the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

We repaired to his family seat, Hallaton Hall, in Leicestershire, where as
chatelaine I was expected to manage the staff, oversee the running of the
household and, of course, produce heirs. Three at least. Two boys and a
girl, preferably, in that order. But I failed to live up to his expectations
as miserably as he had failed to live up to mine. The only thing I cared
for less than the hierarchies and politics of the staff was child-rearing
and especially the birth that comes beforehand. After four years of
prevarication I left. Fortunately the Bishop of Leicester was a close friend
of the elderly Lord Hallaton and he was able to grant an annulment
rather than risking this silly impetuous girl cause the family further
embarrassment. I was of course persona non grata at Hallaton Hall –
indeed, in the whole of Leicestershire – and, returning home, the
situation was no better. Hallaton had demanded his bride price back but
Father had already spent it. In the end I decided it was best for everyone
if I left so I ran away to the Crusade.’
‘As a nurse?’
‘No, as a soldier.’
‘But you’re …’
‘Adept at disguising myself as a man, yes. Did I have you fooled that
day in the cemetery?’
‘I knew you weren’t de Sable, but …’
‘You didn’t anticipate me being a woman. You see? Years of being
boisterous finally paid off.’
‘And de Sable? Was he fooled?’
Altaïr sensed her rueful smile, rather than seeing it. ‘I liked Robert at
first,’ she said softly. ‘He certainly saw more of my potential than Peter
did. But, of course, he also saw how I might be exploited. And it wasn’t