and turned to walk away.
‘Wait!’ Aelric’s voice was urgent.
‘Why? I would free you because you aren’t a killer, not so you could become one. I’m not risking myself for that!’
‘You would put yourself in danger to help me? Why? Because I brought back your horse?’ Aelric asked. ‘Is that the only thing you will remember me for?’
‘You know it isn’t,’ Constance said quietly. She refused to let the memories out.
‘I don’t want you to come to harm,’ Aelric said, holding her gaze.
Constance felt again the sharp pain from Robert’s slaps, thought of Jeanne crying in the night and dead-eyed by day. If someone were to kill Robert she would not grieve, but Aelric would never succeed.
‘I’m being sent to a convent tomorrow, I’ll be safe. If I cut you down you have to swear to leave tonight and not to try to harm Robert.’
Aelric tugged at the bonds on his wrists. ‘If it will make you happy I won’t attempt to kill him.’
‘Swear,’ Constance said. ‘On something that matters.’
He looked furious, but she held his gaze until he sighed.
‘I swear by my honour, and on the name and soul of my father, Brunwulf, that I will not raise arms against Robert.’
She nodded, satisfied. Keeping her eyes from Aelric’s, she quickly cut the ropes binding him. Aelric sagged to the ground, massaging his wrists. Constance helped him to stand, warmth spreading along her fingers from his hands that were so cold.
‘Now I am in your debt,’ he said. He lifted her hand to his lips, then put his hand to her cheek, drew her close and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Constance raised her head and brushed her lips against the edge of his mouth. She felt his lips twist into a smile.
‘I won’t forget what you’ve done for me,’ Aelric whispered.
The enormity of what she had done crashed over Constance. She did not want to think what Robert might do when he discovered the boy had disappeared in the night.
‘Take me with you,’ she asked impulsively.
‘You don’t mean that,’ Aelric said. ‘I don’t know where I’ll go, but it won’t be suitable for a girl used to the life you lead.’
‘I don’t care how hard it might be,’ Constance whispered.
‘I do,’ Aelric said firmly.
‘Please,’ she begged. ‘I have nothing to keep me here. We could be together.’
Her eyes filled with tears. She gazed into Aelric’s eyes and put a hand on his arm. He closed his hand over it.
‘I’ll wait by the old cowshed at the fork in the Bollin until dawn,’ he said. He gave a slight smile. ‘You know where I mean.’
Constance blushed and looked away, knowing very well where Aelric meant.
‘Take this,’ she said. She handed him the dagger. His hand tightened over hers then he slipped away.
She watched until he became a shadow and disappeared from view, then picked up her stick and returned to the house. She wouldn’t need much. She didn’t have much to take anyway.
She made it back as far as the bedchamber and had pulled the dagger’s twin and her spare kirtle from the chest when a hand seized her hair roughly from behind. Robert hauled her to her feet.
‘Where have you been?’
‘Nowhere,’ Constance whimpered.
‘Liar! You were seen leaving the house,’ Robert bellowed. ‘Tell me the truth or I’ll beat it out of you.’
Robert slapped her without warning, the palm of his hand setting her cheek ablaze.
‘Nowhere,’ she repeated. If she told him now then Aelric would never escape.
Another slap. This time backhanded and with force that left her reeling. Robert unbuckled his belt.
‘I’ve tolerated your waywardness for too long,’ he said.
Constance tried to duck past him, but he pulled at the neck of her gown and swung her around. She landed heavily across the table face first, the stab of pain in her belly making her retch. Robert brought the leather strap down upon her, buckle end swinging free. Lights burst in Constance’s head as it caught her the bare flesh of her shoulder and she screamed.
She knew then she would never meet Aelric.
* * *
Aelric watched the dawn rise.
Constance wouldn’t come, but there was a spark of hope within him that refused to die. He caressed the dagger that she had given him. It was well made and the stone set into the end would fetch a good price alone: enough to see his belly full for a month or two at least.
When the sun was a half-circle behind the hills he pushed himself to his feet. He wrapped the sacking around his shoulders, biting down the pain in his back where the rough cloth grazed every cut. He stared back towards Hamestan, hoping to see the familiar dark-haired, slender figure making her way towards him, but the road was deserted.
Reluctantly he turned away, trying not to care. While they lived under the same roof he had entertained daydreams of marrying her, Norman or not, but what well-bred noblewoman would really swap a life of comfort for one of uncertainty and exile. It was for the best. He could move faster alone.
Casting a final look over his shoulder he walked away, knowing it would be a long time before he saw these hills again.
Worcestershire—1075
Constance folded the parchment over and ran her finger across the two halves of the thick seal. She dug her thumbnail into the wax until the edges chipped.
‘Do you know what this letter says?’ she asked her guest.
Hugh D’Avranches, Palatine Earl of Chester, reached across to the low table and refilled their goblets. The jug nestled among the remains of the late meal they had shared. It had been pleasant before Hugh had produced the parchment.
‘I can hazard a guess,’ he replied, handing Constance her wine. ‘When your brother-in-law asked me to carry this message I asked if he would like me to bring your reply back to Cheshire. He said there would be none as he was certain you would obey his instructions and begin your travel preparations immediately.’
Constance suppressed a shudder.
‘He would have me travel in December! He expects me to return to live in Hamestan.’
She flung the hateful letter to the floor beside her and began
