By Fire and by Sword (4 page)

She is Venus when she smiles;

But she’s Juno when she walks,

And Minerva when she talks.

—Ben Jonson (1572–1637),

English playwright and poet.

The Underwood
“A Celebration of Charis.

His Discourse with Cupid” (1640).

T
he weather when they arrived in Calais was cold and raw, but not as cold as it had been in Scotland. The ride ashore was chilling, though, and by the time they were safely on land, she was tucking her cape tightly about her, to keep out the cold wind.

“For your safety, I will take you to Dessin’s Inn,” the captain said. “It is only a short distance from here. Monsieur Dessin is an acquaintance of mine. You will be safe and well cared for while you enjoy a cup of tea. I will return as soon as I have made arrangements for you to continue on to Paris.”

“Captain Fischer, you have been most kind, and I do regret the extra trouble you are going to on my behalf, although I must confess that a cup of tea would be a lovely way to begin my day.”

“It is no trouble, I assure you. Captain Montgomery sent word with Alejandro that he would appreciate any assistance I could give you in procuring transportation for you to Paris.”

She was struck with the sudden wonder of his words, because to hear the mention of Captain Mont-gomery’s name was something so unexpected. Once she got over the surprise of Montgomery’s request to aid her travels, she said, “That was certainly kind of him, and terribly generous of you, Captain. While I will accept your kindness in making the arrangements, I do insist upon paying the expense of it.”

“Captain Montgomery has taken care of that as well,” he said.

“Is this an example of American generosity? I cannot imagine someone I met quite briefly would go to such effort and expense.”

“If I were one to play with reasons, I might think it had something to do with a guilty conscience. Nice though he was, he did send you away. Have you considered that as a possibility?”

She repressed a smile. “No, I had not, but I will think upon it. What else did that flamboyant Spaniard tell you?”

“Only that you were a lovely lady, who must withhold her identity, along with the reason for your flight. He asked that I respect that, and I hope I have done so.”

“You have shown me much consideration, Captain, which indicates to me your generous spirit.”

“There was something else he said. It was to the effect that every human being, at one time or another, finds it necessary to have a secret that makes him a mystery to those around him.”

A frown creased her brow as she thought. “I can see that I misjudged, or more correctly, prejudged Alejandro. He is not all carefree and teasing, for beneath that thin veneer lies a man of considerable depth.”

She could see the captain had a comment about that, but suddenly she remembered what she had forgotten. “Hout! I have left without my traveling bags.”

“Don’t fret. I made arrangements to have them delivered to the inn. They should arrive shortly. And now, if you will come with me, we will be on our way to Dessin’s Inn, and that hot cup of tea I promised you.”

Kenna felt a sudden panic, although she did her best to hide it. Before she left Inchmurrin Island, she had hidden money for France in the false bottom of one of the traveling bags, and her gold coins in the other. How could she have been so foolish as to leave it on the ship? It was too late now to do anything more than to pray for its safety.

He offered her his arm, and she started up the cobbled street, walking alongside Captain Fischer, with his red beard, cocked hat and a saber swinging at his side.

Along the quays the people of Calais bustled and stirred, unaware that Kenna had only recently arrived, and unconcerned with why she had come. She saw dozens of foreign sailors in peculiar attire speaking in
guttural tones that were harsh and grating. Robust fish-wives hurried by carrying baskets of lampreys, herring and capelin on their heads, calling out in shrill voices to advertise their wares as they passed crewmen in woolen caps and knee-length, baggy trousers, peasants in heavy coats of sheepskin, the heavy sound of their wooden shoes clattering as they tripped across the cobblestone streets.

They passed well-dressed tradesmen dressed in black, and wealthy merchants wrapped in long fur coats, and were almost run down by one king of the city’s merchants, who sped along in his two-horse cabriolet, a whip snapping. They paused at a street corner, to watch a fine-featured lady carried past in her sedan chair, a fur robe tucked around her and her hood lined with velvet.

The streets were still wet as they passed several men sitting upon crates and playing cards. They looked to be from one of the ships in the harbor, judging from their earrings, curly beards and tarred pigtails. When one of the men began to eye her in a way that made her uncomfortable, she pulled her cape a bit closer, thankful that she had the captain’s arm, and his sword beside her, instead of being left to her own devices to make her arrangements to go to Paris.

By the time she saw the sign swaying in the breeze over the door of the inn, Kenna thought she had seen every class and nationality of personhood that dotted the earth.

As soon as they stepped inside the inn, they learned that Monsieur Dessin and his wife had gone to a wedding
in Amiens, but their daughter, Celeste, would take excellent care of the mademoiselle.

Captain Fischer waited until Kenna was settled cozily at a table near the fireplace in the embrasure of a window overlooking the garden. Although few flowers were in bloom at this time of year, it was a lovely spot nonetheless.

“I shall be very comfortable here, Captain, so you may take your leave with an easy conscience.”

Once Captain Fischer was gone, Celeste brought Kenna a cup of tea and a basket of pastries.

“Would you care for anything more,
mademoiselle
?”

“No, thank you, Celeste. You seem to have thought of everything.”

She could see that the sun had broken through the clouds, and now shed its pale, wintry light over the garden. While Kenna relaxed and let the warmth of the fire seep down to her chilled bones, she studied several paintings depicting scenes of Paris that were hanging on three of the walls, and one intricately woven Aubusson tapestry that decorated the other. With its exposed beams and old stonework, Dessin’s Inn was charming and quaint, right down to the beautiful, hand-painted furniture.

Her reverie was interrupted quite unexpectedly, when she noticed passing by the window a tall, well-dressed gentleman, with a foil strapped to his side. The sight of it caused her heart to leap in her throat, and she wondered, am I truly going to France to train, to improve my skill with the foil, so I will be good enough to defend myself?

At the thought of fulfilling her lifelong dream, a wild heartbeat of excitement seemed to claim her and hold her within a magic bubble.

It was all true. What Kenna planned was to ask the best fencing master in France to take her as a pupil, so she could reach the highest level of skill, and thus feel confident in her abilities, talent and aptitude. Then she could defend herself, with confidence, poise and a clear-thinking devotion to the task at hand. Then, and only then would she be ready when Lord Walter found her…and he would find her. She was certain of that.

Few people knew that Kenna was skilled in the use of the foil, and even fewer had seen her talent firsthand. It was not something young women engaged in, but the Lennox women had always been a bit different and more daring than most. Some attributed this to their isolation on Inchmurrin Island, where they had more freedom and liberties than other women.

Kenna and her three sisters could often be seen riding around the island astride, rather than sidesaddle. They learned to swim at an early age, and all were skilled at hunting with a bow.

To his credit, their father also saw to it that they learned the things other young women their age knew, and that they were ladies in every regard as was fitting for the daughters of one of the most powerful earls in Scotland. Therefore, they were musically trained, and played several instruments. They painted, did needlework, knew how to dance and sing, spoke French and were well versed in the classics.

But Kenna did have one outstanding skill that her
sisters lacked, and that was the ability to fence. She had been captivated by the art at an early age, and from the time she was a small child, she would sit quietly, observing her brothers with their fencing master, absorbing each word he spoke.

Eventually, she managed to convince her brothers to let her be their fencing partner, and later, when her father found out, and threatened to confine all of them to their rooms forever, she managed to convince him to allow her to continue to practice with her brothers.

But it wasn’t until the fencing master happened upon them one afternoon, and saw her send the foil flying out of the hand of her brother Kendrew, that things changed.

The fencing master asked her father if he might instruct Kenna, and quite naturally, her father refused. Adamantly.

“Surely you jest, sir,” the earl said. “Instruct a woman in the use of the foil? Preposterous! Impossible! Unheard of! And, completely asinine,” he said. “Just look at her hands…those lovely long fingers that bring out the magic of a piano, or a harp. And her needlework…exceptional! I have, since the death of my wife, tried to see that my daughters were schooled not only from books, but in artistic endeavors as well. But fencing? Name me one woman who claims to excel in the art. Just one name.”

“I cannot in the present time, although there have been many women who took up the sword in the past, your lordship, but that should not influence your decision concerning your daughter. You know yourself that
Kenna is not like other girls. So why would you try to compare her?”

“Go on.”

“Your daughter is an exception, and I ask this, Lord Errick, because she is a natural. I have observed her, with her slender height, her grace, agility, her ability to think quickly, her focus. She is aggressive and excels at anticipating what move her opponent will make next. She is even-tempered, capable of tremendous concentration, and has a drive to succeed that equals that of the finest swordsmen. She has a natural skill that I have rarely seen in any man. It isn’t her fault she was born a girl, and graced with a man’s gift for sport. Why deny her?”

“Since I cannot come up with an adequate response to that question,” the earl said, “I suppose I must concede, so I say, very well, but do not go putting big ideas into her head. I do not want my daughter to think she can saddle up with the clan members when they ride out to confront an enemy. And she will wear a dress at all times. Is that understood?”

“Perfectly, my lord. I will see to it that your wishes are respected. And I shall, if I may, take the liberty to say I know your lordship will never regret this decision.”

“I am holding you personally responsible to see that I do not,” the earl said. “And by the by, respected is not what I asked for. I want my wishes obeyed.”

“Obeyed… Yes, your lordship, I understand, and I will see to it.”

Kenna sipped the steaming tea, flavored with honey
and cream, as her gaze traveled around the room once more. It was such a lovely spot after the emotionally charged and exhausting past few days, which made her feel a little regret that she would be leaving it so soon, for she saw Captain Fischer coming up the street, with the rolling gait that seemed particular to men of the sea.

“When I saw you enter the room, Captain, I thought, now there is a man who looks as if he has accomplished something, and is glad in the doing of it. I know you will be pleased to have me settled in a conveyance of some sort and on my way to Paris, snug in my green wool cape, and my traveling bags tucked close to my side. However, it may surprise you to know that I actually enjoyed my time on the
Aethelred
, and I am richer for the experience. I feel my words are inadequate in expressing my appreciation for your help.”

“It has been a true pleasure to make your acquaintance, and to offer my assistance,” he said, and for the first time since she had met him, Captain Fischer seemed to be struggling to find the right words. He mumbled a bit, and tinkered with the butter knife, and then cleared his throat and said, “I must tell you that I met with great success in regard to your transportation. I have hired a
berline
and four horses to take you to Paris, for a very good rate of twelve livres. Two of the livres the
voiturier
is obliged to pay to farmers for permission to cross their land, and if you hire a carriage, you must pay twelve livres, or half a guinea, for every person who travels in the coach.”

“How many will be traveling with me?” Kenna asked.

“None. I must say that this was requested by Captain Montgomery, although I would have insisted on the same. Consequently, I arranged for you to travel alone. You will find that more comfortable, and of course, more in line with what you are accustomed to. There is another reason as well. The common coach between Calais and Paris is such a conveyance as you have never seen. No sane man would dare use it, and certainly no lady, if she has any regard to her own comfort and convenience. Undoubtedly no one of sound mind would pay a single coin for passage on anything but a private coach.”

“I am truly in your debt, Captain, and rendered quite speechless.”

“Truly, madam, it has been the greatest of pleasures for a crusty old seaman like myself to be of assistance to such a lovely lady.” He looked as if he was about to say more, but his attention was snagged by something he glimpsed through the window.

She turned to look, and saw a
berline
pull to a stop. The coach was still rocking to and fro, when one of the two postilions jumped down and came into the inn.

“It looks as though your coach is here,” he said. “I will accompany you to the coach, in hopes it meets with your approval. And once you are settled, your journey can begin.”

Once again, he offered his arm, and taking it, she left the inn in much the same manner as she had entered little more than two hours ago.