He knew he ought to move away, but he felt as if he’d grown roots.
“It would have been more difficult if somebody hadn’t left several coins on her table.”
Ranulf blushed like a lad and wished he wasn’t. “If that’s all you have to say, Bea, we should go back to the hall.”
“There’s one thing more,” she replied, coming mercifully to a halt a few feet away. “Do you trust Myghal?”
That was not what he expected to hear. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“I hope not. It’s just that when I was walking with him to Wenna’s cottage, I felt…”
She shrugged her shoulders and looked at Ranulf as if expecting him to tell her what she felt.
He could certainly tell her what Myghal was likely feeling, and it wasn’t something he was pleased to consider. The fellow seemed trustworthy enough, but he was young and young men could be fools. “Next time you go into the village, I want you to take some soldiers for an escort—at least two. I don’t want anything to happen to you while you’re in my care.”
Her cheeks colored, yet her expression wasn’t that of a modest, obedient maiden. She looked offended. “Surely I’m perfectly safe in your village.”
His village. Even without meaning to, she made him feel as if he’d accomplished something with his life. “I’d like to believe that, but your safety is not something with which I care to gamble. You’re Merrick’s ward, and I wouldn’t want to face his wrath if something were to happen to you while you were under my protection. He nearly beat Henry to death when he only suspected Henry had put Constance in danger,” he reminded her, not indicating by word, look or tone how devastatedhewould be if she were hurt or killed.
She lowered her eyes and nodded. “Of course. How foolish of me to want to do anything that might reflect poorly on your command of Penterwell.”
“I’m relieved you appreciate my position, my lady,” he said with every appearance of calm as he held out his arm, steeling himself for her touch. “Shall we?”
With a nod and not another word, she laid her fingertips on his forearm and let him lead her from the solar.
AFEW DAYS LATER, Beatrice did her best to ignore the two soldiers following her as she headed for the market in the village. Since Ranulf had agreed to let her stay until Wenna had her baby, she would abide by his decree that she take an escort when she left the castle, even though it made her feel foolish and conspicuous.
At least the weather had cleared, the rain giving way to the sun and warmth that heralded the start of a new growing season. Lambs frolicked on the slopes nearby, and everything smelled fresh and green and new. It was enough to put some spring in Beatrice’s step, despite her dismay over the situation with Ranulf. Even Maloren seemed happier these days, and she didn’t seem to mind having to spend so much time in the kitchen keeping a watchful eye on the cook.
“Good morning, my lady. Don’t you look as fresh as a daisy today.”
Her ruminations interrupted, Beatrice looked up to find Hedyn smiling at her. She liked the sheriff, with his fatherly voice and friendly mien, and she gave him a smile in return. “Good day to you, too. Isn’t it lovely now that the rain has finally stopped?”
“Aye, my lady. Nearly as lovely as you.”
Beatrice laughed as he fell into step beside her. “You’ll be turning my head with such flattery, Hedyn.”
He nodded at the basket she had slung over her arm. “Going to market, are you?”
“I want to get some new threads, and Tecca tells me one of the village women makes a lovely green dye. I thought I’d get some to take home to Tregellas.”
“It’ll be a sad day here when you leave us, my lady.”
“I shall be sorry to go, too, but my home is in Tregellas.”
“Pity, that is.”
Beatrice wasn’t sure what to say to that, and she was a little relieved when Hedyn halted and said, “I must be off, my lady, to the shore. Something’s washed up that might be from Gawan’s boat.”
“Are you any closer to finding out what happened to him?” she asked, for Ranulf had told her nothing more about Gawan’s death.
Hedyn shook his head. “Sadly, no, though it’s not for lack of trying. Sir Ranulf is dead keen to find out. He’s made that plain enough.”
“He takes his duties very seriously,” she agreed, thinking of the way Ranulf sat brooding and staring into the fire after the evening meal every night.
“Aye, my lady, that he does, and it’s to his credit. He’s a fine gentleman. Impressed the fishermen and merchants, I can tell you, and that isn’t easy to do. They were worried he’d be an arrogant…fellow,” the sheriff said, catching himself and sliding her an apologetic glance for the derogatory term he’d been about to use. “No, my lady, we couldn’t ask for a better castellan, and I hope you’ll tell Lord Merrick so.”
“I shall,” she readily replied.
