‘But...’ her gaze drifted towards the gatehouse door ‘...does he need any help?’
‘Why would he?’
‘Ulf thought that he might be feeling unwell.’
He dropped his hand from the parchment abruptly. ‘Still so mistrustful? I just told you that I didn’t touch him.’
‘Then why hasn’t he come out?’
‘Perhaps he’s still recovering from last night. He wasn’t best pleased at being woken up at dawn. Or perhaps he’s just taking some time to consider what we talked about.’
She gasped as the truth dawned on her. ‘You threatened him?’
He shrugged. ‘I made him aware of the repercussions of not listening to me, if that’s what you mean. I wouldn’t call it a threat as much as a warning. He knows I’m a man of my word.’
She felt a quivering sensation in her stomach, something between fear and excitement. She didn’t approve of his methods, but she had no doubt that they would be effective. And if he was telling the truth then there was no need for her to go inside and deal with Sir Guian. That was a relief, even if it did leave her alone with Lothar again. She could feel him watching her, waiting to see what she would decide, as if her decision might actually matter to him, though it was difficult to concentrate under the force of that piercing grey stare.
‘All right.’ She took a step back into the bailey.
‘I appreciate your trust, my lady.’
She narrowed her eyes at the sarcasm. ‘I thought you were leaving.’
‘So eager to be rid of me?’
‘I want things to be settled, that’s all. It’s got nothing to do with you.’
She walked ahead of him, biting her lip on the lie. That wasn’t true at all. He had everything to do with the way she was feeling, as if her head and heart were in conflict. The sooner he was gone, the safer her secret would be, yet the thought of him leaving caused a pang in her chest that she’d never experienced before. Perhaps Ulf was right and she ought to tell him her secret. He did seem fair-minded. Procuring a letter of safe passage for her had been thoughtful, too, and he’d already proven that he had no problem with serving a woman, in which case he ought to treat her as an independent woman as well. Could she tell him her secret and trust him to hold only her accountable and not her men? Could she trust him to persuade Matilda of that, too? If he was leaving, then this might be her last chance...
‘You have a fine estate.’
She blinked, startled out of her train of thought. ‘Yes, though it’s not what it was. The crops on this side of the river are ruined. We had to plant them late after Stephen left, then we couldn’t bring in the harvest once Sir Guian’s men arrived. We’re just lucky to have the other side of the river as well.’
‘I’m glad of it.’
‘So am I, though I know others haven’t been so fortunate.’ She threw him a sideways look. ‘I don’t suppose either Stephen or Matilda are starving, no matter how much everyone else suffers.’
‘The Empress would relieve the suffering if she could.’
‘She could surrender.’
‘So could Stephen.’
She pursed her lips with a vague sense of disappointment. If she’d hoped that he might say something disloyal about Matilda, then clearly she was wasting her time.
‘I hope your horse isn’t too tired.’ She changed the subject instead as one of his soldiers took charge of the reins. ‘I would have thought you had a long enough journey ahead without a morning ride, too.’
‘It wasn’t far. I just wanted a look around.’
‘For anything in particular?’
‘Just Stephen and his army.’ He said the words so nonchalantly that it took a moment for them to sink in.
‘What?’ She almost skidded to a halt.
‘I heard a rumour that Stephen was coming into Herefordshire again. I wanted to take a look.’
‘What rumour?’ Her mouth felt dry all of a sudden. ‘What made you think that?’