Connie Mason (34 page)

“Go down and greet your guest,” Edward commanded. “Invite him to the hall. I look forward with relish to this day.”

One of Waldo’s knights had been sent to scout ahead; the man returned in a high state of excitement to report his findings.

“Lord Waldo, the king’s herald hangs from Windhurst’s battlements!”

“ ’Tis not possible,” Waldo said, stunned. “Why would Edward visit Windhurst?”

Duff rode up beside him. “Is aught amiss?”

“If Sir Justin can be believed, the king is at Windhurst,” Waldo said sourly.

“ ’Tis true, my lord,” Sir Justin claimed.

“You cannot attack Windhurst if the king is in residence,” Duff warned.

“Nay, I cannot,” Waldo answered. “God’s blood! What am I to do now?”

“I am sure you will think of something,” Duff said dryly.

A glimmer of a smile lifted the corners of Waldo’s lips. “Aye, you are right, Duff. I know exactly what I will do. Raven is my wife. Not even the king can prevent me from claiming her. I will simply march up to the gates and demand entry. Once I am inside, I will name Drake as Raven’s abductor and accuse him of making her his whore. The king will have no choice but to punish Sir Bastard.”

“Have you forgotten Raven? ’Tis likely she will repudiate your accusation and claim she was not abducted.”

Waldo’s face hardened. “She will not dare dispute my words. Not if she knows what is good for her.”

Duff remained silent. He knew his sister well. If she truly cared for Drake, as he believed she did, she would speak up in Drake’s defense. Duff himself was becoming more and more disenchanted with Waldo. Over the years Waldo had done many things of which Duff did not approve.

Then Windhurst came into view and Duff’s thoughts scattered.

“ ’Tis true,” Waldo said angrily. “The king’s herald does indeed fly from the ramparts.”

Drake left the battlements, mentally preparing himself to meet Waldo. He had already sent word that Waldo was to be allowed into the outer bailey, and he intended to be at the portcullis himself to welcome his brother. He walked through the hall and down the steps to the inner bailey. Work had come to a standstill as his men scrambled for their arms. Of course they would not need them with the king in residence, but being prepared was always a good policy. He reached the portcullis and waited for Waldo to approach.

He did not have long to wait. Waldo detached himself from his knights and approached the iron portcullis guarding the entrance to the inner bailey. Duff appeared at his side. Somehow Drake was not surprised to see Duff.

“We meet again. Sir Bastard,” Waldo taunted.

The salutation grated on Drake and he clamped his teeth together lest he tell Waldo exactly who the bastard was in the family. That honor belonged to the king. He merely smiled and said, “Indeed.”

“I want my wife,” Waldo informed him. “Open the portcullis.”

“Welcome to my demesne,” Drake said with a flourish. “I
assume you come in peace.” The portcullis grated open, allowing Waldo and Duff to enter. When Waldo’s army rode forward to follow their leader, the portcullis lowered with a bang, barring their entrance.

“My men go where I go,” Waldo said gruffly.

“Nay, the keep is filled to overflowing. The king’s guard is garrisoned within the walls. Your men can camp on the moors beyond the walls. Fear not; no harm will come to you. The king does not condone fighting between his subjects.”

“How is my sister?” Duff asked anxiously.

Drake’s brows arched sharply upward. “Do you actually care?”

“Aye. Raven is all the family I have left. I have made some grave mistakes in my life; one of them was giving Raven to Waldo. I hope she will forgive me.”

“Bah! You speak nonsense.” Waldo snorted. “Raven is mine and there is naught anyone can do to change that. Not even the king can deny a man access to his lawful wife. ’Tis good that Edward is here. Mayhap he will find what you did so dishonorable that he will banish you from his kingdom.”

“Mayhap,” Drake agreed. He did indeed fear that the king would return Raven to Waldo. If Edward decided in Waldo’s favor, Drake would be forced to do more than strenuously object. Two people who loved one another belonged together.

The king was breaking his fast at the high table when Drake entered the hall, followed closely by Waldo and Duff. All three men dropped to one knee and waited for Edward to acknowledge them.

“Rise,” Edward said. “Come, break your fast with me. You will not find Lord Drake’s hospitality lacking.”

They seated themselves at the high table. Immediately servants carried in trays of food and pitchers of ale. Silence reigned while the men ate, and Drake wondered how long Waldo’s patience would hold.

To Waldo’s credit, he said nothing until the king pushed his empty trencher away and belched.

“Sire, I have traveled a long way to retrieve my wife from Drake’s custody. Did he tell you he raped her and carried her off?” Waldo asked around a mouthful of food. “ ’Tis a sad tale, sire, but true, nonetheless.”

Drake continued to slowly chew and swallow his food. “Raven is not your wife.”

“God’s blood, man, of course she is my wife. Bring her forth immediately.”

When Drake made no move to comply, Waldo said, “Does His Majesty know you made Raven your whore? That I am willing to take her back after she has been defiled should speak well for my good character. Once Raven is returned to my protection, she will be properly chastised.”

The king cleared his throat. “Lord Drake, would you please summon Sir John, Father Ambrose, and my own confessor? Methinks ’tis time for Sir Waldo to learn of his new rank. And,” he added, “Lady Raven should be present, since this also concerns her.”

Drake rose, spoke briefly to Balder, who was hovering nearby, then rejoined the others.

Waldo blanched. “What is this all about, sire? I am here to claim my wayward wife, not to make trouble. And what is this new rank of which you speak? I have been Lord Waldo since my father died and made me an earl.”

The king’s answer was forestalled when Raven entered the hall. Drake rose to meet her. He kissed her hand and seated her beside him at the high table.

“I hope your clothes are packed,” Waldo said angrily by way of greeting. “We leave for Eyre before the day is out.”

Raven glanced at Drake, her eyes revealing her fear. Drake clasped her shoulder to reassure her. “Naught has been decided,” he said.

Waldo’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?
There is naught to decide. Raven belongs to me.” He turned to the king. “What say you, sire? The Earls of Eyre have always been forthright in their loyalty to the Crown. I demand respect.”

“The Earl of Eyre does indeed have our respect,” Edward assured him.

“Believe naught that my bastard brother told you. I demand what is rightfully mine.”

“I have a great fondness for the present Earl of Eyre,” Edward replied. Waldo’s chest puffed out and he gave Drake a condescending look.

“Sir Waldo, please acknowledge the new Earl of Eyre. Rise, Lord Drake.”

Drake rose. He had waited a long time for this moment. Pride swelled within him. Finally his mother had been vindicated. The title mattered not, nor the wealth. What mattered was the acknowledgment of his legitimacy.

A knight knows his enemy
.

Waldo leaped to his feet, his face mottled with rage. “What did Drake tell you, sire? ’Tis a lie, all of it. I am the rightful Earl of Eyre. Naught he says can change that.”

“Careful,” Edward warned. “I do not pass judgment on the word of one man. There is proof that Leta ap Howell and Lord Basil of Eyre were legally wed. That would make Drake of Windhurst Basil’s oldest son and legal heir, while you . . .” His words trailed off, but the full impact of what he meant was not lost on Waldo.

“Show me your proof,” Waldo demanded, “and I will discredit it.”

“Ah, here come Father Ambrose and Sir John now,” the king said.

“Who, pray tell, is Father Ambrose?”

“Father Ambrose married my mother and father,” Drake answered. “The marriage was legal, but Basil’s marriage to your mother was not. Given our closeness in age, and the haste with which your parents were married, no formal annulment or divorce could have possibly been granted in so short a time. Basil’s father ordered the church burned to destroy the records. You are the bastard, Waldo, not I.”

“The priest is lying!” Waldo said angrily. “He was paid to bear false witness.”

Father Ambrose stepped forward. “I do not lie, my son. I performed the marriage in good faith and recorded it in the record book myself. I brought sufficient proof to verify my claim.”

“The church burned years ago,” Waldo replied smugly. “You are an imposter.”

“Enough!” Edward thundered. “The proof is overwhelming, and my decision has already been made. All that is required of you now is to swear fealty to your liege.”

“Swear fealty to Drake!” Waldo exploded. “Nay! Never.” His dark gaze settled on Raven, and a smile that did not reach his eyes stretched his lips. “You have stripped me of my title and wealth, but you cannot take my wife. ’Tis my God-given right to take Raven with me when I leave this cursed place.”

Drake’s expression turned feral and his lips drew back in a snarl. “Over my dead body!”

“That can be easily arranged,” Waldo said smoothly.

“Aye, you would like that,
brother
. Until now I could never figure out why you wished me dead. You feared the truth would come out.”

“You do not know the half of it,” Waldo muttered beneath his breath. More loudly, he said, “Your Majesty, only God can take a man’s wife from him.”

“There is no true marriage,” Raven claimed, jumping into the fray. “An unconsummated marriage is not legal.”

“ ’Tis your word against mine that our marriage was never consummated,” Waldo maintained.

“And we all know you are a liar,” Raven charged. “How long have you known Drake was the true heir of Eyre?”

“I owe you no answers,
wife
.”

“Mayhap not,” Edward injected, “but I am your king, and you owe me an answer. How long have you known Drake was Basil’s heir?”

Drake was afraid Waldo would lie, but apparently his brother feared the king too much. “I have known since I was old enough to question Father about his decision to foster Drake at Chirk. Had Drake been a bastard, Father would
not have cared about his welfare.” He returned his regard to Raven. “Come, wife, ’tis time to leave.”

Raven turned to the king, her eyes pleading. “Your Majesty, I beg you, do not send me away with Waldo. I could not live with a man I hold responsible for my sister’s death.”

“What say you to that, Sir Waldo?” Edward asked.

“My wife knows not what she is saying, sire. Daria died of a stomach ailment. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.”

“I cannot make a judgment without first weighing everything I have heard today,” Edward said, tapping a finger against his chin. “ ’Tis not a simple matter. Mayhap Father Ambrose and Father Bernard will lend me their wisdom. Together we will decide whether a legal marriage exists.”

“The marriage is legal,” Waldo persisted. “I will not allow Drake to have Raven. I have waited too long for her.”

“Drake is not the issue,” Edward advised. “I already have a bride in mind for Lord Drake.” He sent Drake a benevolent look.

“When can I expect your answer?” Waldo asked curtly.

“I will confer with the priests and give you my answer when a decision is reached. Meanwhile, you and Lord Duff can either return to your campsite outside the gates or remain within the keep.”

“I will stay,” Duff said. “I have not always been a good brother to Raven and I would like to make amends.”

“I will stay also,” Waldo replied.

“Very well,” Edward said, “so be it. I am sure Lord Drake will find adequate quarters for you within the keep.”

Drake motioned to Balder and the steward hurried forward. “My steward will show you to your rooms.”

“Follow me, my lords,” Balder said, bowing to Waldo and Duff.

Moments later the king swept from the room and shortly afterward the hall cleared, leaving Drake and Raven alone.

“I am worried,” Raven said, clutching Drake’s hand. “What if the king decides that I should remain Waldo’s wife and you should wed Lady Willa?”

“Come, we cannot talk here,” Drake said, urging her toward the stairs. Neither spoke again until they entered Raven’s chamber and Drake closed the door behind them.

Drake opened his arms and Raven launched herself into them. “I hate him, Drake, I truly do. I shall die if I have to remain his wife. Where will he take me to live? Eyre is no longer his home.”

“I believe Waldo’s mother left him a small estate near York. He will not be penniless. Do not concern yourself. I vow he will never have you. No matter what Edward decides, you are mine.”

His hand caressed her belly. “My child,” he said possessively.

“Aye, yours,” Raven acknowledged.

Then he sealed his vow with a kiss. When the kiss ended he released her and stepped away. “Duty awaits, my love. Try not to worry. I trust the king to make the right decision.”

Drake hated to leave Raven, but running the castle was complex and time-consuming, especially with the king in residence. When he reached the hall he found the captain of his guards waiting to speak with him.