The Everlasting Covenant (15 page)

“
The earl is betrothed to my daughter.
”
He paused.
“
My youngest. Anne.
”
He watched Daphne
’
s eyes close and a pained expression swiftly crossed her features. Cameron could not see his mother
’
s reaction to the news, for he stood at her side and his eyes were focused suspiciously on Ferris. So, she knew. Both her memory and her shrewd instincts would have brought the tr
uth to her ..
. as it had to Ferris. He tried to explain.
“
The earl values her highly and would do anything in his power to make her happy. Further, he opposed the devilry of my sons taking captured deFraynes out of Edward
’
s camp to Raedelle. But Lord Forbes was unable to intercede further. He was needed elsewhere.
”

A vague smile replaced Daphne
’
s pained expression.
“
This betrothal to one so mighty must please your lady wife a great deal.
”

“
Marcella is enjoying it heartily, I assure you. Retrieve your son, madam, and then get thee out of England.
”

“
I will stay,
”
she said softly, almost in invitation.
“
Women do not suffer under attainder. My sons will go away. Both of them.
”

Was it so well understood already? That Edward would be king? And did he perceive her correctly
--
that she would re
main here, a place where he might easily find her?

“
There is this place,
”
she said, barely glancing around,
“
that I will try to preserve until a more peaceful time. Lord deFrayne is dead, our cause has been hard for the king. If Edward is crowned, perhaps something can be done for
my sons one day. I will stay –
I will keep the wall for some warlord until I am banished, or peace comes again. This is Cameron
’
s. If not now, someday in the future then.
”

“
Madam, you should flee England with your sons. No one can be certain of the safety of these walls with Henry
’
s enemies everywhere.
”

She smiled patiently.
“
Ferris, there have always been enemies all around me. The enemies grapple for a crown now, but it is not very different than when they simply fought for the sake of fighting, for the sake of perpetuating an old, very tired argu
ment.
“

Their family differences again. Of all those involved it was first only Ferris and Daphne who wished it could be forgotten. If not forgotten, negotiated, laid away, if only in an uneasy grave. They had tried reason, but reason failed in the face of hostile hearts. There were always many who did not want to forget.
“
Madam, my lady wife ..
.
”

Daphne closed her eyes and her mouth took on a rigid, irritated grimace. She slowly opened her eyes again.
“
Ferris, it is too late for all that now. I know it is Marcella who holds my son. I know her hatred for me is fierce. Say no more.
”

Ah, but that was the reason for Marcella
’
s scorn and treachery. Because Ferris loved Daphne. He had loved her when she was a girl, just as Dylan loved Anne. He courted her secretly and when her father learned of it, they tried to convince the families
that much could be gained by a marriage. But Daphne
’
s father saw a better end in quickly giving her to the heir of Heathwick, who was more powerful and richer than any Gifford. Ferris lost her. He waited years to wed, and finally took the hand of the daughter of a knight bidden to the Gifford house.

Marcella
’
s father had nudged her toward Ferris for at least four years, but it was not until after Daphne had borne a son and Ferris
’
s own brother and father were dead that he took Marcella to wife. By that time the rumors of his love for Daphne had circulated well. Marcella married Ferris knowing that he had loved another, and, he suspected, expecting to change that. But one cannot change one
’
s own history. His wife had never forgotten nor forgiven him. Not for one moment. Every child she bore him she brought forth with a vengeance, reminding him of all she did for him. She taunted him that Daphne could never do so much. She bitterly reminded him that Daphne had not defied her father for his sake. She asked him, too frequently, what he had found to love. Ferris could never answer her taunts, reminders, or questions. When he married Marcella he had resigned himself to life without Daphne. But he could not despoil the memory of her, or their love, by responding to Marcella
’
s jealousy.

He let his eyes focus on Daphne
’
s for a long moment. He would say nothing in front of her son, but in his eyes, in hers, there was a promise. He would breach his marriage contract now, and Marcella be damned. Anne would be cared for, and he could not indulge his wife
’
s cruelty another day. He had tried to love Marcella, just as he had tried to temper her harsh
ness, her hatred. Ferris had been true to his marriage oath, but it had gained him nothing but loneliness. Even though he had taken Marcella from the humble home of a knight into a baron
’
s castle, she was never satisfied. Perhaps he
did not love her passionately –
he had never loved nor wanted her as he had Daphne. But he had been true, he had been loyal. What more she wanted, had not been his to give.

It was first his word, his honest attempt to be a decent husband that kept Ferris from Daphne. Later, it was the fear that he
would endanger the woman he truly loved. Now Ferris deeply regretted his reticence, for his life was nearly over, and he had not yet lived. He no longer had to lie awake nights wondering if there was any way to creep p
ast the powerful Earl of Heathwick –
he was no more. Neither was the keep stout or well protected. Maybe,
after all these many years ..
. even the mo
ment tempted him. She had invited him into the hall. But, there were battles to fight and her son stood at her side.
Soon,
he told himself.
Soon.

“
Will you accept one cup of wine, Ferris?
”
she softly asked.

“
Nay, madam, not this time.
”
He turned and went to his horse. Behind him he could feel Cameron shift, ready should Ferris draw a sword. When he turned back with the white tunic bearing the Ayliffe badge, he found that Cameron
’
s hand was on the hilt of his sword. He passed the tunic to Daphne.
“
Work quickly and well. And – ”
He faltered and looked at the ground.
“
If you fight, spare any of mine you can. I love my sons, too. This is not really any fault of theirs.
”

“
I
know.
”
Her voice was breathless, a soft, quiet gust of air. No more.

Ferris turned to go back to the gate. He had thought himself old, until he
’
d looked into her eyes. She gave him back his youth. She was strong, invincible, wise. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The gate creaked to let him depart.

“
My lord,
”
a man
’
s voice called to his back. He slowly turned to regard Cameron.
“
My thanks.
”

Ferris nodded. For what? He might have endangered his own family to show one small, parting loyalty to the woman he had always loved and admired. He hoped he would not regret his decision. He hoped Cameron would not retaliate. The plan was simple and clever, but the cost could be extravagant.

***

“
What ails you now?
”
Marcella demanded of her daughter.

“
Naught, madam,
”
she replied.

“
You keep so much to your rooms, it slights us. I will not have you carry tales of abuse to the earl.
”

“
Nay, madam, I only suspected my company was unwelcome, but if it pleases you, I will join the family more.
”

“
It pleases me,
”
she said shortly.

But it was difficult for Anne, for she was tired. Night after night she went to Dylan in his dank, cold cell. On only three nights in twelve was she unable to reach him. With the day of his execution fast approaching, exhausted and nervous and with no sign of Brennan, Anne feared her feelings were transparent. She worried that if she were seated with the others in the common hall, listening to her mother carry on about the plans for Dylan
’
s death, she might burst into tears. Anne had watched the slow construction of an elaborate scaffold for hanging in the outer bailey. It was finally completed.

A missive had arrived from Lord Gifford, filled with exciting battle news. Margaret of Anjou, Henry
’
s wife, had collected large armies of raiding Northmen, and her troops were laying waste to the entire countryside in their advance toward London. Ferris, himself, was with Warwick, Edward
’
s rich and powerful advisor, and the captured king, but his location was undisclosed. Lord Forbes was still with Edward and moving toward London to join Warwick, and then they would face Margaret
’
s army for a final decision that would be quick and bloody. He suggested they wait to celebrate, for Margaret
’
s Northmen had a reputation not only for strength, but for unbelievable brutality. They had unleashed whole cities full of homeless b
eggars to roam the countryside –
innocents were burned out of their homes, robbed, raped, slain. Margaret
’
s only way to pay these vicious merce
naries was with booty. He warned his family to take special care to keep the doors closed tightly to any approaching army that did not bear a banner of either Raedelle or Ayliffe. Margaret
’
s men had left only waste and carnage in their path.

He made no mention of Trenton, but Marcella did not seem concerned.
“
No word comes from Cameron deFrayne,
”
she said. “
Tomorrow, then.
”

Tomorrow.

“
Madam,
”
Bart said,
“
I think we test the wrath of both War
wick and Edward in our delay
--
one the richest man in Eng
land, the other the would-be king. We should ride toward London at once and hope to find the right army.
”

“
Soon, Bart.
”

“
Madam,
”
Bart pressed,
“
like you, I would welcome a chance to capture Heathwick and kill the deFraynes, but if there is no ransom paid, no title for lands brought to us by Cameron deFrayne, what is to be gained by killing Dylan? What will you do if Lord Forbes is angry?
”

“
You?
”
she asked Bart.
“
You hate them. I thought you would relish
--
”

“
I would relish an estate, be it Heathwick or another. But if there is no Heathwick for me, and if Lord Forbes is angered by this execution, perhaps he will not
--
”

“
Anne,
”
Marcella snapped.
‘
Tell your brother you will petition the earl.
”

Anne looked up. She stared at Bart levelly, knowing she must use this moment well. She took a deep breath.
“
Lord Forbes promised to succor this family. Of course,
he approved of us all then ..
.
”

“
Do you see?
”
Bart said.
“
Will you risk all?
”

“
There is no risk. How have you become so skittish?
”

“
Delay the hanging. Await the earl
’
s approval.
”

“
Nay!
”

“
Good sense is not skittish,
”
Quentin said, his voice low and calm. Quent
in never had time for nonsense –
he was direct and confident.
“
Bart has a point that must be considered,
”
Quentin went on.
“
Father has warned us of t
he strength of Margaret
’
s army –
if something goes awry and Edward does not win his crown, we could bargain with the life of this
--
”