Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 01 (19 page)

Pacified, Henry relaxed.
 
“It is a fault you have had since first we
met.
 
You have always boasted a softness
towards the weak.
 
It would do you well
to overcome this flaw.”

“My knights have each proven themselves in battle,” he
said defensively.

“Perhaps that is the case where your men are
concerned.
 
Yet, I have stood witness to
beautiful women of great wealth fawning over you.” He leaned forward in his
seat. “Tell me, what could explain your reasoning behind taking a deaf woman to
wife?”

“Her father banished her to a convent,” Fulke replied
reluctantly.

“You are nothing if not predictable,” Henry chuckled.

“I tend to believe it is my one admirable trait.”

“I would venture to say it is your one failing,” he
shot back.

“In that, I must beg to differ with you, Sire.”

Leaning back in his chair, Henry shrugged.
 
“I would say your boldness in the face of
your king is your one admirable trait.”

“Thank you, Sire,” Fulke dipped his head.

“Truth be told, you have been missed at court of
late.
 
Without your presence to rouse
things, the ladies have had to remain in the beds of their husbands.”

Ashamed Reina would discover his past transgressions,
Fulke attempted to change the subject.
 
“If I am to be away from Rochester for so long, completion of the tower
could be delayed by months, Sire.”

Henry looked surprised. “You will not be away from
Rochester.
 
In fact, you are to return at
lauds.
 
Archbishop Corbeil will be
arriving soon to convene with the master builder.
 
You are to attend him when he arrives.”
 
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “You know how
I am forced to appease the whims of the church.
 
I fear my brother William’s delay in appointing an archbishop after
Lanfranc's death, still costs me.”

As Henry rambled on, Fulke sat in stunned
disbelief.
 
Imagining Reina at the mercy
of the court, he managed, “How long do you wish for me to remain in
Rochester?”
 

“Until I summon you, of course,” Henry replied
impatiently. “I am only asking for a brief separation whilst her ladyship
performs a valuable service for the realm. You do realize of course, if you
oppose me in this matter, I could have your marriage annulled?”

Fulke’s heart began to pound.
 
“There are no grounds for an annulment,
Sire.
 
A priest performed the ceremony in
front of several witnesses.”

Henry moved forward in his seat. “Did any of these so
called witnesses hear the lady speak her vows?”
 
He scoffed, “Come now, Fulke.
 
You
cannot honestly believe I can allow you to remain after your behavior in the
hall?”
 
He relented a bit. “The younger
knight is far too bold for my liking.
 
Still, if it will ease your mind, he may remain with Albin.”

Nodding weakly, Fulke played his last hand.
 
“Sire has commanded that I beget heirs.
 
May I ask how that will be possible if I am
to be separated from my wife for so long a time?”

Henry waved a hand in dismissal. “Your unexpected
visit has proven to be a nuisance to me.
 
Still, I am not one to deny a man his marital due.
 
You may have what remains of this eve with
her.
 
Depart no later than lauds, I would
not have the archbishop kept waiting.”

“Thank you, Sire.” He stood, anxious to leave.
  

Henry’s eyes narrowed.
 
“Before you go, I find myself forced to clarify a point.”

“Sire?”

“Regardless of the past, if you defy me in this
matter, I shall have your head on the charge of treason. I will not allow your
failing to jeopardize the advantage afforded me over Louis.”

“Have I ever given you grounds to doubt my loyalty?”
Fulke asked in disbelief.

“You have not.
 
Yet, I have never before known you to show such weakness towards a
woman.
 
I find myself believing her
shortcoming has brought it out in you.

“I shall not fail you, Sire.”
 

Stepping into the passage, he cornered the first
footman he could find. “Direct me to Baroness Erlegh’s chamber.”

* * * *

Her arms wrapped around her drawn up knees, Reina sat
on the cushioned bench in the window niche.
 
Staring absently at the small flickering lights on the river below, she
sighed.
 
With torches held aloft, boats
transporting the last of the season’s crops headed for the city markets.
 
Even given the late hour, the city was
bustling with activity.
  

So attuned to him, Reina sensed Fulke’s presence as
soon as he opened the door. She stood to face him as he turned to close
it.
 

Her breathing spiked as she drank in every visible
detail of him as he fumbled with the latch.
 
His hair had grown longer, curling slightly as it touched his
shoulders.
 
She swallowed against the
desire to run her hands through the silken strands.

Turning to face her, he paused, hesitant to approach,
the flickering fire making his eyes shimmer in the chamber’s dim light. “Please
tell me you forgive me, Reina.”

In answer, she briefly bowed her head, tears of relief
springing to her eyes.
 
Returning her
gaze to his beloved face, she untied the corded sash from around her
waist.
 
Parting the gown, she let it slip
from her shoulders to pool around her bare feet.
“I have
missed you so very much, my lord.”

Fulke crossed the chamber in two long strides.
  
Sweeping her into his arms, he embraced
her.
 
For the length of a heartbeat, he
held her against his chest before leaning back to capture her lips.
 
Lifting her to the bed, he followed her down
without breaking the kiss.

They made love for what remained of the night. Gazing
into each other’s eyes, no words were spoken between them, for fear it would
break the spell that bound them.
  

As the sky began to lighten, Fulke glanced away from
the window with a heavy heart.
 
Staring
down at her lying beside him, he caressed his fingertips over her kiss-swollen
lips. “I do not know when the king will summon me again, Reina.”

Tears leaked from her eyes as she gazed up at him.
“I will hold you in my heart until we are together again, my lord.”

Fulke searched her eyes. “Will you tell me something?”

“I will tell you anything,”
running her fingertips down the length of his jaw.

“Why did you forgive me?”

Sitting up, she frowned at the anguish clouding his
eyes.
“You are my life Fulke, I love you.
 
Nothing will ever change that.”

“I want you to promise me something.”

She cupped his face.
“Anything.”

“If you see a courtier say something unpleasant,
pledge to me that you will avert your eyes,” he replied hoarsely.

“There are no words anyone can
say that will harm me, so long as you know the truth.”

“I would have your pledge,” he whispered.

“You have it, my love.”
She hesitated.
 

“What is it, Reina?”

“Why did you take me to wife,
Fulke?”

Lowering his head, he glanced away.

Capturing his jaw, she waited for him to look at her.
 
“I know you were commanded
to take a wife.
 
What I would like to
know is why you chose me.”
  

“I have no regrets taking you to wife, Reina.”

Seeing a look of anguish cross his face, she squeezed
his hand.
 
“Think no
more of it, my love.”
     

“I will find a way for us to return to Castell Maen, I
vow it.”

Smoothing the lines on his brow, she smiled.
“I did not think otherwise.”

Bending to capture her lips, he said, “I shall miss
you.”

As the Sun broke the horizon, Fulke could delay his
departure no longer.
 
Strapping on his
sword, she presented him with a small leather pouch.
 
“I have a gift for you, my
lord.”

“You are a gift to me, Reina.” Drawing her into his
arms, he caressed her cheek.

Taking the pouch, he untied the leather thong.
 
Reaching in, he withdrew a ring.
 
Staring at the gold hammered band, he asked,
“When did you have this made Reina?”

“The village forger fashioned it
for me from a pair of my mother’s hairclips.
 
Do not you like it, Fulke?”

 
“When?” he
pressed.

“Shortly after you left for
Rochester.”
 
She
searched his troubled gaze, wondering why the gift bothered him so much.

Clenching his eyes shut, he lowered his head.

Alarmed by his reaction, she cupped his chin, putting
pressure on it, until he looked at her.
 
“If you do not like it,”
she began.
  

“I do not deserve you Reina,” he cut in.

Tears sparkled in her eyes as she gazed at the pain in
his.
“You are so very wrong, my lord.”

Sliding the ring on his finger, he pulled her to him.
“I shall never take it off.”

Reluctantly pulling away, he held her against his
heart for a moment, breathing into her hair. Stepping back he cupped her
cheeks. “Talan and Albin shall remain close, should you have need of them.”

She nodded, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

“Remember your pledge,” he said brokenly.
 
Kissing her one last time, he left.

* * * *

The remainder of the day started what would become a
painful routine for Reina.

Each morning, she sat by Henry’s side while he held
court. Her eyes would scan the clustered groups of nobles, following their
conversations. If they crudely made mention of her relationship with the king,
she would avert her eyes.

Each afternoon was set aside for recreation. On clear
days, the king would host royal hunts or inside picnics for the nobles. Once the
royal chambers were cleared, he would send for her.

Sitting nervously before him, she would report through
Talan anything of interest she had learned. Geoffrey of Anjou did indeed have
higher aspirations, yet for the moment was content to marry Henry’s heir.

Reina refrained from telling him the foul language
Geoffrey used with his entourage. With the king imposing fines on those who
swore, his coffers would overflow with Geoffrey’s silver alone. He would often
besmirch Matilda, eleven years his senior as his entourage of sycophants
expressed delight.

The evenings were unbearable. Forced to observe the
shallow existence the nobles enjoyed, made her yearn for Fulke.

On occasion, she would inadvertently give herself away
with a blush or intake of breath when something truly shocked or disturbed her.
During these times, the king would settle a disapproving frown on her, causing
her heart to race in fear.

One evening Baron Reynold approached the dais. Instead
of following her inclination to ignore the man responsible for antagonizing
Fulke, curiosity had her watching him greet the king.

Dressed in a red bliaut, white linen chainse, yellow
striped hose and brown leather boots, he doffed his red cap.
 
Raking his gaze down the length of Reina, he
leered, “Sire, your current favorite is quite exquisite.”