“I didn’t want to embarrass the baron. I thought it was the proper thing to do.”
“Was it really that? Or were you doubting yourself again? Did you think your fall would make Lady Philippa care about you more?”
“Non, it was nothing like that. I told you, I didn’t think it was best for me to win the joust, considering the situation. I didn’t do it to win Pippa’s sympathy if that is what you are insinuating.”
“Please reconsider, Étienne.”
“I have made up my mind. I will find the pages and tell them to load my trunk on a cart. Then I will go to the docks and wait for the next ship back to France. Goodbye, my friend. I will forever be grateful for everything you have done for me.”
Étienne left the room, making it to the great hall but stopping when he heard something from within.
“You are a milksop and nothing more,” came Wilbur’s voice.
“Aye, he is,” said one of Wilbur’s friends.
“His own father doesn’t want him because he is so embarrassed by this weakling.” Wilbur taunted him, and then threw ale in Franklin’s face.
Franklin cowered in the corner with Wilbur and three of his friends teasing, taunting, and kicking him.
“That’s enough!” shouted Étienne, storming into the room. “Get away from the boy anon.”
“Oh, look, it’s the liar who says he is a monk just to be able to get into Lady Philippa’s bed.” Wilbur laughed and so did his friends.
Étienne’s hand shot out and closed around Wilbur’s throat. As he squeezed, the boy’s eyes grew wide with fear. His hands went to his throat and he started choking, but he was no match for the strength of a full-grown man.
“Do you realize that all I have to do is squeeze a little harder and I can snap your neck in half right where you stand?”
“L-let me go,” the boy choked out. His friends turned and ran, leaving him there alone.
“Promise me you will never tease, taunt, or touch Frank again, and I’ll release you.”
“I p-promise,” stuttered the boy, gasping for breath.
“All right then.” He released Wilbur who fell to the ground, rubbing his neck and trying to catch his breath.
“I’ll tell the baron about this,” threatened Wilbur.
“Go ahead. And be sure not to leave out that you and your friends were teasing and kicking his son. Because if you forget to mention it, I certainly will.”
Wilbur ran off, frightened by Étienne. Étienne reached down and helped Franklin to his feet.
“Why didn’t you stand up for yourself, the way you did when you gave Wilbur a black eye?” asked Étienne.
“There were too many of them,” Franklin whimpered.
“When you are a squire, you will have to follow your liege lord into battle someday. There is always going to be more than one man attacking you at a time. You need to be brave and confident and fight for your life.”
“I cannot do it without you, Étienne.”
“Of course you can. That is nonsense.”
“You are leaving us. My father is marrying Lady Martha and he will send my sister to France once her betrothed arrives.”
“You don’t need me.”
“I do. So does Pippa. Lord Étienne, why are you abandoning us?” Franklin’s eyes held so much despair that all the life Étienne had seen in the boy in the past week or so had disappeared. He once again seemed frightened, weak and fragile.
“Is that what you think? That I am abandoning you?”
The boy nodded slowly. “I thought you liked my sister.”
“I do.”
“Then why don’t you marry her?”
“It’s not that easy, Frank.” Étienne put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “For one, I don’t think your sister cares for me anymore. Also, your father has betrothed her to my brother.”
“Don’t leave us, Étienne. I know Pippa really likes you and I don’t want her married to anyone but you. She is so distraught right now that father said he is canceling her St. Valentine’s Day dance. I heard my sister telling her maidservant she was planning on leaving here as well.”
“What? Non, she can’t do that. This is her home. Where will she go?”
“I don’t know but I only hope she takes me with her. I don’t want to live here anymore if Wilbur is going to be my father’s new son.”
Étienne realized how terribly wrong things were going. Not only for himself but for Frank and Pippa as well, and it was all his fault. He felt horrible about leaving. Both Pippa and Franklin were in the middle of some hard situations and they needed him here to help them through it. He wished he’d had someone to help him through the tough times in his life as well. As much as he wanted to stay, he couldn’t stop thinking about his vision that his father had died. He really needed to get back to France to find out if it was true. “Where is your father?” Étienne asked the boy. “I need to speak with him anon.”
Chapter 16
Pippa awoke on St. Valentine’s Day morning to the strong scent of sage in her room. She sniffed, then sat up, noticing the sage pinned on the four corners of her pillow.
“My lady, you’re awake!” Marie stood staring out the open window. “I just saw a dove. You know what that means.”
“Nay.” Pippa rubbed her eyes and tried to wake up.
Marie hurried over to the bed smiling. “It means I will have a happy marriage. Come to the window and take a look. Remember, if you see a robin it means you will marry a seaman, a goldfinch means your husband will be rich, and a woodpecker means you will not marry at all.”
“Well, I am certain to see a woodpecker then, because I have no intention of marrying anymore. I have decided being married is not for me.”
“Don’t be silly.” Marie walked over and pulled the bedcovers off of Pippa. “Every woman wants to marry. Plus, I pinned the sage on your pillow last night so you could dream of the man you will marry. Did you have any dreams?”
Pippa had been dreaming about Étienne all night, but she didn’t want to admit it. Besides, it didn’t mean a thing. Her father had ordered Étienne to leave the castle. A servant told her that Étienne had been packing his trunk yesterday, so she was sure he was gone by now.
“Come to the window and look out,” Marie pleaded. “You know it is said the first man you see on the morning of St. Valentine’s Day is the man you are going to marry.”
“I told you, I don’t want to marry anyone. Now close the shutter.”
“But my lady –”
“Never mind, I will do it myself.” Pippa walked over to close the shutter and happened to notice someone walking through the courtyard with something in his arms. She looked harder and realized it was Étienne carrying a trunk to a cart. At first, she thought it was his trunk and that he was leaving. Then she realized she was wrong. She watched as he helped Lady Martha into the cart. Wilbur got in beside her. Then the driver took them away and Étienne turned back to the keep.
He looked up, almost like he knew she was watching. She jumped back and slammed the shutter.
“What is it my lady?” asked Marie, placing one of Pippa’s best gowns on the already made up bed. “Did you, perhaps, see a raven and did it frighten you?”
“Nay.” She still stood with her back against the wall, clutching her night rail to her neck. “Marie, I just saw Étienne in the courtyard.”
“That’s wonderful!” said Marie, smiling from ear to ear. “Then he is the man you will marry.”
“I don’t know about that.” Pippa headed over to the bed. “He loaded a trunk into a cart and then Lady Martha and Wilbur got in and the driver headed over the drawbridge.”
“Perhaps they are going to church or to town.”
“I don’t think so. My father wasn’t with them. Since this is the day they are supposed to marry and, with everyone scheduled to arrive soon, I think that is highly unlikely.”
“I wonder where they could have been going,” said Marie, reaching out to help Pipp
a dress.
“Pippa, open the door,” shouted Franklin, banging on the door so loud she was sure it would wake anyone who was still sleeping. “Hurry, I have something to tell you.”
“Franklin.” Pippa ran to the door and opened it, wondering what her brother wanted. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Nay, just the opposite,” said her brother. “Father sent me to tell you to hurry and dress for the dance so you can greet your guests that will be arriving soon.”
“The dance?” she asked in confusion. “Father cancelled that. He is supposed to be marrying Lady Martha today instead.”
“Nay, not anymore.” The boy shook his head. “Father decided he wasn’t going to marry Lady Martha and that he didn’t want Wilbur to be his heir. He sent them away. He also told me that I will someday be his heir and he is personally going to start training me to be a squire.”
“He did?” This was music to Pippa’s ears. “Oh, Franklin,” she said, pulling her brother into her embrace and giving him a big hug. “I am so happy. I wonder what made him change his mind.”
“It was Lord Étienne,” he told her.
“It was?” She released her brother and looked into his eyes. “What did he do now?”
“I don’t know exactly, but he and Father stayed up late talking and drinking ale together. Just the two of them. And this morning, everything is better. Can you believe it?”
“I am not sure what to think.” Part of Pippa felt excited that Étienne hadn’t left after all. However, she still had concerns about him and felt that he had deceived her.
“Hurry, and come down to the great hall. You’ll be surprised.”
“I will? Why?”
“Just come and you will see.” Franklin was so excited that he started jumping up and down.
“All right,” she said with a giggle, enjoying the fact that her brother was so happy. “I will meet you there as soon as I dress.” She closed the door with a million thoughts mulling around in her head.
“Oh, my lady, it is wonderful news about the dance,” said Marie, holding out a gown. “I am sure you are pleased that your father won’t be marrying Lady Martha after all.”
“Aye,” she said in deep thought. “Marie get me my burgundy gown with the gold lace. And bring me my mother’s thick, gold neckpiece with the lion’s head on the front.”
“My lady?” questioned Marie. “Those are your special clothes and jewelry. You haven’t worn them in years.”
“That’s right. I haven’t worn them because I haven’t had the need. I will wear them today because I need to look extra special when I attend the St. Valentine’s Day dance. It is important I look my best when meeting with Étienne once again.”
Chapter 17
Pippa headed down to the great hall, stopping at the bottom of the stairs to see that guests were already arriving for the celebration. Her father was greeting them all. He even greeted the villagers with a smile on his face, sending them directly into the great hall. The room was already becoming crowded.
“My lady, there is Auden,” said Marie, stretching her neck to see him.
Pippa looked up to see Auden approaching, smiling and nodding at Marie. He headed over to greet them.
“Good morning, Lady Philippa. Hello, Marie.” Auden kissed the backs of both of their hands. Marie blushed and whispered to him that it wasn’t proper since she was not a noble. Today, Pippa didn’t care. She would let Marie feel like a noble as well. The woman was in love and that is all that mattered.
“Auden, I am so glad you made it to the St. Valentine’s Day dance,” said Pippa, talking to him but secretly scanning the crowd, looking for Étienne.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Auden dug something out of his pocket and got down on one knee. Then he took Marie’s hand in his. “I want to do this now before you are paired up with any other man at the gathering.”
Pippa looked down and gasped. Auden held out a ring to Marie.
“Will you marry me and become my wife, Marie?” asked Auden.
“I will,” she all but screamed, being so happy. Auden put the ring on her finger and stood up. Pulling her close in his arms, he gave her a hug and a kiss.
“So your matchmaking skills came in handy once again, did they?” Her father watched from a distance. Pippa wasn’t sure if he was angry with her or not until he winked and smiled and turned back to greeting the guests.
“Philippa, in here,” called out her brother, rushing out and grabbing her by the arm. He continued to pull her along with him into the great hall.
“What is your rush, Brother? Slow down,” she told him, laughing. “I don’t want to trip on my gown.”
“I am excited to show you how Étienne and I decorated the hall for the dance.”
Pippa entered the room, the sight of it making her mouth fall open. Taking a moment to drink in the beauty of her surroundings, she looked up at the ceiling and then all the way down to the floor.
There were dozens of carved gourds and turnips placed on the trestle tables, trailing all the way up to the dais. In each of them was a burning, scented, beeswax candle. The aroma of the room smelled sweet and spicy all at the same time. As she stepped forward, she noticed the fresh rushes on the floor. With each step, rosemary and lavender drifted up into the air.
Each table was covered by long, white cloths, and topped off with small red and pink hearts scattered over the tables. There was a table at the far end of the hall filled with sweetmeats, marzipan cakes, heart-shaped tarts filled with strawberry compote, and also custards and puddings. Bright colored ribbons of red, white and pink were woven together and hung from the iron candleholders that gently swung by chains from the ceiling. There was a large bowl on one table that held all the yarrow sprigs that she and Étienne had collected. There were even tall arches woven together from branches that were draped with lacey fabric, making several private lovers’ niches. They were also decorated with greenery that climbed up one side and trailed down the other. They were some of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
“This is amazing,” she mumbled, not able to believe her eyes. She had thought her plans were canceled, but this looked just as good or even better than what she had planned.
“Do you like it, Pippa?” Étienne walked up holding a large wooden bowl in his hands. The bowl held the fabric hearts with the names of all the guests sewn on them that she and the ladies of the castle had been preparing for the celebration.
“I do,” she said. “But tell me, why are you here? I thought my father sent you away.”
“You must be mistaken, ma chère,” he answered with a grin. “I believe that would be Lady Martha and Wilbur he sent away.”
“Then he really isn’t going to marry Lady Martha?”
“I’m not,” said her father, coming up behind her. “After a long talk with Lord Étienne last night, I realized a few things that needed to be changed. Lady Martha was poisoning my mind, making me think my own son was worthless when it is not true at all. I almost made a huge mistake by taking Wilbur under my wing when all along he was treating my son in a way that I didn’t approve of. I’m sad to say that I was, too.”
“Oh, Father, I am so happy that you will not be marrying Lady Martha.”
“Me, too,” said Franklin, coming to join them, holding a sword in his hand. He stood straighter than usual and held his chin high as if he were confident and strong. “Father, I have polished your sword so you will look your best while greeting the guests for the St. Valentine’s Day gathering.”
“Thank you, squire-in-training,” said the baron, fastening his sword to his weapon belt. “Franklin, we have guests to greet. I am counting on you to help me.”
“Aye, Father. I will be at your side every minute of the day and night.” They headed back to the entrance, father and son side by side, and started to converse with the new arrivals.
“Lord Étienne,” said Brother Paul, rushing from the kitchen. “The cook says the
pheasant and the quail eggs are getting cold. Can she start serving them to the guests?”
“Oui, but tell her not to bring out the venison or stuffed swan yet. Not until the baron is seated.”
“Aye, my lord.” The monk hurried back to the kitchen.
“Oh, and have the steward instruct the musicians to start playing some music,” Étienne called out to him. “We need music.”
“Aye, my lord,” came Brother Paul’s muffled reply.
“Étienne, why are you helping me with the dance?” Pippa asked him, being curious.
“It is the least I can do after the trouble I’ve caused you.”
“Thank you for talking with Father.” Pippa felt her anger toward him melting away. She wasn’t upset with her father anymore either. “I think my father actually seems much happier without Lady Martha. Plus, I have never seen Franklin stand so tall with his head held so high.”
“Pick a heart, my lady.” Étienne held out the bowl to her. “As you well know, the red hearts have the men’s names on them and the pink have the ladies.”
Knowing that whoever’s name she chose would be the person she would have to spend the entire dance with, she was hesitant to choose. “Perhaps later,” she answered. “Let the guests go before me.”
“Allow me to choose for you, as well as a heart for myself,” he offered. Without reaching into the bowl, he held out his closed fist. When he turned his hand over and opened his fingers, she spied a red and a pink heart resting on his palm. When she looked closer, she realized one heart had her name on it and another had his.
“I’ll choose this one,” she said with a smile, plucking the red heart with his name sewn on it out of his hand. “However, something tells me that was planned.”
“Oui, it was, I admit it,” he answered. “I should have made plans a long time ago.”
“Marie, take this bowl and pass out hearts to the guests,” called out Pippa.
“Aye, my lady,” Marie answered, coming to her side.
“I will help her.” Auden took the bowl from Étienne and he and Marie walked over to greet the guests.
Heroes of Honor: Historical Romance Collection Page 12