by Anne Herries
Yet perhaps all was not lost. He had shown her his precious books and told her she might use them for her lessons. And, just for one moment, he had looked at her with desire.
If only they had not been interrupted. Even now she might have been in his arms, losing herself in his kiss, thrilling to the nearness of his body. Now a shadow lay over her for, with fighting in the village, anything might happen.
But she would not allow herself to think such gloomy thoughts. Stefan and his men would soon see off the raiding party and then he would come back to her and she could tell him what was in her heart.
Elona left the books he had said she might use on the table, for she did not like to remove them from his special room without permission. He had begun to thaw towards her and she wanted nothing to come between them.
Despite the faint anxiety at the back of her mind, she was smiling as she went to her own chamber. Stefan was too wise to leave the manor unprotected, and he would take only as many men as necessary to drive off the party of raiders. It would not be long before he was back with her and this time she would tell him the truth and hope that he would believe her.
There was a cloud of black smoke over the village as Stefan and his men approached. Several houses had been set on fire, as had the ghildhus he had been building for the villagers.
‘My lord!’ A man came running to his horse. ‘You are too late. They have gone.’ Tears had streaked his soot-blackened face. ‘They killed my wife because she fought them and took my son. He is but ten years old and I fear for him.’
‘Your name is?’
‘Ulrich, my lord.’
‘Fear not, Ulrich. Go back to the village and bury your wife. If your son lives, we shall bring him back to you.’
The man stepped back and Stefan urged his horse forward. His face was grim as he rode through the village and witnessed the devastation caused. Those responsible must be made to pay for this night’s work. Their fate must leave none in doubt of what happened to those that dared to attack his people.
‘It will not be easy to follow them in the dark,’ one of his men said to him. ‘Should we return to the house and give chase in the morning?’
‘We go after them now,’ Stefan said and his mouth was a hard, thin line. ‘We follow them until we catch them and punish them, whether it takes us a day or a year. Send one of the villagers to the house to tell them that we may be gone for some days…’
The soldier nodded, knowing that look of old. His lord was known for his mercy, but after what had been done here there would be none for the raiders!
‘But where is Sir Stefan?’ Elona asked the next morning of his steward. ‘Why has he not returned? He is not injured—or dead?’ Her heart pounded with sudden fear.
‘My lord sent word that they were determined to pursue the raiders,’ Piers told her. ‘I fear that much damage was done last night and Sir Stefan will not rest until the perpetrators of this outrage are caught and punished.’
‘Yes, I see.’ Elona felt upset. She had believed that there was peace between Stefan and his neighbours, just as there was at Banewulf. ‘Do they know for sure who the raiders were?’
‘We are not certain, but we believe it may have been some of Baron Danewold’s men.’
‘Surely he would not dare to attack my husband’s village?’
Yet even as she spoke, Elona was recalling the fury in the Baron’s face when she had vomited over him. He would have been even more furious at being forced to pay a fine, and this might be his way of taking revenge on Stefan. He had not dared to attack the house, for he knew it was well guarded and the portcullis lowered every night, but the villagers were vulnerable. They must have been sleeping in their beds when the attack began.
Elona shivered as she thought about the horror of being woken by screaming and shouting, the sight of houses being burned to the ground and people slaughtered.
‘I must go to the village,’ she told Piers. ‘They will need help and I must do what I can to ease their suffering.’
Piers looked at her doubtfully. ‘Sir Stefan would wish you to be safe inside the walls, lady. Supposing some of the raiders were left behind?’
‘I do not think it,’ Elona said, a stubborn look in her eyes. ‘They must know that Stefan will seek revenge. I believe they will be long gone, for my lord will show little mercy to such rogues.’
‘Then you must take several men with you to guard you, my lady. I should not be easy in my mind if you went unprotected.’
‘I shall take Dickon, Bethany, Roberta and Mary the Wise, and one soldier to accompany us,’ Elona said. ‘I have no fear that we shall be attacked and a show of force might frighten our people.’
‘As you wish, my lady.’ Piers could do nothing to prevent her, though he feared for his life if anything should happen to her. ‘I shall have a basket of salves prepared for you—and anything else you may need.’
‘We may need all kinds of things from our stores,’ Elona told him. ‘But for this first time, we shall take only salves and cures that may help with burns and wounds. When I return, I shall tell you what else is needed.’
She left him to stare after her and wonder what his lord would say if he returned in her absence.
Stefan did not return while Elona was at the village, nor yet the following day, but she did not have time to worry for his sake, because she and her women were too busy helping those that had been injured and bereaved by the raiding party.
Some of the men had burns to their hands and arms where they had fought the fires that were destroying their homes. Some of the women had been ravished and beaten; those who fought hardest had scars to show for their pains and one woman was dead.
‘What beasts they were,’ Elona told her women when she was moved to tears by the sight of a young child with a wound to his head where one of the raiders had ridden him down. ‘I truly hope that my lord will catch and punish them.’
Her anger was such that she shed no tears for herself. Her happiness could wait for Stefan’s return; some of these people would never know happiness again.
She did what she could for the sick, ordered that meat and grain from the store at Sanscombe be brought to them, asked Piers to set the work of rebuilding the houses in train, and at the end of the third day went home weary and heartsore that she could do so little.
Elona had never felt so weary as when she allowed Julia to disrobe her. Her women had taken turns to help her in the village, but Julia had not been with her that day, and she was smiling as she poured warm water into the tub for her mistress to bathe.
Elona wondered what the girl could find to smile about at such a time, but said nothing as she climbed into the water and closed her eyes. It felt good to let the scented water enfold her and she sighed with content as someone began to rub soap into her shoulders.
‘That feels good,’ she said. ‘I think I shall sleep for a month.’
‘And so you should, my lamb,’ a voice she knew well said and she sent the water flying as she turned to look at the face of the old woman she loved so well. ‘There’s no need to soak me, girl!’ Melise scolded, giving her a toothless smile.
‘Melise! When did you arrive?’ Elona was overjoyed by the sight of her. ‘Oh, it is so good to see you. I need you so much…’ There was a faint sob in her voice. ‘I’ve missed you so…’
‘And so I should think,’ Melise said, though her old eyes were bright with tears. ‘After I have travelled so far to be with you, it would go hard if you were to send me back.’
‘Send you back?’ Elona laughed and shook her head. ‘You must know that I should never do that, Melise. I love you and need you to soothe me when I am tired or ill.’
‘As you always did,’ her nurse crooned, well satisfied by her welcome. ‘I thought we should never get here. We arrived at Banewulf some weeks ago to be told you were not there and I had to rest before I could come to you. It’s just as well I got here when I did, for you have been doing too much, you foolish chil
d. Why could you not leave the nursing to others?’
‘Because the people were in such need, Melise,’ Elona said. ‘Besides, you would have told me I was failing in my duty if I had neglected them.’
‘I should have told you to share your labours,’ Melise replied with a shake of her head. ‘But I shall not scold you, my love. I am here now and I shall look after you.’
Elona smiled as she sank back into the tub, letting the water ease her. It was so good to have her nurse with her again, but for the moment she was too weary to do anything but sleep.
Stefan’s eyes felt gritty with tiredness, but there was a smile of grim satisfaction about his mouth. They had pursued the raiders for two days, but on the morning of the third they had caught them just as they were breaking camp.
What had followed was something that even battle-hardened soldiers might wish to forget, for many of his men had had friends, lovers or family in the village and he had not restrained them. Those raiders that were left alive had been sent in chains to the King for justice, which would mean their deaths. It would also mean punishment for the evil master who had sent them. Danewold would be called to account, his lands confiscated and the least he could expect was banishment.
It had had to be done if the villagers were to live in safety, and Stefan had not shirked his duty, but he was weary of conflict and bloodshed and wanted peace. Peace so that he could be with Elona and raise a family.
The plight of the villager whose wife had died had touched something in Stefan. One reason for his satisfaction was that the boy had been recovered, frightened and bruised, but otherwise unharmed; he would be restored to his father on their return to the village.
Stefan had thought constantly of how he would have felt if the raiders had killed Elona while trying to ravish her, and he knew that his grief would have been beyond bearing. It was senseless to carry a grudge for something that had happened in the past, and he would do so no longer. On his return, he would tell her that he cared for her and that he wanted her to be his wife in truth.
Yes, he would make an end to the conflict between them, Stefan thought. It was, after all, of his making, for she had done everything she could to make amends and he would be a fool to let his jealousy over a past lover sour his relationship with her.
Some of the weariness sloughed off him as he told his men to prepare for the journey home. He could not wait to be with her again, to hold her in his arms and kiss her. But this time there would be no barriers between them, nothing to stop him taking her to his bed and making love to her as he had longed to do for so many months.
She would be his at last, his wife, his love, and, if she did not yet love him, he would teach her to know him and hope that it was enough.
‘I have to thank you for bringing Melise to me,’ Elona said to Will de Grenville when she saw him the following day. She had been busy and this was her first chance to speak with him. ‘It was kind of you to go to so much trouble, for I know you have had many months on the road when you might have been at the Duke’s court.’
Will looked at her, his eyes searching her face. She looked tired—but was she happy? Had she been forced to marry a man she had sworn she hated?
‘I was happy to serve you,’ he said. ‘I knew that it had made you unhappy to leave your nurse behind and I wanted to make you happy.’
‘And you have,’ Elona told him, smiling at his eagerness. She was fond of him, for he had been her friend and she had needed him in the months after her brother’s death. ‘I shall always be grateful to you, Will. And I hope we shall continue to be friends?’
‘You know I am ever at your command.’ Will hesitated, knowing that he must be careful. To suggest that she run away with him would be a dangerous business, for Sir Stefan was a man of fearsome reputation and his revenge would be terrible. Yet Will would risk it if she were to ask it of him. ‘I have thought of asking your husband if he would accept my service, Elona. I would be near at hand if you should need me and…’
Elona was silent for a moment. It would be churlish to refuse when he had done so much for her, and yet she would have preferred that he leave before Stefan returned. The problems between her and Stefan were not fully resolved and she knew that he might believe Will to have been her lover.
‘I am not sure…’ she began, but before she could say more Piers came hurrying into the hall, his manner one of excitement as he came towards her. Elona’s heart leaped as she saw the expression on his face. ‘You have news for me?’
‘Good news, my lady,’ Piers told her. ‘My lord is returned to the village in triumph. He has recovered the boy that was stolen and the raiders are either dead or sent in chains to the King for trial and punishment.’
‘And was it Baron Danewold’s men?’
‘Yes, my lady. My lord has laid charges before the King and the Baron will be tried and punished in front of his peers—and that means the Crown will confiscate his lands and he will be banished from England for a period of years.’
‘God be praised,’ Elona cried, her face lighting up. ‘My husband is well—and his men?’
‘Two were injured, but none killed. Sir Stefan is unhurt.’
‘Then all is well,’ Elona said her eyes glowing with relief and happiness. ‘I thank you for the news, good steward.’ She turned to the man standing next to her, ‘And you also, Will, for bringing Melise to me. And now, if you will excuse me, I must go, for I would be ready when my lord returns.’
She hurried from the hall, running up the stairs to her own chamber, her heart singing as she contemplated her husband’s return. He would be weary and hungry; she must have a bath prepared for him, and a meal that he could savour in private. She would have the bath brought to her chamber and she would tend him herself.
If he felt as she did…but she was too impatient. He would want to rest after he had bathed and dined. She must not expect him to think of her the moment he returned.
How glad she was that he would soon be here! She had refused to give way to anxiety these past days, trusting in her husband’s skill and prowess as a great warrior to bring him safely home.
She must not be impatient for his attention, for he would have many things on his mind, and Piers must have much to tell him concerning what had been done in the village.
She would use the time to prepare herself, dressing in one of the new gowns Bethany had sewn for her. The green one that matched the emeralds he had given her when they were at court, a gift she had always known in her heart must have come from him.
He had cared something for her then; surely he still did—if only he could find it in his heart to forgive her wicked lies.
Stefan listened impatiently to his steward’s account of the damage to life and property. He had seen at first hand what was needed, and heard what had already been done before he left the village.
‘Where is my lady?’ he asked. ‘Excuse me, Piers, but this may keep until the morrow. I need to rest and eat—and then we shall discuss what must be done to set all to rights.’
‘But, my lord…’ Piers sighed as his master strode away. He had not yet told him that Elona’s nurse had arrived or of the young man who had accompanied her.
Stefan ran up the twisting stair to Elona’s chamber. He was on fire with the urge to see her, to tell her of his love and need, to hold her in his arms. And this time he would bar the door so that none might enter and disturb them!
Elona was standing by a tub of scented water when he entered, testing it with her hand. He paused to look at her before she was aware of him, thinking how beautiful she was and how much he desired and loved her.
‘Elona…’
‘My lord?’ She turned and saw him, the colour washing out of her cheeks as though she was overcome by emotion. ‘My lord, you are safely home.’ She thanked God for it, her heart filling with joy at the sight of him standing there, so vital and full of life and strength.
‘You were about to bathe?’ His eyes moved over her, for she l
ooked as though she had recently changed into a fresh gown. It was a simple tunic that he had never seen before, fashioned of some fine material that clung lovingly to her slender figure.
‘The water is for you, my lord,’ Elona said. ‘I thought you would be weary and in need of refreshment. There is food and wine—and water to relax in while you tell me of your triumph.’
‘The water is for me?’ Stefan’s eyes held a hint of the humour she had not seen in many a day. ‘And who is to be my handmaiden?’
‘It will be my pleasure to wash your back, my lord,’ she said, a faint flush in her cheeks, ‘—and any other part of your body that you desire.’
‘I believe you make me an offer I cannot refuse, Elona,’ Stefan said and felt the burning in his loins intensify. How often he had dreamed of a moment such as this! She was so beautiful and he wanted her so badly. ‘Where are your women?’
‘I have sent them elsewhere,’ she told him. ‘We are quite alone.’
‘In that case…’ He turned back to the door, turning the heavy iron key in the lock and then coming back to where she stood, a smile on his lips. ‘I expect my handmaiden to help me disrobe, Elona. Do you think you can manage that task?’
‘I shall do my best to please you, my lord, but perhaps you will need to help me, for ’tis the first time I have performed such a task.’
Had her lover taken her in haste or with force? The thought flashed into Stefan’s mind, but he crushed it ruthlessly. All that was in the past and he would not allow his jealousy to spoil this homecoming.
‘Shall we see if you can manage my belt for a start?’ His smile was teasing as she struggled with the heavy silver buckle that held his sword belt tight to his body, managing to free it in the end. ‘And now the jerkin—you will find that easier, I think, for it has eyelets and thongs.’ He watched her as her fingers worked at the fastenings; freeing them, she hesitated before easing it over his head. Next came his shirt, which was a plain loose garment and easily disposed of. Her hands lingered a moment on his naked chest, causing a growl of pleasure to issue from his throat. ‘And now the hose, Elona…’