Her Knight Protector. Anne Herries
why not?’ Katherine asked. She felt relaxed by the peace and serenity of her surroundings, and a little guilty for having suspected Celestine of wanting to rob her. ‘It is such a lovely night and we shall not see its like when we reach England, for I know it will be cold there.’
‘I have never been to England,’ Celestine confided, taking her arm and smiling. ‘Have you, Katherine?’
‘No, but I know something about it—my mother was an Englishwoman.’
‘Ah…’ Celestine nodded wisely. ‘Baron Grunwald told me that she was very beautiful, and ought to have been an heiress through her own mother—but her brother withheld the dowry because he did not wish her to marry.’
‘She fell in love with my father and the match was made with the help of King Henry II, but my mother’s brother did not approve and he would not pay her dowry. Even when she died he refused to pay what was due to her from an inheritance.’
‘That was not kind of him, for I believe your father was not a wealthy man?’
‘No, indeed. His estate is poor and the castle of Grunwald in bad repair. He had hoped he might find riches on his travels…’ Katherine sighed and stopped, for she had almost been led into giving too much away.
‘And did he find nothing?’ Celestine was struggling to hide her eagerness.
‘No, nothing that he might sell,’ Katherine said and looked at Celestine. ‘Have you heard otherwise?’
‘I know nothing of your father’s affairs,’ Celestine replied. ‘Though I did hear the Lord Hubert speak of some treasure…’ She waited for Katherine to reply. ‘But perhaps it was stolen?’
‘If there had been a treasure, it would have been taken when his baggage was stolen,’ Katherine said. ‘But my father had nothing he might sell.’ She sensed Celestine’s disbelief and was almost certain that she had been the one who had discovered Baron Grunwald’s secret and spoken to Ravenshurst of it.
‘Then you have no choice but to throw yourself on the mercy of your uncle—unless you come to me. Have you given some thought to the matter, Katherine?’
Was she genuine, or did she still believe that Katherine carried a precious treasure? Katherine wished that she could be sure.
They were standing now on a hill, gazing out at the city below and beyond it the sparkle of a blue sea. A sob rose to Katherine’s throat as she wished that her father might have lived to stand by her side and see this wonderful vista. How she missed him, and how alone she felt!
‘Do not cry, sweet Kate,’ Celestine said and reached out to take her into her arms. ‘You have friends. You are not alone.’
‘Thank you, but I was not going to cry,’ Katherine said and avoided her embrace. ‘Excuse me, the evening grows chilly. I think a storm is brewing. I shall return to my room and find a mantle to wear for supper.’
‘No—’ Celestine stopped, her cheeks flushing as Katherine looked at her. ‘I mean, let me come with you.’
‘Thank you, I shall go alone.’
Katherine turned and ran from her, feeling close to the tears that might shame her. She did not know why she should feel so distressed. After all, she had always known that she would have to return to Grunwald one day, and it had not upset her before. Perhaps it was this beautiful place, making her aware of the changes in her life? The years of travelling had been hard in many ways, but they had also been glorious.
Her feet carried her swiftly towards her room, but as she approached she heard a cry of surprise and anger, swiftly followed by a scream and then the sight of two men running away. They saw her, but turned aside and sped through the garden, obviously in a hurry to escape. As she entered the room that had been loaned to her and Maria for the next few days, she saw that her baggage had been opened and her things strewn all over the floor. Maria was lying on the floor, and Sir Alain was kneeling beside her, helping her to rise.
‘What has happened here?’ Katherine asked. ‘Maria—are you hurt?’
‘No, I am not harmed, though those rogues did their best to render me an injury,’ Maria muttered. ‘I discovered them ransacking your things, my lady, and they attacked me. Had this knight not come to my rescue, I might have been murdered.’
‘You were taken by surprise, Maria,’ Alain told her. Having ascertained that she was no more than bruised and shocked, he had a merry twinkle in his eyes. ‘I dare say your trusty weapon was not to hand.’
‘You should not mock her, sir,’ Katherine said as Maria scowled at him. ‘She has had a fright.’
‘I do not think they took anything, my lady—nothing important,’ Maria said as she sat up and was helped to her feet by Sir Alain. ‘I disturbed them before they had time to do more than begin their search.’
‘Do not fret, dearest,’ Katherine told her. ‘You are more important to me than anything they might have taken here.’
‘But your father…’ Maria began and was quelled by a warning look from her mistress. ‘Forgive me…’
‘May I ask what they were looking for?’ Alain asked, glancing from one to the other. ‘It is clear they think you have something important, Katherine. They took a risk in coming here—this place belongs to one of Rome’s foremost citizens and they could face execution for what they have done this evening.’
‘My—my father gave me something to look after the morning he died,’ Katherine said. ‘Until that time he had carried it within his own baggage, but because he suspected that he might be robbed, he gave the trust to me.’
‘My lady… Katherine,’ Maria warned, ‘be careful of whom you trust…’ This knight seemed to be all that he should, and she was grateful for his help, but, when it came to her darling’s safety, she trusted no one!
‘I think we have no choice,’ Katherine said. ‘My father discovered something, sir—something that hath no intrinsic value of its own, but which is valuable because it was once used by our Lord himself. It is something that is important to Christendom and ought to be placed in the care of the church.’
‘So that is why you sought an audience with his Holiness?’ Alain frowned as Katherine nodded. ‘And you are not willing to entrust it to any other than the Pope himself?’
‘I— I do not know,’ Katherine admitted. ‘My father believed there was much corruption in high places, amongst both kings and churchmen. He wanted it to be placed where all can see and perhaps be healed by the experience of having seen such a relic.’
‘What exactly is it that he discovered?’ Alain saw her quick frown and shook his head. ‘Nay, do not tell me if you prefer to keep your secret, though I vow it would be safe with me. Like your father, I would never seek to gain personal gain from something so valuable to Christendom.’
‘Then you are rare amongst men,’ Maria muttered and glared at him. ‘Not all Christian knights have your scruples, sir. I vow there are those only too keen to steal it for themselves.’
‘What mean you?’ Alain’s eyes narrowed as he looked from her to Katherine. ‘Has this something to do with the Lord Hubert of Ravenshurst? Was it his men who came here? I recall that you spoke of him when the Lady Celestine joined us.’
‘Yes, I spoke of him,’ Katherine said as she realised that she could no longer hold back such important information. ‘Somehow he learned of my father’s discovery. You must know that my father wrote down the provenance of…his discovery, for without it he could not prove that the treasure is what he believes it to be. There are many holy relics for sale in Palestine, and indeed in Rome itself, but my father’s discovery was made by painstaking research over many months and years.’
‘There are always holy relics wherever you travel,’ Alain agreed, ‘and many of them are false. I dare