The Unconventional Maiden (18 page)

Gawain was filled with conflicting emotions, but knew he must trust Beth as she must trust him. Even so he still hesitated about having Nick as a partner in the business. ‘Are you sure about this, Nick?’ he asked.

‘Aye,’ he said firmly.

‘Then I suppose I could take you to meet the lawyer and sort this matter out.’

As the two men headed for the door, Beth called, ‘Will I see you again, Gawain, before you return to Kent?’

‘Aye, after I have visited an old friend,’ he replied, turning and meeting her gaze. For a moment they stared at each other, then he left.

It was two hours later that Beth heard a commotion in the shop above the sound of the printing presses and, instantly fearing the worst, she reached for the blade she had taken to keeping nearby and crept towards the door. Before she could open it, she heard a dog barking and the next moment the door was pushed open
and she saw a man wearing an eye patch with a huge hound straining at the leash.

‘Holy Mary, Mother of God!’ exclaimed Beth. ‘Who are you and why have you brought that monster on to my premises?’

‘He’s not a monster,’ said the man, looking affronted. ‘At least only to those whom I set him on. Sir Gawain sent me. Told me yer needed a protector.’

Beth stared at the dog from whose chest issued a low rumbling. ‘Am I to presume that it is the dog who is to be my bodyguard? For if that is so, then you’d best tell him that I am a friend, not a foe.’

The man snorted. ‘Of course, that goes without saying, Mistress Llewellyn. Although Sir Gawain sez that I’m to hang around for a while and make meself available if yer in need of a messenger or want someone followed.’

‘That is generous of him,’ said Beth, touched by Gawain’s thoughtfulness. ‘I presume you have a place you call home that you can return to when necessary?’

‘Of course! I have me Adam’s rib and she’d get real vexed if I didn’t turn up regular. Although, having said that, she understands the nature of me work so knows I have to put me clients first.’

Beth nodded. ‘I think you’d best put the monster in the yard for now or he might break something.’

‘Aye, I will, but yer’d best come with us so yer can make friends with him.’

Beth opened the door that led to the yard and he forced the dog through the opening and followed after them. ‘I presume the monster has a name,’ she said,
watching the hound as it began to explore its surroundings.

‘Cerberus.’

Beth stared at him, finding it incredible that this man should know the name of the dog that guarded the entrance to Hades in Greek mythology. ‘How did you come by that name for him?’

‘Sir Gawain! He said that even as a puppy he was such a good guard dog that he deserved a name that was fitting.’

Beth smiled as all was made clear. ‘And what is your name?’

‘Benjamin,’ he replied.

‘Then, Benjamin, I suppose I will have to provide food for this monster of a guard dog.’

‘Sir Gawain has given me coin for some good red meat, although sometimes it’s best to leave him a bit hungry, but I wouldn’t say no to a jug of ale and some bread and cheese,’ he said, scratching his chin. ‘I gets peckish handling ol’ Cerberus here.’

‘Well, introduce me to him and then my employees will need to be made known to him, as well, as I do not want him tearing them apart,’ said Beth, hoping she would not find it too difficult handling this hound when his master was not around.

When Gawain returned later in the day it was obvious that he and Cerberus were old friends and also that Benjamin felt easy in his company. She wondered how the two men had met; as if he had read her mind, Gawain told her that Benjamin had once worked for his
father, but after his sudden tragic death, he left Kent and came to London to seek his fortune. Here he met a widow who was comfortably off and married her.

‘So presumably whenever you have need of someone tough and strong in London, you call upon him?’ asked Beth, smiling.

‘Aye, and in this case it is useful that he also remembers Father Hugh in his youth and reckons he would still recognise him. My main aim is your safety and happiness, Beth,’ Gawain said, his handsome face serious.

‘I know and I appreciate your concern,’ she murmured, thinking how much she wanted his love and companionship. ‘It has been a short visit.’

‘I felt I had to talk to you face-to-face.’

‘You will be careful!’ she burst out, reaching out a hand to him. ‘And let me know when you find out anything more?’

‘Of course!’ For a few precious moments he hugged her, then let her go and strode from the building.

Beth had the most horrid feeling that she might be seeing him for the last time and she wanted to run after him and tell him to stay. Then she told herself that she was being foolish. He knew to be on his guard and would have the good sense not to go out alone after dark. She wondered when she could expect to see him again.

The following week passed slowly and so did the next one. She heard naught from Gawain and wondered if he had spoken to Mary about Jonathan and if she
had anything to say that was of help to him. No doubt he would have been careful about how he voiced his questions if he mentioned Father Hugh. She tried not to dwell on the thought of Gawain being at home with Mary. Beth was not sleeping well and had been feeling queasy lately and often she would lay awake, tortured by the thought that he might after all share a bed with Mary.

‘You have been with her, haven’t you?’ Mary had accused as soon as Gawain entered his hall. She stared at him, her nostrils flaring, her fair hair untidy about her black-clad shoulders.

‘If you are asking if I have been to visit my ward, then I would not deny it,’ he replied, looking at her with exasperation. ‘I am her guardian and there are decisions only I can make about the business.’

‘I don’t believe you. You are in love with her, aren’t you?’ cried Mary, flying at him and poking him in the chest. ‘Well, she will not have you!’

‘Keep your voice down,’ ordered Gawain, seizing hold of her wrists. ‘You forget yourself and I will not have you upsetting the girls.’ He turned to Catherine. ‘Aunt, take my daughters to their bedchamber.’

His aunt nodded and hurried the children away.

‘You should not have taken them with you! They are my daughters!’ panted Mary. ‘As God is my witness, you will be punished for your wrongdoing!’

‘My wrongdoing!’ exclaimed Gawain, exasperated almost beyond bearing. ‘I deem you are confused, Mary.
Perhaps it would be good for you to go and stay somewhere quiet where you can rest and regain your wits.’

‘So you can bring her here?’

‘She would not come,’ retorted Gawain, hanging on to his temper. ‘She has her business to oversee.’

There was the sound of a throat being cleared. ‘Sir Gawain, a messenger arrived for you from the king whilst you were away. He requests your company at Eltham Palace.’

Gawain experienced a surge of relief and, releasing Mary, turned to face the manservant. ‘Have me a fresh horse saddled. I will leave straight away.’

The man nodded and hurried out.

Mary stared at Gawain. ‘Can I go with you?’

‘No!’ he replied firmly. ‘You know that only at the king’s invitation can you attend.’

She pouted. ‘Do you not fear what I might do whilst you are away?’

He frowned. ‘You would threaten me?’

She hesitated. ‘What if I were to tell you that I might be able to help you find her brother’s murderer?’

Gawain stilled. ‘What do you know?’

‘I know who sent him to Smallhythe.’

‘Jonathan Llewellyn told you?’

‘Aye, but not only that—I saw them together a few days later and they were …’ She paused and her colour was suddenly high and she moistened her lips. ‘I will say only that if Jonathan Llewellyn was to have exposed the other man for what he was as he threatened, it would have ruined him.’

Gawain’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who was this other man?’

‘I will tell you only if you promise to have naught else to do with Mistress Llewellyn and to be a proper husband to me.’

Gawain stared at her for a long moment, thinking that the word she had hesitated to use could be
unnatural
and an almost-forgotten memory from his childhood surfaced. He felt certain the person she had seen with Jonathan was Father Hugh, as Beth had suspected. If Father Hugh had been responsible for Jonathan’s death, then it was likely he had also killed Beth’s father and Monsieur Le Brun. He had certainly been in France at the time.

‘Well, what are you thinking?’ demanded Mary, rousing him from his reverie.

‘Of murder!’

‘I meant about giving
her
up!’ cried Mary.

Gawain’s face darkened and his eyes glinted. ‘I made a promise to her father that I intend to keep. As for this other matter, I would not speak of it to anyone else if I were you. I have a fair idea of whom it is you refer to.’

She paled. ‘I don’t see how you can. But never mind that now! Why can’t you keep the promise you made to me at the altar?’

‘You mean just as you did?’ he said scornfully. ‘Besides, you have admitted in writing that our marriage was bigamous.’

She licked her lips. ‘You will regret it if you don’t do what I ask.’

‘You are a fool to threaten me. I give you fair warning—if you were to attempt to hurt the girls or take
them away from me again, then it will be you who will be sorry,’ said Gawain softly.

Mary stared at him, then turned on her heel and rushed from the hall.

Gawain wasted no more time, but prepared to leave to join the king’s court. As he headed north he was considering exactly what he would tell Beth about her half-brother and Father Hugh when next he saw her, which regrettably might not be for some time.

Beth was thinking of Gawain when she had a visit from Nick Hurst, who called to see how the printing of his journal was progressing. His arrival was greeted by a flurry of barking from Cerberus and she had to make him known to the hound. She had thought Nick would be off on his travels again, but he told her that he was not planning to leave England before spring and until then he would be staying in Greenwich. He asked after Gawain and she told him that she had not heard from him. He looked surprised, but did not comment.

A week later Nick called again and could not conceal his delight when he held the first complete copy of his original journal, beautifully bound in vellum, in his hand. ‘I cannot wait to see Christopher’s face when he sees this,’ he said.

‘I am glad you are pleased with it,’ said a wan-faced Beth.

‘More than pleased,’ he said, turning over a page and admiring a woodcut of one of his drawings. ‘I must tell
you that I saw Gawain in Greenwich village,’ he added casually, glancing at her.

Her heart seemed to flip over. ‘How—how did he appear?’ she asked. ‘Was he well?’

‘I would say he has much on his mind. He would have walked past me if I had not hailed him.’

‘Did he say what he was doing in Greenwich?’

‘Apparently the king had sent for him and he is staying at Eltham Palace nearby.’

‘I—I see. That must be why I have not heard from him.’

‘If I see him again, do you have a message for him?’ Nick’s eyes were intent on her face.

She hesitated. ‘You can tell him that I hope all is well with him.’

‘You do not look well,’ said Nick with concern. ‘You have no roses in your cheeks.’

‘I am little off my food, but it is naught to worry about,’ she answered easily. ‘No doubt you could tell him how the work is progressing next door and naturally you will show him your printed journal.’

‘Of course, I will show everyone I know and tell them that soon they will be able to buy a much cheaper version of it for themselves and their friends,’ he said, smiling.

‘That is good. They should be ready in a few days’ time.’

‘November, then,’ said Nick. ‘I look forward to seeing you again and perhaps I will have another proposal to put before you.’

Beth caught her breath and for a moment she thought
that perhaps the proposal would be one of marriage. Then she told herself that was unlikely when they scarcely knew each other, even though his brothers had probably mentioned she was in the market for a husband. She prayed that she would hear from Gawain before Nick’s next visit.

A few days later she was surprised to have a visit from Phillip Hurst. His arrival, too, was greeted by barking from her watchdog. After making sure Cerberus knew him to be a friend, Phillip told her that he had returned home to visit his family. Having heard that the stirring tale of his brother’s adventures could be in print any day now, he could not wait to see a copy. She handed him one and, despite the worry and indecision that was nagging her, could not prevent smiling at the expression on his face as he gingerly turned a page.

‘It’s marvellous,’ he said. ‘I cannot wait to show it to my friends. I am immensely proud of it. By the way, I saw Gawain yesterday down by the river at Greenwich.’

She stiffened. ‘He is still at court?’

‘Was. The king had given him leave to return home that day.’

Beth clasped her hands tightly together. ‘Did you tell him that you planned to come here?’

‘I did mention it. He asked whether Nick would be accompanying me. I told him not this time, but that no doubt he would be visiting you shortly.’ Phillip smiled, but said no more.

‘Gawain did not give you a message for me?’ she asked.

‘No.’

Beth was hurt and wondered if Gawain believed that Nick’s visits to her were more than purely business. Did he deem her to be so fickle? Suddenly she came to a decision. After Phillip had left, she went upstairs and, before she could change her mind, took a sheet of paper and wrote swiftly to Gawain that something had happened that made it vital that she see him. Then she sealed the missive and called Sam and asked him to deliver it into only Sir Gawain’s hands at Raventon Hall.

When Gawain came out of the boatyard at Smallhythe after having visited James, he was deep in thought as he walked along the river. He was surprised to be hailed by Sam, but was glad to see him. He wasted no time greeting him. ‘You have news for me from your mistress?’ he asked eagerly.