Besieged and Betrothed

by Jenni Fletcher

  She put down the piece of chicken she was holding with a sigh, licking the juice off her fingers with such enthusiasm that he had to look away quickly.

  ‘You know, you give a lot of orders for a man who says he’s not in command.’

  ‘That was advice.’

  ‘Good. Then I can ignore it.’

  She gave an exaggerated smile and then continued eating with gusto, leaning back in her seat and giving a satisfied sigh as she popped the last sweetmeat into her mouth.

  ‘Is there any more?’

  ‘Not for you. You shouldn’t eat too much either.’

  ‘More advice?’

  ‘As you wish.’ He sighed and gestured to one of his soldiers. ‘Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

  ‘I won’t.’ She pursed her lips with the air of a person who’d just won an argument. ‘So why are your men sleeping outside?’

  ‘Because they prefer to.’ He threw a pointed look around the hall. ‘I can’t say that I blame them. In any case, this is Sir Guian’s command. It makes sense for his men to billet here.’

  ‘Sir Guian’s command?’ She repeated the words mockingly. ‘Whenever I looked, you were the one giving orders.’

  ‘Whenever you looked?’ He put down his ale with a thud. ‘You were supposed to be sleeping.’

  ‘I was some of the time, but I had to make sure my men were being looked after. Surely you didn’t expect me just to forget about them?’

  He cocked an eyebrow. He knew a lot of barons who would have done just that.

  ‘And are you satisfied with their treatment?’

  She waited until a fresh trencher was set in front of her before answering.

  ‘You sent them to bathe in the river.’

  ‘Yes.’ He wondered what she was getting at. ‘They needed a wash. Their clothes, too.’

  ‘I know. It was thoughtful of you. I just...’

  ‘Didn’t expect me to think of it?’ He finished the thought for her. ‘They’re not prisoners, my lady. I told you that.’

  ‘I know. Thank you.’

  ‘Thank you?’ He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.

  ‘Yes! I can say thank you!’

  ‘So it seems.’

  He saw her grit her teeth as if she were trying to control her temper.

  ‘Thank you for keeping your word, too. About the terms of surrender, I mean.’

  ‘Did you think that I wouldn’t? I always do what I say, my lady.’

  ‘So do I—or I try to anyway. That’s why I didn’t want to surrender. I made a promise to the King. It wasn’t easy to break.’

  He nodded solemnly. He could understand that. He’d made his own promise a long time ago, to a woman who’d taken him under her wing when he’d had nowhere else to go. A promise that had taken him away from his homeland and into a foreign war that seemed to have little hope of ever reaching a conclusion, though even then he’d never once thought of reneging. He could hardly blame Lady Juliana for feeling the same way. If anything, it made him feel closer to her... He clenched his jaw. That was the last thing he needed.

  ‘There’s no shame in surrender, my lady. Half the castles in England have surrendered and been recaptured at some point during the last ten years. Stephen himself surrendered at Lincoln. He’ll understand why you did, too.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  She twisted her head suddenly, distracted by a commotion in the direction of the stairwell. He followed her gaze, annoyed to see a group of Sir Guian’s soldiers arguing with his guards.

  ‘Don’t you think they’ve had enough to drink?’ Her voice sounded tense. ‘There’s nothing left in the cellars.’

  ‘My men have orders not to let anyone through. They won’t get past.’

  The taut line of her jaw relaxed slightly, though her face still looked anxious.

  ‘Speaking of surrender...’ she seemed to notice him watching her suddenly ‘...has the Empress ever done so?’

  ‘Has Matilda ever surrendered?’ He gave a shout of laughter. ‘No. She doesn’t believe in the word.’

  ‘So there’s no shame in it for me, but there is for her?’

  ‘It’s different.’

  ‘Why? She’s fighting for her home just like I am.’

  ‘She’s fighting to reclaim her country and fulfil her father’s wishes.’

  She winced as he said the word father and he berated himself for his own tactlessness. ‘I didn’t mean—’

  ‘Perhaps if her father had known what would happen, he wouldn’t have wished it,’ she interrupted before he could apologise. ‘Perhaps if he’d known how much suffering it would cause, he would have given the crown to Stephen.’

  ‘Perhaps, though from what I’ve heard, Henry wasn’t a man who tolerated his wishes being thwarted.’

  ‘No.’ Her expression of defiance faltered. ‘Perhaps not. My father said he was a strong ruler and Matilda takes after him.’

  ‘She does.’

  She gave him a sharp, sideways look. ‘I heard a rumour that she was almost captured at Oxford.’

  ‘That’s true.’

  ‘It is? What happened?’

  ‘The King’s forces caught us by surprise and surrounded the town. The siege lasted three months, but eventually there was no choice. The garrison had to surrender. Matilda escaped over the walls the night before.’

  ‘Wasn’t there a moat?’

  ‘It was frozen. She crossed the ice, then walked six miles through the snow to reach safety.’

  ‘What about her guards? How could so many men escape without being noticed?’

  ‘There were only three of us, few enough to pass unseen, and we wore white cloaks so we wouldn’t be noticed.’

  ‘We?’

  He shrugged, wondering why he was telling her any of this. He rarely told anyone anything. Taciturn was an understatement for him—even Matilda said so. He’d spoken more in the past twenty-four hours than he had for weeks, though that was probably only because she reminded him so much of her father, with the same intent manner of listening, as if she were absorbing every word. He’d only met William Danville on a handful of occasions, but he’d still counted him as a friend. Fighting side by side had a way of speeding up friendships. The older man’s keen intelligence and perceptiveness had led him to reveal more about his past than he had to anyone besides the Empress. Apparently the daughter had the same gift for drawing information out of him. On the other hand, he’d never found William quite so intriguing, nor felt such a compelling desire to move any closer towards him. He’d certainly never wanted to touch him, to reach under the table and stroke his leg...

  ‘The Empress must value you very highly.’ She tipped her head to one side like a curious bird, mercifully oblivious to the direction of his thoughts.

  ‘She trusts me. I’ve served her for most of my life, since I was seven years old.’

  ‘What about your family?’

  ‘I don’t have one. I was living on the streets of Bamberg, a city in Francia, scavenging to survive when the Empress found me.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘She was visiting Bamberg with her husband, Emperor Heinrich. I was sitting on the roadside when her carriage went by, but she saw and sent a soldier over to fetch me. She was still young herself, but I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.’

  ‘My father said that, too.’ Her voice sounded wistful. ‘Then what happened?’

  ‘She asked me a few questions. I told her the truth and she asked if I’d like to come and serve her. I’ve been at her side almost every day since. She saved me. She knows I’d give my life to protect her if necessary.’

  ‘So you’ve been a soldier since you were seven?’

  ‘At first
I was more of an errand boy. My talents in that direction became obvious later on.’

  He grinned, but she didn’t react, studying him intently as if she were trying to make sense of something.

  ‘So you serve her because she saved you, not because she was Empress of Austria?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘And now she wants to be Queen of England?’

  ‘Yes.’ He drew his brows together. What was she implying?

  ‘So your being here has nothing to do with England itself. What about your home? Did you want to leave? Don’t you care about England at all?’

  He stared back at her in surprise. What kind of questions were those? What did caring have to do with anything?

  ‘I swore an oath to the Empress. My home is with her, just as my duty is to her.’

  ‘So not to England.’

  ‘When she becomes Queen of England, they’ll be the same thing.’

  ‘If she becomes Queen.’ Lady Juliana leaned back in her chair, popping another sweetmeat into her mouth with a cynical expression. ‘My father said she never would be.’

  Chapter Eleven

  Lothar quirked an eyebrow in surprise. William had been one of the Empress’s most dedicated supporters. That he would ever have said anything quite so disloyal was hard to believe.

  ‘You think I’m lying, don’t you?’ Lady Juliana’s lips curved tauntingly.

  ‘Yes. Your father was loyal to the Empress. He chose to meet Stephen on the battlefield rather than surrender. Why would he have done so if he’d thought her cause was hopeless?’

  ‘Because he believed in her claim. He would have been loyal to the end, just like you.’ A hint of bitterness crept into her voice. ‘But he still thought she’d never be Queen.’

  ‘Because?’

  ‘Because she tried it and failed. When Stephen was captured at Lincoln everyone thought she’d won, that the war was over, but the Barons never accepted her.’

  ‘There were plenty who supported her cause.’

  ‘Her cause, yes, just as long as she didn’t tell them what to do. When she behaved like a man—a king—they rebelled. The city of London rose against her. Then when the Earl of Gloucester was captured and she had to exchange Stephen for his release, we were right back to where we started.’

  Lothar set his jaw uncomfortably. There was enough truth in what she’d said to make him wonder if the words really had come from William.

  ‘What about you then, my lady?’ He turned the challenge around. ‘Do you think a woman can’t rule?’

  ‘No!’ She sounded shocked. ‘I’d never say such a thing! Of course a woman can rule.’

  ‘Then doesn’t that put us on the same side?’

  She pursed her lips as if she were choosing her words with care. ‘In principle, yes, I believe in Matilda’s claim, but in practice I have to support Stephen. I want peace more than I want to prove a point.’

  ‘The Empress can bring peace, too.’

  ‘Can she? My father didn’t say that she couldn’t rule, just that she wouldn’t be allowed to. Most men aren’t ready to accept a woman giving orders.’

  ‘There are a few exceptions among us.’ He paused meaningfully. ‘Your soldiers, for example.’

  She made a dismissive gesture. ‘They’re just used to me. No one here thinks of me as a woman.’

  ‘Then they must be blind. Perhaps you underestimate your charms, my lady.’

  Her lips parted slightly, a pink blush spreading over her cheeks as if she were genuinely shocked by his words. A memory stirred at the back of his consciousness. She’d blushed like that when she’d first invited him inside the castle, yet the image in his mind now was different, as if it had taken place in darker surroundings, somewhere like this very hall...

  He shifted in his chair as his groin tightened uncomfortably. Hell’s teeth, but the dreams had been vivid. He could almost taste her lips again.

  ‘Forgive me...’ he fought to regain focus ‘...but if your father really believed that a woman wouldn’t be permitted to rule, why did he raise his daughter to follow him as chatelaine? He clearly trusted you to command.’

  Her gaze flickered. ‘Maybe because he didn’t have any sons.’

  ‘He could have found a suitable son-in-law.’

  ‘He would never have done that!’ She tossed her head as if the very suggestion offended her. ‘He trained me for the same reason that he kept on supporting the Empress, because he knew things would never change if no one stood up for what was right. He had a higher opinion of women than most men do, though people said he was foolish. First in marrying for love, then raising his daughter to act like a boy, but he wanted me to be free to choose my own path.’ She pulled her shoulders back. ‘In any case, I doubt he would have been able to find a husband for someone like me.’

  Lothar looked her up and down speculatively. It hadn’t occurred to him to think of her as boyish before, though he supposed most men wouldn’t want a bride who was quite so independent. Not to mention one who seemed oblivious to the idea that she could actually enhance her appearance by changing her gown occasionally. Not that she needed to enhance anything. Those flashing jade eyes were enticing enough on their own. On second thoughts, perhaps it was better that she didn’t change her gown after all... His breeches were straining enough as it was.

  ‘What do you think?’ She rounded on him.

  ‘What do I think?’ That he’d like to see her without any gown at all! ‘I think he was a cleverer man than I am.’

  She gave a bitter-sounding laugh. ‘I think that maybe everyone else was right. I did let him down in the end. I surrendered the castle to his enemy, Stephen. Maybe he shouldn’t have left me in charge.’ Her face crumpled suddenly. ‘And now I’m not fit for anything else.’

  He felt a tightening sensation in his chest, struck by the uncharacteristic urge to say or do something comforting, to wrap his arms around her and whisper words of reassurance. For all her defiance, it seemed that deep down she was more vulnerable than he’d realised, doubting her own ability to be chatelaine after all. He even half-raised a hand before he stopped himself.

  ‘I told you, my lady, there’s no shame in surrender. You had no choice at the time, but considering your oath of allegiance...’ He forced the words out reluctantly. ‘Perhaps you ought to go to Stephen.’

  ‘What?’ She looked as horrified as if he’d just struck her.

  ‘You gave him your allegiance and lost your castle because of it. He’ll take care of you.’

  ‘You mean leave Haword?’

  ‘Of course.’ Surely she knew that? ‘The Empress will want to appoint a new lord.’

  ‘But this is my home!’

  ‘It was your home,’ he said the words as gently as he could, ‘but you can’t remain here indefinitely. You ought to leave as soon as you’re ready. Your men, too, unless they’re willing to serve Sir Guian.’

  ‘What am I supposed to do at Stephen’s Court?’

  ‘Doubtless he’ll arrange a marriage for you.’

  Green eyes flashed like emerald studs. ‘I’ve just told you I’m not the kind of woman men want to marry.’

  ‘Stephen should still reward you for your loyalty.’

  ‘And that’s what you call a reward—marriage? Obeying a man for the rest of my life? A prison would be more honest.’

  ‘I believe that many women find happiness in marriage.’

  ‘Like the Empress?’

  He frowned at the sarcasm. Clearly rumours about Matilda’s tempestuous relationship with Geoffrey of Anjou were more widespread than he’d realised.

  ‘She did with Emperor Heinrich, her first husband.’

  ‘What about you?’ She looked at him askance. ‘Are you married?’

  �
��No.’

  ‘Have you ever been?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then what do you know about it? You say that you serve a woman, but would you allow your wife to have a mind of her own?’

  ‘I’ve no intention of finding out. I’ve no desire to get married.’

  ‘But you think it’s a good idea for me?’

  He took a swig of ale in frustration. Damn it all, it wasn’t as if he wanted her to get married! The very idea evoked all kinds of images he didn’t want to dwell on, but he was trying to help! She was only too stubborn to see it.

  ‘It would be a means of protection.’

  ‘I don’t need protecting!’ She raised her voice, almost shouting at him. ‘You’re just like every other man. You think it’s all right for you to be free, but not for a woman!’

  ‘I didn’t say it was right. It’s just the way of the world.’

  ‘A man’s world!’

  ‘A woman can still have power in marriage.’

  ‘Says the man who doesn’t want to be shackled!’

  He swallowed the last of his ale before answering. ‘I have my own reasons for not wanting to marry.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘They’re private.’

  ‘They’re excuses!’

  ‘Perhaps it’s because I don’t want to spend my evenings arguing with a harpy!’

  She shot out of her chair at once. ‘Then allow me to relieve you of my company. As for the rest, there’s no need to concern yourself about my future. I’ll leave when I’m ready.’

  He fixed her with a hard stare. ‘I thought that my remaining an extra night would give you time to prepare your departure. I can’t delay any longer.’

  ‘So that was why you...?’ A look of surprise flitted across her features before she cut herself off mid-sentence. ‘None the less, I intend to stay a while longer.’

  ‘With Sir Guian?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And his soldiers?’

  ‘I can take care of myself.’

  He clenched his jaw, trying to restrain his temper. ‘Very well. I’ll speak with him before I leave.’

  ‘There’s no need.’