openly.
'Time alone will tell,' he replied gruffly. 'I have been ordered to ride with my men for Chester without delay. Richard fears Bolingbroke is on his way there. I shall leave this afternoon.'
'So soon?' Rosamund was surprised. 'The servants are preparing a feast for your return. It will take several hours for my women to pack my things.'
'I shall go on ahead of you,' de Grenville said, looking at her sourly. 'You may order your household as you wish, Rosamund. That Welsh singer may accompany you. It is as well this way, for I shall be there before you to make arrangements for your coming.'
'As you wish, my lord.' She acquiesced outwardly as she had so often in the past but inside she was angry and suspicious. Why was her husband so anxious to leave her behind?
'I shall leave within the hour,' Philip said. 'If it suits you, you may follow in a day or so. I would not have you put to much inconvenience through my haste to obey the King's order.'
There had to be some reason for his consideration of her comfort. He had never been this thoughtful before! Besides, there was an odd gleam in his eyes as he looked at her that she did not like, a gloating expression as though he was pleased over something he had not shared with her.
Rosamund was careful not to show suspicion of his motives. Let him think her a foolish woman more interested in the packing of her possessions than the political repercussions of Bolingbroke's revolt.
She wished him God speed, stayed to discuss what servants should be left at Bundesley, and then took her leave of him. She could see that as he turned away to shout instructions at his steward he had already put her from his mind.
Her first action on leaving him was to instruct Alicia to gather her women and have them begin the task of packing her personal possessions, which was no easy accomplishment. Her furniture, hangings, chattels and clothes must all be loaded onto the carts that would accompany her retinue. As a lady of wealth and rank, she had about her some fifty followers all told: serving men and women, ladies to keep her company and care for her clothes, her steward William Baldry, and twenty men-at-arms.
These men had been chosen for her, their livery and arms a gift from King Richard when she married.
'These men are loyal to me, Lady Rosamund,' the King had told her kindly. 'They will guard you with their lives – and through them you have my protection always.'
Had Richard guessed that de Grenville was not the honourable knight her father had believed him? She had thought once that King Richard was a little in love with her and that he might refuse to see her wed to another. Yet Richard had been beset by his own problems, his power often curtailed by powerful nobles and a council that made it difficult for him to rule his own country. Of late he had been greatly preoccupied by the troubles in Ireland, returning hastily when he heard of Bolingbroke's intentions.
But now he was in Wales and on his way to Conway Castle. Did he plan to wait there for Welsh support or press forward to Chester?
Rosamund feared that by the time he could reach his citadel, Bolingbroke might already be there. Was that why Philip was in such a hurry to get there – did he intend to offer his sword to Henry of Bolingbroke?
Rosamund was afraid that might be the case. Did she want to be caught up in her husband's treachery? The answer came swift and true. She would not follow Philip to Chester tamely as he had bid her. Instead, she would take all the
'Time alone will tell,' he replied gruffly. 'I have been ordered to ride with my men for Chester without delay. Richard fears Bolingbroke is on his way there. I shall leave this afternoon.'
'So soon?' Rosamund was surprised. 'The servants are preparing a feast for your return. It will take several hours for my women to pack my things.'
'I shall go on ahead of you,' de Grenville said, looking at her sourly. 'You may order your household as you wish, Rosamund. That Welsh singer may accompany you. It is as well this way, for I shall be there before you to make arrangements for your coming.'
'As you wish, my lord.' She acquiesced outwardly as she had so often in the past but inside she was angry and suspicious. Why was her husband so anxious to leave her behind?
'I shall leave within the hour,' Philip said. 'If it suits you, you may follow in a day or so. I would not have you put to much inconvenience through my haste to obey the King's order.'
There had to be some reason for his consideration of her comfort. He had never been this thoughtful before! Besides, there was an odd gleam in his eyes as he looked at her that she did not like, a gloating expression as though he was pleased over something he had not shared with her.
Rosamund was careful not to show suspicion of his motives. Let him think her a foolish woman more interested in the packing of her possessions than the political repercussions of Bolingbroke's revolt.
She wished him God speed, stayed to discuss what servants should be left at Bundesley, and then took her leave of him. She could see that as he turned away to shout instructions at his steward he had already put her from his mind.
Her first action on leaving him was to instruct Alicia to gather her women and have them begin the task of packing her personal possessions, which was no easy accomplishment. Her furniture, hangings, chattels and clothes must all be loaded onto the carts that would accompany her retinue. As a lady of wealth and rank, she had about her some fifty followers all told: serving men and women, ladies to keep her company and care for her clothes, her steward William Baldry, and twenty men-at-arms.
These men had been chosen for her, their livery and arms a gift from King Richard when she married.
'These men are loyal to me, Lady Rosamund,' the King had told her kindly. 'They will guard you with their lives – and through them you have my protection always.'
Had Richard guessed that de Grenville was not the honourable knight her father had believed him? She had thought once that King Richard was a little in love with her and that he might refuse to see her wed to another. Yet Richard had been beset by his own problems, his power often curtailed by powerful nobles and a council that made it difficult for him to rule his own country. Of late he had been greatly preoccupied by the troubles in Ireland, returning hastily when he heard of Bolingbroke's intentions.
But now he was in Wales and on his way to Conway Castle. Did he plan to wait there for Welsh support or press forward to Chester?
Rosamund feared that by the time he could reach his citadel, Bolingbroke might already be there. Was that why Philip was in such a hurry to get there – did he intend to offer his sword to Henry of Bolingbroke?
Rosamund was afraid that might be the case. Did she want to be caught up in her husband's treachery? The answer came swift and true. She would not follow Philip to Chester tamely as he had bid her. Instead, she would take all the
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