Gisborne: Book of Pawns Read Free Page B

soft and smooth under my fingers, as if it had been worn for many years under untold conditions. It moulded itself to h is forearm leaving an impression of muscle and tendon beneath my touch.
    ‘ I must ask for your time, sir.’ Oh, I was so polite. ‘ I realise you wish to get to your own hostelry but I m ust talk with you about Marais. Please?’
    He nodded his head and took me by the elbow to a ben ch near the gate.
    ‘Mar ais must return to Cazenay. No, please … hear me out. She weeps daily and will never settle in the fens. I think you know this as well as I.’
    ‘Indeed,’ he replied. ‘She suff ers pining sickness beyond what I would have hoped for your companion.’
    ‘Then you must see it is a kin dness to return her forthwith. Now that we are in Tours, I am propos ing we find a group of pilgrims o r merchants heading south. If we cannot find that, then send some of the men back with her.’
    His face barely moved and it crossed my mind bri efly what a spy he might make, n ever betraying a s ingle thing in his expression.
    ‘But ,’ he replied. ‘I t means you will not have a chaperone and your father… ’
    ‘Oh please. You think someone like Marais will be able to protect my inno cence between here and England? Guy,’ his name slipped out and he shifted as we sat together. ‘Guy, do not. Just return her to Aquitaine and me to Moncrieff. It is all I ask. I promise I shall be biddable if you do.’
    His mouth quirked and because he appeared to soft en, I thought to press my case.
    ‘May I ask you something? Did I offend you on that first day of our travels, that you should avoid talking to me or being near me while we ride ?’
    He rubbed his hands t ogether and leaned forward, black hair falling over his collar.
    ‘No. I changed the w ay we rode for safety reasons. As to avoiding you, I felt it was unseemly for us to ride together. You are a lady and I am a mere steward .’
    ‘Oh don’t be ridiculous.’ I laughed. ‘ If I know anything at all, it is that you are noble-born. As if it matters. You could be a villein and if I thought you were interesting I would talk to you.’
    ‘Perhaps. But I am your father’s employee and charged with your safety. If you remembe r anything of England, my lady, you will remember that status is everything.’
    ‘Status is nothing but being born on the right side of the blankets,’ I scoffed.
    He said something then that I would reflect on later, something that was much bigger than I g ave it credit for at the time. He stoo d and paced, his expression revealing deep-seated bitterness . Hi s eyes darkened and in profile he resembled nothing so much as a bird of prey.
    ‘Status,’ he said, ‘is power.’
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    ‘ You must let me come with you. If an escort is to be found for my maidservant, then I am surely entitl ed to have a say in who they might be . ’
    Gisborne shook his head. ‘It is not seemly… ’
    ‘For a Lady to go about seeking pilgrims or merchants with her steward? Lord, Sir Gisborne, I think it is more than seemly. You can step two paces behind if it is more appropriate.’
    He stood, muttering und er his breath as he turned away and m y words chased him.
    ‘I beg your pardon, sir, I did not hear what you said.’
    ‘I recall saying something about spoiled and thrashings. Your manner has not improved my mind.’
    ‘Yours is little better.’ I sighed. ‘All I am asking is the right to find the travellers w ho could best care for Marais. She has been my companion as much as a maidservant for the ei ght years I was at Cazenay. It is the least I can do for her. Please?’
    He walked to the gate as he answered, his spurs jingling in the tranquil and dove- filled quiet of the forecourt.
    ‘Tomorrow, then. A f ter you have broken your fast. Good day to you, my lady .’
     
    I said nothing to Marais about sending her back to Aquitaine. I would not have her disillusi oned if we could find no escort of any sort. The