Timeless Tales of Honor

by Suzan Tisdale

  Emma shook her head and turned away. "You look like a goddess," she moved for the door and summoned the serving wenches to take the copper tub away. When the women busied themselves with emptying the water and mopping up the floor, Emma turned to find Arissa and Penelope still gazing at Arissa's reflection.

  Emma put her hands on her hips. "Riss, you are perfect. Your breasts are round and ripe, your waist tiny, and your legs are shapely and beautiful. How can you see any differently?"

  Arissa turned away from the mirror. "I just do, I guess. I am certainly not fishing for compliments from the two of you. What do I care what you magpies think?"

  Outside, more shouts abound, announcing the approach of the first caravan of guests. One of the serving women had brought forth a bowl of porridge and a chunk of bread, but Arissa was too nervous to think of food. Her guests were arriving, people she was expected to greet, and her stomach was jumping madly.

  "I must go," she smoothed at her surcoat again. "Father demands that I greet my company. Are you sure I look presentable?"

  Penelope and Emma smiled at her. "Beautiful, Riss. Men will be falling all over themselves in their attempt to capture your attention," Emma said truthfully.

  Arissa dared a small smile, quitting the room with her friends in tow. She was growing more excited with the prospect of her special day, thrilled to be mingling with people she hadn't seen in months. The list of events that would comprise the day before the grand celebration that eve was enough activities to fill an entire week.

  As Penelope and Emma left her to go and change into their own appropriate garments, Arissa descended the stairs alone. So she presented a beautiful picture, did she? Strange, she never considered herself beautiful. But if her friends' words were truthful, if the men in attendance really would be trampling themselves in order to gain her attention, they were in for a rude awakening.

  There was only one man whose attentions she yearned for. She wondered if Richmond would think she looked beautiful, too.

  * * *

  The first of December had dawned amazingly bright and, in spite of the cool temperatures, promised to be a delightful day. A chill wind whipped the Lambourn banners in to a frenzy, blue and gold flapping madly on the battlements. Lambourn soldiers, their mail cleaned and their blue tunics fresh, paced their posts in vigilant preparation for the day.

  Richmond was pleased with the organized uniformity. His own men, one hundred elite guards he had arrived with yesterday, were patrolling the woods and surrounding areas for thieves and bandits as the great houses of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire arrived for a very special gala. Even though it was a one-day event, Richmond knew, most likely, that Lambourn could expect a keep-full of houseguests for three or four days.

  Clad in polished armor and Henry's Leopards of England tunic, he made his rounds with Carlton to make sure posts were set and the sentries were vigilant.

  "God has blessed my lady with a beautiful day for her birthday celebration," Carlton said, inhaling an unusually warm breath of December air. "I cannot remember when we have had such pleasant winter weather."

  "Hold your tongue, Carlton. You shall jinx the day."

  The knight laughed softly as they passed a clutter of old weapons and crates that Richmond immediately ordered removed. Obedient soldiers rushed to carry out the order as the two warriors made their way across the bailey en route to the stables, intent to make sure the stable master was well prepared for the onslaught of fine chargers and wagons.

  William and Bartholomew exited the castle as the knights were crossing the courtyard, finely dressed in embroidered tunics with Lambourn's lion crest. William greeted Richmond amiably, nary a mention of the previous night when Bartholomew had nearly ended his foolish life. His son, however, refused to meet Richmond's eye, a strong indication that he was still feeling a major degree of embarrassment.

  Richmond knew it was more than likely that Lambourn's heir was angry with the older knight for ending his performance prematurely. Bartholomew was as sensitive as a woman at times, adding dimension and mystery to his already bizarre character. If he was not venting Greek tragedies, he was weeping like a jilted lover. More than once his father had threatened to end his peculiar torment permanently.

  But Richmond had little time to dwell on the eccentricities of human nature. He responded to both men with his usual emotionless salutation, politely listening to William's prattle when there were a thousand other duties he was required to attend. The longer William spoke, the more impatient Richmond became and just as he moved to excuse himself, the sentries on the battlements sounded the onset of a series of shouts.

  Richmond was mercifully released from William's boorish presence as he jogged across the dusty courtyard, taking the ladder to the battlements effortlessly. High atop the wall, he gazed out over the still December landscape and immediately his hawk-sharp eyes envisioned the party advancing from a distance.

  "De Rydal," he muttered, turning to the nearest soldier. "Tell the earl that the House of de Rydal approaches."

  The soldier shuffled off, leaving Richmond and a few other guards leaning over the parapet, gazing onto the horizon.

  "How in the hell can he see who it is?" one of the guards muttered, expressing his disbelief to another. "They've got to be a mile away."

  Richmond heard the comment and it nearly made him smile. But not quite. He cast an arrogant, all-knowing glance at the group of men.

  "I do not need to see the party to know who approaches." He pushed past the men, moving for the ladder.

  "You do not?" the soldier repeated, mystified. "But how do you know, m'lord?"

  Richmond paused on the top rung, gazing into a host of curious faces. "I know everything."

  They believed him.

  William and Bartholomew were in the same spot where Richmond had left them. Carlton and Daniel were at the portcullis, ordering the ancient grill raised for the incoming party. Richmond could hear the metal groaning as he moved toward the earl and his son, hoping the earl would not force him to play co-host to a throng of silly nobles.

  He would organize William's men. He would see to the security of the celebration. He would even attend the gala when he would much rather be alone, tending his own interests. But he would not perform as the perfect, congenial host. He simply was not comfortable in a group of people much less willing to take charge of the festivities.

  Making his way to William, he prayed the man would not expect him to take control of the reveling throng. Even though William knew well of Richmond's reserved nature, somehow he would conveniently forget and demand le Bec into the diplomatic corp. And Richmond was not sure how, exactly, he could gracefully decline.

  Most likely, the only logical solution was to decline the offer before it was issued. After all, there was so much going on this day that required constant supervision; there would be wrestling matches for betting pleasure near the stables that had to be supervised, and there was to be an archery competition later in the afternoon that required the same attention. Richmond's own men were pledged in a Stick and Ball match against William's men-at-arms, a bout that promised to be lively. That, too, needed to be finalized.

  He opened his mouth as he approached the earl, determined to get in the first word. But it was not fast enough.

  "Richmond, I have a request of you," William said in his usual aggressive manner, watching the portcullis come to a grinding halt. "Lady Maude and I...."

  Richmond stepped all over his words. "I cannot tend your guests, William. I have quite a number of duties of my own. You are well aware that I am not the diplomatic sort."

  William raised his eyebrows. "I was not going to ask you to entertain my guests. God's Teeth, man, a corpse would have better manners hosting a crowd. I was simply going to ask that you escort Arissa this day. I realize you have a good many duties, assisting Carlton and Daniel with the day's events, but I do not want Arissa without a knightly escort. Will you do this?"

&
nbsp; Would he escort Arissa though her day, tracking her every move, listening to her laughter and drawing strength from the sound of her voice? His sharp manner abruptly subsided. "I have always been my lady's shadow," he said after a moment, his voice soft. "'Tis unnecessary to make such a request."

  William cocked an eyebrow, somewhat amused. "Yet I make it all the same. I know how consumed you can be when it comes to sports and games, and with most of the family preoccupied with our visitors, I did not wish for Arissa's safety to suffer. Leave the games to one of your officers. I have made a far more important request of you."

  Richmond did not reply. He'd been Arissa's escort for more functions than he could remember, shadowing the giddy young woman and her silly friends. He'd grown accustomed to their childish chatter and foolish pranks and, somehow, they always seemed to make him smile where grown men failed.

  He wondered why he suddenly felt differently escorting Arissa to her own party. In the past, he had acted in a near fatherly manner, treating her as one would a daughter or niece. He'd given little thought to chasing off the eager beaus, casting a threatening glance and conveying more danger than mere words could express. It had always been the same, a duty he had taken great pleasure in.

  But no longer. If a young man approached her this day, he was not at all sure he would not take the potential suitor's head off. Certainly, a fatherly attitude no longer prevailed. As if.... as if a new dimension had been added since their baffling encounter last night. When he had held her as one would a lover.

  He forced himself away from his gripping thoughts, focusing on the earl. "So I shall play nursemaid to The Horde this day? I must be receiving punishment for a great offense I have unknowingly committed against you."

  William laughed, watching his men scatter as the first of the de Rydal's escort rode into the bailey. "Better you than me."

  Arissa chose that moment to exit the castle, positively ravishing in green silk. Although it was far too cool to move about without a wrap, she would have refused a cloak from God himself if it meant concealing her new surcoat. She had already received two compliments from the servants as she exited the castle and thought, mayhap, that her own conservative observations had been wrong. Mayhap the garment did not make her look too short or too busty.

  A cool gust of wind caught her and she involuntarily shivered, her pale green eyes riveted to the party just passing under the portcullis. Several feet to her right stood her father, Bartholomew, and several knights including Richmond.

  Swallowing her nerves, she descended the stairs towards the men. With every step, she began to hope that she would see Richmond's approval in his eyes, a silent appreciation for the trouble she had gone through to make herself lovely. His word and his alone would decide how she truly felt about her appearance.

  She'd lied when she had told Penelope and Emma that she had little concern whether or not Richmond attended her birthday. It was the best possible gift she could have hoped for. The only gift she truly wanted.

  Richmond caught a flash of green from the corner of his eye. Turning with mild disinterest, his blue eyes came to rest upon a sight so incredibly beautiful that he swore he was gazing upon a window open to Heaven. Certainly, only angels were in possession of such beauty.

  Arissa smiled at him and he felt his aging joints turn to warm, silly, wicked mush. His heart thumped madly against his ribs as she greeted her father and brother, accepting birthday kisses from the both of them. William was particularly proud of his eldest daughter, praising her beauty, her poise, her charm. Arissa smiled through all of it, absorbing it as any young maiden would.

  Richmond continued to watch her through fascinated eyes. He thought, however, that her gaze was continually drawn to him, even as her father prattled on about the events scheduled for the day. The pale green eyes managed to find him regardless of who she was talking to. Or mayhap it was his imagination; mayhap he was seeing what he wished to see, his obsession causing him to hallucinate. Why would a creature as lovely and perfect as Arissa de Lohr allow her gaze to linger on an aging knight who was well past his prime?

  Even if he was merely imagining her attention, his gaze was unmistakably lingering on her. When William took her hand and led her over to Richmond, placing her soft palm in his forearm where it had rested a thousand times before, he smiled at her as if he were a giddy young squire. He simply couldn't stop himself.

  William snorted. "God's Teeth, le Bec. I do not ever think I have seen you smile for such an extended period of time. Did you hurt yourself, man?"

  Richmond cursed himself for being so indiscreet. He hadn't meant to react so openly to her but, God's Teeth, she was impossible to ignore. Ever since he had returned yesterday, it was as if the separation had somehow fortified his feelings for her a thousand fold. His smile broadened and he patted Arissa's hand as neutrally as he could.

  "I am sorry, William,” he said without taking his eyes off her. “I forgot myself. How could I gaze into this face and not smile?"

  Arissa flushed a lovely shade of pink, lowering her eyes as her guests drew closer. She would have sold her soul to the Devil for the look in Richmond’s eyes to have been a reflection of her own adoration. Her small, tapered fingers found their way around his gloved hand, fingers that were as thick as three of hers combined. There was no mistaking his response; leather-clad fingers that had wielded a sword for Henry in battle clutched at her, tightly.

  Arissa nearly gasped with his instant response. Instinctively, her fingers curled tighter. So did his. The de Rydals were drawing closer, but she was not paying them any mind. All that mattered was Richmond's powerful grasp, igniting a raging wildfire that was surging through her veins and causing her chest to ache.

  A fatherly response, she told herself giddily. He’s simply responding to the young girl he’s always known, the young girl who has always sought comfort from her father's powerful friend... a fatherly response!

  Her eyes came to rest on their two hands, intertwined, touching. Remembering how the same hand had clutched her hair so tenderly the day before. Her eyes trailed up his arm, so thick and powerful. Arms that had made her feel safe and protected since she had been a child. Shoulders so broad that he could barely fit through a door without turning sideways. A mail-clad neck she had wrapped her arms about innumerable times.

  Then there were his eyes. She did not realize how long she had been gazing into his beautiful eyes. Furthermore, she had no concept of how long he had been staring at her either. She'd been studying him for an endless amount of time when, suddenly, it occurred to her that he was doing the same. They were looking at each other.

  "You look magnificent this day, my lady," his voice came as a growl, words only she could hear.

  Her cheeks flushed as she received his approval. "Thank you, Richmond," she whispered.

  He smiled, a devastating gesture that was far too rarely seen. She returned his smile, timidly, and she felt him squeeze her hand gently.

  Arissa's hot cheeks threatened to explode. Averting her gaze was the only possible solution, and she did so. But the small hand that was clutched within his great one was joined by its mate. Both hands, fragile and small and soft, lost themselves within the great tight cave of his armor-bound hand.

  Ovid de Rydal, a large man with bushy red hair, practically fell from the wagon as a servant tried to help him down. He was far too obese to ride, straightening a tunic that was large enough to cover an entire bed. His wife, the Lady Margaret, was nearly as rotund and a head taller. Having borne eleven children, she wore her plump stature like a badge of honor.

  The majority of the de Rydal brood had accompanied their parents, with the exception of the five daughters that were married. Ovid de Rydal was so eager to be rid of his female children that he had begun marrying them off at twelve years of age and the most recent bride, married to a poor knight more than twice her age, was three weeks past her eleventh birthday. When Regine had learned of Tessa de Rydal's marriage, she had raged fo
r nearly a week.

  Bartholomew was standing next to his sister. He leaned toward Arissa. "I would wager that Ovid the Blob proposes to marry off his ten year old daughter Mary before the day is out."

  Richmond heard the comment and tilted his head in Bartholomew’s direction, his eyes still riveted to the de Rydal party. "I shall cover you on that wager, Bart. A solid gold piece says your father has you married off by tomorrow."

  Bartholomew appeared incensed. "An outrageous statement, sir. I shall not marry a ten-year-old wench, and I do not care how wealthy her father is!"

  Richmond cocked an eyebrow as Arissa grinned. "I see that you do not meet my wager. Am I to understand that you agree with me?"

  Bartholomew scowled, returning his attention to the group before him. In his most menacing, evil voice, he began to recite.

  "'Perseus washed his hands, bloody from his victory over the monster, in the sea. So that the hard sand should not damage the snake-bearing head he made the ground soft with leaves and branches that grow beneath the sea's surface, and on these he placed the head of Medusa.'"

  Arissa giggled uncontrollably as the corners of Richmond's mouth twitched. "She’s not Medusa, Bart," Richmond said.

  Bart snorted, cocking a most determined eyebrow. "I shall fight the entire Titan realm before I shall be forced into matrimony," he cast a disdainful glance at the de Rydal clan. "And, from the appearance of things, the monsters have arrived in droves."

  Arissa was shaking with mirth, trying desperately to control her giggles as Lord de Rydal and his wife approached. William thrust himself forward to meet his guests, with Bartholomew in close pursuit.

  Arissa and Richmond moved to follow. Arissa was having a good deal of success in calming her snickers until Bartholomew cast her a wild-eyed glance when Lady Margaret fixed him with a hungry gaze. Immediately, she was off on another gale.

  "Calm yourself, kitten," Richmond's breath was hot against her ear. "Lady de Rydal would probably not hesitate to take a switch to your lovely bottom if she catches wind of your fit."