Knights of Honor Books 1-10: A Medieval Romance Series Bundle

by Alexa Aston

  “I wanted to do something special for Michael to welcome him upon his arrival. Sir Thirkell, one of the knights at Sandbourne, helped me to acquire a horse as dark as midnight and of a good pedigree. Michael had never been fond of horses, but I knew, since he trained to be a knight, that he would need a good steed.”

  Her words surprised Elysande. Michael didn’t like horses? She thought of how he helped her deliver not one, but two foals and how gentle he’d been with them.

  “Sir Thirkell and I were in the stables that day, brushing Tempest and feeding him bits of carrot. I didn’t know Michael had arrived.” Her mouth turned downward. “Suddenly, my husband was there, accusing me, once again, of being unfaithful to him.”

  Sister Shiloh closed her eyes. Elysande saw she trembled.

  “He struck Sir Thirkell down in a jealous rage. He killed him,” she whispered. The nun opened her eyes. “He began to beat on me. Kick me. And Michael witnessed all of this.”

  Elysande’s heart broke. She couldn’t imagine Michael seeing his mother abused in such a horrible way.

  “Michael tried to pull my husband off me to no avail. Then he told Michael that he would never see me again. That I would be sent to a nunnery to spend the rest of my days.” Sister Shiloh’s eyes met hers. “Frankly, I found his words a blessed relief. With Michael away, I had no reason to be at Sandbourne. No reason to live. My husband thought locking me away in a convent would be a terrible punishment—but to me, it was an escape from his brutality.”

  She came and sat next to Elysande again and took her hands. “Michael stood up to Sandbourne that day. He told him he’d no longer think of him as his father. My boy promised not to set foot on Sandbourne lands again until the earl’s death. He jumped on Tempest and rode off without another word.”

  The nun smiled at the memory. “Mayhap he had learned to like horses at Sir Lovel’s, for he certainly looked sure and brave as he galloped away that day.”

  Elysande heard the pride in the woman’s voice.

  Sister Shiloh sighed. “That is my tale, my lady. I have been at the Convent of the Blessed Sisters ever since. But please, I beg you. Tell me of my son.”

  Elysande smiled. “He’s grown to be quite tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. He’s very handsome with dark, thick hair and eyes much like yours, a piercing blue that can see into a person’s soul.”

  She saw a happy look cross Sister Shiloh’s face and continued. “He attained his knighthood and continued in service to Sir Lovel until recently when he came to Kinwick, my uncle’s estate. Michael said he’d been a page when Uncle Geoffrey and his cousin, Raynor, served as squires to Sir Lovel. Michael told me how those two were very kind to him and helped teach him what he needed to know.”

  “I’m glad he was taken care of by those older boys. But tell me how you met Michael. Was it at your uncle’s home?”

  “Nay. I was to be married. Uncle Geoffrey brought his wife, Merryn, and their children to Hopeston, my stepfather’s estate. Michael was one of the knights that accompanied them to the wedding.”

  Elysande explained how Michael had helped her deliver Morningstar’s foal. Of the hours they’d spent together, neither knowing who the other one was. How they fell in love during that single day. She explained that Lord Ingram had wanted to step in and become her new bridegroom upon his son’s death and how her mother had refused. Instead, she’d gone home with Geoffrey and Merryn.

  “During my time at my uncle’s, I came to know Michael well. You’d be so proud of him. He is brave and considerate to all. A very honorable man. We pledged our love to one another. Uncle Geoffrey wrote the king to let him know he served as my protector from Lord Ingram and how my uncle would be pleased if the king would allow one of his knights to marry me.”

  She sighed. “Then everything happened so quickly. Michael received word of his father’s—your husband’s—impending death. He left with a promise that he’d return for me once he became the new earl. We had high hopes that King Edward would grant Uncle Geoffrey’s request and allow us to marry since the king is very fond of my uncle.”

  “But you found out he was betrothed,” Sister Shiloh said, her eyes misting over.

  Elysande’s heart grew heavy as she continued her story. “Aye. He’d been gone only one day when a missive came. The king wrote that he would have acquiesced to my uncle’s request, but his royal advisers informed him that Michael was already betrothed. He would marry when he reached Sandbourne. King Edward requested that my sister and I come to court in the autumn when Uncle Geoffrey brought his daughter, Alys, back. Alys is in service to Queen Philippa.”

  “I’m so sorry, my lady,” Sister Shiloh told her. “Michael was betrothed when he was very young. ’Twas the day before he departed for Sir Lovel’s. I’m sure he hadn’t a clue what went on. He was so eager to escape his father and go out into the world and make friends.”

  “I understand that now. But I was truly hurt when we received the news. And the next day is when I was taken hostage by men sent from Lord Ingram. You know the rest. How I escaped. How I killed one of the soldiers in the process.”

  Elysande stood, shaking off her gloom. “That’s the reason why I must shelter myself away from the world and atone for my mortal sins.” She looked to Michael’s mother. “Will you help me in this quest?”

  The nun stood and embraced her. “While I wish you could have been my daughter-in-law, I will do everything in my power to help make you a sister to me in Christ. Come. Let us go to morning mass and break our fast. Then I will take you to meet our abbess.”

  Chapter 23

  They rode carefully, leaving the main road often to hunt for Elysande in the woods. Michael believed her intelligence would keep her off the road to avoid strangers who could turn out to be highwayman—or worse.

  After two hours, they came across the Convent of the Blessed Sisters. Geoffrey said they’d stopped at the nunnery previously to ask about any travelers that might have taken shelter within the convent’s walls. The nun at the gate said none had visited for over two weeks, but that had been a couple of days ago.

  “I suggest we call again on the good sisters. If they have no news for us, then we can pay them for some fresh bread and continue on our way.”

  Michael nodded in agreement. They turned their horses and made for the convent.

  When they arrived, he and Geoffrey left their horses with the men and approached the gate. When they inquired if the convent had harbored visitors in the past few days, the thin nun who’d answered their knock informed them they’d played host to several travelers.

  Michael asked, “Might we speak with your abbess then regarding these travelers?”

  “Of course, my lord. I can take you to her now if you wish.”

  She led them across the yard and into the convent. The dark hall they entered was a stark contrast to the strong sunshine they’d left behind. As his eyes began to adjust, Michael soaked up the air of heavy silence that blanketed the place.

  The nun set a rapid pace. He and Geoffrey followed her through a maze of halls and up a staircase, passing other nuns along the way who kept their eyes downcast. Michael wondered which convent his mother might have been sent to and what her life had been like since they last saw one another. Once he had Elysande safely in hand, he would turn his attention to locating her. He would start by questioning Houdart. His father’s steward knew everything that occurred at Sandbourne. The man would be a valuable asset in running the estate, but Michael hoped the steward would be able to reveal where his mother had been sent those many years ago.

  They arrived at a door that was ajar. The nun pushed it fully open and ushered them inside a small antechamber.

  “You may wait here for Mother.” She indicated an oak door on the other side of the room. “Do not knock on it under any circumstances. Mother may be in prayer or about business. Only when she opens it will she be willing to receive you.”

  They thanked her for her time. Then Ge
offrey asked her if the nuns would be willing to sell any freshly-baked bread to the soldiers that accompanied them.

  “Aye, my lord. I’ll go to our kitchen and see to it now. May God be with you.” She bowed her head and departed the way they had come.

  The two men sat in silence. Michael said a swift prayer, asking the Blessed Christ, once more, for help in finding Elysande. Then he pushed aside all other thoughts, for they’d only make him worry about her safety.

  He heard muted voices and then watched as the door swung open. An older nun with a wrinkled face but a kind smile stood in the doorway. He supposed this was the convent’s abbess. Her dress appeared slightly different from the other nuns they had passed in the hallways and she wore a heavy, ornate cross around her neck.

  “May the Lord be with you,” she said as a woman walked past her.

  Shock resonated within him as he recognized her. “Elysande?”

  She turned. Her smile lit up the bare room. Her clothing was heavily soiled and she had scratches across her face and hands. He supposed they came from running through the woods as she escaped from her captors.

  “Michael!” she cried joyfully.

  He leapt to his feet and took a step toward her—then froze.

  Another nun followed closely behind her. She looked at him with eyes of crystal blue. Eyes that he could never forget, no matter how much time had passed.

  The color drained from the nun’s face. “Michael?” she asked softly.

  He couldn’t speak. A thousand emotions rippled through him. He closed the small space between them and wordlessly wrapped his arms around her. Tears swam in his eyes. Pulling away slightly to look into her eyes, a fresh wave of raw emotion surged through him. More than anything, Michael relished the love running through him and hoped she knew how much he did love her.

  Elysande!

  Michael finally relaxed his hold and parted from his mother. Elysande stood nearby, watching him with a pleased look on her face.

  “Elysande,” he murmured as he held out his arms to her. She stepped into them, wrapping hers tightly around his waist. Michael embraced her, his hands running up and down her back, touching her, making sure it was truly her.

  Then he kissed her. Once. Twice. Three times. Each one hard and fast, as if he must get in all the kisses they’d missed.

  “Oh, my love, I was so worried about you,” she said.

  “You worried about me? I was frantic when I received the news that you’d been taken. I rode out the minute I heard.” He cupped her face tenderly. “And you escaped. My brave, strong, beautiful Elysande.” He brought his mouth to hers again in a searing kiss.

  Michael felt a hand on his back and broke the kiss. Turning, his face grew warm as he saw the convent’s abbess staring at him, her eyes narrowed in displeasure. He looked to his mother and then Geoffrey and saw their approval, which eased his embarrassment somewhat.

  “It seems we have a rather complicated situation,” the abbess declared. “I will give you some privacy in order to sort things out.”

  “I’ll join you,” Geoffrey said. The nobleman looked at Michael. “I’ll be waiting outside the gates.” He and the abbess exited the room.

  Michael kissed Elysande again for good measure and then released her to hug his mother once more. He brushed a kiss on her cheek and then stepped back.

  “God is good. He has led me to the two women I sought.” He saw a shadow cross Elysande’s face. He reached for her hands. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  She tried to pull from his grasp, but he held firm.

  “Michael, it’s wrong for me to have kissed you,” she said. A look of pure longing crossed her face as she stared at him. Then she dropped her eyes. “A missive arrived from the king after you left.”

  He knew it had, for Geoffrey had given it to him. He also knew the king would have agreed to his marriage to Elysande.

  “It matters not,” she said. “You of all people should know why. We learned of your betrothal. I assume . . . I assume you are married by now.”

  He laughed deep from within and caught her up in his arms. “Nay, my love. It’s true that I was betrothed, but when my intended arrived, she told me her fondest wish was to become a Bride of Christ. She had never wanted to marry, even from a young age. She broke our betrothal contract and I took her to a convent a few hours’ ride from Sandbourne. I left her there, happy, with a glow about her that told me I’d done the right thing.”

  Her jaw dropped. She searched his face. “So . . . so . . . you are not married?”

  Michael pressed his lips to hers in a lingering kiss. “Nay, sweetheart. ’Tis why I’m here. Searching for you.” He cupped her cheek. “I am not whole without you in my life, dearest. You are the part that completes me. Since the king is amenable, I wish to marry you and make you my countess.”

  Elysande broke out in a radiant smile. “The king will agree. I’m sure. If not for the impediment of your betrothal, he said he would have given us his permission.”

  Warmth spread throughout him. Then he felt her stiffen in his arms. She pulled away, wrapping her arms around her as if she were suddenly cold.

  “Elysande? What—”

  “I still can’t marry you,” she said softly. “I must remain here. I’ve asked the abbess if I may join the convent and become a Sister in Christ.”

  “What? But nothing—”

  “Hush.” She placed a slender finger against his lips. He burned with desire at her touch.

  “I’ve done something awful, Michael. So terrible that I must give my life to Christ to atone for this grievous sin.” She bit her lip. “I . . . I killed a man. That’s the only reason I’m here and not still on the road traveling to Lord Ingram’s estate with the wicked men that abducted me.”

  Michael realized what she was talking about. “Nay, my love. You killed no man.”

  “But I did!” she insisted, her eyes sad beyond measure.

  “Was this Ernis you believe you killed?”

  Shock crossed her face. “How do you know? Did you find his body? Did you find Folc?” She shuddered as she mentioned the soldier’s name.

  “Folc is dead,” he said bluntly. “And we came across Ernis, who is very much alive. You did wound him in the side, but he didn’t die from it.”

  “But he fell back and did not move. I ran. He did not holler out and warn Folc that I was escaping.”

  “Ernis told us that he hit his head on a rock, my love. He had quite a large knot. The blow knocked him out cold. It was speaking to him that let us know you’d escaped and were somewhere in the area.”

  “Where is he now?” she asked.

  “We let him go.” Michael caught her frown of disapproval and rushed to explain. “He was frightened to return to Lord Ingram without you. He even begged us to kill him instead. Geoffrey and I decided to show him mercy. We told him never to return to Rudland again. To go and offer his services elsewhere as a mercenary.” He laughed. “Ernis took off quickly. I have no doubt you will never lay eyes upon him again.”

  His mother placed her hands on Michael’s and Elysande’s shoulders. “See? You are meant to be together. While this convent has proved a refuge to me, ’twas because I had nothing and no one.” She smiled at Elysande. “You have my son. I see how happy he is with you. I will do whatever it takes to convince you to leave here and marry him. Don’t waste your life behind these walls when you have the love of a good man.”

  “And you, too, must come with us, Mother.” Michael took his mother’s hand. “I swore an oath as a boy to find you and return you to a place of honor at Sandbourne. ’Twas my next quest once I found Elysande and knew she was safe.”

  His mother shook her head. “I would only be in your way, my son. You and Elysande will create a family of your own.” She smiled. “Besides, I’ve come to relish this quiet life, away from the world.”

  Her words cut him to the quick.

  Before he could protest, Elysande said, “I insist you return with
us, my lady. I will need your guidance in my new role as countess.” She glanced at Michael. “And I don’t think Michael would ever be truly happy if you remained behind.”

  He saw that his mother wavered and gave one last, impassioned plea. “I need you, Mother. Even as a grown man, I admit that I need you. You have so much love to give. I hope you’ll help us raise our children—your grandchildren.”

  Michael reached into his pocket and pulled out the pink stone he always carried. He took her hand and placed the small rock in her palm.

  “We found this one day when we walked around Sandbourne.”

  “I remember,” she said softly.

  “I kept it always as a way to remember you. Please, Mother. Come home. Come to Sandbourne with us. I beg you.”

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. She nodded in agreement, too emotional to speak for some minutes. Finally, she uttered, “Aye, I’ll accompany you home.”

  “We’ll need to stop first at Hopeston to call on Elysande’s mother,” he said. “Though I have the king’s permission, I would ask Lady Mary for her daughter’s hand in marriage.” Michael gazed into Elysande’s eyes. “And I have a suggestion for our wedding.”

  “You do?” The sparkle in her eyes held just a hint of mischief, causing his heart to skip a beat.

  “You have no strong ties to Hopeston since you grew up elsewhere. I would like for us to marry at Kinwick. I believe your mother would appreciate returning to her childhood home and seeing the ceremony take place from there. Besides, Lady Merryn enjoys nothing more than to hold a feast with the great hall bursting from the seams with people and plenty of good food.”

  “That’s a lovely idea,” Elysande told him. “And we can go from Kinwick to Sandbourne.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly.

  His mother laughed. “I suppose I’ll need to break the news to Mother that she is losing the both of us.”