Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,75
everyone around her, counting them to be certain that no-one was being left behind. He crossed to the hall, and found Judith, still in her wedding finery with the fur cloak on top. Belaset was with her, her arm around her daughter’s shoulders.
"You are to come with me," he said to the two women. "I will take you to the Tower.
My father and mother will follow, with the servants."
"Is there nothing we can do to help?" said Belaset, anxiously. "It seems so wrong, just to abandon everything like this."
"There is nothing else to do," said Aaron, gently. "The mob will be here soon, and we must be safely away, before they reach here. They will burn and pillage, and anyone in their way will be beaten and even killed. And if you are a woman..." He did not need to finish the sentence.
"Come now," he said. "My father will have fewer people to worry about, if he knows we have left already."
He knew it was the way to get Belaset to leave. She sighed, shrugged, and followed him, as he left the house, and led them down the street. They turned left, and found themselves BOSON BOOKS
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joining a crowd of others, all heading for the Tower. Judith walked close beside Aaron, and whispered to him.
"Are we really safest in the Tower?" she said. "The Baron’s men are there. They were trying to take me there when I escaped, in February."
"I know," said Aaron, keeping his voice equally low. "But there is no choice. Since you were never taken inside, there’s a good chance that no-one will recognise you."
"What about Guy de Montfort?" said Judith. "Will he still be there?"
"Not very likely, unless he is visiting," said Aaron. "Earl Simon has been in Kenilworth for these past weeks, nursing a broken leg. His sons have been either with him, or sent to fight the Lord Edward in Gloucester, I hear. Guy is probably much happier being a soldier than a messenger or spy for his father. I think we have nothing to fear."
"But we might have plenty to learn," said Judith, suddenly. "If we are actually inside the Tower, we may have the opportunity to overhear all sorts of interesting things, which the King would wish to know."
She forgot her anxiety, as the full possibilities of this new situation came to her. Eyes sparkling, she looked ahead, towards the gatehouse, which was now looming up before them. Aaron, looking at her, saw the change in her bearing, and felt a mingled rush of love, admiration, and some anxiety of his own for this strong-willed woman to whom he was now husband. It would be useless to expect Judith to settle down so soon and be happy as a good wife and, please God, a mother. He would try to protect her from harm as much as he could, he decided, but he would never be able to persuade her to let him look after her. Well, he had not wanted a dull and submissive wife, he thought.
They were almost at the gatehouse, when a man darted into the crowd and grabbed Aaron’s arm. Looking down, Aaron recognised Hubert, one of Gregory Rokesly’s menservants. The man pulled at his arm, urging him out of the crowd and to the side of the street. Clasping Judith’s hand, who in turn grasped her mother’s arm, Aaron followed him as he led them up a side alley. As soon as they had rounded a corner, and were out of sight of the Tower, he stopped.
"My master has bidden me take you to him, for your safety," said Hubert. "You and your family will be safer away from the Tower."
"But we were told we would be safer in the Tower!" said Belaset. "And what about Benjamin and Dorcas?"
"We have already found them and they are being taken to safety by others from Milk Street," said Hubert. "I was sent to find you, as they told us you had already gone on ahead. I was lucky to catch up with you before you entered the gatehouse. I would never have been able to get in and get you out unseen."
"What will happen to the rest of us?" said Judith.
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Hubert opened his mouth to answer, when Aaron held up his hand for silence. In the distance, as they listened, came a swelling roar. It was the sound of running feet, and men’s voices, shouting. Then there were screams, and more shouts of glee, this time.