The Unconventional Maiden (19 page)

‘Aye, Sir Gawain. Glad I am to see you here. It will save me the journey to Raventon Hall,’ said Sam, taking the missive from a pouch and handing it to him.

‘You will come into the yard and partake of a drink of beer and a hot pasty? Your mistress will surely want a reply to this message, although I would prefer to visit her myself,’ said Gawain. After giving an order for refreshments for Sam, Gawain broke the seal and, spreading the paper on the table, began to read:

Gawain wished she had written more. Had this to do with Nick Hurst? Had he proposed marriage? He clenched and unclenched his fists. He must see her. He went and spoke to Sam. ‘I will have to go to London. I would appreciate it, Sam, if you would make the journey to Raventon and inform my aunt that an urgent message has arrived for me that needs my immediate attention. You will stay there until my return.’

‘Aye, sir,’ said Sam.

Gawain gave orders to those in the boatyard and then, taking a couple of men with him, set sail for London.

G
awain arrived the following evening and, leaving the men in charge of the boat, made his way to Pater Noster Row. He was fortunate to find Beth upstairs partaking of supper in the room that had once been her father’s bedchamber. She looked so relieved to see him that he wondered how he could have doubted her and would have kissed her there and then if it had not been for Jane’s presence, but the maid instantly made herself scarce.

Then Gawain was unable to resist taking Beth in his arms. Only for a moment did she succumb to his embrace, then she held him off. ‘There is something important I must tell you, Gawain.’

He released her abruptly. ‘Has it to do with Nick Hurst? Has he asked you to marry him?’

‘No, but I suspect he might do so.’ She wrapped her arms around herself and gazed at him. ‘Phillip was
here and he told me that you knew he was coming to see me. Yet you sent no message for me. Why?’

‘Because he told me that Nick had been to see you. I thought that perhaps you should have the opportunity to get to know Nick better,’ said Gawain, removing his hat and running a hand over his dark curls.

‘Why the change in you? Have you spoken to the Cardinal about Mary and he has told you her return means that your marriage cannot be annulled?’

Gawain frowned. ‘It is not as certain as it was before.’

Her bottom lip quivered. ‘So you decided that I could be happy married to Nick, knowing I have strong feelings for you. Are you happy living with Mary whilst you have such feelings for me? That is, if you still have them.’

He frowned. ‘Of course I still care for you. You must know I’m not happy with Mary.’

‘I know nothing of the sort. I can only imagine what is happening between you and her,’ said Beth.

His frown deepened. ‘What is this about, Beth? Surely you don’t believe that I am sleeping with Mary?’

‘Why not? You are a man and have needs!’

‘I am not sleeping with her,’ said Gawain, grabbing Beth by the arms. ‘I do not want her! I no longer regard her as my wife.’

‘Your mistress, then?’

He swore. ‘What is this about, Beth?’ he demanded for the second time. ‘This is not like you.’

‘No.’ She gazed up into his worried face and tears
filled her eyes. ‘But then I have never been with child before. Your child, Gawain.’

He stared at her and there came such a light into his eyes that a thrill of delight went through her. Then the light in his eyes died and he released her. ‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Do not suggest that I marry Nick to legitimise our child,’ she warned.

‘I would not. It would be dishonest if you were to make a cuckold of him.’

‘I agree. You might say that even the king has foisted a bastard child on his mistress’s husband, but—’

‘But I am no king and I admire and like Nick Hurst,’ said Gawain.

‘Then I must make it obvious to him that I am not in the market for a husband, despite what his brothers might have said to him,’ said Beth. ‘I must face the wagging tongues of my employees and neighbours alone. No doubt the scandal will be a five-day wonder and most probably I will lose the respect of some of our customers, but what does that matter?’ she cried. ‘I always planned to remain a spinster.’

Gawain seized hold of her again and pressed a kiss on her lips. ‘Do you really believe that I would let you face the future alone? You do not have to live here for the business to prosper. I will buy you a house where you and our child can live and—’

‘Visit me when you can?’ retorted Beth. ‘I will not be your mistress! Besides it being immoral, it is not a position I wish to fill. I love you and I want to be your wife and for us to live like a proper family. I do
not wish for our son to be called a bastard child. He is worth more than that and is entitled to your name.’ Her voice cracked and she could not go on.

Gawain wrapped his arms around her trembling body with his head in a whirl. Beth loved him—how could he fail her in this? ‘I will speak to Wolsey again and tell him that you are carrying my child and that we are desperate to provide it with a proper family home.’

‘Mary will fight against it tooth and nail,’ warned Beth.

‘It will avail her nothing, even if she were to go to Father Hugh and try to persuade him to help her prevent the dissolution of our so-called marriage.’

‘You have spoken to her about him?’

‘No, but she told me that she saw Jonathan with the man she suspects could be our murderer, but she laid conditions on naming him to me. I refused to do what she asked, but I told her that I had a fair idea of the person responsible and that did not please her at all.’

‘You mentioned none of this to Wolsey?’

‘I saw him only for a short time and was more concerned with terminating my relationship to Mary. Besides, I still have no proof that Father Hugh is our murderer.’

Beth nodded. ‘So what will you do next?’

Gawain hesitated. ‘I must return home and see that the children are safe and I will send Catherine with Sam to be with you. She knows how we feel about each other and I am certain will be of support to you in this time of your great need until we can be together as husband and wife.’

‘I would like that,’ said Beth with a sigh. ‘Yet I cannot help wondering how your children will feel about it all—they will miss your aunt and she them.’

Gawain touched Beth’s cheek with a gentle hand. ‘You’re always considering others, but now you must think of yourself and our child. You must not worry. I will ensure that all will be well.’

Beth could only accept his word. They talked for a while until he had to take his leave of her. Only after he had gone did she wonder how long it would be before she would see him again. Yet whilst she hated being parted from him, she looked forward to welcoming Catherine to London.

Several days passed and still there was no sign of Sam or Catherine. Then she had a visit from Nick Hurst. At any other time she would have welcomed him, but her nerves were like tightly coiled springs, wondering how she could prevent him from proposing marriage to her without spoiling the friendship she felt towards him. But his first words took her aback as they were not at all what she expected.

‘Is Gawain here?’

‘He was here a few days ago, but he returned home. Why do you ask? Have you seen him again?’

Nick frowned. ‘Obviously, you have not heard the news from Raventon Hall?’

She was filled with apprehension. ‘What news? Tell me!’ she urged.

‘Perhaps after all it is only a rumour, but it was brought to us by a ship’s captain from Smallhythe and
he seemed very certain that what he told us was true,’ said Nick.

‘What is true?’ demanded Beth. ‘Please tell me.’

‘Gawain’s wife is dead.’

‘What?’ gasped Beth, shocked to the core. ‘How?’

‘She was found at the foot of the stairs. Mistress Ashbourne is abed, as it appears she also fell, and I was told that she was still unconscious.’

Beth wrung her hands. ‘But that is terrible. She was supposed to be coming to visit me. I must go to her.’ She turned and would have hurried upstairs to pack when Nick stayed her with a hand.

‘Do you really think you should?’

She stared at him and what she saw in his face frightened her. ‘Why do you say that? What is on your mind?’

He hesitated. ‘It is possible that Gawain might come here to bring you the news himself.’

‘He would not leave his aunt.’

‘But he has done so because he was not to be found at home and the children are also missing.’

Fear gripped Beth’s heart like a steely hand. ‘What are you suggesting? That he has something to do with his wife’s death?’

‘Why should you think that?’

‘I didn’t say I did, but do you?’

‘It seems strange that he and the children are missing,’ he said slowly. ‘It was known that he was extremely fond of his aunt and there have been rumours lately, during the months his wife was away, supposedly tending a dying aunt, that in truth she was living with another man who has since died.’

Beth took a step back. ‘Who started such a rumour?’

‘Who can say? But it’s also being said that during her absence you and Gawain grew fond of each other. Is this the truth, Beth?’

‘He is my guardian, so it is natural that we grew close during that time,’ said Beth in a low voice. ‘My father and brother had both been murdered and I needed a man’s protection.’

‘Pip and Chris both believe it to be more than that between the pair of you. I need to know the truth, Beth.’

She was silent, wondering how much she could trust Nick. She had a great respect and liking for him, but if she told him the truth then it would give him a reason to believe that Gawain might have possibly murdered Mary. She did not believe it for one moment. If Mary had made it her business to seek out Father Hugh and tell him of her conversation with Gawain, then the priest might have killed her.

‘It is true that Gawain and I care for each other. Mary told him that the man for whom she left him was her true husband, their having made vows when they were children. Then Mary returned and Gawain was determined to have the marriage annulled, believing her to have committed bigamy. He had a missive that she sent him and this he showed to Cardinal Wolsey. There is no reason for him to murder her. I deem the person guilty is the one who killed my half-brother Jonathan and my father because they knew something about him that would ruin him.’

‘Do you have proof of this?’

‘Not yet, but Mary told Gawain that she had seen
the suspect with my brother and they were quarrelling. Surely someone must have seen what happened at Raventon Hall?’ added Beth.

‘One would think so, but people seem to believe there were no witnesses to what happened.’

‘Were there any visitors to Raventon Hall that day?’

Before Nick could answer there came the sound of barking and an angry voice outside. Beth and Nick turned and stared at the door as it was thrust open.

‘That dog should be destroyed,’ said Father Hugh in a furious voice, entering the room, clutching a torn sleeve. He ripped off the strip of dangling cloth and flung it on the floor.

He was the last person Beth expected to see and she was glad that she did not have to face him alone. Yet what was he doing here? Surely it could be no coincidence that he should call here on the day she had received the news that Mary was dead and Gawain and the girls missing.

Father Hugh stared at Nick. ‘Do I know you?’

‘I saw you recently at Greenwich,’ replied Nick. ‘And, if I rightly recall, the experience was not a happy one.’

Father Hugh’s lips tightened. ‘You’re one of the Hurst brothers. What are you doing here?’

‘I deem that to be none of your business,’ drawled Nick.

‘If you’re part of this plot, I could make it my business,’ blustered the priest. ‘When did you last see Sir Gawain?’

‘That I cannot remember,’ said Nick, giving him a contemptuous look.

Father Hugh glared at him and then turned his attention to Beth. ‘And you, Mistress Llewellyn?’

Beth’s heart was beating so heavily that she felt a need to place her hand over her breast. ‘I have not seen him for several days,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I don’t believe Sir Gawain is involved in any plot.’

‘The king has issued a warrant for his arrest.’

The colour drained from Beth’s face and she reached out and clutched Nick’s sleeve and his arm went round her. ‘For what reason?’ he asked.

‘The murder of his wife,’ said Father Hugh, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the pair of them.

‘I don’t believe it,’ said Beth, recovering herself. ‘What proof have you?’

‘You think I would tell you so you can run off and warn him in order for him to try to overset what I have to say,’ he sneered. ‘The pair of you want to get married so he would rid himself of his wife. Now tell me where he is or you will be arrested too.’

‘Mistress Llewellyn does not know where Sir Gawain is so that could prove difficult,’ said Nick.

‘And how do you know that?’ asked Father Hugh, turning on him.

‘Because she had no knowledge of what happened at Raventon Hall when I arrived here,’ said Nick. ‘And let us be honest, I did not witness what happened—all I have heard are rumours. So tell us, how do you know of them?’

‘I will not tell you anything,’ said the priest, clenching
a fist. ‘But I warn you, Master Hurst, if you try to get in my way by protecting this young woman and concealing Sir Gawain’s whereabouts from me, then he will not be the only man to go to the gallows.’ He turned on his heel and the skirts of his robes whirled about his ankles as he hurried from the room.

Beth released her grip on Nick’s sleeve. ‘I have to find Gawain and warn him!’

‘That is exactly what that priest wants you to do,’ said Nick, his brow furrowed in thought. ‘If the king has truly issued a warrant for Gawain’s arrest, then he would not have sent Father Hugh without a couple of yeomen to accompany him and assist with the arrest.’

Relief flooded Beth’s face. ‘You are saying that the king knows nothing of this and that Father Hugh is trying to set a trap for Gawain?’

‘It is possible that his Majesty has been informed, but who would take the news to him? If he does know, then I do not doubt he will want Gawain to be found to prove his innocence. After all, he was still at court a short while ago.’

Beth knew this to be true and, feeling a little better but still weak at the knees, she sat down. ‘Where can he be? And where is my servant, Sam? He took a message for me to Raventon Hall and was supposed to be escorting Mistress Ashbourne here. Is it possible that he saw what happened and is with Gawain and the children?’

‘It’s no good our trying to piece together what happened,’ said Nick. ‘If Gawain and the children are with
your servant, then no doubt they will come here eventually.’

‘And I will be waiting for them,’ said Beth, tilting her chin.

‘Would you like me to stay with you?’ asked Nick.

She shook her head. ‘I have appreciated your support, but I would not keep you from whatever other business you might have in the city.’

Nick gave a wry smile and, taking her by the shoulders, kissed her on both cheeks. ‘If they do not arrive, then I suggest you come and stay at our family home in Greenwich. You can inform those in the printing workshop of your whereabouts. If Gawain does send Sam to you with a message, they will tell him where you can be found. I do not like leaving you alone in such circumstances.’