by Alexa Aston
“Shall we read it together?” he asked.
“Let’s go to the solar.” She tugged on his hand and urged him to come along with her.
They arrived at their chamber and he placed the scroll on a table.
“I was told by the messenger that the missive was for you.”
“Did you see he had ample food and drink? I pity messengers for all the dusty roads they must ride.”
“I told him to stable his horse and invited him to the evening meal. He told me his name was Sir Symond Benedict.”
Geoffrey saw the flush creep up her neck as she bit her lower lip in thought.
“Do you know this man?”
Merryn busied herself with breaking the seal on the scroll. “Aye, I do. He is part of the king’s royal guard.” She unrolled the tightly wound page. “He brought news to us last month with a letter from the king that informed me the summer progress would stop at Kinwick.”
Merryn’s fingers touched the page. She frowned. “This is not addressed to me. ’Tis your name gracing the page, Geoffrey.” Her cheeks had turned a bright pink. “Sir Symond must have misunderstood the king.”
“I know, Merryn,” he said quietly.
Her eyes met his. “Know what, Geoffrey?”
“That Edward intended this knight to be your new husband.”
She turned away and took a seat. He watched her compose herself.
“Aye. It’s true. The king’s last letter to me not only shared when his court would arrive here but that he wanted me to consider Sir Symond as my new husband. Symond was to remain here during the month that it would take the court to arrive at Kinwick so we could get to know one another.”
Merryn sprang from her chair and came to stand before him. Her hands rested upon his shoulders. “The king granted me many years in which to grieve for you, Geoffrey. He did not force my hand and demand I wed.” She slid her fingers down his arms and took both his hands in hers. “But I believed the time had come when I could no longer put him off. The king thinks highly of Sir Symond, so I knew I should consider the match.”
Merryn thought back to the day Geoffrey had returned. “Then you showed up, Geoffrey. It was as if God knew He must send you back to me before a terrible mistake had been made.”
“So you would have wed this knight?”
She nodded. “Aye. Because the king wished it. The wedding would have taken place during his visit. Thank the Christ it did not.”
Merryn flung her arms around him. Geoffrey embraced her, enjoying the feel of her body against his, her ample breasts pressing into his chest.
“Have no worries, my love,” he whispered against her hair. “We are together again. That’s all that matters.” He eased her away. “We should see what the king writes.”
They read the note, which only told Geoffrey of Edward’s arrival the following day and how he looked forward to meeting him. He mentioned Merryn briefly and asked that she be sure her cook had some of the delicious tarts he loved immediately available.
“I’ll tell Cook to ready everything,” Merryn said. “We have planned out several menus, but I know the tarts are first and foremost on the king’s mind. If he doesn’t get them, he might even throw a fit.” Merryn shuddered. “Worse than any Ancel ever threw and your son can be quite the little devil.”
She started to leave the solar and stopped. “I need to let Hugh and Milla know so they can also be here to greet the king tomorrow. And I suppose, since I want to propose a wedding during the royal visit, that it might be nice if Hardie and his betrothed were on hand. Would you be so good as to send messengers to Wellbury and Winterbourne informing them?”
“I will do so,” he replied.
Geoffrey dashed off a few quick lines to Hugh, asking for him and Milla to come to Kinwick for the king’s arrival the next day. It took him longer to compose a brief missive to Hardie. He still had mixed feelings about the new earl and hated that his children would spend much of their years at Winterbourne under Hardie’s tutelage.
When he finished both, he affixed the sealing wax and pressed the de Montfort insignia into it. He brought the scrolls downstairs and had an idea.
Geoffrey entered the great hall and spied Symond Benedict drinking ale and flirting with a serving wench, pinching her ample bottom.
Putting on his best smile, he approached him. “Sir Symond? Lady Merryn has penned two notes for our neighbors on each side, her brother Hugh Mantel to the south and the Earl of Winterbourne to our north. She would like both in attendance when the king appears tomorrow.”
Benedict nodded pleasantly at his words and took another swig of ale as he winked at the serving girl.
Geoffrey extended the missives. “Lady Merryn seems to trust you. She would like you to be the messenger that delivers these. I thank you on her behalf.” He dropped the parchments on the table and exited the great hall.
Smiling all the way.
Chapter 27
Merryn awoke earlier than usual, her stomach fluttering in anticipation of the king’s arrival sometime today. She recalled what they had spoken of on his last visit—how she had handled various tenant problems, her ideas regarding crop rotation, and ways she believed taxes for the Crown should be collected and spent. Edward listened carefully and even complimented her, promising to discuss taxation with his advisers.
She reached beside her and found the bed empty.
Again.
Merryn drew the bed curtain aside and saw Geoffrey asleep on the floor, next to the hearth, just as he had slept his first night back at Kinwick. At least he’d taken a pillow with him and made use of a blanket she kept tossed over a chair. Though he started in their bed each night, many times he moved from it. She wished she understood why.
The candle beside him burned low, as did the others that surrounded his side of the bed. Whatever he experienced in his years away from his home, he always seemed to need light around him. He also hated to be confined in any way, insisting that the curtains on his side of the bed never be closed. With the candles burning and the curtains opened, she’d had to learn to sleep with light surrounding them.
Geoffrey murmured in his sleep and frowned. When he did remain beside her, he woke her several times each night with his mumbling. Sometimes, he shouted out nonsense. Other times, she would awake to find him fast asleep, tears streaming down his cheeks. The sight broke her heart in two.
Merryn knew he’d been abused physically, but she realized he’d suffered deeply into his soul. She did not have the key to unlock his traumatized mind. Yet.
Trust had never been an issue between them. From childhood, they had been as one. Merryn hoped someday her husband would, once again, trust her enough to allow her in. She wanted to share the heavy burden he believed he must carry alone.
Merryn gazed upon Geoffrey with love. As a healer, none of her herbs or potions could change what had happened to him, much less bring him comfort. But she knew with time—and her great love for him—that all would be well. She resolved to keep her faith in him. God had brought her husband home. She would continue to care for Geoffrey the best she knew how and leave the rest in His merciful hands.
A pain of regret filled her as she thought about Symond Benedict’s presence. She wondered how Geoffrey discovered that the knight had been slated to wed her and become master of Kinwick. Though she’d hoped to keep that information from him, it was best she kept no secrets. Merryn never shared with anyone why Symond remained at Kinwick after delivering the king’s missive, but her people had surmised the circumstances. It did worry her, though, having Symond around now. She didn’t want Geoffrey to be uncomfortable in the knight’s presence and she hoped no trouble broke out between them.
It would be bad enough with the king and his entire court present at Kinwick. Geoffrey did best with small groups of people and quiet conversation. Merryn could only imagine how he might respond to the hectic atmosphere that surrounded a royal visit.
She slipped from their bed and crept t
oward him, lowering herself to kneel beside him. Geoffrey stretched lazily in his sleep. Brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, she pressed a soft kiss upon his brow.
Suddenly, Geoffrey tossed the blanket aside. His hands clasped her waist and drew her down till she sprawled atop him. Firm lips thoroughly explored hers as his hands kneaded her buttocks. Merryn hiked up her chemise and took his smooth shaft in hand to guide it inside her.
Geoffrey’s hands moved to her breasts, toying with her nipples, pinching them playfully as she began to move. Soon, she rode him, hard and fast, her hair swinging wildly as her nails clawed at his chest. Sweet release came to them both and Merryn collapsed against him.
“Good morn,” he finally said after both their breathing returned to normal. “Is everything in place for the king’s arrival? I’m sorry I’ve left those details to you.”
Merryn nuzzled her face against his chest. “Kinwick is more than ready. Having hosted Edward twice before, it was easier this time to prepare. Cook has every menu decided, with excellent suggestions from your mother. Rooms have been prepared. I hired extra hands from the village for the stables and inside the keep, especially in the kitchen. We need many more workers to help prepare and serve the meals, much less clean up afterward.”
Geoffrey cupped her face and pressed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “You are a treasure, my love. I’ve heard tales of estates going bankrupt with a royal visit. Thanks to your careful management, Kinwick should be fine even after the court blazes a trail through our lands.”
She glowed at his compliment and then remembered what she had forgotten to share with him. “I must warn you. Though most of the court will stay in luxurious tents in the meadow, Edward has always taken the solar as his own. ’Tis custom on royal visits and Lady Elia was only too willing to make the king happy. We should move our belongings this morning before he arrives.”
“You can sleep with Mother in our old room. I’ll bed down with others in the great hall.”
“As you wish.”
Merryn tried not to show her concern. While it made perfect sense for her to sleep in Elia’s room and Geoffrey to be with various guests and servants in the great hall, she worried about his nightmares and how he mumbled during the night. Merryn realized that Geoffrey had no idea what occurred while he slept. Mayhap she would slip downstairs and watch over him tonight. She pushed those worries away and readied herself for mass and then broke her fast afterward.
As expected, news came mid-morning. A rider appeared on the horizon, the Plantagenet colors flapping in the breeze as he approached. The messenger informed her that the king and his party would arrive in two hours’ time.
Merryn turned to Tilda. “Send a rider across Kinwick lands so that our people can gather to pay their respects to the king.”
Alys tugged on Merryn’s cotehardie. “I drew the king a picture, Mother.”
Ancel, not wanting to be topped, added, “I’ll draw the king two pictures. And I will fight for him!”
Merryn patted each twin on the head and sent them off to play. Making a final sweep through the entire keep, she found all to be in order. She huddled with Cook a final time before Tilda told her that her neighbors had arrived and awaited her in the great hall. As she went to greet them, she found all four in conversation with Elia.
Hugh told her, “We met Lord Hardwin and Lady Johamma as we rode in. All your tenants are gathering, lining the road outside the gates and spilling into the outer bailey. Everyone wears their finest clothes, with smiles on every face.”
“All you ladies look lovely,” Hardwin added. “Especially Lady Milla. You have quite a glow about you.”
Milla blushed prettily. “I am with child, my lord. I believe it gives every woman a certain radiance.”
The earl wrapped an arm around Johamma’s shoulder. “I hope we will soon be blessed in the same manner. Johamma is an only child, but we hope for many sons and daughters.”
Geoffrey entered, greeting Hugh and Milla warmly. Merryn noted his stiff, formal welcome to Lord Hardwin. Geoffrey did give a kind word to Johamma, whose eyes were large.
“I’ve never seen a king in person,” she told the group.
“Neither have I,” Geoffrey shared. “I did meet Edward’s son, the Black Prince, when I fought under him in France.”
Johamma shuddered. “I hope Hardie never goes to war. I could not stand waiting at Winterbourne for word if he lived or died.”
“You never know. Sometimes war can come to your very gates without warning.” Geoffrey’s eyes darkened.
Merryn found her husband’s response odd, but Tilda rushed in at that moment, distracting her.
“The king’s banner has been spotted, my lady.”
She slipped her hand through Geoffrey’s arm. “Shall we greet our liege?” She spied her children. “Ancel. Alys. Come along, now. Be sure you behave. It’s not every day you get to meet a king. Remember all we spoke of.”
They exited the great hall and ventured outside the keep. Their entire party paused to wait at the top of the steps. Within minutes, the inner bailey became a pageantry of color. Hundreds of soldiers and finely dressed noblemen with their ladies arrived in waves.
Merryn spied Queen Philippa of Hainault and was pleased to see her. She’d been ill and missed the last summer progress that had stopped at Kinwick. Merryn found the queen both kind and compassionate. Despite birthing fourteen children, Philippa remained a regal beauty with a fine figure.
Merryn leaned into Geoffrey. “The king and queen have a very happy marriage,” she whispered. “He tends to behave well when she is present. I’ve heard the queen does not tolerate his tantrums.”
“Then I am happy that she is in attendance.”
Merryn motioned for everyone with her to descend the stairs. They did and arrived at its base as Edward and Philippa rode up. Royal guardsmen helped the pair from their horses.
Merryn curtseyed and Geoffrey bowed to the couple. Edward commanded them to rise.
“I am happy you could come, my queen,” Merryn said. “We missed your lovely company on the last royal visit.”
The queen’s laughter tinkled. “The king insisted I accompany him despite the fact I have a new grandchild to visit. He told me that on this visit, he intends to abscond with your cook.”
Edward gave his wife a mock look of anger. “You act as regent when I am gone from the country fighting. You accompany me on expeditions to Scotland, Flanders, and France. You give away no state secrets, yet you immediately spill what you know to Lady Merryn before we’ve had time to catch our breath?”
Philippa grinned at him shamelessly. “I must give Lady Merryn fair warning. I’d hope she would return the same courtesy to me if in my position. A good cook makes for a happy home.”
Merryn relaxed. Already, the royal visit had started off well. “Sire? I wish to present my husband to you since you have yet to meet him. This is Geoffrey de Montfort, Earl of Kinwick.”
Pride filled her as her husband took a step forward and bowed again to the royal couple. Geoffrey wore the dark blue gypon and cotehardie from the day they wed. He looked even more handsome today than he did all those years ago.
“Rise,” Edward commanded. The king studied the man before him. “My son has told me of you, Geoffrey de Montfort.”
“The Black Prince is a natural leader who inspires loyalty. ’Twas an honor to be under his command, your majesty.”
“But you came across one who was not so honorable, according to my son. You exposed a traitor if I remember correctly.”
Merryn looked to Geoffrey, wondering what the king spoke of. She saw her husband wince. In the two weeks before they’d married, he’d spoken little of his time on the battlefield in France and had not mentioned it since his recent return.
“I see by your wife’s face that you haven’t shared this tale with her.”
“Nay, Sire. ’Twas of no consequence.”
The king’s face grew stern. “Weeding out a nobleman w
ho betrayed me is always of utmost importance. Winterbourne’s eldest threatened my very throne when he consorted with the French.”
Shock numbed Merryn. She’d heard hushed whispers among the servants about Barrett’s death in France, but she had never asked for details. It hadn’t interested her. She’d only seen Berold’s eldest son twice in her life. She had thought the father very arrogant and felt Barrett was cut from the same cloth.
Glancing over her shoulder, she located Lord Hardwin. A deep red flush covered his entire face. Johamma clung to her betrothed’s arm in fright. She looked as if she wished the ground would open and swallow them whole.
Edward pushed on, unaware of the drama he caused. “Lady Merryn, your husband exposed one of my subjects for the criminal he was. Lord Geoffrey dueled in the name of the Plantagenets in a trial by battle against this traitor. His victory resulted in the beheading of this fool.”
The king shrugged. “A pity. Winterbourne never seemed the same after his son’s death.” He clapped Geoffrey on the shoulder. “Enough of the past. My queen and I are here to enjoy our visit to your lovely estate.”
Merryn had no idea how to smooth over the brewing situation. She now understood Geoffrey’s reluctance in allowing the twins to foster with Lord Hardwin. The new earl had to be aware of the circumstances regarding his older brother’s death and how Geoffrey had been the one who brought the treasonous behavior to the notice of the Black Prince. It baffled her why Lord Hardwin would want the de Montfort twins fostering under his care.
Unless it was to show Geoffrey that he was nothing like his traitorous brother. That’s all she could surmise.
Merryn stepped forward. “Sire.” She indicated Hugh and Milla with a sweeping hand. “May I present my brother, Sir Hugh Mantel, who fought with you in northern Scotland. And my sister-in-law, Lady Milla. You met them on your last visit here, as well as my mother-in-law, Lady Elia.”
The couple and Elia acknowledged the royals and conversed briefly with them. The queen smiled knowingly at Milla’s rounded belly.