The Troubadour's Romance (6 page)

There were eight seated at the table she occupied, and she longed for the presence of her parents. Beside her sat a dowager baroness whose company was welcome, for she proved friendly, but
Felise
had nothing in common with the elderly widow from the north. On her right came a tardy knight, just gaining his marked seat after the meal had been laid out. As he groped for his place, his eyes fell on her and instantly lit up in appreciation.

He bowed to her.
“
My lady, I fear to test my good fortune,
”
he began.
“
Sir Wharton is my name.
”

“
A pleasure, sir,
”
she said very quietly, turning her eyes quickly back to her plate. Internally she scoffed at herself. She was quick-witted and outspoken enough when lolling in her window or at a gathering in her parents
’
home, but here, void of escort, she could barely find the confidence to meet the man
’
s eyes.

He took his seat quickly, his manner showing he was pleased.
“
I am to be your dinner companion, fairest lady. Might I lay some name to you?
”

“
Forgive me,
”
she said, looking at him again.
“
I am
Felise
Scelfton.
”

“
And your family? Could we perchance be of some earlier acquaintance?
”

“
I can
’
t say, sir. My father is Harlan, Lord Scelfton; Twyford is our home.
”

He raised his goblet slowly to his lips and drank while watching her. When he lowered his hand to the table, there was a smile on his lips.
“
I know the old lord,
”
he confirmed.
“
And I
’
ve ridden with your brother, Maelwine, on more than one occasion.
”

Felise
’
s countenance lightened instantly. Even though she didn
’
t know Sir Wharton personally, she immediately felt safer in his company if he was a family friend. The tightness of her stomach relaxed as he entertained her with stories of his travels and discussed at length the rich land of his father. His family r
esided north of London, while Fe
lise
’
s Twyford
was south, but it happened that over the years their families had been in the same company on several occasions.

As she became more comfortable and the dinner went on with laughter and much revelry, she began to notice Sir Wharton
’
s dark handsomeness and chivalrous nature.
“
Maelwine kept your existence a secret from me out of kindness. Had I known of you earlier, I would have been mad with longing and not fit for fighting,
”
he said.

She laughed at the prospect.
“
Indeed, Maelwine did you no k
indness. In all his brotherly af
fection, he does not take much notice of me, but rather boasts the beauty of the women he meets upon his travels.
”

“
Ah, then he has not graced your father
’
s walls with his presence in some years and remembers you only as a child.
”

“
Neither that, Sir Wharton. Maelwine and the others brought me here,
”
she informed him.

Wharton looked around the room.
“
Do they keep watch, or are you in need of protection lest you be snatched away by some lusty knight?
”

“
I need no protection, sir,
”
she said, looking sidelong at the king and queen.
“
Do you make your service available?
”
she asked, raising one brow.

“
At your call, my lady,
”
he said, inclining his head toward her and taking her hand in both of his.

Fe
lise laughed softly, enjoying this much more than she thought she would.
“
It occurs to me, sir knight, that the wolf offers to stand guard over the hen.
”

He smiled then in warm communication, his eyes begin
ning to smoulder like hot coals, but
Felise
’
s attention was drawn past him to a familiar face. Over Sir Wharton
’
s shoulder and across two tables she saw two men staring at her. They were standing, for the meal was coming to a finish and people were beginning to mill around the room. Had they been seated, she would not have seen either of them.

Her smile vanished and she felt her tension returning, for it was in fact Sir Royce, the man who had played so brazenly beneath her window. She couldn
’
t place the other man as one of his group, but then she could remember few of them distinctly. While his companion looked at her tenderly, Royce seemed to scowl. His eyes were narrow and there was no trace of a smile.

Wharton followed her eyes and found them placed to Sir Royce.
“
Do you know that man, demoiselle?
”
he asked her.

“
Nay,
”
she said quickly.
“
That is, we have never been introduced, though I know who he is, in a manner.
”

“
Ah, your father has warned you to be wary of him?
”

Her eyes were quickly diverted to Wharton.
“
Nay,
”
she replied, looking at him curiously. She had almost instinc
tively been frightened of Royce, but she couldn
’
t name the reason. His eyes, perhaps
--
so cool and unforgiving. Or his roguish spirit or even his size, greater than that of many men.
“
Need I be?
”
she asked.

“
Aye, fair
Felise
,
”
Wharton said, his own expression hardening considerably as if he was himself guarded where this Sir Royce was concerned.
“
Royce is not to be trusted.
”

“
But is he not a knight of Henry?
”
she asked.

“
Not all knights of Henry are honorable men, madam. Forsooth, when the king has need of fighting skills, he oft commands a troop of heathens and barbarians; those same ones will betimes affect a gentler pose for the king
’
s court, but their manner changes not
--
only their clothes. Royce is treacherous.
”

Felise
had no great urgings toward justice for Royce, but she was bright enough to know Wharton had really said little beyond admitting a personal dislike for the other knight.
“
What crimes would you lay to him?
”
she asked, begging some clarification.

Wharton thought for a moment and then brushed aside the question with an excuse of sorts.
“
Nay, lady, I will not dishonor myself by repeating loose slander. If he could be held accountable for crimes, he would not linger here over the king
’
s own roast of boar, so leave it understood that his reputation has not reached the justice of his fellows. I once called myself a friend to the Leighton family and soon learned that they scorn friendship in favor of thievery and murder. Yet it cannot be proved, or they
’
d have all been hanged. Use caution where he is concerned. He may have sworn his oath, but he gives short shrift to chivalry.
”

Felise
swallowed hard. She could not deny a strong tendency to believe Wharton, for in her brief association with Royce she pondered his behavior among women.
“
I will take care,
”
she whispered, looking over and noting that
the men were no longer in view. She smiled at her compan
ion.
“
Rest assured, I could not care for better company, and you are to be toasted for your honorable nature.
”

***

Royce brooded over the last bit of ale before him while Sir Boltof spoke.
“
Is it clear by her company that the pleas have begun?
”

“
You are certain she is the one?
”
Royce asked.

“
Aye, Royce, the word has traveled quickly from bower to camp. She is endowed by the queen and the Scelfton house. The extent of the lands is not fully known, but the talk is that her purse will bring a fine wedding gift to the chosen groom. You are close to the king
’
s ear, Royce. What say you?
”

Royce continued to stare into his cup, grumbling some
thing inaudible. He began to feel uneasy about the wench, and he wasn
’
t sure if it was because of her saucy behavior at her window a few days before or the fact that she seemed to be enjoying herself with Sir Wharton.

“
Do you wait for an offer from me?
”
Boltof asked. Royce looked at him in surprise.
“
I am a reasonable man and we are to be brothers in due time. I would manage a settlement from the maid
’
s dower purse if you would urge the king on my behalf.
”

“
I want none of her purse. What of the maid, Boltof?
”
Royce asked, his manner coltish and impatient.
“
Do you think to make her acquaintance and assure yourself she is not a shrew before you wed her here and now?
”

“
Of beauty there is none lacking, and the money would better than cure some old debts. I have little need to judge her character when her assets are so appealing. I
’
ll play my court upon your word and even split the sum with you.
”

Royce drank the remainder of the ale from his cup and looked at Boltof. They had been friends for a long time, bu
t he sometimes questioned Boltof
’
s common sense.
“
I
’
ve seen the wench before, Boltof. She is the one I told you of, seeking the favors of an entire troop of men from her bedroom window. It could be her fairness and hefty purse are worth only a lifetime of misery.
”

Boltof smiled first and then laughed loudly. He slammed his own mug on the table and pressed his face near to speak
confidentially to Royce.
“
All the better. I
’
ll see her flayed as an adulteress, and no one will question my authority over her lands.
”

Royce frowned at the idea while from his other side Celeste rubbed her arm against his as she drew near.
“
What is this conference with my brother, Royce?
”
she asked.
“
Do you make battle plans when the eve is meant for merri
ment?
”

Royce turned to the woman and tried to smile.
“
He leads me on a chase after more riches, as is always Boltof
’
s wont, madam. I beg him cease for a brief time of leisure, but he builds more plans in his mind.
”

Boltof leaned toward them and now the three heads were close together.
“
Henry would hear Royce
’
s plea on my behalf for the heiress seated beside Wharton. Her purse is heavy, but I waited to see her to be assured she was not a cow dressed in velvet and gold. And that one,
”
he said, indicating Wharton with his mug,
“
has already begun paying court to her. Before dawn the line of men will be long and deep. Our family could make good use of the dowry, eh, Celeste?
”

This talk caused Royce to sulk for reasons he couldn
’
t name. His manner became all the more surly.
“
Then seek out the maid, Boltof, and see what manner of woman she is.
”

“
Why won
’
t you help him?
”
Celeste asked solicitously.
“
It is not as though Boltof denies you in any way.
”

“
The matter of seeking out Henry for a man well able to speak for himself does not sit well with me. You are sworn to him,
”
he said to Boltof.
“
Make your plea to the king on your own behalf.
”