what Iâve heard. Beauchamp is a formidable holding, and has been since William gave it to Rolfe de Beauchamp two hundred years ago. And your father has some influence at court, or so I heard some years ago.â He paused, looking away, and Philippaâs gaze followed his. He said, âAh, I believed myself too lucky to be alone. Come here, Crooky, and join in my musings. What do you think the wench would bring in ransom?â
Crooky hobbled up, looked Philippa up and down, and said. âThass a tall wench, master, even sitting, a strapping big wench. Those legs of hers just donât stop. By Saint Andrewâs nose, âtis yer height she be, or nearly, Iâll wager ye.â
âNo, no,â Philippa said, âhe is taller than I, by at least four inches.â
âYes, thatâs true,â Dienwald said, ignoring her. âThis is Crooky,â he added after a moment to Philippa, âmy fool, my ears, and a great piece of impertinence a good deal of the time. But I suffer his presence.â He saw her nose go up. It was a nice narrow nose. It was also an arrogant and supercilious nose.
Fitting for a Philippa de Beauchamp.
To Philippaâs surprise, Crooky suddenly broke into song.
What be she worth?
This wooly-haired wench?
Jewels for a ransom?
Not with her stench.
She looks like a hag
She brays and she bragsâ
âYouâre blind, clattermouth,â Dienwald interrupted. âSheâs clean and wholesome and Iâve even fed her so her ribs are no longer clanking together. Come here so I can kick you in the ribs.â
Crooky cackled and backed quickly away. âA bath did her good, sweet lord. Aye, ransom the wench. Sheâll bring you coin, much-needed coin. Mayhap weâll need more weavers for all that wool. Let de Beauchamp pay dear to fetch the little partridge back into his fold. God giâ ye grace, madam.â And the strange little man who bellowed off-key gave her a crooked-toothed grin.
âThat was a horrid rhyme,â Philippa said. âYouâve no talent at all. My mare neighs more agreeably than you sing.â
âSlit her throat,â Crooky said to his master. âSheâs got a bold tongue and sheâs naught but a pesky female. Of what earthly good is she?â
âYouâre right, Crooky. A deadly combination, surely, and of no use.â Dienwald reached for the dagger at his belt.
Philippa gasped, sudden fear causing her to jump to her feet and back away. With her hunger and thirst slaked, sheâd let herself forget who this man was, had let down her guard and behaved as she would have at home, and now look what her tongue had gotten her into.
Dienwald drew his dagger and fingered thesharp edge. He rose slowly. âHave a care, lady. This is not your domain. You have no power here, no authority. Moreover, you are naught but a female, a big strapping female with more wit than most, but nonetheless you are to keep your mouth closed and your tongue behind your teeth. Aye, I will ransom your hide, now that it is white again and sweet-smelling. I will have my steward write to your father telling him of your status. Have you an idea of what heâll pay for your return? A clean and hearty wench heâll get, I will promise it, a wench ready for him to flail with his tongue and his belt. Both of which you deserve.â
Philippa shook her head. Fear clogged her throat. Fear of this unpredictable man and fear of the truth. Perchance the truth in this instance would serve her well. On the other hand, perhaps it wouldnât. She didnât know what to do. She said finally, âMy father doesnât want me back. He wonât pay you anything. He will be pleased never to see my face again in this life. He didnât want me. Thatâs why I ran away.â
âThatâs not hard to believe, what with the face you had when I first beheld you. He would have believed himself in hell, faced by
Aj Harmon, Christopher Harmon