Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 01 (20 page)

“Knowing who she is married to Reynold, I find it
remarkable that you would say such a thing,” the king replied, already bored
with the conversation.

“Even so Sire, I find it my own misfortune that I did
not marry a beautiful mute myself. I would not now be saddled with the
shrieking harridan I am bound to.”

“Perchance if you stayed out of the bedchambers of
other women, your lady would have nothing to shriek about,” the king rudely
replied.

“I am content that Arabella provided me with three
sons before allowing her to join me. Were she to bear a babe now, I would
denounce it for the bastard it most certainly would be.”

At Reina’s soft intake of breath, Reynold shifted his
gaze to her. Catching herself, she feigned a yawn behind her hand.
 
After a moment, she glanced at him, her eyes
narrowing at his words.

“Perhaps when you become bored with her Sire, I might
sample her charms?”

“You go too far, Reynold,” the king replied harshly.

Paling, he bowed. “Sire.” With a last leer at Reina,
he returned to his seat.

It took every ounce of control Reina had to keep from
retching. Risking a glance at the king, he gave her a slight nod.

Once again, Reina found herself pampered.
 
Unused to such indulgence, she soon came to
despise it. Not permitted to garb herself in the same thing more than once, she
now possessed enough costly raiment to clothe every woman in her village.

Only Talan and Albin’s presence reminded her of
another life beyond her empty existence.

Most evenings, Henry would keep her by his side until
the hour grew late. Only after Geoffrey retired would
 
he release her with a slight nod.

Regardless of the time, she would find Talan waiting
for her.

It did not escape her notice the attention he received
from many of the eligible court ladies. Feeling guilty for monopolizing so much
of his time, she decided to do something about it.
 
It was past time for Talan to realize there
was more to life than duty.

Opening her door one morning, she stepped back.
“Would you please come in a moment, Talan?”

“Is there aught amiss, my lady?”

“All is well, please take a
seat.”
Perching on the chair beside him, she said,
“I am releasing you from your evening duties.”

Jumping to his feet, he asked, “What is it you think I
have done, my lady?”
 

Alarmed he had come to such a conclusion, she hastened
to reassure him.
“You have done nothing wrong, Talan. I
simply want you to have some semblance of a normal life whilst we are here.”

“You will not go without escort,” he stubbornly
refused.
    

She sighed.
“Talan, the entire court
believes I am the king’s favorite. I assure you, I am able to return to my
chamber without harm befalling me."
 
Staring down at her, he remained steadfast.
“It has not escaped my notice that several eligible ladies have
attempted to gain your attention.”
He did not even twitch.
“I will not be the cause of your unhappiness, Talan,”
she
finished anxiously.

“I am not unhappy,” he replied softly. “There is no
place I would rather be.”

“Surely there must be one lady
that has caught your interest,”
she ventured.

 
He thought for
a moment. “I shall make a wager with you, my lady.”

“Name it.”
She
smiled.

“I shall acquaint myself with any lady you deem
fitting.”

She nodded thoughtfully.
“And if I
cannot find one?”

“Then you will allow my escort and refrain from any
future matchmaking.”

“Am I that obvious, Talan?”
She deflated.

Extending his arm, he smiled. “You are as transparent
as water, my lady.”

* * * *

Reina finally had something to keep her thoughts from
dwelling on Fulke. She had a mission. Without a tinge of guilt for shirking her
duty, she sat beside the king focusing on the women she believed would be a
suitable match for Talan.

Hastily rejecting one after another, she caught sight
of a young fair-haired woman standing demurely beside another with dark hair. A
pair of elder courtiers conversed briefly with the pair before moving off.
Picturing the demure woman beside Talan, nearly brought a forbidden smile to
Reina’s face.

She was so sure she had succeeded in her quest that
her eyes flared when the woman confided, “he took me roughly from behind for
what seemed like forever. I vow Baron Rey-“

With a sharp intake of breath, Reina averted her eyes.
Sneaking a peek to see if the king noticed her slip, she relaxed to find his
attention directed elsewhere.

Refusing to search further, she conceded defeat with a
sad sigh. There was not one woman in all of King Henry’s court worthy of the
noble Talan.

He met a dejected Reina at the end of a long evening.
Presenting his arm to her, he grinned. “I take it you are to be stuck with me,
my lady?”

“You knew what they were all
like, did you not?”

He nodded. “Aye, I did my lady. This is not my first
time to court. Gervase and Guy relish their time here. I do not.”

“I now know why, Talan,”
she said, accepting his arm.

* * * *

The days that followed began to take their toll on
her. Surrounded by people who held themselves above all others, she was
beginning to lose hope.

Her melancholy did not go unnoticed by Talan.
 
Waiting in the passage one morning, she
opened the door much later than usual.

“I hope I have not kept you
waiting long, Talan.”

Taking in her pale, drawn features, he grew concerned.
“Lady Reina, are you unwell?”

“Please forgive me, Talan.”
Bursting into tears, she closed the door.

 
He stood
staring at the door pondering what he should do.
 
Seeing a footman in the passage, he beckoned
him. “Inform the king Baroness Erlegh is ill.
 
She will be resting in her chamber for the duration of the day.”

Finding one of Reina’s personal serving women was not
so easy.

Pacing by her door, he spotted a young woman carrying
an arm full of fresh linens. “Do you serve Baroness Erlegh?”

“I do, Sir Knight. Is aught amiss with her ladyship?”

“She is ill. If the lady leaves this chamber for any
reason, you are to summon me in the Knights barracks.” He handed her a coin.
“Do you understand?”

“I do.”
 
She
bobbed her head.

Deep in thought, he made his way down the
passage.
 
He needed some fresh air and a
drink, not necessarily in that order.

* * * *

Talan was sitting alone in the barracks early that
evening when Albin found him.

Ignoring the rest of the men crowding the hall, he
bent by his ear. “A word in private, lad?” leading the way outside.

Following Albin into the frigid air, Talan chaffed his
arms to warm them.
 
Quite a ways from the
Hall, he demanded, “What is amiss with our lady, Albin?”

“Rest at ease, Talan.
 
She is in her chamber preparing for the feast. I am here for your
benefit, taking into account that you are not exactly the most cheerful of
men.” He held a hand up when Talan scowled. “Even I would not be so cheerful
with our current task.”

“It is my duty,” he replied angrily.

Albin placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know, lad. It
does not change the fact that you need to lighten up before you bring the
lady’s spirits any lower.” Withdrawing a small pouch from his tunic, he handed
it over. “I want you to find the nearest tavern and swive a wench until the
coin runs out.”

“I shall not leave Lady Reina unattended.

 
“As if I
would?” Albin scoffed. “I have heard the filth Reynold has been spouting. I
will guard her well, mark my word.”

“I fear if we do not find a way to leave, court life
will eventually break her,” Talan said, accepting the coin.

Albin leaned close to speak in low tones. “I know this
well, lad. My time here has not been spent being idle.
 
I am trying to find us all a way out of this
mess.”

“If I go, you vow to keep a close watch on her?”

Albin scowled in reply.

* * * *

Talan made his way through the darkening lanes of
London, stopping at the first hostelrie he found. Unclasping his cloak, he
wound his way through the crowded tables to the bar. Calling to the tapster for
a mug of ale, he turned on his stool to take in the place.

Glancing past a table with four burly men and a petite
blond female, his eyes swiveled back to the woman. He stared transfixed as the
lovely lass glanced up to catch him staring at her. She responded to his nod of
acknowledgement with a shy smile.
 
One of
the men spoke, drawing her attention.
 

He turned back to the bar to have a swallow of ale,
drumming his fingers in indecision. Giving in to the urge, he turned for
another glance and met the disapproving gaze of the dark haired man beside her.

Talan cursed the fates when the man stood.
 
Preparing for the inevitable brawl, he sized
up his opponent as he approached.
 

Over the loud din of the tavern, the stranger bent
close to his ear. “It appears we have a quandary on our hands, knight.”

Prepared for anything, Talan replied, “I have no
quarrel with you.”

“Then tell me why you boldly stare at my sister when
she is in the midst of men who would kill to protect her?” he jeered.

Figuring the truth would be his best defense, he
replied, “I meant no offense. I simply found the lass comely.”

“What is your name, knight?” The stranger cracked a
smile.

“Talan, I am in Baron Fulke of Erlegh’s service.”

Staring pointedly at Talan’s coat, he quipped, “I see
that now.
 
I am Leofrick of Kent.”

Talan dipped his head, “I truly meant no offense,
Leofrick.”

“I am acquainted with his lordship,” he
continued.
 
My father is Sheriff of
Rochester.
 
Why is it I have never seen
you before?”

“It is not often I venture to Rochester,” Talan
replied.

“Why do you not join us?” Glancing back at the table,
he grinned. “By the looks exchanged between you both, I am sure my sister will
not begrudge an introduction.”

Talan stood. “That would please me greatly.”

Squeezing back through the tables, Leofrick gestured
to each of the three men. “These hulking brutes are my brothers, Frederick,
Edmund and Caine.”

Nodding to each, he glanced at Leofrick’s sister.
Waiting.

Leofrick chuckled. “Oh, and this is my sister, Mylla.”
Clearing a space, he grabbed an empty chair from another table.
 
Wedging it between Mylla and Caine, he
gestured for Talan to take a seat.
 
“This
is Talan, Knight to Baron Erlegh.”

Caine looked surprised.
 
“I was unaware his lordship had left
Rochester.”

Talan tried to ignore the sensations racing through
him where his leg brushed up against Mylla’s. “His lordship remains in
Rochester. I am at court with her ladyship.”

Mylla glanced shyly at him. “Our father is in
consultation with the king’s itinerant justice. We depart on the morrow. ”

“I look forward to my own return to Rochester,” Talan
replied with a smile.

He heard a brusque voice. “Do you stay in Rochester
whilst his lordship is in town, Sir Talan?”

Reluctantly turning away from Mylla, he replied to
Edmund. “On few occasions.”

“Yet, you are here in London with her ladyship?” he
pressed.

“I am. Her ladyship has never been to court before,”
Talan replied evasively.

“Do you stay at the Wounded Stag when you are in
Rochester, Sir Talan?” Mylla regained his attention.

Smiling once more, Talan turned back to her. “I do. It
is the closest hostelrie to the tower.”

“Then you must know my friend, Lecie. She has helped
run the hostelrie since her mother passed.”

“I do know Lecie. It is a shame her husband is so
ill.”

Mylla looked confused. “Lecie is not married.”

Now it was Talan’s turn to look confused. “She is wife
to Edric, is she not?
 
They have three
small children.”

“Lecie is not married to Edric,” she giggled.
 
“He is her father.”