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Thank Goodness
Roland, Adelina and the rest of the crew from the burned galley made good progress now there was no necessity to share horses. However, the increased presence of soldiers became worrisome as they neared Portsmouth. “It seems we’re not the only ones heading for the port,” he remarked to Adelina.
“Terric predicted we’d likely see more of the king’s army,” she replied. “John is apparently still concerned about an invasion from Normandie.”
“We haven’t yet been challenged,” he said.
“But I fear that’s about to change,” she warned.
Looking ahead, Roland saw she was right. A guard post had been set up on the road into Portsmouth. “Let me do the talking,” he suggested.
They approached slowly, halting when ordered by one of the guards.
“I am in possession of a warrant to access my family’s galley,” Roland declared, handing over the parchment before being questioned. In his experience, a touch of arrogance never went amiss in such situations. It was doubtful the soldier could read in any case.
“Galley?” the fellow queried, scowling at the document.
“It belongs to the Earl of Ellesmere,” Roland explained. “He wants it removed from the south coast now that we are at war with Normandie. We’re to sail it to Bristol. It’s all in the warrant.”
Still frowning, the soldier consulted a comrade before returning the parchment. Feeling anxious as he watched the two men mutter at length, Roland hoped his clenched jaw indicated annoyance.
“You’re too late, my lord,” the guard informed him at length. “The king has ordered the port cleared out to make way for his navy ships. The earl’s galley is gone.”
* * *
Adelina’s spirits plummeted, but she had to follow Roland’s lead and maintain control. Panic would rouse the guards’ suspicions.
“Gone where?” Roland demanded. “The earl will not be pleased.”
Shifting his weight from one foot to the other and his gaze from his comrade to Roland and back, the soldier finally said, “Probably sailed into the Solent, my lord. I’ve no doubt they’ll be waiting for you there.”
“The Solent?” Roland asked, his nose in the air.
Adelina suppressed an urge to giggle. The role of arrogant lordling did not suit him.
“Go back a mile or so, my lord. You should see the vessel in the bay, if that’s where they’ve gone.”
Huffing mightily, Roland turned his horse. Adelina followed, trying hard to remain sour-faced when Thyst winked at her as she passed him. It seemed he too had enjoyed the performance.
“Don’t look back,” Roland advised as they retraced their route. “We don’t want to give them any reason to doubt us.”
“You were masterful,” she replied with a smile. “Even I was trembling in the face of your annoyance.”
Desire swamped her when he narrowed his blue eyes and said, “It will give me great pleasure to make you tremble, my love, but it won’t be because you’re annoyed with me.”
“There she is,” Thyst called, jolting her attention to the galley bobbing in the calm waters of the Solent in the distance.
“Thank goodness,” Adelina breathed, suddenly feeling overheated.
“Indeed,” Roland replied. “Stealing a galley would have been our only other option.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Thyst said.
* * *
Roland was grateful for Thyst’s attempt to bring levity to their situation. Finding a galley to borrow would have been nigh on impossible if King John had banished other ships from the port.
A man he assumed was William’s captain hailed them as they approached the shore. “I’ll send a launch, but the horses cannot come aboard, my lord.”
Roland dismounted then assisted Adelina.
“What shall we do with the horses?” she asked. “My brother cannot afford to lose so many.”
He pulled her into his embrace. “We’ll have more than enough crew between us. I’ll ask the captain to spare a couple of men to take the horses back to Terric.”
He was pleased to see relief ease her frown. “One more hurdle, my love,” he said. “Then we’ll be home.”
“The sea looks calm,” she said softly as he helped her climb into the launch.
He heard the nervousness in her voice. The Solent was indeed calm, but it might be a different story once they were out in the unpredictable waters of the Narrow Sea. “You’ll enjoy the voyage,” he promised, hoping he spoke true. He deemed it best not to mention the possibility they might encounter English patrol vessels.
