by Alexa Aston
After a half-hour’s walk, Geoffrey said, “We are approaching Joseph’s place, which is set away from our other cottages. He prefers solitude in order to train the birds. I will introduce you to him and then let you take it from there.”
They came upon a lean man with a white beard and hair to match. He sat on a stump next to a broad perch and wore a leather gauntlet on his right hand. A large mews stood next to the perch, leading Elinor to believe Kinwick must have several raptors.
“Greetings, Joseph,” called Geoffrey as they drew near. “I have brought my soon to be daughter-in-law with me. She is a falconer.” He turned to her. “Elinor, this is Joseph. He has been Kinwick’s falconer since my father’s time as earl.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Joseph,” she said politely, though the falconer studied her through narrowed eyes, his doubt obvious as he rose to his feet.
“My lady.”
“Please. Call me Elinor.”
“You dress the part, though you have no gauntlet.”
“Might I borrow an old one of yours?” she asked sweetly, doing her best to charm him.
Joseph grunted and walked to his cottage. He disappeared inside and returned a few moments later, tossing her the glove. Elinor slipped it on. It was a bit loose but she could manage with it.
“So, Lord Geoffrey claims you are a falconer.”
The nobleman had sat on the stump and watched them with interest.
“I am,” she said with pride.
“For how long?”
“Ten and six years.”
The falconer snorted and then began peppering her with questions.
“What are babes called?”
“Eyases.”
“When should they fly?”
“Usually the forty-second day, though my last pair, Bess and Tris, did so earlier.”
“What kind of falcons did you train?”
“Raptors, Joseph. All good falconers refer to them this way,” she said with a grin. After a moment, she said, “Peregrines. The best kind of hawk.”
He nodded in approval. “Go on.”
“Peregrines have strong hunting abilities and are one of the easiest falcons to train, as well as the swiftest bird of all. They have an advantage in that their natural flying style of circling allows game to be flushed easily. They enjoy the high diving stoop that ends with their quarry being taken.”
“And how do the raptors accomplish this?” he prodded.
“First and foremost, by their speed. A peregrine can capture flying birds or game with a knockout blow using their clenched talons.”
“Hmm. What else do you know?”
Elinor went on to discuss why females were preferred over males and detailed how she manned the hawks, hooded them, and the various ways she trained them to the lure.
“Do you blind them?”
“Never,” she said emphatically. “Jasper, the falconer who taught me all I know, did so when I first came to him. I convinced him of a better way. He gave me a male to test my ideas. When I met with success, he allowed me to continue with the females we trained.”
Joseph nodded in approval. “You speak as one with knowledge—but handling raptors is another story.”
“I agree. Call your birds. Let me work with them.”
The falconer did as Elinor asked and she put two of them through their paces for over an hour. By the time she finished, Geoffrey de Montfort wore a huge grin on his face while she saw new respect for her reflected in Joseph’s brown eyes.
“And all that was with an ill-fitting gauntlet,” he marveled. The falconer turned to Geoffrey. “Who is Lady Elinor to wed?”
“Hal.”
Joseph waved a dismissive hand. “Sir Hal will never appreciate the skill and experience she has. I, on the other hand, am not married and would love to take her to wife.” The old man slapped his knee as he cackled at his own joke and then looked to her. “I welcome you anytime, my lady, whether you merely visit my raptors or wish to help me train them. I am not getting any younger. One day soon, Kinwick will need a new falconer. You are most suited to be it. You have a true gift and relate to raptors better than anyone I’ve met.”
“Thank you, Joseph. That is a generous compliment,” Elinor said.
Geoffrey stood. “Thank you for your time, Joseph. Elinor and I need to return to the keep. Lord Michael and Lady Elysande are expected soon. I want to be there to greet them when they arrive.”
The falconer nodded. “Another fine lady who knows horses better than a man.” He winked at Elinor. “You and Lady Elysande will get along well. You’re both adept at something only men usually pursue. Give her and Lord Michael my best.”
“I shall,” Elinor promised.
Geoffrey escorted her back to the keep. When they entered the bailey, Elinor saw a flurry of activity. Dozens of horses stood near the keep and more arrived as she and Geoffrey drew near. Many of the riders were soldiers in armor but others were women and children.
“I see Elysande and Michael have arrived on schedule. But we have others who have come early.” He scanned the crowd. “Raynor and Beatrice are here. Avelyn and Kenric. My sister and her husband. Even Hugh and Milla are here.” He shook his head, trying to hide a grin. “I don’t envy you, Elinor.”
Though overwhelmed as every eye turned expectantly in her direction, Elinor knew in the chaos of this many people at Kinwick that she would have a chance to depart unseen.
If only her heart wasn’t so heavy.
Chapter 24
Elinor only thought it would be easy to make her escape from Kinwick with so many de Montforts and relatives underfoot.
How wrong she had been.
Every moment of the next three days found her in the company of anywhere from one to a dozen people. She had met everyone in the bailey after her trip to visit Joseph and the entire group had dined in the great hall and spent all afternoon telling stories of the past. Many featured the escapades of Hal, which Elinor enjoyed immensely. It gave her insight into the small child who had become a boy and then a man in this large, loving family.
After the evening meal, she had stayed awhile and then pled a headache.
“I’d have an aching head, too, if all these relatives were thrust upon me,” Nan said, giving her a sympathetic look.
Elinor liked Nan quite a bit. Hal’s sister had the black hair of her father and her mother’s sparkling blue eyes and seemed at ease in the company of men and women alike. If Elinor had lingered at Kinwick, she believed they would have become good friends.
Escaping to her chamber upstairs, she only had seconds alone before Merryn and Alys showed up, satchels in hand, filled with herbs to soothe her head and help her sleep. Alys and Kit had joined the family shortly before the evening meal. Seeing Alys was like a glimpse into the past of what Merryn must have looked like at the same age. Even now, the two women were almost identical except for a few wrinkles that distinguished Merryn as the older of the two.
Both of them fussed over her, while Alys remained in a chair by the bed all night in case Elinor needed anything. Hal had been unable to come to her bed since Jessimond had joined her, giving her chamber up for their many guests. Elinor’s attempt to leave at night and gain a solid head start went by the wayside.
The following days had been filled with activities of all kinds. Elinor never found herself alone for a moment. Lady Mary and her daughter, Avelyn, had taken charge of what Elinor would wear for her wedding. Discovering she had no clothes other than a discarded cotehardie from Nan’s chest, they set about creating a new wardrobe for Elinor, as well as a gown for her to wear to her upcoming wedding. They raided Merryn’s store of materials and brought back bolts in various colors which all of the females investigated with interest. Each expressed her opinions of the different gowns Lady Mary and Avelyn could make up for her.
Nan came to her defense, insisting they also create a few tunics and pairs of pants.
“Above all, Elinor is a falconer. She cannot traip
se about training hawks unless she is properly attired.”
So tunics and pants were added into the mix of her new wardrobe.
Elysande and a group took Elinor to the stables so that Elinor could see a new horse from the Sandbourne stables that Elysande had ridden to Kinwick. When Elinor confessed she had never learned to ride, Elysande began inspecting the horses in each stall, trying to decide which one to use in order to give Elinor riding lessons.
During her search, Hal pulled Elinor away from the others and led her around the corner. He gave her a lingering kiss and her body hummed as he stroked her back side, cupping her buttocks.
“We are never alone,” he complained good-naturedly. “I would have to have an enormous amount of relatives who truly like each other and want to spend time together, especially with you.”
He kissed her again, pressing the full length of his body against hers. Her arms went round his neck.
“Hah! I knew you two would be up to no good.”
They pulled apart. Elinor saw Kenric and Kit standing nearby with knowing looks in their eyes, both with arms crossed over their massive chests.
“I’ll bet Hal’s frustrated having to spend lonely nights apart from you, Elinor,” Kenric teased.
“That will end as soon as we can be rid of all of you,” retorted Hal. He gave her one more swift kiss and released her but Elinor saw the heat in his eyes remained.
“I promise you this, Elinor,” Kit said. “Now that you’ve found a good man to love, your life will be richer and more complete than you ever imagined. I cherish each day with Alys.” He waggled his brows. “And the nights even more.”
“There you are,” Elysande said. Nan and Jessimond trailed after her. “I think I’ve found the perfect mount for you, Elinor.” She glared at the men. “Go on, all of you. I plan to spend the rest of the afternoon with Elinor, teaching her how to ride.”
“Oh, she already knows how to ride some mounts,” Kenric quipped. Laughing, he and Kit left the stables with Hal’s sisters in tow.
“You, too, Hal,” Elysande ordered.
“Surely, I can watch your lessons,” he pleaded. “I barely have seen Elinor since everyone arrived.”
“Nay,” Elysande said firmly. “I don’t want Elinor to be self-conscious in any way. Especially with the two of you shooting each other heated glances. She needs to focus on the task at hand. Be gone!”
Elinor had participated in two riding lessons with Elysande and admired her way with the horses and her deft hand in teaching. She hoped she could use what she’d learned in the future. Even if she’d become skilled enough to take a horse from the Kinwick stables to use in her escape, she would never have stolen from Geoffrey and Merryn in that way.
Beatrice had spent some time with her, as well. Elinor loved being around the dark-haired woman with a sweet smile and voice like an angel. Beatrice played a few songs on her lute each time the entire group gathered but she drew Elinor aside to play a new tune.
“I hope you like this one,” Beatrice said. “I wrote it for you and Hal. I haven’t put words to it yet. I wanted to see if you liked the melody before I did so.”
Elinor’s eyes misted when the final strains echoed. “You have moved me to tears,” she told the noblewoman.
“Then I will fashion words for it. I’ll sing it at the wedding feast if it pleases you.”
“It will. Very much,” Elinor assure her, giving a hard shove to the guilt that crept up.
Finally, Rosalyne had pulled her aside, handing Elinor a goblet filled with wine. They sat in a far corner of the great hall, away from the noisy conversations and constant laughter.
“I know what you are going through,” Rosalyne shared. “I, too, am an only child. My parents died when I was but a babe and my uncle raised me in Canterbury. Though the city was large, our cottage was small and our life simple. Much, I gather, as yours has been up until now.”
She looked around and smiled. “And then I married Edward and inherited all of these wonderful de Montforts and their kin and friends. It took time for me to learn each of their names and where they lived. Who had married whom and which children belonged to which parents.” Rosalyne smiled. “But ’twas the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. For when I fell in love with Edward and married him, I also fell in love with his family and married them, as well.”
She took Elinor’s hand. “These de Montforts love in a unique way, not only their wedded wife or husband but anyone who marries into or is born in their family. I realize how overwhelmed you must be by all of this, Elinor, but I am so pleased that you and Hal found one another.” She squeezed Elinor’s hand. “And that I have a new sister. I feel so blessed.”
Elinor began to weep, great sobs coming from her. Every female de Montfort gathered around her, with Merryn shooing a concerned Hal and all the men away.
Merryn sat next to her and placed an arm around her. “Cry it out, Elinor. ’Twill do you good.”
“But . . . I’m . . . I’m not sure why I am even weeping,” she sputtered.
Merryn stroked her hair. “You are merely overcome by all that has happened to you in recent weeks.” She looked around. “And meeting all these new relatives.”
Elinor nodded. “You’re right. I am moved by all of the love in this room.”
Peace descended over her. At that moment, she believed her future already decided. She could not leave these people and spurn what they offered her. In less than two days, she would become Elinor de Montfort. Elinor Swan would no longer exist. She would give up wearing her boyish clothes, though she still might sneak down and visit Joseph’s raptors every now and then. She would dress as her station required and be known as the daughter-in-law of the Earl and Countess of Kinwick. No one would think to look for her here. No one knew she’d come south, much less to Kinwick. No one from Whitley knew she was to marry Hal.
Elinor Swan would cease to exist. As Elinor de Montfort, she would have the protection of the de Montfort name and all the men who would swear to keep her safe from harm.
Joy filled her. She could marry Hal and never look back—only forward.
“I would like to dance,” she proclaimed, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “I never have and think it’s about time I learned.”
All the women around her smiled. Merryn ordered the trestle tables moved to the walls and for minstrels to come at once. Hal fought to make his way to her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern written on his brow.
“Never more right than now,” she replied. “Unless, of course, the times I am in your arms with you inside me.”
He rewarded her with a kiss that went on and on. In the distance, Elinor heard whoops but ignored them.
Then music began and Hal swept her to the center of the great hall.
“You will dance like you never have before, my love,” he promised, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Since I’ve never danced at all, my lord, I look forward to learning something new.”
Hal yanked her to him and whispered in her ear, “And I look forward to our wedding night. We will dance in the sheets until dawn and beyond.”
*
Elinor awoke. No nightmares had come to disrupt her sleep, as they had ever since she’d escaped from Whitley.
It was her wedding day.
The last of the de Montfort family had reached Kinwick last night. Ancel, the oldest brother and Alys’ twin, had come with his wife, Margery, and their two children, Cyrus and Miranda. At five, Cyrus reminded Elinor of what Hal would have been like at the same age. Along with them came Cecily, Raynor’s oldest child, with her husband, William, and their two sweet little ones. Being around so many babes made Elinor wonder what kind of mother she would be. The thought of giving birth made her nervous but she knew how eager Hal was for children. She vowed to be a better mother than the one who’d given birth to her. Her children would have a loving mother and father and never be neglected i
n any way.
As Elinor listened to the soft breaths of Jessimond next to her, she tried to remember how many children each married de Montfort had and what their names were. She believed she could finally remember who everyone was, even Merryn’s brother and his wife, who had visited each day and would attend today’s wedding.
A knock at the door caused her to spring from the bed. When Elinor opened it, a line of women stood outside with buckets of water. Merryn ordered them in and they began to fill a tub that two men at the rear brought and placed on the floor. As hot water steamed from it, Merryn poured in a vial and stirred the water with her hand. The sweet smell of lavender filled the air.
Then all the female de Montfort relatives seem to descend from nowhere. Elinor gave herself over to their ministrations. She was bathed and dried. Dressed in a smock of blue and a sideless surcoat of gold and embroidered with the same blue while Nan slid a blue garter up each leg to secure her hose. Jessimond slipped a new pair of shoes on her feet, so feminine and unlike the boots she wore each day. Alys brushed her hair until it dried and then shone. Nan handed her a small mirror.
Elinor’s cheeks were full of color. Her eyes sparkled. It was the first time she’d ever seen her own image.
“She wears the look of a woman in love,” Beatrice commented.
“And you should know,” Elysande replied. She glanced around the room. “All of us who are married know, for we are fortunate enough to have made love matches. As you will today, Elinor.”
Merryn came and stood before her. “I wore this circlet when Geoffrey and I wed. Would you care to wear it?”
Elinor’s throat grew thick and she found it impossible to reply. She nodded and Merryn placed it on the crown of her head and helped her rise to her feet.
“I think you make a lovely bride,” Margery told her. “Hal will think an angel has come from Heaven itself when he sees you.”