Word of Honor (Knights of Valor Book 1)

by Lauren Linwood

  “I tried to take my life,” he said. “I believed I was a tremendous burden upon you, and you have had far too many of those these last few years.”

  Her body trembled. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked upon his bandaged wrist.

  “I know you have doubts about us. Even fears.” He tightened his grip. “But I pledge to do whatever I can so you will believe in me—in us—again. I love you, Merryn. More than life itself.”

  “I let my anger get the best of me,” she admitted. “Instead of focusing on your return and rejoicing that I had you in my life once more, I allowed a wicked emotion to come between us. No more, my love.”

  She tugged on his hands. He rose to his feet, standing mere inches from her.

  “You cannot tell me of those missing years because of your honor as a knight and vassal to the king. I do not like it, but I will accept it. For in truth, the most important thing is that you have come back to me. God wrought an amazing miracle, and I tossed it back in His face.

  “I do trust you, Geoffrey. And I love you. With all my heart.” She glanced about them. “And here, in this solar—the private chambers for the lord of Kinwick—I hope to forge a new beginning with you.”

  Tears from his own eyes fell. “Know that every day I was apart from you, dearest, you were constantly in my thoughts. I did what it took to come back to you. I would march through the fires of Hell itself for a single smile from your lips.”

  Merryn’s tears spilled onto her gown. “I shall give you that smile and many more for the rest of the days we will share together.”

  Geoffrey embraced her, his throat thick with emotion. The sweetness of this moment would live within him till his dying day. He kissed his wife with a yearning that he hoped spoke of his endless love for her. She returned his kiss with abandon and joy.

  He finally broke the kiss, both of them breathless.

  Then Merryn gave him a tender smile. “You know, my lord, you have seen the outer room—but the bedchamber awaits beyond that door.”

  Geoffrey swept her into his arms. “I believe the lord of Kinwick must investigate every inch of the solar. And every inch of his lady.”

  He carried her beyond the family room and into the bedchamber.

  “Come, let me love you,” he whispered into her ear as he moved toward the bed.

  CHAPTER 24

  Except for problems when he slept at night, Geoffrey surprised himself at how quickly he adjusted to a normal life at Kinwick. Familiar faces abounded everywhere he turned. Within a week, the names came back. He discovered all the gossip of what had passed in his time away—marriages, deaths, and the birth of many babes.

  Merryn toured the estate with him on horseback, pointing out improvements made and new fields plowed. He had never been interested much in farming or husbandry. His thoughts and training always turned to war. But he now found an appreciation for how well Kinwick ran and how self-sufficient the estate proved to be, especially under Merryn’s leadership.

  His wife also went over the ledgers with him, so he could see the profit the lands had turned whilst he was away. Though he still looked forward to training exercises with the knights on the estate, Geoffrey was happy to settle into a more domestic life with his family.

  Only the king’s upcoming visit had him worried.

  “You will find our king a most interesting conversationalist,” Merryn had told him. “He is one of the most intelligent men in the kingdom, tall of figure and handsome for one his age. The only flaw I find in him is his petulant attitude. He is quick to anger, almost like a small child who’s denied a toy.”

  Though Geoffrey had only seen the king from a distance, Merryn told him Edward had visited Kinwick twice and would return for his third time during June. As May ended, Geoffrey found himself anxious about the king’s visit.

  Until a missive arrived.

  He entered the Great Hall after having spent most of the morning looking over the ledgers, familiarizing himself with the husbandry of the estate. Kinwick easily fed its people. After storing a goodly amount of grains and keeping a certain number of herds from the animals each year, Merryn had taken to selling off the surplus. Her good sense and careful measures left Kinwick with an abundance in its treasury. A good thing because of the upcoming royal visit. When Geoffrey studied how much it had taken to entertain their liege and his court on their last visit two years ago, the sum left him speechless.

  The noon meal was about to start. He went to the dais and took his place next to his wife. Father Dannet blessed the meal. The pantler brought them their bread and butter. Geoffrey split the trencher in half as Merryn accepted cups of poured ale from a page. He downed it and indicated for it to be filled again.

  “Who knew working with numbers could be such thirsty work?” he said teasingly.

  “I am happy for you to take on that responsibility,” she replied. “I do think before the royal progress arrives that we should take a few days to ride throughout the estate and visit all who reside upon it. We did not take time to speak to tenants when we rode through before.” She took a sip of ale. “‘Twould be good for everyone to see in person their lord, and you could study what repairs might be done upon the various cottages scattered across the estate come winter.”

  He bit into the boiled pheasant, succulent and spiced to perfection. Already, he had gained a few pounds and now fit better into his clothes. If not careful, he would burst from them. Geoffrey knew the time to begin military training again had arrived.

  Tilda appeared with a scroll in her hand. “My lord. This just arrived from the earl of Winterbourne. The messenger has joined us for our meal and will await your reply once ye have dined.”

  She handed him the scroll. He dropped it immediately on the table as if it might burn his fingers and returned his focus to his food. But what he chewed and swallowed left a sour taste as his stomach knotted. He sensed the dread running through his body and forced himself to keep his seat instead of fleeing from the hall in terror.

  “I wonder what Lord Hardi wants,” mused Merryn.

  Just hearing that name made his head pound. “’Tis best that you refer to him as the earl or as Winterbourne now. I doubt he wants to be known by a foolish childhood name.”

  “Open it. My curiosity is aroused.” She rested a hand upon his thigh under the trestle table.

  Usually, her touch brought him comfort. He tried to concentrate on her love for him as he broke the seal and unrolled the missive. Geoffrey allowed Merryn to hold the left side as he did the right so they both could read the contents.

  To my special friends Lord Geoffrey and Lady Merryn—

  I would ask for the pleasure of your company tonight at Winterbourne. We can dine in private as I introduce you to my betrothed and ask a favor of you.

  I hope to see you in good spirits and that you will accept my hospitality and stay the night before returning to Kinwick.

  Hardwin

  “Hmm.” Merryn frowned. “I never quite thought of Hardi as a friend. And I suppose news of your return has reached Winterbourne. But I wonder what favor he might ask of us?” She gave his leg a squeeze and took a sip from her cup.

  A cold chill ran through Geoffrey despite the warmth of the room. Hardi had asked two things of him before he had granted him his freedom. The first was never to reveal where he had been in order to keep Berold’s reputation from being smeared. The second had been to grant some future favor, no matter what Hardi asked of him.

  The time had arrived in which to pay up.

  Geoffrey wondered what the price of his freedom would truly cost.

  ***

  Geoffrey escorted Merryn into the Great Hall of Winterbourne, his steps leaden. He glanced about the room and thought of all the meals taken here, all the feasts and celebrations that had occurred, whilst he shivered with cold and hunger in the damp dungeons below.

  “Welcome, my friends.”

  He turned and saw Hardi approach them, his arms spread wide. The earl
greeted Merryn with a kiss and then stretched a hand in greeting to Geoffrey. He took the offered hand as Hardi clapped him on the back.

  “I am delighted that you took me up on my invitation. Come. I would have you meet Johamma.”

  Hardi led them up a winding staircase and to the solar, where a petite, dark-haired girl of about ten and six sat with needle and thread. She smiled shyly as she put her sewing aside and stood to drop a curtsey.

  Hardi took her elbow and guided her over. “This is Johamma, my betrothed. We shall marry soon.”

  “’Tis lovely to meet you, Lord Geoffrey. Lady Merryn. Hardi has spoken highly of you both. I hope you will consent to attend our wedding.”

  “We would be honored to see you joined in marriage with the earl,” Merryn told the girl. “Have you set the date?”

  “No,” Hardi replied. “But I am eager for us to wed.”

  “I only wish my parents could be here,” Johamma said. “They both passed away some years ago. I was raised by my aunt and uncle. And they are too elderly now to travel and see me wed at Winterbourne.”

  “Then I have an idea,” Merryn said. “King Edward will visit Kinwick this very month. He loves pageants and tournaments and all manner of things which bring people together. I believe holding a wedding whilst he is here would be of great joy to him and the queen. What say you? Would you like to marry at Kinwick before our king?”

  Geoffrey’s hands fisted at his side. He tamped down the fury that threatened to spill from him. He saw the look of surprise cross Johamma’s face and then the sweet smile as she looked up at her intended.

  Hardi met his eyes. “Would that suit you, my lord? I would not wish to impose on you in any way.”

  He forcibly relaxed his hands. “We would be honored to host your wedding. ‘Twill surely amuse the king and bring pleasure to the two of you.”

  “Then ‘tis settled,” declared Merryn. “Johamma and I shall see to the details. ‘Tis women’s work that we will enjoy, and being neighbors, ‘twill be nice to learn about one another as we plan the event.”

  Johamma smiled. “To think I shall marry in front of our king. Thank you, my lady, for such a lovely suggestion.”

  Hardi asked for them to be seated. He poured out wine and offered them fruit and cheese. They talked of the area and some of the customs in southern England since Johamma came from the north, where she declared things to be somewhat different.

  Geoffrey kept waiting for Hardi to speak of the favor he wanted him to agree to. Until he knew what the earl had in mind, he found it hard to relax.

  An hour into their pleasant conversation, Hardi struck.

  “And how are your children, my lady?” he asked Merryn.

  “The twins grow every day,” she said with pride. “Alys is interested in nature and the healing arts. I have taken her under my wing. She already knows which herbs to pick and how to create several tonics.”

  “And your boy?”

  Merryn chuckled. “Ancel is all boy. He sleeps with a wooden sword Geoffrey’s cousin Raynor made for him. He watches the knights in the training yard and wants nothing more than to ride into battle as his father did.”

  “You fought at Poitiers, Lord Geoffrey. Am I correct?”

  “Yes.” He felt no need to elaborate.

  “And how old are your children?” Hardi asked him.

  “’Twill be six years of age they turn in August.”

  “So another year before they leave to foster elsewhere.”

  “They might forego that for another few years,” Geoffrey smoothly replied. “I have missed seeing them grow up, and I wish to have them close to me for an extended time.”

  The earl gave him a winsome smile. “Then I have the perfect solution, and ‘twill speak to the favor I request of you.”

  Understanding ran through Geoffrey at those words. He held his outrage and nodded for Hardi to continue.

  “As an earl, I must agree to foster several youths in my household. I hoped that you might send Ancel to me for training and instruction.” Hardi looked at Merryn. “And as our estates adjoin one another, I am certain we could manage to allow Ancel to return often for visits, mayhap each week. ‘Twould allow you both to see him grow into manhood without a long absence of many years away from Kinwick.”

  Geoffrey saw the joy on his wife’s face as she absorbed the idea. “Knowing Ancel would be near to us and a part of your household would be the best of all possibilities, my lord.” She paused. “And with your upcoming marriage, mayhap Lady Johamma would consider taking on Alys as part of her household once Alys is of age. That way both twins would not have to face separation, and Geoffrey and I could see them on a regular basis.”

  Hardi looked to his betrothed. “Would that please you, Johamma?”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Yes, my lord. ‘Twould make me ever so happy.” She turned to Merryn. “And I, too, would love to learn more of herbs and the healing arts. Would you consider teaching me? That way you could continue Alys’s education, too.”

  “Nothing would please me more.” Merryn paused and faced him. “Geoffrey? You are so quiet. ‘Tis something that might give you happiness, having the twins nearby?”

  He reached and brought her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss upon it. “If ‘tis pleasing to you, Wife, then I am also pleased.” He looked at Hardi. “But what I said stands. I want the twins to remain at Kinwick a while longer.”

  Hardi looked content. And victorious. He lifted his cup. “I can agree to that. Here’s to Ancel and Alys one day becoming a part of the household at Winterbourne.”

  All four of them joined in and sipped their wine. Geoffrey smiled, hiding his displeasure at the thought of his flesh and blood parading about Winterbourne, the place he had been enslaved.

  A servant brought their evening meal. As they ate, the two women became engrossed in their conversation. Geoffrey decided to ask Hardi about this favor.

  He leaned closer, his voice lowered. “Why? When you and your father took everything from me—robbed me of years and of seeing my own children grow up—why do want them to foster with you? As an earl of the realm, you have your pick of the litter amongst the noble families as who might foster in your household. Why must you take my children?”

  Hardi sighed. “’Tis for that very reason, Geoffrey. I want to make it up to you. You helped parent me when my own father chose not to. I want to become a man of honor as you are and teach your children. In some small way, I hope that will repay my debt to you for partaking in stealing years of your life from you.”

  Though the thought sickened Geoffrey, he knew the decision had been made.

  And the code of chivalry which he had lived his life by now became something he hated.

  He would not spend another night under the roof of Winterbourne, be it in the highest of chambers or the lowest of dungeons.

  Geoffrey caught Merryn’s eye. “My love, I know we said we would stay the night at the earl’s invitation, but all this talk of Ancel and Alys makes me long to see them. Would you mind if we left now for home? I hate to be apart from them for even a single night.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Merryn led Alys to the small room where she stored her medicines. Alys skipped happily along, humming to herself. She thought her daughter quite musical and decided it might be time to give her a lute and lessons.

  They reached their destination, and Merryn lit two lanterns so they could see to work.

  As she began setting out what they would need, she quizzed Alys, much as Sephare had done with her when she was the same age.

  “What should I do if I have bumped into something and bruised myself?”

  “I know.” Alys grinned. “Put a large stone into the fire till scorching hot. Then take it out and toss it in water. Dip a cloth in and bathe where ‘tis bruised.”

  “How often?”

  Alys thought a moment. “When you rise and when you ready yourself to sleep.”

  “Good. Why so?”

 
; “’Twill speed the healing.”

  “And what about a burn? In case you pick up that hot stone with your bare hand instead of a cloth.”

  Alys giggled. “But I would not, Mother.”

  “Pretend you did.”

  “Can I pretend Ancel did? Girls remember things, Mother. Boys rush in and do not think. ‘Tis what Tilda says.”

  Merryn chuckled. “Tilda may be right in this matter. Fine, ‘tis Ancel who has burned his hand, and his loving sister Alys is to care for him. How would you help Ancel’s hand to heal?”

  “I would get some hard fat of a sheep and . . .” Her voice trailed off. She scrunched her nose up. “Oh! I boil it with the rind from an elder tree.”

  “What is made from that mixture?”

  “An ointment. You put it on every day. “Twill cure a burn and not leave a scar.”

  Merryn hugged her daughter. “I believe someday you will become a great healer. People will come from far and wide for your magical touch, Alys. You are learning your lessons well.”

  “It helps having Ancel to practice on.”

  “If he allows it,” Merryn warned. “The day may come when he might not be so cooperative.”

  Alys sniffed. “He thinks he’s so important, carrying about his sword.”

  “Remember, we need to ask Raynor to make you one.”

  “I think Father should make it for me. Then ‘twould be better than the one Ancel has.”

  Merryn ruffled her child’s hair. “He would enjoy doing that. Ask him when we dine tonight.”

  She picked up two objects they would use in their work today. “Remind me what to call this, Alys.”

  The little girl smiled. “’Tis a mortar and pestle, Mother.”

  “And what will we use them for?”

  “We will crush and then grind the herbs we have picked.”

  “Yes, into a fine powder. The stone is hard enough to do so, but in a pinch you may also use a very hard wood to pound and grind.” She lifted and inspected the mortar and pestle. “And you must clean it after each use in boiling water.”