With a cry of deepest gladness he whirled and caught his lost love to
him, and kissed her brow and ruddy hair, and his voice broke and his
eyes dimmed as he repeated many times:
"Beatrix! . . . Beatrix! . . . Thank God!"
And so for a space they stood. Then of a sudden he held her gently off
at arm's length.
"Are you glad to see me, sweetheart?" he asked.
"And need I tell you that, dear?" smiling archly.
"At least you might tell me why my knocks were so ignored," he said,
smiling back.
"Perchance, sir, I was curious to know how long you would be content to
knock and wait."
"You knew it was I?"
She glanced up with a merry sparkle in her grey eyes.
"Stupid!--do you think the door would have been unbolted to
another?". . . Then with a woman's quick mind: "And dear Sir John! It
is sweet to see that he has his strength again."
"See? When did you see Sir John?"
She led him to the window and drew aside the curtain.
"I saw everything, my lord!" she cried, with a blithesome laugh.
"Everything from when you slew the odious Abbot until the fight ended
on the stairs; and you can never know, dear, the joy with which I
recognized the Stag upon your jupon."
"Surely you did not see the fight in the hall!" he exclaimed.
"Every stroke. I was leaning on the railing just above you."
"And never spoke to me!"
"Because I feared it might be distracting and do you harm. When all
was over I hurried hither . . . to wait . . . though I feared Sir John
might come with you," and she blushed bewitchingly.
"His heart is young, if his hair be grey," said De Lacy. "He bade me
go alone and he would follow presently. And ere he comes, dear, tell
me something of your captivity."
"I will try to sketch it briefly, but if I seem to wander, bear in mind
that to me it is years--long years--since that fateful evening by the
Hermit's Cell." She paused a bit, and then went on: "The attack upon
us was so sharply sudden that Sir John had no chance to defend--the
villains seemed to rise from the very turf on every side. Almost
instantly he was stricken, and as his horse bolted into the forest, a
cloak was flung over my head and wound round about my arms, so that I
was helpless. Then at a sharp trot, that grew quickly into a canter,
we set out. After a while, how long I had no notion, we halted until
the leader--he whom I have come to know as Simon Gorges--had freed me
from the cloak, apologizing very humbly for being obliged to use it.
"It would likely have been more maidenly had I been tearful and
trembling; but, to my shame then, must I admit that I was neither--only
curious to know who had been so desperate as to commit an act that
would bring the whole of England down upon him. Had I but guessed the
long weeks which were to pass and the sore trials they were to bear,
there would have been weeping without stint that night as, indeed,
there was later; when it began to seem that you and all else on earth
had forsaken me."
"Nay, Beatrix; surely there was never such doubt of me?" De Lacy asked.
"Well; not doubt, exactly--only a growing fear that, having searched
for me and vainly, you had given me up for dead."
"Yet all the while, methinks your heart told you that there was one, at
least, who sought you still," he said, raising her face so he could
look into her eyes.
"I fear me, Aymer, you are still given to occasional conceit. . . No,
sir--not another kiss until I have finished--and not then, unless you
are good and humble. . . When we arrived before this castle the bridge
was down and all things ready for our coming. The place was strange to
me, and in the faint glimmer of the torches and the uncertain moonlight
I could discern no escutcheon above the gateway and no banner on the
tower. Nor did I have much time for observing, for they hurried me out
of saddle and through the great hall and up to these rooms. Directly,
there came to me an old woman who proffered herself as maid.
"'Maid!' I exclaimed. 'Maid for one with no gown but a riding habit!'
"She opened the closet door and showed me apparel in plenty; and when I
said I would wear no other woman's clothes, she told me they were made
for me and had been waiting for a week.
"'Does this place then deal in abducted maidens?' I demanded; and got
for answer that I was the first woman of quality to cross these halls
since the lord's mother was laid in yonder chapel.
"Then suddenly my courage left me, and I grew faint and would have
fallen had she not led me to the couch. With the morning came fresh
strength; and ignoring the loose chamber robe she laid out and urged
upon me, I donned my riding skirt and waited. But that day passed; and
the second was in darkness when I heard a trumpet call and then much
commotion in the courtyard; and presently there were steps in the
corridor, followed by a knock upon the door. When I opened it I gave a
cry of glad surprise; instead of the abductor, it was Lord Darby who
entered smiling and gay.
"I suppose the sharp shift of feeling was too much for my wrought-up
nerves, for I began to cry and laugh by turns; and when I came back to
calmness, I found him at my feet and holding my hand, and . . . talking
foolishness. But my sole idea was to be gone, and I told him so curtly
and started for the door. To my amaze, he stepped in front of me, and
as I would have slipped by he caught my arm. I tried to fling him off,
but unavailingly. Then he gravely led me to a chair and bowed me into
it.
"'Bear with me, Countess, I pray you,' he said, and fell to talking
foolishness, again.
"But I told him it was quite useless; that the question had been
finally settled between us at Windsor, as he ought to know, and prayed
him not to weaken my gratitude for the rescue by pressing the subject
further. I did it gently as I could, but I saw his anger rising.
"He had been kneeling; now he arose and stood with folded arms, looking
down at me.
"'Tell me, Countess,' he said, 'is this your final answer?'
"'It is, Lord Darby,' I replied, and springing by him I tried to make
the door. But he was before me and turned the key.
"It were folly to grow violent in my helplessness, and I swept him a
mocking curtsy.
"'Will you tell me if I am captive to Lord Darby or to him who rules
this castle?' I asked.
"He bowed back at me until his plume almost touched the floor.
"'To both, fair Countess,' he answered, 'for this is Roxford Castle,
and I am its lord and your abductor.'
"'What a despicable scoundrel you are!' I exclaimed, trying to hold my
voice steady and keep a brave front--though my heart had suddenly
become as lead, and I thanked God for my dagger.
"'It is a pity you should view your future lord with so poor esteem,'
he returned. 'For here you stay until the bans are tied as tight as
priest can knot them.'
"'The Church mates not the quick with a corpse,' I answered.
"He shrugged his shoulders. 'True, Countess,' he replied. 'But one
must risk something; and few women go in search of death. Nathless, it
is the only way you can escape me now.'
"'You forget the King,' I retorted.
"He gave his sneering laugh. 'Nay, put no hope in Richard,' he said.
'He soon will have enough of his own troubles, and no time to spare for
missing maids. When Buckingham, Stanley, and Darby rise and Richmond
lands in England, Richard's rule is ended. Then think you the new King
will deny me the Countess of Clare for wife--even though she be a bit
unwilling? Meanwhile, it is already ordered that you be treated as the
chatelaine of Roxford. When next I come it will be to lead you to the
altar, by the kind permission of His Gracious Majesty, King Henry.'
"He went out leaving the key in the lock, and after a while he rode
away.
"It would be small profit to detail the weeks that followed. I rarely
left this room, though I had the freedom of the castle, and was denied
nothing save leave either to pass the gates or to communicate with the
outer world.
"Then, one day, I chanced to be at yonder window when Simon Gorges rode
from out the gate-arch and across the courtyard; his mount staggering
from weariness and both plastered with mud and water.
"That night Gorges carried me to Kirkstall Abbey; some one met him near
the gate and I was smuggled, blindfolded, through an underground
passage to a small room, furnished in all luxury, and with all the
toilet trifles of our sex. There I abode, seeing no one save a
shrewish looking woman who paid no heed to my questions and ignored me
utterly. And on the third evening Lord Darby entered suddenly, and I
cried out in sheer surprise and terror.
"'You are not glad to see me, I fear,' he said, with his short,
sneering laugh.
"I made no answer. His return could mean only that Richard was
dethroned, Henry Tudor, King, and he come to claim me. My hand sought
my hidden dagger; and he must have read my mind, for he laughed
again--Merciful Mother, how I hate that laugh!--and bade me be easy.
"'I am here before my time,' he said. 'Richard is yet King, and I
stand now with him, and am just come from mustering my following at
Roxford. He has promised me your hand when the rebellion is ended.
Therefore, I have you sure, whoever conquers; for in the battle I shall
so play as to be with him who wins.' . . . He drew back the
arras--then paused as though the thought had just come: 'Perchance it
will interest you to know that a certain Aymer de Lacy has left England
and returned to France.'
"'It is a lie--a lie of your black heart!' I cried.
"But he only smiled maliciously and went out. And thank God, since
that evening I have never seen him more.
"And now is my tale most told. For a week longer I dwelt in that room,
and saw no person but my dumb attendant. At a strange hour on the
night of the seventh day, there came a knock at the door and, without
staying for permission, a robed figure entered.
"'Be not alarmed, daughter,' it said, as I sprang up. 'I come to take
you hence.'
"It was the Abbot Aldam himself, and my anger arose.
"'Since when, Sir Abbot,' I demanded, 'has the Abbey of Kirkstall
become the prison for abducted women?'
"'Since it pleased me to assist a friend in need,' he answered.
"Coming near, he scanned my face and figure; and suddenly he put his
arms about me and kissed me on the mouth."
De Lacy struck his gauntlets against his greaves.
"God! I am glad I killed him," he gritted.
"So am I, dear," said the Countess--then went on: "I tried to reach my
dagger, but Aldam caught my hands and kissed me twice again.
"'Be not so timid,' he laughed. 'There are many of your sex come to
this room, and far different from a simple caress is the toll they pay.
But you are Darby's, so must I stop with that . . . yet I would it were
otherwise,' and his look was so cruelly devouring I fled to the far
side of the room.
"There I waited, ready if he sought again to touch me, to sink my
dagger in his breast. But he had bound his passions, seemingly, for he
sat down and bade me prepare to leave without delay. And gladly did I
comply, caring little where I went, so that I left this vile priest's
clutches.
"When I had done, he took my bundle and a candle and led the way
through a hidden panel in the corner opposite the door. We passed
along a narrow corridor, with the roof almost against our heads, and
descended a score of stone stairs into a tunnel, deep and foul. How
far we went I cannot even guess, but presently there was another ascent
of stairs, and after a bit of fumbling, the heavy door swung back and I
felt a rush of night air and saw the moonlight.
"Thrusting the Abbot aside, I sprang through the opening . . . and into
the arms of Simon Gorges.
"'Your pardon, my lady,' he said; then freed me, but stood within easy
reach. He was alone, and beside his horse was another with a woman's
saddle. He saw my eyes upon it.
"We are for Roxford Castle,' he explained.
"Listen, Gorges,' I said. 'What will you have to take me back to
Pontefract? Name your price, man--I am rich and can pay a royal
ransom--and you shall enter the King's own guard.'
"He shook his head. 'I have served the Lords of Darby all my life, and
my sire and my grandsire before me. No gold nor rank can buy me from
my duty. To me you have been committed, pending my lord's return; and
so long as I have power to keep you, I must obey.'
"'It is an ignoble task you are assigned,' I began.
"But he would not hear me. 'You forget, my lady, that I am of those
you and your station deem ignoble. Yet, none the less, am I ashamed of
this business--though, since my lord commands, it is not for me to
question nor delay. Therefore, I pray you, let us mount and be going?'
"I saw he neither could be bought nor persuaded, so I let him lift me
into saddle and we set out for Roxford. On the way, I asked why I was
being so moved about, though I had no hope he would tell me; and for a
while he made no answer. Then, to my surprise, he said: 'What do you
think would be the reason?'
"'Can it be that Lord Darby is suspected of my abduction?' I cried.
And the hope that had almost died came back to life with a bound.
"'Will you promise never to betray me to him?'
"'I promise,' I answered, all a tremble.
"So he detailed how, as Flat-Nose, he had been sought over all England;
how at Sheffield, you, Aymer, had come upon him and Lord Darby
together, and had carried his master to the King at Lincoln; how he,
himself, escaping, had galloped back and hurried me to Kirkstall,
assuming that Roxford would be visited by Richard's order; how Darby
had bested you with the King; and how Buckingham's rebellion had sent
you and Darby with the army to the South.
"'For the time Roxford will be in no danger of a searching party, so
you are being returned there,' he ended. 'But if I know aught of Sir
Aymer de Lacy, my lord has not yet won his bride.'
"'Lord Darby told me that the King had promised him my hand--and that
Sir Aymer de Lacy had gone to France.' I said.
"He looked at me with a smile.
"'I never contradict my master,' he replied; but there was vast
encouragement for me in his tones.
"And I slept that night as I had not for weeks; nor troubled that I lay
once more at Roxford Castle. For after my heavy gloom and dark
despair, even the smallest hope was mountain size and promised sure
release. And so I waited; confident and strong. Last evening near
sundown the Abbot Aldam came; and as I saw him, all bedraggled, cross
the courtyard on foot and unattended, I felt that my deliverance was
near. No one of his rank and station would travel so, except his life
were jeopardized, and I cried out in joy at his undoing. Then I sent
for Gorges and learned the Abbot's tale--that he had escaped by the
passage used for me, and that you were even then at Kirkstall.
"'To-morrow's sun will see Sir Aymer before the barbican, my lady,' he
said. 'And though we shall hold the castle to the final stroke, yet it
will be a losing fight; for we are few in number, and when one falls
there will not be another to step into his place. And so will it be
that you have seen the last of Simon Gorges, whose greatest shame is to
have been your jailer.'
"He bowed awkwardly and was going when I stopped him.
"'Your lord and the Abbot of Kirkstall can learn courtesy and chivalry
from you,' I said. 'But what profit can your death be to Lord Darby?
When I am found here, his end is sure. So when the last hope is
gone--the castle lost--promise me that if quarter be offered, you will
not let it pass; take your life and you shall have service under me.'
"He was embarrassed by my praise and earnestness. 'Your ladyship is
gracious; yet must I think upon the matter,' he stammered; and hurried
out as though afraid I might persuade him more.
"Therefore, dear, as on the stairway I heard him accept mercy on my
word, you will grant it to him?"
"He is your prisoner, sweetheart, and we will have him here," said
Aymer. "You are his judge."
Presently, with helmet in hand and bladeless scabbard by his side, but
still in his harness dinted and hacked in the recent fight, Gorges
appeared; and halting at the threshold, bowed to the Countess; then
saluting the Knight with formal motion, stood at attention.
"Flat-Nose--for by that name I know you best," said De Lacy, "you
yielded prisoner to the Countess of Clare. Advance and receive your
sentence."
Gorges came forward and knelt at her feet in silence.
"Simon," said Beatrix, "you were kind to me when most I needed
kindness; will you now take your life from me in earnest of my
gratitude?"
"That will I, my lady, and gladly," Gorges answered frankly and at once.
"And will you wear the badge of Clare and be my chief retainer?"
The soldier hesitated and glanced uncertainly at De Lacy.
"You are bound no longer to Lord Darby's service," Sir Aymer
admonished. "He is traitor to the King, and will die on the block
within the month."
The Gorges raised the hem of the Countess' gown and kissed it; and
taking her hand placed it on his head.
"I am your man," he said. "Henceforth do with me as to you may seem
good."