An awkward silence followed—that was not broken until Sir Aymer came galloping back. With a familiarly courteous salute he swung Selim around; and Lord Darby, seizing the opportunity, bowed low to the Countess, and with a menacing glare at De Lacy—who met it with a careless smile—he spurred away.
The Countess had observed Darby's look and she followed him with a frown … and De Lacy wisely kept silent.
"I am glad you came," she said presently—then pulled Wilda to a walk. "Let us loiter; since we are late it is small matter when we reach the rendezvous."
"Why reach it at all?" he asked.
She hesitated.
"Why not ride?" he persisted.
She looked at the horses thoughtfully … then shook her head. "I would far rather ride," she said, "but the Queen expects me; duty calls."
"St. Denis! I had quite forgot—duty calls me, too."
But they did not take the horses from their walk, and it was far after time when they reached the wide open space in the forest, where the party had assembled.
Upon one side were pitched three large silk pavilions; the center one of red and blue—the colors of the Kingdom; the others, gold and blue—the colors of the House of York. In front and for a wide space around on the soft turf were spread the thick carpets of the far East. Before the tents paced two archers of the guard; and stationed at close intervals around the clearing were a goodly force of those veterans, all of whom had been among the personal retainers of Richard when he was Duke of Gloucester.