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“Mistress, I be Ogden,” said the man with the mustache, “and this be Parker. We’re Sir John’s men.”

Parker glanced into the woods, where the sound of battle grew fainter. “Just give it to ‘er. We ‘ave to go.”

She tensed, but all Ogden did was show her a rolled piece of parchment. “We’ve been tryin’ to find the right moment to see Sir John today. Might ye give this to him?”

“Come no nearer,” she commanded. “Set it down in the cart.”

Ogden did as she bid, nodding his encouragement. “Ye done good, mistress. We’ll watch ye from the trees to make sure none harm ye before Sir John returns.”

She didn’t allow herself to relax even though they did melt into the woodland and seem to disappear. Hearing horses galloping behind her, she whirled about and held her dagger with increasing menace.

John and Bannaster’s soldier both pulled up in surprise.

“Are there any more?” she demanded, hating that her voice shook.

“Nay, Anne,” John said. One corner of his mouth lifted. “Milburn owes you much for your valiant defense of the rent money.”

She blinked down at the coffer, having totally forgotten that it was money the thieves wanted more than her. Sinking back onto the bench, she hung her head to her chest and just tried to breathe.

She and John were both safe. Her stomach felt light and queasy, and she put a hand there as if to hold all her emotions inside. She saw Bannaster’s soldier eyeing John with grudging respect.

“Me thanks, Sir John,” the man said. “’Tis a shame ye ever left behind the life of a knight.”

John swung off the horse, staggered on his “broken” leg, and caught himself on the saddle. Elizabeth arched a brow at his playacting. The soldier dropped to the ground to help prop him up. John, his face streaming with perspiration and dirt, looked at her over the soldier’s shoulder and grinned.

“Rest yerself, Sir John,” said the soldier. “I’ll put poor Baldwin in the cart. We’ll leave the rest for the wolves.”

“The one on the road is only unconscious,” John said. “Tie him up and bring him along for your captain. Perhaps he can tell you more about the thieves’ operation.”

At last they were on their way back to Alderley. Elizabeth had earlier managed to tuck the rolled parchment into her sleeve. She only offered it to John when they were within sight of the castle, and the soldier had gone ahead.

He frowned down at it as he wiped the perspiration from his forehead with the back of his arm. “What is that?”

“Two men named Ogden and Parker saved my life and left it for you.”

He ignored the missive to stare into her eyes with concern. “You are unharmed?”

She nodded. “Although I was about to stab a thief before they arrived.”

“I’m certain you would have,” he said, a smile returning to his face. “You are a fierce woman.”

They were almost to the castle walls. He slid the missive into his tunic unread, and she silently cursed, her curiosity unsatisfied.

Thirteen

The next morning, while John was meeting with Milburn, Elizabeth walked down to the tiltyard. She did not see John’s man-at-arms training, so she went to the armory and found Philip inside alone, cataloguing the equipment. With no windows, the room was dark, but for the candle on a shelf.

“Excuse me…Philip?” Elizabeth said.

He looked up from his books, and then smiled at her. “Mistress Anne.” He glanced behind her. “Sir John is not keeping you at his side?”

She stiffened. “Your master is meeting with the steward about collecting the rent at Hillesley.”

His smile was mysterious. “He tells me it went well—but for the attack, of course.”

She shrugged. “Is there someplace we can talk and not worry about being disturbed?”

He arched a brow, but nodded and set down his account book. “We have privacy for the moment, but anyone could walk in. Come walk with me, and we can watch the knights train.”