Page 26 of King’s Knight

“Yea, ’twas pleasant with fair skies, but long enough your hearth fire and some of Normandy’s wine will be most welcome.”

Earl Hugh laughed. “And a soft bed, no doubt. ’Tis been many years since we found sleeping on the ground an adventure.”

The earl welcomed Sir Geoffroi and the other men into the castle, beckoning them toward the hearth fire in the large hall.

Two rough-coated hounds came to greet the visitors. They were slightly smaller than the ones at Talisand but no less friendly. One hound trotted up to Alex and nuzzled his hand. “Remember me, do you?” Alex said, scratching the dog’s ears and patting his head. To Merewyn, the two seemed great friends.

Earl Hugh glanced at Alex, Rory and Guy, who had joined the other men around the fire, and said to Earl Renaud, “ ’Tis been but a short while since I was with these three in Normandy. I expect we will soon ride together with the king to deal with the Scots.”

Merewyn did not hear the response as her attention was drawn to the grandeur of the hall, larger than the one at Talisand that sat next to the manor. Light from torches and candles illuminated the intricate tapestries decorating the walls. The weavings were very large, making her wonder if they hid alcoves.

“This is your first visit to Chester,” stated the countess. “Do you like the tapestries?”

“Oh yea, they are wondrous.” Merewyn could not suppress the awe in her voice for the tapestries looked almost like paintings so intricate was the weaving. Light from the blazing fire and many candles made the figures depicted seem to come alive: the animals of the hunt raced through the woodlands and the ladies smiled at their gallant knights.

“The ones we have in Talisand’s old hall are small,” put in Lady Serena, “but the castle at Talisand has larger ones.”

In addition to the dais and trestle tables, there were small tables and benches scattered around the edges of the room in between the tapestries.

Since they were the earl’s only guests, Countess Ermentrude told Merewyn there was plenty of room and she would have her own chamber. Nelda would have a room in the servants’ quarters.

Serving women bustled into the hall, setting pitchers of wine and silver goblets on one of the long tables. Once the wine was poured, Earl Hugh lifted his wine in a toast, “To the health of the king!”

“To the king!” echoed the travelers and downed their wine. Even Lady Serena, who had no love for Norman kings, joined in.

It took Merewyn a few more gulps than the men to drink her portion, but she was glad she did as the potent red liquid lifted the weariness from her bones and warmed her blood. She watched Alex down his wine with great enthusiasm, exchanging barbs with Rory and Guy, but more than once he glanced to where she stood with Lady Serena and Lady Ermentrude. Each time, her heart hammered in her chest as their eyes met.

The two earls and Sir Geoffroi stood to one side, but close enough for Merewyn to hear them speak of the battles with the Welsh that had gained Earl Hugh and his cousin a good part of North East Wales. It horrified Merewyn to think Rhodri might be affected but, as she listened to the men speaking, she was comforted in the knowledge there had been no dire news out of Powys where Rhodri made his home.

A servant came to show the women to their chambers. Merewyn, together with Lady Serena and Nelda followed her to the floor above. Once inside her own chamber, Merewyn was pleased to see a fire in the brazier, candles on the table under the window and her chest of clothing at the foot of the bed. Opening the carved wooden box, she found the gowns Nelda had neatly folded. The dark-haired maidservant with fair skin, a round face and pleasant manner was a treasure. And she had been kind to help Merewyn when she was not her mistress. No wonder Lady Serena so valued Nelda.

While Merewyn waited for the hot water to arrive for her bath, she took out the gown she would wear this evening, an azure velvet that fitted her well. She would save the amethyst silk Lady Serena had given her to wear in London when she would meet the king.

She walked to the window and flung open the shutters, breathing in the cooler air of the evening. Just then she heard the bells of the church ring the hour of None. Looking past the motte and the River Dee, she glimpsed the peaceful village lying on the other side of the river. The cottages glowed with many hearth fires where she imagined the people were preparing their supper. She sighed, more content than she had been for a long while, for when Lady Serena had told Countess Ermentrude that Merewyn was her ward and the daughter of a close friend who had died, the countess had accepted the description without question.

Merewyn could only hope the shame of her birth did not follow her into the future.

CHAPTER 5

Alex washed the dust from his body, scraped the stubble from his face and clothed himself in a dark brown tunic he was certain would meet the expectations of Earl Hugh. He did not worry so much about Ermentrude, for the countess had always been a jolly soul with a pleasing disposition. But the earl demanded that his sons, including his foster son, dress as worthy young nobles.

Alex’s gut roiled at the memories that assaulted him coming back to the place where he’d spent so much of his youth. At Talisand, he had been the favored, eldest son of the Red Wolf, more indulged than even Tibby was today. But at Chester, he was folded into the large family of the earl and his wife much like another lance was added to the armory.

Earl Hugh was a tyrant who tolerated no disobedience of his rigid edicts. Alex had rebelled early on until he tired of the whippings. The earl was always careful not to leave permanent scars that would draw the questions of Alex’s father. By the time Alex had returned to Talisand in his twelfth year, he was a different lad. ’Twas one reason he had come to Merewyn’s rescue so quickly that day in the woods. He could not abide anyone taking advantage of another’s lesser position with the intent to inflict harm.

But now Alex was a knight in his own right and a friend of William Rufus who he had served even before he became England’s king. And the girl he had rescued had grown into a beautiful and fierce young woman. Was she drawn to archery as a means of defense? It had occurred to him when he had asked her why she had taken up the bow.

Closing the door of his chamber, he descended to the hall. Gathered around the earl and his wife were Alex’s father, Sir Geoffroi and Guy and Rory. Alex’s mother and Merewyn had yet to appear. The men-at-arms who had accompanied them would sleep in the barracks the earl kept for his own men, so Alex did not look for them. No doubt, they would be enjoying the village taverns and the village women.

“Alex!” Earl Hugh’s voice sounded like a command. “You have timed your appearance well,” he said with a smirk. “The wine has just been poured.”

Ignoring the barb, Alex accepted wine from the tray carried to him by one of the servants. Greeting the others and seeing the elegant attire they had donned for the evening, he was glad he had dressed in similar fashion.

He had just taken a sip of the red wine when his lady mother and Merewyn descended the stairs. His eyes devoured Merewyn. Her blue velvet gown flowed around her as she walked. The candlelight had turned her hair a rich gold. Around her neck was the same golden necklace she had worn on the night of his homecoming. He took in her slender form, her long fingers held shyly at her waist and the delicate features of her face.

Setting down his goblet, he excused himself and slowly walked toward the two women who had just reached the bottom of the stairs. Acknowledging his mother, he bowed, “My lady mother.”

The Lady of Talisand dipped her head and tossed him a knowing smile before walking past him without saying a word.