by Alexa Aston
“You are honest and direct, my lady,” the queen noted. “I like that—in a man or a woman.”
They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes before the queen asked, “What of children? Do you like them?”
Avelyn could not hide her smile. “I do, indeed, your grace. I’m looking forward to leaving for Sandbourne on the morrow to be present at my sister Elysande’s side when she gives birth to her first child.”
Philippa nodded. “That’s right. I remember that I granted you permission to do so. You are not going on summer progress.” She thought a moment. “Then let me ask this. Do you want babes of your own, Lady Avelyn?”
“Aye, most certainly,” she said with enthusiasm. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with my young cousin, Hal, one of Uncle Geoffrey’s children. He’s a whirlwind that never seems to stop, but he is precious beyond words. I hope I have children as happy as Hal, as well as sweet-natured.”
The queen pursed her lips. “To have babes, you must have a husband. With that being said, is there anyone special you’ve met at court that you believe would make you a good husband?”
Avelyn felt a hot blush rise on her cheeks. “Nay, your grace. I have met many men. Some interesting, some kind.” She bit her lip and decided to remain honest since the queen seemed to appreciate that quality. “Some arrogant and loud. But none that I feel I could love.”
“Love?” asked the queen. “You do realize, my lady, that a love match is rare.”
“I understand that, your majesty.” She grew thoughtful. “But I have seen how Elysande and Lord Michael look at one another. I want that for myself with my own husband. Do you know that the earl wanted to marry my sister before he even knew her name? He thought he better learn it so that he could ask her father for her hand in marriage. ’Twas love at first sight for them both.”
“Hmm. I had not known Sandbourne was such a romantic.” She studied Avelyn. “Nevertheless, I myself was promised to the king before we even met. We came into the marriage total strangers. Yet from our vows, friendship soon grew. Trust followed—and then came love. Fourteen children later, we still are devoted to one another.”
“And there is my lovely wife.”
Avelyn turned and saw the king and his retinue striding their way. She realized, in that moment, as this was the closest she had ever been to the pair, that Queen Philippa was correct. The king loved his wife very much. The expression on his face spoke for itself.
She curtseyed as he approached and then stepped back a few feet. The king took his wife’s hand and brushed a kiss upon her fingers.
“I see you are enjoying this fine May day, my love.”
“We are, sire.” Philippa held out a hand. “Do you remember Lady Avelyn Le Cler? She is Geoffrey de Montfort’s niece.”
Edward eyed her a moment, squinting as he considered her. “I do. I remember meeting you, your sister, and mother. And I have watched you dance. You possess a grace and rhythm that many do not, Lady Avelyn.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” Avelyn locked her knees together to still their trembling. While the queen seemed motherly, King Edward was another matter. She did not enjoy his scrutiny in the least.
“The girl journeys to Sandbourne tomorrow to visit with her sister and help bring her sister’s first child into the world.”
“Ah, the world is a better place for each child that comes into it.” He glanced over their shoulders. “I see Lady Alys in that gaggle of women, speaking of the de Montforts. Tell her that I am in need of more of the tonic she makes for my headaches. If you will excuse me, ladies.” He winked at the queen. “I shall see you when we sup tonight, my dear.”
Edward swept by them, his courtiers trailing after him. Avelyn turned and saw the fluttering eyelashes of the many women as the group of men approached.
“Come, let us continue,” the queen instructed.
Avelyn could smell the scent of basil, lemon balm, and wisteria as they wound their way through the herbs. They then came upon bold, red geraniums and the fragrant scent of roses.
“You are quite liked by many courtiers,” Philippa confided, a knowing look in her eye.
“I am?”
The thought surprised Avelyn. A few men had spoken to her upon occasion. Two had pulled her into an alcove and stolen a kiss, but she had pushed them away. She had been more embarrassed than anything—though she had wished she felt something more.
“Some have hinted to me. Others have asked outright for me to consider them as your future husband.”
“I know not what to say, your grace,” she said, wondering if Queen Philippa had already chosen a mate for her.
“Go to your mother and sister at Sandbourne then,” the queen proclaimed. “Think long and hard what you might desire in a husband. I shall keep watch as we travel on our summer progress and consider what man would be the best match for you. When you return to me in autumn, then we shall compare thoughts. I hope by this time next year that you will be wedded and bedded and have your husband’s seed growing in your belly.”
Avelyn wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that.
Chapter 5
Avelyn glanced around the bedchamber that she shared with her cousin, Alys. She had very little to pack for her trip. Michael had thoughtfully provided for her trunk to be sent ahead to Sandbourne a week ago and it would arrive before she did. She gathered her comb and small hand mirror and placed them in the bundle with her change of clothing. Sela had let her wear some of her kirtles and cotehardies this past week. Avelyn had returned them to her friend after breaking her fast a few minutes ago.
“Are you sure you do not mind stopping at Kinwick?”
She hugged Alys. “Of course not,” she told her cousin. Alys might be young in years, but she possessed a wisdom and self-confidence well beyond her age. She looked upon the girl as a sister. They had grown close in the months Avelyn had lived at court.
The only disagreement between them had involved her friendship with Sela Runford. Alys, who had already spent a year in the queen’s service before Avelyn’s arrival, did not care for Sela. She couldn’t give Avelyn a good reason for her to avoid Sela’s company, only stubbornly warning Avelyn not to become too close with Sela.
Avelyn added, “I will enjoy seeing Uncle Geoffrey and Aunt Merryn again. And the baby. How old is he?”
“Edward is over two months old now. I can’t wait to meet him myself, though I wish Mother would have had another girl. With little Edward added to Ancel and Hal, I’m quite outnumbered,” Alys complained good-naturedly.
Avelyn laughed. “You and Aunt Merryn are a formidable team. I don’t see the two of you ever losing ground to the de Montfort men.”
“Mother is quite unstoppable. Grandmother told me of how Mother’s labor pains began on Judgment Day. Though her pains increased steadily, she continued to render her decisions till she’d seen every laborer with a complaint. Only then did she take to her bed and let Tilda fuss over her while she gave birth to Ancel and me.”
She shuddered. “Merryn is definitely a woman to admire.” Though Avelyn knew she wanted children, she hoped she wouldn’t give birth to twins. Having two small babes at the same time seemed overwhelming to her.
Alys continued. “She even supervised the harvest after giving birth. Grandmother said Mother was out in the fields a week later, ordering people about, while Ancel and I lay in a basket nearby. She would watch carefully at how the workers performed and how much yield was accrued even as she took time to nurse us.”
“We all can learn from Aunt Merryn’s example. Are you ready for our journey?”
Her cousin nodded. “I’m even more ready to get home and back to learning more about herbs. I know Mother still has much to teach me.”
Avelyn laughed. “You already are the person at court that others seek out when they have an ailment. Even our king! You have a remedy for everything—queasy stomachs and headaches. Bruises. Sprains.”
Alys frowned. “Not baldness. I wish
I could find a way to cure that. ’Twould make me the most popular girl in the land.” She twirled in a circle, her eyes dancing in merriment.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. A short page with a cowlick stuck his head in when she called out, “Come.”
“Be ye Lady Avelyn? If so, your escort party has arrived and they seek your company. I can carry down what you need for your journey.”
“Thank you.” Avelyn handed him her bundle.
Alys did likewise but held on to a small case. Avelyn knew her cousin stored precious herbs within it and never let it far from her sight.
Sela appeared in the doorway, out of breath, crossing paths with the page as he left.
“Oh, I’m glad I found you before you left.” She embraced Avelyn, juggling a folded bundle in her arms. “Is your offer still good?” she asked.
“My offer?”
“To visit at Sandbourne!” Sela cried.
“I know Elysande and Michael would be delighted for you—”
“May I come with you now?” Her friend’s face glowed with excitement. “I discussed it with Father and he had no objections. He spoke to the queen within the last hour and she said she would excuse me from the court’s travels. We can be together all summer long.”
Avelyn hugged her friend. “Of course, you may come. Alys is also traveling with us. We’ll be stopping to call upon my uncle at Kinwick for a night before venturing to Sandbourne.”
“Father assured me that he would take care of forwarding my things. I packed what I would need until then.”
“You can also borrow anything from my wardrobe till your trunk arrives,” she assured her. “Oh, we’re going to have such fun together, Sela.”
Alys said curtly, “We’d best be on our way or the page might think we’re lost.” She left the chamber and Avelyn fell into step behind her. She hoped Alys would make an effort to be friendlier to Sela.
Avelyn turned to speak to her friend, but Sela wasn’t behind her. Puzzled, she retraced her steps and bumped into Sela as she quickly rounded the corner.
“Where were you?” she asked. “I thought we’d lost you.”
Sela giggled. “I passed Sir Bede and had to tell him farewell.”
“I should’ve guessed a man was involved. Come, we need to catch up with Alys.”
Alys stood waiting for them, tapping her foot, a look of disapproval on her face. Avelyn and Sela rejoined her, and the three wove their way through the maze of corridors. They caught up with the page, who lingered impatiently. The moment he saw them, he took off again, shaking his head.
Finally, they arrived in a courtyard and Avelyn saw a group of men sitting on horseback. Her eyes skimmed the guard and she spotted two soldiers she recognized.
And then she saw him.
He sat atop the largest horse but he would have to, for he was a large man himself. Even on horseback, she could see how tall and powerfully built he was. Then he laughed at something one of the men said. His smile was as dazzling as the diamonds the queen wore about her neck. Avelyn’s heart fluttered erratically as never before. Her reaction to seeing this stranger with thick, dark hair and olive skin was like nothing she had experienced.
Alys broke away from them and reached the soldiers first. “I am Lady Alys de Montfort. Might I ask who leads this escort party to Sandbourne?”
Avelyn could have told her who did before he swung from his horse.
The knight towered over the young girl. “I am Kenric Fairfax, my lady, the leader of these men. If you are the daughter of Lord Geoffrey de Montfort, then I can tell you that I have met your father when he visited my liege lord at Sandbourne. He’s a most impressive man.” He smiled. “And he brought young Hal with him.”
“You survived your encounter with my brother?” Alys asked, her eyes bright. “You must be made of strong stuff, my lord.”
“Hal occupied his time being the earl’s shadow,” the knight confided. “He probably called out, ‘Michael, Michael,’ close to a thousand times as he followed the earl about. He is an entertaining lad.”
“Hal can be a terror, but he is a sweet, loving boy,” Alys replied. She pulled a parchment from her pocket and handed it to him. “This is from my father. He asks that you allow me to accompany your party and, while on your way, have you call at Kinwick. You may stay a night there and get a good meal in your belly before you travel on to Cousin Elysande and Michael at Sandbourne.”
The knight broke the seal and scanned the contents, a slight frown upon his face. Avelyn’s breath came in short spurts as she watched him.
“You are most welcomed to ride with us, Lady Alys,” Kenric Fairfax assured Alys, though Avelyn believed he was unhappy that her young cousin would accompany them for some reason.
Avelyn stepped forward to introduce herself and had to tilt her head far back as she looked up into his tanned face. Hazel eyes more green than brown stood out, drawing her in. Of all the men she had met at court, this knight was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Her mouth went dry and she found swallowing almost impossible. Avelyn struggled to find her voice.
And then she caught the impatience in his eyes. It broke the spell he had seemingly cast over her and she found she could speak once more.
“My lord, I am Lady Avelyn Le Cler, sister to the Countess of Sandbourne. Lady Alys is my cousin. And this,” she indicated her friend, “is Lady Sela Runford. She, too, will be a part of our traveling party, as she has just gained the queen’s permission to visit Sandbourne and act as my companion for the summer. I trust this will not be an imposition.”
Fairfax stared down at her disapprovingly. “Do you have parchment to confirm that I am to take Lady Sela with us?”
“Nay, I do not,” Avelyn said, her temper rising at a stranger questioning her so. “She has her father’s permission. He sits on the king’s council. And instructions from the queen that she is to remain with me at Sandbourne during the court’s summer progress.” She paused. “If you care to wait in line with the hundreds of courtiers that wish to see the queen in order to confirm this, I’m sure the rest of us can find something to occupy our time while you tarry the day away.”
He continued to study her a moment. She wasn’t happy with this knight’s behavior and would make sure Elysande and Michael knew of it.
“Under your leadership, Sir Kenric, I believe that ten men can protect three females for a few days,” she said, not disguising her displeasure.
Fairfax bowed his head. “As you wish, my lady. Have no worries. We shall deliver Lady Alys safely to her home and make certain you and Lady Sela arrive at Sandbourne unharmed.”
Avelyn turned to her companions. “Then let us be off.”
*
Kenric fumed at the turn of events. He had been sent to escort Lady Elysande’s sister from court, not a gaggle of women. Though he’d admired Lord Geoffrey upon meeting him, he didn’t like the addition of a mere child to their escort party because children did not travel well. The road was no place for them, much less a female child. Though Lady Alys seemed well spoken and mature for her years, she wasn’t even half a score. And then this sister to the countess had the audacity to blithely invite another featherhead from court at the last minute?
He never liked when things didn’t go according to his wishes. As a knight, Kenric favored planning, paying careful attention to details. This would change the course of the journey he had already set, as he had not intended to pass by Kinwick.
And though his code of chivalry demanded that he protect women, he certainly had no use for them.
Especially after that night at Longshire.
Kenric glanced at his boots and the place his spurs should have rested. Guilt still ate at him daily.
No, from the detached feelings of his mother to the wiles of Gussalen to the insanity that Jannet’s death had brought into his life, he had no desire to spend any more time than necessary in the company of women.
Ever.
He knew it was
an honor that Lord Michael had chosen him to escort his sister-in-law from London to Sandbourne. Kenric had only been with the earl for a short time, so it showed great trust and favoritism for him to be tasked with this mission. Yet Kenric resented it all the same. He would rather spend his time training with the other soldiers at Sandbourne than escorting an empty-headed court beauty and her equally silly friend on the road for several days, much less a girl child who would probably whine while the two noblewomen complained about everything from the meals they ate to the ground they would sleep upon.
Kenric knew he’d better make the best of a poor situation—else this troublesome sister might spread falsehoods about him with the earl and countess upon their return to Sandbourne. He masked his rising anger and placed a pleasant look upon his face.
Turning to Lady Avelyn, he said, “The countess said you wouldn’t wish to ride your own horse. I hope you and the others do not mind riding with another soldier. Especially since they were unexpected additions,” he added.
“Nay,” she replied, glaring at him as if he’d done something wrong.
“I know Sir Ralf,” Lady Alys said. “I can ride with him.” She walked to where Ralf’s horse stood.
The knight reached down and lifted Alys into the saddle with him, helping her to arrange the box she carried.
“I can manage Lady Sela,” another man volunteered. He grinned shamelessly at Sela and said, “I am Sir Martin, my lady.” He dismounted and then escorted the woman to his horse.
Kenric glanced back at Lady Avelyn. She asked, a little too sharply for his taste, “And whom shall I ride with, my lord?”
“’Twould be my honor to have you ride with me, my lady,” he said grudgingly. He had planned for her to ride with him all along since he would be her chief protector in their travels.
“Very well.” She gave him a sweet smile, which only showed how fickle the woman was, because her voice had been laced with sarcasm moments ago.
He offered his arm and took her back to his horse. She stopped as they reached Firefall. Kenric saw fear in her eyes as she gazed up at the beast. He’d learned from the countess that her sister was not much of a rider, which surprised him. Lady Elysande was, mayhap, the only woman he had any liking and admiration for. She knew more about horses than any man he’d encountered. He believed himself quite knowledgeable about them, but through several conversations, she had taught him many things.