‘I am no murderer, Josse,’ Ninian said.
Josse regarded him steadily. ‘A man died as the result of a fight, Ninian. It seems somehow he was involved in the plot to abduct Rosamund, and we all know you would defend those you care for to the death, if necessary.’ And your whereabouts were not known at the time the man died, he could have added.
‘Josse, I give you my word. I have murdered nobody. The wounds I inflicted in the fight by the chapel were as much to defend myself as attack the others.’
‘Aye, I appreciate that,’ Josse replied. ‘But one of the men you wounded-’
‘Was the king,’ Ninian interrupted gently. ‘Yes, Josse, I know. I went to see Tiphaine, and she told me everything.’
‘Your horse stands ready for you back at the House in the Woods,’ Josse plunged on, ‘and I’ve prepared a pack for you, and a blanket.’ He had not expected this moment to hurt so much. Ninian had to go, and it was Josse’s task to make sure he left as quickly as he could.
Ninian put out his hand, but then let it drop. ‘I have to say goodbye,’ he muttered. ‘I won’t leave without seeing Meggie, and there’s Little Helewise. She — she-’
Josse saw tears in his son’s eyes. ‘She is at the house,’ he said. ‘Leofgar brought her over in the night.’
Ninian’s face lit up. ‘Why?’ he demanded. ‘Oh, you can’t know how relieved I am, but I don’t understand.’ He frowned. ‘Unless-’
‘Ninian, we all know you. We’ve been working it out, and we realized that, while you would never come to the House in the Woods — or, indeed, go to the homes of any of the people you care about — because you would not bring trouble to our doors, yet you are incapable of fleeing without a word of farewell.’
‘Am I so transparent?’ A bitter smile twisted his mouth. ‘If that’s the case, I might as well give myself up right now.’
Josse grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, quite hard. ‘You are not; only to we who know and love you,’ he said harshly. ‘And don’t you ever, ever, speak of giving yourself up!’
Ninian wriggled free, wincing. ‘I was only joking,’ he muttered.
‘Then don’t,’ Josse replied shortly. ‘It isn’t funny.’
There was a pause. ‘I’m going abroad,’ Ninian said.
‘Aye, I know,’ Josse said heavily. Then, for he was finding this unendurable, he made for the entrance and crouched down, preparing to crawl out. ‘Wait here,’ he said. ‘Don’t leave your hiding place. There will be search parties, although they’re going to concentrate on the main roads to begin with. We ought to have today, at least.’ He looked back at Ninian. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ Then he hurried away.
Back at the House in the Woods, Tilly had food on the table and the household were sitting down to eat. Meggie rushed to Josse as he came into the hall, Little Helewise hard on her heels. ‘Have you found him?’ Meggie cried, at the same moment as Little Helewise said, ‘Is he all right?’
‘I have, and he is.’ He smiled at them. ‘You guessed, then, where I’d gone.’
‘It wasn’t difficult,’ Meggie replied.
Helewise got up and came to take his hand. ‘He is not hurt?’
Josse looked round at the circle of anxious faces. Little Helewise was pale, biting her lip. Geoffroi was frowning, as he often did when his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
‘He is unharmed and safe,’ Josse said. ‘Safe for now, anyway, although there is no time to waste. If we are quick, there is time, for those who wish to do so, to go and see him and see him on his way.’
Helewise squeezed his hand. He glanced at her and saw there were tears in her eyes. ‘He’ll be all right!’ Josse said heartily, with a confidence he was far from feeling. ‘He’s resourceful and brave. If anyone can get away to safety, it’s Ninian.’
‘Where will he go?’ Little Helewise asked in a whisper. She caught his eye and twisted her mouth in a brave smile.
Josse looked at her, compassion filling his heart. ‘He’ll have to get out of England,’ he said gently. ‘The king’s reach is long.’ He had a plan, which presently he would suggest to Ninian, but for now he thought he should keep it to himself.
‘When — how long will he have to stay away?’ Little Helewise said.
Josse sighed. ‘I don’t know.’ Then, overcome with helpless fury, he added bitterly, ‘Until the king either forgets him or dies, I expect.’
There came the sound he had been unconsciously listening out for and dreading to hear: a horse’s hooves clattering into the yard and Will’s voice raised in greeting. ‘Sit down, all of you,’ he hissed, pushing Meggie and Helewise before him and flinging himself down into his chair. ‘We’re an ordinary family having breakfast. We’re very worried about one of our loved ones, but we have no idea where he is or what he plans to do!’ He looked round at them all. They were too pale, too anxious. ‘Eat!’ he said in an urgent whisper. ‘Go on, eat, curse you all!’
He regretted his furious words as soon as they were out of his mouth. It was too late to apologize — he could hear Will’s heavy tread outside as he ushered their visitor up the steps to the hall — but hurriedly he glanced at everyone round the table, begging their forgiveness with his eyes.
The door opened.
Will said, ‘Sir Josse, the sheriff’s here.’
Josse turned to see Gervase de Gifford walking towards him.
Gervase studied them all. Turning to Josse, he said, ‘A word in private, if I may.’
Josse got to his feet and hurried over to him, taking his arm and walking with him out of the hall and back down the steps, crossing the open ground in front of the house until they were on the edge of the surrounding trees. Stopping, he turned to Gervase. ‘Nobody will hear us out here.’ He studied the sheriff’s grave face. ‘What is it?’
‘Josse, I should not be here. Certainly, I should not have come on the mission that has brought me to you.’ He paused.
‘You have a conflict of duty,’ Josse said quietly. ‘I understand.’
‘Do you?’ Gervase’s light eyes were intent. ‘I’m not sure you do. Ninian attacked the king and Olivier de Brionne, and they are saying he killed Olivier’s brother. The king has given me a direct order — find the madman who fought him by the chapel and bring him to justice — and the penalty for disobedience will be terrible and swiftly demanded.’ He passed a hand over his face. ‘My family — Sabin and the children — may suffer too, I cannot say.’
‘You don’t have to-’ Josse began.
‘I don’t have to help you?’ Gervase snapped. ‘Oh, Josse, but I do. You are my oldest friend, we have endured much together and each has put his trust in the other. You saved my life, and I told you then that you had made a lifelong friend. Such things make bonds that do not fade away when trouble comes. Besides, I-’ Whatever he had been about to add, he bit back.
Josse bowed his head. ‘Nobody here will say a word concerning this visit,’ he muttered.
‘I know,’ Gervase replied. He paused, cleared his throat and then said, ‘Josse, Ninian must leave England today. I can postpone a search of the forest, for we are first going to concentrate on the main roads and tracks where a fleeing man can move swiftly, but only until tomorrow. Wherever Ninian is — and I don’t want to know,’ he added quickly as Josse opened his mouth, ‘get him right away from here.’
‘Aye, I will, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for a day’s grace,’ Josse said. ‘Everything is prepared. His horse stands fed and watered and loaded in the stable, and the bag I have packed lies ready on the floor. As soon as we’ve said our goodbyes, Ninian will be off.’
Gervase nodded. ‘Excellent.’ He hesitated, eyeing Josse and then quickly looking away. ‘I — er, have a suggestion,’ he said tentatively, ‘if you would hear it?’
‘I would,’ Josse answered.
In that moment of desperate urgency, it struck Josse that Gervase was strangely reluctant to speak. He was about to press him — this was no time to be so sensitive and tactful! — when Gervase seemed to jerk himself out of his reverie.
To Josse’s surprise, for there was nobody near, Gervase leaned close and, speaking right in his ear, whispered to him. He spoke for some moments, and Josse’s eyes widened as he listened.