The Troubadour's Romance (46 page)

“
And lately you used Celeste
’
s melancholy as a tool in deaths you planned to feed your greed. And yet in all this time, for all these years, it was you, Boltof. Crazed with greed, a coward who would kill a sleeping man.
”
He looked at Boltof with pity.
“
You could have had much: a good father in Aswin, a fai
thful sister in Celeste, and ..
.
”
He paused. The words soured in his mouth.
“
You could have had a friend in me.
”

“
Wharton will come for me,
”
Boltof taunted.

“
Nay, he knows you betrayed him. Word of Aylworth
’
s murder was taken to him in Coventry. You bought yourself a good servant
... of mine.
”
Boltof moaned miserably.
“
Should you escape me, Boltof, I am certain that Wharton will find you. Take him to the inner bailey, Hewe, and tie him in the courtyard in full view of the gate and hall. The night is mostly lost, but we won
’
t sleep easily until he has accounted for his crimes. I
’
ll allow no error. I will take him to Henry myself.
”

Boltof was dragged out of the lord
’
s chamber and down the stairs. Trumble was just entering, escorting Felise home from Ulna
’
s cottage. The old knight gave Felise over to Royce and aided Hewe with the prisoner. Boltof had little time to snarl at Felise before a big, haml
ike fist cuffed his ear and turn
ed his anger into a yelp of pain. No patience or kindness was wasted on him as he was dragged away.

Felise rushed to Royce
’
s side and he wrapped his arm securely around her. She hovered there in the security of his embrace, feeling a warmth of safety that would be hers forever. Together they watched from the hall as Boltof was tied to a stake in the center of the yard between the hall and the town. Around him stood four guards. The night could be no safer than that.

Morning came and eyes that opened to break the fast were mostly bleary from lack of sleep. There was no mood of celebration at having caught Boltof. Relief and better ease could be seen on the faces of all who had kept themselves alert for more than a week, but Boltof
’
s crimes had created great loss. Not the least of those grieved was Aswin.

When he descended to take his meal with Royce and
Felise
, his mood was not light, but most of his rage had been bled dry.

“
Celeste will prove cooperative,
”
he reported.
“
She has accepted the fact that her word will cost Boltof his life and is prepared to give it I don
’
t know what will become of her after that.
”
He paused and took a steadying breath.
“
May
hap she will become stronger and take her mother
’
s home when I die. Then again, her days may be fewer than mine. Her losses were many. First her father. Then her mother. Then you, albeit not through death. And now Boltof. And she is not strong.
”

“
Have faith, Aswin. She proved stronger last night than any of us would have guessed.
”

“
Neither of them would let me be their father, though for Ducline I did my best by them.
”
He sighed heavily.
“
The woman must have known her children, Royce. She must have sensed their greed, though they were not fully grown when she died. Why else would she have written a docu
ment giving me her property until my death? She was careful to state that I might not dispose of it on any future heirs, slighting her children, but she would not have me cast out by Boltof. Perhaps Dulcine could have saved us much heartache, by telling what she knew.
”

“
My lord,
”
Felise appealed.
“
Do not in any way blame yourself or your lady wife. The seeds that grew into Boltof
’
s greed and hatred were sown long before you. And you say Dulcine was a good woman, and I trust you to know goodness. That you would be his father though you didn
’
t sire him was kind of you. If Boltof would willingly cast aside your gesture, it is not your fault.
”

“
You warm an old man
’
s heart, fair
Felise
, but the truth might be tougher to chew. Boltof was only a child when his father, who was strong and true, died upon the field. And the little one, so adoring of his mother and trying to live faithful to his father
’
s memory, encountered me when he was but twelve. And I, not a straight and mighty warrior, but one bent and crippled by an accident, took his mother
’
s attentions away from him. Dulcine nursed me for a year before I could even rise. And all that time I was a poor
wretch in need of her gentle ministrations. We were not man and wife.
”

“
But neither is that your fault, my lord,
”
Felise
gently coaxed.
“
An accident
--
”

“
What the boy saw must have made him hate me. Ah, damn, let it be out! It has burdened my soul long enough.

“
There was another, before Dulcine. I worshiped her, adored her. She was my life and my reason for living. And when my head was smashed in my fall, I raved in an injured stupor, calling out for her all the while. Dulcine knew as she tended me that I loved a woman, yet the kind widow took care of me. Had she left me alone I might have died. Perhaps that would have been better, for I have never lived a day without mourning my love lost.
”

“
My lord, don
’
t tell us things that
--
”

“
That would shame me? Nay,
‘
tis no shame to love. That is not my crime.
”
He became wistful and his eyes clouded with tears.
“
She was the most beautiful woman a man had ever seen. She rivaled your beauty, Lady
Felise
, which is a hard thing to do. Indeed, she wore tresses of red and gold much the color of your own hair ... and eyes the green of emeralds that glittered in the sun. She was the queen
’
s handmaiden, a poetess who sang for the court of love. Many admired her, most men desired her. And I courted her very boldly ... before I was crippled by my fall.
”

Felise
sat a bit straighter in her chair.
“
The queen
’
s poetess?
”
she questioned meekly.

Aswin barely noticed the attention his story was getting from the couple. He went on in blissful memory.
“
I counted myself a prince, at least, for having won her favor, and rode off with a token from her worn in my tunic. We went on a southern campaign, not dangerous by any man
’
s measure. Hah! Hardly a battle, for our troop was all weary with lack of duties. We drank, staged mock tourneys, courted the local wenches.
‘
Twas in such a state that I took my fall. I could blame no one but myself for that.

“
But she had given me as much as a kiss, indeed more! Yea, I was too bold with the woman, but I was young and used little restraint. And then the accident and a year taken from my life. When I returned to London to seek her out,
perhaps I was even relieved that she had gone. I did not know how I would face her, with a hand that could not properly caress her soft skin and a leg that hangs like a useless log at my side.
”

He peered closely at
Felise
, nearly whispering his words.
“
All the while that Dulcine nursed me, I cried out for
Veronique
, my love, my heart. This was what her children heard. And when I was well, I stayed within her care, no longer crying out in madness for my lover, but stating boldly that when I could walk and ride, I would return to her. This her children heard, as they watched the woman tend me unfailingly. And when I could mount a gentle steed and stay astride, I bid Dulcine farewell with only thanks for her patient care. Though she begged me to stay, I left,
”
he said, and his fist hit the table sharply.
“
And this, too, Boltof took as a token of my chivalry ... to use the woman so and leave her for another. Aye, I taught the lad much of nobility.
”

“
My lord,
”
Felise attempted.
“
Dulcine
’
s goodness de
manded no more of you than that. You must not
--
”

“
Nay, I know what I did. I left Dulcine to seek out
Veronique
, terrified of what I might find. What if there had been a child of our love? Scorned as a bastard,
Veronique
shamed? Perhaps she would look at my crooked body and laugh. Or would she have taken another lover?
”
He shrugged.
“
I never saw her again. I was told she had left and no one would tell me where she had gone. Those fellows who were with me when I fell did not report our foolery while we were on the king
’
s business, but simply said I could be found with the rich widow in the south of England. I have asked after
Veronique
all these many years, but no one has word of her.

“
Yea,
”
he nodded, flushing slightly.
“
Even after I wed the widow Dulcine, I asked about my lover.
”
He sat back in his chair and grew solemn.
“
I taught young Boltof much of honor as I longed for another while I wed his mother. I taught him much of trust as I took management of a rich demesne that was not mine, but his. I could not hope to make him see that I didn
’
t think he was ready for the lands. He saw a selfish old cripple use his mother and her wealth. Perhaps it is my fault that he is wicked.
”

Fe
lise
’
s smile was warm and understanding. She touched his hand.
“
Though you lost your one true love, I cannot believe you were ever cruel to Lady Dulcine.
”

“
Perhaps not cruel, but neither did she have all the love and devotion of spirit that she deserved. Yet she loved me fully, with all of herself. And she took from me what I had left, never asking more.
”

“
And you never found the fair Veronique?
”
she asked, smiling, one finely arched eyebrow raised in question.

“
If she is even alive now, I would not know where to look. But I never traveled in the last twenty years without casting my eyes about for the beautiful temptress who haunts my dreams. I would have traveled to the moon to find her, but not one clue to her whereabouts was laid my way. After several months of exhaustive travel, my body so bent, I gave up and returned to Dulcine.
”

“
She is alive now, messire,
”
Felise said softly.
“
This one you seek, Veronique de Raissa, will return to us today. She uses the name the sisters of Fontevrault gave her. Vespera.
”
Her voice became a whisper.
“
There was a child. She is my mother.
”

Aswin
’
s eyes grew wide in surprise.
“
But you are Harlan
’
s
...
”

Felise slowly shook her head.
“
Eleanor took me from my mother to see me raised near her court. My mother retired to the sisters when I was a baby. But when Eleanor was confined at Old Sarum Castle by the king, I lost my noble home and was dependent on the mercy of anyone who would feed me and give me shelter. The Scelftons had lost their own daughter and took me in. I have never wanted but for one thing: to know my true parents and why they could not keep me.
”

She reached for her husband
’
s hand and gave it a light squeeze, feeling him return the gesture.

“
She will come home to us today, my lord, and neither of you will leave me again. Now that I
’
ve found you both, I will pray it is not too late for you to find each other.
”