By Right of Arms (25 page)

“Why do you care, Hyatt? Do you perchance place some value on me after all?”

“You are the lady of this hall and your talents are well used. Your marriage to me rises above this English and French war and binds this property to my name. You are the mistress of De la Noye. Whether we share any affection does not matter, but the larger question must be answered lest there is some plan between illicit lovers to attack De la Noye. Answer me now; do you love him?”

She stared calmly at the anger in his eyes. Deep in her heart she wished that this rage came from his own feelings for her. But she knew his truth was well calculated; he considered her a possession and he would neither share her, nor accept any risk to have her. “Nay, I do not love him, Hyatt.” She raised her clear blue eyes so that he could judge the truth for himself, as he had claimed he could. “Nor did I know his feeling for me went deeper than a man’s allegiance to his lord. And, I did not welcome his confession.”

Hyatt looked deeply into her eyes for a long moment and she saw that he was satisfied. The grip on her arms slowly slackened and he released her. He turned toward the door. Once that portal was opened, he looked back at her.

“When did he tell you the truth about his lust?”

“When you suspected he did. The day the prisoners were released.”

“And you rebuffed him then?”

She stood tall and proud. “I warned him in earnest that even were you less inclined to kill to secure your possessions, I would not welcome his affection.”

“Yet he asked you to flee with him?”

“ ’Twas not of his doing. Verel is not that stupid. Someone convinced him there was a chance I would agree to go.”

“And will you place a name to your suspicions? Now?”

“I cannot,” she said, lowering her eyes. To accuse Faon would make Aurélie seem jealous and embittered in Hyatt’s eyes. She would not be brought so low; she would not be branded as a conniving woman.

“You are my wife,” he said softly. “If there is someone here who plots against me and you do not confess it, your hand joins him on the blade that slays me.”

She slowly let her eyes rise. “If I thought you would come to any harm because of my silence, Hyatt, I would place names to my worries. But ’tis truth I speak when I say that the one I do not trust would never harm you. Others may fall by the way, but you will be safe.” And then in a very soft whisper she added, “I pray you believe me, messire, for I value your life if for no other reason than that it assures mine.”

He winced slightly with her words, blinking his eyes closed as if she touched some tender spot and caused pain. “Enough said,” he said without looking at her. He seemed to regain his composure and looked across the room at her. “The guards accompany the farmers and their women for their protection, not as sentries to prevent escape. We have seen the makings of camps in the forests around De la Noye and do not know by the ashes of cookfires whether they are bandits, scavengers, English armies, or escaped French exiles. Whoever they be, they travel and camp in small groups, which does not bode well for our people, and they are at risk unguarded. An English army engaged in Edward’s siege would be welcome here and need not conceal themselves, but the wolves who roam the forest after a war prey upon that lone sheep who wanders too near the woods.”

“You did not tell me, Hyatt.”

“You did not ask.”

He left abruptly then, not waiting for the apology that was close to her lips. She had misjudged him again, and in her request that her people be shown more trust by fewer guards there was the sound of accusation. She told herself throughout the rest of the day that it did not matter if she failed to show proper gratitude for the good things he did. It did not matter to him whether she was thankful or whether she despised him, so long as she did what was expected of her.

But an ill feeling surrounded her all through the day, for she knew she had been unjust. Aurélie had no trouble keeping a proud façade, though she was beaten. Nor was she too subdued to throw her share of insults when the bantering began. But justice was essential to her, even when it concerned her treatment of a man who was her known enemy. Admittedly, his treatment of her had been decent.

As she groomed herself for the evening meal, taking more time than usual on her appearance, she thought not only of how she might show Hyatt that she was just and reasonable, but of how she might cautiously lead him toward more trusting companionship. There had not been only changes in De la Noye, but within herself. Her body was changing, her heart was softening toward Hyatt, and a growing need to be at peace with him was emerging.

When she descended into the common hall for the evening meal, she wore her best gown, the cream-colored one that she had worn on the day Hyatt had taken her to the priest. The room was nearly full, and the trays of food were already being put on long trestle tables. She could see from Hyatt’s eyes that he approved of her attire. He stood as she came down the stairs and held a hand out to her to seat her at his side.

“King Edward would be well pleased to see how agreeably these French swine have come to heel.”

Aurélie did not look in the direction of Faon’s intentionally loud voice. She went to her seat beside Hyatt, hearing the voice of a man who was well oiled of ale respond to his dinner partner.

“With all the boasting about these French armies, we thought there would be plenty of fighting, but the French are a cowardly bunch. They’ve come quickly to submission … but then, we heard they were weak. Now the Scots …”

“At least the French know their betters,” Faon laughed, cutting the man off. She was not interested in war stories, but wished to keep the subject turned to slurs against the conquered. “Though few will admit it, Edward’s forces did nothing but put an end to their misery and incompetence, that a better rule could be formed, especially here.”

Aurélie’s jaw tightened, but she looked at Hyatt. His eyes were fixed on Faon for a moment, then he sat down beside his wife. There was no amusement in his features.

Faon’s laughter was joined by some of the men at her end of the table, but their jokes were cruel. Much was said of the beaten French, their ingratitude at being rescued by the stronger warriors; their quick, frightened servitude. Giles was liberally ridiculed for his lack of warring skills and was named the poorest soldier in the whole De la Noye troop. One voice delivered a remark that stung Aurélie deeply. “Even the Sire’s widow appears pleased with her new ruler. Mayhap she thanked her conqueror for removing the monkish moron, else she’d have had to spend the rest of her days as his wife.”

“Girvin,” Faon called out loudly. “Are you bored now that your days are spent hunting rather than fighting? Do you wish to meet with a challenge of some strength?” Girvin grumbled something low and inaudible. “What say you, Girvin?” Faon pressed.

Girvin raised his head. “Was your question whether I’d rather hunt or fight, mistress? I like a good fight, but so do I like the hunt. To slay a boar satisfies me now, since it fills grateful bellies. I enjoy helping to feed the farmers; they work to earn it. It chafes at me to work to feed the stomach of a drone.”

“What?”

Girvin chuckled. “Mistress Faon, I am only a soldier and not a learned man, yet I am wise enough to know that anyone who works gets a return on his labors, whether from my hunting or my lord’s protection. I wager that every person kept by Hyatt knows how he earns his lord’s hospitality, or how he strains it. He who does nothing will find equal reward, mistress.”

Rather than risk an insult like the one that had nearly reached her, Faon turned her attention to the knights who would appreciate her wit. She collected more these days, since Hyatt seemed to have his affection focused elsewhere and it was beginning to look as though Faon was accessible. Aurélie stole a glance at Girvin. She decided, when the man did not return her glance, that it was unlikely Girvin had put the audacious woman in her place in any gesture of loyalty to Aurélie. It was well known that Girvin did not tolerate Faon well. But Aurélie smiled inwardly, feeling less alone since Girvin nearly announced Faon’s laziness.

Aurélie ate most of her meal in silence and when she was nearly finished, she touched Hyatt’s hand as he paused with his knife over his plate.
“Monseigneur,”
she said in a quiet, humbled voice, “my tongue was quick today and before I thought better of my words, I had cast unfair doubt on your actions.”

He raised a brow and peered at her in question.

“I would have told you of Verel’s plan if I thought any other men would join him, but he alone fled De la Noye, and it is better he is gone, I think. I give you my word that I know of no other who plots an escape.”

“What assurance do I have that I can trust your word, Aurélie?” he quietly asked.

“None, messire, but I will tell you the truth just the same. He was foolish in this desire he claimed to feel for me, and I think it was bent more of loyalty and his wish to return to our old ways that moved him to confess so much.”

Hyatt smiled. “You said that Verel was not stupid.”

“That is why I have not understood him,” she said with a shrug. “As God is my witness, Hyatt, he was never so foolish before. I was frightened of you, and of him. I did not want such nonsense to be harshly punished.”

Hyatt smiled. “I think I understand, Aurélie. Are there others here who fancy themselves in love with you?”

Her cheeks pinkened delicately, yet a slight rueful chuckle escaped her. “Nay, Hyatt. Only once has a person claimed such passionate love, and he escaped your rule in rags.”

“Then ’tis better that you hold little hope on his rescue.”

“You may believe me, I do not hope for that. But Hyatt, forgive me for questioning your use of your men. It was wrong of me. I should have known you did not worry over the flight of a few farmers, and I welcome your protection of them. I am sorry.”

Hyatt’s brows rose in surprise. “My ears fail me. You are asking for forgiveness?”

She folded her hands in her lap and looked down. “I was wrong, Hyatt. You have done well by your possession in most cases, and I wish only good to come to these people. I shall not question you again.”

His hand covered both of hers. “Are we bent on a common purpose at last,
chérie?”

She turned to look at him. She wondered for a moment if there was something more for them than master and slave, but warned herself not to take much heart in his momentary softening. “I gave my word to see my people well served. I shall not fail in that.”

He frowned slightly, as if he was not completely satisfied with that response. “You are forgiven, madame. I find I am hard put to deny you anything.”

He watched her as she finished her meal. He made a silent oath to see her fitted with cloth for better gowns once the harvest was in and there was money to spare. Perhaps before winter he could send to neighboring cities that had been quelled some men to buy things needed at De la Noye. He liked sitting beside her more when she was richly dressed; her beauty was deserving of jewels and expensive cloth, but she was modest. He suspected that there was more hidden away and he did not question this, for he believed that when she felt secure, she would draw out anything she had.

He glanced at Faon, who wore her jewels liberally. He supposed many, including Aurélie, believed he had given her gems and gold. Actually, her gifts had come from some of his men seeking to win favor either from her or from him. He had always seen to it that she had plenty of money with which to buy things as they traveled, and though he meant it more for Derek than Faon, once money was given he did not consider it his right to question its use. And Derek always appeared well kept.

But Aurélie, he silently decided, should have gifts. Her pale, silken flesh would shine under the weight of gems. Her small but full figure would be even more alluring in a few new gowns. Even the one she wore, though her best, seemed to fit her poorly, although he could not deny that the strained décolletage pleased his eyes.

In spite of her efforts to keep herself safe and distant from his lordship here, it was obvious that even she was thriving. His memory could not have failed him so completely; her eyes were brighter, her cheeks and lips had a healthy pink flush, and she appeared more robust, more beautiful, than when he first arrived. She had covered her long, lustrous hair with a wimple, but when she was bereft of these garments, it was her hair that he loved most. He could not keep his hands from it. As he studied her, his hand idly moved to her bare shoulder to gently caress her flesh. She turned toward him to catch him in his brooding stare and she let a smile flirt at the corners of her mouth for just an instant before she rose to see to the cleaning of the room.

“I will conquer even her,” he thought, watching her move about the room. The swing of her skirt, the swell of her breasts when she stooped or bent to some task, and the strong but feminine grasp of her hands as she lifted an object, every movement enchanted his thoughts. She grew more breathtaking with every passing day. He would guard his emotions and never be her victim, but a proud smile grew on his lips as he watched her and conceded that a man could hardly do better in getting a wife. “If she ever comes to heel,” he thought, “I might even admit that I have been smitten with her since the first.”

“At dawn, so says Sir Hyatt.”

Hyatt turned as Girvin’s voice loudly interrupted his thoughts. He frowned in worry that he’d been caught gazing with longing at his wife. The meal was done and the occupants of the room were settling into their evening routine. Some of the men had filled their horns with ale and the duties for the following day were being discussed. A half-dozen men stood leisurely around the lord’s table listening.

“We hunt at dawn’s break, Hyatt?” Girvin asked.

“Aye, in the south forest. I will accompany you, but you select the hunters to go, Girvin. You are more aware of the most skilled.”

“You hunt, Hyatt?” Faon asked, laughter ringing in her voice. “You must have reached the height of leisure of a prosperous lord now. I have never known you to hunt unless you are bored.”