Part 20 (2/2)

”I beg your pardon, my lady. 'Twas I who was foolish, I confess.”

”I told you what I had done because I believed that to do otherwise was unfair to you-not because I sought your approval.”

”I never thought I should give approval to anything that you did, but, I confess, I treasured the times you consulted my opinion.” He answered her now with respect, but with the familiarity of an old friend. ”I think it perturbed me that you presented me with such a momentous decision and cared nothing for my thoughts.” He gave a bark of laughter. ”I suppose I've grown complacent in your employ, and thought myself above my station. You have no family, and you so willingly placed me at your side, I thought myself more than a steward and imagined myself a brother instead.” Slowly he slid off the bench and knelt at her side. ”I am only a rough knight, my lady, and I pledge myself to you. I beg you, excuse my presumption and trust me once more.”

Looking at the top of Sir Walter's bent head, she realized he hadn't renewed his fealty in years. That had been her mistake, and possibly not her first mistake. ”I, too, have treasured your advice and come to consider you more than steward and more than a friend.”

Lifting his head, he smiled, clearly pleased by her disclosure. He looked at her with the direct gaze she recognized from the years of their companions.h.i.+p. ”I still can't approve of your actions, but regardless, you are my lady and I would do nothing to harm you.”

”I know you wouldn't.”

”And that's why I have to beg you to marry Sir David. I grant you, you have always been a lady of infinite good sense-excepting the matter on which we disagree-and I believe that marriage to Sir David would go far in eliminating the danger which threatens you.”

”Why do you say that?”

”That knave who shoots arrows at you, my lady, would hesitate if threatened by a man whose sole interest is in keeping you alive.”

”Sir David has no money. He has no breeding.”

”Exactly why he would fight to the death to keep you alive. He'll not want to battle any other claims on your wealth.”

Startled, she laughed. ”Are you saying the reasons Sir David is ideal are the same reasons I rejected my other suitors?”

”And he is the father of your child.”

”Do you believe this crazed tale of drought and my fertility?” He shrugged sheepishly but did not reply. ”You do!”

”Not really, my lady, but you asked me if I trusted your good sense, and I do. If you took Sir David to your bed after so many have failed-”

”None ever tried,” she snapped.

”They have, I a.s.sure you. You simply never noticed them.” He took a breath and repeated, ”If Sir David succeeded where so many have fallen, then I believe you have made your decision and I urge you to embrace it.”

She just stared. What had she started with her impulsive behavior?

”Ask young Eudo, and he'll tell you. Every child should have a father.”

A telling blow, and one that reached its mark. She said, ”I'll take your advice under consideration.” Leaning over, she gave him a kiss on the cheek to signify peace between them.

Neither one of them saw David, watching from the dark hallway near the entrance of the great hall.

14.

”You're thinking of him again, aren't you?”

Alisoun jumped at the sound of Edlyn's voice and dropped her spindle on the floor of the great hall with a clatter. ”What?”

”You have that look on your face, as if you've bitten into some new dish and are uncertain whether you like the flavor.” Edlyn crossed her hands over her wrists. ”Are we going to go out and watch him practice again today?”

Alisoun almost pretended not to know to whom Edlyn was referring. But only the new Alisoun would even contemplate such cowardice, and she shunned the new Alisoun. Leaning over, she picked up the spindle and straightened, hoping the bending would account for the rush of color to her face. ”I should go to see if Sir David has fulfilled his promise to improve.”

”Well, he has. He improves every day. Even Sir Walter says he's better now, and in only a month.”

Alisoun viewed Edlyn's uptilted chin and wanted to sigh. ”But Sir David is not better than Hugh.”

Now Edlyn's color matched Alisoun's. ”Hugh is younger and bigger, and Sir David said he's never seen a man so skilled.”

Placing the spindle on the bench, Alisoun tucked her arm through Edlyn's. ”He would say so, though, since he can't defeat him.”

”Hugh de Florisoun is special,” Edlyn said.

The wors.h.i.+p in her voice made Alisoun want to weep. The preparations for Edlyn's wedding proceeded apace while the bride sighed for another man-a man who never noticed her except to chuck her under the chin and grin. Even if Hugh had noticed Edlyn, it would do them no good. They were both poor; should an attachment develop, they would be unable to wed. It was just as well Edlyn went off to Wess.e.x soon, Alisoun thought grimly, as she collected all the wool and put it in her basket.

Edlyn pulled Alisoun to her feet. ”Sir David and Hugh are providing much entertainment to all who have come to market.”

”I don't like to expose you to so many strangers,” Alisoun said. ”The Lammas Market attracts less than savory characters, I fear.”

”I don't go down to the market,” Edlyn protested.

”You don't have to. They're coming up to us. I've never seen such traffic between the castle and the village.”

As they stepped outside, Alisoun saw that a crowd once again lined the fence around the practice area-her people and many strangers. Alisoun never knew who or what she would see when she stepped out of her door. Greasy sheep farmers mingled with her serving maids, who used their spindles to keep the men at bay when they became too bold. Fenchel stuck close to his friends from the village. Avina strutted among the merchants, trying to attack one of the wealthy ones. Ivo stood just as he always did, arms crossed over his chest with an att.i.tude that rejected David's efforts as feeble. Gunnewate had his eyes closed as if the activities bored him. Both men came to the alert as Alisoun neared the training yard.

Normally, she would reprove her people all for sloth, but not this time. The summer work seemed to be getting done, and this time watching the combats was time they would have spent loitering at the market instead. And they needed rea.s.surance that Sir David of Radcliffe would indeed protect them.

They were getting it. David had justified her faith. He worked with every weapon all day, every day, ignoring the pain of his broken ribs and the bruises that mottled every surface of his skin. His transformation proved awe-inspiring, and if not for Hugh, his reputation would be almost as good as new.

The men would fight with swords until both fell panting on the ground. They fought on horseback with mace, lance, and s.h.i.+eld. They wore their armor on the hottest days to accustom themselves to the weight.

But Hugh consistently defeated Sir David.

Andrew and Jennings imitated them while young Eudo performed the onerous duties of squire to them all. Alisoun was pleased to see that David's constant courtesy to the lad inspired the others to a like courtesy, and she never once heard the epithet of ”b.a.s.t.a.r.d” thrown at him. Even Sir Walter found it prudent to keep his lips sealed about Eudo's parentage.

Seeing him now inside the training yard, Alisoun sighed. ”Sir Walter has tried to be a most gentle knight.”

”He has tried,” Edlyn said sharply. ”I would that he always succeeded.”

”Perhaps if Sir David rode him less harshly, those small fits of temper would abate,” Alisoun said. ”I don't understand the reason for Sir David's displeasure.”

”He doesn't like that Sir Walter has wormed his way into your affections once more.”

”We but spoke and came to a new understanding. I would think that Sir David wished for such an accord between me and my steward.”

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