Conquering Lady Claire
By
Sue Lyndon
Prologue
Galien sat at the duke of Leuthold’sright, his unease rising as the midday meal progressed. He had intended to depart Leuthold two days past, but the duke had invited him and his men to stay longer. Galien thought it unwise to refuse his overlord’s invitation and had agreed to prolong his visit, even though the duke’s constant questioning grated his nerves.
“Tell me about your intended. She used to live here in this castle, did she not?” the duke asked.
“Aye, the Lady Rhianna. She died when an illness swept through and claimed her father, her mother, her brothers, and many others in the castle.” Galien brought his goblet to his lips and swallowed the last of his wine in an attempt to drown his growing irritation.
The emperor had granted Leuthold the dukedom last spring, after the young man’s army helped overthrow an attack upon an important trading port, and this was Galien’s first visit to Leuthold in many years, a visit made tense by Leuthold’s increasingly peculiar behavior. If Galien didn’t know better, he’d think the young duke suspected him of some crime or treason. The less-than-casual interrogation had gone on for almost a fortnight.
“Did you know her well? The Lady Rhianna?”
“No, I only met her once as a child.”
“Sir Galien, I know you are anxious to return home, but I assure you I have good reason for inviting you to Leuthold.” The duke sat back. “I also have good reason for badgering you with question after question.”
Galien stiffened and placed his goblet on the table. “What reason is that?”
“To determine your character, Sir Galien.”
“My character?”
“Yes.” The duke crossed his arms and a brief smile flitted across his youthful face. “I have found you suitable enough for my purposes.”
A sense of foreboding struck Galien, for he recognized the look in the duke’s eyes. His father had given him that look many a time, always before he issued a command Galien didn’t care for. “Suitable enough for what?”
“To marry my sister, Lady Claire.”
God’s head. Marriage!Galien swallowed hard and felt the blood drain from his face. He’d endured many a lecture from his father in recent months about his responsibility to marry and produce an heir, but he preferred to postpone matrimony until absolutely necessary. He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself. He glanced in his empty cup. Why hadn’t a servant refilled his wine yet? “Your grace, I’m afraid I do not understand.”
“You will travel to Diterich Castle and fetch my sister. I believe she is still there, though I cannot be entirely certain. I’ve sent her many letters since her husband’s death two winters ago, but she has offered no response. I do not trust her husband’s family, and I am taking it upon myself to see her wed again, this time to a man who isn’t old enough to be her sire’s sire. Are you familiar with Diterich?”
Galien had heard of the castle, and of the elderly Lord Diterich who had outlived his first five wives. “I did not know Diterich had taken a sixth wife, though I did hear of his passing.”
Leuthold leaned closer to Galien. “Aye, my sister became his sixth wife, but she did not bear him any children. However, she is still young and I am confident she will give you many sons.” He shrugged. “My mother gave my father six sons. I sense your reluctance, Sir Galien, but I am not giving you a choice. You will find Lady Claire and you will make her your wife.” The young duke smirked. “And to compensate you for having to spend the rest of your life with my spirited sister, I will extend your holdings into the valley. That means the trading village of North Wenzton is now yours.”
Servants passed by and collected their empty trenchers as the minstrels played a merry song that contrasted with Galien’s dark mood. From across the hall, the servant girl he’d tumbled on his first night here winked at him. He lowered his gaze, wishing the duke hadn’t found himsuitable enough.
“You will leave on the morrow.” The duke of Leuthold patted his back as if they were longtime friends. “See that you find my sister and treat her with kindness. Do not disappoint me. I needn’t remind you that I have the emperor’s ear.”
Chapter One
Lady Claire blinked up at the white flag raised above the battered keep. All the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and a knot formed low in her stomach. A tense silence blanketed the bailey, while outside the walls of Hohenzollern triumphant cries rang out.
It was over, or at least the fighting part of it. Claire wasn’t so naïve as to think the mercenaries and soldiers who fought on behalf of the emperor planned to march away empty-handed. She covered her mouth with an icy hand to stifle a gasp wrought from the sudden realization. The castle would be looted, or worse. Perhaps the knights would show some restraint, but over half of the army consisted of ruthless mercenaries, the type of men who knew no restraint.
She cast one last glance at the white flag flapping about in the frigid winter wind and made her decision. She had to escape Hohenzollern before the terms of surrender were finalized, before the conquering army streamed into the keep. Gathering up her skirts, she raced into the castle, almost knocking a young knight over in her haste to escape. Before she succeeded in moving by him, he gripped her shoulders and peered at her through the slit in his helmet.
“Sir Roland,” she said, recognizing the knight by his eyes, one blue and one green.
“You must depart the castle, Lady Claire. The princess is walking out to meet with the enemy as we speak, but I fear the mercenaries will storm the keep at any moment to claim their portion of the spoils of war, including the women within these walls.”
“Tell me how to leave this place and I will.” She clutched onto his armor-covered forearms to steady herself, praying he knew of a secret passage that led away from the castle and the carnage of the battle.
