agree to leave the castle that had been her home for so many years, never. And as for Sir Richard wanting to marry her--a knight, a knight... It was beyond anything she had dreamed of.
The messenger had simply nodded. 'Yes, mistress.'
Yes, mistress. As if it were a little thing, an everyday thing, for Adam to summon Rozenn and his mother across the sea to England and for her to receive an offer of marriage from a Norman knight.
'B-but I've never even left Quimperle...'
The messenger had given her a strange look and he had sighed. He was holding himself in such a way that told Rose his back was aching. His throat had to be parched, he must be longing to put his feet up in a tavern. 'I'm telling you all I know, mistress,' he had said. 'Make preparations, your brother will send you an escort... Sir Adam also stressed that if anything were to happen to him, you must put your trust in Sir Richard, who has your best interests at heart.'
Rose could scarcely believe it, but it must be true. Sir Richard has your best interests at heart. Would Sir Richard have given a gold cross to a woman who meant nothing to him?
'H-how did Adam find out that I have been widowed?'
'I do not know.'
Shortly after that, having attempted with a fair degree of patience to respond to a barrage of questions, the man had bowed and had made his escape, leaving Rozenn staring after him. her thoughts in turmoil. Adam had done well in Duke William's service, apparently. For rallying fleeing troops at Hastings. England's new king had given Adam lands and a new wife--one Lady Cecily of Fulford.
As Rose had watched Adam's messenger limp towards the nearest tavern, an idea--no, it was more of a dream-- had flashed into her mind.
Sir Richard has your best interests at heart. ..at heart. She had fingered the cross Sir Richard had, rather shockingly, given her even while she had been married to Per. Sir Richard had offered for her!
Once she would have thought such a thing impossible. But was it so incredible that Adam should wish to foster an alliance between his family and his good friend Sir Richard? After all, Adam was only the son of a horse-master, yet he had risen through the ranks and become a knight. And if that had happened, why should Rose not become a lady?
So now, on Witches' Night. Rozenn smiled into the dark, twirling the gold cross while she wildly embroidered her dream. Not for her the life of a cloth merchant's widow in Quimperle where everyone thought of her as a foundling. She wouldn't have to depend on Countess Muriel for work, she would marry a knight! Lady Rozenn of Asculf...
England beckoned. Tomorrow she really must reveal her plans to Mikaela. And if Adam's mother refused to leave, she would simply have to travel on her own....
First, Rozenn would pay off Per's debts, and then she would go and search out the place Adam's messenger had mentioned--Fulford, near Winchester. She wasn't about to wait for Adam's escort, life was too short. Why wait till the autumn? She would go as soon as possible--this month, maybe even this week! Somehow she would find a way.
King William had granted Adam lands in England!
How pleased Adam must be, to have lands of his own at last. But if only Adam had got a scribe to write a proper letter. Of course, Rozenn couldn't read herself, but England was a long way to go on the word of one exhausted messenger.
Coming briefly down to earth, Rozenn grimaced into the dark. She prayed she could persuade Ivona to accompany her. For if she could not. Ivona was bound to object to her setting off without Adam's escort. Having something in writing would have backed up her decision.
But... in England, she would have the chance of a new life. Once in England--Rozenn's lips curved--there would be no debts, no ignominious past to shame her. No one in England would realise why she had been christened Rose. No one in England would ever think, 'there goes that girl whose mother abandoned her by the rosebush outside the
The messenger had simply nodded. 'Yes, mistress.'
Yes, mistress. As if it were a little thing, an everyday thing, for Adam to summon Rozenn and his mother across the sea to England and for her to receive an offer of marriage from a Norman knight.
'B-but I've never even left Quimperle...'
The messenger had given her a strange look and he had sighed. He was holding himself in such a way that told Rose his back was aching. His throat had to be parched, he must be longing to put his feet up in a tavern. 'I'm telling you all I know, mistress,' he had said. 'Make preparations, your brother will send you an escort... Sir Adam also stressed that if anything were to happen to him, you must put your trust in Sir Richard, who has your best interests at heart.'
Rose could scarcely believe it, but it must be true. Sir Richard has your best interests at heart. Would Sir Richard have given a gold cross to a woman who meant nothing to him?
'H-how did Adam find out that I have been widowed?'
'I do not know.'
Shortly after that, having attempted with a fair degree of patience to respond to a barrage of questions, the man had bowed and had made his escape, leaving Rozenn staring after him. her thoughts in turmoil. Adam had done well in Duke William's service, apparently. For rallying fleeing troops at Hastings. England's new king had given Adam lands and a new wife--one Lady Cecily of Fulford.
As Rose had watched Adam's messenger limp towards the nearest tavern, an idea--no, it was more of a dream-- had flashed into her mind.
Sir Richard has your best interests at heart. ..at heart. She had fingered the cross Sir Richard had, rather shockingly, given her even while she had been married to Per. Sir Richard had offered for her!
Once she would have thought such a thing impossible. But was it so incredible that Adam should wish to foster an alliance between his family and his good friend Sir Richard? After all, Adam was only the son of a horse-master, yet he had risen through the ranks and become a knight. And if that had happened, why should Rose not become a lady?
So now, on Witches' Night. Rozenn smiled into the dark, twirling the gold cross while she wildly embroidered her dream. Not for her the life of a cloth merchant's widow in Quimperle where everyone thought of her as a foundling. She wouldn't have to depend on Countess Muriel for work, she would marry a knight! Lady Rozenn of Asculf...
England beckoned. Tomorrow she really must reveal her plans to Mikaela. And if Adam's mother refused to leave, she would simply have to travel on her own....
First, Rozenn would pay off Per's debts, and then she would go and search out the place Adam's messenger had mentioned--Fulford, near Winchester. She wasn't about to wait for Adam's escort, life was too short. Why wait till the autumn? She would go as soon as possible--this month, maybe even this week! Somehow she would find a way.
King William had granted Adam lands in England!
How pleased Adam must be, to have lands of his own at last. But if only Adam had got a scribe to write a proper letter. Of course, Rozenn couldn't read herself, but England was a long way to go on the word of one exhausted messenger.
Coming briefly down to earth, Rozenn grimaced into the dark. She prayed she could persuade Ivona to accompany her. For if she could not. Ivona was bound to object to her setting off without Adam's escort. Having something in writing would have backed up her decision.
But... in England, she would have the chance of a new life. Once in England--Rozenn's lips curved--there would be no debts, no ignominious past to shame her. No one in England would realise why she had been christened Rose. No one in England would ever think, 'there goes that girl whose mother abandoned her by the rosebush outside the
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