by Aston, Alexa
“You’re right, my lord,” Michael agreed. “Kinwick is too far for the foal to travel so soon after his birth. And the dam must remain behind to nurse. I’m sure Lady Elysande isn’t thinking straight. She’s had much on her mind.”
“Then go find her and convince her we must leave mother and babe behind,” Geoffrey suggested. “Better yet, find some groom first and have him promise to coddle the pair. ’Twill reassure her if you arrange that before you speak with her.”
Curiosity got the better of him. “How long will the lady reside at Kinwick?”
“That’s for my niece to decide. Frankly, her idea of locking herself away in a nunnery is not what my sister wants. We need to persuade Elysande during her time at Kinwick to make the right choice.” A ghost of a smile crossed the nobleman’s face. “I know you’re eager to step up and change her mind. Especially since her circumstances have changed since we first arrived.”
“Aye, my lord. I want to give her time, though.”
Geoffrey nodded. “Just as her horses need time to come to full strength, so does my niece. Merryn and I are hopeful she’ll change her mind about becoming a nun—and we’d be happy for you to help in that process. In fact, Merryn is counting upon it.”
He placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder. “My wife is a lovely woman, but you do not want to displease her and face her wrath.”
Michael broke out in a smile. “I promise I’ll do my best and see to it that the situation is resolved to everyone’s advantage.”
“Good man.” Geoffrey walked away.
As Michael rose eagerly to his feet, he caught the wide smile on Raynor’s face.
“Now I see what troubled you, my friend. Good luck to you in your quest to capture the lady’s heart. I can tell she has already captured yours.”
“She has, indeed, my lord. Please give my best to Lady Beatrice.”
Michael went to find a groom. He’d grease the man’s pockets with a few gold coins to guarantee Morningstar and Happy would be taken care of in good measure.
He exited the great hall with a spring in his step.
Elysande was coming to Kinwick.
Chapter Ten
Elysande watched as the rider her uncle had sent out returned. The knight headed straight to his liege lord. They spoke briefly before he rode off in the direction he originally came from.
“We’ll make camp up ahead,” Geoffrey told them. He called for two of his men to hunt for some small game to supplement what that had brought from Hopeston.
“May I go with them, Father?” Ancel asked eagerly.
Geoffrey nodded. The trio spurred their horses on as the rest of the party continued south on the road.
Merryn turned to Elysande. “Another reason I’m glad that you’re coming for a visit to Kinwick.” She tilted her head in Alys’ direction. “The twins used to do so much together. I think Alys misses those days.”
Elysande looked at her young cousin, who did seem a bit forlorn as she watched her brother ride off without her.
“I’ll enjoy spending time with Alys. She’s promised to teach me something about herbs and potions.”
Merryn laughed. “Alys is eager to show off her knowledge. And I miss having her with me when I prepare my concoctions.”
“So you also know about herbs? I thought Alys might’ve learned about them at court.”
“I soaked up every bit of knowledge I could from Sephare. She was the healer at Wellbury, where I grew up. I have a small room where I prepare my herbs and flowers and store them. As mistress of Kinwick, I’m often called upon to help with the sick or birthing of babes. Alys has been my shadow in these endeavors from the time she could walk.”
Elysande glanced back at Alys. Her young cousin was conversing with Michael as she had much of the day. Elysande noticed how both Alys and Ancel had ridden close to the knight’s side as they journeyed to Kinwick. Michael had listened more than he’d spoken, but she could tell he enjoyed talking with the children.
What had surprised her more was that Baby Hal insisted upon riding with Michael. Geoffrey had helped Merryn mount Destiny and then handed the boy up to her. They’d barely ridden beyond the gates of Hopeston when Hal began squirming in his mother’s lap. He held his hands out and kept calling, “Michael! Michael!” Finally, her uncle stopped and asked if Michael would take on the rambunctious tyke. He readily agreed and Hal had been content to sit in the knight’s lap and babble away—whether Michael was listening to him or not.
She found her heart touched by his ease with the three de Montfort children. Elysande knew Michael would be a caring father.
And she wished he could be the father of her babes.
There, she’d finally formed the thought that had lingered in her mind all day. Lying to herself did no good. She wanted this man—in every way possible. She wanted to marry him and warm his bed. Give birth to his children. Share a life with him, the good along with the bad.
Was that asking too much?
Elysande didn’t know.
The more miles they traveled from Hopeston, the more she felt her burden of guilt being lifted away. True, she’d argued vehemently with her stepfather, but both her mother and Avelyn insisted Lord Holger’s death had nothing to do with their harsh words aimed at one another. She realized Lord Holger was not a young man. He was vastly overweight and usually red in the face despite little exertion on his part. She supposed he could have collapsed and died at any moment. It just happened to be one in which they’d been arguing.
Elysande sent up another prayer of thanks that she was free to travel to Kinwick. Her mother could have gone ahead and honored her late husband’s wishes and shipped Elysande off with Lord Ingram as her new husband, keeping her in the same family, albeit with the father instead of the son. Instead, Lady Mary had stood firm and sent that loathsome nobleman back to the north.
Her mother didn’t pressure her in any manner regarding the future, though Elysande had mentioned her idea of penance as a nun. Lady Mary merely told her daughter to enjoy her visit with her uncle and aunt and to use the opportunity to get to know her young cousins. She would be welcomed back at Hopeston when she was ready to return.
The horses in front of her began to slow and veer off the road. Elysande looked around and saw they headed into a wood. Soon, they reached a clearing which she assumed had been found and inspected by the rider Geoffrey sent out. Knights began to dismount. Her uncle lifted his wife down and then helped Elysande from the saddle.
“We’ll make camp here,” he told her. “Merryn may need some help with the children. My men will take care of the rest.”
Elysande looked around and saw wood already being chopped. Two knights came and gathered the horses, hobbling some and leading a few others away to the stream she heard in the distance.
Hal came barreling her way. Michael was close behind him in mock pursuit as the boy squealed. Elysande scooped Hal up.
“Stay away, Sir Michael,” she warned. “I am Hal’s protector. I’ll keep all monsters from him.”
Michael dropped his arms. He looked at Hal. “I’m afraid she’s put a spell upon me, Hal. I can’t lift my arms.” He pretended to try and raise them, groaning as if in pain. “Nay, I can’t capture you, thanks to your cousin’s special magic.”
Elysande set Hal back onto the ground. “You are under my protection, little one. I’ll keep this brute away from you.”
Hal grinned and took off running again. Alys caught his hand and led him away.
“You’re very good with him,” Elysande said. “I watched as he rode with you all day. He didn’t wiggle or protest. And he loves to talk to you.”
Michael pushed a hand through his dark hair. “He’s a fine lad. I enjoy his company.”
She gave him a shy smile. “I must thank you again for convincing me that Morningstar and Happy should remain behind. I’d forgotten how difficult the roads can be. ’Twas best they stay where they’re safe. And Avelyn promised to look in on them each day a
nd take them both a treat.”
“The groom I spoke with will also keep an eye on them. He guaranteed me no harm would come to either horse.”
She nodded. “I’m sure you did something to convince him. He’s never been pleasant to me or gone out of his way to help me when I’ve been in the stables.”
Michael frowned. “I’m sorry I didn’t know that. Suffice it to say, he will do his task as promised. If he doesn’t, he’ll answer to me.”
Elysande heard the sound of hooves approaching.
“Ah, it sounds as if our dinner has arrived,” he said. “You might wish to help Merryn set out the bread and cheese that your lady mother provided for our return trip.”
Elysande watched Michael head toward the other soldiers that had returned. Ancel held a hand up in greeting. He jumped from his horse.
“We caught three rabbits!” the boy exclaimed. “You’re the best at skinning, Michael. Mayhap I can watch you prepare them for dinner?”
Elysande went over to Merryn and offered to help. They removed the food her mother had sent along and poured wine from flasks. By the time that task had been accomplished, Michael had the rabbits skinned, skewered, and resting over the fire. Soon, Elysande’s mouth watered at the smell of roasting meat.
The entire party gathered in a circle around the fire and ate their fill. Alys entertained them with some stories and songs she had heard at court. Ancel added in a few jokes that he and the other pages fostering at the Earl of Winterbourne’s had invented. The meal finally ended and Elysande and Merryn took some of the dishes to the stream to clean them.
By the time they returned, the camp had been readied for sleep. Pallets awaited them and everyone found a place to bed down. Geoffrey appointed two men to stand guard for the first shift. Elysande noted Michael was one of them. She lay down, Alys on one side of her and Ancel on the other. Merryn gathered a weary Hal into her arms and curled her body around him. Geoffrey then wrapped his arm around the two of them.
A quiet descended. It had been a lengthy day of travel. Before long, Elysande heard the snores—some subtle, a few men rattling noisily—but she had trouble falling asleep. Her mind swirled with the events of the past few days. After a good while, she heard murmured voices and saw the guards change shift. She watched as Michael came near her. He added a few pieces of wood to the fire and then bedded down on the other side of Ancel.
Having him near helped Elysande to relax. She closed her eyes and felt the darkness swallow her up.
*
Michael awoke, his body taut, as if ready to pounce. He opened his eyes. As his eyes accustomed themselves to the dark, he could see no guards on duty. Then he realized the fire had gone out.
It shouldn’t have.
The last thing he’d done before going to sleep was place more wood onto the fire. Not much. Just enough to keep it burning low throughout the night.
Someone had extinguished it.
As his hand went to his sword’s hilt, he sensed a nearby presence. He leapt to his feet and drew his weapon as he heard a muffled cry. He could see the outline of a man.
The stranger hauled a struggling Elysande to her feet.
His warning cry pierced the night, alerting the de Montfort knights. Within seconds, men sprang awake. The sound of steel swords unsheathing came in unison.
Michael already strode the few steps to Elysande. He could see a man’s hand across her mouth, preventing her from crying out. His other arm had her about the waist as she kicked. Though Michael couldn’t be certain, he doubted the man had a weapon out. He trusted his gut and quickly lifted his sword.
The attacker shouted an obscenity and released her. Elysande scrambled away as Michael’s sword arced downward in a swift, fatal blow. The man fell to his knees and then face down into what had been the fire.
Michael heard shouts and saw a blur of figures ahead of him. He looked back and found the de Montfort family. Geoffrey had pushed Merryn behind him and held his sword high. Hal wiggled sleepily in his mother’s arms. Alys sprang behind her father and crouched next to her mother. Ancel had his small sword in hand, ready to protect his loved ones. Michael thrust a hand out to Elysande. She latched on to it and he pulled her to her feet.
“’Tis over! We’ve killed the bastards!”
Michael kept her hand firm in his. Elysande took the few steps to him. He wrapped his arms about her trembling body.
Within minutes, torches were lit. Soldiers scoured the area around the camp. Michael tried to join them, but Elysande had a death grip on him. Geoffrey caught his eye and waved him over.
“Stay with them,” he ordered, indicating his family.
Michael did, one arm about Elysande, the other holding his sword, as he maneuvered her closer to Merryn and the children.
After some minutes, Geoffrey gathered everyone round. His words were blunt.
“Our two guards are dead. Their throats cut. Both intruders are also dead. Does anyone recognize them?”
Several of his men nodded.
“They were both at Hopeston, but not part of Lord Holger’s company of men,” one offered. “I saw them in Lord Ingram’s colors, but neither bears those now.”
Michael sensed Elysande go still and tightened his arm about her.
Geoffrey looked to his niece. “Is that blood? Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. “Nay, my lord.”
Michael looked at her and saw that blood trickled down her chin—but no wound was visible. He brushed his hand against it, trying to wipe it away.
Elysande glanced at his hand and shuddered. “When that . . . man . . . tried to take me, I . . . bit him. As hard as I could.”
“Then it’s his blood,” Geoffrey told her. “Did he speak to you?” he asked gently.
“No, Uncle. One minute I slept and the next I found myself jerked to my feet.”
“You fought him bravely,” Michael said softly. “I saw you kicking at him. You slowed him down enough to alert us, my lady. ’Twas swift thinking on your part.”
Elysande’s mouth trembled. No words came from her.
Geoffrey came to stand before her. “I suspect Lord Ingram is not pleased at how matters ended at Hopeston. He does not wait to see how the king answers his missive. He would take what he wants. And that is you, Niece.” He looked around “Break camp at once. It’s almost dawn. We shall hasten to Kinwick.”
The men immediately sprang into action. Geoffrey ordered the bodies of the two de Montfort soldiers be secured so they could receive a proper burial at Kinwick.
“And Lord Ingram’s men?” Michael asked.
Geoffrey’s eyes grew hard as he looked at the bodies on the ground. “Leave them to rot.”
Minutes later, the supplies and horses had been readied. Geoffrey insisted each of his family members ride with a trusted knight and not on their own horses. He signaled Michael over.
“Lady Elysande will ride with you. If we come under attack, see that she reaches Kinwick safely. I and the others will tend to my family.” Geoffrey gazed steadily at him. “I’m entrusting her well-being to you, Michael.”
“I won’t let you down, my lord.”
“Good.” The nobleman strode away, pairing up his children with different knights before he placed his wife upon Mystery, his own horse.
Michael looked to Elysande. He held a hand out to her. “Come, my lady. You’re to ride with me.”
She gave him a slight nod. He lifted her to Tempest and then seated himself behind her.
Michael hated the circumstances that had led to them sitting so closely together, but he relished her nearness. He wrapped his arms about her, pulling her against his chest as he took up his reins. The subtle smell of violets wafted about him.
“You’ll be safe, Elysande,” he murmured softly into her ear. “Trust in me.”
She looked over her shoulder, her amethyst eyes large. “I do, Michael. Despite what has happened this night, I’ve never felt more protected.”
Michael
spurred Tempest on with watchful eyes.
Chapter Eleven
Elysande awoke to a feeling of peace that washed over her. She’d only been at Kinwick a week, but already she felt part of the de Montfort family. Geoffrey’s mother, Elia, had been especially kind to her. Elysande also found the people who worked at the castle and on the surrounding lands both friendly and industrious. They welcomed her without hesitation. It had been far different when she had arrived at Hopeston. From the servants inside the keep and beyond, she and Avelyn believed everyone spied upon them. Her mother laughed at the thought, but Elysande had never been comfortable under her stepfather’s roof.
She rose and dressed for the day, deciding on a tawny cotehardie and a scarlet sideless surcoat. She wove a scarlet ribbon through her hair, hoping that Michael would notice it.
Her thoughts never strayed far from the handsome knight—in part because he had become her shadow since her arrival at Kinwick. She guessed that her uncle had charged Michael with her care and he took those orders quite seriously.
Elysande dreamily thought back on the ride to Kinwick after Lord Ingram’s men had breached their camp. Michael had placed her on his horse and enfolded her in his arms. Though only minutes before she had nearly been kidnapped, she relaxed knowing Michael watched over her. The feel of his armor at her back was like a solid wall of stone that protected her from the world. His arms skimmed her sides. His hands that held Tempest’s reins sat firm against her belly, securing her to him. Michael’s very nearness caused her head to swim and her breath to rise giddily as she inhaled his masculine scent.
Yet, once they arrived at Kinwick, he hadn’t touched her. He kept their conversations to a minimum as he followed her about the castle grounds while she interacted with others.
But his eyes told a different story.
Elysande sensed them on her wherever she went. Often, she would meet them. The blue, heated stare caused her insides to wiggle about in a most delightful way. Sometimes, she would give him a smile and turn back to her task. Other times, their eyes locked for minutes, speaking volumes.
