Keeper of the Stone

by Lynn Wood

  At Nathan’s gesture, Mark hesitantly took a step in their direction. Nathan looked him over. The last time he saw his younger brother, Mark was a boy. Now a young man not quite his wife’s age stood before him. He bowed when he reached where Nathan and Rhiann stood, his face heating up with a blush as he met Rhiann’s glance.

  Rhiann, noticing the boy’s embarrassment and his close resemblance to Nathan, lifted an inquiring glance to her husband’s face.

  “Rhiann, this is my youngest brother, Mark.” He turned to his brother and completed the introduction. “Mark, this is my wife, Rhiann.”

  Rhiann smiled warmly at the younger version of her husband and held out her hand to him. Her lips twitched at the astonished expression Nathan’s brother was desperately trying to conceal from her and the meaningful little glances he kept casting in Nathan’s direction. His eyes were wide with shock and his face was flushed. He’d yet to recover from his surprise long enough to offer her his hand so she dropped the one she held out to him back to her side.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mark.” She offered instead with all sincerity. Rhiann was the youngest in her family and she thought Mark might be even younger than she was. She could tell he was trying desperately to pretend to be unaffected by Nathan’s stunning declaration and failing miserably. She was barely able to suppress the urge to laugh at his predicament and bent her head to keep from giving voice to her amusement.

  Nathan, aware of his wife’s struggles and his brother’s astonishment, simply prompted. “Have you no greeting for my wife, Mark?”

  Rhiann glared at her husband for making his young brother even more uncomfortable. Even now the poor boy was stumbling over his apologies to her. “Yes, yes of course. Lady Rhiann. It is a pleasure to meet you as well.”

  The introductions finally completed, Nathan turned to other matters. “Where is our father?”

  Nathan found his companions’ reactions to his simple question comical. He felt his wife stiffen by his side and his brother was back to casting desperate glances in his direction, while at the same time trying not to let Rhiann see his attempts to gain his brother’s attention.

  “Our father?” Mark parroted blankly.

  “Yes. Our father. Is he at the keep?”

  “No, no. The keep is quite full. He set up our tents on the hill to the east.” Mark motioned in the direction where there were now a number of tents set up to house the overflow of the arrivals from Normandy.

  “Will you escort my wife to my quarters in the keep? I will go and greet our father.”

  Mark’s eyes widened in panic at his brother’s request. “Yes, of course. It will be my honor, but Nathan…” His voice trailed off. He clearly was uncertain how to continue.

  “We will speak later, Mark. For now my wife is no doubt growing chilled in the cold air. Please see her to my room.” Rhiann noticed Nathan appeared to be taking great delight in referring to her as his wife with every breath, which only served to further distress his brother.

  She sent her husband a chiding glance to stop teasing his brother then took the arm Mark proffered with a warm smile.

  Nathan noticed Mark was back to blushing again. He guessed he was so distracted earlier by his older brother’s revelation about already possessing a wife, he was only now getting a good look at his new sister-in-law and he was at the age in a young man’s life to be overwhelmed by Rhiann’s stunning beauty.

  Rhiann attempted to carry on a conversation with her new brother-in-law on the way back to the keep but was only partially successful. Mark seemed so distressed over discovering Nathan already had a wife, he was unable to answer her in more than monosyllabic responses. They were both relieved when they reached Nathan’s rooms. Mark greeted the guard who opened the door for Rhiann and then was apparently in such a hurry to catch up with his older brother, he forgot to properly take his leave of her.

  Mark’s obvious anxiety over his family’s reaction to the news of Nathan’s marriage only made the intervening hours until dinner that much more untenable for Rhiann. Visions danced through her head about Nathan’s family’s reaction to being introduced to her. One unpleasant scene after another played itself out in her head until Rhiann was so exhausted she stretched out on their bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

  Later as they made their way to the great hall for the evening meal, Nathan led his reluctant wife along one tiny, frustrating step at a time. He was aware of her intense anxiety but his reassurances there was nothing to concern herself with failed to have the desired calming effect. He was at a loss to understand Rhiann’s reaction. As far as he could see there was little cause for her to be anxious over the coming introduction. She was the daughter of a duke after all. If anything, it was his family who should be worried about the prospect of gaining her approval, not the other way around.

  He glanced down at his wife’s set face, his lips curving in a smile at the sight of her lovely countenance despite her anxiety over the upcoming introductions. Rhiann obviously took great care with her appearance this evening. She was dressed in a gold gown a few shades darker than her hair that she wore as a crown about her head. He noticed her grandmother’s dagger was still strapped to her arm and the remaining bells still tinkled softly as she walked.

  He grinned at the thought of his mother’s reaction to the dagger. He doubted his father would care if Rhiann strode stark naked into the hall. She was responsible for his son’s spectacular ascension into the Norman nobility. He was a practical enough man to be suitably grateful to his new daughter-in-law for the abrupt rise in his family’s circumstances.

  From his vantage point at the top of the stairs, Nathan saw his parents and older brother along with his wife standing near the fireplace at the opposite end of the hall. They looked a little confused at all the activity and the finery displayed around them. Nathan realized with some surprise and sympathy they were somewhat awed by their exalted surroundings.

  He wondered if this was the first time his father or brother were ever invited to dine in the king’s presence. For the first time in his life Nathan realized his close friendship with Duke William was difficult for his family to understand and they were not quite certain how to deal with it.

  “Nathan?” He dropped his glance to his wife’s anxious face and gave her a reassuring smile. At the same time he reached up to squeeze the hand now gripping his arm, her nails digging into the soft material of his shirt. He was grateful he could see no sign of Lady Sara among the small family group and doubted his former almost fiancé would know anyone else in the hall tonight.

  With the arrival of so many subjects from Normandy, the company in the king’s hall had grown more exclusive lately. Nathan realized with some surprise the only reason his family was included in the evening’s festivities was due to his own relationship with the king. He was aware of his fierce sense of satisfaction at the thought knowing no one would now question his own right to be included in the king’s company.

  Nathan all but dragged his reluctant wife down the stairs and across the hall towards where his family waited, avoiding greeting acquaintances along the way in an effort to get this introduction over and done with in order to ease Rhiann’s anxiety. He was aware of the admiring eyes following his bride’s progress across the room, the way the crowd parted slightly for their passage. He recognized he wasn’t the only one slightly in awe of his wife. She possessed some indefinable quality that made others acknowledge she existed on a loftier plain than most mortals. Her stunning beauty only added to the aura of mystery and refinement surrounding her.

  He glanced down at his wife, wondering if she was aware of the effect she had on those around her. She seemed to accept their natural deference as her due and would no doubt have been surprised to find her way blocked even in the crush of the crowd of tonight’s gathering. They joined his family near the fireplace and Nathan made quick work of the introductions. Rhiann shyly greeted his parents and brother and his wife, and they returned her greeting
with equal caution. Nathan caught his mother staring at the dagger strapped to his wife’s arm and suppressed a smile at the confusion and hesitancy in her glance.

  “My condolences on the loss of your family, Lady Rhiann.” Nathan heard his father saying.

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  “It must be a comfort to you to be able to return to your family home.”

  Nathan could feel his wife relaxing at the predictable turn of the conversation and was grateful for his father’s efforts. “Yes, but in truth, Nathan has been a greater comfort. He is very kind and patient with me.”

  Nathan felt his father’s frank appraisal. “That does not surprise me. My son has always impressed me with his patience, especially with his younger brothers, who not surprisingly regard him as a hero of no small stature.”

  Rhiann smiled approvingly and lifted adoring eyes to her husband’s face. “I met your youngest son, Mark, earlier. How many sons do you have?”

  “There are two more you’ve yet to meet, Andrew and Paul. I should warn you Nathan, they’ve taken the notion into their head they should like to remain in Saxony and earn their own fortunes as you have done.”

  “They are welcome to remain behind, if you have no objection, sir. There is plenty of work to be done rebuilding the damage the war wrought.”

  “Thank you, Nathan. We will speak more on this later.”

  Rhiann was distracted from Nathan’s conversation with his father by the anxious glances his mother kept casting in her direction, particularly in the direction of her grandmother’s dagger. The older woman appeared to believe she needed to keep a close eye on her new daughter-in-law lest Rhiann take it into her head to attack her, even in sight of the full gathering.

  Rhiann found her concern so amusing she was forced to avert her face before she succumbed to the temptation to give voice to her amusement. She doubted laughing in her face would be the most effective way to gain her mother-in-law’s affection. The bells in her hair rang at Rhiann’s abrupt motion and Nathan’s mother started in fear. Unsure of the extent of her self-control, Rhiann quickly excused herself from the family reunion and headed in the direction of the stairs. She had an unpleasant task to see to and decided now was as good a time as any to get it over with. In her haste, she almost plowed right into the king when she skirted around a servant balancing a tray filled with glasses of ale for the guests. His arms shot out to keep her from toppling back into the tray as she sought to avoid the near collision.

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry, Rhiann? Is everything all right?”

  Rhiann blushed with embarrassment over her clumsiness. “Forgive me, sire. Would you wait here a moment? I have something that belongs to you and I would like to relieve myself of it at the earliest opportunity.”

  “Indeed?”

  Rhiann considered explaining further. She could see the king was quite confused by her confession. Instead, she simply shook her head, curtseyed before him, and promised to be back shortly, then lifted her skirts and dashed up the stairs to the room she shared with Nathan. The guard held open the door for her, she nodded gratefully as she passed, then hurried quickly to the trunks Nathan’s men carried back with them from Heaven’s Crest. She opened one, reached inside the hidden pocket and removed a small silver box. She heaved a sigh of regret over the loss of its contents, but she felt it would be disloyal of her not to confess her sins to the king. As Nathan reminded her earlier, William was her king now too. It would not be honorable of her to deceive him.

  Clutching the box between her hands, she left the room and allowed herself to be escorted back to the hall by Nathan’s soldier. She was grateful the king remained where she left him just moments earlier. She supposed she should apologize for asking him to wait for her. He was the king after all. It was his right to be the one to order her comings and goings, not the other way around. He smiled his welcome when she returned to his side and her escort bowed before the king and returned to his post.

  “What do you have there, my dear?” The king asked curiously, spotting the silver box she carried.

  Rhiann offered the box to William, who accepted it rather hesitantly from her outstretched hand. He gave her a wary glance before opening the box, drawing in a swift breath at the glittering contents. “My father gave them to me.” Rhiann offered by way of explanation at his inquiring look.

  “I am not sure I understand why you are giving the jewels your father gave you to me.”

  Rhiann blushed guiltily and dropped her head beneath his sharp appraisal. “We hid them.” When her confession was greeted with confused silence she added softly, “During the siege. We hid them and my mother and sister’s jewelry too. Not everything,” she added quickly. “We figured your soldiers would expect to find a large number of valuables at the main seat of a duke, but, well, we hid some of the finer pieces.”

  When Rhiann could stand the king’s silence no longer she finally raised her glance to his. She was surprised to discover the new monarch regarding her with ill-disguised laughter in his eyes. “You are not angry at our deception?”

  He laughed at her anxious query and returned the box to her. “Keep your jewels, Rhiann. Shame on my men for being so taken in. Everything at Heaven’s Crest belongs to your husband now.”

  Rhiann nodded, confused. “Yes, all right. I shall give my jewelry to Nathan. Was it wrong of us to try to deceive you?”

  “No, my dear. I am quite certain Matilda would have done exactly the same thing.”

  Her conscience clear, Rhiann smiled brightly at the king. “Thank you sire. I’ll go give the box to Nathan now.”

  She turned to set off in search of her husband only to find him standing directly behind her. When she would have retreated his hands quickly descended on her shoulders to keep her from bumping into the king. “Nathan, I didn’t see you there. The king says these belong to you now.”

  Nathan looked down at the box she held out to him but made no move to take the fine, silver container. “Rhiann, I have already explained nothing has changed for you. I have no intention of taking your father’s gifts from you.”

  “But Nathan, I believe the jewels are quite valuable.”

  “You insult me, wife.”

  She rushed to reassure him. “That was not my intent.”

  She sounded so forlorn by his rebuke Nathan reached out and lifted her chin with a gentle hand so she would look at him. “Your father’s gifts are yours to do with as you please, Rhiann. I would not rob you of your memories attached to them.”

  “Then I shall give them to Father Bernard. His need is far greater than mine.”

  “No, wife you will not.”

  “But you said I could do with my father’s gifts as I pleased.”

  “You promised me you would not give away your things.” He reminded her.

  “No, Nathan I only promised not to give away my gowns and cloaks. You never asked me to promise you not to give my jewelry away.”

  Clinging to his patience with an effort at his wife’s stubbornness, Nathan instructed, “Keep your father’s gifts, wife. I will speak with Father Bernard in the morning and see what can be done to ease the plight of those in his care.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes, now promise me you will not give away your father’s gifts or any other of your possessions.”

  She smiled up at him, her eyes shining. “I promise.”

  “Thank you.” He summoned one of his men to his side.

  “Yes, my lord?”

  Nathan handed him the silver box. “Return this to my room and double the guard.”

  After his soldier left, Nathan turned his attention back to his wife. “Rhiann, there were no doubt thousands left homeless by the war. You cannot take responsibility for all of them.”

  “Yes I know, but they have lost so much.”

  The king interceded, “I doubt my dear there were very many who lost more than you.”

  “Perhaps, sire, but I have Nathan now.”


  William smiled at the pleased expression on his vassal’s face. “You lost your entire family, my dear? There is no one left but your grandmother? What of your father’s family? Did he have any brothers or sisters? Are there no cousins left to you?”

  Rhiann shook her head. “My father was an only child.”

  “I imagine his parents are both dead.” The king’s idle comment was met with a slight shrug.

  Nathan immediately became suspicious, recognizing his wife’s penchant for responding to questions she wished to avoid answering with the gesture. “Your father’s parents are both dead, are they not, Rhiann?”

  Rhiann evaded his probing gaze. “It is rather complicated.”

  Nathan nearly groaned his frustration. “No, it is not complicated, wife. Your father’s parents are either dead or they are alive. Which is it?”

  Rhiann peeked up and met the king’s amused glance, then lifted her head a little higher to see her husband towering over her with a dark expression on his face. “My grandfather is dead.”

  “And your grandmother?” Nathan insisted.

  Rhiann turned and lifted earnest eyes to his face. “She might as well be dead, Nathan. I never met the woman. She disowned my father when he married my mother. She thought he was marrying beneath his noble status.”

  Nathan exchanged an amused glance with the king and therefore missed the comment his wife muttered under her breath. “I am sorry, what was that Rhiann? I could not hear you.”

  “I said my father’s mother was not dead. At least I do not think she is. How can I know for certain?”

  “There are many Saxons here, Rhiann. It would be an easy matter to make inquiries.” The king offered helpfully.

  Nathan was still suspicious. “I heard what you said about your grandmother being alive, wife, it was your comment after that I didn’t catch.”

  Rhiann sighed and gave him a disgruntled look, which he met with one of firm insistence. Sighing Rhiann relented. “I said the fact she disowned him did not stop her from accepting the generous allowance my father provided her.” She ignored the amusement in his glance and added hopefully, “Now that you are the lord of Heaven’s Crest you are under no obligation to continue to provide my father’s mother with a generous allowance.”