Knight Errant (7 page)

“Think of Berthild and Gretle,” he urged. “You said yourself they need help and your funds are limited. Innkeepers, merchants, even local officials and the weavers’ guild in Palermo will respect hard coin.”

Juliana nodded. She could not sacrifice her friends to her own needs, no matter the risk to herself. ’Twas the same motive that drove her out of the inn today, albeit with Henry’s help. Simply put, she saw her sisters’ needs as greater than her own. “I agree.”

“The offer is conditional upon your vow.”

“I have already made my promise to return to England once the Palermo beguinage has been reinforced and stabilized. I’ll not promise again. Nor is it wise for us to travel alone together.”

“Edward trusts me with your safety. You need not fear hazard to your virtue or person while in my charge.”

“Let us not borrow trouble.” Juliana moved closer to the fire. “These issues may be settled after we reach Palermo.”

“True,” Robert pronounced. “Now tell me where I may find this captain. I would inspect his vessel before we commit ourselves to travel upon it. I also have a few questions to ask him.”

She gave Robert her most serene smile.

His eyelids narrowed. “I insist you tell me where to find this man.”

“Insist all you like. I cannot tell you where to find Luigi.”

Two quick steps brought him closer. Much closer. His scent made her belly flutter.

“Why not?”

“Because I do not know where he is.”

“When were you going to complete bargaining for our passage?”

“That has already been done.” She folded her hands together.

“You paid him?” There was menace in the carefully stated question.

“I am not a fool, sir. I paid him half, which is all I had. The rest could be obtained in Palermo with God’s help.”

Robert was too close. She edged backward.

He pursued. “With so great a sum, the captain will leave without us.”

“Not with the promise of an equal sum for taking us to Palermo.”

“There are other matters to discuss, and the soundness of his vessel to determine.”

“I inspected the ship and found it to be seaworthy.”

“But I did not inspect it, and I am your guide.”

“There is no time for another inspection. We sail with the morning tide.” She felt nerves twinge behind her smile and fought for calm.

“There is something you are not telling me.”

“I have been completely honest with you.”

“I do not doubt your honesty, just your thoroughness.”

“I am sorry you find me lacking.” She sniffed and walked to the door. “Now if you will excuse me, I must see that Berthild and Gretle are prepared. There is much to do, if we are to be ready and on board the ship in time.” She swept out of the room.

• • •

Robert peered through the misty morning at the Arabic letters decorating the ship’s prow. “You bought passage on a Saracen’s ship!” He was ready to strangle her. No wonder Juliana had not wanted to tell him the name of the ship or how to find the captain.

“Luigi may be a Saracen, but he is also son to the Doge of Genoa, which makes him half Genoan,” she explained with the patience of a tutor.

“I do not care if he’s from the moon. We cannot travel on a Saracen vessel.” Behind Robert, Luigi’s crew loaded the Beguines’ supplies along with other freight.

“Nonsense, we will be safer on this ship than on any vessel carrying a Christian flag. Raiders are much less likely to attack one that resembles their own. Besides, you had no success hiring a Christian vessel.”

He fumed in silence.

“Do not glower at me, sir. ’Tis not I who am narrow of mind about the capabilities of Saracen sailors.” She took his arm and strolled toward the gangplank. “Now tell me, did the ship meet with your requirements when you inspected it?”

“She seems sound enough, but I still have my doubts.” The scrape of a foot on the dock drew his attention.

“Ah,
Dona Juliana
. How are you this fine morning?” The words slid from the fog as a most extraordinary figure eased forward. “Beautiful as ever,
mi amore
,” he continued, twining her hands with his.

By Robert’s standards the man was small, scarcely taller than Juliana, with swarthy skin and tawny eyes. A wide smile emphasized the narrow face that Robert did not trust for an instant. Long, dark locks flowed from pate to shoulder, and the captain wore what looked like a twist of silken rags atop his head. The thing was probably a Saracen turban, but never had Robert seen one quite so . . . disorganized.

The ship’s master swirled his robes gracefully and bowed, managing to reveal a bare, muscular chest in the process. Robert took note. Small the man was, but not weak, save perhaps where Juliana was concerned.

The Saracen’s expression bespoke pure lust at the sight of her. Any man would recognize the look. Juliana should have seen it, too, and been wary of the man. Instead she smiled at the fellow’s overblown compliments, as if she enjoyed his attention.

Robert frowned. He knew that smile did not of necessity mean she was happy. So the Saracen’s behavior worried him even more.

Juliana retrieved her hands from the serpentine grasp, but not before Robert noticed the heightened flush on her cheeks and the emotion lighting her eyes. She could not possibly admire the insignificant snake, could she?

Robert coughed and straightened to his full height. “And you are?”

“Don Luigi Paolo Al Tanzik Iben Hassen, at your service.” He flourished the twisted cloth and gave another exaggerated bow.

“Sir Robert Clarwyn, Baron Ravensmere.” He knew not which disgusted him more, treating this toad as an equal or uttering the title he had gotten from his detested father.

Don Luigi grinned. “I see you are jealous that you must give the so glorious
dona
over into my keeping for the journey to Palermo. Fear not.” He cast a lover-like glance at Juliana. “I will take the greatest care of this precious cargo.”

“I have no fears whatsoever. For the ‘glorious
dona
’ remains my charge throughout her travels.”

Puzzlement replaced Luigi’s grin. “I do not know how that could be. Passage was arranged for five persons and four mules. You will have to find another ship, if you plan to accompany
La Dona
to Sicilia.”

Juliana stepped between them. “Please, Don Luigi, the baron is our guide to Palermo. Can you not find room for him as well?”

Robert pulled her behind him. “You will make room for myself and my destrier on your ship, lest we find need to take our money to another captain.”

Don Luigi gave a stiff laugh and gestured to the docks, empty of all but his own ship. “But
mi baron
, no other ship is in harbor.”

“We can wait.”

“Ah, but the longer you wait, the less money you will have, no?”

“Aye.” Robert stepped forward, crowding the smaller man. “And if you hope to receive more of that money, you might keep that in mind.”

Luigi stepped back, rubbing his chin with thumb and forefinger. “I see. You drive a hard bargain, sir.”

“Excellent…”

“Nonetheless,” Luigi lifted his palms outward, “I fear I must ask for greater incentive than the lovely
Dona Juliana
has offered. An extra passenger and a horse will occupy much space that would otherwise be used to take additional cargo.”

Juliana sidestepped around Robert. “But, Luigi, we have no additional coin to offer.”

“Perhaps you have something else of value?” Luigi grinned and lifted Juliana’s hand to his lips.

Robert pulled Juliana behind him once more. He would have beaten Luigi soundly were the man not the only available means of sailing south. Instead, Robert smiled with all the geniality he could muster. “Perhaps my letters of safe conduct from the courts in Rome, Palestine, and England would provide the incentive you require.”

Luigi snorted. “I do not doubt, sir, that you have letters, but possibly you exaggerate.”

“Do you call me a liar?”

“Not at all,” Luigi backed down with a nod followed by a flourish of his hand through the air. “But I know how rarely such safe conducts as you speak of are given. In particular, the Palestinian emir is not known for his generosity to Christian knights. Pray, what entitles you to so unique an item?”

“His Royal Highness, Edward Plantagenet, Duc of Gascony, and King of all England and Wales appointed me envoy to the courts of the pope in Rome, and to the emir of Palestine. I doubt any of those men would care to hear that an envoy was denied passage on a ship bearing one of their flags.”

“I beg your pardon, baron. I had no idea. You wear only the marks of a simple pilgrim to Jerusalem, and you do not have the retinue an envoy would usually enjoy.” Instantly, Don Luigi fawned over Robert. No doubt in attempt to cover any offense he might have given.

“I travel as I do for my own reasons. Suffice it that I have letters that can be produced, if need be, to prove the truth of what I claim.”

“Of course, of course. Where is your horse? I will have my crew make arrangements immediately.”

Once given the information, the Saracen hurried off. Robert turned to Juliana, holding out his arm for her to take. “Come, let us get settled on board.”

“Aye, ’tis past time for this part of our journey to begin.”

As he escorted her up the gangway and onto the boat, Robert pondered the difficulties presented by the little Saracen. Don Luigi paid far too much attention to Juliana, and the lady was far too independent. The captain would need careful watching. Robert resolved to make certain the Saracen kept his distance from Juliana.

A day later, Juliana stood at the ship’s rail and frowned at the sea. Everyone on deck was occupied this early in the morning, so a frown or two was permissible. But only while she contemplated the problems represented by one Sir Robert Clarwyn, Baron Ravensmere.

He had wheedled out of her that promise to return to England. How had she been so careless? To go back to England meant to abandon freedom and the Beguine way of life. It meant subjugation and misery as some man’s wife. She would not marry. She could not go back, yet she had promised.

Right now, no better solution occurred to her than disappearing into the streets of Palermo when Robert decided it was time to leave. That she would be breaking a promise bothered her. ’Twould leave a stain on her soul. To eradicate that stain would require much prayer, many good works, and perhaps years in purgatory. No doubt God would forgive her, for her dedication to his work was without question, but would she be able to forgive herself?

She shook her head. No sense borrowing trouble. Time enough existed for a viable solution to present itself. Her other problem was more pressing. Sir Robert Clarwyn, himself.

On those few occasions when she imagined someone coming to take her back to England, she had thought it would be one of her uncle’s knights. Perhaps even Uncle William in person, although she knew that to be unlikely. He would hardly consider a woman important enough to bestir himself from the comfort of his home. She never dreamt her royal cousin would take an interest in her.

Robert had promised Edward to return her to England, and to keep that promise he must guard her safety. He seemed to value his word as much as she did her own. Part of her wished he had made no such promise. Foolishly, she wished he guarded her safety because he desired it.

Not that she longed to depend on him, but for once, just once in her life, she yearned to be valued by a man for who she was. To see admiration, even respect, in the eyes of a man might well be worth her hope of heaven. She cast a quick glance across the deck to where Robert conversed with Berthild and Gretle, causing the older women to blush. Despite his often visible anger, he was a more than capable guide and leader who tolerated much that other men would not. His care of her fellow Beguines throughout the journey would endear him to any woman. She was coming to have a great deal of admiration and respect for Sir Robert. Too bad he would never return that regard.

Steps approached from her left. “Juliana,
mia bella adorata
. Your eyes put the sea to shame, for its blueness cannot pretend to compare. Do you know,
bella mia
, why the sea is so full and blue? As punishment, a jealous god placed in the sea a woman who chose to love over him an ordinary man.”

Juliana arranged her expression and turned to Luigi. She brushed a stray curl behind her ear and folded her hands. The little man made her nervous with his fulsome compliments. He also made her laugh with his nonsense.

Across the deck, Robert glowered at her, as if he thought her smile some sort of sin. The look reminded her too much of her uncle and smelled of hypocrisy, given Robert had just been laughing with Berthild and Gretle.

“I have heard this story,” she said to Luigi. “Do you truly believe that an ancient god put this woman in the sea where she would see her lover wherever he traveled but could never touch him? That she weeps so greatly that the seas will never run dry?”

“But of course,
bellissima
. There can be no other reason for the beauty and majesty of
Il Mare Mediterraneo
than as home to a woman of great passion. A woman like yourself. No?” He lounged against the rail and much too close.

“And how would you know if I am a woman of great passion?”

“By the fervor with which you pursue God’s work and from the pink on your delicate skin that moments ago was an exquisite, yet pale, alabaster.”

He had taken her fingers and played idly with them. Juliana longed to snatch them away. To do so would reveal feelings other than the placid serenity she wanted the world to see. So she brightened her smile and waited patiently for an opportunity to retrieve her hand.

“You speak a great deal of nonsense, captain,” Robert said.

At his approach, Luigi straightened, loosening his hold on her fingers.

Juliana carefully removed her hand from the Saracen’s grasp and hid her fingers in her skirt, where she rubbed his touch from her skin.

“Do you not believe in the old legends, baron?”

“I believe the old legends are just that. Airy tales invented by minstrels and jongleurs to entertain. For amusement, I often sang such at King Edward’s court. You do Lady Juliana’s eyes injustice by using so poor a comparison as ancient legend.”