by Robyn Carr
“Some of Aaron’s records could not be found, but those kept in London were saved from the fire. No member of Theodoric’s family has borrowed from Aaron. There is a chance a record is still kept in York.”
“Nay, Sire,” Tedric said. “I have never borrowed, I swear. Sir Conan accuses me now in hopes that I will be cast from English soil and the wedding will not take place. He is in love with Lady Chandra, Sire.”
Richard’s eyes were not sympathetic. He looked sharply at Conan for an explanation. Conan did not lie easily, even when it was necessary.
“The lady betrothed to Sir Tedric is my wife’s sister. She fears the marriage, for she knows Tedric to be dishonest and she was the one to see him murder. He paid the maid’s father a sum Medwin could not turn away, for with the Saladin tithe and scutage, Medwin is in need. I acted in her defense, as I would any woman in danger.”
“But you come with charges you cannot prove. It smells of vengeance,” the king said hotly. “My chamber is opened to you for the sake of justice, not as a forum to renew hostilities.”
“Sire, Tedric has attacked unfairly in the past, and there have been witnesses to his treachery. I could not let this incident go by without testing Tedric’s guilt. Sire, he is not a trustworthy knight; others would attest to--”
“Had you received your answers from Sir Tedric, would you have troubled me today?”
“Had I known what pretty tale he would weave, Sire, perhaps I would not have brought the charge to you. Tedric is skilled with lies.”
“Yet I see no proof that you speak the truth,” Richard returned.
“My allegiance has always been firm, Sire.”
“And do you travel with me to the Holy Land?”
Conan’s face took on a darker hue. “Nay, Sire. But I willingly meet the scutage. I am the lone able protector of my family and my wife’s family.”
“And you?” he asked Tedric.
“Nay, Sire. My father chose four of his sons, the ones best known for their knightly skills. I was not chosen, but my scutage has been paid.”
“Sire,” Theodoric put in. “My youngest son asked to be supported with arms for the Crusade and I refused him. He is better with his mind than his sword. The other men will do you better service.”
Richard looked to Alaric. “And do you send sons to this cause?”
“Nay, Sire. I have not been given seven, but two. There is Conan, and Galen, a lad of only four and ten.”
“I will call this matter done,” Richard said. “Bother me again when you put as much importance to God’s work as you put to a damsel’s plight.”
“Sire,” Conan protested.
“It is done! I am interested in men’s games, fighting and causes more important than your preferred choice of husband for your wife’s sister!”
So dismissed, Conan bowed and left the room, Alaric behind him, with Tedric and his father following at a distance. Conan’s pace was brisk with anger and humiliation. In the gallery near the exit he would use, Mallory and Thurwell waited. The look on Conan’s face told them all.
“So he has escaped you again?” Mallory asked.
“And worse,” Conan explained, looking over his shoulder to see a victorious Tedric and stony-faced Theodoric approach. “He managed to make me look the fool to Richard. The fox earned sympathy for his allegiance to John and failure to answer Richard’s call to arms. His father told of how Tedric begged to go and Theodoric would not release him to join the Crusade.”
“He would not go to war if Richard demanded it of him,” Thurwell retorted. “Does Theodoric lie for his son now?”
“I cannot believe he would. I must believe that Tedric asked, knowing Theodoric would refuse him.”
Theodoric and Tedric passed Conan and his friends without speaking, moving out of Westminster quickly, making clear that the ties of friendship had been severed.
“By the rood,” Conan said, “I know that Tedric is guilty! I would stake my life on it!”
“I think not,” Alaric said. “I would not stake anything of much value on Tedric’s defeat. You have already staked your reputation--and lost.”
Chapter 13
Had Medwin been able to afford a wedding on a grand scale for Chandra, the occasion would have been an awkward one. It was just as well, then, that Medwin was lacking in ample means. His poor financial condition served as a good excuse for a modest celebration when his youngest daughter was wed.
In the hall that Medwin leased in London, there were sufficient decoration and plenty of food and entertainment. Those friends already in London for the coronation attended the ceremony and partook of the feast. Medwin, of course, was not responsible for making the arrangements. That chore fell to Chandra. Most of these preparations were made before she left Phalen, and once in London it was simply a matter of assigning last-minute tasks to others. Chandra did only what was necessary so that her father would not be embarrassed.
Garlands were strung, a minstrel was hired and birds were roasted. But there was no saving the day. No amount of primping, decorating or feasting could rescue the affair. It was common knowledge that the bride had been forced by her father into the marriage. She had accused Tedric of murder, and the man to come to her colors had been Sir Conan, her sister’s husband. And Tedric had openly accused Conan of trying to stop the marriage because he loved the bride. That there was any rejoicing at all was a surprise.
She knelt beside Tedric in the rushes in the manor house that Medwin provided. The pale blue of her gown would have brought out the sparkling blue of her eyes, had she been able to raise them. A jeweled girdle that was a gift from Theodoric on her wedding day adorned her gown, but she could not smile her pleasure, for though the gift was generous, this was the blackest of days for her. Tears gathered in her eyes against her will as she spoke her vows. She knew that her appearance was not at fault, that her gown and jewels were envied by many, but the words that left her lips brought despair. She could not suppress the memory of Conan and Edwina as they knelt before a priest. The words she spoke now for Tedric she wished only to pledge to Conan. She wished, with an ache in her heart, that she could present this richly arranged wedding outfit to him; and that she could feel joy in her heart as she pledged her troth.
During the feasting and singing she was quiet and solemn, while Tedric raised his horn for every toast to the couple. His gaiety, Chandra believed, was due more to his triumph over Conan than to his great pleasure in having her as his bride.
In spite of the harsh allegations against Conan and Chandra, and the general attitude of disrespect displayed toward Conan in the wedding hall, Conan and Edwina were present. He would not shrink away in embarrassment and thus give the impression that the accusations he had levied were untrue. And Edwina was the bride’s sister; without her presence Chandra would have even fewer supporters at her own wedding.
It was a strange day for many. In the past, Conan had been the highly sung hero, with Alaric standing proudly to accept compliments on his son. Now he seemed scorned and beaten by Tedric, and Theodoric was the one standing proudly, for he boasted seven fine sons, four of whom would journey on Crusade. Alaric and Theodoric did not speak, and Medwin’s position was uncomfortable. His two sons by marriage could barely abide being in the same hall with each other.
A lame falcon, long having been the symbol of good luck at a wedding, seemed to hold a double meaning as the crippled animal was displayed for all in the hall to see. At one point Chandra could bear the snide remarks and animosity no more, and with tear-filled eyes she turned to her new husband.
“My lord, I beseech your goodwill. Please speak no more ill of Sir Conan. He is my sister’s husband and family in my father’s house.”
Tedric grinned. “But cherie, he has brought serious charges against me, and before the king! Would you have me treat him as a brother?”
“But Tedric, it was I,” she murmured mournfully. “I could not think I was mistaken in what I saw, and Conan only wished to h
elp me. I beg of you, let your punishment fall to my shoulders. I cannot bear to see Conan treated so poorly.”
“Ah, the proud cock rooster does not strut so well now! He has basked in the glow of glory for a long time, cherie, when he deserved little of it. I have waited a long time to see the falcon shown for the lame coward that he is!”
“Tedric, please--”
He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his. “If you did not hunger for him so, you would not beg me to cease,” he accused.
Her pleas were ignored. Tedric raised his horn high to toast those brave enough to follow Richard into battle. There were not only four of his brothers present who would go, but other knights, Mallory and Thurwell among them. To toast the Crusaders was noble, but Tedric’s only motive was that he might see Conan wince in shame.
Chandra watched Conan’s reaction as well. He did not act mortified as Tedric hoped; rather, he raised his horn high and joined in the salute to those going to the Holy Land. Alaric’s response was not so gracious. Though the hour was still early, he said his goodbyes to Medwin and the bride, taking Udele and Edythe with him. Mallory and Thurwell, hard pressed to offer any more salutations to Tedric and his bride, followed close behind. Within moments Conan’s supporters were gone from the room and Chandra wondered what stubbornness provoked him to remain. She would not have blamed him for leaving in an angry state hours before. And then the reason struck her: Edwina was to attend her to the bridal chamber.
It was a moment she dreaded more than any other part of the day, but Chandra could not bear to think of Conan standing alone to absorb any more subtle insults from her husband and his family. She leaned closer to Tedric.
“My lord, I beg you excuse me now. I am weary and would find our bed.”
“So soon, cherie?” he fairly sneered, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “If you cannot bear the wait, so be it! I will join you there soon!”
Chandra shuddered at the thought but raised herself with as much dignity as she could muster and bade her father a good night. Edwina came quickly to her side and walked with her to the chamber above them.
There was no one in the room and Chandra went directly to a stool before the hearth and lowered herself tiredly, looking into the flames. She folded her hands in her lap, and tears coursed her cheeks to fall onto them. Edwina allowed her a few moments of quiet to calm herself. There was nothing Edwina could do to ease the hurt.
Edwina spread a delicate white nightdress on the bed. She smoothed the fabric, remembering her own wedding night. She had been nervous and distressed, but her husband had approached her with gentleness and compassion. It was her first taste of love. Her sad luck with carrying his seed to term had lessened the blissful moments for them, but when he did lie beside her at night, the warmth and glow of those moments stayed with her for a very long time. It made the weeks and months that they could not share a bed more bearable. Now, casting a furtive glance at her weeping sister, Edwina was pained to think of what Chandra might find on her wedding night.
“Come, dear heart, let us not anger him by delay. You cannot escape the wedding night.”
Chandra turned to look at her sister. “You must hate me,” she said sadly.
Edwina rushed to her, kneeling before her and taking Chandra’s hands into her own, bringing them to her lips. “Hate you? Oh, my love, my sweet Chandra, why would I hate you?”
“For the things they say about Conan. That he helped me because--”
“Oh, my dear! Would I let what spills from jealous tongues eat at my heart? Chandra, I begged him to help you! After all you have done for me, all you have endured because of me, would I listen to such cruel lies?”
“But Edwina--” Chandra attempted.
“Nay! I hold you above all others! And it pains my heart to think of all you have been through because of me!”
“I have never suffered because of you,” Chandra said in confusion.
Edwina reached out and touched Chandra’s golden hair, looking with love into her eyes. “I am not blind to what you have sacrificed for me, dear heart. I know that long ago when I was prepared to take Tedric, you longed for as little as a kind word from Conan. It was his mother’s doing that he noticed me at all. And it was a long while before I realized it had broken your heart. And never have you begrudged me my happiness! Never have you complained of what might have been!”
Feeling less than pure and not deserving of Edwina’s sympathy, Chandra looked again at her hands and felt the tears fall onto them.
“I have had naught but kindness from my lord husband,” Edwina went on. “Kindness and love he showers on me, though I do not deserve so much. I have been a disappointment to him. I cannot give him sons, and I know it is because of me that he does not go with Richard. Oh, Chandra, I did not always think Tedric so undeserving, but now I see him for the knave he is. Do you think I could have survived as his wife?”
Chandra raised her eyes and looked at her sister.
“You have always been the stronger one, and you have always taken my burdens. Now you will spend your life serving a man that was almost given to me, while I have the prize. If you can forgive, I pray you will forgive me for the many times you have slaved for a lesser reward while I have profited.”
Chandra sighed, wishing she could convince herself that there would one day be a prize for her, but she felt more permanently removed from happiness than ever before. She rose to begin to ready herself for her husband. Talking about her troubles seemed to worsen them in her mind, and delaying the inevitable could not improve her circumstances.
“I will not see you again for a long time,” Chandra said. “I know that Tedric’s promise to let me visit Father may be forgotten.”
“Chandra, don’t worry so. We will be together again. And I will pray that Tedric learns the value of what he has and changes for the better.”
It was that thought that gave Chandra a glimmer of hope. She wondered how he could change if she would not allow it. Perhaps if she showed she was tractable and could be a supportive wife, they could come to an understanding.
I must show him I am willing, she thought desperately. Perhaps he does hold some love for me and is only injured by my reluctance. I fear I cannot love him, but I am strong enough to act the part of a loyal wife. In time, I pray, there will be peace between us.
It was with that resolve that she could settle herself and try to steel her mind against ill thoughts.
She could not muster a seductive or intimate smile for Tedric when he came to her; to show that she was resigned and willing was the very most she could do.
He leaned over the bed and drew her toward him, kissing her lips gently. Chandra yielded to the kiss and tried her best to return the affection. When his lips left hers he was smiling, a smile of pleasure that momentarily convinced her she had done well.
“The beautiful Chandra,” he said softly. “The maid the men all want for their own. You are accustomed to being desired, my love. It is a thing you will have to learn to live without.”
“Tedric, you must forgive me if I have hurt you and let this be a time of starting over. We are pledged, you and I, and there should be kindness between us.”
He laughed loudly at that. “And so you are ready to play the wife?”
“I will do my best,” she murmured, confused by the look in his eyes.
“But cherie,” he protested, “I was not awaiting your approval. Whether or not you are prepared to try, you are mine.”
She lowered her gaze for a moment, not wishing to argue with him further, when he reached out and grabbed the sheer cloth of her shift and rent the fabric to expose her from her breasts to her thighs. She gasped as she unconsciously clutched at the cloth.
“Do not cry out, cherie,” he warned. “It would be the crowning glory to Conan’s shame should he hear your screams and run to your bridal chamber to save you from your husband.”
Rage replaced the shock in her eyes as she glared at him. “Why
do you seek his humiliation, and always at my expense?”
“Why? Because, cherie, he wants you. I have waited a very long time to take something he values from his reach and watch him stand helpless to prevent me.”
Chandra rose to her knees and clutched the cloth to her heaving bosom. “You will not cease, Tedric! As I lie here regretting that I hurt you by wrongly accusing you, you treat me with greater cruelty!”
“Wrongly? Nay, love, the charges were not false. I did indeed kill the Jew. I chased him fairly an hour, and it was a strange twist of fate that I caught him beneath your window. But then mayhaps not so strange: you should have learned to fear me, at least.”
Without thinking, she cowered from him. How could she have doubted what she saw with her own eyes? “And your injury?”
He clicked his tongue and made a half frown. “It was a wretched crowd that night...”
“You are vile!”
“Hush, cherie! While Conan is chivalrous enough to accuse me twice, Richard will not hear him twice. It would be more shame for that poor crippled falcon to bear.”
“And you did borrow from the Jew?”
Tedric chuckled, but there was a hardness to his eyes that would frighten a stronger maid. “In a manner, cherie, but it will never be proved.”
He turned from her and began to remove his clothing, tossing it about the room carelessly. Chandra’s mind whirled with anger and fear, trying to think of an escape from him: a way she could resist him without bringing any more innocent protectors’ virtues to question and without gaining yet another reprimand for being an unwilling bride.
When he turned back to her, there was a feral gleam in his eyes.
“Remove the shift, my love, or I shall tear it from you.”
She clutched it more fiercely to her bosom and bore through him with her eyes. He leaned closer and she felt the chill of his words.
“It will not be easy to show you your master tonight without badly bruising your tender flesh, but I will find a way. We travel to Cordell soon where there is nothing to prevent me from beating you. The marriage is to be consummated here and now, and I do not make idle threats.”