Part 54 (1/2)

”'I am here before my time,' he said. 'Richard is yet King, and I stand now with him, and am just come from mustering my following at Roxford. He has promised me your hand when the rebellion is ended.

Therefore, I have you sure, whoever conquers; for in the battle I shall so play as to be with him who wins.' . . . He drew back the arras--then paused as though the thought had just come: 'Perchance it will interest you to know that a certain Aymer de Lacy has left England and returned to France.'

”'It is a lie--a lie of your black heart!' I cried.

”But he only smiled maliciously and went out. And thank G.o.d, since that evening I have never seen him more.

”And now is my tale most told. For a week longer I dwelt in that room, and saw no person but my dumb attendant. At a strange hour on the night of the seventh day, there came a knock at the door and, without staying for permission, a robed figure entered.

”'Be not alarmed, daughter,' it said, as I sprang up. 'I come to take you hence.'

”It was the Abbot Aldam himself, and my anger arose.

”'Since when, Sir Abbot,' I demanded, 'has the Abbey of Kirkstall become the prison for abducted women?'

”'Since it pleased me to a.s.sist a friend in need,' he answered.

”Coming near, he scanned my face and figure; and suddenly he put his arms about me and kissed me on the mouth.”

De Lacy struck his gauntlets against his greaves.

”G.o.d! I am glad I killed him,” he gritted.

”So am I, dear,” said the Countess--then went on: ”I tried to reach my dagger, but Aldam caught my hands and kissed me twice again.

”'Be not so timid,' he laughed. 'There are many of your s.e.x come to this room, and far different from a simple caress is the toll they pay.

But you are Darby's, so must I stop with that . . . yet I would it were otherwise,' and his look was so cruelly devouring I fled to the far side of the room.

”There I waited, ready if he sought again to touch me, to sink my dagger in his breast. But he had bound his pa.s.sions, seemingly, for he sat down and bade me prepare to leave without delay. And gladly did I comply, caring little where I went, so that I left this vile priest's clutches.

”When I had done, he took my bundle and a candle and led the way through a hidden panel in the corner opposite the door. We pa.s.sed along a narrow corridor, with the roof almost against our heads, and descended a score of stone stairs into a tunnel, deep and foul. How far we went I cannot even guess, but presently there was another ascent of stairs, and after a bit of fumbling, the heavy door swung back and I felt a rush of night air and saw the moonlight.

”Thrusting the Abbot aside, I sprang through the opening . . . and into the arms of Simon Gorges.

”'Your pardon, my lady,' he said; then freed me, but stood within easy reach. He was alone, and beside his horse was another with a woman's saddle. He saw my eyes upon it.

”We are for Roxford Castle,' he explained.

”Listen, Gorges,' I said. 'What will you have to take me back to Pontefract? Name your price, man--I am rich and can pay a royal ransom--and you shall enter the King's own guard.'

”He shook his head. 'I have served the Lords of Darby all my life, and my sire and my grandsire before me. No gold nor rank can buy me from my duty. To me you have been committed, pending my lord's return; and so long as I have power to keep you, I must obey.'

”'It is an ign.o.ble task you are a.s.signed,' I began.

”But he would not hear me. 'You forget, my lady, that I am of those you and your station deem ign.o.ble. Yet, none the less, am I ashamed of this business--though, since my lord commands, it is not for me to question nor delay. Therefore, I pray you, let us mount and be going?'

”I saw he neither could be bought nor persuaded, so I let him lift me into saddle and we set out for Roxford. On the way, I asked why I was being so moved about, though I had no hope he would tell me; and for a while he made no answer. Then, to my surprise, he said: 'What do you think would be the reason?'

”'Can it be that Lord Darby is suspected of my abduction?' I cried.

And the hope that had almost died came back to life with a bound.