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The king took her hand and raised her to stand. “Lady Elizabeth, it is good to see you again. Our thanks for welcoming us to your home.”

The last proof Bannaster might need of her true identity had now been supplied. Bannaster happily put her hand on his arm and followed the king indoors. The castle swelled as another contingent of soldiers merged with the crowd.

Elizabeth had never seen so many people, except in the streets of London. The hall grew overly warm before the ceremony could begin.

Though Bannaster obviously wanted to stay at the king’s side, his captain of the guard came and pulled him aside to speak privately. Bannaster’s expression remained impassive, but he glanced at the great double doors, then back to the king. He bowed and said something to his cousin, who waved him off and turned to speak to one of his councilors. Bannaster moved quickly through the crowd and left the hall. Elizabeth then considered King Henry.

* * *

At the last changing of the guard, the absences were finally noticed. John had been watching for the alert and the subsequent confusion. The captain of the guard was no fool, yet he had not shouted a warning, only gone quickly inside the castle.

Everything had become so much more confusing with the unexpected arrival of the king. John wished he could consider how this might affect him, but he was too busy leading the secret assault. The crowds in the inner ward had really begun to swell with the arrival of the king’s party. Luckily, the royal soldiers had followed him inside.

Now that the captain of the guard had gone in to tell Bannaster what was happening, John knew he had to work quickly. He began to spread the word among the castle residents and the villagers to get out of harm’s way, by either going inside, or fleeing back to the village of Alderley. He hoped this would mollify Elizabeth when she learned what was happening.

The ward had begun to empty just as Bannaster came out the double doors, drawing his sword. As if a signal had been given, the remaining soldiers drew theirs and grouped themselves defensively, looking for the enemy.

Bannaster came running down the stairs, brandishing his sword against the first person who crossed his path. It was a woman, and she screamed as she froze in front of him. Though Bannaster waved her away, John could not risk harming Elizabeth’s people. He came out from the shadow of the stairs, holding his sword aloft, throwing back his hood.

“For Alderley!” he cried in a loud voice.

A chorus of shouts and cheers answered him. Though John saw that Bannaster’s soldiers turned to answer the charge, there were few enough left that Alderley’s forces should win the day. But John concentrated on Bannaster, whose face had alighted with anger and determination at John’s cry.

Bannaster came running at him, his sword upraised. Without a word, he slashed downward, and John parried the weapon away with his own. Bannaster then thrust at him, which John turned away with his shield.

“Give way, Bannaster,” John shouted. “I am Elizabeth’s legal betrothed. Just ask your cousin the king.”

“You are not worthy of her!”

Bannaster unleashed several blows, which John countered. John had had enough of the man’s arrogance. He went on his own offensive, driving Bannaster back to the stairs. Bannaster tripped and sprawled onto his back, and John had his sword at the man’s throat.

“So you plan to kill me?” Bannaster demanded in a tight voice, lying still on the stairs.

“I would take great delight in it, after the way you’ve tortured Elizabeth,” John said between gritted teeth.

“Elizabeth or Anne? Which one does either of us want?”

Angrily, John pressed the sword closer, where it grazed Bannaster’s flesh.

“Halt!” shouted a commanding voice from above.

John did not look up; he stared his intentions into Bannaster’s eyes. But he had recognized Milburn’s voice, and allowed the steward to come down the stairs.

“No closer!” John commanded.

Milburn stopped just above them. “My lords, you must stop this! The king is growing anxious. Does either of you want to explain to him why one of his noblemen has been murdered?”

In that fraction of a moment, John played out every possible ending in his mind, but in none of them did he win Elizabeth. Killing Bannaster would just enrage the king, whose arrival had ruined all of John’s plans to force Bannaster to relinquish Alderley.

John pulled his sword away and stepped back. Bannaster gingerly rubbed his neck as he sat up.

“There’s no blood,” John said. “If I would have cut you, you’d already know it.”

Bannaster rose to his feet, glaring at John.

“My lord, the king waits!” Milburn said firmly.

“I’ve won, Russell,” Bannaster said. “Guards, to me!”