Her Dark and Dangerous Lord

by Anne Herries

  ‘So, that is Lord de Montfort,’ Claire said, a hint of mischief in her voice as the two men walked away. ‘Now I understand why you agreed to marry him. There is something exciting…dangerous about him. He would frighten me, but I think he may be just right for you, Anne.’

  Anne laughed softly. The shadows had suddenly fallen away from her, her spirits lifting as if by magic. Whatever had kept Stefan from her side, it was not indifference.

  ‘My lord’s life has not been easy,’ she said. ‘He was cast out by his father as a young man and he has lived by the sword. Yes, there is something dangerous in loving such a man, but I would not have it any other way.’

  ‘We should go home,’ Catherine said. ‘Mother will worry if we are too long, though she has Lady Anne Shearer to keep her company. I believe that Will is with her, and his wife. Lady Shearer has become reconciled to the marriage now that she has a grandson.’

  ‘Oh…I shall be pleased to meet Will’s wife,’ Anne said, looking happy as they summoned the coach. She was thoughtful as they rattled over the cobblestones. Stefan had given her his word he would visit her before he returned to France. He would keep it and she must pray that he cared for her sufficiently to ask her once more to be his wife.

  Busy with her own thoughts, she followed the others into the house, only half-listening to their chatter. It was not until she entered the parlour where her mother was seated with Lady Shearer that she realised that they had another guest. The Comte De Vere was standing by the fireplace, a cup of wine in his hand as he conversed with the ladies. He put down his wine cup and looked pleased as he saw Anne.

  ‘Mistress Melford, how well you look,’ he said and came towards her. ‘I pray you, do not look so surprised—did I not say that I would visit you one day?’

  ‘Yes, you did,’ Anne said. She was conscious of a slight awkwardness, because the way he looked at her was too expectant, too satisfied, as if he thought she would welcome his attentions. ‘It was good of you to come, sir. Have you business in London?’

  ‘Yes, some business with a wine merchant,’ the Comte said, lying with a practised ease. ‘However, that is of secondary importance. My main reason for the journey was to see how you were. I have been concerned for you, Anne, as you must know.’

  Anne smiled and thanked him, but her heart sank. She owed him a debt of gratitude and must be polite, though she wished that she could tell him his interest in her was unwelcome. All she truly wanted at this moment was to be alone with her thoughts. The meeting with Stefan had given her a new zest for life, and she could hardly wait until he kept his promise to visit her.

  ‘I ask for an audience with his Majesty,’ Stefan said. ‘I have brought my complaints against Lord Cowper before the court once before, but was refused a hearing. This time I have new evidence. A letter in my father’s own hand.’

  ‘You will wait here, sir,’ the courtier replied. ‘The King is in council with his ministers and cannot be disturbed for the moment. When he is ready to see you, you will be sent for. If he does not send for you today, you must return every day and wait here until he has the time to grant you an audience.’

  ‘How long before the King sends for me?’ Stefan asked of Hassan as the courtier walked away. ‘Last time I waited for hours each day for a week. In the end I was told that my request had been denied and the King would not see me.’ His face darkened with anger and he struck the wall with his fist. ‘Damn it! Why will Henry not give me a hearing?’

  Hassan looked at him gravely. ‘You have no choice but to wait here, my friend. I know it tries your patience sorely, but there is little else you can do for the moment.’

  ‘I could go back to my father’s house and kill his murderer!’ Stefan muttered, his expression like thunder. ‘I was a fool to come here. I should have known there was no justice in England for me!’

  ‘You are impatient, my lord—’ Hassan broke off as he heard heavy footsteps returning. ‘I think someone comes.’ The two men looked at each other as they heard the clink of armour. ‘What…?’

  The door was flung open and a palace guard entered. Behind them there were three more guards, all armed. Stefan’s instinct told him that he had walked into a trap, but his pride would not let him run. He faced them, his eyes narrowed and angry.

  ‘Have you come to take me to the King? I would be heard, as is my right under English law.’

  ‘The King will hear you if he sees fit,’ the guard said. ‘I am here to arrest you for the murders of the lady Madeline and Sir Hugh Grantham.’

  ‘That is a lie.’ Hassan started forward, but Stefan caught his arm, shaking his head, but Hassan would not be denied. ‘The lady lured Lord de Montfort to her house under pretext of needing help and Sir Hugh tried to murder him.’

  ‘You were there?’

  ‘Say nothing more,’ Stefan ordered him. ‘I am innocent of these foul charges and will answer to the King if I am given the opportunity.’

  ‘My orders are to take you to the Tower, where you will be held in conditions according to your rank, sir. His Majesty will decide whether you are to be heard and when.’

  ‘Here, take these,’ Stefan said and thrust a leather pouch at Hassan. ‘I need someone to stand for me, someone of rank and influence. It is a thankless task, my friend, but do what you can for me.’

  ‘I shall find someone,’ Hassan promised, his eyes meeting Stefan’s. ‘This is Cowper’s doing, my friend. He must and shall be brought to justice.’

  ‘Yes, somehow. If I fail, I know you will not,’ Stefan said and smiled grimly. He turned towards his guards. ‘I am ready to accompany you, sir.’

  The officer inclined his head. ‘I must do my duty, my lord. Please do not try to escape—if forced to it, I should have to kill you.’

  ‘I shall not try to escape. I am innocent of the charges and will clear my name when the King grants me a hearing.’

  He turned to glance at Hassan one last time and then walked from the room with the guards.

  Hassan stood for a moment, his forehead creased in thought. Stefan’s message had been clear enough. If he should meet an unjust end, Hassan was to kill Cowper. In the meantime, however, he would do what he could to find someone who would stand for Lord de Montfort in the court. A man of his own class was needed, for the word of the late Lord de Montfort’s steward would not be listened to, nor his own. Hassan had been willing to confess that it was he who had killed Sir Hugh after the lady was murdered by her uncle, but Stefan had forbidden it with a look, and Hassan knew why. He would certainly have been executed with barely a word said in his defence; at least, as a lord of the realm, Stefan was entitled to his hearing.

  Chapter Eight

  Anne dressed in her new gown of dark green silk. The neckline was squared and bordered with gold braid, the sleeves loose and hanging in long points; gold braid edged the sleeves, too, though the skirt was plain. She wore a peaked cap of matching green silk that framed her face, her hair hanging loosely beneath it and flowing down her back. It was to be her first visit to the court that evening, and her stomach fluttered with nerves.

  Would Stefan be there? She knew that he was entitled by birth to take his place amongst the courtiers, but he had lived abroad for many years and might not wish to attend the gatherings. Her whole family was to attend that night, except for her younger brother who would remain at home with his nurse. The Shearer family would also be there, and Anne understood that both Comte St Orleans and Comte De Vere had been issued with invitations. Yet she knew that the evening would be empty for her if she did not see the man she longed for with all her heart.

  ‘Harry arranged for Claire and her father to be presented this evening,’ Lady Melford told her daughter. ‘Comte De Vere is to attend as our guest.’ Her eyes were inquiring as she looked at Anne. ‘Comte De Vere seems to like you well, dearest. I think he means to make you an offer of marriage.’

  ‘If he speaks to Father, please ask him not to allow the Comte to make the offer, Mother,’
Anne said. ‘The Comte is very kind and I am in his debt for what he did to help me, but.’ She stopped and sighed.

  ‘Your heart is given to Lord de Montfort, yes, I know, my love. Catherine told me that you met him briefly when you were out together this morning. I have noticed the difference in you since then. You seem more alive— more as you used to be.’

  ‘I feel more as I used to,’ Anne said, her eyes glowing. ‘I love Stefan, Mother. I was afraid that he did not love me. I thought he might have asked me to wed him simply because at that time I had nowhere else to go.’

  ‘Now you think it is not so? What did he say that gave you cause for hope?’

  ‘He promised that he would call to see me before he left for France—but it was the look in his eyes, Mother. I believe he cares for me, even if he is holding back for some reason.’ Anne’s face was intense, her eyes wistful, revealing more than she knew.

  Melissa nodded. ‘Yes, I understand that, Anne. There was a time when your father and I had quarrelled. I had no cause to think he loved me for he was very angry, and yet there was something in his eyes that gave me hope even in the darkest days.’ She smiled at her daughter. ‘I am glad that you do not wish to marry Comte De Vere. You would not be his first wife and I am not sure he would make you a good husband, but you must be careful, my love. Do nothing to give him cause to believe you mean to accept him. If he should ask, you must say no in a way that does not cause offence.’

  ‘I know that I must be careful,’ Anne said. ‘I have done and said nothing to encourage his attentions— except that I told him he would be welcome to call on us when he asked if he might.’

  ‘Do you think that was wise?’

  ‘He had been so generous to both Father and I—how could I refuse?’

  ‘It was difficult,’ Melissa agreed, but looked anxious. ‘Well, be careful in future, dearest. It is very easy to give offence without meaning to and that can cause trouble.’

  Anne nodded, but she was only half-listening to her mother’s warning. Her thoughts were of the gathering that night and whether Lord de Montfort would be one of those summoned to attend.

  Anne ate sparingly of the rich food brought to table. Her family were at the head of the board placed at right angles to the top table where the King and his most favoured courtiers were seated. Her brother Harry, the Earl of Gifford and Lord Melford were all amongst those so favoured that night, and Anne felt proud to see them there.

  Catherine had warned her against eating too much of the spicy dishes offered her, because sometimes the food was not as fresh as they had at home. The palace was too large and the constant entertaining meant that sometimes standards lapsed, which was one of the reasons the court moved from one palace to another so that it could be properly cleaned. Anne had heard that another move was due to happen very soon. Many of the courtiers followed the King as he progressed from one royal palace to another, seldom finding time to visit their own estates.

  Perhaps that was why some of the nobles took mistresses, Anne thought. Catherine had whispered to her that some of the courtiers were not to be trusted, warning her not to visit the courtyards with any of them. Anne listened to her sister’s advice for Catherine had been to court many times since her marriage.

  ‘If you are seen to be absent for too long, your reputation could be damaged,’ Catherine advised her. ‘Married ladies are not always frowned upon for taking lovers, for it is common enough at court, but it would not be tolerated in a single lady.’

  ‘You do not have a lover?’ Anne stared at her in shock and Catherine laughed, looking more beautiful than ever to her sister’s eyes. Catherine had blossomed in her marriage.

  ‘Andrew would kill him and me if I did,’ Catherine assured her sister. ‘No, dearest, I have never looked at another man, but it does happen. I was just warning you to be careful—and of whom you dance with, should there be dancing this evening. Wait until I bring you a partner. If I do, you may be certain that he is to be trusted.’

  Anne had not bothered to tell her sister that she did not wish to dance with anyone, because she had not seen Lord de Montfort at the gathering. However, she was not asked since the entertainment that evening consisted of tumblers, minstrels and a miracle play, which she found diverting.

  However, by the time the evening was done Anne was finding it hard not to yawn behind her fan. The Comte De Vere had sat beside her during the play, talking to her about the actors. Anne had found his commentary annoying, for she wished to listen to the play, but she had managed to conceal her feelings, though she was ready to go home before her father came to tell them it was time to leave.

  Anne noticed something odd in his manner, especially in the look he gave her. She did not think she had done anything to displease him, but his manner was grave. It made her wonder if the Comte De Vere had approached him with regard to a marriage contract and she went cold inside. Surely her father would not agree to it without consulting her?

  She walked ahead of her mother and Claire into the house. Her father called to her, asking her if she could spare him a few minutes.

  ‘Yes, of course, Father,’ Anne said, feeling surprised. He went into the back parlour and she joined him, closing the door as he bid her. Her heart was beating wildly and she wondered what had caused him to look at her that way. ‘Have I done something wrong, Father?’

  ‘No, Anne, of course not. I thought you behaved perfectly this evening. I am afraid I have some unhappy news for you.’

  The expression on his face made her tremble. ‘Something has happened…has Comte De Vere asked for your permission to address me?’

  ‘I believe he intends it,’ Rob replied. ‘I fear this news is far worse—I have heard this evening that Lord de Montfort has been arrested for the murder of the lady Madeline and Sir Hugh Grantham. I think you may remember that it was talked of shortly before you left for France? Two men were seen leaving the house at the time, but no warrant was issued for their arrest as no one knew who they were.’

  ‘You cannot think that Stefan murdered them?’ Anne’s gaze flew to her father’s face. ‘It is not true! He is too honourable. I know he would not murder in cold blood. He would not!’

  ‘I have found him honourable,’ Rob agreed. ‘However, the complaint has been laid and must be answered.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Anne asked, an icy chill settling at the nape of her neck. ‘Who laid the complaint?’

  ‘Lord Cowper,’ Rob said. ‘Andrew is to discover more of it tomorrow and we shall see what can be done, though I fear de Montfort must remain in the Tower until his trial is set.’

  Anne felt the tightness in her chest, and the tears burned behind her eyes. ‘I must see him, Father. I must tell him that I do not believe this wicked tale.’

  ‘I am not sure.’ Her father looked at her doubtfully. ‘The Tower is no place for a young girl.’

  ‘I am not a child, Father, and I love Stefan. Had Lord Cowper not stolen me away, I should have been Lady de Montfort by now.’

  ‘Yes, that is true—except that we have no proof that it was Lord Cowper.’

  ‘Stefan knows,’ Anne said and the desperation was in her face. ‘He may not be able to prove it, but he knows. Lord Cowper arranged for me to be abducted, so that he could have his revenge on Stefan. He hates him because everything he has was stolen from Stefan—his home, his birthright. It is so unfair that Stefan has been arrested when he is innocent! Surely someone must listen to his side of the argument?’

  ‘That much at least I can promise you. Henry is often morose since the death of Prince Arthur and the Queen. However, I still have some influence with Henry. I shall make certain that Lord de Montfort’s trial is fair.’

  ‘And you will arrange for me to visit Stefan in the Tower?’

  Rob looked at her. Her mood of despondency had flown and she looked vital, alive in her determination to fight for the man she loved. He saw himself in her, even though she was a woman, and knew that she would not give up if h
e denied her.

  ‘I shall try,’ he promised. ‘If it can be arranged, you shall at least speak to him, Anne.’

  ‘He is innocent of these crimes, Father. I know he is innocent.’ Her eyes blazed with passion. ‘Lord Cowper should be made to prove his accusations.’

  ‘Yes, that is fair,’ her father agreed. ‘I shall ask that he be summoned to the court to put his case. He has made claims and they must be proved.’

  ‘They cannot be proved,’ Anne said. ‘Stefan did not murder that woman or Sir Hugh. I know he didn’t!’

  Unable to bear the distress any longer, Anne turned and fled from the room. The tears were very close, because she knew that the punishment for crimes of this nature would be harsh. Stefan would be executed, his name disgraced before his peers. She thought that the humbling of his pride would be even harder for him to bear than death, though for her his execution was too painful to contemplate. If Stefan died in such a terrible way, she would not want to live.

  Ali bent over his patient. The man had recovered slowly, but of late he had seen signs of returning strength. He was not surprised when Fritz opened his eyes and stared at him.

  ‘Where am I?’ he asked.

  ‘You are at the home of Lord de Montfort. Our men found you in the woodcutter’s hut. You had been stabbed and they thought you near dead, but I have nursed you and you have recovered.’

  ‘Did you save me so that de Montfort could hang me?’

  ‘Perhaps,’ Ali told him. ‘All things are as Allah wills…but it might be that you could earn your freedom.’

  ‘How could I do that?’ Fritz asked, eyes narrowed and suspicious.

  ‘What do you know that might be of service to the Lord de Montfort? Search your conscience, sir. I cannot tell you what you must do, but if you know something of worth, it might be your salvation.’