of the ditch and her long skirts were dragging her back. 'I can't,' she moaned.
'You'd rather face the hangman's noose? You'll be a long time dancing on that rope for I doubt even your own mother would pull on your legs to end your suffering.' He slipped an arm around her and tugged her forward, saying more gently, 'Just to the end of the ditch, then you'll be safe.'
They waded up through the tar-black water, their feet sucked back at every step by the mud. Every now and then waterfowl would fly out of the reeds and go splashing and squawking up the ditch. Something large, soft and wet washed against Elena's legs, and she clung more tightly to Raffaele, trying to console herself that whatever creature it was, at least it wasn't moving.
Suddenly Raffaele stopped and pulled her down until they were crouching among the reeds. The wind carried the distant baying of hounds towards them.
'Damn them!' Raffaele cursed. 'I think they're doubling back, or else Osborn's sent out more of his hounds.'
They crouched, hardly daring to breathe. Were the dogs getting closer or was it the wind playing tricks? Elena gave a yelp as something scurried out of the reeds and across her head, its sharp claws digging into her face; she wildly beat it off and it fell into the water with a splash. She could hear a heart pounding, but she wasn't sure if it was her own or Raffaele's.
He glanced up at the lightening sky. 'We daren't wait. If the boatmen leave before we reach them, you and I are both dead.'
All caution abandoned, he splashed through the water as fast as the sucking mud permitted, dragging Elena with him.
Light was ghosting across the marshes, pale as buttermilk. Ahead of them they could hear the river thrashing between its banks. And, as if eager to join its bigger sister, the water around them in the ditch suddenly quickened its pace and began to buffet against the backs of their legs.
Raffaele pulled Elena towards the bank, almost flinging her against it. 'Out quickly. If you're tipped into the river, you may be swept away.'
Elena, her hands numb with cold, fought to drag her heavy sodden skirts out of the water and crawl up the bank. Her legs were trembling and she collapsed on to the top of the bank, trying to gain her breath, but Raffaele would not let her rest. Hauling her upright, he pulled her, crashing through the bushes and trees, towards the river. They burst out on to the bank and gazed wildly around. Light was just touching the far edge of the river. Already a dazzling orange rind was edging into the pale sky. The river was empty save for three swans floating serenely towards them on the glittering water.
'God's teeth, where's that blasted boat? I told them to meet me here.'
Elena caught Raffaele's arm and pointed to the bend upstream in the river, where she could just make out the shape of a long, flat craft slowly sculling away from them.
Raffaele started forward, and putting his fingers in his mouth gave three shrill whistles, but the boat had already vanished round the bend of the river. He groaned. 'I'll kill them if I ever get my hands on them, they swore . . .'
The deep, resonant baying of the hounds sounded once more through the silent dawn; they seemed to be getting closer. Elena glanced fearfully behind her, shivering in her wet clothes.
'You must go back. If you're missing they'll know it was you that released me. I can run.'
'By now Osborn will have ordered you brought up for your execution and they'll have already discovered you've gone.' Raffaele raked his fingers agitatedly through his hair. 'He'll send his men out searching for you on horseback. You'll never outrun them. We must —'
He was interrupted by a low whistle and glancing up saw the boat being sculled back towards them by two men, their faces half hidden under their hoods.
Raffaele crossed himself. 'The Holy Virgin be praised.'
As soon as the boat pulled alongside, Raffaele bundled Elena on board. He tossed a small leather purse to the elder of the two men whose face was tanned and as wrinkled as oak bark.
'Half the money you were promised. You deliver her unharmed to the house we agreed and as soon as word reaches me they've got her safe you'll get the rest.'
The man spat into the water and gave a toothless grin. 'They'll