by Fiona Neal
Lady Alice moaned again and then woke with a start. “Sir Edmund, what are you doing?”
“I heard you moan, my lady. I was going to wake you.” Well, he had heard her moan. He did not lie.
“Thank you. I did have a terrible dream that someone was going to kill me.”
“But as you see, I shall protect you, my lady. I think you should go back to sleep.”
“You must be a light sleeper,” she murmured.
“Sometimes, I am,” he admitted.
“You should sleep, too,” she told him and moved farther down beneath the covers.
“I shall, my lady, now that I see you are all right.”
Edmund returned to his makeshift bed on the floor. He would now sleep peacefully. He would have to keep secret the fact that Lady Alice was at De Winter Castle. After all, Lord Camden didn’t know the exact time when she was now coming home. They could be delayed because of bad weather.
Just a few people knew about her leaving the convent, and Lord De Winter asked the abbess, who was his sister, to say nothing about Lady Alice’s departure.
Her whereabouts must be kept confidential—for a while at least.
He and Lord De Winter would have to concoct a plan to save Edith, but that would be most difficult. Nevertheless, Edmund felt certain they would come up with a clever way to do it.
Relieved that he did not commit a murder, Edmund fell into a deep sleep. Again he dreamed about possessing Lady Alice; but sometime later, a loud noise woke him, and he bounded to the door.
“You told me to wake you,” Nigel whispered, his face illuminated by the candle he held in the holder. “You said we were to get an early start because the days are now so short.”
“Yes, of course,” Edmund replied. “Thank you, but I don’t know if she can travel. The lady was quite stricken yesterday.”
“Yes, that is quite true,” Nigel agreed and nodded.
Edmund thought that if Nigel had not awakened him, he would have taken Lady Alice in his dreams, and his lust would not feel so heavy in his loins.
“Sir Edmund, is everything all right?” Lady Alice asked, and the sound of sleep seemed still heavy in her voice.
“Yes, my lady. Nigel is just making certain we are awake.” Edmund then said to his friend, “I’ll meet you in the dining room shortly. I think Lady Alice should stay here while she has her breakfast.”
Nigel nodded and left.
Edmund closed the door and said, “Since I am already up, I shall dress first if that is convenient for you, my lady.”
“Yes, Sir Edmund. I shall pray while I am waiting.”
Praying was the last thing on his mind. Of course, he did all the church required, but right now he was consumed by tremendous sexual tension.
It was dark in the room, but his eyes accustomed to the dimness, he could see her form. Her eyes were closed and she had a rosary in her hand.
Edmund knew she was cozy and warm under the covers. Oh, how he wanted to get in the bed beside her, revel in her heat and softness, and do what was natural to do with a woman.
Instead, he broke the ice in the jug and quickly washed his face and hands in the cold water, and dressed. Then he said, “I am finished, my lady.” He threw some kindling and another log on the fire, which had been reduced to glowing embers. The kindling caught and the flames sprang up.
He then looked out of the windows. Snow was falling silently, but relentlessly. “I do not think we can travel, my lady. The snow is deep, and flakes are still falling.”
She rose, stepped into her footwear, and moved to the window. “Well, I do not relish the cold of the day, Sir Edmund, especially after yesterday.” She shivered.
“Perhaps it would be wise to rest today,” he said. “You seemed very ill yesterday.”
“I felt ill and so weak, but I am better today.”
“A warm bowl of porridge would help, my lady. I’ll get a servant to bring one to you.”
“I am very hungry.” She smiled. “Thank you, Sir Edmund.
She had never smiled at him before. He was mesmerized by her joyful expression. “So am I.” But he did not say that food was all he required.
“I shall go to the dining hall and inform Nigel and Crispin that we shall stay here today. I will also have a maid bring our food here.”
“Thank you,” she said and smiled again.
“I hope you will get back in bed and rest, my lady.”
“Yes, I think I shall.”
“I shall be back shortly.” He left the room.
As he walked to the dining room, Edmund knew one thing. As much as he wanted her, he could never have Lady Alice De Winter.
Her grandfather had likely already chosen a husband for her. The man would have a high title—at very least, her husband would be an earl—and he would be rich and powerful.
Even though Sir Edmund had a lord as a father, he was a third son. He could never aspire to marry Lady Alice—never! He had no title and little money.
“I must be wise and realistic about this,” he whispered. “The Lady Alice is too far above me.”
* * * *
After the day of rest, they began to travel. This weather turned out to be better than their first day. Although the snow was thick on the ground, the blue sky remained cloudless.
They stopped at another inn for the midday meal. They all ate hearty meals, but as they rode, clouds covered the celestial dome, and more snowflakes threatened to fall, adding to the landscape already covered in mantle of white.
Alice prayed and then amused herself by watching the squirrels scamper up the bare limbs of the trees.
They also encountered a woodman taking his wares to the next village.
A few hours later, they entered another inn.
On the third day of travel, as they made their way along a forest trail, Alice asked, “Did you choose Sir Nigel and Sir Crispin to escort us, or was that my grandfather’s decision?”
“It was my decision, my lady. Your grandfather gave me permission to select them. Sir Crispin, Sir Nigel, and I became friends when we were sent to De Winter Castle to be fostered by your grandfather. The two are highly skilled knights, so when your grandfather gave me the choice of companions, I chose them. We would defend each other to the death.”
“I see,” she said. “Have you fought in battle together?”
“Yes, we campaigned for Stephen against the Empress Maud’s forces for several years. You know your grandfather is King Stephen’s staunch ally.”
“Yes.” she nodded. “Thank God, you all survived,” she remarked.
“Yes, and without injury,” he added.
“You are indeed skilled,” she remarked.
“We do our best to stay that way,” he responded.
“Are any of you married?” she asked.
“No, my lady, we are all landless knights, second and third sons, with little chance of inheritance. We have little to offer any woman except our swords…and our hearts.”
“Do none of you have sweethearts?” she queried shyly.
“Nigel and Crispin do, but they must wait to marry. They want enough money to give their wives a decent home. We are saving, but land is expensive and so are domiciles. It is taking a long time to amass the funds we need. Still, we continue to put aside as much as we can.”
“Still,” Edmund continued, “we realize we cannot engage in battle forever. Age will diminish our prowess. Therefore, we must buy land to sustain ourselves if we wish to live without poverty in our old age.”
“Yes, I suppose age does weaken all of us,” Alice replied, but she was supremely happy that Edmund had not mentioned a ladylove in his life. Still, he might have one. “But if a woman truly loved you, wouldn’t she marry you without a great fortune?”
“Oh, yes, but women of quality would have a father or grandfather who would choose a wealthy man,” he replied.
“Yes, I suppose that is true. Most ladies have arranged marriages; except widows, of course, who ma
y wed as they please.”
“May I ask you a question, my lady?”
“Yes, of course you may.”
“Why did you choose the convent instead of marrying?”
“I felt at ease and calm the first time I went to the abbey. I was just a child. After my mother died, I found the place especially comforting.
“My father waited a while to wed again,” Lady Alice added, “but he wanted sons, although he did not need them because our title is old and is written so woman can inherit. Nevertheless, he found a nice young woman. She gave him two sons and a daughter. The children were much younger than I. I had little to do in the castle, so I visited the abbey. I often stayed for months at a time; for, as you know, the place is a hundred miles from my home, and the abbess is my great aunt.”
“I suppose that is why I saw you just once at a distance,” Edmund said.
“I imagine so,” she said. “And I do not believe I was missed at De Winter Castle, Sir Edmund, except by my grandfather. Therefore, I decided I should be a nun. I found a sense of purpose by helping the old sister who made medicinal remedies, too.”
“But you never wanted the love of a husband and children.”
“I thought God wanted me to be a nun, and my confessor encouraged me. My father had another family, and he made me know I was a disappointment to him. My grandfather told me he wanted me to be happy. He is the only man who ever cared about me.”
“Surely not,” Sir Edmund replied. “Your father was likely a man who did not find it easy to show emotions. Men are often that way.”
“He often showed affection to his wife and other children,” Alice informed him. “So I do not think he had a problem showing his emotions.”
Chapter Four
They traveled in silence for some time. The weather again promised more snow, and Alice hoped they would reach De Winter Castle before the flakes flew again, for she felt so cold. In fact, her fingers and toes ached. Oh, she hoped she would not have another spell as she had on the road. She did not wished to cause the knights any problems.
They left the forest, and suddenly the castle loomed up in the distance.
“You are almost home, my lady.”
“Yes, Sir Edmund.”
And now my new life begins.
Alice prayed she was up to the challenges of this new existence, but she knew she possessed few of the skills needed. She knew little about administering an estate. She knew less about being a wife. Would her grandfather help her, or would she have to struggle on her own?
She would miss Sir Edmund. He had been kind to her, but she did not think she would see him often. Surely, he might find a woman to love and marry her. But why was she contemplating that. He was a man—a trained soldier. He would probably be as cold and as hard as her father had been to her.
Hadn’t he told her men were trained to be strong fighters?
“Uh,” she said and pulled off her glove. “I believe I should return the wedding ring to you. Please give this back to my grandfather.” She slipped the gold band and gave it to the knight. “It was the one he gave to my grandmother when they married.”
“I thought his lordship meant you to keep it, my lady.”
“When you give it to him, my grandfather will decide what he wishes to do with it,” she replied.
“My lady, there is a favor I wish to ask of you,” Sir Edmund said.
“Then ask me, Sir Edmund,” she instructed him.
* * * *
“No one here, except Sir Crispin, Sir Nigel, your grandfather, and I know of your departure from the convent. Lord De Winter requests that we keep this fact a secret for now. Nevertheless, I want something from you. I need a long lock of your red hair.”
She stared at him in amazement. “Why?”
“I am not at liberty to disclose the reason at this time, but I promise to tell you later. Will you grant me this request, my lady? I ask for the best of reasons.”
“Yes, I shall.” She nodded.
“I wish to have it now.”
“As you wish, Sir Edmund,” Alice consented.
“Crispin, Nigel, stop here for a moment,” Edmund requested.
They reined back their horses, and they all dismounted.
Edmund took his keenly sharp dagger from his belt, and she removed her veil and wimple. Even in the gray of the dreary late autumn day, her hair still blazed like a warm, glorious bonfire.
He lifted the silky strands and cut a long lock from the nape of her delicate neck. .He did not take a great quantity, but it was enough.
Edmund then tied the shimmering long locks at one end with a piece of rawhide, and put it into his tunic.
“That is a strange request,” Alice remarked.
“But a necessary one, my lady,” Edmund answered.
The two other knights said nothing, but Edmund saw their expressions of perplexity. “All will be revealed at the proper time,” he told them.
They then mounted their horses and took off again.
Edmund had a good reason for wanting the bright lock, but the fewer persons who knew about that motive, the better—at least for the moment.
“Furthermore, my lady, Lord De Winter does not wish anyone to know you will be in the castle.”
“But how will you keep my presence a secret?”
“I will request an interview with his lordship, which we arranged before I left. He will organize a plan for us to smuggle you in, and you will be kept in rooms adjacent to his for a while.”
“That is most unorthodox, Sir Edmund,” she told him. “Why should I hide in my own home?”
“Your grandfather will explain,” Edmund replied.
And God willing, Lord De Winter’s plan will be favorable to mine.
* * * *
“So…Lady Alice, Crispin, and Nigel are hiding in the woodland,” Lord De Winter stated.
“Yes, my lord,” Edmund replied.
“I thank God she is safe,” Lord De Winter said.
“For the present, my lord, but not for long if Lord Camden has his way.”
Lord De Winter frowned. “Explain yourself, Sir Edmund. Lord Camden is my friend. “
“Camden is a false friend, my lord. He asked to see me a few days before I was to bring Lady Alice here. Of course, he does not know I was to do that, but he said I would be your choice to bring her to you. When I arrived at Camden Castle, I saw my sister there. It was not unusual. Edith is a friend of Isabel, his daughter...or so I thought.”
“Get to the point, Sir Edmund,” De Winter snapped.
“To make a long story short, he told me I was to murder Lady Alice, or he would kill Edith. I have a feeling that he wants me to kill you, too, my lord. He hinted at that, but Lady Alice’s life is the price I must pay to save Edith.”
De Winter gasped, and his hand went to his sword. “I hope you have proof of what you say.”
“I have nothing written, but you have known me for years. Have I ever done anything to break the vows I made as a knight?”
“No.” Lord De Winter shook his head. “You have not, Sir Edmund.”
“Consider this, my lord. You and your whole family were taken ill. No one else in this castle became sick. You and your family had a dinner of venison that Lord De Winter sent to you.”
“That is true. I was the only survivor because I was not hungry and ate just a small bit of meat.”
“That is correct. I know that food poisoning can happen, but I believe he wanted you to die, too, my lord.”
“By all that is holy!” Lord De Winter shouted and pounded the table with the end of his strong fist. “Why does he want me dead? I have been a good friend to him.”
“Greed and a lust for power have no friends. Camden plans to petition the king to man this castle after you and Lady Alice are dead. You almost died, my lord. He will do all he can to get rid of you and the Lady Alice.”
“The vile cutthroat,” Lord De Winter shouted.
“God has spared you and Lady Alice
, but my sister is still in his clutches. Unless we can convince him that I have murdered your granddaughter, Edith’s life is over.”
“Yes, Lady Edith must be saved,” Lord De Winter vowed.
“I have a plan, but first Lady Alice and my companions need shelter. It is mercilessly cold and darkness is approaching. How can we smuggle her into this castle?”
“No one but my sister, the abbess, you, your escort of knights, Alice, and I know she is coming here. There is a secret passage that leads to a suite of rooms that attaches to mine. It was built so the lord of this castle would have an escape route in the event that he was trapped here during a siege. I shall go with you, Sir Edmund, and show you the way.”
* * * *
Two hours later, Alice secretly bathed and dressed in a small chamber, just off her grandfather’s quarters. She enjoyed cleansing herself in the warm comforting water.
Her grandfather had requested the bathwater. He and the three knights took it from the servants and ported it in this rather spare chamber—even though it was work face beneath the dignity of a knight and a great lord. But they needed to maintain secrecy.
Well, this plain place reminded her of the small chamber in the abbey, although this one was much warmer, for the Sir Nigel and Sir Crispin had lit a cozy fire for her.
As she lathered her hair, Alice wondered why she had to hide in her own home. It was so strange. Furthermore, why did Sir Edmund ask for a lock of her hair? So much here did not make sense.
Just a few days ago, she had lived in a convent with all intentions of never leaving that place. Now, her life had taken a most unusual turn. She had become the heiress to De Winter Manor.
She stood and lifted the pail of warm water over her, grateful that the washtub was close to the fire. The water sluiced over her, taking the suds into the tub. She lifted another pail and repeated the process. When all the soap bubbles had slide from her hair and body, she then wrapped a towel around her and another around her great mane of hair.
Again, she wondered why the handsome Sir Edmund wanted a lock of her hair. What would he do with it? Yes, people did keep the hair of loved ones, but even if she had feelings for him, he certainly did not have any affection for her.
Besides, Sir Edmund did not have a title, which her grandfather would insist upon for the man she married—if she married.