Word of Honor (Knights of Valor Book 1)

by Lauren Linwood

  Merryn kissed them both farewell, and they departed. Hardi and Johamma stepped up to her.

  The young girl took her hands. “Thank you, Lady Merryn, for making my wedding take place in front of the royal couple. ‘Tis a brave woman you are. I would have been quaking in my shoes and never found my voice to ask the king that favor.” She cast her eyes down. “Especially after what transpired.”

  “We are happy to have you marry at Kinwick. I had already made preliminary arrangements in case the king found himself agreeable to the proposal. Our priest will be ready. All I need to do is find out your favorite foods so I can serve them.”

  Johamma said, “Nay, serve what delights our king. We shall be happy to eat whatever is placed before us.”

  Hardi took her elbow and squeezed it with affection. “Thanks to you, my lady, an impossibly awkward situation has turned into a cause of celebration. My deepest gratitude goes out to you.” He paused. “If ever you have a favor to ask that ‘tis within my power to grant, say the word. I shall do everything to make it happen,” he said fervently.

  “Anything?” Geoffrey asked as he came to stand next to Merryn.

  Hardi swallowed. “Anything Lady Merryn would ask of me, I would do.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.

  Merryn sensed a ripple of tension in Geoffrey as she thanked Hardi. He and Johamma took their leave.

  She turned to her husband. “I want to know about Barrett. Now.”

  He gave her a long look. “Let us adjourn somewhere we have more privacy.” Geoffrey led her to the small room Diggory used to accomplish his duties as steward and where all the business of the estate was kept on record. He shut the door and offered her a seat.

  “No. I prefer to stand.” Merryn waited for him to speak. When he remained silent, she asked, “Why did you hide this from me?”

  Geoffrey ran a hand through his thick hair. “I never meant to.” He reached for her hands and wrapped his fingers around hers. “I fought in France for so long, Merryn. When I made my way back to you and Kinwick, all I could think about was how happy I was to be home again. Leaving the horrors of war behind ‘twas important to me. I wanted to look to the future—our future—and never think about those dark times again. If I could, I would forget everything that happened in France.”

  Her heart ached at his words and anguished tone. “You never told me how awful the war was. Nor how deeply it affected you. I’m sorry. ‘Twas only my curiosity about something which you’d never spoken much of.” She tightened her fingers around his. “We need never speak of it again.”

  A shadow crossed her husband’s face. “Even harder than the memories of the fighting and bloodshed, of losing men that I fought side by side with, men whom I’d befriended—was knowing I was responsible for the death of a neighbor. Even though he proved a traitor to his country. That I lived. That I must look his father in the eye, knowing Lord Berold blamed me for his heir’s death. Knowing Hardi was so young and had looked up to Barrett as any much younger brother worships an older one.”

  “I don’t think Hardi bears any ill will toward you, Geoffrey,” Merryn noted. “And though it seems you bear tremendous guilt over reporting your knowledge of a man who had willingly betrayed his country, I believe you did the right thing for your king and England.”

  But the look on his face said otherwise.

  ***

  The hunt strictly involved the men. Though his wife could ride as well as any man, she told Geoffrey she would remain behind to attend to Queen Philippa and continue to put the finishing touches upon the wedding arrangements and the evening’s feast and festivities. He knew she’d hired both a troubadour to sing and a talented jogelour to perform tricks of skill and magic as tonight’s entertainment.

  As horses were saddled and brought out, Geoffrey mounted Mystery. He flashed back to the years of sitting in the dark dungeon of Winterbourne, where sometimes he passed hours of time by riding Mystery in his mind. His beloved horse had taken him all across the countryside, sometimes alone, sometimes with Merryn riding in front of him, his arms around her, her chestnut hair blowing in the breeze.

  Geoffrey shook his head hard, willing the sad memories to dissipate. He needed to remain sharp. His gut told him the king would manage to speak to him today about the time he spent missing from Kinwick.

  He dreaded the conversation.

  “You shall ride with me, Geoffrey de Montfort.”

  The words startled him. He looked up to find England’s king sitting in his saddle, their horses side by side.

  “Of course, your highness,” he said, surprised at how confident he sounded. “‘Tis my pleasure to accompany you during the hunt. Our woods are wide and deep and will bring quite the challenge.”

  He looked around as the yard filled with well over two hundred men mounted. It gave him a sinking feeling to be surrounded by the presence of so many. The noise from dozens of boisterous conversations and loud laughter disoriented him. He had to fight to keep Mystery in place instead of kicking his heels and riding off to find solace.

  At that moment, he appreciated his quiet life at Kinwick. He knew he might not ever be as he had been before his disappearance, but he relished life at his country estate. He believed he could recover and become as close to the man he once was, given enough time. Already, his nightmares came with less frequency, though he still liked to be surrounded by light.

  And the best medicine of all had proved to be Merryn. Her faith in him, even knowing he kept dark secrets from her, would be what saved him from a descent into madness. As long as his beloved remained at his side, he would survive.

  And hopefully thrive. Geoffrey didn’t know what he’d done to deserve an earthly angel to watch over him, but he knew Merryn would protect him as any lioness would her cubs.

  He rode beside the king, their conversation light, as the men sought various prey. Then shouts ahead announced a boar had been spotted. The mass of riders turned their mounts and flew like the wind in the indicated direction, a stampede of thundering hooves.

  All except Geoffrey and Edward and a handful of the royal guard.

  Including Sir Symond Benedict.

  The king waved them off as he indicated to Geoffrey to ride in the opposite direction of those in pursuit of the boar. They did so, the royal guard following at a discreet distance.

  Finally, Edward slowed his horse. Geoffrey knew the time had arrived for a serious conversation.

  “I grow old,” Edward shared. “Once I enjoyed the excitement of the hunt. The thrill of the chase. But now I choose to allow others to enjoy it for me.” The king threw a leg over his horse and dropped to the ground. “Walk with me.”

  Geoffrey dismounted and kept Mystery’s reins in his hand. The horses trudged behind their masters.

  “You have fine lands. And from what I can see and what Lady Merryn has shared with me over the years, happy people.”

  “Yes, ‘tis due to my wife’s efforts that Kinwick runs so efficiently.”

  Edward smiled. “Ah, Lady Merryn. A true beauty and woman of rare intelligence. If not for my darling Philippa, I would have married Lady Merryn myself.” He chuckled. “Instead, she’s become almost as a daughter to me. She challenges me, where others dare not speak to me in such a manner. Her ideas on taxation, in particular. Did you know she came up with a better way to both tax and record the transactions? I am now using a form of it, through my advisers. When I shared the plan with them, they all thought ‘twas brilliant on my part.”

  Geoffrey swelled with pride. “Nothing Merryn does surprises me. She is an original. From childhood, I knew how very special she was. When we were apart, she was all I ever thought of.”

  “You love her. A great deal,” the king observed.

  “With everything I am and have. She holds my heart, sire. She is my reason for living.”

  Edward scowled. “Then why did you willingly leave her?” he scolded. “You are most fortunate, Lord Geoffrey. You could have retu
rned after years and found her the wife of another man, living upon another estate. What could possibly make you walk away from a woman you claim to love with your heart and mind and soul?”

  “I know of your plans. You would have married her off to Benedict.”

  “Yes. I gave the lady more than adequate time to mourn your supposed passing. Benedict is a good soldier and a man to be trusted.”

  “But is he a good man?” Geoffrey asked.

  He’d spoken to several of his knights once Gilbert had revealed Benedict would have become master of Kinwick. From those he’d spoken to, he didn’t like what he’d heard. The soldiers of Kinwick believed the man assumed too much and was a braggart. One even referred to a kitchen maid he was sweet on that Benedict had seemed to terrorize with his frightful pursuit of her—all while at Kinwick to gain Merryn’s affections and get to know her better.

  “He’s been nothing but a loyal guardsman to me, so I’m sure Lady Merryn would have found him loyal to her and Kinwick. But Lord Geoffrey, you can no longer avoid my question. I ask as your king and as a man—why did you leave paradise? You had everything and risked it—for what?”

  Geoffrey gathered his courage and spoke thoughtfully, from his heart. “You know from the Black Prince, your heir and beloved son, that I hold my word as my strongest bond of honor. ‘Tis a reflection of who I am as a man.” He swallowed hard. “And I gave my oath that I would never share where I spent those years, nor with whom I spent them. Would that I could, sire, but I cannot break that promise.

  “Only know this—I knew I had found paradise on earth—and that ‘twas snatched from me against my will.”

  Edward regarded him solemnly for some minutes, no word spoken between them. Finally, he said, “I could command you to tell. And imprison you if you refused my order.”

  Geoffrey sighed and nodded in agreement. “That you could, sire. You could even torture me, and still, ‘twould be as if I had no tongue to speak. As if I were deaf and mute, for my conscience would not allow me to reveal what I swore to keep private till the end of time. I am not happy I must keep this oath, but I do not regret keeping it. ‘Tis everything I am.”

  The king’s mouth tightened in displeasure, but he nodded slowly. “You are a true man of honor. Never have I met a knight whose word meant so much to him.”

  Geoffrey held his breath, not knowing if the king meant the praise and would let the matter drop—or if he would punish him.

  Then a slow smile spread across Edward’s face. “I have need of men like you in London.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Geoffrey froze in his tracks.

  The king wanted him—in London?

  Edward spoke bluntly. “London is full of sycophants and those who would do anything to gain favor. They agree with me regardless of what I suggest, no matter how outlandish it might seem.”

  The king paused. “I need men to serve me whom I can trust. I must put England’s best interest at the heart of every matter. Surrounding myself with men of your caliber is of utmost importance.” He smiled. “Besides, my son respects you. That alone would have been all I needed to know about you.”

  The king’s words pained Geoffrey. “I beg of you, sire. Please do not issue that command. ‘Twould be miserable for me to be at court, in a mire of politicians and liars. I doubt I could serve your best interests when burdened by such great personal unhappiness.

  “Look around. You yourself admired Kinwick and my people. Here is my family. All I ever desired. Merryn thrives here, too.”

  “But she would be the most celebrated beauty at court. Men would fall at her feet.” The king’s brow wrinkled. “I could gift you with other properties and untold wealth. I could raise you from baron to earl of the realm.”

  He shook his head. “But all that ‘twould mean nothing to me, sire. I intend no disrespect. At heart, Merryn and I are simple people who would choose to avoid the intrigues of court.”

  Geoffrey knew what he said displeased the king, but he continued. “I have been through untold horrors, your majesty. I need to be at Kinwick to heal. I beg you leave us intact, in peace. I give you my oath—my word of honor—that I will fight for your name whenever called upon. I will give you all from taxes to troops to humble advice, but I want to remain here.”

  He watched Edward consider his words as he tapped a finger along his jaw.

  “How about visits to London every now and then?” Edward countered. “Say I took your twins under my wing. Instead of fostering in some nobleman’s household, they could come to London and learn. Your boy could be one of my court pages, and your girl could serve in the queen’s household. I would guarantee them advantageous marriages, as well.”

  Hope beat in Geoffrey’s heart. His precious twins would not have to foster at Winterbourne. To keep them from the place he most despised on this earth. To have them serve the royal house of Plantagenet and be under the king’s protection.

  Yet his promise to Hardi weighed heavily upon him.

  “They are promised to the earl of Winterbourne, sire. I suppose only he could alter our agreement.”

  Edward clapped his hands once. “So be it. If agreeable to you and Lady Merryn, I shall speak to Winterbourne.” His smile showed a few missing teeth. “My will is strong, Lord Geoffrey. Mayhap even stronger than yours. I can be quite persuasive when speaking with my noble subjects. We will bend the earl’s knee on this issue.”

  Cheers went up in the distance. Symond Benedict rode over to where the king and Geoffrey stood.

  “The boar has been felled, sire. The hunting party is ready to return to Kinwick.”

  He and the king remounted their horses and rode to join the others. As they made their way to the castle, Geoffrey wondered what Hardi’s reaction would be to the king’s request and if the young earl would defy Edward and hold Geoffrey to his word to allow the twins to foster at Winterbourne.

  ***

  Merryn dressed with particular care in a cote-hardie of deep scarlet, fastening her ever-present sapphire brooch next to her heart. She placed a belt of knotted silver about her waist and tied matching ribbons in her hair. One ribbon went into her pocket for later use.

  Today was the last day the royal court would be present at Kinwick. Edward had been in a good mood throughout the visit. He’d glowed with pride at the ballads the troubadour sang of his military victories. He laughed till tears spilled down his cheeks at the antics of the jogelour. He and the queen graced the wedding of Hardi and Johamma yesterday, and the royal ruler had eaten and drunk far into the night at the feast celebrating their union.

  All that remained was today’s tournament, which would be held in the meadow next to the woods. All the Kinwick tenants and their families were invited, as were the many nobles who accompanied the royal summer progress. Some of them had signed up for the joust and would compete with the knights of Kinwick, along with those of the king’s guard. Edward had ruled that since they only had but a day, the joust would be the sole event for men to participate in.

  Merryn made her way down to where Geoffrey slept. She’d suggested he retire to the estate room, where he and Diggory reviewed estate business. ‘Twas a small space—but private—and he’d readily agreed with her. It eased her mind that he hadn’t slept with a hundred men bedded down on the rushes in the Great Hall.

  She tapped on the door and entered. Geoffrey already stood, dressed in russet and brown. He ran fingers through his dark hair, trying to tame it. He turned and faced her, his hazel eyes growing warm as he caught sight of her.

  Merryn walked to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You will compete today?”

  “Aye. ‘Tis simply a game. I shall probably lose in the first round. I am sorely out of practice.”

  She ran her hands down his arms and captured his hands in hers. “’Tis not what I have witnessed.”

  His brows shot up. “What mean you?”

  “I have watched some of the training exercises from the north tower. ‘Tis quite a
nice view of the yard from that vantage point.” She brought a hand to his chest. “You have not been a mere observer, Geoffrey. I have seen you, along with Gilbert, putting the men through their paces. You are easy to pick out, due to your height and broad shoulders and your stance with a sword.”

  He shrugged. “Swordplay and such are one thing. The joust is entirely different.”

  She cupped his cheek. “You are a warrior, my love. You may not enjoy it, but ‘tis bred in you. I shall cheer you on to victory this day.” Merryn removed the ribbon from her pocket and tied it around his wrist. “I shall be with you as much as Mystery this day.”

  Geoffrey gave her a searing kiss as a reward.

  Merryn pulled away. “I wish ‘twould be more than kissing we could do, but I have much to accomplish before the tournament begins. Is your armor ready?”

  “Aye. Ancel and Alys both helped me polish it.” A shadow crossed his face.

  “Something wrong, my love?”

  He sighed. “Alys is quite my shadow. She gives her love easily. But Ancel? One minute he hangs on my every word, and the next he acts disinterested in whatever I say.”

  Merryn wrapped her arms about his waist. “Be patient with him, Geoffrey. He went from holding the title to Kinwick and believing he was my protector to a little boy who had never seen his father. Ancel loves you, I’m sure. He’s simply a little man who doesn’t share his feelings as easily as his sister.”

  “I hope you are right.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head and offered his arm. “Let us attend mass so we have time to put the finishing details upon our joust.”

  ***

  Merryn found it hard to contain her excitement. Knights arrived at the field in full armor. Ladies in an array of colors had given favors to those they cheered on. Children ran about, squealing in delight at all the commotion.

  Kinwick had almost twenty knights, including its lord, entered into the contest. Hugh, Raynor, and Hardi also competed. The king had several men from his royal guard pursuing the prize. Geoffrey offered up a colt born in the spring that would make a fine warhorse when he reached maturity.