Honoring his Lady: A Medieval Romance (Norfolk Knights Book 5)

by Saskia Knight

  She dismounted and slid damp palms down her gown as she turned to face the castle. What had once been her home, had become a battleground of lust and greed. She hated the sight of it. She briefly bent to pet her favorite hound before summoning all her courage and stepping into the Hall.

  Alice paused at the entrance, blinking to allow her eyes to adjust to the dark. Unlike Wanham Castle, her family’s castle was antiquated, dark, and smoky. While it was far grander, it was also far less comfortable. But comfort had little meaning for the de Courcy family. All they wanted was power.

  “You’ve deigned to come back from your wanderings, I see,” Sir Bayard thundered at her. Alice ignored him and searched the gloom to see who else was in the Hall. She didn’t see her at first, lost in the smoky room, half-hidden by the back of a chair. It was only when her mother turned her face up to Bayard that she saw her. Her heart wrenched to see her once proud mother, turn pleading eyes upon him. Only then did Alice face the man she loathed.

  “I haven’t been wandering. I’ve been visiting the Priory, helping the sick.”

  He spat into the rushes. “The sick? You’d do better to pay attention to the sick here”—he indicated her mother—“than the poor.” He brushed crumbs from his usually immaculate robes. “They’ll do nothing for this family.”

  Alice twitched her skirts from being caught in the rushes and walked over to her mother. She placed a hand on her shoulder, and her mother briefly held her palm against hers before catching the eye of Bayard and withdrawing it. He didn’t like signs of their affection. It drew the power away from him. United women would threaten him.

  “Don’t bother trying to look to your pathetic mother for help. She’s leaving for the North on the morrow.”

  Alice felt the energy sap away from her mother beneath her hand.

  “The North? But why?”

  “I’m going to live with my brother in The Borders.” Her mother cast a cowed and anxious glance at Bayard. “Sir Bayard deems it to be best.”

  “Best for whom?” Alice glared at Bayard.

  But Bayard ignored her question. Instead, he beckoned the maid to him, who poured him yet another goblet of wine. From the looks of the red-stained rushes around him, it looked like Bayard had been drinking most of the afternoon.

  He glared as she caught his eye, but she didn’t look away and nor did he as he drank back the wine. He placed the goblet on the oak table with a bang, spilling the last few drops. He swept the back of his hand across his mouth.

  “Did you hear me, girl?” he bellowed. “Or do I have to come over and speak in your good ear?” His lips curled into a grin.

  “You do not,” she said crisply, not wanting him anywhere near her. The hairs on the back of her dog’s neck bristled, and she felt his low growl against her leg as he positioned himself between her and Bayard. “I hear you quite well enough.”

  Her mother shot her a somber look before returning to pleating her gown with agitated fingers. It hurt Alice to see her mother diminished by the schemes of this man.

  “Then why do you not answer, girl?” He beckoned the maid for more wine. “I said,” he repeated. “What do you intend to do for our family?”

  Alice bit her lip and turned away. She couldn’t bear to look at him; she couldn’t bear knowing how much he used not only her but her mother and father, his own cousin. The thought of the havoc he’d wrought on her family made the anger that lay deep inside of her spark suddenly. She twisted her head and saw her anger reflected in his face. He looked momentarily shocked. It gave her the courage to continue.

  “Our family? You do not belong to our family!”

  “Alice,” her mother pleaded.

  Bayard strode over to her and stood too close. The smell of his body made the gorge rise in her throat. But she wouldn’t shift her gaze this time.

  “Why you little—” He slapped her face, and she spun around, her head buzzing.

  She turned to face him again. “Are you trying to make me deaf in the other ear, as you did before? Surely not? That would only weaken your prized possession, wouldn’t it? You made that mistake once. Surely you do not intend to make it again?”

  His fists clenched, and his face went white around his mouth, while his eyes were coal black. But he managed to restrain himself, for he knew that she spoke the truth.

  He paced away before swinging around to face her. “The fact remains, girl, that you should have been here, readying yourself for your departure.”

  “Departure? To where? I know nothing of this.” She turned to her mother. “What is this?”

  Her mother didn’t answer, but instead, she held her head in her hands.

  Alice was forced to turn back to Bayard.

  “If your mother won’t tell you, I will. An arrangement has been reached. You are to marry Ralph de Gant.”

  Alice gasped and leaned against a chair. She knew he’d been up to something, but hadn’t enquired, hadn’t wanted to know, hadn’t wanted to face up to his devious plans. All she’d heard of this man—Ralph de Gant—was that he was past middle age, unscrupulous, and coveted their lands. He also had influence at court.

  “I will not!” She felt her face flush, unable to keep her usual composure. The anger gave her strength. “You may be able to make my mother do anything for you, but you will not make me!”

  He laughed. “You have no choice, girl. You will marry Ralph de Gant. The Lord knows, no one else will have you. He wants the castle and lands.”

  “And what will it bring you?” For she knew that it would be Bayard who would profit most.

  His cruel lips curled into a sickening smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Plenty. I certainly won’t have to hang around here with you de Courcy women anymore.”

  For a moment, Alice thought it would be worth marrying her family’s enemy simply to rid her family of Bayard. But she’d met Ralph de Gant once before as a child, and had heard much more of him since. He was one such as Bayard. Marriage to him would be the end of her.

  “Then I’m afraid you’re in for a disappointment. I will not be marrying Ralph de Gant.”

  “Won’t you now?” His voice was dangerous. He prowled around her like a hungry wolf, circling his prey. She shivered but refused to move. “Why, do you plan on marrying someone else?”

  The vision of William filled her mind. She hadn’t been able to give him a reason why he should not visit her mother and ask for Alice’s hand. Instead, she’d given him hope. It was madness. She couldn’t marry. She wanted only to call the Priory home. But that moment of madness when he’d held her hand had stopped her reply.

  Suddenly Bayard lifted her chin and looked deeply into her eyes, his own eyes narrowing as if he could read her. She’d made a mistake; she’d forgotten to hide her thoughts.

  “You do wish to marry. Who?”

  She licked her lips as her mind raced, trying to find ways in which she could cover up her mistake. “I…”

  His head tilted to one side, and he glanced at her mother. “It’s not William de Vere, is it? Don’t tell me he still harbors notions of claiming you?”

  She shook her head, but she could feel a blush rising on her pale cheeks.

  “He does!” He laughed and twisted her head before releasing her. “Well, he won’t win you. We have a much bigger prize than him!”

  Anger filled her at the thought that William wasn’t a prize. He was too big a prize for her. There was no way she could marry him because she felt too much for him. She knew what he wanted from life, and, equally, she knew that she couldn’t give it to him. But watching Bayard insult William made her forget her intentions.

  “William is the best man I know!” Heat pulsed across her cheeks. Even her mother had risen from her chair and was staring at her as if she didn’t recognize her.

  “If he wanted you, he’d have the balls to come to the castle and ask for your hand in marriage.”

  “He fully intends to.”

  “Well, he’ll be out of luck. We
’ll be gone by the time he arrives. Or at least I’ll make sure we’re gone. When is he coming?”

  Alice’s mind raced. The instant she was taken from this castle, she’d be lost. William was her only means of rescue now. “The day after tomorrow.”

  “Two days? He cares little to rush, then! So be it. I’m in no mood to deal with him.”

  Alice knew that Bayard most certainly wouldn’t want to deal with William. Bayard was a coward who always took the easy way out.

  “We’ll leave for Lincolnshire earlier than planned to avoid your William.” He sighed as if affecting unconcern. “It doesn’t pay to aggravate the de Veres. Avoidance is the best strategy.”

  Alice was relieved. She’d lied about when William was due. He’d arrive before she was taken away from Norfolk. He was an honorable man, and she knew that, even if she refused his marriage offer, he’d help her escape Bayard.

  She lowered her lashes. She couldn’t afford to allow Bayard to see into her mind again. “Whatever you say, sir. I think I’ll retire now. I’m feeling a little unwell.”

  He waved her away. “Go then, girl.”

  Alice stayed in her bedchamber for the rest of that evening. She had only one night to avoid Bayard until William came. She could do that.

  But as she closed the shutters on the starry night, her maid entered with an armful of winter clothes and opened a chest.

  “What is it you’re doing?” she asked her maid.

  Her maid gave her a look of sympathy. “Readying your clothes for the journey to Lincolnshire on the morrow.”

  “Nay, the plan is for the day after tomorrow.”

  “I’m sorry, my lady. But Sir Bayard has changed those plans. He says you are to be ready for tomorrow morning—early.”

  “Then why did he not tell me?”

  Her maid was silent. She half-turned away, and muttered something.

  “What is it?”

  Her maid looked up at her. “I think, my lady, that he did not want you to know.”

  Ice filled her veins. “Why?”

  “I heard him say that he did not trust you. That he wanted to make sure you were gone before Sir William arrived.”

  Alice glanced toward the window. The night was dark, and the rain that had threatened all day now fell, bringing a chill to the air. She shivered. It was too late to do anything. She’d send William a message first thing. He had to come early on the morrow. Or else all would be lost.

  William rose before all the others. He always liked the early morning when there was nothing in his head except what he wanted—the peaceful, reassuring sounds of the birds overhead and the workers emerging into the fields. It was what he knew. It was what he wanted.

  But this morning, there was something else he wanted, something which made him not even hear the usual squawk of cockerel or grunt of pigs as they were being led out into the fields.

  He took his ale and walked to the gatehouse and looked east to where the sun was about to rise. How many mornings had he done this as a single man? But not for much longer. Soon he would have Alice by his side, and all would be well.

  He cast a long glance around the sandbanks beyond which the sea lay, quiet this morning, but he was still aware of the underlying surge and pull of the sea on the sand. Some things you were born to know, born to live and die with, and the sea and the land were one of them, as was Alice. For many years he’d thought her above him, but since Rufus had given him the lands as his own, he felt, for the first time, that he had something to offer her. And since that time, each day that had passed had dragged. Today was the day for action.

  He tossed the last bit of ale from his cup and returned to the Hall. Katherine was already talking with a messenger who he’d heard arrive while he’d been out on the road. He could tell from Katherine’s pursed mouth that there was nothing good in what she was reading. But he didn’t say anything. He rarely did. Katherine would tell him if he should know.

  She looked up at him suddenly. “Are you still planning to ride over to the de Courcy castle this morning?”

  He wondered how she knew. But then Katherine seemed to know everything that was going on. “Aye. I told Alice I would, and so I shall.”

  “Could you forestall your visit by a day?”

  He shook his head as he shrugged on his mantle. “Nay, Kat. I don’t wish to do that. It’s been long enough already, and I told her I would come.”

  She sighed, and her brow furrowed. He tried to ignore it, but she looked at him again with those big brown eyes, which were usually so patient and loving but in which all he could seen now was concern.

  “Why, what is it? What’s happened?”

  “The new captain of the Yarmouth Princess won’t agree to take the shipment of herrings to Bordeaux. He says whatever the previous captain had agreed is null and void, and he insists on a new agreement.”

  “Then why do you not make one? You have Mother’s paperwork. You’ve done such negotiations before.”

  Her brown eyes flashed darker. “Because”—she waved the paperwork—“he refuses to do business with a woman!”

  William shook his head. “If mother were alive, she’d have something to say about that!”

  “But, she’s not.” Katherine’s voice had lowered and had become controlled to hide the pain that was still raw at their mother’s death. “And I am not her. I can run things, I can administer things, but men such as these talk over me, they refuse to listen to me. They rob me of my power.”

  “Look at me, Katherine,” he said, stepping toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. She looked up trustingly into his eyes. “You are as strong as Mother.”

  “I know that. Unfortunately, Captain James Logan does not. You have to go and convince him, William. He’ll listen to a man.”

  And he knew it. These seagoing men only understood one thing—strength. And for all Katherine’s sense, goodness and abilities, these tough men would ride rough-shod over her.

  “There’s a lot at stake, William. Not only this cargo, but for the next few years, also.”

  “I’ll go. But it will have to be tomorrow. I cannot go before then.”

  “Tomorrow will not do. It’ll be too late by then. There’s already another merchant ready to supply if we don’t convince the captain to honor the agreement mother made with the previous captain.” She paused and shook her head, her whole body tense. “It has to be today, William. No later.”

  He nodded slowly. His future would have to wait. Alice would have to wait. One more day. What could one more day matter when he’d been waiting so many years?

  “I’ll go. I’ll send a message to Alice and let her know I’ll be late.”

  William’s horse’s hooves pounded the soft ground as he rode as hard as he could from Yarmouth, direct to the de Courcy castle. The morning’s meeting with the difficult captain had gone well, of that he was assured, which would mean prosperity. But he was less comfortable about having not gone to Alice when he’d arranged. He was a man of his word, and when he found that his messenger had not delivered his message direct to Alice, it had worried him.

  Despite his swift pace, it was dark when he arrived at the castle. He jumped off his horse, and the steward emerged. They greeted each other.

  “You’ve come a long way, this cold night, Sir William!”

  “Aye. I’m here to visit Lady de Courcy. She’ll be expecting me.”

  The steward looked uncomfortable. “She is not here, I’m afraid. Gone to her brother in The Border country.”

  “Gone?” William frowned. “Then I shall see Lady Alice.” The thought of seeing her alone was enticing.

  “Lady Alice is gone, also.”

  “Where to?”

  There was an awkward pause during which it seemed the steward was trying to decide what to say.

  “Lincolnshire.”

  William shook his head in bewilderment, his stomach sinking like a stone. “Why, in God’s name?”

  The steward licked his lips
and swallowed. “To be wed. To Sir Ralph de Gant.”

  Chapter 3

  William paced the floor while Katherine watched.

  “It’s fine,” she repeated. “Besides, Savari is expected any day. He’ll be here with us. And then there’s our steward, Sir Harry, as well as our neighbors. We need no further care. All will be well.”

  William looked at his resourceful sister and briefly believed her. But then he sighed and pushed his hands through his hair. “I can’t leave you alone. I can’t go to…” His voice nearly broke as he was about to say Alice’s name.

  He felt a hand on his arm. “You can, and you must. If it is as you say and Alice has been taken by force to Lincolnshire to the de Gants, she needs you, William. You must bring her home. She cannot marry Ralph de Gant. I’ve heard nothing but ill of him.”

  Ill. William tested the word in his mouth, and he tasted nothing but evil. He nodded and glanced once more at Katherine. “I will take only one man with me.”

  Katherine nodded. She didn’t question William as to whether he needed to take anyone else. She knew him better than that. “If you are sure.”

  “I am. I need no one else to help me bring her home. When will you leave?”

  “I cannot wait for Savari. I’ll leave immediately.”

  “Good.” Katherine turned to the window to look north, in the direction to where Alice had been taken. “I cannot bear to think of her at the mercy of Ralph de Gant.”

  William walked toward the door as his man hurried after him with all that he would need. He only had one thought on his mind. Alice. He had to get her before Ralph could do her harm.

  It was the second day since Alice had arrived in Lincolnshire. The journey north had been hurried, and Bayard had wasted no time in getting to the de Gant stronghold. And stronghold it was, she thought, as she twisted around and swept her gaze around the forbidding gray stone walls which sat on the flat landscape like a warning. A warning she didn’t need.