gently Ben turned her face back to his, and reclaimed her hand ‘…there’s more, isn’t there?’
She sighed. ‘Per had debts.’
Knowing how punctilious Rose was and how shamed she must have felt, Ben made his voice light. ‘Don’t we all?’
‘Ben, I’m not talking about the odd penny here and there, but substantial amounts. After the funeral, half the town came knocking on the door, demanding payment.’ She gave him a rueful smile and Ben caught his first glimpse of her dimples. ‘Ironic, isn’t it? I chose Per because I wanted—no, needed—security, and he turns out to owe money to the world and his wife. I tell you, if I ever catch so much as a glimpse of a tally stick again, I’ll jump on the next horse I can find and gallop out of the Duchy.’
Ben smiled. ‘They have tally sticks in Normandy too, chérie.’ He rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand. Her fingers were clinging to his as though she’d never let go. Her breasts were something of a distraction, rising and falling as they were, under that flimsy nightgown. Rose thinks of me as a brother, he reminded himself, and kept his eyes fixed firmly on her face. It struck him that her dimples were surprisingly kissable and her mouth too looked inviting…
No. No. What was he thinking? Abruptly he released her hand and reached for his wine-cup. This was Rose, who openly admitted she wanted stability, the security he could never give her. Thank God, she seemed unaware of the temporarily lustful direction his thoughts had taken.
He indicated the money pouch at his belt. ‘I’ve a few deniers with me, if that will help, ma belle. Don’t mention it to Countess Muriel, but I was in Rennes recently with Duke Hoël. He paid handsomely to hear Turold’s new “Song of Roland”.’
When she nodded, Ben knew he did not have to expand. Rose might not know of his secret work for the Duke, but it was common knowledge that while Duke Hoël was titular Duke of Brittany, many of the barons, Count Remond of Quimperlé included, merely paid lip- service to his authority. The nobles made, and broke, other alliances every day. Deals were struck with Bretons, with Normans, with anyone—nothing mattered but that the arrangement gave a temporary advantage. Frankish noblemen had about as much honour as court whores.
Rozenn laid her fingers on his arm. It was the lightest of touches, the friendliest of touches, but it had muscles clenching in Ben’s belly, sensual muscles that had no business clenching when she touched him. He frowned.
‘That’s sweet, Ben, but not necessary. Fortunately Mark Quémeneur offered a reasonable price for most of Per’s stock. I hope to sell the rest on market day.’
Sweet. Now there was a novelty. ‘So you can settle Per’s debts?’
‘Yes.’
‘I am glad of that. Rose?’
‘Mmm?’ She smothered a yawn.
‘If you ever did need me—for anything—you only have to ask. I am—’ he raised her hand to his lips ‘—yours to command.’
Her brown eyes danced, her dimples winked at him. ‘I know that, but you’re not often around to ask, are you?’
Ben’s heart contracted as guilt took him. Was he wrong to think of using Rose as cover to get him to England? Rozenn was no more suited to the wandering life than his mother had been—few women were. Rozenn craved security, Rozenn craved position. Ben understood, of course, but privately he wondered if she would for ever be making up for being a foundling. If it were not for the fact that the Duke vitally needed to establish a line of contact with his men in England, he would abandon the entire plan….
‘Rose, I must ask, have you heard from Adam since he left? When I heard of the great battle at Hastings, I prayed that he would survive.’
‘He did. Word came via a messenger bringing news to Count Remond. Adam distinguished himself at Hastings and Duke William—that is, the new King of England— has rewarded him with lands and a wife.’
‘A wife?’
‘Aye, her name is Cecily of Fulford,’ Rozenn said, with a little yawn. ‘And very soon I am going to visit them.’
‘You are?’ Ben said, affecting disbelief. ‘My Rozenn leave Quimperlé—impossible!’ She shot him a strange look and, deciding it was probably best not to overdo the disbelief, Ben shook his head and continued. ‘But Adam—remarried—I can scarcely believe it. Poor woman, he will never love her as he loved Gwenn.’
‘How could he? But Adam is kind. He will be a considerate husband, I’m sure, and that will be enough.’
‘Will it? Was your marriage with Per like that? Was Per a considerate husband?’
Anger flared in her eyes. ‘Ben, you go too far, even for an old friend.’ Then her shoulders slumped and just as swiftly, the anger was gone. ‘Per was not considerate, as you now know. How could he have just borrowed and borrowed?’ Sighing, Rozenn leaned on her hand and stared into the fire.
There was more, he knew. Ben waited, but Rozenn continued to gaze blindly into the flames. There was a time when she would have trusted him with all of her secrets. His heart ached. He needed to know more about her plans to visit Adam, he needed to know her reaction to Sir Richard’s ‘offer’, but she was tired and melancholy, so he held his tongue. Tomorrow would be soon enough.
‘Sorry, little one.’ Leaning forward, he touched her cheek. ‘Don’t be sad. You drive those dimples away, and they are very beautiful.’
‘Beautiful dimples?’ She roused herself and covered his hand with hers. ‘You fool.’
‘It’s true, they are beautiful. I dream of those dimples; I sing songs about them; knights have jousted over them…’
‘Idiot. Oh, Ben, it is good to see you. I… I’ve missed you.’
‘And I you.’
She smothered a yawn.
Ben pushed himself to his feet. ‘Has Countess Muriel asked for you on the morrow?’
‘Aye, at first light.’
‘I’m keeping you up. We can exchange more news tomorrow.’ He made his voice as brisk as he might, to hide an inexplicable wave of longing that Rozenn might lie in his arms till dawn. ‘Shall I sleep in the shop?’
‘What? Oh, no. Make your bed over there, if you like, on the other side of the fire.’
Once the candle had been snuffed out and there was only the flicker of the fire to see by, she fell asleep quickly. She lay on her side on the bed, facing him, cheek pillowed on her hand, lips slightly parted. She was, Ben hoped, relieved to have him there. Happy, as he was to see her. He had always been content in Rozenn’s presence, even when they had been children. And every time he and his father had worn out their welcome at the castle, every time they had decided to move on, it had been a wrench to leave her behind. So it would be again, no doubt—she was a good friend.
Ben lay on the pallet she had found him, wrapped in his cloak, and watched the dying flames burn till they were little more than a soft glow. Then at last, his eyelids drooped, and he too found sleep.
Rozenn woke when the first fingers of light were edging round the shutter. She was conscious that her mood was lighter than it had been in months, if not years. Hazy with sleep, she rolled on to her back. She dare not linger long because her neighbour’s cockerel was crowing and Countess Muriel had commanded her presence in the solar at first light.
The Countess and her ladies were working on a wall- hanging intended for the Great Hall, above the dais. Rozenn had been commissioned to design it and, though the designing was done and the Countess and her ladies were perfectly capable of embroidering it without her, the