by Alexa Aston
When Thurstan hesitated, her father continued. “I am not a man that you wish to make an enemy of, Vivers, for I have the king’s ear. I have even negotiated with foreign governments to bring back a bride for King Richard and will attend the royal wedding as an honored guest. I advise you to let us pass.”
Margery noticed many of Highfield’s people had spilled out from the great hall and listened to the exchange between the two men. She caught sight of Sarah standing with her husband, crying, but wearing a smile. Their eyes met and then Margery knew she couldn’t leave her friend behind.
Turning to Ancel, she asked, “Could Sarah and Harry come with us?”
Ancel nodded. “If they wish.”
A look of defeat caused her stepbrother’s shoulders to slump. Ancel led Margery toward the door, signaling to Sarah and Harry to join them as Lord Myles ushered them outside.
As they hurried away from the manor house, Ancel said to Harry, “Lady Margery wishes for you and Sarah—and Whitefoot—to leave Highfield and join us.”
The carpenter beamed as he said, “I can have my tools packed up in the cart in no time, my lord.” He looked to Sarah. “Is this what you want, Wife?”
Sarah threw her arms around her husband. “Aye!” she cried, covering his face in kisses.
They reached the spot where their guard waited. Ancel told the Bacons, “Gather your things and meet us at the juncture where Highfield’s road crosses that of the one to London.”
“Aye, my lord.” Harry grabbed Sarah’s hand and the couple ran toward his carpenter’s shop.
As Ancel placed Margery atop Storm, she saw Thurstan had left the keep. He began to shout at them.
“You have ruined everything,” he railed. “I cannot find where Father kept his fortune. I needed you to bring gold to me, Margery. I command you to remain at Highfield. You cannot do this to me. We took you in. Gave you a home. You owe it to me to stay.”
She glared at him in return, taking delight that he hadn’t remembered the hidden passageway containing his father’s gold. “I will never set foot at Highfield again,” she told him, her head high. “And I hope you rot in Hell, Thurstan Vivers—with your father and brother.”
Ancel turned Storm and the group of soldiers, counting her father among them, galloped away. Margery relaxed against Ancel as they rode to the agreed meeting point and waited several minutes until Harry Bacon appeared in a cart with Sarah beside him. Her friend wore a huge smile and had Whitefoot sitting in her lap. It surprised Margery that Christine Morley and Clifton Walters sat in the back of the vehicle. She only wished everyone from Highfield could desert her stepbrother and come with them now.
As the cart approached, Christine called out, “Lady Margery will need a seamstress to produce new clothes for her.” She grinned. “And something new made up for her wedding.”
Clifton added, “My loyalties lie with you, Sir Ancel. If you are not to be the Baron of Highfield, then Thurstan Vivers will have to find himself a new steward. I hope it’s all right that Christine and I chose to come with Harry and Sarah.”
Ancel assured the pair that they were welcomed. Quickly, he and Lord Myles decided that half of the guard would accompany them back to Kinwick, while Lord Myles returned to his own estate. Her father promised that he would arrive at Kinwick in time for his daughter and Ancel’s wedding.
The escort party broke in two, heading in opposite directions. As Ancel urged Storm on and Highfield fell from view, Margery truly believed she could leave her nightmares behind.
*
“We are almost home,” Ancel said in Margery’s ear.
Anticipation built inside her. She had heard so much about the de Montfort estate and was eager to finally see it in person. She wondered if any guests had come for Christmas Day and if any relatives remained behind since the feast day had come and gone. Their journey from Highfield took two days and they would be arriving close to the midday meal.
“There. Up ahead.” Ancel’s arm tightened about her waist as they came over the rise.
Kinwick took her breath away.
Rolling hills surrounded the estate, with the castle perched at the top of one. Margery had thought Highfield large but her former home seemed dwarfed compared to this place. Minutes later, the riding party approached the gates and they opened in recognition of Ancel so their horses didn’t have to break stride. People everywhere called out friendly greetings to Ancel, which he returned. Pride swelled within her at how popular he seemed among the workers. Even soldiers in the training yard paused and waved as they rode by, headed for the keep.
As they drew near, Margery thought she saw double, for two Merryns stood side by side. As they came closer, she realized that one of them was much younger than Ancel’s mother. Margery figured the woman to be Alys, Ancel’s twin. Joy filled her face as she ran toward them.
“I knew you were coming,” Alys proclaimed. “You can ask Kit. He’ll vouch for me.”
Ancel leaped from his horse and Alys fell into his arms in a happy reunion. Then he reached up and pulled Margery from Storm’s back. Alys immediately kissed both of Margery’s cheeks and held her tightly.
Pulling away, she said, “I told Mother that all would be well. That you and Ancel would soon arrive at Kinwick. ’Tis why I made Kit stay when he insisted that we leave for Brentwood this morning. I felt inside that you would show up today.”
By this time, Geoffrey and Merryn strolled over to greet them. Both de Montforts embraced her and expressed how happy they were to see her.
“Come inside,” Merryn said. “This brisk north wind has made it a very cold day. We want to hear everything.”
“We have much to tell,” Ancel said.
A handsome man with a warrior’s build and green eyes threw an arm around Alys’ shoulder. “You were right. As always.” He laughed as he looked at Margery. “I am Kit Emory, Alys’ husband and father to the terrible twins and a younger, much calmer son. I will warn you now that our twins can be a handful.”
“Philippa and Wyatt are merely high-spirited five-year-olds,” Alys confided to Margery. “The same as Ancel and I were at their age.”
“Nay, Alys,” Geoffrey interjected. “I’m afraid they are more like their uncle Hal with each passing day. I met you and Ancel when you were close to Philippa and Wyatt’s age. You two were well behaved with only a bit of mischief in you.”
“That’s because Mother always had us well in hand,” Alys said. “I may have inherited her gift of healing but I have trouble controlling my own children as she could with but a look. Mayhap, you should move to Brentwood and help me manage things, Mother.”
Margery frowned, not because of what Alys teased about. It was Geoffrey’s words about meeting Ancel and Alys that puzzled her. He had to be Ancel’s father, for they were mirror images of one another, much as Merryn and Alys were.
Ancel slipped his arm about her waist. “I know you have questions. I see it on your face. It’s all part of our family lore. Go inside with the others. I wish to rub Storm down to prevent him from nipping at anyone else, as well as see your father’s men settled.” He gave her a swift kiss. “I will be inside shortly.”
She followed the others into the keep and then to the solar. Merryn had stopped a servant and told her they would take their noon meal upstairs. On the way, a tall young boy fell into step with them. Then Margery realized it was a girl who dressed as a boy.
“You must be Lady Margery,” the girl said. “I am Nan, one of Ancel’s sisters.”
She should have guessed, for the younger de Montfort had her father’s dark hair, worn in a single braid, and her mother’s sapphire eyes. But the fact that Nan dressed as a young man gave Margery pause.
Then someone took her hand. Margery glanced down and saw a child with golden blond hair and the most unusual violet eyes looking up at her with curiosity.
“And who might you be?” she asked.
“I am Jessimond, my lady. I am five. But halfway to six,” she said in a
serious tone.
Margery bit her lip to hide a smile. “’Tis nice to meet you, Jessimond. Are you also a de Montfort?”
The young girl nodded eagerly. “I am the youngest de Montfort, though I came from somewhere else. But Nan found me, so I am sister to her and all the others. And I am an aunt to Alys’ children, even though they are barely older than me,” she said proudly—then giggled.
Margery found these de Montforts more intriguing by the minute. She wanted to learn where Nan found this golden-haired angel and how she came to be Ancel’s youngest sister, as well as find out about the mystery behind Geoffrey’s words.
“You are going to wed my brother?” Jessimond asked solemnly.
She nodded. “We will marry next month, early in the New Year.”
“Good,” Jessimond proclaimed, “because I like you.” She released Margery’s hand and skipped ahead to take her mother’s instead.
They reached the solar, gathering around the large table within it. A servant named Tilda came and took Jessimond away to eat with her cousins, so that left seven of them around the table after Ancel arrived. As they ate, it took the better part of an hour for her and Ancel to describe the events that had occurred since Thurstan Vivers arrived at Highfield and separated Margery from Ancel and his parents.
She listened with great interest as Ancel described his journey to York and how he went to where her mother had grown up just west of the city. Then he recounted going from shop to shop, speaking with jewelers, trying to track down the origins of her silver pendant. At that point in the story, Margery had to show it to Alys, Kit, and Nan since they’d never seen it before.
What fascinated her most was hearing about Ancel traveling to Saint Leonard’s Hospital and his revealing conversation with Oliver Metcalfe, the jeweler who had crafted her mother’s necklace and her father’s matching pin.
“I promised if I was ever north again, I would stop in and visit him.” Ancel took Margery’s hand in his and said, “I think we should go to York someday so Oliver can meet you and see why it was so important for me to find your father.”
“But what next, Ancel?” Nan demanded. “How did you meet Margery’s father?”
“That was the next portion of my travels, though I had actually met the man at court,” he said, then he recounted his meeting with Lord Myles at his country estate in Kent. “He told me that Margery’s mother was the love of his life and we left on Christmas Eve to head to Margery’s rescue at Highfield, which is in Essex.”
Ancel squeezed Margery’s hand as his gaze met hers. Margery knew he would skip over the details of how they had found her. So far, no one had asked about the swelling about her eye. She knew from how tender her cheek was that it must be bruised, as well.
As she expected, Ancel breezed through this part of his tale, though he did emphasize how bravely her father had confronted Thurstan and then how they marched from the keep as Thurstan ranted and raved and begged Margery to come back because he had no gold.
“And we have four others that came with us,” Ancel concluded. “They are traveling by cart and will arrive in the next day or so.”
“Who left the estate?” asked Alys.
“Sarah Bacon is one,” Margery revealed. “She is my dearest friend and worked at the keep for many years. With her is her husband, Harry, who was the carpenter at Highfield.”
“We can always use a good carpenter,” Geoffrey said. “And Merryn will certainly find a place for Sarah. Who else?”
“Clifton Walters also deserted the baron,” Margery said. “He revealed that his loyalty was only to Ancel. Since Ancel would not receive the estate from the king, thanks to my stepbrother’s reappearance, Clifton wanted to return to Kinwick.”
“But that’s only three,” Merryn pointed out. “Who is the fourth?”
“Christine, a seamstress that Ancel hired to come to Highfield,” Margery said. “I left with no clothing. Thurstan would have had no use for her and Christine was smart enough to realize that I would need new clothes.”
“And something to wear for our wedding,” added Ancel. “Besides, I think Clifton may be sweet on Christine.”
“Oh, I forgot something most important. My dog, Whitefoot, is with Sarah in the cart. Ancel brought me a puppy as a companion a few months ago. He follows me about wherever I go.”
“He’s a water spaniel and very smart,” Ancel said. “We couldn’t leave poor Whitefoot behind.”
They continued talking the rest of the afternoon. Merryn said that they must decide when the wedding would take place because she would need to send messengers to various estates to invite their guests.
“Ancel’s cousins, Elysande and Avelyn, will expect to attend,” Merryn said. “And their husbands, Michael and Kenric, will accompany them, as well as their children.” She turned to Margery. “My brother and his wife live at Wellbury, my former home. Their estate adjoins ours. And, of course, Hardie and Johamma must come, too. Our sons, Hal and Edward, foster with them.”
“Don’t forget Raynor and Beatrice,” Geoffrey said. “Raynor was the first man to put a sword in Ancel’s hand and had a huge part in raising him and Alys.”
Another cryptic statement which Margery would question Ancel about when they were alone. But for now, she added, “And don’t forget my father. Lord Myles returned to his estate after helping rescue me but agreed to come to Kinwick for our wedding.”
Alys looked at her brother. “Let’s talk about important things. Are you going to send to London for material for Margery’s new wardrobe?”
Everyone laughed heartily. In their laughter, Margery knew she’d found a place where she belonged.
Chapter 25
Once they had eaten the evening meal, Geoffrey took Ancel aside and said, “You have had a busy time since we last saw you. I am happy that you found Margery’s father and that Lord Myles stepped up and claimed her as his offspring.”
“I worried whether he would or not,” Ancel confided. “It took some convincing on my part. That he did will keep me forever in his debt.”
“Margery suffered at Vivers’ hand,” his father stated, a sympathetic look in his eyes.
“Aye. ’Twas a bad situation, Father.”
“You two have not spent a moment alone in some time,” his father pointed out. “Why don’t you take Margery up to the solar now for some privacy? After that, I’m sure your mother and Alys will discreetly tend to her bruising.”
“Thank you, Father.” Ancel turned and saw Margery deep in conversation with Alys. The two women had spoken nonstop during tonight’s meal. It made him happy that Margery had taken to his twin so well. Alys was, and always had been, his other half. The bond between them might be invisible but it bound them together inexplicably.
He walked over to where they sat conversing by the fire. “Pardon me for interrupting, but I would like to spend a little time alone with my future wife.”
Alys stood. “You have chosen well, Brother. Margery is the one for you.” She kissed his cheek. “Kit and I and the children will return to Brentwood in the morning to tend to a few matters but we will come back in plenty of time for your wedding.”
His sister looked to Margery. “Come by our bedchamber for the salve I spoke of. After you use it for a few days, you will look like your old self again.”
“I will,” Margery promised as she rose. “I am so glad we finally met, Alys.”
The women embraced. “I am happy to have another sister,” Alys declared. “We must visit each other often.” Alys returned to Kit’s side, where he played on the floor with their children.
Ancel tucked Margery’s hand into the crook of his arm and led her from the great hall.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Father suggested we go to the solar and relax for a while since we haven’t been alone in some time.”
A fire greeted them inside the room. Ancel poured wine for them and sat in the chair his father usually claimed. He pulled Margery onto h
is lap, not wanting her far from him. One arm went around her waist as he entwined their fingers together. She gave out a contented sigh and rested her head against his shoulder.
“I want to answer some of the questions I believe you have.”
“Only if you wish,” she murmured, relishing his nearness.
“Oh, so you would marry me despite being curious about my family’s history?”
Margery lifted her head. “I would wed you tonight if we could.” She placed her head back.
“Still, I would have you know a few things.” He paused. “I haven’t spoken of this since I was a small boy.” His fingers tightened on hers. Ancel took a deep breath and made himself relax as the memories whirled inside his mind.
“My father disappeared the day after he wed Mother. He was gone several years. She gave birth to Alys and me. Our cousin, Raynor, helped her as best he could with both the estate and us. For the most part, though, Mother ran Kinwick on her own and did a wonderful job raising two children without a father.”
Then the story poured out from him. He told Margery of Geoffrey de Montfort’s imprisonment by a wicked earl seeking vengeance and how the earl’s son released Geoffrey upon his father’s death. He explained how another knight, who almost wed his mother before his father reappeared, carried his jealousy to the extreme and imprisoned Geoffrey in his own dungeon, hoping to win Merryn and Kinwick.
“I was young. Barely older than Alys’ twins are now. I had no idea that a knight could act dishonorably and break his word of honor. Fortunately, we found Father and he sought justice against Symond Benedict from King Edward. It took time for my father to heal, both physically and spiritually. But his great love for Mother had always given him hope during the years they spent apart. Together again, they found their love could conquer all the wrongs.”