The Troubadour's Romance (12 page)

Royce remembered with chilling clarity the wild-eyed look of his mother when they chanced to see each other. He felt a rising panic at the thought of stealing his bride, forsaking his friends, and future years of ill will with the mighty family of Twyford.

“
Will you do my bidding, Royce?
”
Henry asked him.

“
‘
Tis a bad omen to go against Wharton,
”
he said solemnly.

“
Do you fear the knight, Royce?
”

“
Nay, Sire. But it was a simpler matter to avoid him than to fight him. Neither of us can prove the other guilty.
”

“
Will you take the lady, Royce, as I ask?
”
the king demanded.

The ticklish memory of her inexperienced response, the softness of her lips on his, and the wild beating of her heart against his chest caused him to quiver slightly. She was frightened of him, this he knew. But something within her had reached out to him in their brief embrace, and suddenly he knew that he was better placed fighting all hell to keep her than trying futilely to keep himself from her.

He wanted her more desperately than he had ever wanted anything in his life. And by a word, she was his.

“
Yea, Sire.
”

Five

“
Madam,
”
Felise
said with all the sincerity she could muster,
“
I would not have you shamed by my behavior, nor would I disgrace my lord father with childish arguments. But nothing in my life has prepared me for this dreadful event. I don
’
t know the man, his circumstance, or what my life will be.
”

Edrea let a small laugh escape her, in spite of herself. The women sat in a small half-circle in
Felise
’
s chamber working needles into rough cloth. Daria applied her needlework to mending, Vespera
’
s needle busily plucked at a veil, and the noblewomen worked tapestry designs with colored threads. Lady Edrea had begged the company of her daughter on her last day at Windsor because the maid seemed distraught and nervous. On the morrow they would have meetings with the king, and when all were satisfied, a betrothal would be announced.

“
Few of us know what our life will be, Felise,
”
Edrea said with patience.

“
You know, madam,
”
she argued.
“
You will go home to Twyford and things will be much as they were.
”

Vespera reached across to Lady Edrea
’
s lap and, with a quiet laugh of her own, touched the woman
’
s hand.
“
Your
daughter forgets that you were once a young bride taken from your father
’
s home to wed a knight you scarcely knew.
”

“
But you knew Father,
”
Felise
protested, a pout in her voice and on her lips.

“
Aye, for two years,
”
Edrea replied, lifting her chin a notch.
“
But in that two years I saw him four times. He was my father
’
s choice.
”

“
I would relish two years,
”
Felise
retorted, stabbing her needle through the cloth.

“
I was four and ten,
”
Edrea exclaimed.
“
And upon my first introduction to Harlan, he was brutish and clumsy. He frightened me.
”
Her voice grew
wistful then, and there was a fa
int smile on her lips.
“
But I think I loved him even then.
”
Edrea worked her needle skillfully and did not look at her daughter when she spoke.
“
Harlan was a rugged young man who had ridden with armies for years, and he paid no attention to ladies of proper retirement. He found it hard to play the groom and harder still to coddle me when I wept for my mother. But in time and with the arrival of our sons, we became more important to each other, and by the time I weaned my firstborn, I could not imagine life without him.
”

“
I may not be so
lucky as to find a man as wonderful as Father awaiting me before the priest,
”
Felise
grumbled.

“
Or rather,
”
Edrea said tolerantly,
“
you may find a man as indisposed to marriage as you. If you find yourself thus, poor
Felise
, you might try a soft course with him and see what your labors yield. Answer his clumsy touch with warmth, the rule of his house with quiet obedience, and his oafish step with a pleasant smile. If you snarl at your new husband, you will find more of his back turned against you than his helping hand reaching out to you. But if you strive to do him honor and show him your gentle strength, you will gain not only his respect, but his love.
”

Felise
let her cloth fall abruptly to her lap and looked at her mother with glistening eyes and a quivering chin. She held her mouth in a grim line to try to forestall an outburst.
“
Madame, I don
’
t know how that is done,
”
she said sullenly.

“
It
’
s of no matter how, Felise,
”
Edrea said firmly.
“
If it is your goal, you will find the way.
”

Felise looked around the small group for solace, seeing all eyes on her. Edrea looked at her with stern dignity, showing with her eyes that she could not and would not coddle her any further. Whether or not Felise was ready, Edrea would cut her loose and let her make her way into wifehood. Vespera had a rather pained look, as though she pitied the girl, but nodded ever so slightly at Lady Edrea
’
s words. And Daria
’
s expression caused Felise to flinch slightly. The maid, unmarried herself and approaching thirty, had a gleefully wicked smile of superiority, as if seeing her mis
tress
’
s comeuppance felt rather good.

Felise
’
s eyes cleared and her voice became rather small.
“
There
’
s nothing I can do, is there?
”
she asked.

“
Yea, daughter,
”
Edrea said.
“
You can bear this with grace and di
gnity. You are a rich woman ..
. and very soon a powerful man will wed you. Your influence and your husband
’
s will not be small in this kingdom of Henry
’
s. You must draw on all you have learned to be certain your monies and powers are well used.
”
Edrea took a deep breath.
“
Dress so that we might meet your father in the hall. And leave your fretting in this circle of women.
”

Feli
se slowly rose and turned away from the women, Daria close behind her to help her dress. Edrea
’
s hands rested in her lap and she turned watering eyes toward the hearth. She felt a gentle hand touch her arm and she turned to look into Vespera
’
s sympathetic eyes.

“
It was easier, I think, to hold her on my knees when she was bruised from a fall or hurt because her brothers scorned her,
”
Edrea whispered. She squeezed Vespera
’
s hand.
“
I pray I have not spoiled the child from being a good wife.
”

Vespera shook her head and looked down.

“
God willing, I will attend her with her firstborn and this fear will be well behind us. I can
’
t know until then whether I have taught her anything at all.
”

“
Lady, you have been a wonderful mother to her. She should thank you.
”
Then very quietly Vespera added,
“
I thank you.
”

Edrea smiled warmly.
“
With so many who love her, how can anything go wrong? Surely the saints protect her.
”

“
The saints and all heaven,
”
Vespera confirmed. She stood and Edrea rose as well. The women walked to the door together arm in arm. Once there, Vespera turned and embraced Lady Edrea as a sister would.
“
It is hard to leave you,
”
Vespera confided.

“
Perhaps it is only for a time. Perhaps we will meet again.
”

Vespera shook her head.
“
But you will most certainly be in my prayers.
”
And then as quietly as she had come, she quit the room, leaving Edrea to return to her sewing until
Felise
was ready to descend into the hall.

To all those in attendance at the dinner, it appeared as though the negotiations for the marriage were well under way, for Harlan led his family to a trestle table seating twelve at the benches. Even though Henry had not officially decreed a betrothal contract, the families of
Felise
and Boltof gave their approval by their close and happy associa
tion. All of Lord Orrick
’
s family was in company; Sir Royce and Celeste, Sir Boltof and Harlan
’
s entire family plus three men-at-arms. Boltof stood to greet
Felise
and took custody of her, and the meal proceeded with pages and squires carving meat and carrying in food and replacing empty trays with full. There was much merriment among the reunited families, with the exception of Sir Royce and Lady
Felise
.

Jugglers were performing in the hall for the royal family and the others. Poets and singers and dancers livened the spirits of the court. But Royce
’
s mood was surly and short. He contributed nothing to the conversation and seemed to want to make himself small.
Felise
often caught him staring at her with a perturbed expression on his face, and thus attempted to avoid meeting his eyes.

For herself, it was a simple matter of being uncomfortable in his company. Memories of their last meeting plagued her the more, now that she had made the acquaintance of Celeste and found her to be agreeable and sweet. In addi
tion, there lingered the tension of thinking herself approved by all present as a bride for Sir Boltof. Her feelings toward Boltof were very vague, and she felt no excitement about a future with him at her side. And marriage with Boltof meant she would encounter Royce on occasion.

Why does he brood?
she thought to herself.
I threaten no measure of his property, unless he fears I would be unfit for Sir Boltof and seeks to protect him. He has a worthy woman who dotes on him, yet he seems indisposed to her com
pany.

“
Royce,
”
Harlan inquired loudly,
“
where are your men this eve?
”

“
They have been given duties, my lord,
”
he answered.

“
Poor souls,
”
Aswin interrupted.
“
Have they not been bidden to seek their pleasures in London since your com
ing? Wherever I inquire, your men are at work.
”

“
They
’
ve had their leisure, but each at his own turn. It has taken me ten years to gather the group and to keep them well honed in each duty; some must work while others play.
”

“
A worthy notion,
”
Harlan approved.
“
You would run no risk of mishap. But ten years? A long time indeed to gather your men-at-arms. What of the Segeland armies?
”

Royce shifted uncomfortably.
“
None of the men who served my family rides with me now. These men have no memory of Segeland
’
s woes.
”

Harlan leaned closer to Royce.
“
But they have heard rumors, no doubt.
”

“
Of those, my lord, there are plenty.
”

Harlan withdrew, frowning slightly, and the conversation went on as before. Boltof was not getting the attention he desired from Felise and drank liberally, jesting in easy camaraderie with her brothers as if he were already a member of the family. Lady Edrea and Celeste found many civil topics for discussion and seemed to enjoy each other well enough.

Felise, quiet and sullen, watched the actions of those around her and listened carefully to their conversations. The men spoke of fighting and horses and the women of housekeeping matters and children. She tried to imagine herself in Boltof
’
s embrace, but the image was difficult for her. Boltof had a certain boyish charm and hard-earned muscles on his short frame. His hair was a wavy mass of dull blond and his skin was fair like his sister
’
s. She wondered if in time, with effort, she would come to treasure the light in his small eyes or crave a touch from his large, square hands.

She thought it possible they would have handsome children, but wondered lazily if they would have passion.

She let her thoughts wander to Sir Royce, whose lusty demands were already known to her. Her visions came with more difficulty here, for harder still was the thought of Celeste bending within Royce
’
s iron-hewn arms. Had she yielded to his powerful kiss? Celeste was comely, but far from robust. In Felise
’
s imaginings, Celeste would be crushed by Royce
’
s meagerest caress.