by Aston, Alexa
She wept again but Drake saw a difference in her. The tears Faylinn shed seemed ones of relief. The priest comforted her and then grasped her elbows, having her rise.
He made the Sign of the Cross and said, “Your sins are forgiven, my lady. Take care of yourself and your babe.”
With that, he released her and moved to the door.
“Thank you, Father,” Drake said fervently.
“You are a good man, Sir Drake. Watch out for the lady and her little one.”
“I will,” he vowed and opened the door for the priest to exit.
When he closed it, he faced Faylinn. Color had returned to her face. She regarded him thoughtfully and then came to him. Her hands cupped his face.
“Thank you, Drake,” she said softly and kissed his cheek. Determination filled her eyes. “I am ready to begin our travels once more—and I will see that my son or daughter is raised to be a good person. Kind and considerate toward others and devout in faith.”
“You will be an excellent mother, my lady. Then again, I’ve always known that.”
Chapter Nineteen
Faylinn couldn’t believe the magnificence of Stanbury. She had thought Mallowbourne an estate of some esteem but her home paled in comparison to Lord Garrett’s estate. Even Drake seemed spellbound by the imposing structure, having stopped Starlight as they paused and studied their destination from afar.
After having received absolution from Father Morrow, the rest of their trip had been uneventful. Once they’d reached Sussex, they’d asked for directions to Stanbury, knowing it would be easy to find Ashby’s home once they’d reached Lord Garrett’s estate. They’d stopped three times and each time, those they asked knew of the great castle and its earl. They found the property with ease.
Daylight was fading fast now. Knowing they had another day’s travel ahead of them, Faylinn asked, “Should we ask to stay at Stanbury tonight? Ashby is very fond of Lord Garrett and Lady Madeleine and their children. I’m sure we could seek refuge with them.”
“I believe they would want to meet you.”
With that, he spurred Starlight on. As they came down the lane toward the grand edifice, she watched as the gates closed ahead of them in the distance. Drake must have seen the same thing for he commented that the last of the workers must have entered and would soon be dining in the great hall for the evening meal.
They approached the gates and he brought Starlight to a halt.
“Who’s there?” asked the gatekeeper, gazing down upon them.
“I am Sir Drake Harcourt and I bring with me Lady Faylinn fitz Waryn d’Albert, sister to Sir Ashby fitz Waryn. We seek shelter for the night before we travel to Newbury Manor tomorrow.”
“You don’t say! Sir Ashby’s sister, is it?” the man said, a broad smile appearing. “Welcome to Stanbury, my lady. My lord.”
The gates began to open and Drake guided Starlight through them as the man shouted to a young boy of about seven.
“Go to the keep and tell the earl and countess of Lady Faylinn’s arrival.”
The boy took off running on chubby legs, shouting, “Lady Faylinn is here. Sir Ashby’s sister, Lady Faylinn, has arrived.”
As the gates closed behind them, the gatekeeper added, “Sir Ashby is a great favorite at Stanbury. You will be warmly welcomed by all, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she called up.
Drake cantered through the outer bailey as many people called out greetings to them, thanks to the boy announcing their arrival. Everyone from the blacksmith to the atilliator waved, several shouting to her how beloved Sir Ashby was and how he was missed. It warmed Faylinn’s heart to hear the respect her brother commanded and she thought it must have been difficult for him to leave Stanbury after spending more than a score on the property.
They entered the inner bailey and Drake said, “I will take you to the keep and then find the stables.”
She didn’t like the idea of being left alone but refrained from voicing her misgivings.
As they approached the keep, a young girl of about ten cried out in glee and raced down the stone steps to meet them. A handsome, dark-haired man and breathtakingly beautiful blond woman followed. The woman was heavy with child. She knew from Ashby’s missives that this must be the earl and countess for Ashby had revealed Lady Madeleine was to give birth in early June.
The girl reached the foot of the steps as they arrived and she waved.
“You are Ashby’s sister! You look just like him except you are a girl. You have his golden hair and good looks.”
“They haven’t even gotten off their horse, Lyssa,” the earl said, laughter in his voice, as he and his wife joined the young girl. “Tame your enthusiasm.”
“And it’s always polite to introduce yourself,” the countess reminded.
“I’m sorry, Madeleine.” The girl looked up at them. “I’m Lady Lyssa Stanbridge.” She bobbed a quick curtsey. “These are my parents, Lord and Lady Montayne.”
Drake swung from Starlight’s back and lifted Faylinn from the saddle. She faced the trio.
“I am Lady Faylinn fitz Waryn d’Albert of Mallowbourne. This is my escort, Sir Drake Harcourt.”
Lady Madeleine embraced Faylinn, surprising her. The earl did the same.
“We feel you are family,” Lord Garrett said. “Ashby is as a brother to Madeleine and me and an uncle to Lyssa and Cynric.” He offered his hand to Drake and the two men shook.
“You do know he resides at Newbury Manor now?” Lady Madeleine asked.
“Yes, his last missive told me of his good fortune—but not how he acquired it.”
Lord Garrett burst out laughing. “Good old Ash. Some things never change. Come inside. We were about to gather for the evening meal.” He turned to his wife. “Sweetheart, why don’t we dine in the solar with our guests? It will be easier to converse that way.”
The countess had already slipped her arm through Faylinn’s. “That’s a lovely idea, Garrett.”
“Father, may I take Sir Drake’s horse to the stables?”
The earl looked to Drake. “Do you mind, Sir Drake? Lyssa is horse mad, in part thanks to Ashby’s doing. She will make sure your mount is cared for properly.”
He handed the girl the reins. “This is Starlight. He is very friendly and if you’ve a mind to spoil him, he would appreciate an apple.”
She held the reins in one hand and stroked the horse’s muzzle with her other. “He’s a beauty. I like the star between his ears. I’ll bet that’s why you named him Starlight.”
“You are wise for your age, Lady Lyssa,” Drake complimented and the girl grinned as she led the mount away.
Lord Garrett took his wife’s other arm as she turned to Faylinn. “It’s easier to go down these steps than up them,” and the three began climbing, Drake following close behind them.
“Ashby said your babe is to come in early June,” Faylinn commented.
“Yes. Lyssa is terribly excited about it. She has been a good helper to me with Cynric, our son. He is three. Lyssa hopes for a girl this time but both Garrett and I think it will be another boy.”
A servant waited at the top of the stairs and the countess told her to have their meal sent to the solar, as well as preparing bedchambers for both Lady Faylinn and Sir Drake.
They went inside the keep and veered toward the steps to go upstairs, taking their time since the countess moved slowly. Faylinn wondered what it would be like when she was that far along and how her body would change over the coming months until it resembled Lady Madeleine’s.
Once they reached the solar, hot water arrived, as if they’d been expected. As she and Drake washed the dust of the road from their faces and hands, Lady Madeleine promised them both baths after they ate.
“That sounds wonderful,” she told her hostess. “To sink into a tub of hot water would be a gift.”
As the two men spoke, the countess said quietly, “I noticed you bring nothing with you but a satchel. Are you in trouble?”
Lady Madeleine embraced her and then looking directly into Faylinn’s eyes said, “Garrett told you Ashby is family to us. That means you are, as well. We will help you in any way we can and get you to him and Marielle safely.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Servants bustled in with trays laden with food.
“There’s so much, it looks like a feast,” Faylinn proclaimed and then grinned. “Of course, knowledge of Sir Drake’s appetite may have preceded us here.”
Everyone laughed and they took seats around a large oak table. Lady Madeleine poured wine for everyone and she led the conversation, talking about her family and Ashby. Faylinn appreciate being given time to recover from the strong emotions that had struck her.
“Have you met Marielle?” she asked the couple.
The earl and countess gave each other a long look and Lord Garrett said, “You truly know nothing of Ashby’s good fortune?”
“No. I received a missive from him before I left Mallowbourne. He told me how happy he was, being in love and having his own estate. He refused to tell me how it came to pass, only that a cardinal bestowed it upon him.” She smiled. “He hoped to entice me to come and visit them so that I might hear the whole story from his lips.”
“That sounds like Ash,” Lord Garrett said. “I will not ruin any surprises by telling you how Newbury Manor came to be in his possession. It’s his tale to tell—not mine.”
The earl took a sip of his wine and continued. “Madeleine and I have both met Marielle, however. We spent time with her in France and attended their wedding.”
“I didn’t know you had gone to Bordeaux, as well. Ashby only wrote to me that you had sent him there on business and that he’d learned quite a bit about grapes.”
The countess smiled. “We took Lyssa and Cynric with us. My parents live in Bordeaux and I had not seen them for many years. It was wonderful introducing them to their grandchildren. As far as Marielle goes, she is a perfect fit for our Ashby. I have never seen him happier. He is madly in love with his wife.”
Her husband took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing an ardent kiss upon her knuckles. “Ash is not the only one in love with his wife.”
Faylinn could feel the strong emotion between the couple and wistfully wished that could be her and Drake. She avoided meeting the knight’s gaze, though she felt it upon her.
Lady Madeleine said, “Ashby will be happy that you’ve come so far to visit them. He is proud of Newbury Manor but he will be happier to show off Marielle to you.”
“I know she is with child,” Faylinn said. “He has written of how fond he is of your children. I know he will make a wonderful father.”
They finished off the meal with a hard cheese and some figs. By the end, she was so full she didn’t think she’d be able to eat a thing come tomorrow.
“Everything was delicious, Lady Madeleine,” Drake told their hostess.
“I am glad you enjoyed the meal, Sir Drake.” She paused. “Shall we move to more comfortable seats? I believe we have important matters to discuss.”
They crossed the room and took seats gathered around the fire. No one spoke for a moment and Faylinn knew it was up to her to begin the conversation.
“I have come to see my brother under unusual circumstances,” she began. “You see, I have recently been widowed.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” Lord Garrett said, sympathy reflected in his eyes. “I know your husband was quite a bit older than you.”
“Yes, by more than three decades.”
“Will you make your home with Ashby now?” Lady Madeleine asked.
“I might.” She hesitated a moment and then said, “I am with child.”
The countess beamed. “How marvelous! When will your babe come?”
“In late October. I’m sure you understand that it leaves things up in the air now. If it is a boy, he will be Baron of Gaynesford and I would raise him at Mallowbourne. A girl would allow me to remain with Ashby and Marielle, if they will have me.”
“Of course, they would,” Lord Garrett said with enthusiasm. “Either way, you will be blessed with a sweet bundle of joy. My children are my world. Your babe will become the same to you.”
Faylinn glanced to Drake, wondering how much she should share. He nodded encouragingly.
“Lady Madeleine noticed I came with nothing but the clothes on my back. The reason for this is hard to speak of.”
The countess reached for Faylinn’s hand and squeezed it. “Tell us what you can. I promise we will not pry about the rest.”
“I will tell Ashby and Marielle everything and I feel comfortably sharing with you, as well.” She hesitated, unsure how to find the words to speak of such horrors.
Drake took the lead. “We left Mallowbourne because Lady Faylinn was in danger. Her stepdaughter tried to kill her,” he said bluntly.
Lord Garrett scowled. His wife gasped.
“Lady Sabelina is the daughter of Lord Amaury’s second wife. She is spoiled beyond belief. I fear she is tinged with madness. When she learned Lady Faylinn carried a child, she shoved her down the stairs, hoping the baroness would lose the babe—and her own life. She even kicked Lady Faylinn in the head.”
Faylinn saw Lord Garrett had a thousand questions but his wife had taken his hand and shook her head gently. He remained quiet.
“Sir Drake found me on his rounds and helped nursed me back to health. His mother was a great healer and he has a vast knowledge of herbs.”
“Lady Faylinn pretended to have no recollection of how she fell,” Drake continued. “The large knot on her head where Lady Sabelina viciously kicked her was thought to have occurred during the fall. Lady Sabelina began spreading falsehoods that her stepmother was going mad after Lord Amaury’s death and that she’d tried to kill herself.”
“That’s outrageous!” declared Lord Garrett.
“It gets far worse,” she admitted. “My stepdaughter stole the missive that I’d written to the king and told me she would write to Edward herself, revealing her father’s death—and mine.”
“What?” Lady Madeleine asked, anger sparking in her eyes.
“She told me Mallowbourne was hers and that she was destined to become its next baroness. That when the king knew of my and Amaury’s deaths and that there was no heir, Edward would send a new man to become Baron of Gaynesford—and her husband.”
“She truly is insane,” the earl said.
“And an incredible liar,” Drake added. “She told Lady Faylinn that the babe wasn’t Lord Amaury’s—but mine. She wanted to discredit the both of us. Worse, she put pennyroyal into Lady Faylinn’s wine, trying to cause her to lose the babe. At that point, the choice was made. Lady Faylinn needed to flee Mallowbourne and get word to the king of the true circumstances.”
“I cannot imagine such cruelty and wickedness,” Lady Madeleine said, shivering. “You are fortunate you did not lose your babe.”
“Did you see any sign of a search party sent out to find you?” the earl asked. “If this Sabelina took charge, she very well may have sent soldiers after you.”
“I led her to believe that I would return to my childhood home in Essex, where my brother, Lord Ashland, resides. If any men were sent after us, Sabelina would have instructed them to go to Ashland. They would find nothing there and know not where to go since Ashland and I lost touch years ago.”
A thought suddenly occurred to Faylinn. She’d been in such a rush to leave Mallowbourne that she hadn’t thought to take Ashby’s missives with her. If her stepdaughter had invaded Faylinn’s privacy and searched the solar, she would have found the cask with all of Ashby’s notes. Thankfully, Faylinn always placed the most current missive on the bottom of the stack she kept. If Sabelina did discover the letters and began reading them, she would easily tire. Hopefully, she would never make her way through them all—for not only would the mis
sives show how close Faylinn and Ashby were—but it would reveal her brother’s invitation to come to Newbury Manor.
Faylinn prayed she and her babe would remain safe from Sabelina’s machinations.
Chapter Twenty
Drake escorted Faylinn to the Stanbury chapel for mass and then, afterward, they went to the great hall to break their fast. As they sat on the dais with Lord Garrett and Lady Madeleine, a loud shriek occurred. He turned and saw a small boy running from a servant who chased him.
“You can’t catch me, Annie!” the boy squealed and ran to the dais, climbing onto it and rushing to the earl.
Lord Garrett scooped him up. “I’ve got him, Annie. Go and break your own fast. I’ll keep him from mischief for a few minutes.”
He placed the boy on his knee. “Cynric, this is Sir Drake. Sir Drake, my son, Cynric. Frequently referred to as Trouble.”
Drake laughed. “A pleasure to meet you, Lord Cynric.”
The boy suddenly turned shy, burying his face against his father’s chest. Drake caught Faylinn watching the boy and saw the wistful smile on her lips.
Then Cynric wriggled away and went to his mother. Lady Madeleine allowed him to climb onto her lap.
“Cynric, this is Lady Faylinn. She is Ashby’s sister.”
Drake saw the boy’s eyes light up. “Ashby! Ashby! I love Ashby.”
Lady Madeleine tousled her son’s hair. “And Ashby loves you, too.”
As the women continued to talk about the boy, Drake leaned close to the earl and said, “I would like a private word with you, my lord, before Lady Faylinn and I leave for Newbury Manor today.”
“Very well.” He turned to the ladies. “I will have an escort party assembled now to take you to Newbury Manor, Lady Faylinn. I would like to go as well, my love. Is that all right with you?”
“Of course. I’m sure you’ll give Ashby and Marielle my love.” She glanced to her lap. “Would you consider—”
“I will not be taking Cynric. He’s yours to manage while I’m gone,” the earl said, laughter bubbling from him.