Georgette Heyer Read Online Free PDF

out in rare good spirits, and bore his squire back to their quarters, making him ride beside him instead of a few paces behind.
    ‘By my troth, Simon,’ he said energetically, ‘that boy is a man, with all a man’s brain and courage!’
    Simon turned his head.
    ‘The Prince, my lord?’
    ‘Ay, young Henry of Monmouth. He is one year thy junior, but by God, he is three years thy senior as well! And thou art no babe.’
    Simon bent to pass his hand thoughtfully down his horse’s neck.
    ‘What thinks he, sir? Can we hold against Hotspur?’
    Fulk shot him a sidelong glance, and pursed his small mouth.
    ‘Who shall say, Simon? It is said that Hotspur is fourteen hundred strong. And he hath Douglas with him, and Worcester, with Glyndourdy like to join him ere we can engage. Word is brought that he is little over a day’s march from here. We are a handful, and if help comes not we can but hold the town.’
    ‘The while Glyndourdy joins him. H’m! Where lies the King this night?’
    ‘I know not. If he comes before Hotspur all may be well. But …’
    ‘What manner of man is this Henry of Bolingbroke?’ asked Simon. ‘Is he one to allow another to forestall him?’
    ‘Nay, by the Rood! Henry is a man, even as his son.’
    ‘Then I doubt not he will be with us before Percy,’ said Simon placidly. ‘Whate’er befall, it will be an interesting combat.’
    ‘It is like to be bloody enough to satisfy even thy savage heart,’ Fulk grunted. He shifted a little in his saddle. ‘Malvallet is here.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Hast seen him then? ’Tis not thy father, but his first-born. Thy father lies sick of a fever.’
    ‘Doth he so? I have spoken with Geoffrey of Malvallet. While ye were with his Highness.’
    ‘Spoken with him?’ Fulk turned to look at him. ‘What said he? Why didst thou accost him, pray?’
    ‘I did not. I but looked, and my look misliked him. Wherefore he gave me warning that I should not again cross his path.’
    Fulk laughed.
    ‘That swift glance of thine, eh, Simon? So Malvallet called thee to book? And what dost thou think of him?’
    ‘He seems a man,’ Simon answered, and then relapsed into a silence which was not broken until they came back to their lodging.
    A little after noon on the following day Simon sallied forth from his quarters and went afoot through the packed town towards the battlements. The streets were thronged with soldiers, both of high estate and low, so that Simon’s progress was necessarily slow. But at length he came to the battlements, on the east side of Shrewsbury, and entered into conversation with some of the men-at-arms stationed there. He was permitted, presently, to mount the battlements, and stood behind the parapet, looking out across the country. The breeze stirred his fair hair, and whipped his surcoat about his legs. He leaned his hands on the low wall; closely scanning the surrounding country. Thus he stood, motionless, until an officer came up to him.
    ‘Well, young sir, and what seest thou?’ he asked, rather amused.
    ‘I do not know,’ Simon answered. ‘Presently I will tell you.’
    The officer shaded his eyes from the sun, looking out from under his hand to where Simon gazed.
    ‘There is naught, Sir Sharp-Eyes. No sign of life of Hotspur or of our King. For the one God be praised, and for the other God pity us. Ye came with Montlice?’
    ‘Ay.’ Still Simon stared at the distant horizon, his eyes narrowed and keen.
    The officer laughed at him.
    ‘Do ye think to take my place in spying out the approach of men?’ he inquired.
    ‘Mine eyes are sharper than most,’ Simon replied. ‘See yonder!’ He stretched out his arm, pointing to the south-east.
    The officer screwed up his face against the sun’s rays, blinking rapidly.
    ‘What is it? I see naught.’
    ‘Look more to the right. There, coming over the brow of the hill. Something moves. Do ye see it not?’
    The man leaned forward, again shading his eyes.
    ‘Naught,’ he said