Part 33 (2/2)

”Ah, I remember now.” Leaning against the wall, Osbern said to David, ”That dread disease that swept away the life of my beloved wife was so severe, Lady Alisoun could not wait until I arrived to bury her. Lady Alisoun so feared an outbreak among her people she placed Philippa in the ground at George's Cross-the first d.u.c.h.ess of Framlingford not buried in Framlingford's graveyard in the family plot.”

Opening the door, Alisoun said, ”There are a great many d.u.c.h.esses in your family plot, Osbern. Every duke in your family seems to have had an extraordinary number of wives. One less hardly matters.”

”But it does.” A smile played around Osbern's lips. ”My father and my grandfather accounted for every one of their wives. I would hate to be less of a man than they were.”

Alisoun meant to step inside. She knew she shouldn't answer, but the words popped out of her mouth unbidden. ”Osbern, you are exactly the man they were.”

”My thanks, lady.” Osbern bowed with a flourish.

David pushed Alisoun inside and spoke to Osbern. ”Come inside, my lord, and sample our humble hospitality.”

With a light step, Osbern ran up and followed Alisoun closely. Too closely. ”Ouch!” He had stepped on her heel, and he apologized while she slipped her boot back into place. She took two steps. He did it again. She turned on him this time and commanded, ”Stay back.”

”I thought you would want to know where I was,” he answered. ”And what I was doing.”

The wh.o.r.eson knew Philippa wasn't buried in that grave. He'd as good as said so. He knew she lived, and lived somewhere under Alisoun's protection. He acted as if he knew her to be here, at Radcliffe. Yet how was that possible? She had hoped that hiding Philippa so close at hand would distract him, should he ever discover the empty grave.

David spoke to Osbern as she fitted her boot to her foot again. ”As long as I know where you are and what you're doing, my lady Alisoun need have no more than her normal prudence.”

She should be grateful. David seemed to be dedicated to caring for her. But it was Philippa she worried about. Philippa, who had been married for her wealth. Philippa, who had no relatives to ensure her husband would treat her well.

Pausing beneath the arch that led into the great hall, Alisoun scanned it bitterly. But she had been wed for her wealth, too. She had no relatives to guarantee her safety. Women like her and Philippa were as vulnerable as that kitten David had given her-just as likely to be kicked as petted.

In the great hall, manservants a.s.sembled the trestle tables. The serving maids, both hers and David's, placed white cloths upon the head table. The pages polished the silver plate. Eudo placed the great salt before the n.o.ble guest's chair.

Nowhere did she see Philippa. G.o.d be praised, Philippa had vanished. Abruptly, Alisoun asked, ”My lord, what brings you to Radcliffe and so far from the king?”

It was rude to demand his business before he'd had refreshment, but she had a reputation for coldness. Let it serve her now.

Predictably, Osbern only chuckled and shoved his way past her and to the fire. Looking freely around the hall, he dropped his cloak and gloves to the floor and paid no attention to the serving maids as they scurried to pick them up. His voice boomed out. ”I detect Lady Alisoun's fine hand in your home, Sir David.”

David, too, shoved his way past her. ”You do indeed, Osbern. She hung the tapestries the first morning she arrived, and she's been busy ever since.”

The great hall did look more impressive, Alisoun admitted. Just that morning, she'd set one of David's craftsmen to work on the wall behind the dais. Under Philippa's direction, he had painted the whitewash with red lines to represent masonry blocks, and within each block, he'd drawn a flower.

Philippa had supervised him. Where had she vanished?

”A fine woman, but better now that she has a man to guide her.” Osbern watched Alisoun as she wandered farther into the huge chamber.

She heard him clearly. How could she not? He projected his voice so all could hear.

He asked, ”Sir David, you will guide her, won't you?”

”I find Lady Alisoun needs little guidance,” David answered. ”Her wisdom is renowned throughout the land.”

”Her wisdom, like all women's, is tainted with emotion.”

David's eyes widened. ”Are you saying my lady is emotional?”

Accepting the cup of ale Eudo poured him, Osbern drank before he replied. ”Lady Alisoun does not show emotions as other women do, but I believe she has them, and I believe they run deep.”

A shudder ran up Alisoun's spine.

Osbern stared into his cup as if he could read the truth in its depths. ”Nothing could change the course of her emotions. Not the dictates of a mere man, not the dictates of the king, not even the dictates of G.o.d. She would make a dread enemy, for if she hated she would hate until she had harried you from the face of the earth.” He looked up at her, his eyes gleaming. ”Or for a good friend, she would sacrifice everything.”

Controlling her expression, she said, ”You see something that is not there, my lord.”

”Do I? Perhaps.” He traced the lip of the cup with his long finger, and his stacked rings glistened in the firelight. ”Still, I think a husband will do well for you. After all, any husband who married you worked for his position through stealth and boldness, through bravery and cunning. He'll not want to lose the fruit of his labors for any reason.”

Osbern always knew where to strike the telling blow. For her, he mocked her with the fact she'd been tricked by a master into marriage, and for her fortune only. For David, he suggested that her scheme to protect Philippa would result in the loss of that fortune.

Philippa. Alisoun had to maintain control of herself for Philippa. ”You never told us why you are here.”

”Ah. Lad, help me remove my armor.” Eudo came at once to Osbern's aid while the man continued, ”I had a fancy to travel about the countryside and found myself at George's Cross with my troop. There I found a most interesting arrangement. Sir Walter lay in bed, beaten mindless, advising that young man...what's his name?”

”Hugh,” David said.

”Hugh,” Osbern repeated. ”Sir Walter was instructing Hugh in how to direct the operation of the castle. I found it fascinating that Lady Alisoun would leave her most valuable stronghold in the hands of a youth and someone so damaged.”

”That was my decision,” David said. ”I've sent four messengers and received as many from them, and all seems to be well. Is that not the truth?”

”Your decision! Of course. I admired the wisdom of the arrangement, especially since it gave you the freedom to come back to your stronghold at Radcliffe.”

”So all is well at George's Cross?” David insisted.

”Very well. They served me an admirable meal.” Osbern glanced at the table the servants had prepared for them. Although they had been unprepared for guests, Alisoun always a.s.sured herself a proper table had been set.

Osbern continued, ”Sir Walter was not yet able to sit up and eat, but young Hugh kept me company, and entertained me highly, too.”

Alisoun warmed to his praise. ”Hugh is a youth of which any foster parent would be proud.”

”Aye. It was he who told me you'd been married, and of all the wild rumors surrounding the ceremony's hurried occurrence.” He looked pointedly at Alisoun's waist. ”Have we a reason to congratulate you, Sir David?”

”Would you not always congratulate a bridegroom?” David parried.

Osbern took the rebuke with smiling good humor. ”True, true.”

His knights and his squire strode in with Guy on their heels. David's steward walked stiffly, annoyed about something, and he came at once to David's side. He spoke quietly, but Alisoun heard him. ”Cheeky wh.o.r.esons. They act as if they own Radcliffe.”

Osbern must have heard, too, but he took no obvious offense. ”Guy of the Archers, is it not?”

”My lord, the duke of Framlingford.” Guy bent his head in reluctant homage. ”I'm honored that you remember me.”

”I never forget a good fighter, nor one who refused service with me.”

<script>