Rose Victory - Eagle Series (26 page)

The door to the bedchamber opened and Aguilus scampered out.  There were traces of tears on his cheeks but a happy smile
had replaced the anxious look he had worn when he left.  He looked round the room until his eyes fell on Antonia, who stood quietly by the door.  “Mother asks that you go to her, please.  She needs your assistance,” the squire smiled shyly at his mother’s companion.

“Of course, my lord.”  Antonia quickly disappeared into the adjoining bedchamber leaving a puzzled Aguilus behind.

The boy turned an inquiring gaze on his father.  “She called me ‘lord’?”

“Well
, you are her king’s grandson.”  Roydon supplied, watching his son carefully.

Aguilus thought for a moment.  “So if Mother is a princess that would make me
…”

“My son and my squire,” interrupted the earl quietly but forcefully.

The boy cocked his head to one side, a serious expression on his face as he thought over his father’s words and then he nodded.  “That is much more important,” he crossed the room to stand before the earl.  “How may I serve you, my lord?”

Roydon laid his hands on the squire’s shoulders.  “I am very proud of you, son.”

Aguilus didn’t know what to say.  Just like the last time his father had acted strangely, he looked to Sir Stefan for help.

The knight obliged, grinning.  “No need to reply, Aguilus.
  Your father just wants a hug,” he supplied with a smug smile.

The earl glared at his friend
in mock disapproval but returned the boy’s eager embrace before disentangling himself from his son.

“You know that you will pay in sweat and aches for all this, don’t you, Stef?”
  Roydon asked conversationally, referring to the times that his friend had purposely prodded him and enjoyed himself at his expense.

Stefan sighed
, a look of mournful resignation on his face.  “Yes, but I just can’t seem to help myself.”

The opening of the chamber door interrupted them.  Antonia came out and curtseying to the earl, she quickly left the rooms.

“I think that is my cue to retire.  I wish you a good night, gentlemen.”  Roydon walked eagerly towards the bed chamber.

“Good night, my lord,” chorused three voices, and if Sir Stefan’s held more than a hint of
amusement, Roydon did not notice.  He had eyes only for his wife as he closed the chamber door behind him.

This time when the earl of Eagle Rock, with his new wife on his arm entered the
king’s audience chamber, the king greeted him with a smile.  No private meeting this, thought Roydon, as he advanced towards the dais through groups of courtiers and noblemen.  Henry stood at the foot of the dais with the Gibel delegation.

The
king, he noticed, as he rose from his obeisance, seemed in a good mood.  For the first time the earl studied the Gibel envoys as they were introduced to him.  Of the four, one had the bright golden eyes that he had learned marked him as ‘special’.

“My Lady, you look
beautiful this morning.”  Henry glanced at Roydon, “Marriage seems to agree with you.”

Roslyn did indeed look lovely.  A pale gold chemise, that complimented her eyes, peeped out from the low neck and slashed sleeves of her deep green velvet
over-dress.  A beautifully worked gold girdle hung low on her hips and her hair cascaded down her back, held in place only by the gold circlet on her brow.  She was not beautiful as the king stated, Roydon admitted, her face had too much character and strength for that, handsome, yes; she had pride and poise in every bone, in every inch of her body.  She was a princess, a countess from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

Roydon set Roslyn’s hand on his arm again and covered it with his own.  “We are content, Your Majesty.”  That was probably the understatement of the century, he
thought, he was ecstatic.

“So I see
.” The king turned to address one of the envoys and Roydon felt a hand on his shoulder.  Turning he found himself face to face with Emma’s father.

A whisper of anxiety swept up Roydon’s
spine.  “Lord Reinhart,” he greeted the Northern earl. “My daughters?” 

“The girls are fine,
Mountroi.  I left them at Eagle Rock with their ladies on my way down here.”  The earl of the Northern Provinces set his cold stare on Roslyn.  “A new wife, I see.”

“Roslyn, this is
Lord Reinhart, Earl of the North and my departed wife’s father.”  Roydon’s voice turned as cold as Reinhart’s eyes.  “Reinhart, this is my countess Lady Roslyn.”

Reinhart stared hard at the countess
, but Roslyn met him look for look and did not look away.  “Pleased to meet you, my lady,” he said at last and then he turned to Roydon.  “You got yourself a strong woman there, Mountroi, my congratulations.”

Roydon nodded, but said nothing.  The compliment, coming from the hard, unbending lord, was high indeed.  Reinhart nodded silently back and walked away.

“What a strange man.”  Roslyn followed Lord Reinhart with her eyes as he disappeared among the courtiers.

“To Reinhart duty is everything, strength a way to achieve it.  Emotion to him corrupts strength,
which is why he is so cold and unbending.”  Roydon grimaced.  “He has always been so.  Emma held duty sacred too, but she loved our daughters, she died trying to give me a son.”

“I will love your girls too, Roydon.  Do not doubt me,” Roslyn’s eyes sparkled.  “Soon they will have a little sister.”

The earl squeezed her hand.  “Only if it does not…distress you, my love.”

“
This time it will not be a problem.  I can easily go a year without changing, after that a wet nurse can tend to our daughter.”  Roslyn spoke softly, her voice hesitant, “Will my changing occasionally be…difficult for you?”

Roydon looked at his wife, a tender look in his eyes.  “Can I watch?”  At her
positive nod, he continued.  “Are you asking me if I would mind watching you fly, soar the skies over our mountain; mind watching the beauty of your flight as you return to me?”  The earl’s voice deepened, “Because you will always return to me.” The last was not a question.

“Always, my love.”
 

The quiet conversation was interrupted by the
king.  “Let us finish this,” Henry had mounted the steps and now sat in his high-backed chair.  Silence descended on the room as he called the newly wedded couple forward.

“Roydon,
fourth earl of Eagle Rock, do you swear on your honour, that having consummated your union, you find no impediment to the validity of this marriage?”  The king’s voice could be heard in the furthest corners of the room.

Tense silence awaited the earl’s reply.  “I do so swear,
Sire.”  Roydon’s answer echoed strong and unequivocal.

“Lady Roslyn, Princess of Gibel, do you agree?”  The bride did not have to swear, only agree that she was satisfied with the union.  If she did, it would be the last time she heard her previous title.  Henceforth she would embrace her husband’s rank and title.

“I do, Sire.”  Roslyn’s voice rivalled her husband’s in confident assurance.

“So be it,” Henry’s voice oozed satisfaction.  “In front of witnesses it has been sworn.”  Having finished with the ceremony, the
king descended the steps.  “Eagle, you may keep your countess,” a very pleased expression adorned his face.

“And you can keep her dowry, Sire!” Roydon grinned as he made the outrageous remark.  At last he felt sufficiently at ease with his sovereign once again to make the joking remark, a return to the easy camaraderie they shared on occasion.

Henry stilled for a moment and then he laughed outright.  “Only you
could make that observation and get away with it.  I see you have read the contract.  The holdings I have given you are more than a fair trade, Eagle.”

“A headache,
Sire, trouble and problems,” Roydon countered.

“You like solving problems, my lord. 
You have been doing it for me for the last thirteen or fourteen years, that’s why I give them to you.  You solve them at no extra cost to my coffers.”  Henry smiled complacently.

In truth, Roydon already had plans for his new holdings, especially for the port.  But the
king liked verbal sparring.  “One of these days, Sire, I am going to say no and mean it,” he smiled to rob the words of malice.

“You can’t, Eagle.  You are my most loyal
Earl; your honour would not permit it.”  Henry gathered himself for the coup.  “Besides look how much you have appreciated carrying out my latest request.”  The king looked pointedly at Roslyn, then back at the earl.  “Changed your mind, Eagle?” he asked innocently raising a brow in query.

Roydon capitulated completely.  “You win,
Sire.  I am content.”

“I’m glad,” the sincerity in
the king’s voice surprised Roydon; Henry did not usually express his feelings.  “You have served me well, Eagle.  I am pleased that you have found some happiness.”  The king’s voice acquired a shrewd undertone.  “Remember it was I that forced you to it.”

“I’ll not forget, sir.  But I have a further favour to ask of you.”

“Ask away.  I am in a good mood,” Henry waved a magnanimous hand.

“Your leave to depart today,
Sire, and the loan of a dozen soldiers to help protect my lady.”

“So soon, Eagle?  I enjoy your visits.  This one has been more entertaining than most.”  The
king looked totally unrepentant for the turmoil through which he had put his vassal.

The earl grimaced.  “I promise to return soon and offer Your Majesty more entertainment.”  Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

Henry ignored him, instead he turned to Roslyn.  “You wish to leave, my lady?”

“I am
anxious to see Eagle Rock, Sire, and meet my stepdaughters…”  The countess paused and glancing meaningly at her husband she rephrased her answer.  “I am eager to meet my new daughters.”

“And what do you think of your husband’s so
n…squire, lady?”  Curiosity marked the king’s voice.

Roslyn narrowed her eyes at Henry and strai
ghtened to her full height, which surpassed the king’s by a few inches.  Every pore oozing pride, the countess smiled regally at Henry.  “My stepson…our
son
, Aguilus, is a good and courageous boy. The condition of his birth has no bearing whatsoever on his status in my lord’s household.  We are proud to call him our son,” she paused, her eyes glittering.  “Our first born son.”

Henry stared in baffled amazement at the countess.  “Good Lord, Eagle.  What have you done to her?”

“She is my wife, Sire.”  Roydon glanced with unconcealed pride at his lady.  “Our thoughts are the same.  Roslyn has accepted all my children as her own.”

“Yes, but
…but.  But you only married yesterday,” Henry spluttered.  Then his eyes narrowed.  “There is something going on that I am not aware of,” he glanced at Roydon’s suddenly blank, expressionless face and a glimmer of interest, of suspicion flickered to life in his eyes.  “This will be something to contemplate until your next visit, Eagle.  I shall look forward to it.”

“There is
nothing to ponder on, Sire. Merely does Gibel society welcome all children, of both spouses, into the family unit.”

In spite of Roydon’s flat
tone of voice Henry saw the spark of alarm in the earl’s eyes.  It would be something to think on, but for now he dropped the subject.  “A bride’s wish must always be granted.  You have my permission to leave, Eagle, but come back soon.”  Henry’s voice hardened slightly in warning, “Do not make me send for you.”

“As you command,
Sire,” the earl inclined his head.  “I will return to court before the end of the summer.  About the soldiers?” he added.

“Take as many as you like,” Henry’s
slate grey eyes twinkled.  “But you provide for them.”

“Of course, my liege.”  Roydon
shook his head this time at his sovereign.  “Anything else would be unthinkable.”

Henry’s smile widened.  “It’s how you govern a kingdom.”

“If Your Majesty will excuse me for a moment, I’ll inform Sir Stefan of our departure so that he can make arrangements.”

The
king nodded his consent.  “I will look after your lady until you return.”

The moment Roydon left, Roslyn stepped closer to the
king.  “I think you respect my husband and have some affection for him, yes?” her voice was deadly serious. 

Henry nodded quickly, his
face mirrored Roslyn’s voice, but he said nothing, just watched the countess intently.

“I w
ill trust you with a confidence because I do not believe that you would hurt him.  He trusts you, so I will trust you too.”

Again the
king nodded solemnly.

“Roydon refused to say anything because he fears to tarnish my reputation, but Aguilus
is
my son in truth.”  Roslyn took a deep breath.  “We met long ago and he knew not who I was.  I left him and only recently did I send him our son.”

Henry’s keen brain quickly analysed the information and he nodded slowly.
  “I knew he hid something,” the king nodded thoughtfully. “He would not marry because he waited for you.  It explains his strange reaction when he saw you in the chapel and his subsequent change of heart regarding the marriage.”

“Do not betray my confidence,
Sire, even to him.  His honour would keep my reputation intact.”  The countess studied the king’s face.  “I tell you so that you do not torture him with the possibility of finding out what it is we hide.  Tell me I have not erred in trusting you.”

“I admire bravery, my lady.  You risk disgrace for your lord’s peace of mind and I shall not betray you.”  Henry smiled at Roslyn.  “You confidence is safe with me.”

The countess nodded regally.  “Although it is true what we said before.  In my country all children are considered equal, irrespective of their status at birth and the eldest son will always inherit from his father.”  Roslyn remained serious, but now a smile lurked in her eyes.  “I thank you, Sire, for noticing that my eyes and those of my husband’s son are a totally different shade…” she urged the king with a total disregard for the truth.

Henry laughed.  “Now that you mention it, my lady, I do believe that to be so.”

“What have I missed?”  Roydon appeared back at Roslyn’s side.

“Nothing, Eagle
.  Your lady was just confirming what you said, that in her country the eldest son, be he born in or out of wedlock, is his father’s heir.  That all children are accepted and cared for by the family,” Henry nodded.  “A pity, I thought there was something going on that I was not privy to.  Now I understand her acceptance of your children as her own.”

“A very enlightened attitude, if I may say so,
Sire,” Roydon commented pointedly as he heaved a sigh of relief.  The king seemed to have no suspicions left.  He smiled at his lady. 

“You have what you wanted, Eagle. 
Leave it at that.”

“
Sire.”  Roydon inclined his head in acquiescence.

“
I like your lady, my lord.  I do believe that she is just as entertaining as you are.  Bring her with you when you return to court and that intrepid son of yours too.”  Henry grinned at the earl’s uncertain look.  “I am really going to enjoy your next visit, Eagle.”  The king turned away.  “Come, join me for a cup of wine before you leave.”