by Anne Herries
‘Lord Cowper has not answered the summons to attend, Sire.’
‘Indeed…’ The King frowned. ‘Do we have any witnesses in this case—anyone who is willing to say one way or the other what occurred on the day the lady Madeline was murdered?’
‘Sire, I have a new witness in the case,’ Rob said, his voice ringing through the chamber as he strode in, accompanied by three others. ‘He swears that he was there that day and saw what happened.’
‘No!’ Stefan cried. ‘I shall not allow it!’ He had seen Hassan and feared the worst for his friend.
‘You will be quiet, sir,’ the King said. ‘Or we shall try this case without you. You had your chance to speak and refused; now let us hear this new witness.’
Stefan looked and saw Hassan standing with Ali and a man he did not immediately recognise. He caught Hassan’s eye and shook his head, but then saw that it was the stranger who was walking forward to take the Bible in his hand.
‘By what name are you known, sir?’
‘I am known as Fritz, my lord. I have none other, for I was a bastard born, and though I know the man who got me on my mother, he has never acknowledged it.’ A Bible was held out to him and he took it in his right hand.
‘Do you swear by this book and all you hold dear to speak the truth and only the truth, and may God strike you down if you lie?’
‘I so swear,’ Fritz said. ‘I was in the service of Lord Cowper until recently. He sent me to witness what happened the day that it was planned to murder Lord de Montfort.’
‘You say the plan was to murder Lord de Montfort— how is this?’
‘The lady Madeline hated Lord de Montfort because she believed he had killed his younger brother. Her sister Anna was betrothed to Gervase de Montfort and when he was killed she drowned herself in the river. When it was suggested to the lady Madeline that she could lure Stefan de Montfort into a trap so that he could be killed, she agreed—she wanted revenge for her sister.’
‘How do you know this?’
‘I was there when they planned it between them, Sir Hugh and Lord Cowper. I have heard them plot many things over the years. They were wicked, evil men, sir. I saw them prey on an old man as his mind weakened and force him to sign his birthright away, and when he resisted they hit him until he lay unconscious. He would not sign and in the end Lord Cowper signed the deed himself. He made me witness it as well as Sir Hugh.’
‘You saw him do it?’
‘Yes, Sire.’ Fritz looked at the King. ‘He copied it out many times before he was satisfied and discarded the wasted papers. I took them and kept them, and I took Lord William de Montfort’s last letter to his son so that it should not be destroyed.’
‘And where are they now?’
‘Hassan has them, Sire.’
‘I have them here, Sire,’ Hassan said and stepped forward. ‘I was there the day Sir Hugh killed the lady Madeline. He then tried to kill my lord, who was unarmed. I had followed them, because I suspected a trap. It was not the first time someone had tried to murder Lord de Montfort. He did not murder Sir Hugh, for he had gone there unarmed and had no sword until I took it to him. It was I who defeated Sir Hugh in a fair fight to protect the life of a good man.’
‘Hassan! You fool!’ Stefan cried. ‘My best of friends…you had no need.’
‘So you admit that you killed Sir Hugh.’ The officer of the court beckoned to some palace guards, who started forwards, but stopped as the King stood. ‘He has admitted his guilt, Sire.’
‘If he speaks truly, he is guilty of a brave act to save a friend,’ Henry said. ‘If Lord de Montfort was lured by a foolish woman to his death, then he is the innocent party here. If Sir Hugh killed her by accident, it was unfortunate, but if he then tried to murder a fellow nobleman, he broke the law of this land. I do not approve of men settling their affairs by violence. I shall not have it, for it leads to division and weakness. England needs to be united and strong. We have enemies enough without squabbling amongst ourselves!’
‘Your Majesty speaks truly. Shall I have the Saracen arrested?’
‘He is free to leave this court, for it was not his quarrel. He fought to save a friend. However, my judgement is that he should leave England at once and return to his home, wherever that may be. If he returns, he may be arrested as an enemy of England. Please escort him from this court.’
‘Go home, Hassan,’ Stefan called. ‘You have done all you can for me. Take care of the others.’
Hassan inclined his head, bowed to the King and then turned and walked from the court. The King turned to look at Stefan, an expectant hush falling over the assembled cour tiers.
‘It is our opinion that Lord Cowper maliciously lied. We shall study the papers placed as evidence and rule on the matter in due time. And Lord Cowper is to be arrested and brought before us here to answer various charges brought today. In the meantime, Lord de Montfort is cleared of the crime of murder—do all those gathered here agree?’
A chorus of ‘Aye’ rang out on all sides, for few would have thought of disagreeing even if they saw the matter differently.
‘You will not be returned to the Tower, Lord de Montfort,’ the King said. ‘However, until I have had time to study the case further, I order you to remain in London. You will attend the court and I shall expect you to behave in a manner befitting an English gentleman. Until I give you leave, you may not leave this country. Do you give me your word that you will abide by my decision in these matters?’
Stefan hesitated, then bowed his head. ‘I give you my word, Sire—and I thank you. May I be excused now? I would speak with Hassan before he leaves the palace.’
Henry waved his hand. ‘Go, then. This council is dismissed until I summon you again.’
Stefan bowed and waited until the King had swept out. He then turned and hurried from the council chamber. He was afraid that Hassan would have left, but discovered him standing with the Earl of Gifford.
‘I thank you, sir, for your good offices,’ Stefan said and inclined his head to the Earl. ‘I believe you have some influence with the King and he listened to you.’
Andrew smiled. ‘I did what I could, but your own friends supplied the missing link. I am not sure that you would have been believed without the testimony of this man and Lord Cowper’s man.’
‘Hassan, you fool,’ Stefan said and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘You should not have spoken—but I do thank you for what you did.’
‘It was no less than you would have done for me,’ Hassan said, a slight smile on his disfigured mouth. ‘When Ali told me that Fritz would testify against Lord Cowper, I knew that I must speak, too—even though you had forbidden it.’
‘I thank God that Henry believed you both,’ Stefan told him. ‘You must go back to France. I need you there to take care of things. The others need you, Hassan.’
‘We all need you,’ Hassan replied and frowned. ‘If the King returns your father’s estate to you, will you stay here? It is your birthright and your home.’
‘I am not certain,’ Stefan said. ‘That may depend on someone else. I have to speak to Anne as soon as I can. I do not deserve that she should love me, Hassan, but I believe she does. I sent her away when I thought I should die in disgrace, but if she will forgive me I shall ask her to be my wife. Where we live is for my wife to decide. However, I shall not sell the chateau. It will always be your home—and the others may live there if they wish or join me. Perhaps in time Henry may relent and you could return, if Anne wishes to stay here.’
Hassan inclined his head. ‘She loves you, and it is right that she should choose—but I could not live here. Men of my religion are not welcome in this country. In France they have left us alone thus far, but if you stay here I may go back where I came from.’
‘That is your choice,’ Stefan told him. ‘We shall meet again before then, but I hope you will decide to stay with the others—they need you.’
Hassan inclined his head, but said no more. Stefan touched his shou
lder once more, then watched as he walked away. He would be sorry if Hassan decided to return to the East, but he could not ask him to stay, for he did not know what the future held.
‘Well, sir,’ Andrew said, breaking the silence. ‘Will you come back with me to Lord Melford’s house? I know there are some ladies who are most anxious to hear the outcome of this trial.’
‘Yes, thank you, I shall,’ Stefan said, turning to him. ‘I believe I owe my freedom to you and Lord Melford.’
‘Anne’s brother played his part, too. Henry is a busy man and he does not like nobles who break his laws. He will not have feuding, as it was in the old lawless days. He is right to break the power of the barons if he can, for otherwise they quarrel and make war upon each other instead of England’s enemies. With the discovery of the New World, Spain grows more powerful. We are but a small island, though we hold our own amongst powerful neighbours. We cannot afford to have Englishman warring against Englishman.’
‘You are right,’ Stefan said. ‘Cowper recently tried to capture and to kill us when we were out riding, and then his men broke into my home and stole something precious to me.’ His expression darkened. ‘I care not that he has wished me dead, and it is too late to right the wrongs done to my family—but for what he did to Anne I would like to see him dead.’
‘Take care Henry does not hear you say that,’ Andrew said. ‘He would have you back in the Tower and keep you there until Cowper is brought to justice.’
‘You need not fear,’ Stefan said and smiled wryly. ‘I had my chance to murder him if I wished. When it came I did not take it, because I thought of an innocent lady and did not wish to go to her with blood on my hands.’
Andrew smiled. ‘You will have justice, de Montfort. Henry is no fool. Cowper will be brought to him and, if he is found guilty, he will die in the manner he had planned for you.’
‘I can ask for no more, but even if he escapes I shall not spill his blood. I mean to ask Anne if she will marry me; if, as I hope, she says yes, I shall put the past behind me.’
Anne could not rest. She had put on her warmest cloak and gone out to the gardens once more, because she was too restless to stay indoors with her family. Her mother, sister and Claire were all excited about the wedding, which would take place in one week at Melford, the banns having been read in preparation some weeks earlier. They had done their best to temper their natural excitement, because they understood how Anne was suffering. Unable to sit with her needlework a moment longer, Anne had fetched her cloak and, refusing Claire’s offer to accompany her, walked down to the river that wound its way past the garden.
She stood watching some swans swimming majestically on the brownish water. Overhead the skies were grey and threatening. There would likely be a storm before the day was out. Anne shivered, wrapping her cloak about her and feeling the chill of a bitter wind.
‘Please let him come back to me,’ she murmured to herself. Her eyes were gritty with the tears she had been holding back all day, because as the time went on she feared the news was bad. Feeling the first few drops of rain, she turned, knowing that she had been out here too long and her mother would be anxious.
As she walked towards the house, she saw a man emerge from the back entrance. He stood for a moment, as if searching for something, then began to stride in her direction. Anne’s heart stood still before racing madly. She started to run to meet him.
‘Stefan…’ she cried, her throat catching with emotion. ‘Stefan…’
He quickened his stride, breaking into a run at the last. As they came together, she stopped, breathing hard, staring at him uncertainly. What was he going to say to her? Oh, it did not matter! He was alive. He was free. Her heart swelled with happiness and she began to weep.
‘Anne, my love,’ Stefan said and reached out for her, catching her in his arms and holding her close. He looked down at her, the fire in his eyes making her tingle with anticipation as he bent his head to kiss her on the lips. ‘My sweet Anne…can you forgive me for what I said to you when you came to the Tower?’
‘There is nothing to forgive,’ she said, her cheeks wet with the tears she allowed to trickle down her cheeks unashamedly. ‘You sent me away because you thought you would die in that place, didn’t you?’
‘I believed I should be convicted of murder and executed as a common criminal,’ Stefan said. He wiped the tears away with his fingers. ‘I could not let you share my disgrace, Anne. Even now that I am cleared of all the crimes I was once accused of, I know that I am not worthy of you, my darling—but I am too selfish and I love you too much to give you up. I am asking you now if you will be my wife?’
‘Yes…’ Anne’s breath expelled on a sigh. ‘Oh, yes, Stefan. It is all I want. All I have ever wanted. You must know that I love you? I love you so much that I should have wanted to die had you not come back for me.’ She smiled up at him, all her love and longing in her face. Her long golden hair tumbled about her shoulders, its fragrance wafting towards him, sensuous and enchanting. ‘I will marry you as soon as it can be arranged.’
‘I would that it could be immediately,’ Stefan said and stroked her face with his hand. ‘For me it cannot be soon enough, but my affairs are not yet settled, Anne. The King has cleared my name of the charge of murder, but he has not yet seen fit to return my father’s estate to me. He wishes to consider the matter, and Lord Cowper is summoned to court to answer the charge of false accusation, murder and theft. I am to remain in London until his Majesty decides the matter and allows me to leave.’
‘You must remain in London?’ Anne’s face clouded. ‘We are leaving London in the morning. Harry and Claire want to be married at Melford now that he has been given leave of absence. I shall have to return home with them, Stefan.’
‘Yes, of course, I understand that,’ he said, and smiled as he saw her disappointment. He bent his head and kissed her softly on the lips. ‘Do not let this temporary parting spoil your happiness, my love. We shall be together soon, and we have the rest of our lives to enjoy.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Anne said. She swallowed hard, knowing that she must be thankful for all she had been given. Stefan was alive. He was free and he loved her. She only had to wait a short time and they could marry.
‘My sweet love. Forgive me. I would come with you if I could.’
‘I know I must accept the King’s will,’ she told him. ‘I shall go with my family and wait patiently, but every hour that we must be apart seems wasted, Stefan. Had I not been stolen away from you, we should already have been married.’
‘I have not even laid that complaint against Cowper as yet,’ Stefan said, ‘though your father may have done so. I know that your father, and others of your family, have done much to help me and I am grateful to them.’ He hesitated, then, ‘If the King sees fit to restore my father’s estate to me, would you wish to live there—or return to Chateau de Montifiori?’
‘I want to be with you wherever you are,’ Anne said. ‘I shall live here if you wish it, but I was very happy at the chateau. I would ask only that something is done to make sure that no one can ever enter our gardens again without per mission.’
‘Hassan has ordered a wall built for this very purpose,’ Stefan said. ‘He has returned to France. The King banished him, because he killed Sir Hugh that day. It was not murder, for the fight was fair and he was protecting my life. However, the King has decreed that all such warring between the barons must cease. I believe that he has made progress in his aim to bring peace and that England is a safer place because of it.’
‘But Normandy is warmer and I love your home,’ Anne said. ‘If your father’s estate is restored to you, you must choose, my love. I shall be happy to live with you wherever you wish.’
‘I wish our marriage could be at once,’ Stefan said. ‘I would relinquish all claim to my father’s estate for the chance to be with you, Anne—but the King thinks I deserve some punishment for disobeying his law, even though the feud was not of my making. I must a
dmit that I have wanted Cowper dead, and perhaps it was because he knew that I was bent on revenge that he tried to have me killed. For this crime I am kept kicking my heels at court.’
‘I pray that the attempts on your life are over,’ Anne said and smiled up at him. ‘Kiss me again, Stefan. I have longed for this moment, and I can hardly believe that you are here with me.’
‘I am here,’ Stefan said. ‘When his Majesty allows it I shall come to you and I promise we shall never be parted again.’
He bent his head, kissing her softly at first, the heat building between them as the kiss deepened and lengthened. Anne arched into him, feeling the burn of his desire, and the urgent need in him. She wanted so much to be his wife, to know the pleasure of lying close to him in their bed, but she knew that Stefan would never take advantage of her innocence. He would wait until his ring was on her finger. If only that could be tomorrow! She seemed destined to wait endlessly and that was hard for a girl of her quick, impatient nature.
A sigh left her as he released her. Stefan had no choice but to wait until the King gave permission for him to leave London. It might be only a few days or it might be some weeks. She would just have to wait as patiently as she could.
Stefan stayed with them that night, and Anne spent as much time with him as she could. Claire supervised the packing of her trunks so that she did not have to waste a moment of the precious time before they must part. They ate supper with Anne’s family, but after that they were allowed to retire to a small parlour at the back of the house so that they could be alone to talk and plan their future.
Stefan had arranged that he would stay on in the house. He had some funds in England and he intended to visit the goldsmiths the next day and withdraw some of them so that he could purchase new clothes and gifts for his intended bride. He asked Anne what jewels she liked, but she smiled and shook her head, saying that she wanted only his love.
