A Knight to Remember

by Maryse Dawson

  He flashed his most charming smile. "Nay, Marguerite, I hath words to be had with the king. Go with Annie and we shall converse at matins."

  Marguerite's eyes flashed angrily at being denied, but she quickly veiled them with her lashes. "Of course, milord. I bid thee goodnight and thee, Sire." She bowed to both Stephen and King Edward, totally ignoring Jenny.

  Her actions did not go unnoticed. Stephen watched her flounce away with Annie by her side and decided that there was another woman who needed a good thrashing.

  "Is she not a beauty, Stephen?" the king noted, following her with his eyes.

  "Aye, Sire. Such rare beauty is hard to find." It was just a shame that such beauty was only on the outside, thought Stephen. He glanced at Jenny. She, on the other hand, had everything he desired in a woman.

  "She will make a handsome wife, think thee, Stephen?"

  "Aye, she will." He still had his eyes fastened on Jenny, who quickly turned when he spoke. She flushed under his gaze and looked away.

  "Mayhap, thou wouldst take Marguerite for thy wife?"

  Stephen almost choked on his wine. Marguerite! He thought not! He cleared his throat. "My destiny lies elsewhere, Sire."

  "Think on it, Stephen. She will come with a large dowry – a dowry any man would be addle-brained not to accept!"

  She would have to come with a large dowry, thought Stephen. Apart from her beauty, it would be her only asset. He pitied the poor fool that would eventually wed her.

  "I shalt retire," the king suddenly announced, standing up. His man servant was instantly by his side. "I trust my chambers are ready?" he enquired.

  The servant bowed. "Aye, Sire. I hath seen to it."

  "Good night, Stephen. Good night, milady." The king exited the Great Hall, leaving Jenny and Stephen alone on the dais, apart from several castle dwellers still eating their meal and quaffing wine on the lower tables.

  "Thou hath taken a dislike to the lady Marguerite," Stephen noted.

  "Yes, she's horrible. I know her type."

  "Her type?"

  "Yes, she only has eyes for men!" Jenny looked at him pointedly and took a gulp of her wine. She was getting quite used to the strong wine and liked the heady feeling it gave her.

  "Mayhap, thou art correct in thy observations, but I tell thee now, thou cannot and will not speak to her with such derision that I hath witnessed this eve."

  Jenny bristled. "I shall talk to her in the same tone that she speaks to me! She's rude! Am I meant to sit back and take her barely veiled abuse without responding?"

  "Aye, Jenny, thou art. Marguerite is a ward of the court and therefore is under King Edward's protection. Thy tone was not noted by him earlier as he was otherwise engaged, but rest assured, if he had heard thee, thou would hath been in serious trouble."

  "Oh, for God's sake! You can't expect me to sit back and let her talk to me like a lower form of life. I won't do it!" She took another large swig of wine and coughed a little when the strong liquid slipped down her throat. She failed to notice the look of thunder on Stephen's face.

  She jumped when he suddenly banged his fist on the table. "Thy blaspheming will cease! At once!" He grabbed the goblet out of her hand and forced her to stand up by taking hold of her elbow. "Thou shalt not blaspheme in my presence or anyone else's, for that matter. Come!"

  He gave her no option as he manoeuvred her around the dais and out of the Great Hall. She soon found herself in her chamber, Stephen's firm grip still on her arm

  The warm feeling she'd experienced earlier from the wine was rapidly diminishing when she realised how cross Stephen was. He closed the door with a solid thud and settled himself on the edge of her bed, pulling her down over his lap.

  She tried valiantly to rise up but Stephen's strength prevented her. A cold blast of air hit her skin as he raised her skirts.

  She sucked in a breath when his first smack descended onto her buttocks, which was quickly followed by several swats in rapid succession.

  "Aow!" she wailed, kicking her legs wildly.

  Stephen placed one of his long legs over hers, stopping any further movement.

  "Desist, wench! I hath warned thee afore about blaspheming. Thou shalt hath respect for our Lord!"

  Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

  At every slap, her body jolted forward with the impact. Despite her verbal protestations, Stephen didn't stop. Her bottom soon felt as though she was sitting too near a hot furnace. No amount of wailing or begging would make him stop.

  Smack! Smack! Smack!

  Oh, dear Lord, it hurt! Her and her big bloody mouth! When would she learn?

  Her hands gripped the coverlet tightly as she tried to deal with the pain.

  Suddenly he paused, letting his hand lay on the heated surface of her bottom.

  "Hath thee learned thy lesson?"

  "Yes, yes! Definitely!" Jenny panted, lifting her head up off the bed. "I'll never say the Lord's name in vain again. I promise!"

  "Hmm, let it be so. If thee ever blaspheme again, I shalt use the strap!"

  "T-The strap?" Jenny whispered, horrified. What kind of torture would that inflict? It didn't bear thinking about!

  He pulled her upright and then sat her down on his lap. She winced at the contact with his rough hose.

  "Doth it hurt?"

  Jenny scowled. "Yes, it does."

  "Good. Next time mayhap thee will think twice about what cometh out of that pretty mouth of thine!"

  Jenny resisted the urge to respond with a sarcastic comment and instead decided to keep quiet.

  Stephen continued, "I will reiterate that I want thee to behave and treat Marguerite with courtesy whilst she is here. When thou art in the company of the king, thy tongue shalt be civil. Whether thee be talking to him or to Marguerite, thou shalt behave with decorum. Is that clear?"

  Jenny nodded mutely. Huh...like she was going to obey him. She'd be civil to the king, but as for that bitch, no way.

  "Now, get thee to bed. On the morrow, we shall rise early. The king hath requested a hunt."

  She moved off his lap and waited for him to leave. He tilted her chin up and kissed her soundly on the lips. "Until the morrow, Jenny."

  * * *

  Jenny was woken from her sleep by Annie bustling into the room.

  "Time thee was up and away, milady. The hunting party is beginning to assemble in the Great Hall. Thee doth not want to miss such an opportunity to go hunting with the king."

  Jenny groaned and tried to cover her head with the feather pillow, but Annie stopped her. "Now, now, milady! What ails thee?"

  "I don't like hunting!" That and the fact she was a poor horsewoman.

  Annie looked aghast. "Every lady loves hunting, 'tis a wondrous pastime. Come, no more of this nonsense." She pulled back the coverlet and waited for Jenny to move.

  Realising Annie wasn't going to take no for an answer, Jenny swung her legs off the bed and began to get ready. Annie had already placed a bowl of warm water, a small bar of soap and a clean linen cloth on the table, so she began to wash.

  Halfway through drying her face with the cloth, she looked up to find Annie standing in front of her, holding up a dress. "I hath brought thee another dress of Mistress Flavie's. She used to wear this when hunting, as the cloth is heavier. Thee will look most handsome."

  Jenny regarded the vibrant burgundy dress with gold sleeves and a gold braided bodice. It was pretty, if not a trifle overdone. Annie was clearly in awe of it, so she wisely decided against saying anything detrimental.

  "It's lovely, Annie. Thank you for thinking of me."

  "Oh, 'tis my job, milady. Come, take off thy nightgown and step into the dress here."

  Jenny still wasn't used to having someone help her dress, but wearing medieval garments meant she had to have help, whether it was wanted or not. Some of the lacing was at the back, and one would have to be a contortionist to reach it. Oh, for the invention of the zip. She'd never look on the humble zip the same ever again. Assuming she e
ver saw one again.

  Once dressed and fussed over by Annie, she made her way to the Great Hall where she found King Edward and Sir Stephen supping at the high table.

  The king smiled pleasantly when she seated herself next to him. "Good morrow, milady. Art thou looking forward to the hunt?"

  "Yes, Sire, although my riding skills leave a lot to be desired," Jenny replied, reaching for a piece of bread. "But I shall do my best to keep up."

  "With spirit like that, Jenny, thee will fare well."

  Jenny responded to his jovial mood with a wide grin, deciding that perhaps a ride out would do her good. She suddenly realised Stephen was looking at her, his hawk eyes watching her every move. She refrained from poking out her tongue at him – just! When he'd said he wanted her on her best behaviour, he hadn't been joking. Was that how it was going to be all day?

  Cutting a wedge of cheese, she spoke to King Edward. "Will Marguerite be joining us on the hunt?"

  "Aye, although she is not one for rising early. If she doth dally much longer, I will hath to send someone to fetch her."

  As if on cue, Marguerite sailed into the hall, her nose in the air. Jenny pursed her lips.

  "Ah, there thou art, Marguerite!" exclaimed King Edward. "Come and break thy fast. I wish to leave shortly and thou, milady, art late."

  Marguerite smiled sweetly. "Oh, my pardon, Sire."

  She sat beside Stephen and he poured a goblet of watered-down wine for her before passing her some bread.

  "I trust thee slept well, milady?" Stephen asked politely.

  "Nay, milord, I did not. My dreams were filled with terrible visions." She clutched his arm suddenly. "Visions of thee dying, milord, whilst astride thy destrier. Mayhap, it is a premonition!"

  Stephen gave a wry smile. "Calm thyself, Marguerite. 'Twas just a nightmare. Push these thoughts from thy mind and enjoy the day's hunt. 'Twill be a good one today; the stag are aplenty."

  "Nay, milord. Methinks thee should stay home and I will remain at thy side to keep thee company."

  Jenny ground her teeth. Would Marguerite stop at nothing to get Stephen? She spoke quickly. "Don't be silly, Marguerite. King Edward will be with us and Sir Stephen will be perfectly safe. It was only a bad dream, don't be so dramatic!"

  "Dramatic! I am realistic. He could die."

  "So could we all. I suggest you stay here as you're so worried. We don't need you with us."

  "Jenny!" Stephen's voice was full of reproach.

  "What?"

  "Do not be rude!"

  "I wasn't! I was just saying..."

  "Desist!"

  Jenny knew when she was beaten and huffed aloud.

  King Edward laughed, a low rumble deep from his belly. "'Twould seem we will hath our hands full with these two ladies this day. What say thee, Stephen?"

  "Aye, Sire. I am in agreement."

  King Edward stood up. "Come, let us make haste or the stags will depart and we will hath nowt to sup on this eve!"

  Whilst Marguerite walked ahead with King Edward, Stephen pulled Jenny to one side. "Remember to behave, Jenny. I do not wish to punish thee again."

  "Why don't you punish her...she's the problem, not me!" she hissed.

  "Marguerite is a ward of the king. No one can punish her – she is under his protection. Thee, however, art not!"

  Jenny's bottom lip thrust out as she looked back at him. "That's not fair!"

  "Whether it is fair or not, thee will abide by my words." His eyes were dark and his jaw set. He meant business and Jenny knew that if she had any sense, she'd obey him. But could she bite her tongue when it came to Marguerite?

  The outing was exhilarating to Jenny. She'd never been on an actual hunt, and even though her horse riding skills were poor, she managed to hang onto the saddle and gallop alongside the other hunters when they sped after their quarry.

  The king himself shot an arrow straight through a stag, at which point Jenny looked away. It was all very well eating meat, but she wasn't so sure she could watch the animal's demise.

  "'Twill not suffer, Jenny." Stephen manoeuvred his stallion alongside her small mare. "King Edward has a steady hand and the eyes of a hawk."

  "Oh, good. They are such handsome beasts and it seems a shame to slaughter them."

  "Aye, they make a worthy adversary but they also make a fine meal. We hath plenty of them on the land, and if we did not slaughter them, there would be too many to sustain. 'Tis a good thing we do." He rode away towards King Edward to watch the other knights whilst they prepared the stag for transport.

  "In my opinion, thou art weak," a voice hissed next to her.

  Jenny turned to find Marguerite no more than a few feet away, a derisive look upon her face. She'd obviously overheard their conversation.

  Jenny gave a wry smile. "Do you know what they say about opinions, Marguerite?"

  "Nay, enlighten me," she sneered.

  "Opinions are like assholes – everybody has one!"

  Marguerite gasped. "Thou art rude!"

  "No, just honest. You can keep your opinions to yourself in future. I'm not interested!" She kicked her mare into a walk and began to move off, but Marguerite immediately followed and rode by her side.

  "I will see thee ousted from Okehampton," she spat, "Thou must think me a fool to let thee stay under the same roof as Sir Stephen!"

  "What are you gibbering on about?"

  "I knowest thy plan. Thou intends to hath Sir Stephen for thy husband. Well, thee will not!"

  "You're a lunatic, do you know that? Out and out, one hundred percent insane!"

  Jenny shook her head and went to kick her horse into a canter, away from Marguerite and her spiteful words. But Marguerite quickly grabbed hold of Jenny's mare's reins and pulled them tight.

  The startled mare reared back, poking its head in confusion at the mixed signals. Jenny clung to the saddle with one hand whilst slapping at Marguerite's hand to make her release the reins.

  "Let go of my horse!" Jenny snapped angrily.

  "Nay! I will go ahead. Thee can stay at the back, away from Sir Stephen! I belong by his side!"

  "Oh, sod off!" Without thinking of the consequences, Jenny quickly shoved her hands against Marguerite's chest. Marguerite, caught off balance, shrieked aloud and after clutching wildly for the reins, fell off with a thud onto the hard ground.

  Jenny smiled wickedly and looked down at her as she lay sprawled on her back, muttering unladylike expletives. "Now you can follow me!" With a smug grin, she kicked her horse into motion towards the rest of the group.

  She hadn't gone far when a strange keening noise filled the air. She looked around quickly to see that Marguerite hadn't moved and was now clutching her chest, apparently pretending to be injured.

  She spun round in her saddle when she heard the thundering hooves of Stephen's horse pass her by. He came to a halt next to Marguerite and quickly jumped down.

  "Marguerite! Did thee fall?"

  Marguerite sobbed dramatically and clutched his arm. "'Twas Jenny, milord. She pushed me from my mount!"

  "Pushed thee?" Stephen frowned and looked over to Jenny, who swallowed hard and did her best to look innocent. Her eyes flicked to Marguerite just in time to see a smug expression that quickly vanished when Stephen looked back at the woman. "Why would she push thee?"

  "She dislikes me. I know not why. I merely offered to ride alongside her, but she refused, saying she would not ride with...well, I dislike saying such a word...but she said I was a whore!"

  "I did not! You liar!" Jenny exclaimed.

  Jenny watched Stephen's jaw clench with anger. Great, he wasn't going to believe her!

  "I speak the truth, milord." Marguerite continued, "Wouldst thou help me to rise? I fear the fall has made me a little fragile."

  "Fragile! Ha!" snorted Jenny.

  "Jenny! Enough!" Stephen barked at her. "We will settle this back at the castle. For now, thee will behave!"

  King Edward rode up just as Stephen was helping Marguerit
e into her saddle. "What ails thee, Marguerite?"

  Before she could answer, Stephen stalled her. "Lady Marguerite's horse unseated her, Sire, but as thee can see, naught is broken."

  Stephen was staring hard at Marguerite, demanding her silence. Thankfully, she heeded him.

  "I am glad thou art unharmed," commented King Edward. "We want no broken bones on our hunt, milady! Come, join me at the front, I will keep thee safe from harm!"

  "Aye, Sire." Marguerite shot a look of hatred at Jenny before riding off next to King Edward, leaving Stephen staring at Jenny, a brooding look on his face. He walked up to her and held her horse's reins. "I will ask thee once, and if thee tells me false, then so help thee. Did thee push Marguerite off her horse?"

  Jenny stared back at him, unsure of how to answer. If she told him the truth, he'd spank her for certain, but if she lied and he somehow found out the truth, then what? Would he punish her more? Either way, she knew her bottom was in for one hell of a roasting!

  "Well, yes and no!"

  "What foolish words doth thou speak? Did thee or did thee not?"

  Jenny rolled her eyes and muttered, "Yes, but..."

  "I do not wish to hear any more. We will discuss this on our return!" He released her horse's reins and walked away.

  Jenny watched him agilely mount his stallion. He gave her a dark look before riding to the front. For a moment, she just sat and stared after him, wondering what to do. Should she go back to the castle and take what was coming or should she gallop off into the countryside and take her chances? She looked across the fields, staring at the hills in the distance. Dense woodland and moors surrounded them, with no dwellings to be seen. It seemed she had little choice but to return. With a frustrated sigh, she joined the rest of the party.

  Chapter Six

  Back at the castle, there was much rejoicing to do. The stag was delivered to the kitchens and the hunting party retired to the Great Hall for plenty of wine and ale, accompanied by a travelling minstrel who was only too ready to entertain the castle for a coin or two.

  For Jenny, however, things were a little different. Ordered to her chamber, she now paced up and down, wringing her hands and waiting for Stephen to arrive. Her stomach was in knots, but she also felt a strange excitement. The thought of going over his strong knees again left her almost breathless.