“You kissed Lord Martin,” Adelaide said in a singsong. “I knew you’d come around. It was only a matter of time.”
“I have not come around, and it won’t happen again.” It couldn’t. She needed to keep her head for Adelaide’s sake.
Martin emerged on deck in dry clothes and winked at her, sending sparks all through her. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him, bothered by her body’s reaction when she desperately needed to keep her distance.
He cocked his head and shrugged, then turned to Halfred, who rushed to his side the moment he emerged on deck. “We’llhave to stop and make repairs. By my estimate, the closest port is Yarmouth. Would you agree?”
Yarmouth.After all that had transpired, she had gotten her way after all. The earl visited Yarmouth regularly, though his seat was inland at Norwich. If she was lucky, she could put her plan to marry the earl in motion while the ship was being repaired.
She did her best to ignore the pang of regret and reluctance that came along with that thought.
“Aye,” said Halfred. “That’s the nearest port. But is it safe to land there? I’ve heard there’s been unrest.”
Martin looked at the mast, then back at Halfred. “We’ll have to risk it. We can’t sail back to Winchelsea with half our mast missing.”
For the next few hours, the ship was a hive of activity as the crew took stock of the damage from the storm and prepared for landing. Isabella couldn’t wait to get to shore and away from temptation. It was altogether too dangerous for her to stay on boardThe Wind Songin close quarters with Martin. But her eyes kept straying to the man, admiring his form as he went about his business. Every so often, he glanced her way, and she averted her eyes immediately, hoping he wouldn’t notice her gawking. She absolutely could not get off this ship fast enough.
Relief flooded her as the port of Yarmouth came into view with the rectangular stone walls of Burgh Castle on a verdant hill in the distance. The ship she’d taken to Northumberland had stopped here to resupply, and she’d made the acquaintance of Lord Christopher, the local baron, and his wife. They were a friendly couple with a passel of adorable children. If the earl wasn’t around, they would certainly pass on a message on her behalf.
The Wind Songdocked, and the busy town of Great Yarmouth stretched out before her. Large timber warehouseslined the busy port. Behind them, thatched rooves and half-timbered houses with smoking stone chimneys filled her view. It would be delightful to go indoors and warm herself properly by a fire. It was already warmer here than it was at her father’s castle, but it was still winter.
Martin gave orders to his men about repairs and resupply as they lowered the gangplank. He also sent Will for a healer to tend to Pascal. Then he came over to her and put out his arm. She shrank back, clutching Adelaide’s arm and not trusting herself to touch him.
“I don’t bite, Isabella. Unless you want me to. Or perhaps you want to bite me?” He gave her a long, heated look that made her want to die on the spot. “No? Then perhaps you would allow me to accompany you to Burgh Castle. I’m sure you’ll be comfortable there while we make repairs to the ship.”
There was no way around it. She and Adelaide could hardly travel to the castle unaccompanied. Reluctantly, she took his arm, keeping as much distance between the two of them as possible. Adelaide took her other arm. God’s teeth, this was terribly awkward.
It was a relief to let him go and mount a horse so that they could ride up the hill to the castle, once an ancient Roman fort. Adelaide coughed as she perched herself on the saddle and then coughed again.
“Are you all right?” Isabella asked, studying her sister’s features. Adelaide’s skin was flushed despite the cold. “You aren’t getting sick, are you?”
“It’s just the aftereffects of the smoke,” Adelaide answered, clearing her throat and straightening her back. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
Isabella didn’t believe her for a moment. “When we get to the castle, I’ll ask for a healer to see you.”
“If you must,” Adelaide answered. “But I promise you, I’m fine.”
Isabella pursed her lips but said nothing.
“Let’s get both of you inside the castle where you can warm yourselves by the fire, shall we?” Martin started forward on his horse, and Isabella and Adelaide followed. Four men from his ship brought up the rear as guards.
Yarmouth was a busy port—not the biggest Isabella had ever seen. It couldn’t compare to Calais. But for England, it was impressive. There must have been twenty or more ships docked there. Warehouses lined the docks, and sailors, fishermen, and dock workers scurried back and forth, shouting and hefting cargo in an intricate dance. She ignored the whistles and ribald comments that floated by as she passed, though Martin stared down anyone getting too close with a glare that promised murder.
Soldiers were everywhere, standing guard and watching incoming vessels with a close eye. Even a bustling place like this had been affected by the strife between King Stephen and the Duke of Normandy. Signs of the war were everywhere. As they turned to enter the city, they were forced to pass through a wooden barricade manned by the Earl of Norfolk’s men and state their business. Lord Martin talked his way through with ease, and their group passed the spiked, wooden barrier to enter the town.
Vendors with street carts clogged the cobblestone streets, peddling their wares. The smells of civilization wafted in the air, both the good and the bad. The scents of roasted meat and fresh baked bread mixed with the pungent odor of excrement as they wended their way along the broad street that led to the castle.
Fully-armored knights stood guard at the castle gates as they approached. The castle walls bristled with archers. Though therewere no signs that battle had passed through here, they were clearly on high alert.
Norfolk supported the Duke of Normandy but had not engaged in open battle with King Stephen. In these uncertain times, however, it was good to know her prospective husband was ready for whatever might come his way.
In the courtyard, they dismounted, and servants led their horses away to the stables. A guard led them into the small keep in the center of the large fortress. Burgh Castle had been built by the Romans as a defensive outpost, not for comfort. There were tight quarters within the keep with few private rooms. Most of Lord Christopher’s men slept in the great hall at night. She prayed there would be space for her and Adelaide to have a room to themselves.
The guard passed them off to a servant who led them through the dimly lit entrance hall to the great hall. The long trestle tables and benches were pushed to the sides of the rooms, and petitioners filled the hall, which was brightly lit with torches. It must have been time for Lord Christopher’s daily audience with his subjects.
At the far end of the hall was Lord Christopher and sitting beside him was…What luck!The Earl of Norfolk was indeed visiting his vassal. Now Isabella could put in motion her plans to leave behind the inconveniently alluring Lord Martin and marry a man she could trust to stand up for her.
If only she could ignore the ache in her heart that told her that she was about to make a terrible mistake.
