“Aye. William died from the wound he received at Windsor. Though Beth did all she could to bring him home to us alive, he succumbed while on the road. Now I take his place.”
“Why? Does your family need the money won at tournaments?”
She shook her head. “Nay, not at all. You were present at Windsor. You know who delivered the killing blow. I want revenge. The earl took away the one person who made me whole. He did not have to accept William’s challenge. He could have refused, but he did not stay his hand. Now I intend to strike back at him. I want to ride against my father. I despise the man.”
Terric searched her face before he asked, “What is your real name?”
Blinking at how fast Terric had changed the subject, she answered, “I am Jacqueline. What does knowing my name have to do with your decision?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to know what to call you. Other than a mad woman.”
After all she had already gone through this day, Jacqueline did not let Terric’s insult go by lightly. She raised her right hand to deliver a slap to his face only to have him grab it before she made contact. Growling in fury, she jerked her hand free.
“Jacqueline, that will do nothing to sway me to your side, but I do beg your forgiveness for the slight I gave you. It was unfair of me, but you are no match for your father. You have obviously never seen the earl in the list. Very few can defeat him.”
“I do not care. I will face him.”
Beth interrupted them. “Sir Terric, can I speak with you privately in your pavilion?”
Terric agreed. He and Beth left her and Edwin to go to Terric’s pavilion next door.
* * * *
It was not hard to tell that Sir Terric had some concerns about Jacqueline, so Beth strived to make him understand why it was so important to her sister-in-law that she do this.
“You have to understand how William’s death affected Jacqueline. It is as if a part of her died with him. The only thing that has kept her going has been her burning need for revenge. Until she faces the earl, she will not let herself accept the loss of her brother. She has not shed one tear in all this time. She will not grieve.”
Terric ran his fingers through his hair. “Before I make my decision on what to do, I need you to truthfully answer one question.”
“I will try.”
“Jacqueline has so much hatred for her father. I have seen it in her eyes. I know what happened to William was just the catalyst that pushed her to this point. What has the earl done to her in the past?”
Beth laughed, but it held no humor. “You are correct in your thinking. William was the last of many wrongdoings by the earl. The only difficulty is knowing where to start. The list is many and varies greatly. The earl basically abandoned his pregnant wife on the isle and never had any interest in his children once they were born, or his wife, for that matter. He already had his heir so there was no need. What really made Jacqueline despise him was the marriage he arranged for her. Without her consent or her mother’s.”
“I take it the bridegroom was not to her liking?”
“Hardly. I think you have heard of the man the earl chose for her. The Earl of Somerset.”
Letting loose a low whistle, Terric shook his head. “I would not even contract a marriage with that devil, Forwin, to my bitch hound. The bitch being too good for him. Obviously, Jacqueline somehow stopped the marriage.”
“Not so much Jacqueline as her mother. Lady Elizabeth was dead set against the marriage so she took matters into her own hands. To make a long story short, she faked Jacqueline’s death. Therefore, the marriage contract became void.”
“Lady Elizabeth sounds like a very intelligent woman, one well able to look after her children on her own.”
“That she is. She is not at all happy with what Jacqueline is doing, but she has kept her promise to keep William’s death a secret from the earl.” Taking both his hands in her own, she looked at him beseechingly. “I have told you enough, Sir Terric, of what goes on. I implore you not to reveal Jacqueline as an impostor. She has worked so hard to reach this point. If she cannot proceed, I am very much afraid it will break the fragile thread she desperately holds on to.”
Terric remained silent for a few seconds before he answered. “You and Jacqueline win. I will say nothing.” As Beth started to thank him, he stopped her. “I am not finished yet. I have some conditions. Firstly, Jacqueline competes in no more tournaments until the time she faces her father. Secondly, she goes home to the isle, where I will accompany her.”
“Why do you want to come home with us?”
“If she plans on facing the earl and survive the experience, she needs me. I am one of few who have won a ransom from him. I will train her. She is nowhere near ready to go against her father. Do not ask me why, but I do not relish the idea of Jacqueline doing this without me.”
Chapter Six
Jacqueline had not bargained on having Terric and his squire going with them to the isle. She was thankful he had held his tongue about her, but she was not all that certain she liked his being in such close proximity.
After dismounting in the bailey, Jacqueline braced herself for her mother’s reaction to unexpected guests. As predicted, her lady mother noticed the strangers in their midst and headed directly to confront her.
“What goes on here, Jacqueline? Who are these men?” Her mother whispered her questions. Jacqueline was pleased she remembered to keep her real identity a secret.
“Sir Terric is my friend. The other man is his squire, Edwin. There is no need to whisper, either. Both know who I really am.”
“You told them who you are?” Her mother gasped.
“Nay, Mother. When I was injured at the tournament, they helped me and found out for themselves.”
“You were injured?” Lady Elizabeth’s words were spoken so loudly everyone looked in their direction.
“Calm down. I am fine. I just had a dislocated shoulder. Terric fixed it for me. You know it happens more than not in the list. William sustained the same injury at one time.”
“That might be so, but you are not your brother. I cannot fathom why you persist in this foolishness.”
Unable to deal with her mother any longer, Jacqueline stalked away.
Terric raised his brow in question when she approached. “Is everything all right?”
Jacqueline nodded, trying to rein in her temper. “Aye. Do not worry yourself. My mother was just expressing her disapproval is all.”
Hearing her mother’s steps behind her, she made the introductions. “Mother, this is Sir Terric Aubrey. Terric, this is Lady Elizabeth Montacute, my mother.”
Playing the gallant, Terric took Lady Elizabeth’s hand and kissed the back of it.
“I bid you welcome, Sir Terric.”
“Thank you for your warm welcome, my lady.”
“May I ask how long you plan to stay on the isle?”
“As long as it takes to train Jacqueline. Since she is determined to challenge her father, I plan to make sure she learns enough to survive the encounter.” Terric’s gaze met Lady Elizabeth’s worried one. He leaned in closer, and whispered, “Have no fear, my lady. I will not let anything happen to Jacqueline. I promise you that.”
Lady Elizabeth continued to hold Terric’s gaze, and replied dryly, “Do not think I will release you from that promise, Sir Terric.” Terric inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Now, if you will excuse me, I will see about having a chamber prepared for you and your squire. Jacqueline will show you around.”
Even though she was right there, it was obvious she would not be allowed any say in the matter. Since her mother had conceded so easily, she thought it best to let it go.
After Lady Elizabeth departed, Jacqueline motioned for Terric to follow her. Her mother kept the main hall well looked after and inviting. The rushes upon the stone floor were fresh, and the trestle table was polished to a high gloss. Once a servant brought Jacqueline and Terric some ale to quench their thirst, Jacq
ueline looked toward the stairs that led to the floor above.
“I hope our coming here has not caused too much upset for your mother,” Terric said.
Jacqueline dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. “Nay. My mother is more upset with me. It will upset her more when I tell her where I intend to confront the earl.”
“You have not told her about the grand tournament yet?”
“Nay, I have not. I have been delaying that particular battle.”
Terric smiled. “Your mother does not seem to be a woman who misses anything that concerns her family.”
“You are quite right. Mother does not like being ignorant about any goings on.”
Lady Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs. Once she reached the bottom, she joined Jacqueline and Terric at the table. “Your chamber is ready now, Sir Terric. If you wish to see yourself settled, you may do so at any time.”
Terric looked between Jacqueline and her mother, then said, “I think I will do so right now. I will collect Edwin from the bailey.”
After Terric disappeared through the hall doorway, Lady Elizabeth spoke. “I heard what you and Sir Terric were talking about. He is a very astute man. He was correct. I already know about the grand tournament, Jacqueline.”
“How did you find out?” she asked softly.
Lady Elizabeth reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair from Jacqueline’s brow. “It was not so much me finding out as being told. You see, I have a secret I have been keeping from you as well. One I now feel I am ready to tell.”
“What is it?” It had to be something serious to cause her mother to keep it to herself. Her lady mother was not the type of parent who kept her children ignorant for their own good.
“I received a missive a fortnight ago from your father. In his letter, he requests William and I attend the grand tournament to be held in London. It was worded as a command, really. So you see, if we do not go, your father will more than likely come to the isle and personally make sure we do not disobey him.”
Jacqueline felt the blood drain from her face in shock. When her father sent missives, it usually portended a change to their everyday lives, and they were never good. “Did he give a reason he had demanded our presence in London?”
“Nay, but I like it not. He is up to something, no question about it. We will go, you along with Beth and myself. There will be no thwarting him. We will have to be very careful, Jacqueline. If your father uncovers our ruse, he will not be pleased, to say the least.”
Jacqueline picked up her mother’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I will not let that happen. Having you and Beth with me will make it more believable. With Sir Terric now training me, I will be better prepared to face the earl in the list. What could possibly go wrong?”
* * * *
The following morning Terric began Jacqueline’s training. He had to admit she was very skilled at the quintain, but it was only a poor substitute for facing another man on horseback. Deciding it was best to start the training minus it, he motioned for her to come to him. She had just completed a successful pass.
“I think your skill cannot be any furthered with the quintain, Jacqueline. For now, I will be your target. To begin with I will not ride at you. I want you to hit me with your lance only. That way I will be better able to see just where you hit with each pass.”
“I do not think that is a good idea, Terric. You are going to be getting hit full force. I do not want to hurt you.”
Terric flashed her one of the bone-melting smiles he knew won over the ladies. “I had no idea you cared so much for my welfare, my lady.” Accompanied by the clanking of his armor, he bowed in her direction.
“I am not playing games, Terric. I would feel dreadful if I injured you.”
Even though Terric could not see Jacqueline’s face with her helm shielding it from view, he could tell from the tone of her voice she would not let this pass easily. Becoming serious, he tried to lay her mind to rest. “There is no need to worry. My armor will protect me. I know how much it can handle.”
“Fine, I will do as you say. You are more knowledgeable about this sport than I. So I will acquiesce to your greater experience,” she said sassily.
“Enough of that. Go to the other end of the field, and I will signal you when I am ready.”
Once in place, Edwin, who had been recruited to assist Terric and Jacqueline at these training sessions, handed her a lance. After she took possession of it, he quickly ran across the field to Terric.
As Edwin helped Terric mount his horse, he quietly whispered, “Do you think it wise what you do here? I am not like yonder lady over there. I am not quite so beguiled by your charms that I lose my senses.”
Busily adjusting his shield on his left arm, Terric absently replied, “I did not ask your opinion on the matter, Edwin. Jacqueline’s aim is very erratic. This is the best way for me to see what she does when she runs the list.”
Edwin shook his head. “Suit yourself. Just do not come to me to have your shoulder fixed. I hope the lady knocks you on your ass.”
“Such kind words, squire.”
Still shaking his head, Edwin stepped out of harm’s way. “Be a fool then.”
Seeing she was ready, Terric motioned for Jacqueline to come at him. She kicked her heels into her steed’s sides and brought her lance up into position. He had a split second of misgiving about this mode of training. It was an eerie feeling sitting still while a fully-armored rider raced toward him, lance at the ready. When it hit his shield at full speed, he seriously thought he had lost his mind to have ever come up with that suggestion. The impact was twice as hard, harder than when he was in motion and able to ride past the other rider. He kept his voice even as he told Jacqueline to take another run.
After she had completed three more such runs, Terric had reached his limit. Having found out what she was consistently doing wrong, he signaled the end of it. His shoulder could stand no more.
With her last run completed, Jacqueline returned to Terric’s side. “No more, Terric. I refuse to do it again.”
“There is no need. I found what I was looking for. On the morrow we will focus on correcting it.”
Jacqueline removed her helm. Using his right arm, Terric did the same. He did his best not to let any appearance of pain to show on his face. He must have pulled it off, because she seemed to let herself relax. Each time she had hit his shield, it had taken all his strength to remain in the saddle.
“What am I doing wrong then?” Jacqueline asked.
“You are over-compensating your aim. You start off fine, but halfway down the list you think you have to correct it. If you had just held steady, you would have hit the center of my shield each time.”
“All right, I will work on not over-correcting. Now let us go to the hall. I have worked up an appetite with all this.” She set her horse into motion and slowly headed toward the stables. Terric did not move to follow her, and she pulled her horse to a halt. She turned in the saddle to look at him. “Are you coming or do you plan on sitting there for the rest of the day?”
“Go on ahead. I will be along shortly.”
He made no further response. She shrugged and then continued on to the stables.
* * * *
Sweat profusely poured off him by the time he entered his chamber. It was not caused from wearing heavy armor on a hot spring day, either. It was from the strain of ignoring the painful mass his left shoulder had become.
Not wanting to give Edwin the pleasure of knowing he was right, Terric had dismissed him once Jacqueline had left the field. So now, for the sake of his pride, he suffered.
Luck must have been on his side, because the hall had been virtually empty when he had entered it. Only a few servants had been about, setting the trestle table for the evening meal. They had paid him no notice as he had slowly, painfully, ascended the stairs to his chamber.
Terric shut the door behind him and leaned heavily against it, trying to catch his
breath. Though it had been hard getting this far, the most painful part was still to come. He had to divest himself of his armor, without Edwin’s assistance.
After what felt like hours, he managed to unbuckle his breast and back plates. A knock sounded on his chamber door just as he was about to reach up and start working on removing his chain mail. He stilled, waiting to see if whoever was there would go away.
The knock came once more, and this time the person on the other side spoke. “Terric, are you in there?”
The one person he did not want to see him like that, of course, had to be the one knocking. Realizing Jacqueline would not leave him to suffer in peace, he answered her. “Aye, I am.”
“The evening meal is going to be served in a few minutes. Are you coming down to the hall?”
“I will be along shortly. I have not finished changing.”
“Fine, but do not be long.”
* * * *
Thinking Terric had sounded a bit strange, Jacqueline went to the hall. Beth and her mother were seated at the trestle table. Sir Guy stood beside Lady Elizabeth, quietly talking with her. They looked up at Jacqueline expectantly.
She shook her head. “He is changing. He should not be much longer.”
Her mother frowned. “What is keeping the man? He has been up there for over an hour. The servants saw him when he returned to the hall after your training. We can hold off on serving the food for a short time, but I will not have it ruined by his lateness.”
“Have no fear, Mother. Terric will be down in good time.”
Jacqueline took a seat beside Beth and gazed toward the stairs. The uneasy feeling of all not being right with Terric just would not leave her.
Beth noticed her agitation. “What is taking him so long? In past conversations, he said a good meal was a favorable way to pass an evening.”
Jacqueline thoughtfully tapped her finger on her chin. “That is what I have been thinking. He would not be absent unless something was wrong.”
Knight of Her Life Page 5
