Terric, waiting for Edwin to give the signal he was prepared to hold William down, found his squire frozen in place with a shocked look upon his face. "Well? Can we get on with this or not?"
Closing her eyes, Jacqueline waited for all hell to break loose. Though her chest was bound, she did not bind it as tightly when she was wearing armor. It was too constricting. And not being able to take proper deep breaths, made her feel faint while wearing full armor. Besides, it really was not necessary with plate armor.
Edwin's mouth opened and closed a few times, making him appear much like a gasping fish on dry land. "I cannot do this."
Feeling a bit exasperated, Terric rolled his eyes. "Why ever not?"
"Because Sir William is no man. The proof is there." Edwin had removed his hands and now pointed toward her chest.
Releasing Jacqueline's arm, Terric squatted down beside her and placed one of his hands where his squire indicated. He smiled. Here was the proof he had been looking for. The proof was the soft mound of her breast beneath his hand. "I think you have some explaining to do."
Letting her eyes drift open, Jacqueline found Terric's face a few scant inches from her own. "I....I know. Fix my shoulder, then I will tell you all."
"Anything to please a lady."
Signaling Edwin to once more hold her down, Terric again took his place at her shoulder, giving a firm twist and a hard pull to her left arm. The shoulder audibly popped back into its proper position. Jacqueline yelped at the pain of it. But as Edwin had predicted, with her shoulder now back in place, the pain was slowly receding.
Helping her up onto her feet, Terric made Jacqueline sit on the stool. No sooner had she sat down than Beth rushed into the pavilion. Upon seeing both Terric and Edwin present, she searched Jacqueline's face for any sign of trouble.
"Is everything all right, William?"
Before Jacqueline could respond, Terric took Beth by the arm, secured the pavilion opening, and then led her to stand beside her supposed husband. "There is no need to continue with your ruse with us, Lady Beth. We know 'William' is of the fairer sex."
At Jacqueline's nod, she confronted the knight, knowing her friend was not in any condition to do so. "What do you plan to do with this knowledge, Sir Terric?"
He smiled politely at her. "It entirely depends on what I am told."
"And if we feel we need not make any explanations? What then?"
"Then I have no qualms about revealing who 'Sir William' really is. Now, I want to hear what your 'husband' has to say about the matter."
Jacqueline stood up. She would not defend her actions to Terric while having to crane her neck to look up at him. She made sure their eyes met. "Even though I feel I do not owe you any explanation, I will give you one. William was my brother, my twin to be exact."
"Therefore, the great resemblance between your brother and yourself."
"Aye. William died from the wound he received at Windsor. Though Beth did all she could to bring him home to us alive, he succumbed while on the road. Now I take his place."
"But why? Does your family need the money won at tournaments?"
She shook her head vehemently in denial. "Nay, not at all. You were present at Windsor. You know who delivered the killing blow. I want revenge. The earl took away the one person who made me whole. He did not have to accept William's challenge. He could have refused, but he did not stay his hand. Now I intend to strike back at him. I want to ride against my father. My hatred of him knows no bounds. I despise the man."
Terric was shocked by the open bitterness the woman before him displayed toward her father. There had to be more to it than the earl killing her brother. "What is your real name?"
Blinking at how fast Terric changed the subject, she answered, "I am Jacqueline. What does knowing my name have to do with your decision?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to know what to call you. Other than a mad woman."
After all that she had already gone through this day, Jacqueline did not let Terric's insult lightly go by. She raised her right hand to deliver a slap to his face, only to have him grab it before she could make contact. Growling in fury, she jerked her hand free.
"Jacqueline, that will do nothing to sway me to your side. But I do beg your forgiveness for the slight I gave you. It was unfair of me. But you are no match for your father. You have obviously never seen the earl in the list. Very few can defeat him."
"I do not care. I will face him."
Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, Beth interrupted them. "Sir Terric, can I speak with you privately in your pavilion?"
Noticing the concerned expression on Beth's face, he agreed. Leaving Edwin to keep an eye on Jacqueline, they returned to his pavilion next door.
It was not hard to tell that Sir Terric had some concerns about Jacqueline, so Beth strived to make him understand why it was so important to her sister-in-law that she do this. "You have to understand how William's death affected Jacqueline. It is like a part of her died with him. The only thing which has kept her going has been her burning need for revenge. Until she faces the earl, she will not let herself accept the loss of her brother. Jacqueline has not shed one tear in all this time. She will not grieve."
Terric agitatedly ran his fingers through his hair. "Before I make my decision on what to do, I need you to truthfully answer one question."
"I will try to answer you as well as I can."
"Jacqueline has so much hatred for her father, I have seen it in her eyes. I know what happened to William was just the catalyst which pushed her to this point. What has the earl done to her in the past?"
Beth laughed, but it held no humor. It was a bitter laugh. "You are correct in your thinking. William was the last of many wrong doings by the earl. The only difficulty will be knowing where to start. The list is many and varies greatly. The earl basically abandoned his pregnant wife on the Isle and never had any interest in his children once they were born. Nor his wife for that matter. He already had his heir. There was no need. But what really made Jacqueline despise him was the marriage he arranged for her. Without her consent or her mother's."
"I take it the bridegroom was not to her liking?"
"Hardly. I think you have heard of the man the earl chose for her. The Earl of Somerset."
Letting loose a low whistle, Terric shook his head. "I would not even contract a marriage with that devil Forwin to my bitch hound. The bitch being too good for him. Obviously Jacqueline somehow stopped the marriage."
"Not so much Jacqueline as her mother. Lady Elizabeth was dead set against the marriage so she took matters into her own hands. To make a long story short, she faked Jacqueline's death. Therefore, the marriage contract became void."
"Lady Elizabeth sounds like a very intelligent woman. One well able to look after her children on her own."
Beth agreed with Terric's assumption. "That she is. She is not at all happy with what Jacqueline is doing, but she has kept her promise to keep William's death a secret from the earl." Taking both of his hands in her own, she looked up at him beseechingly. "I have told you enough, Sir Terric, of what goes on. I implore you not to reveal Jacqueline as an impostor. She has worked so hard to reach this point. If she cannot proceed, I am very much afraid it will break the fragile thread she desperately holds onto."
After taking a few minutes to silently deliberate, Terric came to his decision. "Jacqueline and you win. I will say nothing." When Beth started to thank him, he stopped her. "I am not finished yet. I have some conditions. Firstly, Jacqueline competes in no more tournaments until the time she faces her father. Secondly, she goes home to the Isle, where I will accompany her."
"Why do you want to come home with us?"
"If she plans on facing the earl and survive the experience, she needs me. I am one of few who have won a ransom from him. I will train her. She is nowhere near ready to go up against her father. Do not ask me why, but I do not relish the idea of Jacqueline doing this without me by her side."
&
nbsp; Chapter Six
Jacqueline had not bargained on having Terric and his squire go back to the Isle. She was thankful he had held his tongue about her, but she was not all that certain she liked his being in such close proximity.
Dismounting in the bailey, Jacqueline braced herself for her mother's reaction to unexpected guests. As predicted, when Lady Elizabeth noticed the strangers in their midst, she headed directly to confront her daughter.
"What goes on here, Jacqueline? Who are these men?" Lady Elizabeth whispered her questions. Jacqueline was pleased her mother remembered to keep her real identity a secret.
"Sir Terric is my friend. The other man is his squire, Edwin. There is no need to whisper either. Both know who I really am."
"You told them who you are?" her mother gasped.
"Nay, mother. When I was injured at the tournament, they helped me and found out for themselves."
"You were injured?!" Lady Elizabeth's words were spoken so loudly, all present in the bailey heard them, causing them to turn and look in their direction.
"Calm down. I am fine. I just had a dislocated shoulder. Terric fixed it for me. You know it happens more than not in the list. William sustained the same injury at one time."
"That may be so, but you are not your brother. I cannot fathom why you persist in this foolishness."
Unable to deal with her mother any further, Jacqueline stalked away.
Terric raised his brow in question when she approached. "Is everything all right with you?"
Jacqueline nodded, trying to rein in her temper. "Aye. Do not worry yourself. My mother was just expressing her disapproval is all."
Hearing her mother's steps behind her, she made the introductions. "Mother, this is Sir Terric Aubrey. Terric, this is Lady Elizabeth Montacute, my mother."
Playing the gallant, Terric took Lady Elizabeth's hand and kissed the back of it. As he did so, he took the time to take a better look at the older woman. She was a woman in her forties who took good care of herself. Her body was as slim as her daughter's. Terric could not help but notice who Jacqueline and William took after. The daughter very much looked like the mother.
"I bid you welcome, Sir Terric."
"Thank you for your warm welcome, my lady."
"May I ask how long you plan to stay on the Isle?"
"As long as it takes to train Jacqueline. Since she is determined to challenge her father, I plan to make sure she learns enough to survive the encounter."
Terric could not ignore Lady Elizabeth's worried expression. He could see she felt deeply for her daughter. The gruffness she showed Jacqueline was primarily caused by her great concern. Hoping to alleviate some of her worries, he leaned in closer and whispered, "Have no fear, my lady. I will not let anything happen to Jacqueline. I promise you this."
Looking Terric in the eye, Lady Elizabeth replied dryly, "Do not think I will release you from that promise, Sir Terric, for I will not."
Knowing she would hold him to the promise he had just made to her, Terric inclined his head in acknowledgment.
"Now if you will excuse me, I will see about having a chamber prepared for you and your squire. Jacqueline will show you around."
After Lady Elizabeth departed, Jacqueline motioned for Terric to follow her. The main hall was well kept and inviting. Terric knew he would have no trouble calling it home, if it were his. The rushes upon the stone floor were fresh and the trestle table was polished to a high gloss.
After a servant had brought Jacqueline and him some ale to quench their thirst, Terric noticed she would occasionally look toward the stairs which led to the floor above.
"I hope our coming here has not caused too much upset for your mother."
Jacqueline dismissed his concerns away with a wave of her hand. "Nay. My mother is more upset with me. And it will upset her more when I tell her where I intend to confront the earl."
"You have not told her about the grand tournament yet?"
"Nay, I have not. I have been delaying that particular battle."
Terric smiled in understanding. "Your mother does not seem to be a woman who misses anything that concerns her family."
"You are quite right. Mother does not like being ignorant about any goings on."
Just then, Lady Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs. Once she reached the bottom, she joined Jacqueline and Terric at the table. "Your chamber is ready now, Sir Terric. If you wish to see yourself settled, you may do so at anytime."
Taking that as a polite way of asking him to give her a private moment with her daughter, Terric said, "I think I will do so right now. I will go and collect Edwin from the bailey."
After Terric disappeared through the hall doorway, Lady Elizabeth started to speak. "I heard what you and Sir Terric were talking about. He is a very astute man. He was correct. I already know about the grand tournament, Jacqueline."
"How did you find out?" she asked softly.
Lady Elizabeth reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair from her daughter's brow. "It was not so much my finding out, as being told. You see, I have a secret I have been keeping from you, as well. One I now feel I am ready to tell."
"What is it?" Jacqueline knew it would be something serious to cause her mother to keep it to herself. Lady Elizabeth was not the type of parent who kept her children ignorant for their own good.
"I received a missive a fortnight ago from your father. In his letter he requests both William and I attend the grand tournament to be held in London. It was worded as a command really. So you see if we do not go, your father will more than likely come to the Isle and personally make sure we do not disobey him."
Jacqueline's face showed the shock she felt. When her father sent missives, it usually portended a change to their everyday lives on the Isle. And they were never good. "Did he give a reason why he had demanded our presence in London?"
"Nay, but I like it not. He is up to something, no question about it. We will go, you along with Beth and myself. There will be no thwarting him. We will have to be very careful, Jacqueline. If your father uncovers our ruse, he will not be pleased to say the least."
Picking up her mother's hand, Jacqueline gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I will not let that happen. Having both you and Beth standing by me will make it more believable. With Sir Terric now training me, I will be better prepared to face the earl in the list. What could possibly go wrong?"
* * * *
The following morning, Terric started Jacqueline's training. He had to admit she was very skilled at the quintain, but it was only a poor substitute for facing another man on horseback.
Deciding it was best to start the training minus the quintain, Terric motioned for her to come over to him. She had just completed a successful pass.
"I think your skill cannot be any furthered with the quintain, Jacqueline. For now, I will be your target. To begin with, I will not ride at you. I want you to hit me with your lance only. That way I will be better able to see just where you hit with each pass."
"I do not think that is a good idea, Terric. You are going to be getting hit full force. I do not want to hurt you."
Terric flashed her one of his bone melting smiles. She felt the full affect of it run through her body. "I had no idea you cared so much for my welfare, my lady." Accompanied by the clanking of his armor, he bowed to her.
"I am not playing games, Terric. I would feel dreadful if I injured you."
Even though Terric could not see Jacqueline's face with her helm shielding it from view, he could tell from the tone of her voice she would not let this pass easily. Becoming serious, he tried to lay her mind to rest. "There is no need to worry, Jacqueline. My armor will protect me. I know how much it can handle."
"Fine, I will do as you say. You are more knowledgeable about this sport than I. So I will acquiesce to your greater experience," she said sassily.
"Enough of this. Go to the other end of the field and I will signal you when I am ready."
Once in place, Ed
win, who had been recruited to assist both Terric and Jacqueline at these training sessions, handed her a lance. Having taken possession of it from him, he quickly ran across the field to Terric.
Helping the knight mount his horse, Edwin quietly whispered, "Do you think it wise what you do here? I am not like yonder lady over there. I am not quite so beguiled by your charms that I lose my senses."
Busily adjusting his shield upon his left arm, Terric absently replied, "I did not ask your opinion on the matter, Edwin. Jacqueline's aim is very erratic. This is the best way for me to see what she does when she runs the list."
Knowing Terric would not be swayed, Edwin shook his head. "Suit yourself. Just do not come to me to have your shoulder fixed. I hope the lady knocks you on your ass."
"Such kind words, squire."
Still shaking his head, Edwin moved out of harms way. "Be a fool then."
Seeing she was ready, Terric motioned for Jacqueline to come at him. She kicked her heels into her steed's sides and brought her lance up and into position. He had a split second of misgiving about this mode of training. It was an eerie feeling sitting still while a fully armored rider raced toward you, lance at the ready. When said lance hit his shield at full speed, he seriously thought he had lost his mind to have ever come up with this suggestion. The impact was twice as hard. Harder than when he was in motion and able to ride past the other rider. Keeping his voice even, he told Jacqueline to take another run.
After she had completed three more such runs, Terric had reached his limit. Having found out what she was consistently doing wrong, he signaled the end of it. His shoulder could stand no more such abuse.
With her last run completed, Jacqueline returned to Terric's side. "No more, Terric. I refuse to do it again."
"There is no need. I found what I was looking for. On the morrow we will focus on correcting it."
Relieved this part of her training was finished, she removed her helm. Using his right arm, Terric did the same. Noticing no appearance of pain upon his face, Jacqueline let herself relax. Each time she had hit his shield, she could see it took all of his strength to remain in the saddle.
A Tournament Knight Page 5