Page 82 of King’s Knight

“It seems both the king and his brother were taken with the young page who shot the deer,” said his father. “Duke Robert, in particular, was delighted when the page turned into a lovely young woman. After we left the barons’ meeting, William and Robert inquired about Merewyn’s sire. Eude de Fourneaux was the only son of a nobleman, who recently passed. His lands in Fourneaux are among those William now controls by virtue of the treaty in Caen. When William called me back to the palace that morning it was to tell me he wished me to betroth Merewyn to one of my sons. Whichever son I chose would be given the Fourneaux lands near Falaise.”

Beside him, Merewyn’s right hand flew to her throat. “Lands in Normandy?”

“I have no doubt William expected me to wed Merewyn to Raoul, but since he failed to dictate my choice, I will advise him I have given Merewyn to you. With the lands in Normandy she brings you, he should find the match acceptable.”

Alex pulled Merewyn into his arms and kissed her.

The hall erupted in loud shouts of congratulations.

When he ended the kiss, her eyes were glistening with tears. “Now will you wear my ring, my lady?”

“Oh, yea, I will!”

Alex held out his palm. She lifted the riband from her neck and removed the ring, placing it in his hand. He slid it on her finger and looked into her teary eyes. “With this ring, I proclaim you mine for always.”

“Well done, Alex!” cried Rory.

Cheers erupted from the people behind them.

When the hall quieted, at the head table, Maugris leaned across Alex’s mother to speak to Talisand’s lord. “My lord, do you know the animal on Fourneaux’s banner?”

Alex’s father shrugged and turned to Sir Geoffroi. “Do you know, Geoff?”

“As I recall from Eude’s shield, Ren, ’tis a red hart bearing many prongs on its antlers.”

A broad smile spread across the wise one’s face and his pale blue eyes twinkled with mirth. “All is well,” he pronounced. “Did I not say it would be so?”

CHAPTER 16

Merewyn loved the end of autumn when wheat seeding was completed and everyone was busy with preparations for winter. The air was brisk, gusts whipping leaves to the floor of the woodland. The old stock and swine were slaughtered and salted to supply meat, villeins cut reeds and sedges for thatching so no roofs would leak when the rains came in full force and herdsmen gathered bracken for the cattle’s winter bedding.

Added to that was the candle making that the women did together to assure Talisand had a goodly supply of light for the short winter days.

But this year, an excitement filled the air beyond the normal preparations for the Martinmas feast because they were to celebrate the marriage of Talisand’s heir. Father Bernard had agreed to bless their marriage on St. Martin’s Day and Maggie assured Lady Serena they would have enough roast goose to feed all of Talisand.

Alex had joined the men hunting geese for the feast and Merewyn was helping Lady Serena and Lady Emma with the candle making. Cecily and her two ever-present companions were gathering wood with the other children.

By now, the half-dozen women making candles just outside the kitchens had filled many racks of the long tapers. Merewyn had just dipped her candles into the hot tallow mixture for the third time when the babe quickened within her. The flicker of movement made her start. She brought her hand to her slightly rounded belly waiting for the next movement.

“The babe?” Lady Serena asked holding up a rack with a half-dozen candles she had just dipped. The honey-colored candles were nearly done.

Merewyn smiled at her mother-in-law. “Aye. ’Tis the first time I have felt the babe move.”

Lady Emma left the candles she was dipping and came to join Merewyn. Like Serena, Emma, who was also in her fourth decade, barely showed her years. Her skin was smooth and her blue-green eyes clear and beautiful. “I feel as if this child will be my first grandchild as well as yours, Serena.”

Lady Serena shook her head. “Two grandmothers and Maggie to dote on him.”

Hearing her name, Maggie raised her head from where she was working. “And why not?”

Merewyn was delighted to have so many she cared for look forward to the birth of her child. “I think he will be much loved,” she said.

Lady Serena wiped her hands on her linen apron. “You said ‘he’. Do you believe the babe will be a male child?” Emma and Serena paused in what they were doing to wait for her answer.

Merewyn smiled remembering her encounter with the wise one after morning prayers. “Maugris told me this first child will be a boy, one with a will to match his father’s and his grandfather’s.”

Maggie looked up from where she was inspecting the candles drying on the long rack. “Another wolf?” she asked, resignedly. “As if the pack we have is not enough. May the Good Lord save us.”

“Mayhap this one will encourage my Tibby to be responsible,” said Lady Serena. “After all, he will be the babe’s uncle.”