Page 56 of King’s Knight

“If I am with child, Jamie, it could only be his, for I have known no other.”

“I thought as much. You two were very close before he left to meet the king. I have long suspected there was more than friendship between you. You need have no fear. Alex will wed you, I am certain.”

She shook her head vigorously. “You know as well as I that Alex must wed a noblewoman, most likely the daughter of the comte de Vermandois. Lady Adèle is the king’s choice for Alex, not a woman like me.”

“But he cares for you, I know it,” insisted the blond knight. “He would never have allowed this to happen otherwise. He is honorable.”

“Oh, Jamie, I know that. But you must understand, I cannot let Alex take me as his wife. Do you not see what would happen if I did? The king would be very angry with him and, in time, Alex would hate me for robbing him of his king’s favor and the lands a marriage to a noblewoman of Normandy would bring. Even Talisand might suffer.”

Jamie let out a sigh. “You care for him, I see.”

“I do, too much to see him give up his future for me.”

“Well, if not Alex, you must wed another.” Raising his chest, he declared, “I would be your husband, Merewyn, should you have me.”

His blue eyes were earnest, his words true. He would do it and she loved him for his noble offer. But she could never allow him to marry her when he loved another, as she did. She smiled at him, grateful for the man he was. “Nay, I will not have you, dear Jamie.”

He returned her a puzzled look.

“You love Lora, Jamie, I have always known it. It is Lora you should wed, not me.”

His gaze suddenly shifted to the straw at his feet, confirming her assumption.

“But what about you?” he asked, raising his head to meet her gaze.

“Do not worry about me, Jamie. My mother bore me alone and I can bear this child the same way if I must. I am not without friends. In Wales, I have many.”

His brow furrowed. “Alex will not like it.”

She picked up her bow and quiver of arrows. “Alex will never know.”

CHAPTER 11

Alex sat atop Azor next to Sir Nigel watching the thousands of mail-clad knights and men-at-arms coming toward them from the south. They swarmed over the land like locusts, their silvered helms reflecting the afternoon sun. Impatient to be about the king’s business, Alex was pleased William’s army had finally arrived.

Without turning, he said to Sir Nigel, “Now, at last, we can pursue the Scots.”

As the army drew closer, Alex saw the king and his brother, Robert, riding ahead of the barons and the army.

Behind the king to one side walked his archers, hundreds strong. Their green and brown clothing was not unlike the bowman’s garb Merewyn wore, but not one rode a horse. Merewyn would love to have seen it. His chest tightened as he imagined her smiling at him from her Welsh pony, her bow slung over her shoulder. She was brave enough to ride with William’s army, he had no doubt.

The sooner they dealt with the Scots, the sooner he could go home—and return to Merewyn.

The king rode forward to meet them, on his head a conical helm circled by a golden crown. Beneath his helm, Alex could see William’s red beard, now trimmed. His long blond hair was splayed out on his mail-clad shoulders.

Alex bowed from his saddle. Sir Nigel did the same.

“Sir Nigel, Sir Alex,” said the king, “I am glad you ride together. What news of the Scots?”

“Malcolm’s army fled north as we arrived, My Lord,” said Sir Nigel.

“Fie!” The king’s face grew flushed with anger and the bejeweled fingers of his right hand clenched around the pommel of his saddle. “By the holy face of Lucca, we shall pursue the rabble to the very door of Malcolm’s pile of stones in Dun Edin. I will have an end to his excursions into Northumbria!”

The king’s chestnut stallion stamped his hoof and snorted, no doubt sensing his master’s anger. William’s moods were not unknown to his men. Alex had seen his anger flare before, often just as he ordered some torture for a defiant prisoner.

“We expected no less, My Lord,” said Sir Nigel.

Alex wanted to deflect the king’s attention to other, more urgent needs. “Sire, would you have the army camp here tonight or go on?”