The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim #7)(50)

Westley’s mind raced. Could it be? After all, she knew nothing about the work of a servant, and her hands had blistered so badly she obviously had never done any hard work. But she knew how to read Latin and owned a Psalter—and she had a beautiful voice. He had heard her sing in the clearing near the river. Had he been so distracted by the fact that she had lied about being mute that he hadn’t realized hers was the same voice he’d heard from the upper window of Berkhamsted Castle?

“We must protect her!” Mother’s eyes widened and her expression was intense. “We must keep her hidden until we can tell the king what we know about Lord Shiveley’s first marriage. Surely he will not force his cousin to marry someone who murdered his first wife.”

“But the king might not believe that.” Perhaps we can keep her here forever, and the king need never know.

Mother bit her lip. “I cannot bear to think of her being mistreated the way Margaret was. I shall speak to your father about this.”

Westley watched her go.

Eva is the cousin of the king of England.



Westley and Aldred walked around the North Meadow where the Harvest Festival would take place. Sellers would come from miles around with their booths and wares, and they would need plenty of room.

Horses’ hooves sounded on the road just beyond a stand of trees. When they came into view, the horsemen spotted Westley and Aldred and proceeded toward them.

They wore the colors of the Earl of Shiveley.

Westley stepped forward.

“What village is this?” the horseman in the lead asked.

“Glynval. Ranulf le Wyse is the lord here, and I am his son. Is there some way I might help you?”

“We are searching for a maiden with red hair, seventeen years old, very tall. She is thought to have left Berkhamsted Castle on foot almost two weeks ago. Have you seen her?”

Westley squinted and cocked his head to one side. God, please let Aldred stay quiet. He didn’t dare glance Aldred’s way.

Westley shook his head. “May I ask who is looking for her? Berkhamsted Castle is one of King Richard’s royal residences, is it not?”

“King Richard himself is searching for her, as is the Earl of Shiveley.” Raising himself up in his saddle as if trying to look imperious, he said, “Lord Shiveley is concerned for her safety. It is very important that she be found safe and well, so if you were to find her, Lord Shiveley would reward you well for escorting her back to Berkhamsted Castle. King Richard has also promised to add his own reward for her safe return.”

“It would be enough for me to see a maiden of the realm safely home,” Westley said with a bow.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Westley le Wyse of Glynval.”

“Are you certain this maiden is not taking refuge in your village? She was probably traveling with another woman, fifteen years older than the red-haired maiden.”

“It is a small village. My father and I would notice if someone new came here.”

“Very well.”

“Is she Lord Shiveley’s betrothed?”

The guard placed his hand on his sword hilt, shifting in his saddle. Finally, he said slowly and deliberately, “Yes. She is.”

Westley’s gut twisted. “I shall not detain you any longer.” He stepped away from them.

The guard nodded and turned his horse around. The men rode away.

“Why did you not tell them?” Aldred asked. “They must have meant Eva and Mildred.”

Westley looked him in the eye. “I believe Eva may be in danger from these men, and I don’t want you repeating any of this to anyone, Aldred. May I depend upon you?”

“Of course. You are our lord, even if you do not allow us to call you that. And you can depend on the rest of Glynval.”

“Perhaps not all of Glynval.” Westley rubbed his jaw. “I don’t want you to say anything to anyone else. Let these men move on to the next village. With God’s good favor, perhaps they won’t come back through here.”

It was a shaky hope at best, but it was the only hope Eva had.

The man said she was Lord Shiveley’s betrothed. Had she lied to him again?





Chapter Nineteen


Evangeline was always in the castle now. She even slept in the same small room with Lady le Wyse’s closest maidservant above Lord and Lady le Wyse’s own bedchamber.

As she was sweeping the hearth in the library, a voice behind her said, “Eva?”

She stopped sweeping and turned to face Westley.

“You have not come to read with me the last two days.”

“Oh.” She stared down at her broom. “I have been busy cleaning. And Reeve Folsham keeps thinking of new things to teach me. He taught me how to throw a grown man over my shoulder and onto the ground on his back.” She put down the short straw broom, propping it against the wall. She smiled into Westley’s bright-blue eyes as she remembered it. “Could you ever imagine me doing that? I never knew it could be so thrilling to exert my own strength. You men must often feel that.”

“Oh yes, I am so strong, I entertain myself with seeing how far I can toss men of various sizes.”

“You are laughing, but it is something new for me. I’ve never been allowed to—” She stopped abruptly as she realized what she had been about to say. As smoothly as she could, she went on. “—learn how to use a weapon or defend myself. Reeve Folsham is the first man I’ve ever met who thought defending oneself from attack was important for a woman to learn.”