Chesterfield left the offer hanging, and once again Anne could see his eyes drifting across her body, most notably her chest area. The look left little to the imagination. Anne could see Katherine was aware of the perusal too.
“I think I can handle it for now,” Katherine replied evenly.
He simply dipped his head in acknowledgement. “I trust I shall be seeing you at dinner?”
The offer was to Katherine, though Anne got the distinct impression it was inclusive of them both.
“Of course,” agreed Katherine.
Lord Chesterfield gave them one more smile before bidding them farewell and disappearing to be with his other guests. Anne waited until he was safely out of earshot before turning to Katherine.
“How much longer did you say we have to stay here?” she asked half-jokingly.
Katherine wasn’t smiling though. Rather she was staring grimly off after the departing Lord. “As long as it takes,” she said dourly.
Anne noted the troubled look was back on Katherine’s face, it was one that never seemed to be far away at the moment. Katherine’s earlier good humour and ardour hadn’t lasted long. No doubt she was thinking about her task once again, the weight of those thoughts obvious in the slump of her shoulders.
“It’s just that I’m not sure how much longer I can fend off the eager Lord Chesterfield,” pointed out Anne reasonably.
Katherine shrugged. “Just do your best. We need to find this last object and whatever we can do to make that task as easy as possible, the better. If that means being a bit more pleasant to him then that’s just what we’ll need to do. He may even be able to help us.”
Anne couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “More pleasant?” she repeated, trying to keep her voice down in the busy courtyard despite her growing disquiet, “I hardly think he needs any encouragement.”
Anne didn’t say anything further; she was too stunned to. Not long ago they had been making love in the forest and now Katherine was acting as if she couldn’t care less what Anne got up to. Anne wanted the other woman to be defending her honour, even if she didn’t need it, not practically selling her off.
Katherine appeared oblivious to Anne’s unease, caught up in her own thoughts as they walked towards the stables. “We need to find this last object whatever it takes,” she mused, “Before the Syndicate get their hands on it, or even worse the weapon itself. The festival gives us the perfect cover to search for it, we have to take advantage of that.”
“And where exactly have you been searching?” Anne’s question was much more sharply spoken than she might normally have intended.
Katherine couldn’t have failed to notice the tone and her clipped reply indicated as much. “Someone has to keep up the pretence of why we’re here. We all have to make sacrifices.”
“And is there nothing that we won’t sacrifice?” Katherine’s blinkered obsession with finding the last item was starting to disturb Anne.
“You want the Syndicate to get this weapon do you?” asked Katherine, turning the questioning back on Anne.
Anne kept her mouth deliberately shut, thinking that Katherine knew full well that’s not what she had meant. It was almost like the other woman wanted to goad her into an argument. Resisting the temptation to fall into the trap laid, Anne decided to divert the conversation.
“Have you had any luck deciphering the diagram yet, to find out what the last item is?”
“No,” replied Katherine.
Anne could see she was fast losing the battle to keep the conversation going, but fought on anyway to try and rescue it. “Sometimes I wonder whether your father actually wanted these items found,” she noted.
However, Katherine didn’t answer that comment and Anne supposed it was time to give up for now. The other woman appeared distracted as they continued on in silence. Anne could readily guess where the other woman’s thoughts were, so she was surprised when Katherine spoke up again.
“Anyway, with everyone else occupied at the dinner tonight you can take a look around some of the rooms.”
Anne couldn’t be bothered to argue given how the discussion had gone already; obviously she was the designated searcher.
“And be careful,” added Katherine.
At last Anne was relieved to detect a flicker of interest from Katherine in her well-being. Or maybe she was just concerned that the object was found. “I’m always careful,” replied the young woman, trying to inject some light-heartedness into her tone.
There was no answer. Instead Katherine was giving her a ‘look’, one that was highly doubtful but at least seemed vaguely amused.
“What?” asked Anne.
“Do I need to mention
Anne didn’t want to dwell on either of those incidents further, she was hardly proud of getting caught - twice. “Just keep Lord Chesterfield busy,” she suggested to Katherine, “The last thing I need is our lecherous friend following me round the house.”
“Perhaps I should slip something into his ale,” pondered Katherine, “It might be the only way to keep him away from you?”
“Would you?”
Katherine laughed as they ducked inside the archway to the
stables that had been converted to house the falcons and hawks. Anne was glad to see the smile on Katherine’s
face and not a little relieved. Ever
since she’d discovered her father’s letter, Katherine hadn’t really been
herself. Her behaviour at both
Having left Diana securely in the hands of the squires,
Katherine and Anne entered the main house.
Chesterfield Manor was a lot larger than
“There you are at last. Where have you two been, or shouldn’t I ask?”
The wink he added was completely unsubtle, and Anne could see Katherine was less than amused by his words. It didn’t help that they were spoken at the loud volume common to those who had imbibed a few too many ales.
“I had to retrieve my bird…”
The friar’s laugh interrupted Katherine. “I can see that!” His eyes were on Anne, though not quite focussing correctly.
“My goshawk,” clarified a tight-lipped Katherine.
For once it was Thomas showing some sense and quickly directing the friar away before one of the women flattened him. Once he was gone, Katherine pulled Tobias aside.
“How much has he had to drink?” she asked with no small concern.
“Too much I’m afraid, m’lady. He had already started before we returned, else I would have curbed his consumption.”
“Never mind, it’s not your fault,” Katherine told him, “We
just have to be careful, given the circumstances.” Katherine looked sideways at Anne. Tobias was unaware of the Syndicate or the real
reason they had come to
“Nor maybe the person whose place is not amongst your normal attendants,” said Tobias evenly.
Katherine gave him a warning look. “Tobias…,” she began, but it was Anne who stepped in to directly challenge his comment.
“Do you have a problem with my being here?” she asked the captain of the guard. She knew he had never been particularly happy with her and Katherine’s relationship, but at least it had been near invisible to him before. While the two women had been meeting in secret and keeping it to themselves, he hadn’t really had to address it. Now with Anne spending more and more time travelling with Katherine while they were on their quest, it was obviously concerning him more. Anne squared up to him and he turned to stiffly face her. He was an inch or two taller, and Anne had the urge to stand on her tiptoes so they could stare each other right in the eye.
He held her gaze for a moment before answering. “Yes, I do have a problem.”
Seeing the storm brewing, Katherine quickly stepped between them before anything else could be said that might be regretted later. “Now is hardly the time for this,” she pointed out, mindful of the many eyes and ears in the hall.
Anne could sense her nervousness and decided to defer to Katherine, even if it meant backing down in front of the combative guard. She took a step back. “Another time then,” she couldn’t help offering in parting.
…
Several hours later it was Katherine who was contemplating the words exchanged as she made her way down to the great hall for dinner. Tobias’ attitude earlier had surprised her as much as it had obviously perturbed Anne. Katherine had always known he was concerned by her relationship with Anne, but she’d just put it down to him being over-protective. Now it seemed that protectiveness might have turned into hostility towards the young woman. She resolved to speak to him when she next got the chance. Hopefully she could make him understand that her love for Anne outweighed the potential problems. She certainly didn’t want to fall out with him over it.
Putting that to the back of her mind for now, she tried to get into character for the dinner before she entered the hall. More and more these sorts of occasions were becoming an act on her part, a role she had to fulfil as part of her duties but nothing more. Once upon a time she’d not really had to think about it, attending them and eating, drinking and being merry with the rest of the nobles present. Now she felt oddly out of place, like she wasn’t really one of them. Maybe she never had been and it had only taken the changes in her life over the past year to make her realise as much.
Either way it was still down to her to put on her best diplomat’s face and be pleasant to all those present, even if their opinions and words made her cringe. Taking a final deep breath, she pushed open the large doors. As she had feared it was heaving inside, nearly all those that were in attendance at the festival taking the opportunity to indulge in the fine foods on offer. Katherine navigated her way through the throng, smiling and returning greetings as she went.
“Katherine!”
The call came from the table and the crowd parted conveniently so she could see Lady Saskia sitting and beaming at her in her feline way. “Come and sit by me,” she offered, indicating the spare seat at her side.
Katherine knew it would be rude to refuse their hostess,
though she could think of places she would rather sit. Something about Lady Saskia made her
wary. Quite possibly it was the
recollection of what had happened last time she had visited
Saskia laughed and leant over to the now sitting Katherine. “There’s really no need for formalities is there? You can call me Saskia.”
“Thank you, Saskia,” said Katherine awkwardly. She took a sip of the wine before her to calm her nerves that were strangely present.
“You look amazing, by the way,” said Saskia. Katherine glanced at her, bemused by the enthusiastic compliment. She could see that the other woman was smiling again, her dark eyes sparkling in the candlelight. “Red is definitely your colour,” added Saskia.
“One of my maids picked it for me,” replied Katherine.
“Then she has good taste,” noted Saskia. “Was it the blonde girl? I’ve seen you around with her a few times.”
“Yes.” Katherine realised too late that she should have lied, to avoid further questions on Anne.
Saskia didn’t continue quite how Katherine might have expected, though. “She really is quite beautiful,” she said thoughtfully, “For a commoner.”
“Is she?” Katherine tried to sound dismissive. “I hadn’t really noticed.”
Saskia laughed. “If you haven’t, my husband certainly has!”
Katherine’s eyes widened at the candid comment. Saskia took in the look. “I can see you’ve noticed his interest too,” she remarked.
“It’s hard not to,” confessed Katherine. “Don’t you mind?”
“I would prefer he was a little less obvious,” admitted Saskia, “But it’s all harmless. I allow him his dalliances with the help, and he allows me to pursue some of my interests.”
Katherine had to wonder what Saskia got in return for allowing her husband’s adulterous behaviour. More pertinently, she didn’t like the picture Saskia was painting of the man, not when it was Anne he was currently interested in.
“Where is he anyway?” Katherine asked, casting her eyes round the throng, “I haven’t seen him yet.”
Saskia followed Katherine’s probing eyes round the room. “You know neither have I,” she admitted, “Maybe he’s gone off in search of something…or someone.”
There was a tiny flutter of fear in Katherine’s stomach. There was only one person the Lord was interested in at the moment. She didn’t know if she should be more worried for Anne or him
……
Anne peered round the corner to check there was no one down the corridor. It appeared to be empty, the only movement the flicker of the torchlight on the stone of the walls. She eased out and walked along quietly. She didn’t expect to meet anyone, since they would all be stuffing themselves silly at dinner. Part of Anne wished she too could be down at the meal, the part of her that wanted to be with Katherine. Another part of her was grateful for having been spared from the superficiality of the occasion and the need to be pleasant to those she disliked. The decision had been taken from her hands anyway, because it wasn’t a servants place to be there while the food was being eaten by the great and good. Later, when there was clearing up to do, they would be welcome, and might get a few scraps if they were lucky. Anne thought they could keep their leftovers, she’d rather eat stale bread.
Concentrating on the task at hand she crept further along. She was hoping to make it to the private quarters of the lord and lady that lay on the top level of the house. So far she hadn’t managed to search them, though she had been through dozens of other rooms without success. All of a sudden someone stepped out from a door right in front of her. There was nowhere for her to hide, so she just stood there to face them as if she belonged. She was surprised to see it was Tobias coming out of somewhere that was most definitely not his room. His eyes narrowed when he saw her standing there obstinately.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
Anne didn’t like the tone of his voice, and her own met the challenge in it. “Katherine asked me to look for something, you can check with her if you like,” she replied smugly, knowing it was true. “What about you? Why are you sneaking around rather than being guardly at the dinner?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” It seemed Tobias didn’t like the questioning being turned back on him.
Since they were alone, Anne decided to say exactly what was on her mind. “What’s going on with you, Tobias? I thought we’d come to some sort of uneasy truce at the end of last year, but just recently I’m getting the impression that I should watch my back if you’re behind me.”
His face showed little emotion as he replied. “I am merely concerned about the affect your…association is having on her ladyship.”
Anne noted the way he stumbled over the best way to describe it, so deliberately sought clarification where she needed none. “You mean our relationship?” She saw the way he flinched ever so slightly at the last word. It gave her the small sense of satisfaction she’d been seeking.
“If that’s what you want to class it as,” he replied disparagingly.
“I do as a matter of fact,” stated Anne, her annoyance at his superior attitude rising, “I really don’t care if you like it or not. Get used to it, because I’m not going anywhere.”
“And do you think that it’s right for her ladyship too?” asked Tobias pointedly, “You are endangering her with your continued association.”
Anne had to fight hard to contain her building anger. “I would never intentionally put Katherine at risk.”
“But you do, by your very presence. She nearly lost
“They were not my friends!”
“You’re all criminals are you not?”
“You think you’re so much better?” Anne had to clench her fists at her side, else she might have hit him by now. “You seem to forget it was Charles Kirby who tried to orchestrate Katherine’s downfall last year, not me, and right under your nose I might add!”
Tobias chose to ignore the barb, picking up where he had left off accusing Anne. “And what if someone recognised you, or you were caught engaging in criminal activities while part of her ladyship’s official party?”
“Contrary to popular belief I can go more than five minutes without stealing something!” she cried in exasperation. “I’m here to support Katherine, she wants me here.”
“She has other people who can support her,” Tobias stated, “Are you sure that’s it’s her who wants you here and not the other way around?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s a rich, powerful woman,” he clarified, “Why would she need a common outlaw to depend on? I think it’s you who needs her, you who can’t bear to think she could do without you. You have confused her gratitude over your past assistance for something else. Her ladyship is just too polite to tell you otherwise.”
“That’s bollocks!” Anne couldn’t think of anything more articulate to say given the anger that was coming dangerously close to spilling over.
“Think what you will,” he said dismissively.
“Yes I bloody will, thank you very much!” she shouted back, reining in the volume of her voice before continuing. “And you can keep your opinions to yourself in the future – don’t go poisoning Katherine’s mind with this crap.”
Tobias was still being obdurate. “It is my duty to offer her ladyship my guidance.”
“Right!” scoffed Anne. “You just can’t stand that she might need someone more than you! Is that why you’re trying to drive us apart?”
“I am merely concerned with her well-being.” His tone barely wavered the whole time. Anyone impartial listening would have probably been convinced.
Yet Anne wasn’t impartial or convinced. “If that were the case then you’d see that she’s happy to be with me and be happy for her in return.”
“If she’s so happy, why has she been so troubled recently?” he shot back. “Her mind has not been on estate business, she’s been distracted and quick tempered – not herself at all.”
Anne was stymied. The last thing she was going to do was tell Tobias about the Ares Syndicate and let him in on that confidence.
“I am waiting,” he prompted.
His patronisingly calm tone was simply infuriating. Anne could have gladly thumped him on the nose, but thought he’d get some grim satisfaction from it.
“Then you can bloody well wait all night,” she said instead. “I’ve had enough of this. Just don’t talk to me and I’ll steer clear of you, all right?”
“Fine by me,” he agreed, “Though I’d rather you disappeared altogether.”
Anne wasn’t entirely sure if it was a veiled threat or simply wishful thinking. Tobias was notoriously hard to read with that unblinking expression of his. Not trusting herself to say anything further she swung away from him and stalked off in the direction of the stairs. She was still fuming when she reached them, not paying proper attention. She didn’t notice the man descending them until he was right next to her.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Anne groaned internally as soon as she heard the voice. “Good evening, m’lord,” she said, forcing a smile onto her face as she curtsied.
Lord Chesterfield’s smile was much more genuine, spread wide across his handsome face. “Your lady let you out for the night has she?” he asked amiably.
“I wasn’t required at dinner,” Anne replied, “Should you not be there though?”
He placed a friendly arm around her shoulders, pulling her up against him so he could speak in confidence though they were the only two people in the corridor. “Between you and me, I can’t stand all that hob-nobbing,” he confessed.
With anyone else, Anne would have shrugged the arm off immediately, but she was reminded of the need to be polite. “Still, I’m sure they will be wondering where you are. Your wife…”
He interrupted with a half-laugh, half-snort. “She would hardly notice if I was standing up on the table and doing a dance with no clothes on.”
Anne didn’t really want the mental image that conjured up. “I’m sorry to hear that, m’lord, but I really must be getting on. My lady requested my presence after dinner.”
“Damn, we wouldn’t want to offend the good Lady Katherine after all.”
Anne wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or not. There was a faint whiff of alcohol from him and Anne decided it really would be prudent to extract herself from his presence as soon as possible. Searching upstairs would have to wait for another time. Carefully, she removed his hand from her shoulder. “I most certainly wouldn’t,” she concurred.
………..
Lady Saskia was still talking, but Katherine had long since started replying automatically at appropriate points, not really thinking about her words. She knew she was being hideously rude by her continued distraction, but she couldn’t help watching the door, waiting for any sign of Lord Chesterfield.
So far there had been a host of servants bringing food and wine and ale, plus some minstrels to provide entertainment, but no sign of the missing Lord. Just when she was considering excusing herself, there was a figure she recognised, but not the one she had been expecting. Instead it was Anne who strode into the hall, eyes scanning around obviously looking for Katherine. Katherine would have loved to jump up and signalled her location, but it would hardly have been appropriate in the company. As Anne stood searching, someone else swept into the room close behind her. This time it was the person Katherine had been keeping a lookout for. His appearance so soon after Anne caused fresh stirrings of anxiety in Katherine’s stomach, especially when she saw the way his eyes immediately darted keenly to Anne. It seemed like too much of a coincidence that they had arrived near enough together. Anne had noticed his arrival behind her too, and was quickly putting some space between the pair of them, making her way randomly through the bodies having still not spotted Katherine in the crowded room.
“I see my wayward husband has returned,” noted Saskia beside Katherine. “And your maid,” she added.
“Yes, actually I have something I need to ask of her, if you’ll excuse me?”
Saskia leaned closer to Katherine; “You’re not going to leave me with all these frightful bores are you? Sorry if I was wittering on about myself, how have things been with you?”
Katherine cursed internally, but knew it would be a breach of etiquette and a snub to her host to get up to go after Anne when Saskia was still trying to engage her in conversation. “Fine,” she replied.
“And the manor at
“I manage, I like the challenge.”
“I’m sure you do. Though it can’t have helped to have lost some of your more senior knights like Charles Kirby.”
Katherine stiffened at the mention of his name.
Saskia seemed oblivious to the reaction. “You know it was quite the point of gossip for a while, she continued, His mysterious dismissal. Yet no one seems to know what was behind it. Maybe you can enlighten me, put me one up on everyone else?”
Katherine certainly wasn’t about to mention that Kirby had discovered her secret relationship with Anne before trying to blackmail her into marriage. Nor that she’d since discovered he was part of a sinister syndicate who were after a deadly, powerful weapon. The only thankful thing about the whole affair was that Kirby had gone to ground, remaining similarly discrete about the reason for his dismissal as Katherine herself.
“It was just a difference of opinion, that’s all,” said Katherine vaguely, “I’ve not heard from him since so I couldn’t tell you anymore.”
“I’m not surprised,” noted Saskia, “Last I heard he’d gone
to
“
Saskia shrugged. “Some business I presume. Maybe he’s after a fresh start over there. I did hear something about a key, though I’m not sure what that’s got to do with it – maybe he’s going to be a jailer.”
Saskia laughed, but Katherine
wasn’t joining in, her heart was beating too hard in her chest. It was all too coincidental – why would Kirby
be going to
“Did I say something wrong?”
Katherine glanced up, seeing Saskia regarding her quizzically due to her extended silence.
“You looked so serious,” noted Saskia, “In fact it reminded me a bit of your father.”
The mention of him so out of the blue took Katherine completely by surprise. “You knew him?”
“Why yes,” confirmed Saskia, looking confused too, “I
thought you knew. He used to come to
Katherine tried to recall him ever mentioning it, but drew a blank. Was it another one of his secrets? Was Lord Chesterfield somehow involved with the Syndicate himself? Her head spun at the possibilities.
“He was a lovely man,” continued Saskia, “We were sorry to hear when he died, and even sorrier we couldn’t make it to the funeral given the circumstances.”
“What circumstances?” asked Katherine sharply.
Saskia looked confused. “Those surrounding his death...” she started cautiously before trailing off.
Katherine didn’t understand the reference. As far as she knew both her
father and mother had died from a commonplace case of fever. When they’d been taken ill, she’d been in
Seeing Katherine’s continued bemusement Saskia quickly changed track. “Anyway, you are a credit to him,” she said.
Katherine could have laughed at the irony of the intended compliment, if it wasn’t so painful.
“I’ve offended you again,” deduced Saskia on seeing Katherine’s dark look.
“No, of course not,” Katherine quickly assured her, “I’m just feeling a bit warm all of a sudden, it’s very stuffy in here. I think I might go and get some fresh air if you’ll excuse me?”
Saskia immediately got up. “Of course,” she said graciously, “We wouldn’t want you getting ill when there’s still so much of the festival to enjoy.”
Katherine got to her feet too, finding that the combination of the heat, wine and shocking revelations had gone to her head. At least the slight sway as she stood was convincing evidence of her need to depart . “Good night,” she quickly said before turning and departing the room.
…………….
Anne had almost given up hope of finding Katherine amongst the crowd in the great hall when she finally spotted her. She was sitting talking with Lady Saskia on the far side of the room. They were leant in very close to one another, perhaps to make themselves heard over the general hubbub. Anne started working her way back through the throng in their direction, only to see Katherine was getting to her feet and heading for the door.
Anne sped up, but Katherine was already out of the room long before she got there. Even worse was that Lord Chesterfield was back standing by the door, blocking that path. Anne reversed course to try and find an alternative exit. When she did eventually make it back to Katherine’s quarters, Anne initially thought she’d been wrong in her assumption of the other woman’s destination. The main room was dark and Anne was just turning to go back out, when she noticed the barest flicker of light issuing under the door of the bedroom. Pushing it open, she found a single candle alight; it’s meagre light playing off the red hair of Katherine’s bowed head. She hadn’t noticed Anne’s entrance, too busy reading something as she sat on the edge of the bed. Katherine held it close to enable her to read in the poor illumination. As Anne edged nearer she recognised the parchment with Katherine’s father’s spidery writing across it. Katherine’s eyes were scanning over and over it, the furrow in her brow deepening with each pass.
Seeing Katherine pouring over the letter, Anne immediately forgot about all her own concerns regarding Lord Chesterfield, Tobias and everything else. None of that mattered when Katherine was so obviously upset. Anne made it right to the bedside before Katherine glanced up. There was a faraway, distracted look in her eyes
“Katherine? Is everything all right?”
“What?” Katherine focussed on Anne as if she still hadn’t even noticed she was there.
Anne was concerned by the distance in her voice and eyes. “Did something happen at dinner?”
Katherine still seemed to be having trouble concentrating on what Anne was saying. Her mind was obviously elsewhere and given that she was clutching her father’s letter in her hand, Anne could guess where that was. Despite the fact that Anne knew Katherine spent much time thinking about it, she rarely spoke of her father. Anne had tried on several occasions to pierce the carefully constructed barriers, but it seemed Katherine wasn’t ready to let them drop yet. Maybe she couldn’t right now. Not until they were finished with their task. At least that bit of behaviour was reassuringly Katherine – she always did want to keep the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Not wanting to add to that weight, Anne hadn’t bothered to
correct Katherine’s assumptions about what had transpired three weeks
previously in Maplebeck. When they’d found the Ares candlestick in the
church, Katherine had jumped to the conclusion that Father Cooper was working
for the Syndicate and that Anne’s kidnap had been to do with their quest to
locate the weapon. They’d already
encountered one Syndicate priest in the form of Father Martin at
Katherine’s assumption might have been shown as false, if she’d had the chance to question the priest, but he had mysteriously disappeared without a trace when guards were sent to fetch him from his underground chamber. How he’d managed that with two of Katherine’s arrows embedded in him Anne didn’t know. She certainly didn’t like the idea that he might be out there somewhere, planning to come for her again. Not that there was any point in him doing so – she didn’t have the power he so desired. At least she thought she didn’t have it. Whether that was really true or not was not something she had time to consider right now. Helping Katherine find the fifth Ares object was what she was focussed on. To that end she pressed on now.
“Something to do with your father?” she prompted the still quiet Katherine.
Suddenly Katherine folded up the letter, tucking it away in a pocket. “It doesn’t matter,” she said abruptly.
Anne was bemused by the sudden change in the other woman, not for the first time recently. “Katherine?”
Katherine got to her feet, walking away from Anne and heading for the bedside drawers. “I said it doesn’t matter,” she stated, “I’m tired, I’m going to bed.”
Anne felt a painful twinge in her chest at the coldness in the tone. “Would you like me to stay?”
Katherine didn’t bother to turn round. “You’d better not, there’s an early start tomorrow.”
Anne tried to hide her disappointment, realising now probably wasn’t the best time to challenge Katherine’s instruction. “As you wish.” She turned for the door, pausing to glance back over her shoulder once she got there. Katherine still had her back to her, undressing for bed.
Anne felt the tightening in her chest at the sight, desperately wanting to go back across the room and embrace the other woman. Yet it appeared that wasn’t what Katherine wanted right now, she had made that much abundantly clear. So instead Anne ducked quietly out of the room and closed the door behind her.
…………
“Katherine! Katherine!”
It took a moment for Katherine to register the voice that accompanied the urgent shaking of her shoulder. Blearily she opened her eyes, focussing on the person standing over her bed. She supposed she should have been slightly more surprised to see it was her father, but for some reason she wasn’t.
“Come on,” he urged, “You need to get up, there’s something I have to show you.”
Katherine sat up, continuing to rub the sleep from her eyes. “What is it?”
“You’ll see when we get there, now come on.”
He’d already started for the door, not waiting for her assent. Shrugging her shoulders, Katherine swung out of bed and started to quickly dress. All the time her father stood there, impatiently hopping from one foot to the other.
“Is this anything to do with the Ares Syndicate?” she asked as she pulled on her boots.
Suddenly he swept over and bent down by her side, looking around warily before whispering to her. “Don’t mention their name!”
“Why shouldn’t I mention the Ares Syndicate?” she questioned belligerently.
He winced at the repeated use of the name. “Because they might hear!” he answered, “I’m sure they’re following us, that’s why you have to hurry!”
The reasoning seemed flawed to Katherine, but she didn’t question it. “All right, I’m ready, lead on.”
He took her swiftly through the house that was strangely quiet. Even the great hall was empty as they crossed that heading for the hallway. Their footsteps echoed around the room as they stepped across the flagstones.
“Where are we going?” queried Katherine.
“You’ll see, come on hurry.”
He sped through the archway on the far side of the room, and on down some steps that Katherine had never noticed before. Katherine descended them in his wake. “Where is everyone?” she wondered out loud.
“It’s better that no one’s here,” he replied, “You can’t trust them.”
“Who?”
“Anyone, you can’t trust anyone.”
Katherine frowned at his back as he continued on down before her. “What, no one at all?”
“No.”
“But I can trust Anne.”
Her father came to a halt, whirling round to face her. “You can’t trust anyone!”
Katherine flinched back at the vehement tone. “All right, I get it, I can’t trust anyone,” she said to appease him, rather than because she believed it.
He stared at her for an uncomfortably long time without speaking. She felt like he could see right through her, see the deceit. He’d always had a knack of spotting her lies. Yet he didn’t say anything more. Instead he turned for a nearby door.
“It’s in here.”
Katherine stepped through the doorway first. It was dark inside and she couldn’t see anything, let alone whatever mystery object her father was taking her to. She swung round to say as much, only to find the door slammed in her face. She was immediately plunged into darkness.
Katherine fumbled for where she thought the handle was just as the sound of a bolt scraped across the wood. “What are you doing?” she called out through the door.
“Didn’t I tell you not to trust anyone?” came her father’s muffled voice.
Katherine stared incredulously into the dark. “I didn’t think that included you!”
“It includes everyone,” he informed her, “So let this be a lesson to you.”
“All right, point made,” said an annoyed Katherine, “Now open the door.”
There was no answer. “Father? Are you still there?” There was still no answer. Katherine rattled on the handle, but it was firmly locked. “This isn’t funny! Open this bloody door!”
The only answer was the skittering of a creature in the corner of the room. “Father!” There was an air of desperation in her voice now. Something brushed over her foot. “Father!”
She was still calling his name when she bolted upright in bed and found that she hadn’t moved from her room.
…………..
If Anne had hoped a new day would bring with it a brighter mood for Katherine, then she was sorely disappointed. The other woman barely spoke to her as they prepared for the day’s falconry. Anne remained in the background as Tobias, Beatrice and the others fussed around organising things. All the time Anne just wished they would disappear and give her and Katherine more than a minute alone. Once they were out in the fields, Katherine remained solemn and distracted, hardly seeming to notice Anne was even there. It was another hot day, but that hadn’t discouraged the attendees at the festival. The main falconry field was teeming with nobles, knights, squires and falconers all hoping to impress with their prowess at the sport.
Anne found it all a bit pointless. Jousting, archery, sword fighting – they were proper sports. Trying to tame and bend a bird to your will was just an exercise in domination and power. A few times she had been tempted to untie the birds jessies while their masters’ weren’t looking and free them. The main thing stopping her was the fact that the birds were so domesticated now that they probably wouldn’t go anywhere. Apart from Diana that was. Anne could see that Katherine’s bird was looking eager to fly as always. She was flapping her wings as she sat on Katherine’s arm, the other woman holding tight as she spoke with Lady Saskia. Anne moved closer, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation.
She didn’t get much opportunity as Katherine quickly spotted her. “Anne, could I have a word?”
For a moment hope sprung in Anne’s heart, but then she saw the still serious look on Katherine’s face and approached with an air of resignation.
“Yes, m’lady?” Anne used the formal address since Saskia was still hovering close by.
“I’ve left my bell jessies in my room, could you go back and fetch them?”
Anne was confused – she knew Katherine didn’t possess any bell jessies. She scanned the other woman’s face, realising that Katherine was sending her off to search for the Ares item while everyone was busy outside. “Of course, m’lady,” she answered, giving a small curtsey as she turned to go.
Trudging back over the fields to the house, Anne felt more and more like the skivvy – sent to do their master’s bidding while they swanned around doing what they liked. Anne couldn’t understand why Katherine was continuing to spend so much time socialising with the others and Lady Saskia in particular when they had a job to do. One minute Katherine was focussed on finding the object to the point of obsession, the next it was if she’d forgotten what they were doing there. It was just another example of her recent unpredictable and unexplained behaviour. If anyone was interested in seeing the quest to its conclusion at the moment it seemed to be Anne. Though she had to wonder why she was trying so hard given Katherine’s apparent lack of urgency.
Deep down she knew the answer to that – because it was what Katherine wanted and needed. There had never been anyone Anne had wanted to satisfy and impress more in her life than Katherine. No one whose opinion mattered more. So if she could gain such approval by doing this for Katherine then she would. Yet at times, when she stood back and took stock, Anne had to wonder if she had lost sight of her own identity, if she had lost herself in her desire to please Katherine.
Trying to find some consolation, Anne considered that all the socialising was Katherine’s way of trying to uncover information that might lead them to the object – she had always been one to try and think or talk their way around a problem. If that was the case then Anne just wished Katherine had told her as much, rather than just summarily dispatching her to search on her own.
As Anne came into view of the walls of the house she spied Lord Chesterfield conversing with some of his guards. Anne rolled her eyes – it seemed she couldn’t get away from the man. Rather than continue onto the gate, Anne followed the walls round to the rear of the house, thinking she would wait a while in the hope that Lord Chesterfield was on his way out to join everyone else. The land sloped away from the walls round the far side of the house, leading on down a grassy incline to the river.
The river meandered gently past the manor house, providing a natural moat along one side of it. Once at the water’s edge, Anne sat down glumly on the dry grass. There were a few odd stones amongst the yellowing blades, and the young woman took one and aimlessly tossed it out into the slowly moving river. It made a small plop before sinking below the surface.
A few more followed, but it was faintly unsatisfying. It certainly wasn’t the same as sitting by
her favourite spot by the lake back in
Out over the river a dragonfly flitted just above the surface, its wings beating rapidly to keep it safely a fraction off a watery grave. Anne tracked its path as it darted erratically this way and that. Watching the lazy course was hypnotic, and Anne felt the urge to lie down so she could continue to gaze out over the river. The sunlight danced across the tiny ripples that broke the surface, reflecting up onto the small insect as it continued to fly through the hot summer’s air. Anne rested her chin on her forearms, happy just to relax into the moment and try to forget about her troubles.
Her eyes drifted to the water close by, lapping at the bank. Anne could see the riverbed through the clear waters, a collection of mud and stones shifting in the gentle motion of the river. Slowly they became obscured as the surface clouded over. For a moment Anne wondered what it was, until a form began to take shape in it.
Anne could only stare as the face of a woman became apparent in the surface of the river. She wasn’t actually in the river though; it was as if she was a part of the waters, her face moving with the swirls and ripples. She was about Anne’s age, with soft brown hair falling about an elfin face. There was something oddly familiar about the woman that Anne couldn’t immediately place. Then all of a sudden a pair of brown eyes focussed onto her. Anne started at the sudden perusal from the ghostly face. At the same time the woman’s lips were moving, and Anne realised she was trying to say something. The words were silent, though, and Anne tried to concentrate on the movement of the lips and decipher the words. She determined it was actually a single word, repeated over and over. Anne, Anne, Anne…
Suddenly Anne’s head jolted where it rested on her arms, breaking the spell. She shook herself, realising she had almost nodded off in the heat. Refocusing on the flowing waters before her, there was no sign of any faces in it now. Anne frowned, wondering if it had been a dream. Even if it was, who was the mysterious woman in the water? Anne had the strangest feeling she had met her before, though where she couldn’t begin to imagine.
“Taking a break are you?”
Anne started once more at the voice, quickly swinging over and standing up to face the speaker. She certainly didn’t want to remain on the ground and perhaps encourage Lord Chesterfield to sit with her. He was standing with his arms crossed over his broad chest, a look of amusement on his face.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” he told her, giving her a conspiratorial grin.
“Thank you, m’lord,” she replied through gritted teeth. Having to act so humble was really starting to grate.
He cast his eyes absently out over the water where she had been staring moments before. As he raised a hand to shade his eyes against the bright sun, the rays sparkled off the large emerald in the ring on his index finger. “Aren’t you wondering why I’m not out with everyone else too?” he pondered.
“I didn’t think it was my place to ask,” Anne replied. It was partly true, plus she didn’t want to get drawn into a conversation with him.
“It’s probably for the same reason you’re here throwing stones in the water,” he noted, making Anne wonder how long he’d been watching her, “I’ve had enough of all those pompous arses!”
Anne held back a smile, not wanting to encourage him in any way. He hardly needed it. “You are not enjoying your festival?” she asked.
“Yes and no,” he answered, “There are certainly some advantages,” he added, leering at her to make it entirely obvious what they were.
“Indeed,” she said, realising it was time to go, “Though I’ve been tarrying too long, I should be getting on.”
Lord Chesterfield held out an arm to waylay her before she could move. His fingers were hot as they touched the bare skin of her forearm. “Now why is it that you always seem to be running away whenever I try to speak to you?”
Anne didn’t think it was prudent to answer truthfully. “I don’t know, bad timing?”
He seemed amused by the answer. “Well, we’ll have to work on that I suppose,” he allowed, stepping away to let her pass for now.
…………..
An hour or so later Anne thought she’d finally given Lord Chesterfield the slip. She hadn’t thought it safe to go into the house or back out to the festival. In the end she’d resorted to leaving the grounds of the house and entering a seedy looking tavern in a less than salubrious part of the adjoining town. It was full of half-drunk peasants who should really have been doing something better given that it was the middle of the day. With the summer heat outside, the atmosphere inside the low ceilinged building could only be described as steamy. Anne didn’t really want to contemplate a descriptive word for the stench of the place, which was a mixture of stale sweat, old ale and rotten vegetables.
At least she appeared to be safe from Lord Chesterfield’s attentions there – it was not the sort of place the lord of the manor would frequent. Unfortunately there were plenty of other unwanted approaches for her to fend off. She wished she had never made the offhand comment to Katherine a few weeks previously about men never seeming to want to try it on with her, because now it seemed fate had listened in and decided to make her pay.
The latest potential suitor was before her table now, obviously thinking that an ale-stained top and a line of drool running from the corner of his mouth was something women would find attractive.
“Can I buy you a drink?” slurred the man.
“No.” Anne found it best to get straight to the point.
As usual the directness left the questioner momentarily stunned. “Er…right…er…” Anne merely kept her eyes fixed on him, staring him out until he got embarrassed. “Right…er…well…I’ll be off then.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back to her drink. The liquid was bitter, and each time she took a mouthful she had to cringe, but it was the best on offer. Turning back to watching the other patrons, she suddenly spotted a familiar face. Or more aptly a familiar head; a bald one. Friar Tuck was sitting in a corner, engaged in conversation with someone Anne didn’t recognise. She hadn’t noticed him before, but assumed he must have been in there the whole time. She wondered whether to go and join him, but the reason she’d come to the tavern in the first place was to get away from everyone else, so instead she kept her seat and merely watched.
The discussion looked quite heated and Anne wondered if she was going to be called on to intervene and risk being barred from yet another drinking establishment. However, whatever disagreement they were having passed, and finally the other man slid the friar something under the table before departing. The friar gave a quick look over whatever it was he’d received, before following on out the door. Anne was contemplating going after him, when all of a sudden another body standing before her table blocked her view of the door. Annoyed, she spoke before looking up.
“No, I don’t want a drink! Now bugger off, you’re in the way.”
“Well, that’s a charming way to greet a friend.”
Anne’s eyes flicked up to see the half-smiling face of Beatrice.
Anne sighed, “Sorry, I’ve been having a few problems with the clientele.”
Beatrice gave Anne a quick once over, her eyebrows rising as they took in the dress she was wearing. “I can’t imagine why,” she said sarcastically.
Anne’s eyes followed those of Beatrice, the young woman realising that whenever she leant forward on the table she was giving those passing a nice view down her cleavage. She sat up straight. “They shouldn’t be looking,” she stated.
Beatrice laughed before grabbing a chair from a nearby table and sitting herself down opposite Anne. “Sometimes I do wonder about you. You’re a bloody outlaw for Christ’s sake, yet sometimes you come across more like a nun.”
“If you’ve just come to insult me, you can bugger off like I first suggested,” warned Anne.
“All right,” said Beatrice holding up her hands. She took a swig of her own drink and surveyed the room. “So what the hell are you doing in this place?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” noted Anne.
Beatrice swung her eyes back to Anne. “I was looking for someone,” she answered.
Anne knew that could only be one person. “Not Thomas by any chance?”
Beatrice nodded. “He’s gone missing on me again,” she said in frustration. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. One minute I get the impression he’s about to propose, the next he’s acting like a frightened rabbit and running off whenever he sees me coming.”
“You can be quite intimidating,” Anne ventured, “Maybe he’s just plucking up the courage to ask you.”
“Well he better bloody get on with it, I’m not getting any younger,” laughed Beatrice. “Anyway, what’s up with you?”
“Who said there’s anything up with me?”
“Because you’re slurring your words.”
“I am not,” stated Anne indignantly, keeping her answer short just in case it was true.
Beatrice wasn’t going to be easily fooled. “How many have you had exactly?”
Anne knew she wasn’t drunk, maybe a little tipsy but certainly not drunk. “Including this one?” she asked. Beatrice nodded and Anne made a show of thinking about it before answering. “One.”
Beatrice nearly choked on her own drink. “One? Jesus Christ, talk about not being able to hold your drink! I thought you outlaw types were all hardened drinkers.”
“Just like all maids are loose women and having affairs with their masters you mean?”
Beatrice gave her an unamused look. “Very funny. Just for the record I was never knocking off Lord Markham. Or her ladyship for that matter, let me quickly add, before you start whipping your sword out and chasing me round the tavern.” Beatrice’s eyes settled on Anne’s face as she spoke. “Though I can see I’ve hit a nerve,” she noted. “It’s Katherine isn’t it? What’s she done now?”
“Nothing.” It was odd hearing Beatrice use Katherine’s first name informally, few people did, especially not servants. Anne supposed it was allowed given what they were discussing.
Beatrice leant across the table. “Just tell me, or I’m going to sit here staring at you until you do.”
Anne studied the other woman’s face realising she meant it. Not really having the energy for the fight, she sighed before answering. “I don’t know really, I’ve just got the feeling something’s not quite right. At the moment it’s almost like Katherine actually believes in the roles we’re playing, that I really am just her servant who she can order about and dismiss as required.”
Beatrice looked surprised by the revelation. “You’re joking, right? She loves you! It’s obvious.”
“Does she?” questioned Anne, playing devil’s advocate. “Sometimes it feels like it’s more one-sided, that I’m devoting all my time and attention to her and for what?”
Beatrice was starting to see where Anne was going. “You feel like she takes you for granted?”
Anne wasn’t entirely sure herself, and the drink wasn’t helping her thought process decipher what it was she did think. Maybe she was slightly more drunk than she had realised. “I guess so,” she said, “Not that I do what I do because I expect gratitude or thanks – I do it because I love her and would do anything for her.” Now Anne knew she’d had one too many. She would never normally blurt out her feelings as she was doing. Her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own though.
Beatrice was listening intently, interested in seeing this other side to Anne. “Just sometimes it would be nice to feel a bit more appreciated?” deduced the dark-haired woman.
“Yes,” agreed Anne. “Of course I want to support her, be there for her, but just recently it feels like even that isn’t enough, that I do the wrong thing no matter how hard I try.”
“She has seemed a bit strained with everyone recently,” mused Beatrice, “Under pressure. Maybe it’s not you in particular she’s off with.”
Anne nodded. “You’re right that there are added responsibilities on her shoulders at the moment that I can’t really talk about. Suffice to say Katherine is more burdened than normal. Only that means I don’t feel I can tell her anything that’s going