Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times
pronouncing the words, "A set of knaves and villains!" he filled the
agate cup to the brim with wine, raised it to his lips, and drained it
to the dregs.
CHAPTER XLII.
Some half hour after she had left the Princess--and we will venture to
hope that the reader has particularly marked at what precise moment of
time each of the scenes which we have lately described were taking
place in the castle of Nottingham--some half-hour after she had left
the Princess, Lucy de Ashby, covered with one of those large gowns of
grey cloth which were worn by the less strict orders of nuns, while
travelling, with her fair head wrapped in a wimple, and a pilgrim's bag
hung over shoulder, filled with a few trinkets and some other things
which she thought necessary to take with her, leaned thoughtfully upon
the table in the wide, oddly-shaped chamber, which had been
appropriated to her in Nottingham Castle. Near her stood one of the
maids, whom we have seen with her before, and who now watched her
mistress's countenance and the eager emotions that were passing over
it, with a look of anxiety and affection.
At length, with a sudden movement, as if she had long restrained
herself, the girl burst forth, "Let me go with thee, lady!
"You know not where I go, Claude," replied Lucy; "you know not, indeed,
that I am going anywhere!"
"Yes, yes," said the girl, "I am sure you are going somewhere; if not,
why have you put on that disguise?"
"But--but to see if it would do, in case of need," answered Lucy.
"Here, take it off good girl! I should not recognise myself, much less
would others!"
"Ay, lady, but still thou art going somewhere," said the girl, aiding
her to pull off the wimple and gown. "I know not where, 'tis true, but
I will go with thee, anywhere--neither distance nor danger will scare
me; and I am sure I can help thee!"
"Well, be it as thou wilt!" replied Lucy, after a moment's thought,
"but it may be that we shall leave behind us courts and soft beds for
ever, Claude."
"I care not--I care not!" cried the girl, "I would rather live with the
bold foresters in the wood than at Nottingham or Lindwell either."
Lucy smiled, as the girl's words brought back the memory of one happy
day, and with it the hopes that then were bright.
"Well, haste thee," she said, "haste thee to make ready; there are many
here who know thee, Claude, and we must both pass unrecognised."
"Oh!" answered her attendant, "I will transform me in a minute in such
sort that my lover--if I had one--should refuse me at the altar, or
else be forsworn! Hark! there is some one knocks."
"Pull it off--pull it off!" cried Lucy, disembarrassing herself of the
gown. "Now run, and see!"
"The Princess, madam, requires your instant presence," said the girl,
after having spoken for a moment to some one at the door; and, with a
quick step, and eager eye, Lucy de Ashby advanced along the corridor,
following one of Eleanor's ladies who had brought the message. The
latter opened the door of the Princess's chamber for her young
companion to enter, but did not, as usual, go in herself; and Lucy
found Eleanor and her husband alone.
Edward was clothed in arms, as he had come from Leicester, dusty, and
soiled with travelling, but his head was uncovered, except by the
strong curling hair which waved round his lordly brow, while a small
velvet bonnet and feather, in which he had been riding, was seen cast
upon one of the settles near the door. He was walking, with a slow
step, up and down the room, with his brows knit, and a glance of
disappointment and even anger in his eye. Eleanor, on the contrary, sat
and gazed on him in silence, with a grave and tender look, as if
waiting till the first ebullition of feeling was past and the moment
for soothing or consolation arrived.
"Here she is, Edward," said the Princess, as soon as Lucy entered; and
those words showed her that the conversation of her two royal friends
had been of herself, and made her fear that the evident anger of Edward
had been excited by something she had done.
The timid and imploring look which she cast upon him, however, when he
turned towards her instantly banished the frown from his brow; and
taking her hand, he said, "Be not afraid, dear lady; I am more angry
perhaps than becomes me, but 'tis not with you or yours. When I came
here, some twenty minutes since, my sweet wife gave me this paper,
which tends to clear our poor friend Hugh, and I instantly took it to
the King to beseech him but to delay the combat for a week. Judge of my
surprise, when he refused me with an oath, and swore that either your
brother should make good his charge or die. But 'tis not my father's
fault, lady," he continued, seeing a look of horror, mingled somewhat
with disgust, come upon Lucy's face--"'tis not my father's fault, I can
assure you. Mortimer and Pembroke, and some others who have his ear,
have so prepossessed his mind, that for the moment all words or
arguments are vain; and yet this combat must not take place, or one of
two noble men will be murdered."
"Then let me try to stop it," answered Lucy, "Has the Princess, my
lord----"
"Yes--yes, she has," cried Edward, "and you must try, sweet Lucy; but I
doubt that even your persuasions--I doubt that even the bribe of your
fair hand will induce Monthermer to fly and leave his name to ignominy
even for a day."
"Nay--nay, he will," said Eleanor; "certain of his own innocence, with
the confession of her brother which Lucy has, that he believes him
guiltless----"
"'Tis but an expression of doubt," interrupted Edward, "if you told me
right."
"Nay, Edward," asked the Princess, rising and laying her hand upon his
arm; "if the case were our own--if I besought you with tears and with
entreaties, and every argument that she can use, would you not yield?"
"'Twere a hard case, dear lady mine," replied Edward, kissing
her--"'twere a hard case, in truth, yet I may doubt. His answer might
be clear; with honour, innocence, and courage on his side, why should
he fly?"
"To save _my_ brother," said Lucy, looking up in the Prince's face.
"Ay, but his renown!" exclaimed Edward.--"Yet he must fly. Some means
must be found to persuade him."
"Cannot you, my most gracious lord?" asked Lucy,
"Ay, that is the question," rejoined the Prince, again walking up and
down the room. "What will be said of me, if I interfere?--My father's
anger, too.--To tell a Knight to fly from his devoir!--Yet it must be
done.--Hark ye, fair lady; go to him, as you have proposed, use
prayers, entreaties, whatever may most move him--do all that you have
proposed--offer to go with him and be his bride. He scarcely can refuse
that, methinks;" and he turned a more smiling look towards Eleanor.
"But if all fails, tell him that I entreat--nay, that I command him--if
he be so sure of shortly proving his innocence, that no man can even
dream I have done this thing for favour--tell him I command him to fly
this night, and that I will justify him--that I will avow 'twas done by
my express command; and let me see the man in all my father's realms to
blame it!"
"Will you, most gracious lord," said Lucy--"will you give it me under
your hand? If I have but words, Hugh may think it is a woman's art to
win him to her wishes."
"Is there an ink-horn there?" demanded Edward, looking round.
"Here--here," said the Princess, shewing him the materials for writing;
and with a rapid hand Edward traced a few words upon the paper, and
then read them, but still held the order in his hand. "Remember," he
said, turning to Lucy, and speaking in an earnest, almost a stern tone,
"this is to be the last means you use, and not till every other has
been tried in vain. 'Tis a rash act, I fear, and somewhat an unwise
one, that I do, though with a good intent, but I would fain it were
never mentioned were it possible."
"This makes all safe," said Lucy, taking the paper; "he will go now, my
lord, that his honour is secure. But I promise you no entreaties of
mine shall be spared to make him go without it. I will forget that I
have this precious thing, until he proves obdurate to all my prayers.
Even then, methinks, I may show some anger to find him go at any words
of yours when he has scorned all mine.--But, good sooth, I shall be too
grateful to God to see him go at all, to let anger have any part."
"Well--well, fair lady," said the Prince, "may God send us safely and
happily through this dark and sad affair! We are told not to do evil,
that good may come of it; but here, methinks, I only choose between two
duties, and follow the greater. I act against my father's will, 'tis
true; but thereby I save the shedding of innocent blood, and I spare
the King himself a deed which he would bitterly repent hereafter. God
give it a good end, I say once more! for we act for the best."
"Fear not--fear not, my Edward," said Eleanor; "God will not fail those
that trust in him. May He protect thee, Lucy!" and as she spoke she
kissed her young friend's forehead tenderly. "Now tell me," she
continued, "is all prepared for your expedition?"
"All," replied Lucy. "My girl Claude has got me a grey sister's gown,
which will conceal me fully."
"Is that all?" cried the Prince. "Where are the horses?--but leave that
to me. If Monthermer consents to go, bid him make no delay, nor stay
for any preparation. He will find horses at the city gate--the northern
gate, I mean. In half an hour they shall be there. Know you the way to
his lodging?"
"Not well," said Lucy; "'tis, I think, the third door down the
court;--but Claude will find it quickly, I don't doubt."
"There is a speedier way than that," replied the Prince. "Follow the
passage running by your room, then down the steps, and you will see a
door; if you knock there, you will find his page or some other servant,
for it leads into his ante-room. It were better," he continued,
thoughtfully, "that you made a servant carry the disguise, and not
assume it till you are sure that he will go. Were you to visit him in
such a garb, fair lady," he added, taking her hand kindly, "and after
to return unwedded, men might speak lightly of your reputation; and
that which in holy purity of heart you did to avert a most needless
combat, might turn to your discredit."
The blood came warmly into Lucy's cheek, but the moment after she
looked up in the Prince's face, replying, with an air of ingenuous
candour, "You think me, doubtless, somewhat bold, my lord, and many men
may censure me, but I have something here"--and she laid her hand upon
her heart--"which blames me not, but bids me go, in innocence of
purpose, and share his fate whatever it may be. God knows this is a sad
and painful bridal, such as I never thought to see. A father's death, a
brother's rashness, and a lover's danger, may well cloud it with
sorrow. But there is a higher joy in thinking I am doing what is
right,--in thinking that I, a poor weak girl, by scorning idle tongues,
and the coarse jests of those who cannot feel as I can, have a power to
save my brother's life, and to spare him I love the dreadful task of
putting a bloody barrier 'twixt himself and me for ever.--Judge me
aright, my lord!"
"I do--I do," replied Edward; "and now, farewell. God speed you, lady,
on your noble enterprise!"
Lucy kissed his hand, and without more ado returned to her own chamber.
"Quick, Claude!" she cried; "are you ready?"
"Yes, madam," she answered. "Will you not put on the gown?"
"No," said Lucy, still pausing at the door; "bring them with you, and
follow quickly."
The girl gathered up her lady's disguise and her own in haste, and Lucy
led the way along the passage as the Prince had directed her. There
were no doors on either side, and but a loophole every here and there,