close companion and personal servant. A word of complaint from Joan to my lady, and the cook would no longer have any place in the de Tourney household.
After filling the bowl, Joan left the kitchen and made her way out into the yard again, using a different door from the one by which she had entered the house. This was not the main entrance, but was tucked away in a corner of the yard. There was no-one outside to see her quickly crossing to the stable where Guy was lying. At first, she could see nothing, but heard a sharp rustle from the back. Then, as her eyes adjusted, she could see Guy, raised on one elbow, a dagger in his other hand.
"It’s me, Joan," she whispered.
He sank back, with a sigh, and laid the dagger on the straw beside him.
"Here," she said, as she crossed the stable to him. "I’ve brought you some broth. Prop yourself up and take some slowly, mind."
She held the bowl to his lips and he took a mouthful, swallowed, and coughed.
Gratefully, he smiled at Joan, his eyes watering from the coughing and the effort of stopping it. He breathed deeply and waited a moment, then took a smaller mouthful.
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Sitting up straighter, and leaning against the wood of the stall, he held out his hand to take the bowl from her, but she shook her head.
"You must let me feed you for now, Guy," she said. "A few mouthfuls only, then a rest, before you take some more."
"I’m to have a nursemaid again, then?" he said, his voice soft, but sounding stronger already.
"Yes," said Joan. "A nursemaid for today, and a messenger, too, if you will. But first another mouthful!"
She held the bowl to his lips again, and this time he swallowed without difficulty, before raising his eyes to hers, with a worried frown.
"What about my horse?" he said. "If I have been without food for two days, so has he.
And who is this, that you can trust to go to my father with a message, so that he knows what has befallen me?"
"Your horse is next to you, and making less fuss about its food," said Joan. As for getting a message to Earl Simon Trubodi’s here.
He
came earlier today and spoke to Sir
Roger. Your father is indeed concerned, and asking Sir Roger to look for you. Trubodi will have excellent news to take to him."
Guy shook his head.
"No he’ll have news of a fool who was drugged by a false priest, and who had a message from the King to his supporters within his grasp, but lost it!" he said, bitterly.
He lay back against the straw, and passed his hand over his face in a weary gesture.
"How can I redeem myself?" he said in despair. "My father will never trust me with even the slightest errand for him again. I’ve failed him."
Joan snorted.
"Such dramas, Guy!" she said sharply. "You’ve been tricked by a very clever man. You did what you were instructed to do, and went where you were told to go. It wasn’t your fault if an impostor took the place of the real priest. If you really want to make amends, you’ll mend yourself first, then decide what to do. Meantime, Trubodi will tell your father that you’re in a safe place, that you’ve been ill and are recovering. There’s more than one reason for being found dazed and wandering..."
"No!" protested Guy. "My father must know the truth. Tell Trubodi to come here to me."
Joan rose from her knees and dusted the straw from her skirts. She looked down at the young man, lying at her feet, so weak, but now with a fierce light of determination burning in his eyes.
"Very well," she said. "Trubodi will come but you must keep your voice down when you speak to him. Tell him to make sure that no-one knows you’re here, except Earl BOSON BOOKS
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Simon. We’re happy to see you alive, but you’re a danger to the household while you’re here. But here you will stay," she went on, as he tried to interrupt her, " until you’re well again. In the stable for now we’ll try and find somewhere more comfortable later."
He smiled up at her.
"What could be better than the stable?" he said. "It’s warm and quiet, and I’ll be well fed.
I’m content to stay here, and it’s easy to keep unwelcome visitors away. Will the two men who helped me be silent?"
"They’ve forgotten they ever saw you," said