Love in a Mist

by Patricia Grasso

  “She certainly was pretty.”

  “I suppose, in a common sort of way.”

  Suppressing a smile, Henry glanced sidelong at his sister. That she gave the other girl that much praise surprised him.

  “What did she want?”

  “The chit was bent on telling Father that she is his long-lost daughter.”

  “Do you think she really is—?”

  “Between those violet eyes and that damn dragon pendant, there’s little doubt who sired her,” Morgana interrupted him. “How like Father to scatter his seed far and wide.”

  “Violet-eyed like Father,” Henry echoed. “Why didn’t you call him?”

  “Why bother him with such a trivial matter as one of his by-blows?” Morgana countered. “Do you actually want to share your home with a base-born wench?”

  “Bastards cannot inherit,” Henry said. “What harm could she do us?”

  “It’s bad enough the Countess of Cheshire is sniffing after Father,” Morgana complained. “We don’t need someone else trying to steal our inheritance.”

  “My inheritance,” Henry corrected her.

  “Of course. Whatever you say.”

  “Where Lady Dawn is concerned,” Henry said, “Father is the one doing the sniffing. I’ve never seen such big—”

  “You men are all alike.”

  “And what does that mean?”

  Ignoring his question, Morgana steered the subject to her favorite topic of conversation—herself. “As for myself, I cannot decide between Richard Devereux and Willis Smythe. Which one should I marry?”

  “I don’t care who is unfortunate enough to win your hand,” Henry said, his expression pained.

  “Your attitude is unbecoming of the future Duke of Ludlow,” Morgana scolded him. “Though Devereux is an earl and one of the richest men in England, Baron Smythe’s devilishly handsome face does attract me.”

  “Marry Devereux, and take Smythe for your lover,” Henry said in growing disgust. “Where’s Father?”

  “Probably lying abed with Lady Dawn. Why do you ask?”

  “Because, you idiot, he needs to be told about—”

  “Keep your lips shut about her,” Morgana threatened, “or you’ll regret it.”

  “Father has the right to know he sired another child,” Henry insisted. “Besides, I’d like to meet this other sister of mine.”

  “If you tell Father about this, I’ll tell him about that pretty maid you’ve been—” Morgana broke off, unwilling to say the words. “I know what you’ve been doing, and I know Papa ordered you to leave Ludlow’s maids alone.”

  “You win,” Henry agreed.

  “Do you swear it?”

  “I swear I won’t tell Father about this other child of his.”

  “I knew I could depend upon you,” Morgana said, and planted a kiss on his cheek before turning to leave the hall.

  Henry wiped his contaminated cheek with his sleeve and sat down. Though he’d sworn to keep his lips shut, he hadn’t promised not to tell their previously unknown half-sister where to locate their father when he traveled to London.“Dobbs!”

  When the servant appeared several moments later, he ordered, “Send a man to follow those three who just left Ludlow. Tell him to try the Boar’s Head. ’Tis the only inn for miles. Then I’ll need parchment, quill, and one of my father’s couriers. Hurry, man.”

  * * *

  Bereft of hope, Keely leaped onto Merlin and galloped out of Ludlow Castle’s inner courtyard. Once outside the castle’s outer curtain, she slowed the mare to let her cousins catch up, and they rode in silence.

  Madoc had been correct. She was the Princess of Nowhere.

  No longer did the rustic scenery appear idyllic. The area’s sparse population mirrored her desolation; the thatched-roof cottages appeared to be hovels; even the myriad wild flowers, swaying in the gentle breeze, mocked her loss.

  Somewhere between Ludlow Castle and the Boar’s Head Inn, Keely’s aching pain changed to simmering anger and then boiling rage. The Duke of Ludlow had impregnated her mother and abandoned her. He would pay dearly, but revenge against one of the most powerful peers of the realm seemed impossible.

  Causing another’s fear is wrong, Keely heard her mother’s patient voice.

  Keely’s rage left her then as quickly as it had come, leaving her depleted of energy. Her baser impulses—caused by the tainted English blood that flowed through her veins, would be kept under rigid control. Surrendering to such negative forces would destroy her.

  “What shall we do now?” Hew asked as the three of them ate dinner at a long table inside the inn’s common room.

  “Keely will wait a day or two,” Odo answered, “and then she’ll try to see her father. This time we’ll go to Ludlow at suppertime when the duke’s certain to be about.”

  “I cannot return to Ludlow,” Keely said, shaking her head. “That girl—my half-sister—doesn’t want me there.”

  “Perhaps the lady was being cautious,” Odo suggested.

  “I saw in her eyes that she recognized me for who I am,” Keely said. “My existence threatens her.”

  “You’re the duke’s daughter,” Odo said, “the same as she is.”

  “Not quite the same,” Keely corrected him. “I am the duke’s bastard.”

  “I say let’s go home,” Hew said. “Rhys will protect you from Madoc.”

  “The Princess of Nowhere is a woman without a home,” Keely said in an aching whisper. “Sharing my exile is unnecessary. I want both of you to return to Wales.”

  Odo reached out and covered her hand with his own. Hew placed his hand on top of theirs.

  “We’re all three of us in this together,” Odo said.

  “I couldn’t have said it any better,” Hew remarked.

  “’Course you couldn’t,” Odo told him. “’Cause you're a blinking idiot.”

  Keely would have spoken, but the inn’s door opened, drawing their attention. Dressed in the Duke of Ludlow’s livery, a ducal courier entered the common room. He scanned the nearly deserted chamber and then advanced on them. Reaching their table, the Talbot man-at-arms asked, “Are you the woman who visited Ludlow Castle this morning?”

  Keely worried her bottom lip with her teeth and nodded.

  The courier produced a rolled-up parchment and handed it to her.

  Keely stared at the man for a long moment and then at the missive in her hand. She opened it and read, then raised her violet gaze to the courier’s.

  “Is there any reply?” the man asked, his tone softening at the beauty of her dazzling smile. “Please tell him I said thank you.”

  The courier nodded and, without another word, left the inn.

  “Let me see the message,” Hew said.

  “You can’t read,” Odo reminded him.

  “Nor can you,” Hew shot back.

  “Never said I did,” Odo countered. “Well, little girl, are you holding good news in the palm of your hand?”

  “I have a brother Henry,” Keely told them. “He says our father will return to his London residence the third week of September. He’s certain I can speak to him there without interference from the Lady Morgana.”

  “That is good news,” Odo said.

  “Are we going to London now?” Hew whined. “I never thought I’d live to see the day I journeyed straight into the heart of our enemies.”

  “Of course we’re going to London,” Odo said. “Keely has a need to meet her father.”

  “Escorting me to London is unnecessary,” Keely told them. “I’m certain I can find my way.”

  “Do you think we’d let you travel alone?” Odo asked.

  “You won’t get rid of us that easily,” Hew added.

  “I’d never want to rid myself of either of you,” Keely said. “Have we enough coins to cover our expenses?”

  “Now, little girl, don’t start worrying about trifles,” Odo said. “Get yourself upstairs and take a long nap. We’ll be leaving this afterno
on.”

  Keely rose from the bench. Leaning down, she gave both men a peck on the cheek. “I love you dearly.”

  * * *

  As soon as she disappeared up the stairs, Hew glanced at his brother. “Well?”

  “We’ve very few coins,” Odo said. “No need to worry, though. We’ll reach London and survive until the third week in September. Something is bound to turn up.”

  The inn’s door swung open again, and a tall, well-built man entered. His arrogant demeanor and expensive-looking clothing screamed “rich nobleman.” The lord walked over to the innkeeper and said in a loud voice, “I require a decent chamber for no more than an hour and a hot bath to accompany it. I will, of course, pay your regular daily rate. How far is Ludlow Castle?”

  “Thirty minutes up the road, my lord,” the innkeeper answered. “Please, follow me. I’ll show you to my best chamber.”

  Watching the nobleman climb the stairs behind the innkeeper, Odo leaned close to his brother and whispered, “Something just turned up.”

  Hew snapped his head around and stared at him. “I know what you’re thinking. Highway robbery is a hanging offense.”

  “Hanging is a quicker death than starving.”

  “We’ll never get caught,” Hew whispered.

  Odo’s gaze narrowed on him. “How can you be so sure?”

  “We carry carnelian stones,” Hew answered, pulling one of the smooth brandy-colored stones from his pocket. “Keely said the magic in these stones will protect us from harm. Megan taught her such things.”

  Odo closed his eyes against his brother’s stupidity and squelched the urge to strike him. “I know the perfect place in the road to meet our friend,” he said, rising. “Let’s go.”

  “What friend?” Hew looked at him blankly. “Oh, that friend.”

  An hour later, Odo and Hew hid in the dense woods along the road and waited for their intended victim, who approached at a leisurely pace toward Ludlow Castle.

  Closer rode the nobleman. He was almost abreast of their hiding places . . .

  Odo signaled Hew. They bolted into the road in front of and behind the man. Startled, his horse reared. In the movement the black-clad nobleman lost his hat, revealing a flaming mane of copper hair. He reached for his sword but stayed his hand on its hilt when he felt the lip of a sword touch his back.

  “Who dares to accost the queen’s man?” the Earl of Basildon growled, his voice and his expression telling them they were beneath his contempt.

  “Those traveling this road are now required to pay a tax,” Odo told him. “We are the tax collectors.”

  “Give us whatever coins you carry, my lord high-and-mighty,” Hew added.

  Richard Devereux raised his copper brows at their demand. “You dare attempt to rob the Earl of Basildon?”

  “We’re not attempting anything,” Odo shot back. “We’re doing it. Hand me your sword, hilt first, and then the dagger.”

  Richard remained motionless, silently refusing.

  “Make haste,” Hew snapped. “Or you’ll regret it.”

  Richard drew his sword. As he started to hand it over, he kicked his steed’s flank, and the horse danced sideways. Richard slipped his booted foot out of the stirrup, kicked Odo’s horse, and swung the sword hilt into the side of the other man’s face.

  “Run,” Hew shouted, losing his balance, sending his brother bolting for escape. He toppled off his horse and fell with a heavy thud in the road. Desperate to escape the Englishman, Hew scrambled to his feet and staggered into the woods. Within mere seconds, strong hands grabbed him from behind and tackled him.

  Richard raised his fist to strike. “I want to see your pained expression when you swallow your teeth.” Suddenly, he groaned and collapsed. Dead weight.

  “Did you kill him?” Hew asked, staring up at his brother.

  “Gave him a love tap is all,” Odo answered, lifting the earl so that Hew could slide from beneath him. “He’ll be waking from his nap soon enough.”

  “And sounding the alarm,” Hew said, touching his neck as though he already felt the noose tightening. “We must slow him down.”

  Odo considered the problem for a long moment and finally said, “Stealing his horse will give us the time we need to collect Keely and leave the area.”

  “Are we adding horse-thieving to highway robbery?” Hew groaned.

  “Cheer up,” Odo said. “The English can only hang you once.”

  The two Welshmen began divesting the earl of his valuables. Before leaving, Hew pulled one of the magical carnelian stones from his pocket. He placed it in the palm of the earl’s left hand and closed his fingers around it. “So Keely won’t scold us if she ever discovers what we’ve done.”

  “Take his boots too,” Odo ordered. “Walking barefoot to Ludlow will give us plenty of time.”

  Odo and Hew mounted their horses. With the earl’s horse in tow, they disappeared into the safety of Shropshire Forest.

  * * *

  Some time later Richard opened his eyes and stared up at the clear blue sky. He sat up slowly, reached for the back of his aching head, and looked around in confusion. Where was his horse? And boots? He glanced at the brandy-colored stone clutched in his left hand. Was this their payment for stealing his possessions? His hat lay beside him on the ground.

  With the stone in one hand and the hat in the other, Richard got to his feet. The stone would serve as a reminder of the villains and what they’d done to him.

  If ever I get my hands on them, Richard promised himself, I’ll make them wish they’d died in infancy.

  With that, Richard began the most humiliating task of his life—the walk to Ludlow Castle. “Ouch!” He reached down and dislodged a jagged stone from between his toes, then straightened and started walking again.

  So busy was Richard planning myriad forms of revenge on the two thieves that he arrived at Ludlow Castle in record time. Only the Talbot men-at-arms’ laughter yanked him out of his wholly satisfying daydreams.

  Richard marched across the lowered drawbridge, through the outer bailey, and into the inner courtyard. The Earl of Basildon pretended deafness to the shouts of laughter he evoked. “What the bloody hell are you doing, Devereux?”

  Richard turned toward the Duke of Ludlow‘s imposing figure. “I’ve come to court Morgana, Your Grace.”

  “You walked barefoot from Leicester?”

  “I’ve been robbed, “ Richard shouted, shaking his hat at the duke. None but one still dared laugh at the earl.

  A throaty chuckle drew their attention. “Why, Tally,” drawled the Countess of Cheshire, “Devereux has the cutest pair of—” The duke’s hand snaked out and covered her mouth, leaving her thought unfinished.

  “I do apologize for the inconvenience. Of course, you’re welcome to my wardrobe,” Robert Talbot said as he escorted the earl inside. “We’ll catch the culprit and hang him—you can be certain of that.”

  “Search the area for two giants,” Richard said.

  “Giants?” Talbot echoed, unable to credit what he was hearing.

  “I mean, two rather large men,” Richard amended. “They spoke with an accent, probably Welsh.”

  Morgana Talbot stood in the entrance to the great hall and watched her father and a barefoot Earl of Basildon disappear down the corridor. “What’s happened?” she asked the passing countess.

  “Devereux has come to court you,” Lady Dawn answered, giving her a feline smile. “The earl has very attractive toes, if that sort of activity appeals to you. I heard from Lady Mary and Lady Jane that the Earl of Basildon has more to offer than meets the eye.”

  Morgana Talbot’s gaze narrowed on the other woman, but her curiosity overruled her animosity toward the voluptuous countess. “What does he have to offer?”

  “Devereux sports a freckle on the tip of his—” With that, the Countess of Cheshire strolled into the great hall to await the men’s return.

  Chapter 3

  English hedges and gardens misted w
ith purple Michaelmas daisies and their strange fragrance wafted through the air, announcing the full Harvest Moon and the autumnal equinox, when day and night balanced perfectly. London’s Christians prepared their Saint Michael’s Day feast, and the farmers in the surrounding countryside prepared to celebrate their Harvest Home.

  Others prepared themselves for a different kind of observance. They knew Saint Michael’s true identity—the pagan saint previously known as the Sun God.

  Early evening, the quiet time before twilight, drifted from east to west across England. In the midst of a secluded oak grove on top of Primrose Hill stood three people, two giants and a petite dark-haired woman.

  “Now, little girl, I don’t like this,” Odo said.

  “You’ll be burned as a witch if anyone sees us,” Hew added. “I don’t doubt we’ll be burned as warlocks with you.”

  “These kings and queens of the forest will protect me,” Keely said, gesturing to the oak trees. She donned her white robe over her violet wool skirt and white linen blouse, and drew its hood over her head to cover her ebony mane. “Robbing that lord in Shropshire has placed us in grave danger. Whatever harm we cause others returns to injure us tenfold.”

  “We said we’re sorry,” Hew muttered.

  “How many times are you going to scold us, little girl?” Odo asked. “We did leave him that carnelian stone for protection.”

  Keely gave him no answer. Instead, she took the eight rocks that Odo held out to her. “Madoc Lloyd wounded my soul. Failing to observe Alban Elued, the Light of the Water, will make the wound fester and poison me.”

  Keely walked to the center of the oak grove and used the rocks to make a large circle, leaving the western periphery open. Between each of the rocks, she set wild berries of elder, whortles, sloes, and damsons.

  Will you join me?” Keely asked her cousins. “Safety lies within the circle.”

  Both Odo and Hew shook their heads. Protecting her from possible intruders required alertness.

  Keely entered the circle from the west and closed it behind her with the last rock, saying, “All disturbing thoughts remain outside.”