“Then I will remain and meet William le Clare,” Merin Pendragon said.
Lord Mortimer’s expected guest arrived the following morning, and the three men spent the afternoon hunting. After the evening meal as they sat before the fire in the hall, wine cups in their hands, William le Clare explained to his cousin the purpose of his visit.
“I have decided that I need another wife,” he said. “I do not want one, for it seems almost a betrayal of my beloved Adele, but I need an heir, and I am still young enough to sire one, Cousin.”
“And have you anyone in mind?” Edmund Mortimer asked his cousin.
William le Clare shook his head in the negative. “Nay. How would I know any suitable young girls?” He chuckled.
“Then it is possible I may have a prospect for you, Cousin,” Lord Mortimer said. “The Dragon Lord is seeking a husband for his widowed daughter. The girl will be sixteen in two months. She is the child of his second concubine, and her dower portion is intact. As you do not seek love, neither does Junia Pendragon, for she loved her husband well and true, cousin. She is very fair, well-spoken and well-bred.”
William le Clare turned to Merin Pendragon. “You would consider me, my lord?”
Merin nodded. “But first you must know why my daughter is widowed, sir,” he said. “My family and another have been locked in a feud for over a century, but for the last few years the quarrel lay dormant. My daughter knew naught of the dispute, and neither did the young man she met several years ago while riding with her brother. A friendship grew between the three young people. My daughter and this boy fell in love.”
“He was of the other family?” William le Clare immediately guessed.
“Aye.” Merin Pendragon sighed deeply. “Of course, no marriage could be contracted between them, and both were told this. Unfortunately, my daughter and Simon de Bohun arranged to meet again. The boy’s father followed with his men, and caught the two. Hugo de Bohun forced his son to rape my daughter while he and his men watched. My only son, Brynn, attempted to rescue his sister and was captured and imprisoned for his trouble. I will not bore you at this time with all the details, especially if your interest in my daughter has waned with my telling. I rescued my children. I slew Hugo de Bohun. I saw Junia wed to Simon de Bohun, that our honor be restored. Then he was also slain.”
“You are a good father, my lord. You did exactly what needed to be done,” William le Clare said.
“She loved the de Bohun boy. She loves him yet, I fear,” Merin Pendragon said.
“I loved my wife, and love her yet,” William le Clare responded. “If your daughter is willing, then there would be no illusory expectations between us. I seek a young wife who will give me an heir. Nothing more. I will treat her kindly as long as she is obedient and a good chatelaine.”
“Her dower is not great,” Merin Pendragon said.
“What is it?” the younger man asked.
“Livestock, cattle and sheep both. A dower chest of linens and clothing. Her horse. And sixteen silver pennies, sir,” the Dragon Lord answered.
“I consider her very well dowered, my lord,” William le Clare replied. “I would, however, for both of our sakes, see your daughter before any arrangement is made between us. While I seek a young wife, I do not want an unwilling wife. I do not, I fear, have the patience for it,” he finished with a small smile.
“Agreed,” the Dragon Lord responded. “I will return home tomorrow. Come to Dragon’s Lair when you have concluded your visit with your cousin, and you will meet my daughter Junia. You will find her very fair.” He arose. “If I am to leave early then I will to my bed, gentlemen,” he said.
When Merin Pendragon had found his bed space at the end of the hall William le Clare turned to Lord Mortimer. “Do you know the girl?”
“Since she was a child. Merin has three daughters. The eldest by his first concubine, Gorawen, a most beautiful and clever woman. A second daughter, as well as his son, by his wife, the lady Argel. Junia is the daughter of his other concubine, Ysbail. Averil, the eldest sister has always been considered the most beautiful. She is the wife of the lord of Everleigh. The second daughter, Maia, is the wife of Emrys Llyn, the Lord of the Lake. Junia, the youngest, was coltish and charming as a little girl. Now I find her every bit as beautiful as her eldest sister despite their different coloring. The girl is pale, with hair like a raven’s wing. Her eyes are the green of a sunlit forest pool. She is nicely made and sweetly spoken. She plays several instruments, and is skilled on them all. Beware her mother though, cousin. Ysbail is greedy and sharp-spoken. However, you could do worse than to wed Pendragon’s daughter.”
“You like her,” William le Clare said.
“Aye, I do,” Lord Mortimer admitted. “And I will admit that even I wished it had not been necessary to kill young Simon de Bohun. The boy loved her, for all that happened. Merin tells me that Junia claims her husband only knew her that one time. He says she is not a girl to prevaricate, so while she is no longer a virgin, she is yet inexperienced, and could be taught to please.”
William le Clare said, “So what it all boils down to, cousin, is that I find her suitable, and she be willing.”
Lord Mortimer nodded with a small smile. “Aye,” he agreed.
Merin Pendragon returned home the following day.
“You remained longer than I thought you would,” Argel said. “I would have sent Brynn to seek you had you not returned today.”
“William le Clare came to visit,” he replied.
“Tell us!” Gorawen said. “What think you, my lord?”
“I like him,” Merin Pendragon said. “I think him most suitable, but he must see Junia, and be assured she is willing to marry him. He will come to Dragon’s Lair in a few days’ time.”
“Will you speak with our daughter before he comes?” Ysbail wanted to know.
“I think it best I do,” the Dragon Lord told the three women. “Where is she? She is usually at her loom this time of day.”
“She and Brynn and several of our men went riding,” Argel replied. “The day is pleasant, and she has been cooped up all winter.”
“Is this William le Clare a man of property, my lord, and where does he live?” Ysbail wanted to know.
“Near Hereford,” the Dragon Lord answered her.
“Is he a man of means?” Ysbail prodded.
“He has lands, and stock, and since he had a wife I will assume he has a goodly hall. I do not know,” Merin responded honestly.
“Should you not know?” Now it was Argel who spoke up before Ysbail annoyed her husband with her determined probing.
“He is Edmund Mortimer’s cousin,” the Dragon Lord said. “What more is there to know? Mortimer would not recommend him were he not suitable. Junia is not a princess, Ysbail, and considering the misbehavior that led to such tragic events, I am relieved that William le Clare would consider our daughter at all.”
“An older man is a good thing. It would be difficult for Junia to accept a younger man. She would be always making comparisons,” Gorawen spoke up. “We must hope, Ysbail, that Junia will please William le Clare.”
“I dare not speak with her,” Ysbail said. “She will only listen to Argel.”
Argel chuckled. “She is angry, but she never forgets her manners. I credit you with that, Ysbail.”
Junia returned with her brother in mid-afternoon. They had missed the main meal of the day, but were back in time for the evening meal. Junia went immediately to her loom. She was weaving a wall tapestry depicting Christ’s crucifixion. It suited her mood of late.
Argel came and stood by her side, a hand resting lightly on Junia’s shoulder. “Your father may have found you a husband, Junia.” She felt the girl stiffen. “His name is William le Clare,” she continued in a low, calm voice. “He is Lord Mortimer’s cousin, and a widower. There were no children of his first union, and he hopes for a child with a young wife. He is coming with Lord Mortimer to visit us in a few days.”
&nbs
p; “Simon is not gone a year,” Junia responded.
“No, but we could not wait until the year was up to seek out eligible prospects. William le Clare’s arrival on the scene is most providential, my child. If he would have you it would be an excellent match for you. Every bit as good as Averil’s.”
Junia laughed bitterly. “Do you believe I care about such things? Those are things my foolish mother cares about. Not I, lady.”
“Ysbail is what she is, Junia,” Argel said reasonably. “Even as you are what you are. You cannot change her now. But your father and I would have you happy again. Will you promise me to greet William le Clare fairly, and give this a chance?” She moved around to take the girl’s face in her hands, and looked into her eyes.
Junia sighed deeply. “I still hurt,” she said softly.
Argel nodded, and bending, kissed the girl. “I know, my child, I know,” she said.
“I will greet this man fairly, lady,” she promised. “Even if he does not suit me, or I him, I would not have him think me ill bred.”
“Then I am content,” Argel said, smiling at Junia.
“Lady, what does he know of me?” Junia asked nervously.
“All, my child. Your father felt he must know all from the outset,” Argel said.
Junia nodded. “It is better,” she agreed.
“I will tell your father, then, that you look forward to William le Clare’s arrival,” Argel responded to the girl, smiling again. “He will be pleased, Junia.”
“My mother knows?”
“Aye,” Argel said, and then unable to help herself, she giggled.
For the first time since Simon de Bohun’s death Junia began to laugh, and she laughed until the tears were rolling down her face, and she was gasping with the delicious knowledge that the kindly Argel, whom she had never heard say an unkind word about anyone, had no more respect for Ysbail than Junia did. But, by the rood, she hid it well! “Oh, lady,” Junia said as she finally managed to control her laughter.
“We are very bad, my child,” Argel replied, but her lips were twitching.
“Thank you,” Junia said, and she took Argel’s hands up in hers and kissed them.
“Oh, dearest one, I do want you happy!” Argel said, and then turning, she hurried back to where her husband and the others were anxiously waiting. The smile upon her face told them what they needed to know.
Eight days later a messenger arrived from Lord Mortimer to say that he and his cousin would be coming to Dragon’s Lair in two days’ time. A flurry of excitement ran through the household as the Dragon Lord’s women bustled about to see that all would be in readiness to receive their guests. Junia, however, sat in the hall at her loom, ignoring the busy action around her.
She knew that she would have to marry despite her lack of enthusiasm. A woman of her class had but two choices: marriage or the veil. She had no calling for the church, and she knew it. Besides, she was much too independent a soul. The dull routine of a convent day would render her mad in short order. And the vow of obedience was not one Junia thought she could accept. Yet under the law a woman must also be obedient to her husband and lord. Still, she knew a man might be manipulated a bit now and again. No. Being a wife would be far easier than being a nun.
What was William le Clare like, she wondered? Well, she knew that he was old. More than twice her age. And he wanted an heir. She shuddered remembering that to get an heir one must couple with one’s husband. She knew Simon had tried to be gentle with her, but it had all been so distasteful and crude when he had mounted her. And yet her mother, Gorawen and Argel seemed to enjoy their time with her father. There must be more to a husband’s relationship with his wife than what had happened between her and Simon that awful day. And it should be a private thing. Yet the thought of coupling her body with another man both revolted and frightened her.
But if he was pleasant, and she thought she might be able to live with him, Junia made up her mind that she would accept a proposal of marriage from this man. She would be sixteen in a few weeks, and she didn’t want to have to endure the prospective husband parade that Maia had been forced to accept. She would not love him, but she would be a good wife to him, and she would, despite her distaste, do her best to give him the children he desired. But best of all she would be away from Dragon’s Lair, and the Dragon Lord, her father, who had killed the man she loved.
She took care with her garb the day their guests were suppose to arrive. Her undergown had a high round neck, and tight long sleeves. It was of fine lightweight silk, deep green in color. Over it Junia wore a sleeveless overgown with open sides. It was made of a pale gold-colored brocade. A girdle of enameled green links was fastened about her waist. Her black hair was carefully part in the center, and she wore two thick braids. The three older women nodded at each other, pleased. It was obvious that Junia was making an effort. Still, she did not ask for their approval when she came into the hall, and she went immediately to her loom, sitting down, and beginning her work again.
The guests arrived, and were welcomed. The women eyed William le Clare with interest. He was a tall, well-made man who did not look at all as if he were in his middle thirties. His hair was a rich, dark chestnut brown. It was thick, and curled slightly at the nape of his neck. His eyes were neither green nor brown, but rather a deep hazel color. His head was nicely rounded, but he had a long face with a long aristocratic nose, high cheekbones, deep-set oval eyes, and a large narrow mouth that was in perfect proportion with the rest of his face. His voice when he spoke was low and well modulated.
“I would call him handsome,” Gorawen said to the other two women, who nodded in agreement.
“Pray God and his angels that my daughter finds him suitable,” Ysbail said.
“Pray God and his angels that this suitor finds Junia suitable,” Gorawen said.
“Fetch your daughter, woman,” the Dragon Lord called to Ysbail, and she immediately arose, moving quickly across the hall to where Junia sat at her loom. When she reached the girl she said in a voice devoid of any emotion, “Daughter, your father calls you to come to him. Will you obey him now?”
Junia arose, and without a word moved back across the hall to where her father stood with his guests. She smiled, and curtsied to the three men. “Da, you wish my presence?” she asked him.
He did not answer her, saying instead, “William le Clare, this is my daughter Junia. Turn about, girl, and let the man see you. He cannot buy a pig in a poke.”
“I was not aware that I was being sold,” Junia replied pertly.
William le Clare laughed. He had been afraid the girl would be some poor beaten-down creature. He had only agreed to come to Dragon’s Lair that he not offend his cousin, Lord Mortimer. But the girl had spirit. She might prove a pleasant companion, and a lively lover. He needed to know more. “I am not offended, Merin. I find your daughter amusing.” He looked directly at Junia. “Lady,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. “You will walk with me.”
Not will you, Junia thought, but rather, you will. He was a man who took charge. “I will walk with you, sir,” she said, and she took his hand.
They moved away from the others, walking slowly down the length of the hall.
“I am seeking a wife only for the purpose of siring an heir,” he began. “I would tell you immediately that I loved my late wife with every fiber of my being. What love I believe I have left is for my child.”
“In that I will concur,” Junia said. “If I am able to give you a child I will love that child, but I will have no love for you, my lord. I will love and mourn my late husband, Simon, the rest of my days.”
He nodded. “Then we are of one mind, lady,” he told her.
“If you find that I suit you, my lord, I will come prepared to oversee your household as a good chatelaine should do. I will obey and respect you,” Junia said.
“Always?” he asked, his hazel eyes twinkling.
Startled by the teasing tone in his voice Junia look up into W
illiam le Clare’s face.
“You do not strike me, Junia, as a very obedient girl,” he told her softly.
She blushed. She actually blushed, and she was angry for a moment that this man could have elicited such a reaction from her. “My lord, I can only promise you that I will do my best by and for you,” she responded stiffly.
“Speak freely, lady,” he said low. “We must be completely honest with one another. Are you willing to be my wife or no?”
“I am willing,” Junia replied.
“Why?” he demanded, the hazel eyes searching her face for the truth.
“Because there are only two choices open to me, my lord. You know them both. Because I do not want to be put on display for a parade of men seeking my hand in marriage. Because I am anxious to leave my father’s house since I can never forgive him for killing my husband, Simon de Bohun. I could have lived without my honor, my lord, but living without Simon is proving difficult. I choose to accept your offer of marriage because you seem a good man who would treat me fairly, though God and his angels know my choices to date have not been successful. I am not suited to the church. I must marry. You need a wife to give you a child. Our families know each other. If you will have me, I will accept you as my husband, and do my best to be a good wife to you,” Junia said quietly. “I suppose I shock you with my frankness.”
“Nay, your honesty pleases me, Junia,” he told her. “If you thought to drive me off, then you have failed in your attempt. Now, I will be as candid with you. I loved my wife, Adele. We knew each other since childhood, and we married when she was fourteen and I was eighteen. Our greatest sorrow was in not having a child. Then Adele developed a great canker in her belly. When we had to face the fact that she was dying my wife made me promise that I would wed again that I might have the heir she had not been able to give me. I swore to her that I would do her bidding, but I told her then that I should not love another wife. I remember her smiling at me when I said it. She told me that I should not cheat another woman so cruelly, but I cannot love another, Junia, and you must know that before you agree to wed me. I will treat you well, and I will respect your position in my household as my wife, and as the mother of my children. But I can never love you. Can you live with that knowledge, Junia?”
The Dragon Lord's Daughters Page 36
