My Noble Knight (22 page)

G
riffin stood before the wooden
door for a long moment. Finally, he lifted his hand and knocked.

It was only a moment before the door opened. A small boy stood there, gazing at him with a thin-lipped glare. “M’lord is resting.”

“He’ll see me,” Griffin told the young lad.

The boy peered up at him through narrowed eyes. “An’ ya are…?”

“Griffin.”

The boy’s mouth fell in a silent gasp and he threw open the door, allowing Griffin entrance.

Griffin entered the dark room. Rich curtains covered the large windows; a low fire in the hearth kept the room warm. Masterfully woven tapestries adorned the walls. A thick rug of fur covered nearly the entire floor. The king, Prince Edward’s father, was a friend of his father’s. He was sure that was why he had been given use of such an opulent room.

Griffin swung his head toward a cough that came from the bed.

His father was seated in the large, elaborate bed, staring at the closed window. “Open that window, boy. Let some fresh air in! I can barely breathe.”

The young boy scampered across the room and pulled at the curtains on the window.

Light splashed across the room, washing across the floor and then the bed and finally his father.

Griffin remained stoic. He tried not to show emotion. His father was not the man he remembered. He looked frail and old, his face gaunt and pale. He locked eyes with Griffin. “Ah. My boy.”

“Hello, Father,” Griffin greeted.

“Come closer, boy. Sit with me.”

Griffin moved up to the bed and sat on the side. The scent of decay and death permeated the air near his father.

A cheer rose from outside and his father swung his gaze to the window. “Prince Edward allowed me to have this room because it is close to the field of honor. I’ll be able to watch…” He looked back at Griffin, his gaze sweeping his face. “You’ve done well for yourself.”

Griffin nodded. “Yes, Father.”

His father leaned closer. “It doesn’t change anything.”

His father’s words sent a tremor through Griffin. His teeth grit instinctively. “I’m sorry, Father, but it does.”

“You are still under my rule, son. You will do as I say.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. I never did.”

“Then do what I say. It’s in the best interest –”

Griffin felt the old rage rise in his heart. “For who? You?”

“For everyone! Richard is a dolt! He is going through the treasury faster than his mother!”

“Don’t talk about my mother like that,” Griffin said quietly. He wasn’t certain his father heard him.

“What will become of Gwen?” His father began coughing and his words trailed off.

Gwen. Griffin would see to it that Gwen was taken care of.

His father grabbed his arm. His grip was weak. “Griffin. Richard does not have the sense you have.”

“You made your choice, Father.”

“I was wrong. I want you to be my heir. I want the lands to fall to you.”

“No!” Griffin stood, breaking free of the tentacle that was his father’s hand. “Richard is eldest. It is his birth right. He is heir.”

His father inhaled a shaky breath and nodded. “I see how it is. Now that you’re independent of us, you think you don’t need your family.”

Griffin straightened under the accusation. “Gwen will be taken care of. I will see to it. Richard and Jacquelyn will have to live off the wealth of the land.”

“Wealth of the land?” His father began coughing again. He doubled over. The young boy rushed to aid his father, but his father pushed the boy away. “That slut makes Richard buy her perfumes from France!” His father sat back in the bed with a sigh. “You are lucky to have escaped her.”

“Father, Richard is a capable leader.”

“Richard gives her whatever she wants!”

“With all due respect, it is not your say anymore. You handed control of the lands to Richard. I will not argue his legitimacy.”

“Traitor!” his father spat. “Coward.”

The same words that had drove him away before. He stood. “I came to see you again, Father. I don’t want to argue.”

“Then do as I say!”

Griffin turned and walked to the door. The door was open a crack and he thought he saw someone shift from the entrance.

A candlestick landed with a thud on the floor beside the door.

Griffin looked back at his father who was reaching for the next object to throw at him from a nearby table, screaming, “Coward!” His hand closed around a book.

Griffin quickly ducked out to see Jacquelyn hurrying down the corridor.

“Do you see them?” Colin asked, his gaze searching the crowded field. Spectators hung over the fence. Villagers brought blankets to sit upon to watch the joust from the surrounding fields.

Layne tried to ignore the stares and pointed fingers. She looked around the crowded field, looking for Frances and Michael. Instead, her eyes caught someone else. Across the field, she spotted Griffin. He was a good head taller than the others around him. She barely noticed them, her gaze settling firmly on him. He was directly across from her, walking along the other side of the fence. His step was confident and sure, his gait full of reined power and fluidity that set a longing to flame inside her chest. When he looked up from the person he had been speaking with in her direction, she tore her gaze from him. “I don’t see them.”

Colin scowled. “They’re here somewhere.” He pushed himself from the fence and moved on. “Come on.”

Layne walked beside him, casting a sideways glance toward Griffin. He walked with several other people, a woman on either side of him, a man before him. The four of them were striking in their elegant clothing and highborn walk. They had the air of nobility without making an effort. Her heart sank and she looked at the ground, consciously straightening her shoulders.

Again, she cast a sideways gaze at him, as if craving the sight of him. He was looking in her direction and she quickly looked away. She knew he would never forgive her for leaving him and taking Ethan’s loan. How could she ever be good enough for him? Just look at the women he was with!

Again, she slid her gaze toward him. She couldn’t help looking at him. He was marvelous to behold. He bent his head slightly to talk to one of the women. His complete concentration was on her. And she was beautiful. Layne’s heart fell. Her long blonde hair was expertly folded beneath the golden veil she wore over her head; both her hair and the veil shimmered softly in the sun, as if calling everyone’s attention to her. Her nose was delicate and her features fair. Her gown was elaborate and beautiful and worth more than Layne could dream about.

Layne’s gaze dropped to the ground. They were from two worlds that didn’t belong together. Dust puffed up around her scuffed boots with each step. She couldn’t compete with someone like that. Now she understood what he had meant when he said he couldn’t present her to his family. Sadness settled around her heart like the dust around her boots.

Griffin spotted Layne immediately. She walked along the opposite side of the field of honor from him and his family. He had come to see the jousts. And apparently, so had Layne and her brother.

“It’s a beautiful day, is it not Griffin?”

He looked down at Jacquelyn. She smiled at him, her blue eyes dazzling. But he recalled other eyes that were more dazzling, more sincere and warm. “Yes,” he replied. His gaze shifted to Layne again. She was looking down at her feet. Something twisted in his chest. He had humiliated her. He had hurt her. He should apologize to her. But knowing she had made her decision of accepting Farindale’s loan only made him realize she didn’t want to be with him. She didn’t need his apology, nor would she even want it.

He sighed and turned back to see Richard moving toward the berfrois, the sheltered dais that had been built for the tournament. Richard would be seated there, of course. He was host of the tournament. Gwen and Jacquelyn would be seated there, also. Prince Edward and all of his court would be there, also.

Griffin looked over his shoulder at Layne. She and Colin were taking seats on the lawn surrounding the field of honor with her other brothers. That was where he belonged. That was where he wanted to be.

Gwen stopped beside him and followed his stare. “Who is she?” she wondered.

Griffin didn’t take his gaze from Layne. For a moment, he hesitated. What could he tell her? That Layne unhorsed him? Never. That she was under his protection for a fleeting moment? No. “Someone I thought I knew,” he finally replied and turned away. “But I was wrong.”

Richard leapt up the two stairs to the raised dais platform and greeted Prince Edward with a humble bow.

Prince Edward smiled. “Beautiful day for a tournament!”

Richard agreed with a nod. “May I present Sir Griffin Wolfe, my brother.”

Griffin bowed. “Your Royal Highness.”

“Ah!” Prince Edward called. “Finally. I was fearful I would never get to meet you. Reigning champion and all.”

“Thank you, Sire.”

“We shall talk later,” Edward said. “I have a tournament to open.”

Griffin bowed again and moved to stand beside Gwen who had taken one of the seats near Richard.

Edward held up his hands and the crowd quieted. “Lords and Ladies, villagers and merchants, knights and gentry! Welcome all to the Woodstock tourney. Here, feats of strength and bravery will abound. Knights shall joust to prove their skill. And the victor shall receive a purse unmatched in this year’s tournaments. Let the jousting commence!”

L
ayne’s gaze continued to return
to Griffin where he stood at the side of the wooden shelter, watching the knights joust. She was getting nothing out of the preliminary jousts. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the competitors, her gaze continually returned to Griffin on the dais. The winds lifted the ends of his hair gently as if desiring a touch. He leaned in to speak to the beautiful blonde as if she were the center of his world. Her stomach rolled. Her heart twisted. She stood, feigning illness, and walked back toward the tent. She hadn’t realized how much she liked to be with him, how much she admired him, how much she should have cherished her time with him.

When she emerged from the long stalks of grass into the clearing, she spotted Griffin’s white tent near the edge of the forest, just around the bend from their tent. She faltered and then stopped. She glanced over her shoulder. Griffin was at the joust. Maybe Carlton was there.

She headed toward the tent. It had been her home for a while. And Carlton had been like a brother. She grunted softly. Like she needed another brother!

She walked up to the tent, noticing that Adonis was not there. “Carlton?” she called. She lifted the flap of the tent to check inside, but Carlton wasn’t there. She ducked back outside and paused for a moment. She was about to continue to her tent when she spotted Griffin’s weapons. His jousting pole and sword were set out at the side of the tent. Wasn’t he worried? Wasn’t he concerned about the saboteur? The weapons were all out in the open. Almost like…

Tingles shot up her spine and she looked around. There was no one there. No one she could see watching. But that didn’t mean someone wasn’t there.