Anna arrived in West Kirby half an hour or so later. Whilst leaving her horse in the charge of a stable boy, she recognised the stallion that Jack had ridden. ‘How long since this horse’s rider left?’ she asked.
‘An hour or more,’ he replied.
She thanked him and made her way to the waterfront. Her heart sank when she saw that the tide was out. After making a quick search of the small fishing village without seeing any sign of Jack, she gazed across the sands where she could make out figures crossing to and from the largest island. Was Jack amongst them? Her brow creased in thought and she decided to have a word with one of the fishermen mending his nets.
He confirmed her supposition that Jack had set out to walk to Hilbre Island. Filled with dismay, she was now having second thoughts about the risk involved in following him. Yet if she delayed, she could be caught out by the tide. Coming to a decision, she hurried to the stable and discussed with the stable boy the care of her horse. Money changed hands and then she removed her belongings and set out after Jack.
Anna knew from a previous occasion that she must not walk directly to the largest island but go via the two smaller ones, Little Eye and Middle Eye. She was over halfway across the sands when she started to question whether she had been a fool to set out so late, burdened as she was with her possessions. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she thought she could catch a glimpse of its rays sparkling on water towards one end of the island. If that was so, then the tide had turned and was coming in. It was too late to go back, so she must walk faster.
She managed to cover the next quarter of a mile with great speed and now Hilbre Island loomed closer. But already the sea was starting to trickle through grooves in the sand at her feet. Her saddlebags and lute were weighing her down and damp sand clung to the hem of her gown, which was flapping against her legs and hampering her progress. Determinedly, she forced her painful limbs on, keeping her eyes fixed on the hump of the island, where she could now see grass. Water swirled about her ankles, soaking her boots and the bottom inches of her gown. She trudged on, aware the sea was creeping higher. She told herself that she must not panic, for she was almost there.
With aching arms, she scarcely managed to fling her saddlebags on to a rock and was reluctant to throw her lute after them. As she hesitated, a harsh voice said, ‘God’s blood, Anna! What are you doing here?’
Her heart leapt in her breast at the sound of Jack’s voice. He seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and now loomed over her. His expressionwas thunderous as he snatched the lute from her and placed it beside her saddlebags. Before he could drag her up beside him, she placed her hands on the pinkish-brown rock and clawed herself up out of the water as it sucked about her thighs.
‘Your wits, my lady, have gone begging,’ he snapped, seizing her arm and hoisting her into a standing position.
‘I would not deny it,’ gasped Anna, staggering against him. ‘I will understand if you wish to toss me back into the sea.’
‘Don’t tempt me!’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Why are you here? You’re supposed to be on your way to the convent.’
‘I changed my mind. I wish you to take me to France,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I will pay for my passage. I have coin on me.’
He stared at her in horror. ‘You must be mad! I have no intention of taking you anywhere.’
‘I thought you might not and that’s my reason for not asking you earlier.’ Anna managed to avoid his gaze by reaching down and taking a handful of sodden skirt. She attempted to wring it out, but her efforts achieved little. Therewas no doubt in her mind that another of her gowns was ruined and would never be the same again.
He swore and ran a hand through his wind-ruffled hair. ‘If you knew that, then why did you make such a risky journey across the sands?’
She gave him a look of entreaty. ‘I thought that by making such an effort, you might take pity on me. I have to get away, Jack. Somewhere completely different, where no one knows me. Please, do not reject me out of hand?’
Jack determined not to weaken, but knew he would have a struggle with his conscience. ‘I don’t believe in insulting people by showing them pity. Why do you want to go to France? Don’t you know that King Edward’s army has invaded the country to do battle with King Louis?’
‘I knew of it, but it escaped my mind,’ she said in a trembling voice. ‘Anyway, I don’t see why either army should be bothered with me.’
The sudden heat in his gaze seemed to scorch her. ‘Those are the most idiotic words I’ve ever heard a woman say,’ he roared, startling her so much that she lost her footing and would have fallen into the sea if he hadn’t shot out an arm and dragged her back.
‘See what you did?’ she cried, trembling as she clutched his sleeve. ‘There really is no need to shout.’
Jack took a deep breath. ‘There’s naught a soldier loves more than a stray wench sauntering around the countryside.’
She fought down a blush and said in a dignified voice, ‘I am no wench and I have no intention of sauntering. I have my reasons for going to France and they are not for dallying with soldiers.’
‘I know. You want to get away somewhere different where no one knows you. But why France? Why not another place in England? There must be another reason for your wanting to go there.’
‘Of course.’ Anna was convinced that if she told him the truth then he would definitely refuse to take her. ‘Do you think we might move from this rock?’ she asked, needing time to think of an answer that should be acceptable to him.
Jack stepped on to another rock and then grass, avoiding a clump of sea thrift. She lifted her skirts and leapt towards him. He glowered at her as he picked up her saddlebags and began to walk. ‘Your other reason had better be good, or I will leave you on this island to wait until the tide ebbs and you’ll have no choice but to trek back to the mainland.’
Chapter Four
Anna stared after him in dismay and, picking up her lute, hurried after him. ‘But it will be dark by then and I might wander into soft sand and never be seen again.’
‘You should have thought of that before leaving the safety of the mainland,’ he said tersely. ‘What about Owain sorting out your affairs? What about Kate worrying herself to flinders about you?’ he raged, striding along at a heartracing pace, so that she had trouble keeping up with him.
‘They’ll believe I’m staying at the convent.’ Her sodden skirts caked with wet sand clung to her legs most unpleasantly, but she dared not suggest that he slowed down. ‘I left a message with the stable boy in West Kirby to take care of my horse. If I have not returned by the time the money I gave him runs out, then he is to return my horse to Rowan Manor. Only then is he to tell Owain that I have gone to France with you.’
Jack stopped in his tracks and stared at her. ‘You have completely lost your wits. I did notice there was a full moon last night.’
‘I am not a lunatic,’ she said indignantly. ‘Although it would not be surprising if I were half-crazed. Surely it is obvious to you that Will and Hal between them are determined to be rid of me?’
‘I think Hal had something else in mind for you altogether,’ he growled. ‘You should have told all to Owain. Running away to France is no way to deal with this matter.’
‘I have my reasons for not doing so,’ she said firmly. ‘And it did not occur to me that I was running away. Rather I have something completely different in mind. But at least