Velvet & steel (13 page)

Royce left Robert with a thoughtful gleam in his eye.

The company left early the next morning, a much larger company than Lynette had expected. She had kissed her father a rather fearful good-bye, for no matter how much he professed that he felt fine, to Lynette his face seemed pale.

"Papa, you will send word if you need me?"

"You send word of the marriage and I will come to you."

"Please take care. Take your medicine and don't overdo yourself. I love you. Papa."

"And I you. child. Now. kiss me once more and go. Your man awaits you."

Lynette did kiss him again, and even as they rode away she looked back to wave again and again.

Royce followed her movements and had no intention of rushing her departure.

A small caravan of wagons carried clothes and valuables and refreshments for when they would stop along the road. Royce's men accompanied them to make sure of their safety. Royce. Robert, Oriel, and Lynette rode at the front of the column.

To Cerise's surprise, Royce had taken her before him. He had discovered what good company she could be, and how intelligent she was. And to add to that, he had lost too many years, and wanted to try to build a bridge of understanding between them.

Almost every time Cerise opened her mouth, it was to speak of Lynette, until it was as if Lynette rode beside them. Lynette had put some distance between herself and Royce, and rode beside Robert, who kept her occupied with conversation about William so she would have no difficulty when she arrived at court.

It was a slow progress, but their arrival in London two days later came in the midafternoon. The air was cold, and slightly damp against the skin. They came first to a broad thoroughfare, where the city dwellers had set up their stalls and shelters to sell their wares. Lynette was as fascinated as Cerise. Both would have stopped to make purchases had not Royce made it clear they would go on.

When they arrived at their destination, Lynette was surprised to find a large, three-story domain. The bottom floor would be for Royce's men and the main hall in which they would all share their meals.

The second floor was reserved for Oriel, Cerise, and Lynette. The top floor was Royce's alone. It took less time to get settled than Lynette could have imagined, and she realized that Royce's household was run with efficiency.

The chamber to which she was led was not really large, and had only one window that looked out on the city. A large bed and two chests made up what furniture there was.

Lynette was just putting away the last of her things when Cerise peered around the corner of her door.

"Papa says to come below when you are ready, food is being prepared."

"Thank goodness. I'm starving."

"Lynette?"

"Yes?"

"Papa says we are going to meet the king while we are here."

Lynette sat slowly on the bed. It was unsettling to be reminded that she would soon be meeting William, the man who held her future in his hands.

"Are you afraid?" Cerise could not believe that the look on Lynette's face was fear.

"Yes, I guess I am."

"You don't need to be."

"And why don't I need to be?" Lynette smiled at Cerise's attempt to reassure her.

"Because Papa said he would be there, and the king likes him. If Papa says he likes you, then the king will be nice to you." Cerise spoke with such conviction that Lynette had no intention of telling her the king might be the one who separated them forever. She had grown fond of the child, and parting was going to be difficult.

"I'm sure he will be," Lynette replied. But she was thinking how much happier she would be if Royce had chosen to stay at Creganwald, and had been content to wed her. She would have given almost anything for him to turn to her, and let go of the memories that haunted him. At this moment she came close to hating Sybella. She remembered Robert's words, that there were many times when he wished Royce had never met and married her.

Now she would have to keep her part of the bargain, and look among the knights that gathered around William for one who could take Royce's place.

This brought to mind the other half of the bargain. Unhappily, she imagined the women who would fall eagerly into Royce's arms, all of them wealthy, and all of them willing. She began to hate them too.

"Please hurry, Lynette," Cerise begged. "I won't get to stay up late if you aren't there. I will have to eat and go to bed, for all the knights are gathered."

"I'm hurrying." Lynette laughed and finished by hastily brushing and braiding her hair, then splashing some water on her face to remove the signs of travel. Within minutes they joined the others for the meal.

The dinner that night was a relaxed and easy one, for the king would not arrive this first night, although many of Royce's friends did. When Lynette and Cerise were brought into the main hall, a number of curious eyes watched and wondered who this beauty was and what the chances were that she was wealthy and available.

Royce was soon surrounded by ambitious knights, hungry knights, and worse, knights with wealth and honorable intentions. He made introduction after introduction, smiling through clenched teeth. It was the honorable ones and the ones who had been his friends that bothered him most. Among these was Brendwyn, an old friend and frequent battle companion.

"Ah, Royce, it is good to see you again. I have been hearing any number of stories about where you had gone off to. I even heard you are planning marriage again. Of a certainty, I knew that wasn't true."

"Brendwyn, you know better than to listen to rumor," Royce replied, but he kept his gaze from Lynette.

"And this lovely creature." Brendwyn smiled at Lynette. "I have never seen you at court before. Has your husband been keeping you under a watchful eye? I should not wonder."

He was outrageously charming, and Lynette liked his open smile and the hint of laughter in his eyes.

"I'm afraid I have no husband, sir, and this is the first time I have been to London. I am Lynette of Creganwald."

Lynette responded to Brendwyn with gay, light-hearted banter, and soon a crowd of young knights had gathered around her. She was ready of wit, and she quipped and told stories that brought laughter and admiring looks from the knights surrounding her. Royce could do little more than watch; after all, he had given her the chance to choose. Still, he studied them all closely, and found some fault or other with each one. None of them were acceptable as husbands for Lynette. This one was too conceited, the next too much a womanizer, another too sly... and on and on.

Standing next to him, Lynette would often look up at him with a smile of innocence that set his teeth on edge.

When they all gathered at the table, he made certain his chair was beside Lynette's, just as Brendwyn made sure he sat on the other side of her. Cerise sat next to Robert, who seemed to her to be in exceptionally good spirits tonight. In fact, he chuckled under his breath as if he had a secret he could not share with anyone.

After the meal was finished, Cerise was reluctantly taken to bed by a maid of Lynette's choosing. She would have loved to remain in a corner where she could watch the dancing that would take place.

The hall dissolved in merriment as the dancing began, and Lynette was taken often from Royce's side. When he danced with her he voiced his displeasure at what he called a group of mindless knights in heat. He heard the tinkle of her laughter and had to smile in response.

"How can a woman make a choice if she does not study each knight by himself?"

"There is plenty of time to make a decision once the king arrives. You need not fall into every set of arms that open for you."

"Oh, I have found that there will be plenty of opportunities." Lynette laughed as she danced away from him, then returned. "I have had so many offers to ride and to hunt, and to join one or the other, that I fear I will have my days full, and most likely a knight chosen before William arrives."

"How simply you go about your choices. Do you not question their motives?"

"What should I question?" Lynette asked as the dance ended and they stood close together. "Their motives are the same as any others'. To find a maid with lands and a good name, and with the king's help gain possession of both. My only problem is quite a different one."

"Oh, what is that?"

"Since I cannot dance with any of the ladies, I must rely on what is said to me about each one. It is going to make it difficult to choose the right one for you. I have seen any number of ladies that are readily available. For instance, Lady Clotith. She has a delightful sense of humor. Perhaps," Lynette said mischievously, "she could even teach you to laugh. And Lady Anne, consider how pretty she is, and Lady Meggie—"

"Enough! You take this bargain too fast. It will take more than one night of dancing to make such a decision."

"Oh, aye." Lynette looked up at him. "But I am going to be so occupied in the next few days that I fear I will see little of you, and how can I make suggestions if you do not consider them seriously? We must come to some agreement before William arrives... mustn't we?" The question was spoken gently, and before he could answer, Lynette was swept away by another enamored swain.

Royce considered the three ladies Lynette had mentioned. Lady Clotith. She was of a wealthy family with a good name. She was pretty, with sable brown hair and soft, doe-like brown eyes ... but her eyes were not the sky blue he had come to enjoy ... and her skin was not nearly as soft and silky looking... even her smile was not as ... He shrugged that thought away. She would not do for a number of reasons.

He looked at the others and found fault with each one. This one's hair was not nearly so thick and golden, and that one's form was not nearly so softly rounded and yet slender. Another was not nearly so... and Cerise! Of course, Cerise. He had to consider her. She loved Lynette, and it would have to be someone Cerise would respond to. It would take some time to discover that. He smiled at his own cleverness.

Lynette saw the smile, and her heart felt as if it would stop. He had chosen! There was a satisfied look on his face, and she felt the pleasure of the evening flow from her body. How simple it was for him. He felt no love for her, and so he had casually chosen from her own suggestions.

Grimly she fought to keep her thoughts to herself. He might have chosen, but the game was not over yet.

For the next few days she was almost overwhelmed by the invitations she received from one young knight or the other. She rode with one, ate with another, and when she could bear no more, she escaped to Cerise's room, where she could laugh and play and relax her vigilance and keep thoughts of Royce at bay.

She and Cerise grew even closer, and as Cerise bloomed under the new attention she received from her father, she opened her heart to everyone around her.

Lynette kept as far away from Royce as she could. If he had made his choice, she did not want to hear the name, for she would hate the woman.

Royce was annoyed at Lynette's absence, yet he understood it. If she was to choose another, it was best he did not interfere until that choice was made. Only when William arrived would they join forces and approach the king.

There had been no sign of Oriel either, and when Royce questioned her brother, he simply said she had gone to visit relatives. Royce had no way of knowing that Giles wished heartily she would stay away from court. He did not like the way she had looked at Lynette, and he knew her too well not to believe there was some form of vengeance deep in her heart.

It was two nights before the king was expected when Oriel returned. She arrived late in the evening, with a large group of knights, among whom was the one she had traveled to find.

The entire group was tired from travel and had their horses seen to while each found his bed. Oriel, her face calm with contained satisfaction, went to her brother's chamber to let him know she was back. When he opened his door, he found it difficult to keep from revealing his displeasure. He felt guilty; after all, this was his sister, and she had been on her best behavior since they had left Creganwald.

"Oriel."

"It is late, brother, but I thought you would be concerned for my safety."

"Of course. Did you have a good journey?"

"Aye, it was pleasant."

"Oriel, you look quite satisfied with yourself. You have finally decided to lay aside your ambitions and forget Royce?"

"I have decided to let fate take its course. Sometimes there are things out of our control."

Giles knew he should feel relief at her words, but something felt wrong. Oriel seemed calmer and even friendlier than before she'd left. Maybe she finally understood that she could do nothing about Royce and the Lady Lynette.

"When does William arrive, Giles?" Oriel asked.

"Sometime within the next three days, I'm told. Why?"

"I am anxious to see him."

"Why?"

"Why such a suspicious question?"

"Oriel, why?"

"Because I choose to speak to him about my future."

"You have a request of the king?" he asked in disbelief. "Oriel, we are on the king's sufferance now. It is not our place to make requests. All that we have, we owe to Royce, who took me into his service when few others would. I have little but my sword and shield, and my arm. That was enough for him. Surely you do not believe we can ask more?"

"You think too shallowly, brother. If one does not ask, one will achieve nothing. Besides, have we not a friend in Royce? Will he not speak for us should we make a small request? We are the conquerors here, and yet you and I live like the lowest. Look at that Saxon bitch, she lives as if she were the conqueror. There are those who would show her her place." Oriel ceased to speak, as if she had said more than she had planned.

"Who? What have you been up to since you left us?"

"Oh, really, Giles, I have been up to nothing. Why can you not welcome me home, and cease your questions? You are my brother, my only protector." Her voice gentled. "Is there not enough love in your heart that you can only think the worst of me?"

Giles felt guilty, for he always did think the worst of Oriel, and even now he was just as suspicious as she claimed.

"I'm sorry, Oriel. Sometimes you make me worry that you do not judge consequences before you act."

"Will there be any festivities tonight?"

"Aye, are there not always? This court does not stint on its feasting and celebrating."

"Good, it has been long since I have had any pleasure. You know how it is at Wallham."

"There are a great number of knights and their ladies here awaiting the king. I'm sure you will enjoy yourself."

"I'm sure I will," Oriel replied with a half smile. She left her brother and went to her own chamber. As she walked her smile grew broader. "Yes, brother... I'm sure I will."

The court was too crowded for Royce's taste, and he was glad he had a separate dwelling for himself, Cerise, Lynette, and his men. When they returned home that night, he felt a sense of relief. He liked the peace of his own dwelling, and the absence of the clamoring crowd at court. He had always avoided the court as much as he could, and these past few days assured him he had been right.

He could hear the men below, slowly settling for the night, and felt a comfort such as he had not felt in a long time. This was his home, the only real one he had known, and all who were close to him were under one roof and in his care ... at least for now. That brought a stab of annoyance. If he retained Creganwald, he would have a place he could build into something permanent, and Cerise would have the kind of life Lynette had had. She would be in a place where she could put down roots, and learn the kind of pleasures and freedoms that had been denied him. But that meant marriage and .. .

He forced the thought from his mind. He was not going to open that door again; it was better left closed.

He felt the urge to see Cerise. He knew she must have been asleep for hours. But he was moving toward his door before the thought was finished. He paused outside her door, surprised to find light revealed through the crack at the bottom. Cerise must still be up. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The fire in the hearth was burning brightly, indicating that it had been rekindled. Seated before the hearth were Cerise and Lynette. They had been whispering together and laughing softly, as if sharing confidences. Furs had been brought from the bed, and both were nestled in them comfortably. This time the urge to join them was not ignored, and he was halfway across the room before they saw him. Cerise was quick to smile, but Lynette wondered if she had not made a mistake in coming here.

She half expected Royce to order Cerise to bed, or her to her own chamber. She did not expect him to join them, seat himself comfortably, and invite a more than willing Cerise to crawl up on his lap. He drew her closer to him: over her head he watched Lynette. The fire glow was creating a miracle with her hair, and her skin was a melding of ivory and cream. He did not miss the look of discomfort in her eyes, and yet he would not have left for any reason.

"It seems that too much excitement has prevented sleep from finding you."

"Aye." Lynette smiled. "There has been much excitement of late. But... I am told the king comes soon, and there are things that I know you want decided by then. So I must take time from the celebrating to think on what must be considered."

"And... and you have come to a decision?" He held his breath, hoping a name would not be said to settle a matter he could not settle in his own mind.

"No, not yet. There are so many to choose from."

Cerise was not following the conversation at all. It was as if there was some dark secret between the two people she loved, and she wasn't too sure she liked it. She squirmed around in Royce's lap and looked up at him.

"Papa, when can we go home?"

"Home?"

"Back to Creganwald. That's home now, isn't it?"

"I... I'm not sure yet, Cerise."

"But you said—"

"We must wait for the king to make the final decision. Can you not be happy if we must live somewhere else?"

"No, Papa." Her alarm was rising. "Lynette won't be somewhere else, and I don't want to live with ..." Her eyes rose to him in horror. "With Lady Oriel." She said it as if it were the worst punishment in her imagination.

"Cerise, I promise you, you will never live with Oriel.. . ever." He smiled down at her, but saw her uncertainty remained. "Now, what were you two talking about?"

"Lynette was telling me a story."

"Oh, about what?"

"Just a tale of princes and princesses and their adventures," Lynette answered.

"Go on with it."