The Centurion

by Kathryn Le Veque

  He didn’t want to marry a woman he hadn’t seen in several years.

  He wanted to marry Alyx.

  “Papa, you cannot be serious!”

  Unfortunately, Winslow was very serious.

  On the dawn of a bright new day, he had specifically gone to his daughter when she’d ordered her morning meal and now stood inside of her chamber, looking down upon her dressed in a blue silk robe, thinking he was the most foolish father in the entire world. The more he looked at her, the more he didn’t want to trust his beautiful angel to a man he’d been fighting for many years.

  But it was a regrettable fact that it was, increasingly, a viable offer. Winslow had remained awake all night, pondering the situation, realizing that he might have to make a sacrifice to know peace on the border for years to come. Sacrificing Alyx would be for the greater good of them all.

  He simply wasn’t sure if he was willing to make that decision.

  “I realize this comes as a surprise,” Winslow said. “Believe me when I tell you that I was greatly surprised to hear it. But I have thought on it all night, Alyx. Douglas Kerr’s offer is not an outlandish one. Peace is often made by enemies marrying.”

  Alyx’s eyes widened and she stood up from the cushioned chair she’d been seated on. “Torston was right,” she hissed. “He said that… oh, Papa, I will not marry the man. I do not care if we suffer wars for the rest of my life. I won’t do it!”

  “Oh?” Winslow said, his irritation fed by her mention of Torston as if he were the only man in England, period. “And just who will you marry? Torston de Royans? You know he is betrothed, Alyx.”

  Torston was a subject that Alyx and her father almost never discussed, at least in a personal sense. There had been occasion in the past when Winslow had told his daughter to stop making a fool of herself over the man, but that was where it ended.

  Today, it was going to come out in the open as Winslow threw down the gauntlet. He knew why she refused to consider Douglas’ offer and he wasn’t going to dance around the truth. Since Alyx had no argument for his honest statement, she was immediately on the defensive.

  “He is betrothed to a woman who is a stranger to him,” she pointed out heatedly. “He does not want to marry her.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “He did. He also told me that if there was a viable way to rid himself of the betrothal, he promised to consider it.”

  Winslow sighed harshly. “So he can marry you?”

  “Of course, Papa. Do you think I have had conversations with him simply for conversation’s sake? Torston and I have had deep and meaningful conversations, and he has promised me he would consider ridding himself of his betrothal.” She looked at her father, pleadingly. “He is the man I love, Papa. I have always loved him. If I have to wait for twenty more years until he can marry me, I shall do so. I do not wish to be married to just anyone. I only wish to be married to Torston.”

  Winslow stared at her for a moment before lowering himself down into the nearest chair. This is as far as he and his daughter had ever gotten on the subject of Torston de Royans and he had to admit that it was a good deal for him to take in. Even though he’d always suspected how she felt, to hear her speak of it was another matter altogether. He could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke, the pain of loving a man who was unavailable yet trying to pretend otherwise.

  After a moment, he shook his head.

  “You must listen to reason, Alyx,” he said. “Torston may want to break his betrothal, but he has been part of the contract for a very long time. One does not simply snap his fingers and be rid of a long-standing agreement. There is so much more involved, not the least of which being the bride in all of this – her family must be agreeable to the dissolution. If they are not, then Torston is at an end. He will have to marry the girl no matter what he has promised you.”

  Alyx knew that. At least, in theory, she did, but hearing her father speak of it was a blow. Turning away from him, she moved to the lancet window overlooking the north side of the castle, the moat and copse of trees and the hills of Scotland beyond. Her thoughts were centered on Torston and his betrothal, not the offer that had been made for her. She wasn’t ready to deal with that at the moment.

  She was already facing enough heartbreak.

  “Oh… Papa,” she finally breathed. “Is it possible that Torston really will have to marry that girl? I have known of his betrothal for years but it never occurred to me… I never thought he would actually go through with it.”

  Winslow could hear the grief in her voice. “He has no choice,” he said simply. “I am sorry he promised you that he would try to break it, for I do not think he can, especially if the family of the girl protests. To the church, a betrothal is as good as a marriage, meaning Torston has already been married to that girl for many years.”

  Alyx leaned against the wall, gazing out over the countryside. “Does he know about Douglas Kerr’s offer of marriage?”

  “He does.”

  She turned to look at him, then. “Was he in the hall when it was discussed?”

  Winslow nodded. “Aye.”

  “How did he react?”

  “He was furious.”

  “Then where is he?” she demanded softly. “I must speak to him. He must know that I want no part of this!”

  Winslow held up a hand. “He has gone,” he said. “I ordered him away because he was becoming quite emotional about the situation and an emotional de Royans is never a good thing, especially with the Scots around. He and Harringham left this morning for The Lyceum.”

  Alyx closed her eyes tightly and turned away, fighting off tears. “Oh, Papa,” she whispered tightly. “Don’t you see? He feels something for me. We feel something for each other. Don’t you see how painful this for us both?”

  Winslow did, but there was nothing he could do about it. “I am sorry, Alyx, truly,” he said. “I am not trying to be heartless, but even if there was no Douglas Kerr, I would have to set about finding you another husband because you simply cannot marry Torston. He has always been out of your reach.”

  The tears came. “Then I will not marry at all,” she said. “If I cannot have Torston, I will not marry at all. I will commit myself to the cloister.”

  Alyx could become rather dramatic about things, but Winslow didn’t see this as dramatics. He saw this as his daughter’s breaking heart and he understood. Frankly, his heart was breaking, also, because he hated to see her so unhappy. Standing up wearily, for all of this stress was not good for his health, he made his way over to her.

  “I realize this is difficult,” he said softly. “Your mother was the only woman I ever wanted to marry and I did. But when I lost her so young… I understand your grief, Alyx, I truly do. But I also know that time can heal such things, at least a little. You have had your heart set on Torston for so long that you never looked around to the other young men who had their eyes on you. There are many fine men out there, waiting to give you happiness.”

  She wiped at her eyes, frowning. “You must be mad. Who else has had his eye on me?”

  Winslow put his hands on her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “Jess de Motte is all aglow when you come around,” he said. “Have you not noticed?”

  Alyx wrinkled up her nose. “Jess?” she repeated. “He is aglow when any woman comes around, not only me.”

  “There are others.”

  Alyx shook her head before he was even finished speaking. “I do not want anyone else, Papa,” she said. “I know you mean well, but please do not try to divert my attention. It cannot be diverted.”

  Winslow put his hand on her cheek for a moment before letting her go. “Not now,” he said. “But mayhap someday. Do not shut yourself off from the possibility, Alyx, I beg you.”

  She eyed him. “And do not pledge me to a Scottish warlord,” she said. “It would not end well for either of us, Papa. I would be miserable and I would not stay with him. If you think I run off into the woods too frequen
tly now, I swear I would run off and leave Kerr behind and never go back. I am not afraid to run away.”

  Winslow knew that. Alyx was his free spirit, a woman who could never be caged. His shoulders were beginning to hurt him, which often happened when his heart was under too much stress, so he rubbed at his left shoulder as he nodded wearily.

  “I am not making any decisions on Kerr’s offer right away,” he said. “I do not want to make you miserable, but you must understand that marrying Douglas Kerr would secure peace for us that we’ve not seen in many years. You would be a very important part of that and it is a noble destiny for any woman.”

  “I do not want any part of a noble destiny. I want to be a knight’s wife.”

  Winslow wasn’t going to argue with her, not now. She was too emotional, too combative. Bending over, he kissed her on the head as he headed to the chamber door.

  “No wandering today, please,” he said softly. “Even though Douglas left last night, presumably for Luckenburn Tower, it is possible he’s not left the area entirely. It would not do for the man to abduct a bride if he found her wandering in the woods. Promise me?”

  Reluctantly, Alyx nodded, although she wasn’t so reluctant when she thought of Douglas catching her in the woods and forcing her into marriage. It was a horrific concept. As Winslow quit the chamber and left her alone, all Alyx could think about was getting to Torston and telling him just how opposed to the marriage offer she was. She didn’t want him thinking she was the least bit agreeable to it.

  … or did she?

  Perhaps if the man knew she was interested, it might spur him into moving heaven and earth in his attempts to break his betrothal. She had seen in his eyes that he’d hated the thought of her marrying another, so perhaps if he thought she was interested in Douglas’ suit, it might push him into action.

  The truth was that Alyx had made it easy for him all of these years, knowing there was no one else who caught her eye.

  Perhaps she’d been playing the game wrong all along.

  Perhaps the leverage of Douglas was just what she needed.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The Lyceum

  Morley heard the sentries on the walls of The Lyceum, announcing the approach of a party he assumed to be Lord Lionel.

  But his assumption was wrong.

  The incoming party was being held at the gate and, curious, Morley stood at the keep entry as Jess came running from the gatehouse, up the wide steps leading to the keep. The young knight appeared rather perplexed as he approached the majordomo.

  “Who is it, Jess?” Morley asked. “Lord Lionel has not arrived?”

  Jess shook his head. “Nay, he’s not returned from Makendon yet.”

  “Then who has come?”

  Jess scratched his head, clearly puzzled. “A lady asking for Sir Torston,” he said. “She gave her name as Lady Lilia de Weese.”

  Morley’s eyes widened, but only for a brief moment. He was rather good at covering up his emotions, a practice he’d developed over the years.

  “Lady…” he said, stopped, and started again. “Lady Lilia?”

  “Aye.”

  “De Weese?”

  “Aye. Who is she, Morley?”

  Morley knew the answer to that question but he wasn’t so sure he should tell Jess. The young knight had a tendency to gossip among the men and they loved him for it, but this wasn’t gossip fodder.

  This was quite serious.

  More serious than Jess realized.

  “Admit her,” Morley said. “Have her party taken straight to the stables and the men and animals settled. The lady will disembark here in the bailey and I shall greet her.”

  If Jess thought Morley seemed rather nervous all of a sudden, he didn’t comment. He gestured to the gatehouse. “Lady Lilia has brought an entourage with her,” he said. “A nurse, it looks like, is riding with her in the cab and there is a second wagon with more women.”

  Morley looked to the gatehouse as if he could see what Jess was speaking of. “I will greet Lady Lilia and her nurse alone,” he said. “Take the rest of the women to the servant’s entrance on the south side of the keep. Settle them in the servant’s smaller hall for now until we decide what is to be done with them. I’ll not have a herd of strange women tramping through Lord Lionel’s fine keep.”

  Jess simply nodded and turned for the gatehouse to carry out Morley’s orders. But he paused before he left, peering at the man.

  “Who is she, Morley?” he asked again.

  Morley still wasn’t going to answer him. “Bring her in, Jess,” he said. “There will be time enough for introductions later.”

  Jess did as he was told. As Morley stood there and twitched nervously, a fine carriage rolled beneath the gatehouse, followed by men who had been forced to give up their arms to enter the castle. The gray and red banners waved in the breeze, carried by standard bearers, and the soldiers were well-dressed.

  By all accounts, it was a fine house that had arrived at The Lyceum and Morley watched as a coachman opened the door to the cab, painted with the same gray and red colors. A maid promptly popped out of the cab, making sure the ground wasn’t muddied before informing her mistress it was safe to emerge.

  An older woman climbed from the cab, dressed in a severe wimple and flowing robes. As her feet hit the dirt, she smoothed out her skirts and looked around imperiously. With her dramatically arched brows and high cheekbones, she had a haughty presence. Almost immediately, she caught sight of Morley and made her way to him as a second woman emerged from the cab.

  This woman was small, dark-haired, but attractive. Her features were fine and her dark eyes darted about nervously as the maid indicated for her to follow the woman in the wimple. As the ladies made their way up the steps, the older woman reached Morley first.

  “What are you doing here?” Morley hissed.

  The woman’s appraising gaze rolled over him before she smiled thinly. “It is good to see you, too, Brother,” she murmured. “Welcome us inside and refresh us. Lady Lilia has arrived.”

  Morley exhaled sharply, coming out like a groan. “God’s Bones,” he muttered, looking over the woman’s shoulder at the dark-haired woman and the maid as they approached. He shook his head with great distress. “You were not expected for months.”

  “Yet we are here.”

  Morley was nearly beside himself with surprise and indecision. “Then come in,” he finally said. “We shall have to think of a plausible excuse as to why Sir Torston’s intended has arrived before the contract comes due.”

  “Take heart,” the woman said as she turned toward the dark-haired woman, who was almost upon her. “Everything has been flawless until this moment. It shall continue to be until Lady Lilia becomes Lady de Royans.”

  Morley simply shook his head, shocked with what he was faced with. Unexpected hardly covered it. Beside him, the older woman looked quite pleased as she held out her hand to the younger woman.

  “Come along, my dear,” she said. “The Lyceum welcomes you.”

  At that point, Morley turned away, heading into the mostly empty keep. The day had been cool in spite of the sunny sky, so the great hall of The Lyceum’s keep was ablaze with a good fire in the enormous hearth.

  But Morley didn’t stop in the hall. For what he had to say, he didn’t want any chance of it being overheard, so he took the older woman and her charge into Lord Lionel’s solar as the maid was forced to wait outside. In fact, Morley shut the door in the maid’s face and bolted it.

  “Now,” he said in a low voice. “Tell me why you’ve come six months ahead of schedule. We were not expecting you until November.”

  “Plans have changed, dear brother,” the older woman said. “Have you forgotten my name? You’ve not greeted me properly.”

  Morley sighed heavily. “What would you have me say?” he said. “You are not supposed to be here, Bridget. You will ruin everything with your overeagerness. I told you not to come until the contract was due and that is not u
ntil October.”

  The older woman held up a finger. “I am Lady Antonia,” she said quietly. “That is all anyone knows of me and has known of me for years. Lady Antonia, the nurse to Lady Lilia de Weese.”

  Morley looked at her in disbelief. “Lady Antonia, is it?” he said. “What about those servants at Elmington House? They know your true identity, Lady de Weese, and it is not as a nurse named Lady Antonia.”

  The smile on Antonia’s face faded. She turned to Lilia, standing next to her, and pointed to a chair across the chamber. The girl went to it without hesitation, planting her small body into the chair nervously. When the young woman was out of earshot, Antonia turned to her brother.

  “Those who knew me from those years ago are gone,” she muttered, all of the congeniality out of her tone. “They are dead or dismissed. There is no one left who knows who I used to be. Lady de Weese. It is much easier to control the situation if my identity is unknown.”

  That never made any sense to Morley. His sister thought she was somehow protecting the de Weese name by not being Lady de Weese, but it didn’t matter in the end. All that mattered was that the woman intended to regain her family’s wealth any way she could.

  Any way.

  But he waved off her statement. “As you wish,” he said. “You have your reasons for doing what you do and I am beyond questioning your motives any longer. But in the case of your early arrival, I must. Why have you come so early?”

  Her expression turned steely. “Because it was necessary. You know that we have had to make some… adjustments. And you know why.”

  Morley nodded. “This was all your idea,” he hissed at her. “You wanted the boy. You wanted the leverage. And now we have a mess on our hands.”

  But Antonia shook her head, her confidence evident. “There is no mess,” she said. “But if you do not keep your wits about you, there is no telling what will happen. All will go as planned, Morley. You must keep the faith.”

  Morley rolled his eyes. “Faith,” he mumbled. “There is no faith.”

  Antonia patted him on the arm. “Listen to me so there is no question in your mind,” she said calmly. “Our plans cannot fail. We have Torston’s son, do we not?”