to see that you were having a wonderful time!’
He caught sight of the smile playing on her lips and his eyes lit up as he realised she was teasing. Aline saw she had been right: when humour took him he was handsome.
They were both lost in their own thoughts, but peaceful in each other’s company, when the cart drew near and stopped. The Captain walked round to the back and began to investigate the contents of the boxes and bags it contained. Once he had gone, Jack pulled a bundle of cloth from the bench underneath the driver’s seat.
‘My lady, we saw this and I thought you might like it,’ he said as he offered it to Aline, his cheeks flushing.
Aline unfolded the cloth to reveal a deep blue dress with wide sleeves and a belt of brown leather. Red embroidered flowers decorated the neck and sleeves. Aline ran her fingers lovingly over the stitching.
‘I’m sorry, it isn’t as fine as you’re used to,’ he stammered, blushing even redder.
‘Jack,’ she said, standing up and taking his hand, ‘thank you. It’s beautiful.’
At that point the Captain came from the back of the cart. He pulled up short at the scene in front of him, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Aline dropped Jack’s hand guiltily.
The Captain’s glance fell on the dress, lying over Aline’s arm. He pulled it from her and held it up. Then he turned to the youth, an expression of disbelief on his face.
‘Jack? Do I understand clearly what you have done? We are in the process of abducting the heir to Leavingham, trying to be discreet, and you go buying her a dress?’
‘I thought... I didn’t... She needs...’ the boy spluttered, his voice beginning to crack.
‘No! You didn’t think,’ the Captain bellowed, bundling the garment and throwing it to one side.
Furious at his behaviour, Aline stepped in front of Jack protectively. ‘He didn’t mean any harm,’ she declared, in as firm a voice as she could muster.
‘Stay out of this, my lady!’ the Captain shouted.
He tried to sidestep round her, but she moved again to stand in his way.
The Captain balled his fists and Aline feared he might strike her. She drew a sharp breath.
At the sound he ran his hands through his hair, gripping his skull. He gave a growl. ‘Save me from soft-hearted women!’
‘Captain...my lord...I—’ Jack protested, but the Captain cut him off with a wave of the hand and a snort of annoyance.
‘What did he call you?’ Aline interrupted in astonishment.
The Captain’s eyes blazed as he looked at her. ‘Nothing you were intended to hear, my lady. Though I am sure Jack will be more than happy to answer your questions in my absence. I’m going to scout the area. We’re in wolf country now.’
He turned and stormed off through the trees, swiping at the undergrowth with his fist.
Duncan ambled up the road. He rolled his eyes at Jack.
‘I told you he’d do that.’
Aline stooped to pick up the dress and turned to Jack, who was standing as though rooted to the ground. ‘Jack, you called him “my lord.” What did you mean?’
The two men exchanged a glance.
‘Duncan, tell me!’ Aline ordered. ‘Please,’ she added.
Jack opened his mouth but Duncan spoke first. ‘Of course there is no reason why you should know, but I’m surprised he hasn’t told you. He calls himself Captain but he’s really Sir Hugh of Eardham. He’s Duke Stephen’s cousin, and second in line to the throne.’
Sir Hugh! Aline winced as she thought how she had taunted him by calling him common born.
Duncan smiled at her expression.
‘You didn’t suspect? Ha! He’ll be most put out when I tell him his innate nobility didn’t shine through,’ he crowed.
‘And who are you two? The Lord Chancellor and the Keeper of the Duke’s Keys?’ Aline asked witheringly, still not entirely sure she was being told the truth.
The old man snorted. ‘No, my lady, just a couple of soldiers looking for a quiet life.’
‘He really is a knight, though,’ Jack added.
Given the temper in which the Captain had stormed off, Aline was amazed at how indifferent the two men seemed. Just who was this man who hid his rank and title and whose men seemed unconcerned at his anger?
‘Lad, best get that fire started before the night draws in,’ Duncan barked to Jack, and the boy scurried off.
The old man ambled over to the large rock and sat down, leaning his back against it. He cocked his head towards Aline, who followed and sat alongside him. She folded the blue dress neatly and laid it on the rock, the joy of it crushed by the quarrel. Duncan was following her actions carefully and she gave him a sad smile.
‘He’ll not mind when he’s had the time to stamp his mood off,’ the old man said.
Aline didn’t need to ask who he meant. They watched as Jack expertly struck a spark with a flint and blew on the flames until they caught.
‘Sir Hugh’s mother and Duke Stephen’s father were brother and sister,’ Duncan offered, although Aline had not asked. ‘Lady Eleanor fell in love with her father’s steward and they married, despite the difference in rank. Oh, I know what you’re thinking,’ he said, with a wave of his hands to forestall Aline’s interruption. ‘It sounds unlikely, but somehow they persuaded her father. I think he knew he’d never get any peace from Eleanor until he consented, and of course she was only a daughter. She certainly passed on her strong will to her son!’
It was on the tip of Aline’s tongue to ask from whom the Captain got his bad moods, but she held back, eager to hear the rest of the tale.
‘Until he was seven Hugh was the only child born to either side of the family. His aunt had baby after baby, but none of them survived more than a few weeks. Duke Rufus—that’s Stephen’s father—adored his nephew. He decreed that Hugh would become Duke and he was raised as such.’
‘The son of a steward?’ Aline asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
‘Aye, that might be strange, but some would say a granddaughter taking the throne would be unusual, too.’
Aline conceded the point with a smile.
‘When everyone had given up hope Stephen was born, and overnight Hugh lost his position.’
Aline’s heart gave a twinge of sympathy for the disinherited boy. ‘As I gained mine when my brother died,’ she commented. ‘A birth or a death can change so many lives!’
She watched as Jack finished preparing dinner and buried the pot in the flames. Rummaging in the back of the cart, he produced a bottle of wine and three mugs. He broke the wax seal, poured a good quantity into the pot and joined Aline and Duncan. The three companions sat together, peacefully drinking, watching the sun as it set behind the mountains and listening to the distant howling of a pack of wolves.
The old man continued his tale. Aline learned how everyone had naturally expected Duke Rufus to focus all his affection on his heir. There had been surprise and pleasure when he had continued to treat Sir Hugh as a second son. The boy had had the finest tutors, travelled to other provinces and inherited his mother’s land and wealth. The two children had grown up as brothers.
‘Rufus died two years back and Stephen became Duke,’ Jack interrupted.
Jack and Duncan