The Dragon Lord's Daughters (39 page)
Read The Dragon Lord's Daughters Online
Authors: Bertrice Small
“How old is he?” Argel inquired.
“Five and thirty,” the Dragon Lord answered. “Almost twenty years Junia's senior, but I do not think she would willingly wed a young man after Simon de Bohun. William le Clare has lost a beloved wife. He will surely understand Junia's sorrow.”
“If you think this is best, husband,” Argel said, “then by all means pursue it.”
The other two women nodded in agreement.
The Dragon Lord rode the next day to Lord Mortimer's fine stone keep. When Lord Mortimer learned the reason for his visit he clapped his friend upon the back, saying, “You could not have come at a better time. My cousin arrives tomorrow for a visit. He has written me that he is indeed considering another marriage, and wishes my advice as to seeking a suitable bride.”
“I do not have a great name,” the Dragon Lord said.
“You descend from Arthur, and your lineage is impeccable. One thing, however, old friend. My cousin must be told the entire truth of Junia's unfortunate adventures.”
“It is the honorable thing,” Merin Pendragon agreed. “Will my daughter's dower be enough, though?”
“William does not seek a rich wife. He needs a young and fecund wife,” Lord Mortimer said. “The more I consider it, the more I believe Junia would be perfect for him. William loved Adele right well even as Junia loved her Simon. Neither of them will expect it to be anything more than a good match. Junia is well bred, and knows how to manage a household. My cousin is not a cruel man, but he will know how to be firm with a young wife.”
“Then I will remain and meet William le Clare,” Merin Pendragon said.
Lord Mortimer's expected guest arrived the following morning, and the three men spent the afternoon hunting. After the evening meal as they sat before the fire in the hall, wine cups in their hands, William le Clare explained to his cousin the purpose of his visit.
“I have decided that I need another wife,” he said. “I do not want one, for it seems almost a betrayal of my beloved Adele, but I need an heir, and I am still young enough to sire one, Cousin.”
“And have you anyone in mind?” Edmund Mortimer asked his cousin.
William le Clare shook his head in the negative. “Nay. How would I know any suitable young girls?” He chuckled.
“Then it is possible I may have a prospect for you, Cousin,” Lord Mortimer said. “The Dragon Lord is seeking a husband for his widowed daughter. The girl will be sixteen in two months. She is the child of his second concubine, and her dower portion is intact. As you do not seek love, neither does Junia Pendragon, for she loved her husband well and true, cousin. She is very fair, well-spoken and well-bred.”
William le Clare turned to Merin Pendragon. “You would consider me, my lord?”
Merin nodded. “But first you must know why my daughter is widowed, sir,” he said. “My family and another have been locked in a feud for over a century, but for the last few years the quarrel lay dormant. My daughter knew naught of the dispute, and neither did the young man she met several years ago while riding with her brother. A friendship grew between the three young people. My daughter and this boy fell in love.”
“He was of the other family?” William le Clare immediately guessed.
“Aye.” Merin Pendragon sighed deeply. “Of course, no marriage could be contracted between them, and both were told this. Unfortunately, my daughter and Simon de Bohun arranged to meet again. The boy's father followed with his men, and caught the two. Hugo de Bohun forced his son to rape my daughter while he and his men watched. My only son, Brynn, attempted to rescue his sister and was captured and imprisoned for his trouble. I will not bore you at this time with all the details, especially if your interest in my daughter has waned with my telling. I rescued my children. I slew Hugo de Bohun. I saw Junia wed to Simon de Bohun, that our honor be restored. Then he was also slain.”
“You are a good father, my lord. You did exactly what needed to be done,” William le Clare said.
“She loved the de Bohun boy. She loves him yet, I fear,” Merin Pendragon said.
“I loved my wife, and love her yet,” William le Clare responded. “If your daughter is willing, then there would be no illusory expectations between us. I seek a young wife who will give me an heir. Nothing more. I will treat her kindly as long as she is obedient and a good chatelaine.”
“Her dower is not great,” Merin Pendragon said.
“What is it?” the younger man asked.
“Livestock, cattle and sheep both. A dower chest of linens and clothing. Her horse. And sixteen silver pennies, sir,” the Dragon Lord answered.
“I consider her very well dowered, my lord,” William le Clare replied. “I would, however, for both of our sakes, see your daughter before any arrangement is made between us. While I seek a young wife, I do not want an unwilling wife. I do not, I fear, have the patience for it,” he finished with a small smile.
“Agreed,” the Dragon Lord responded. “I will return home tomorrow. Come to Dragon's Lair when you have concluded your visit with your cousin, and you will meet my daughter Junia. You will find her very fair.” He arose. “If I am to leave early then I will to my bed, gentlemen,” he said.
When Merin Pendragon had found his bed space at the end of the hall William le Clare turned to Lord Mortimer. “Do you know the girl?”
“Since she was a child. Merin has three daughters. The eldest by his first concubine, Gorawen, a most beautiful and clever woman. A second daughter, as well as his son, by his wife, the lady Argel. Junia is the daughter of his other concubine, Ysbail. Averil, the eldest sister has always been considered the most beautiful. She is the wife of the lord of Everleigh. The second daughter, Maia, is the wife of Emrys Llyn, the Lord of the Lake. Junia, the youngest, was coltish and charming as a little girl. Now I find her every bit as beautiful as her eldest sister despite their different coloring. The girl is pale, with hair like a raven's wing. Her eyes are the green of a sunlit forest pool. She is nicely made and sweetly spoken. She plays several instruments, and is skilled on them all. Beware her mother though, cousin. Ysbail is greedy and sharp-spoken. However, you could do worse than to wed Pendragon's daughter.”
“You like her,” William le Clare said.
“Aye, I do,” Lord Mortimer admitted. “And I will admit that even I wished it had not been necessary to kill young Simon de Bohun. The boy loved her, for all that happened. Merin tells me that Junia claims her husband only knew her that one time. He says she is not a girl to prevaricate, so while she is no longer a virgin, she is yet inexperienced, and could be taught to please.”
William le Clare said, “So what it all boils down to, cousin, is that I find her suitable, and she be willing.”
Lord Mortimer nodded with a small smile. “Aye,” he agreed.
Merin Pendragon returned home the following day.
“You remained longer than I thought you would,” Argel said. “I would have sent Brynn to seek you had you not returned today.”
“William le Clare came to visit,” he replied.
“Tell us!” Gorawen said. “What think you, my lord?”
“I like him,” Merin Pendragon said. “I think him most suitable, but he must see Junia, and be assured she is willing to marry him. He will come to Dragon's Lair in a few days' time.”
“Will you speak with our daughter before he comes?” Ysbail wanted to know.
“I think it best I do,” the Dragon Lord told the three women. “Where is she? She is usually at her loom this time of day.”
“She and Brynn and several of our men went riding,” Argel replied. “The day is pleasant, and she has been cooped up all winter.”
“Is this William le Clare a man of property, my lord, and where does he live?” Ysbail wanted to know.
“Near Hereford,” the Dragon Lord answered her.
“Is he a man of means?” Ysbail prodded.
“He has lands, and stock, and since he had a wife I will assume he has a goodly hall. I do not know,” Merin responded honestly.
“Should you not know?” Now it was Argel who spoke up before Ysbail annoyed her husband with her determined probing.
“He is Edmund Mortimer's cousin,” the Dragon Lord said. “What more is there to know? Mortimer would not recommend him were he not suitable. Junia is not a princess, Ysbail, and considering the misbehavior that led to such tragic events, I am relieved that William le Clare would consider our daughter at all.”
“An older man is a good thing. It would be difficult for Junia to accept a younger man. She would be always making comparisons,” Gorawen spoke up. “We must hope, Ysbail, that Junia will please William le Clare.”
“I dare not speak with her,” Ysbail said. “She will only listen to Argel.”
Argel chuckled. “She is angry, but she never forgets her manners. I credit you with that, Ysbail.”
Junia returned with her brother in mid-afternoon. They had missed the main meal of the day, but were back in time for the evening meal. Junia went immediately to her loom. She was weaving a wall tapestry depicting Christ's crucifixion. It suited her mood of late.
Argel came and stood by her side, a hand resting lightly on Junia's shoulder. “Your father may have found you a husband, Junia.” She felt the girl stiffen. “His name is William le Clare,” she continued in a low, calm voice. “He is Lord Mortimer's cousin, and a widower. There were no children of his first union, and he hopes for a child with a young wife. He is coming with Lord Mortimer to visit us in a few days.”
“Simon is not gone a year,” Junia responded.
“No, but we could not wait until the year was up to seek out eligible prospects. William le Clare's arrival on the scene is most providential, my child. If he would have you it would be an excellent match for you. Every bit as good as Averil's.”
Junia laughed bitterly. “Do you believe I care about such things? Those are things my foolish mother cares about. Not I, lady.”
“Ysbail is what she is, Junia,” Argel said reasonably. “Even as you are what you are. You cannot change her now. But your father and I would have you happy again. Will you promise me to greet William le Clare fairly, and give this a chance?” She moved around to take the girl's face in her hands, and looked into her eyes.
Junia sighed deeply. “I still hurt,” she said softly.
Argel nodded, and bending, kissed the girl. “I know, my child, I know,” she said.
“I will greet this man fairly, lady,” she promised. “Even if he does not suit me, or I him, I would not have him think me ill bred.”
“Then I am content,” Argel said, smiling at Junia.
“Lady, what does he know of me?” Junia asked nervously.
“All, my child. Your father felt he must know all from the outset,” Argel said.
Junia nodded. “It is better,” she agreed.
“I will tell your father, then, that you look forward to William le Clare's arrival,” Argel responded to the girl, smiling again. “He will be pleased, Junia.”
“My mother knows?”
“Aye,” Argel said, and then unable to help herself, she giggled.
For the first time since Simon de Bohun's death Junia began to laugh, and she laughed until the tears were rolling down her face, and she was gasping with the delicious knowledge that the kindly Argel, whom she had never heard say an unkind word about anyone, had no more respect for Ysbail than Junia did. But, by the rood, she hid it well! “Oh, lady,” Junia said as she finally managed to control her laughter.
“We are very bad, my child,” Argel replied, but her lips were twitching.
“Thank you,” Junia said, and she took Argel's hands up in hers and kissed them.
“Oh, dearest one, I do want you happy!” Argel said, and then turning, she hurried back to where her husband and the others were anxiously waiting. The smile upon her face told them what they needed to know.
Eight days later a messenger arrived from Lord Mortimer to say that he and his cousin would be coming to Dragon's Lair in two days' time. A flurry of excitement ran through the household as the Dragon Lord's women bustled about to see that all would be in readiness to receive their guests. Junia, however, sat in the hall at her loom, ignoring the busy action around her.
She knew that she would have to marry despite her lack of enthusiasm. A woman of her class had but two choices: marriage or the veil. She had no calling for the church, and she knew it. Besides, she was much too independent a soul. The dull routine of a convent day would render her mad in short order. And the vow of obedience was not one Junia thought she could accept. Yet under the law a woman must also be obedient to her husband and lord. Still, she knew a man might be manipulated a bit now and again. No. Being a wife would be far easier than being a nun.
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