'But that won't wipe out what happened to him,' Elena said. 'He'll remember it.'
'Oh yes,' Ma said with grim smile, 'he will always remember, I'll see to that, and one day he will make them pay dearly for what their kind did to him. That's when he'll know he has beaten them all, and I can promise you he will enjoy that moment better than the finest banquet ever set before a king. Survive, my darling, that's all you have to do, just survive, and if you can, then time will give your revenge.'
Raffe, peering impatiently out of the casement in Lady Anne's chamber, finally saw her emerge from the stables and cross the courtyard below him. She looked weary, hardly surprising after her long journey. She'd been away almost two weeks at her cousin's home and every day Raffe had grown more anxious for her return. He glanced over the yard towards the gate. Osborn had sent a messenger ahead to announce his return from court that very afternoon. Raffe prayed fervently he wouldn't arrive until he'd had time to talk to Anne.
He followed her painfully slow progress across the yard. With gracious nods she acknowledged the hasty bobs and bows of servants as they hurried across the yard with fruit and herbs for the kitchen or armfuls of linen for the washing tubs.
Then the door of the Great Hall opened and Hilda, Lady Anne's sour-faced old maid, bustled down the steps, her hands flapping frantically skywards like a clipped-winged goose. Hilda's bellyache must have seemed like the answer to a prayer for Anne, who was plainly craving a week or two of peace. She couldn't travel with a maid who was rushing to the privy several times an hour. So Hilda had been forced to remain behind, moaning and fretting in her mistress's chamber. Raffe knew that Hilda was now reciting all the insults, both real and imagined, she had suffered in her ladyship's absence. But Lady Anne was merely nodding absently at Hilda's prattling, plainly not listening to a word.
Raffe ranged up and down the wooden floor, praying Anne would retire first to her chamber and not stay to eat in the Hall. He needed to get her alone. After an agonizing wait, he finally heard Hilda's shrill bleating approaching the chamber and knew Anne must be with her.
'... and Lord Osborn's manservants show me no respect. Why, the other day that one with the missing finger had the audacity to tell me, me, that I should fetch . . .'
The door opened and both women entered, looking startled to find Raffe waiting for them.
Raffe bowed stiffly. 'Welcome home, m'lady.'
Anne grimaced. 'Home, is that what I should call it? I fear it feels less and less like my home each time I return.'
She limped towards a chair, sinking wearily into it. Her face was grey with fatigue and even the effort of pulling off her riding gloves seemed to exhaust her.
Raffe swiftly poured a goblet of wine and handed it to her.
'M'lady, I must speak with you . . . alone,' he added, pointedly staring at Hilda.
Anne waved a dismissive hand at him. 'If these are more complaints about Osborn's retinue, they will have to wait. I am too weary to hear them now. Besides, you know there is nothing I can do to make Osborn's servants curb their behaviour. By order of King John, Osborn is the master here now. You'd best try appealing to him, if you think it will do any good.'
Raffe inclined his head. 'I am sorry, m'lady, but this can't wait. It's not a matter concerning Osborn. In fact it is imperative I speak with you before he returns.'
Hilda, her eyes now aglow with intrigue, crouched down to unlace Anne's boots, and gazed up eagerly at Raffe, as much as to say, I'm listening.
You'd better speak then,' Anne said with heavy resignation.
Raffe swiftly knelt down and, elbowing Hilda out of the way, began untying Anne's laces himself.
'It is a delicate matter, m'lady ... if you would be so good as to dismiss your maid.'
Hilda turned on him, spitting like a cat whose tail has been trodden on. 'Her ladyship has only just returned and I have to help her out of her soiled clothes and dress her. Are you proposing to do that? Anyway, as she said, she's far too exhausted to talk to anyone just now. And I won't have you making her ill. Whatever you have to say