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“Where do you think I’ve been all day?”

“I didn’t know. Your close-mouthed servant wouldn’t tell me.”

“He found us at the crossroads.” Parkin contributed his part cheerfully. “It would have taken two more days to get here because Sir Gregory walked so slow.”

“Maybe he was tired,” Edlyn suggested.

“Why?”

The boys couldn’t comprehend the stamina it took to keep up with them, and Hugh shared a grin with Edlyn. Then she wiped the smile from her face as if such mutual amusement had somehow betrayed her.

Hugh walked close to her and bumped her gently with his arm. “It’s hard to stay angry at me, isn’t it?”

“Your charm is much overrated.” The heat had gone from Edlyn’s voice. “But my sons are not training to be knights.”

“We’ll see.” Hugh knew how to use irritating phrases just as well as she. “For now they’re going with us.”

“I wouldn’t ever leave them behind!”

Hugh found himself confused. “I never suggested so. I simply thought you wished them to be fostered by the monks, and for that they would have to stay here.”

“Not yet,” she answered decisively. “They’re not old enough to leave me yet.”

“They’re past the age when most lads leave their mothers,” Hugh said with what he thought was irrefutable logic.

“Most lads…” She stopped and stared at the whirlwind of activity around the tents. “What’s happening?”

“We’re breaking camp.”

“But why?”

Because I want to get you away from this place and off to myself. “I’ve lingered here too long,” he said.

“This doesn’t make sense.” She tried to sound reasonable and succeeded in sounding exasperated. “It’s evening! How far can we get tonight before we must set up camp again?”

Now he grinned. “I travel quickly.”

“Not when you’re burdened with two children, you don’t!”

“Ah, Mama.” Parkin shook with humiliation. “We’re not children. We can keep up.”

Allyn’s embarrassment, though quieter, struck just as deep. “No one will have to delay for us, Mama.”

Hugh turned a smug face on Edlyn. “If someone can’t keep up, I suppose it will be you.”

He had to give her credit; she didn’t suggest that her sons might be overestimating their endurance. But she did glare at him. Then she glanced up and saw Wharton supervising the breakdown of Hugh’s tent, and she picked up her skirts and ran. “Wait! Where are the contents of the tent?”

Wharton jerked a thumb toward the packhorses and carts. “There.”

“I left two blankets on the table.”

“Ye mean those two rags?” Wharton’s scorn could have curdled milk. “I flung them in th’ scrap bag.”

“Those were the two things I kept out of my possessions!”

“Ragbag’s in that cart.” Going back to his duties, Wharton said loudly enough for all to hear, “Women!”

Curiosity held Hugh in place as Edlyn climbed in the cart and began to excavate the contents. What bits of cloth had she bargained for so determinedly? What memories did they hold? Edlyn jumped down from the cart, waving faded bits of cloth, one in each hand, and her sons leaped toward her with a shout. Each grabbed the tattered remains of a blanket and furtively touched it to his cheek. Then Parkin shoved his beneath is surcoat while Allyn rubbed his with his hand. Edlyn watched with the kind of smile mothers get when they’ve sacrificed much and found the reward ample.