Promised to the Crusader (9 page)

How could he bear such torture? How could he live while such a sin lay on his soul and not seek God’s forgiveness? Only then would he find peace again. He needed the cleansing of
the Lord’s mercy, but he refused to seek it and claimed there was no true god.

Yet in her heart she carried the picture of a young man who thought nothing of his own safety when a small boy was in danger of drowning. It was true that he had seen and done things that had changed him, but surely deep down inside he was the same man?

That man would never allow a child to be slaughtered intentionally. Whatever had happened that terrible day, he had not been to blame. She could see that he felt a terrible guilt because he had caused his friend to be punished for allowing the slaughter of innocents against his orders—but there were times when a man had no choice but to uphold justice.

His sin could be forgiven. God would give him peace—but could he ever forgive himself?

Elaine felt her doubts ease. She wanted to return and tell him she understood…to tell him that she truly loved him…but she held back.

Zander would not want her to cling to him. He had to be strong. He needed to regain all his strength to fight their mutual enemy—but then he would return to her and claim her as his bride.

They held a feast for the village people that night. Several more rows of trestle tables filled the hall so that everyone might sit and eat. The servants took it in turns to serve the tables and then took their places to join in the celebrations. Halfway through the evening, the guards on the stout battlements were changed and the men came in from the cold to eat their fill and enjoy their ease.

Once again there was music from the fiddler and dancing, but this time it was the country reels and carols that Elaine knew and understood. She joined in some of the dances, laughing to see her people so happy and looking to Zander for approval. He nodded and smiled, but then turned away to talk to Sir Robert.

Elaine felt a foolish prick of pain. She had hoped that now they had spoken so frankly he would smile more and look at her with love, but still she saw only the proud cold face he showed to the world. He wanted her and he had told her they would be married, but where was the love and tenderness that had meant so much to her?

Why must he shut her out? Did he need the barrier that he had built about himself to remain strong? If she tried to break it down, would she weaken him? She turned away, joining in the
fun of the dance once more. She would not let herself be hurt. Elaine would hold fast to her love, even if she saw no sign of it being returned.

Alone in her bed that night she had wept a little, but in the morning her tears were gone. Once again she rose filled with zeal. There were tasks that needed to be done to make the house a home, but it was mostly needlework and genteel occupations. She dressed in a gown of blue wool and bound her waist with a wide belt of woven silver that ended in tassels of the same thread bound with glass beads. The counting of linen had resulted in the discovery of torn sheets and hangings, some of which ought to be discarded while others could be repaired.

Setting her ladies to work on some of the linen, Elaine chose a hanging that needed some repair before it could be used again. She selected her silks, sorting the colours into shades of light and dark, and then began the work.

It was almost half an hour later when her steward came to announce the arrival of a guest.

‘Lord Stornway, Marshal to the King, my lady.’

‘Lord Stornway is here now?’ Elaine laid her
needlework to one side and rose to her feet. ‘Where is Lord Zander?’

‘He rode out with some of his men not thirty minutes since, lady.’

‘Then I must welcome the King’s Marshal in his stead,’ Elaine said. She glanced at her ladies. ‘You have worked long enough. Tidy these things away and then you may seek some refreshment yourselves.’ To the steward she said, ‘Bring wine and comfits to us in the hall, Elgin.’

‘Yes, my lady.’

Elaine went down the twisting stone steps that led to the hall below her solar. She had half expected Lady Anne would have accompanied her brother, but Philip was alone. He turned as she came up to him, a smile of welcome on his lips.

‘I have not called at an inconvenient moment?’

‘No, my lord—how could you?’ She held out her hands to him with a smile. ‘You know that you must always be welcome here. Zander sent you word of what took place here?’

‘Yes. I am glad that my standard was instrumental in the surrender of your manor with little or no bloodshed.’

‘I was thankful for it. Had we been forced to
hold them to siege, my people might have suffered. That would have caused me some distress.’

‘I should never wish to see you in distress, lady.’ He had her hands in his and leaned forwards to lightly touch his lips to her cheek. ‘I admire you very much, Elaine.’

Elaine did not flinch away, though her cheeks burned. The look in his eyes was almost intimate and she wondered if she had been wise to greet him alone. He was Zander’s friend, but he was also a man—an unmarried man. She liked him and was grateful for his kindness, but the look he gave her was too warm for friendship.

She moved away from him towards the fire and pulled the rope hanging there, which set a bell pealing. Servants appeared with wine and trays of almond comfits and pastries. They set their trays on trestles and withdrew, but the moment of awkwardness had passed. Lord Stornway had remembered that she was the chatelaine of her own manor—and promised to his friend.

‘How do you settle here, Lady Elaine? Is there aught you need that we might supply?’

‘We have most of what we need—I have investigated our stores. We shall need more preserves for the winter, but my ladies and I
will supply that lack—though we must send to Shrewsbury for supplies of sugar. I dare say it will be costly, more than six silver pennies a cone, but I prefer its use to honey. I have not yet enquired how the hives do here. In my mother’s time they produced enough honey for all our needs, but I am not sure how they do now.’

‘Anne’s hives thrive. If you need fresh blood in yours, I am certain she could find you a healthy queen. It is the queen that makes or breaks the hive, do you not agree?’

‘Yes, I am sure of it,’ Elaine said. ‘I think Lady Anne keeps your house well, my lord.’

‘She is an excellent housekeeper and would make a wonderful wife, but she is too particular and will not settle for any knight I have brought before her, though…’ Philip looked thoughtful. ‘Just this morning she told me she might one day decide to seek her own life and that I should think of taking a wife.’

Elaine did not dare to meet his eyes. Was he testing her? Surely Zander had made her position clear? He must know that she was promised to his friend?

Her breathing was shallow, for she did not know how to answer him. Even as she framed the words in her mind, Zander strode into the hall and came towards them.

‘Did you send word of your coming?’ he asked. ‘I was not told or I should have been here to greet you. Forgive me for my discourtesy, Philip.’

‘Your lady hath made me welcome,’ Philip said and smiled at her in a way she found too intimate. ‘I rode this way and decided to call by chance. Is all well here?’

‘Yes,’ Zander said. ‘I had meant to send word, but we were short of meat and I went hunting this morning. We were lucky and took a boar and a hind within a short distance of the house and so returned with our supper. Will you stay and dine with us? I had intended to invite you and Lady Anne to share my betrothal feast two days hence.’

‘So it is settled, then?’

Elaine saw a shadow of disappointment on the lord’s face. He’d known they were to marry, but had hoped her plans might change—had he sensed the distance between her and Zander while they stayed at Stornway?

There was no sign of his disappointment as he smiled at Elaine. ‘Anne and I will be delighted to join you for your feast, but, no, I shall not stay now as I am expected home and would not cause my sister anxiety. I came only to enquire if there was anything you needed.’

‘Nothing—unless you have news of Newark?’

‘I have heard nothing of him at all,’ Philip said. ‘I am told his Majesty may soon be released. The ransom has been paid—or it was arranged so, though as yet no further news has come.’

‘Richard will need all his knights about him when he returns to England,’ Zander said. ‘I think Prince John would prevent it if he could.’

‘Hush, you speak treason, my friend,’ Philip said. ‘It is true, but we must tread carefully. John is ruler here until Richard sets foot on English soil.’

‘Come, let me see you out,’ Zander said and the two men walked to the door. ‘You will let me know if you hear anything—of Newark or his Majesty’s return…’

Elaine stood stiff and stunned as they walked away. Zander had hardly glanced at her and yet he’d invited Lord Stornway and Lady Anne to join them at their betrothal feast. He had said nothing of the feast or a betrothal to her privately and his lack of courtesy made her angry. How dare he treat her in so casual a fashion? Their marriage was something she would expect to discuss, but he treated it as if it were merely a matter of business.

True, she had told him that she would wed him and that her love held fast, but he’d made no attempt to court or consult her and she was hurt that he should behave in such a high-handed way.

Did he imagine that she had no feelings?

Leaving the hall, she held her head high, but inside she was seething. The least he might have done was to tell her of his plans.

‘L
ord Zander asks why you do not come to table, my lady,’ Marion said, looking puzzled. ‘Are you ill? Would you have me serve you here in your chamber?’

‘I am not hungry,’ Elaine said. ‘Tell my lord that I have been waiting to hear from him what he requires of me.’

‘Surely—’ Marion was silenced by a flash of Elaine’s eyes and went away without another word.

Elaine stood at her slitted window and stared out at a sky that was bright with stars. She had begun to count them when she heard the step she had been waiting for, yet still she did not turn.

‘Why do you not come to supper, Elaine?’

‘I was not sure what you required of me,’ she answered, but did not turn.

‘What nonsense is this?’ he asked gruffly and took her shoulders, swinging her round to face him. ‘You are mistress here—you do not need me to tell you what is required of you. The men are hungry and waiting for their supper—but unless you send to say you will not dine with us they must wait.’

Elaine gazed up at him. ‘I thought you made the decisions concerning such things,’ she said defiantly. ‘You invited Lord Stornway to our betrothal feast.’

‘Good grief, Elaine—is that what this is all about?’ Zander frowned at her. ‘You said you were prepared to wed me so I thought we would hold a betrothal feast before I left.’

Her heart caught instantly, her irritation at his high-handed behaviour dissolving in sudden fear for him. ‘You are leaving soon?’

‘In a few days, soon after the feast. We are trying to locate Newark.’

‘But you are not yet strong enough,’ she cried, forgetting her annoyance. ‘If you challenge him too soon, he will destroy you.’

‘I cannot hide here for ever. I am growing stronger every day. Besides, the challenge must be lodged in the proper manner—and if I do
not issue it before Richard returns it may be too late. He will forbid his knights to quarrel amongst themselves.’

‘Is that why you announced our betrothal without consulting me first?’

‘Yes, in part…’ Zander frowned. ‘I saw the way Philip Stornway looked at you. I thought I could not have made myself clear to him, so I asked Philip and Anne to our betrothal feast.’ His gaze narrowed, becoming intent on her face. ‘Did I do wrong—have you changed your mind? I know that Philip was struck by your beauty when we stayed at his home. I think he hoped he had misunderstood my intentions.’

Elaine nodded. ‘Yes, he did look at me…but I made it clear…’ Her cheeks flamed. ‘You could not think that I would change my mind?’

‘Why not? He bears no scars, physical or mental. He is a gentler, more fitting knight. I could not blame you if you preferred to wed him, Elaine.’

‘Do you think me so shallow?’ Her throat caught with tears.

‘Then why will you not come to table?’ His mouth thinned. ‘I had not thought you so sulky, Elaine.’

‘I am not sulking.’

‘Are you not?’ Zander laughed softly. ‘You
want proof of your worth to me?’ He moved closer, drawing her in with one hand placed in the middle of her back. Lowering his head, he began to kiss her, softly at first, but then with an increasing passion. His tongue flicked at her lips and she parted them, allowing him entry. The sensation of their tongues touching and meeting was pleasant and aroused stirrings of a strange but exciting feeling in the pit of her stomach. Heat pooled inside her and she moved closer to him, wanting something more. ‘Enough, Elaine, or our poor men will not eat this night. It is long since I have lain with a woman and my respect for your modesty may not withstand the need you arouse in me. Come now, take my hand and we shall go down.’

Torn between pique at his manner, which seemed to vacillate between that of a lover and a stern guardian, she refused his hand but turned and preceded him down the stairs to the hall below. She could hear the men murmuring amongst themselves and was suddenly shamed. These men worked and trained hard and they were hungry. She must find another way to bring Zander to his senses in future.

She took her seat at the high board and nodded at the servants. Food was brought hurriedly forwards—the first dish, soup, which had been
cooling in the pot. Elaine allowed the housecarl to serve her, waving aside the services of a taster to save time. Only when she had been served would the men have their food.

She was about to taste her soup when she noticed something odd in the servant’s manner as he began to ladle the soup into Zander’s bowl. She made a signal to her steward, who hurried to her side.

‘That man is new,’ she said. ‘Tell him to taste the soup he would serve my lord.’

‘My lady?’ Elgin looked puzzled. ‘He is the nephew of—’

‘Tell him to taste it himself.’

‘Do as your lady bids you,’ Zander said, reaching out to bar the servant’s way as he tried to move away. ‘Drink it, damn you.’

‘No…’ the servant’s eyes rolled in fear. ‘You can’t make me…’ He tried to make a bolt for it, but was brought down by one of the knights further down the table. ‘He made me do it.’

‘Drink…drink…drink…’ the men demanded that the traitor drink the soup, which was so obviously poisoned.

‘No,’ Zander said. ‘Take him away and detain him. He shall be questioned later.’ He summoned another servant. ‘Take this soup away and bring something else. No one will drink the soup lest it has been contaminated.’

A flurry of servants hurried to take away the contaminated soup and a new dish was served, which the cook volunteered to taste himself. As nothing untoward occurred, the mess of rabbit and onions was distributed to the hungry men.

Zander took his place beside Elaine and signalled for the roast meat to be served. ‘What made you suspect him?’

Elaine shook her head. ‘It was just a look in his eyes as He passed his hand across your dish. I do not think the poison was intended for any but you, Zander. He was new at table and was sweating badly.’

‘Then I thank you for my life, Elaine. Had you not been so vigilant he might have succeeded in his aim.’

‘Why would anyone try to poison you?’ Elaine asked, feeling shocked and puzzled. ‘I thought you in danger if you fought Newark in single combat—but here in this house…’ She was angered that any of their servants should behave so ill.

‘The servant will be questioned,’ Zander promised and laughed softly. ‘It seems I have an enemy—mayhap one I did not reckon with.’

Elaine shivered as a cool breeze touched her. Suddenly, her behaviour earlier seemed childish.

‘Forgive me for making you come to ask me.’

‘I think your little scheme may have worked in our favour. The delay made our would-be assassin nervous and that in turn caused him to be careless. Had all been as usual, you might not have noticed anything amiss.’

‘Yet I am sorry.’

Zander touched her hand. ‘You felt I was arrogant and mayhap I was. I am used to command, Elaine. Once I knew how to smile and court the girl I loved, but now…’ He shook his head. ‘I shall try to remember that you are a lady and not a soldier waiting to do my bidding.’

Elaine saw the wicked light in his eyes and laughed. The tension had evaporated between them and she knew he was teasing her.

‘You mock me, sir. I shall have to think of a suitable punishment for you.’

‘And I for you,’ Zander murmured huskily, leaning close so that only she could hear. ‘Methinks my lady could do with a spanking.’

‘You would not dare…’ She sent daggers of fire at him with her eyes, but saw him smile all the more. ‘Or perhaps you would.’

‘Oh, you can be sure of it,’ he promised in such a way that tremors ran up and down her spine and she thought that what he promised was perhaps less a punishment than a pleasure.

‘You tread on dangerous ground, my lord. I am no milk-and-water maiden.’

‘I never thought you were.’

Zander stood up and clapped his hands. ‘Music and dancing to delight my lady. Forget the foolishness earlier. None was harmed save the knave who would have poisoned me. Enjoy yourselves, for in a few days we leave to seek my true enemy—but not before we have celebrated the betrothal of your lord and lady in two nights hence.’

Cheers greeted his announcement. Men got up and began to dance a jig as a fiddler played and a minstrel sang. Wine and ale was flowing freely, though Elaine noticed that Zander drank sparingly, as she did.

When the night was well advanced and the men were a little rowdy, she took her leave. Zander walked her to the bottom stair that led to her solar and kissed her hand before returning to his men.

Had Elaine looked back she would have seen that Zander left the hall almost immediately with half a dozen of his men, but she was smiling and happy as she went to her room and did not notice as the sound of men’s voices became muted and then died away.

‘Why did you try to poison your lord?’ Elgin demanded. The knave had been bound and was on his knees, his head falling forwards when Zander walked in. A bucket of water was thrown over him, making him lift his head. ‘Speak or you will suffer a beating and worse.’

‘No, stay your hand,’ Zander said. ‘I did not order torture.’

‘This man must speak. He tried to murder you.’

‘We know what he did, but not why.’ Zander approached the man. He took a ladle, filled it with water and offered it to the offender. ‘Drink. It is not poisoned. You will not be tortured. I simply want the truth. Who paid you to murder me—and why?’

The man hesitated, then drank the water. ‘I was not paid, lord,’ he said and looked up proudly. ‘When the men came to our village they took my wife and son hostage. I was told to poison you and they would be spared.’

‘You knew you would die for it?’

‘Yes, lord.’

‘So you were willing to die for your family?’

‘Yes, lord.’

‘Who sent the men to take your wife and child hostage?’

‘I do not know for sure, lord—but they spoke of the earl.’

‘Newark,’ Sir Robert said grimly. ‘I never thought him a coward—to send a churl to do his work.’

‘Nor I…’ Zander frowned down at their prisoner. ‘You can tell me nothing further?’

‘No, lord.’

‘Very well, let him go. You are free to leave, sirrah, and you may return to your home and farm your strip without hindrance, but if you enter the castle again, you will be arrested on sight and next time I shall not be so lenient.’

‘You will let him go free?’ His men stared in amazement, for the usual punishment for such an offence was death and his forbearance might be seen as weakness.

‘He is but a pawn in a wider game,’ Zander said. ‘Send him on his way.’ He turned to leave, but the man caught at his robe. Zander turned. ‘Yes?’

‘My wife and child? He will kill them.’

‘I doubt it,’ Zander said. ‘When word gets out that I set you free, even though you tried to kill me, the earl will see that holding your family hostage does no good. I dare say your wife and son will be returned to you. Had you come to me for help rather than try to kill me I
would have done what I could for you. Give me the name of the man who sent you and I will try to have your family released.’

‘He would kill them rather than release them to you,’ the man said. ‘You give me my life, but it has little use to me without my wife and my son.’

‘If you will not confide in me, I cannot help you,’ Zander said.

He turned and walked from the chamber, leaving the men to stare at their prisoner uneasily, for they did not understand their lord’s leniency in sparing his life.

‘We should teach the scum a lesson,’ one of them said.

‘No,’ Sir Robert said. ‘Follow my lord’s orders. He has his reasons. Throw this piece of filth from the manor. If he crosses our bounds again, kill him.’

‘I did not wish harm to Lord Zander, but my wife and son are lost to me…’ The man wept.

‘Thank God for your life,’ the steward said. ‘Most lords would have you hung, drawn and quartered for what you did. Lord Zander has shown mercy. Go now before he changes his mind.’

The man was dragged from the castle weeping
and his cries could be heard for some time, until he was beyond the moat.

Sir Robert followed Zander from the chamber and caught up with him before He entered the hall.

‘Why did you not have him punished? He would have seen you die horribly.’

‘I have an enemy I do not know,’ Zander said. ‘If I killed the knave, my enemy would think he was safe, but since I spared him my enemy must wonder if the rogue confessed his name. In his anxiety he may become careless. I would know who my enemy is, sir. And I would have my lady’s people know that I shall treat them fair.’

It was not all his reason in showing mercy. The man’s plight had touched him, for he had been willing to give his own life to save his family and was therefore more to be pitied than reviled. Zander knew that by being so lenient with a knave who had tried to kill him, some might think him weak, but he had had enough of death and slaughter. Zander could not return his family to him, but he had given him his freedom. The rest was in God’s hands.

Sir Robert inclined his head, but looked thoughtful. ‘Surely it must be Newark? Who else would want you dead?’

‘I do not know and yet I have thought there must be someone in the shadows for a while, even in the Holy Land. When I went to bury Tom only a few men knew where I was going. The assassins that struck me down may have come upon me by chance, but I have always wondered if someone wanted me dead—if those Saracens were sent to murder me.’

‘Yet Newark is your enemy. You believe him guilty of your father’s murder—why look elsewhere?’

‘Mayhap you are right,’ Zander said, ‘but Newark is more likely to try a frontal attack to take the manor than poison. Somehow this seems more personal—as though this man wants me dead, but does not wish to harm anyone else. And for some reason he would keep his identity secret.’

‘Yes…’ Sir Robert frowned. ‘I can hardly believe any of your uncle’s men would try to murder you.’

‘No, not my uncle’s men, though I suppose he stands to inherit my wealth since I have no son or yet a wife. Even so, I do not think it.’

‘What do you intend to do about it? Someone should guard your back.’

‘Someone does guard my back at all times,’
Zander said, a slight smile on his lips as he looked at the great grey shadow that followed at his heels. ‘Both Vulcan and Janvier are always in the shadows waiting. I think that is why poison was chosen as the weapon. Anyone who tried to plant a knife in my back would be stopped in his tracks before he could get near. Poison is a deadly weapon, but silent and unnoticed—unless one has a quick-eyed wife.’ He smiled. ‘My lady saved my life, Sir Robert. I must reward her. Please send word to Lord Stornway that I would have the trunks I stored with him sent on to me here.’