Page 76 of His Forsaken Bride

“I can spare an hour or so for my wife, I hope,” he muttered, his hand slipping around her waist and urging her through the door.

“I don’t have my outdoor things,” she gasped, as he pressed her forward into the cold stone passage.

“All will be provided,” he said enigmatically as they started down an uneven flagstone floor. “Mind your step.”

“What will Bryce think when he returns?” Fen could hear the excitement in her voice.

“I’m always giving him the slip,” said Oswald. His voice was very close behind her. It wasn’t wide enough to walk side-by-side. “He won’t be too perturbed.”

“It doesn’t get any narrower, does it?” Fen asked anxiously as she groped along the walls.

“Not the way we’re going. Turn left. Then up three steps.”

Fen concentrated on feeling the roughly cut stone steps beneath her slippered feet. They were very steep and wound around a column. She wished she’d worn her ankle boots now.

“You’re doing well,” he told her and she felt his hand at her middle back, steadying her. “Now head straight ahead.”

“Is this a bridge?” Fen asked in alarm. She could feel the floor sway.

“Hold the rope at the side.”

Fen made a grab for it and felt Oswald step up behind her. “I’m not sure I like this,” she admitted uncertainly.

“I’m right here.”

She breathed out. He was very calm and confident in the dark shadows. She felt his hand at her waist.

“Now walk forward, until I say to halt.”

Fen squeezed her eyes shut and did as she was told. In truth, she could scarcely see any less than when they were open.

“Halt,” he said squeezing her side. “Now feel ahead for a gap in the wall.”

Fen reached out her hands and swept the walls until she felt the edges. “Found it.”

“Now climb through.”

He lifted her from behind as Fen clambered through the hole and breathed out in relief when she found herself on wooden floorboards again. He swiftly followed her through the gap.

“We’re over the worst bit, the rest ahead is plain sailing,” he assured her. “I need you to wait here for a moment, while I fetch us cloaks.”

“Cloaks? From where?” She tried to keep the anxiety out of her voice.

“Just down to the left, I won’t be long.”

He touched his hand to her cheek and then he was gone. Fen shivered and rubbed her upper arms. She heard a scuttle that she was very much afraid was a rat. Only by the greatest exertion did she manage not to yelp. She busied herself by feeling for any rents in her dress, for she was sure she’d heard a rip as her gown had snagged on something. Before she’d discovered any, she thought she heard a footfall and froze. It seemed to come from the opposite direction in which Oswald had disappeared. She shrank back against the wall and held her breath. There! She definitely heard another step being taken and then another, but by someone very fleet and light of foot. It was retreating away from her. She craned her ears and fancied she heard a door faintly swing shut. So intent on it was she, that when she heard Oswald’s murmured ‘Fenella’, behind her, she jumped in surprise. He shook out a cloak and then passed it around her shoulders. It was a thick woolen one, and although she could not see the color, she immediately felt its benefit.

“Give me your hand.”

She reached out and felt her fingers enveloped by his.

“Stay close. I will lead the way now.”

“Very well,” she whispered back.

He tugged on her hand and she fell in step behind him. Their path seemed to follow a steep incline though there were no steps. After a while the wooden floorboards gave way to loosely packed earth and Fen could feel small pebbles beneath the thin soles of her shoes. “Stay,” he cautioned as he came to a halt. Fen could see light streaming in from behind the outline of a door. Oswald paused to listen and after a moment or two he cautiously opened the door and they emerged into a small walled garden. He secured the door behind them and looked swiftly about. “All clear.” He kept his voice low, and drew her hood up so it covered her head. “If we follow the path outside this garden it will take us into the courtyard of the palace kitchens.”

Fen nodded.