A Tournament Knight

by A Tournament Knight (lit)

  Punching the dough down with more force than it necessitated for the task, Jacqueline remained silent. She hoped Mabel would let the subject be, but the cook was not quite ready to give up just yet.

  "My lady … Jacqueline, all of us that work in the castle knows there is more going on. More than Nicholas's scheming, and you are all mixed up in it." Mabel placed her hands atop Jacqueline's, stilling her movements. "We know your baby is not your husband's, as well."

  Clenching her hands into fists, Jacqueline brought her eyes up to look at Mabel. She could see the worry etched on the cook's face. "No fear, Mabel. The baby is not Nicholas's. I was already pregnant when I first came to Nunney."

  "What happened?"

  Brushing the flour off her hands, Jacqueline seated herself on a stool. "It is a long story. To put it simply, my father stole me away on the very day I was to wed another."

  "Oh, child." Mabel wrapped Jacqueline in a motherly embrace. "Men and their schemes. Well, once Forwin is gone, you can get your man back."

  "Mabel!" Jacqueline said laughingly.

  "I only speak the truth. As a widow, you will gain your independence. You can wed whomever you wish."

  Watching as Mabel returned to the task of bread making, Jacqueline mulled over what the cook had said. It was possible. She could marry Terric once Forwin left this earth. But there was only one hurdle which she would have to face first. Would Terric believe her when she told him how she had been forced to write that missive? The chances were slim indeed.

  * * * *

  Riding through the village of Nunney, Terric made his way toward the castle. He studied his adversary's home as he drew nearer.

  The basic plan of the castle was one of four equal sized large drum towers, set at the corners of a rectangle. The south-west and north-east pair of towers had a short connecting wall between them. While the north-west and south-east pair had a much longer one. Terric noticed the castle walls were finished in ashlar masonry of high quality. A wealthy man indeed!

  Approaching the causeway, he could see the high conical roofs atop each of the towers, as well as the rampart walks just beneath them. The walk extended all the way around to the top story of the castle and was made of wood. Crossing the wooden drawbridge, Terric passed through the castle gate unchallenged. Apparently Forwin did not expect any trouble, which marked him a fool. A man who left his castle open to attacks, usually got one.

  No one took any notice of his arrival until a servant came to the well, the well being situated near the north-east tower. Once he was spotted calmly sitting atop his horse in the bailey, the girl hesitated for a moment then she did an abrupt about face and went back inside the main building. Knowing Forwin would be notified of his presence, Terric dismounted.

  Jacqueline was in the kitchen when the young servant girl came rushing in looking for her. "My lady, you must go to the bailey. A strange knight sits out there on his horse."

  Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be Terric whom the girl saw? Brushing flour from her hands, she then headed for the bailey. She prayed it was not Terric. With everything she was embroiled in, he needed to stay as far away as possible from her. At least until Forwin made his exit from this world anyway. Terric could all too easily fall prey to either her husband's or the earl's conniving plans.

  Stepping outside into the bailey, Jacqueline sharply sucked in a breath through her clenched teeth. It was Terric who stood waiting by his horse. He had his back turned to her and had not seen her.

  Seeing him standing there, as large as life, made all the feelings she had for him resurface with a vengeance. She wished she could rush over to him, hold him in her arms, and beg him to take her away from all this. The need was so great within her, it almost became an unbearable ache. But of course she would do no such thing. She loved him too much to risk losing him. Taking a deep breath for courage, Jacqueline walked over to Terric and did what had to be done.

  Hearing the sound of footsteps crunching on the gravel behind him, Terric turned to see who had finally decided to come and greet him. His mouth went suddenly dry at the sight of Jacqueline purposely striding toward him.

  She appeared to be well. At least there were no outward signs of her being mistreated physically. She looked every inch the chatelaine of the castle. She even wore the keys of the castle at her waist, hung from the girdle around her slim hips.

  Jacqueline stopped a short distance away from where he stood. "What do you want, Terric?"

  Her unemotional display made him carefully choose his words. "When your father sent word of where you were to your mother, she wanted me to check and see if it were true. We have been searching for you, Jacqueline."

  "You have found me."

  This was not going as he had expected. She seemed almost indifferent toward him. "What has happened to you?"

  "All my father said is true. I am now Forwin's wife."

  Terric was having a hard time accepting how calm and accepting she appeared to be. "Why, Jacqueline? You could have refused. No woman can be forced into marriage. It is church law."

  Jacqueline shook her head at what he said. "That law means nothing and you know it. My father does what he wishes. He can be very persuasive when he wants to be."

  "Could you have not held him off for a time? You are a very capable woman, Jacqueline. You could have thought of something to delay the marriage from taking place."

  "What good would that have done?"

  Feeling frustrated, Terric spoke a bit too sharply. "I do not know. You had to have known I would come looking for you."

  Swallowing down the painful lump that had formed in her throat, Jacqueline sadly shook her head once more. "Did you ride out searching when you found me missing that day?" His silence spoke volumes to her. She blinked back the tears which threatened to rise to the surface.

  "You did not, did you Terric? You believed every word I wrote."

  Terric could see the hurt in her gleaming turquoise eyes. He tried to take a step closer to her, but she would not allow it. She held out her hand to stop him. Still wanting Jacqueline to understand, he tried to explain with the only option she left him-words. "Your missive hurt and I was a fool to take it to heart."

  "But you must have known how I felt about you."

  "I thought I did. The missive made me think you never really cared for me at all. You never said the words." Terric watched as a single tear fell down her cheek. He reached out and gently brushed it away. Jacqueline roughly shoved his hand from her face.

  "Just as you never spoke those same words to me. Now it is too late. The damage is done."

  Not knowing exactly what he planned on doing, Terric grabbed Jacqueline by the arm and began to pull her toward his waiting horse. But before he was able to take more than two steps, a man exited the main building and hailed them.

  Catching sight of Nicholas heading in their direction with a smile upon his face, Jacqueline silently groaned to herself. The man had perfect timing. Wiping her eyes with a quick swipe of her sleeve, she pulled herself together. She did not want to give Nicholas any indication of how she felt about Terric.

  Terric watched the other man as he came out to meet them. Even though they had yet to make the acquaintance of each other, he readily recognized the other man's type. He was a charmer. An ass kisser, to put it bluntly. The smile that graced his lips did not reach his eyes.

  "Jacqueline, are you not going to invite our guest into the hall?"

  She scowled at Nicholas. "He is not staying."

  Nicholas' sharp gaze did not miss the exchange of looks that passed between Forwin's young wife and the knight. Though she might try to act with nonchalance, he could see the two were well known to each other. It was easy to see the longing in their eyes for one another.

  "From the way you were conversing, I thought you were well acquainted with each other."

  Catching Terric's gaze, Jacqueline stared intently into his violet eyes, hoping he would keep silent. Either he did not understand wha
t she was wanting him to do, or he ignored her entreaty. He spoke to Nicholas.

  "Lady Jacqueline and I are … were very close at one time. When I heard of her marriage, I came to pay my respects."

  Nicholas smiled slyly. "I can see you two were very … close indeed. If that is the case, Jacqueline must have told you the good news."

  Cringing, Jacqueline closed her eyes and swore under her breath, calling Nicholas every bad name she could think of. If she had a knife in her hand, she would have happily stuck it in his gullet.

  "What would that be?" Terric asked quietly.

  "Why, Lady Jacqueline is carrying the next Earl of Somerset. Forwin's heir."

  Terric's stomach lurched. Had this been what Jacqueline meant when she said the damage was already done? "Is this true, Jacqueline? Are you with child?"

  Sadly, she nodded. "Aye, I am."

  It was most assuredly over then. He had lost her for good. Feeling as if his world had come crashing down all around him, Terric silently turned and retrieved his horse. Mounting up, he turned his steed around and left the bailey. Not once did he look behind him.

  After watching Terric disappear from sight, Nicholas said sarcastically, "He must not have been happy with your good fortune."

  Whipping around, Jacqueline slapped Nicholas across the face, leaving her handprint on his cheek. "How dare you? What right do you have to be involved in my affairs?"

  Taking her roughly by the arm, Nicholas pulled it painfully up and behind her back, forcing her up against him. Anger flashed in his eyes, making them turn a stormy gray. "You will not strike me like that ever again. I see you have a lot to learn about being an obedient wife. I will take great pleasure in educating you once Forwin is gone. As my wife, you will show me the proper respect I am due."

  Thrusting Jacqueline away, Nicholas then returned back to the hall. Rubbing her arm, a shiver of true fear caused her body to shake uncontrollably. She needed help. Nicholas was a much bigger threat than she had realized. When Forwin was gone, there would be no one to keep the minstrel in check. It was time to enlist the help of her mother.

  * * * *

  Now that she had made the decision to enlist the help of her mother, Jacqueline needed a way to sneak a missive out of Nunney. She was no fool. She knew Nicholas watched her every move. She also knew she needed help from those within the castle. They were allowed the freedom she herself was not permitted.

  Reading over what she had written to her mother, Jacqueline could not help but feel homesick. The Isle had been the only home she had known. What bothered her the most was not being able to have her mother with her. Her mother was the one steadying constant in her life. She was always there to help her through any troubled times.

  Satisfied with the missive, she sanded it, then sealed it closed. Hastily shoving it into the bodice of her gown, Jacqueline left her chamber to seek out Mabel in the kitchen.

  As she walked past Forwin's chamber, the door opened and Nicholas stepped into the hallway. He effectively blocked her way. "Is there something you want, Nicholas?"

  He smiled and then blatantly looked her up and down. "What I want is not yet mine to take. So instead, you can give me some information I seek."

  Jacqueline narrowed her eyes at him. "What information?"

  He bestowed her with one of his most charming smiles. If she were easily turned by a man's good looks, she would have fallen under the spell he tried to weave around her. Luckily, she knew what Nicholas truly was. Nothing but a snake in the grass.

  "That knight, the one who came to visit you. Who is he?"

  "Just someone I know. If you will excuse me, I have other things to attend to." Jacqueline tried to step around him, but he blocked her path.

  "Come now, Jacqueline. You can tell me. He is the father of your baby. It was not hard to miss how you both were panting over each other."

  She glared at him, feeling her disgust for him deepen. "Even if I admitted that he was, it is still none of your business, Nicholas. I do not have to answer to you."

  Nicholas's charming facade dropped. Taking her by the shoulders, he forced her up against the wall. "Oh, but you will. Very soon."

  To show her what was to come, he roughly grabbed Jacqueline by her chin and roughly kissed her. Managing to bring her hands up to his chest, she forcibly shoved him away. Nicholas sniggered when she scrubbed the back of her hand across her mouth, trying to remove all traces of his kiss. Giving her a mocking bow, he then returned to Forwin's chamber.

  Patting the missive still concealed within her bodice, Jacqueline hurried to reach the kitchen. How her future would turn out now hinged on this single missive reaching her mother.

  She safely arrived at the kitchen, her face still red with indignation. Mabel, ever observant, placed her hands on her ample hips and looked at Jacqueline questioningly.

  "What has the snake done now?"

  "He cornered me outside my husband's chamber."

  Picking up the meat cleaver she had been using before Jacqueline's arrival, Mabel began to mutter angrily under her breath. When she moved toward the door, cleaver still in hand, Jacqueline realized Mabel intended to confront Nicholas.

  "Oh no, you cannot, Mabel." Taking hold of the cook's arm, she steered her back inside the kitchen. She tried to stare sternly at Mabel, but found herself unable to do so. The very idea of the older woman chasing after Nicholas with her meat cleaver was highly amusing. Laughter bubbled up inside her.

  The more she conjured up the image of Mabel chasing a screaming Nicholas around the bailey, with cleaver held high, the harder she laughed. Seeing the perplexed look upon the older woman's face, Jacqueline managed to splutter, "The meat cleaver. Really now, Mabel. That would be a sight to see. You taking Nicholas to task with it."

  Almost as if she had forgotten what she held, Mabel seemed mildly surprised to see the cleaver. Then she, too, started to laugh at the absurdity of it. "I guess you are right, my lady. That would be something, though."

  Once their laughter dissipated, Jacqueline reached inside her bodice and withdrew the missive. "Mabel, do you recall the discussion we had pertaining to Nicholas? About how he is here for another purpose?"

  "Aye." Mabel eyed the missive clutched in Jacqueline's hand.

  "Well, you were right. I had thought I could handle him myself, but I know now that is no longer the case. I need your help."

  "You know I would do anything for you, Jacqueline. Now tell me what has you so worried."

  Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Jacqueline then launched into the story of her life. She trusted Mabel implicitly. So, to better help the other woman understand her situation, she started her tale with the first betrothal arranged by her father to Forwin. From there, the rest just poured out of her.

  She left nothing out-the loss of her brother at the hands of her father, how she had assumed William's identity to meet the earl in the list. And she finally spoke of Terric.

  When Jacqueline reached the end, Mabel dabbed her eyes with the corner of her apron. "The knight who came here, it was Terric?"

  Jacqueline nodded her head sadly. "Aye."

  "Does he know you carry his babe?"

  "Nay. Nicholas broke that particular piece of information to Terric before I could tell him."

  "Just another strike against the rat." Mabel grumbled. "Well if it is help you need, help you will get. What do you plan to do?"

  Jacqueline placed the missive on the worktable. "It is time I call in the reinforcements. I need you to get this missive out of the castle and arrange to have it delivered to my mother."

  "Consider it done, my lady." Snatching up the missive, Mabel placed it in one of the deep pockets of apron.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Months passed and Jacqueline's pregnancy progressed. Forwin, though still extremely ill, seemed to be clinging onto life. He seemed determined to see her baby born into the world.

  She had not told Forwin about the incident that had taken place in the bailey on t
he day of Terric's visit. But she was much more guarded while in Nicholas's presence. Forwin was not a stupid man, though. He quickly noticed the change in her behavior.

  It was during one of her daily visits with him, when Nicholas had left them alone briefly. Something that he very rarely did. Nicholas seemed to want to keep Forwin and her from ever being alone together.

  So, now alone, Forwin gave her a simple warning. "We must tread carefully."

  Making sure the chamber door was shut tight, Jacqueline quickly glanced toward it before she spoke in turn. "More than you know, my lord. Nicholas is not what he wants you to believe. I think he is capable of doing anything."

  Forwin nodded his head gravely. "You have confirmed my suspicions, Jacqueline. I think I have invited a viper into our midst."

  "Then why keep him here? When he finds out you are not going to keep your end of the bargain, he could retaliate."

  "It is very simple really, my dear. Better to have Nicholas here, where he can be watched and contained."

  Jacqueline still felt uneasy about that reasoning. "And after you are gone? What then?"

  Giving her a wink, Forwin slyly said, "You, my dear wife, are quite capable of looking after yourself. I know from first hand experience just what lengths you will take to save yourself. I have all confidence that you can protect your child from Nicholas."

  She could see from his expression, Forwin meant every word he said. And he was right, she would use all within her means to keep her child safe. She had already taken the first step. With the help of Mabel, a missive was even now on its way to her mother.

  Nicholas reappeared a short while later. Where he had been, he did not care to share with them. But the way his glance kept shifting between Forwin and herself, made Jacqueline feel extremely uneasy under his scrutiny. She stood and then left the chamber while Nicholas watched her depart.