Priceless

Roderick arrived back home from hunting to be told that a priest was waiting to see him. 'The man's a nervous wreck my Lord.' the steward commented. 'He's very anxious that his message is for you alone and very secret'.

Roderick's parents had built a folly in the manor ground in the early days of their marriage. It was in need of some renovation, which Roderick had been unable to afford for so long he had forgotten about it. What it did have was privacy, so he took the nervous cleric there.

'So Father, I believe you have a secret to tell me'. The priest looked around as if fearful of even now finding spies lurking, finally getting a grip on himself.

'I received a visit from your sister the Countess of Bonchurch in the company of one Guy of Gisborne. They were on the road to Leicester and wanted to send you an important message.
The gentleman was most..........emphatic that utmost secrecy was essential. I am charged to request that you destroy the letter after reading it and I would ask you to please not tell anyone what is in it'.

His eyes were full of a very real fear. ' The gentleman did say that if anyone else found out about it then I would be the first suspect. I 'm rather anxious not to find out what he would do'.
He held out the letter. Roderick broke open the seal and read Guy's words.

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Roderick, Please forgive my plain speaking. You told myself and Ros before your marriage that you would not fall prey tu Eulalia's more dangerous charms.
Sadly the lady laid her trap and you fell right in.
You were not I'm sure informed that the brooch you bought your wife is the same one that was made for her birthday.
Ros could not tell either of us of her involvement in the matter of the brooch and the fugitives because of the need for secrecy.
She has just now trusted me with the knowledge that she knew the fugitives whereabouts long ago and that she gave them the brooch herself, maintaining that it belonged to them.
She felt sadly unable to tell you because she feared you might tell your wife, who has informed her father of where the missing villeins are and I have been sent to bring them back. I was promised land and title in return.
This I am not inclined to do. I am fortunate enough to be loved by your sister and would be as big a fool as you are currently being to risk losing her for a plot of land.

Your friend GG

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The words stung but Roderick was glad. It had been a jolt to his senses, he sighed heavily. 'It seems I have been very foolish Father. I love my wife and let that blind me to her faults. My own sister feels unable to confide in me. I need to make amends.

First however I need to destroy the letter. I hope that will ease your mind Father. I agree that Gisborne is not a man to cross'.

The priest had a flint in his pocket for use in his church. Roderick built a small fire and burned the letter, seeing his foolish blindness go up in flames.

The priest went to church to meditate and calm his nerves. Roderick ordered hospitality for him for the evening, then began to ponder on how to deal with his wife.

He returned to the folly to ponder in private. He had to piece things together from what Guy had written. If he hadn't made it so hard Ros might have been able to tell him the details herself. Small wonder she didn't want to lay 2 innocent lives in the hands of a man who might easily let it slip out in the persuasive arms of a woman who would think nothing of telling it to Vasey.

He thought of how long the villeins had been missing.
It must be nearly a year since the girl had gone. That must have meant that the lad had his work in Leicester by then.

It had been on Eulalia's birthday which was in nearly 3 months time.
He smiled as realisation began to dawn. By Eulalias birthday Meinir and Eirian would both be free by law. What was needed now were stalling tactics to keep the dogs from the scent.

Feeling light as a feather he strolled towards the house for dinner.

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Sitting around Meinir and Eirian's table were Meinir himself, Guy, the local priest Father Bartholemew and 6 goldsmiths anxious to protect a talented brother. Eirian and Rosamond were sitting sewing baby clothes offering their ideas from by the fire.

Finally it was decided that at the first warning of strangers asking for Meinir he and Eirian could be taken through the maze of back streets to the parish church where the good Father would hide them until the danger was over.

Eirian went to fetch some food and ale so they could all dine together. She thanked and hugged all the men even feeling able now to include Guy who had frightened her on first seeing him but whose sincerity she now believed, confident in her lady's trust of him.

They all sat together to eat. Guy felt a hand on his knee and turned to look at Rosamond who looked back at him in a way he had never seen cast in his direction before. It was admiration, not simply lust but acknowledgement of
a fine deed well done and heartily approved of.

Meinir and Eirian bid goodnight to their guests insisting that Rosamond and Guy come to see them before leaving in the morning.


They reached their room in the Abbey Guest Hall. As they closed the door Rosamond took Guy to the one chair in the room, sat him down in it and sat herself on his lap. 'I'm so proud of you', she whispered into his ear as she began to kiss first his neck and then trailed her lips along his rough jawline to his mouth.
She kissed his lips softly at first then slid her tongue between them to deepen the kiss.
She trailed her fingers over his face loving the shape of it then tangling them in the hair on his neck.
She took Guy's hands and moved her mouth from his just long enough to remove his gloves with her teeth and put his hands against her breasts before resuming her passionate onslaught on his mouth.
Guy was not going to complain in fact he registered total approval, stirring under Rosamond's bottom causing her to smile against his mouth and give a soft moan as he gently kneaded the soft flesh under his hands.

Climbing off his lap now she loosened her hair shaking it free and lay back on the bed, letting her arms fall back above her head with her hair spilling over the pillow. Her smile an invitation which Guy accepted with great enthusiasm.

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Roderick sat at dinner with his wife . He looked somewhat morose and preoccupied. 'Is something ailing you my Lord?' Eulalia enquired in the silky smooth tone that normally had her husband melting.

Tonight Roderick merely nodded. 'I've had a letter from Ros . She's been having an affair with Gisborne you know'. (Let her think me blissfully ignorant he thought).

' I know Guy's gone to fetch those villeins of Bonchurch's back from Leicester. I'm a little disappointed you didn't tell me about that yourself my love.
....................Anyway Ros has always had rather a partisan sympathy with the fugitives and it turns out Gisborne will become Earl of Huntingdon for doing this job. When Ros found out she was devastated, said he was betraying her, now she's gone to spend some time in a nunnery to try to forget him. '

Eulalia came round the table and put her arms around Roderick . In her heart , she was happily anticipating the pleasure of consoling the new Earl of Huntingdon on the loss of his lady.

TBC