Rose Victory - Eagle Series

by Eagle Lady

  “I told Nona to bring him to you when she thought he was ready to fend for himself.” The countess relaxed against her husband. “He was never unprotected, my love. My father sent his warriors to guard and protect him, he was never alone. I too watched over him, but could not reveal myself; I had given Father my word.”

  “One last question, Roslyn.” Roydon looked down at the top of her head. “Why do I suddenly find myself married to you?” A smile lurked in his voice.

  “When we heard of your wife’s passing, I knew it was time to return. But Father decided that he wanted me to have official standing in your country. He proposed an alliance with your king, to be cemented with our marriage. Your sovereign was only too happy to oblige.”

  “You could have warned me,” Roydon protested mildly.

  “We did. We sent an envoy to you but you were not at Eagle Rock.”

  “That must have been when I took my girls north to their grandparents.”

  “Instead of waiting for your return the messenger came back home. By then it was too late to send another one. So we decided to tell you when we got here.” The lady smiled. “Imagine my surprise when I heard that you had been arrested, but would be freed to attend the wedding. As long as you came to the wedding…!” she shrugged. “I wasn’t sure how you felt about me.”

  “Are you mad? I was arrested because I refused to marry anyone who wasn’t you.” Roydon sighed.

  “You refused your king for me?” Roslyn asked appalled.

  “I tried to make him change his mind, but in the end I could not defy him. He is my sworn liege and his threat to take Eagle Rock from me would have left Aguilus destitute.” Roydon sighed again. “I am sorry, my love. I gave in.”

  “You are sorry that you married me?” A note of laughter accompanied the question.

  “No, of course not, but you know what I mean.”

  “Yes, I understand that you obeyed your lord, as did I and you provided for your son.” His countess looked up at him. “It is I that am sorry for not telling you who I was. It was hard on you.”

  “It has been hard for you too, my love.” Roydon slowly caressed her hair, allowing his hand to sweep over the golden locks. “But it is over, now we are all together and soon we will be home.”

  “Do you think he hates me, resents me for abandoning him?” The question came out muffled from where Roslyn cuddled against his chest.

  “Of course not! Aguilus is an intelligent boy. He loves you desperately and he knows you had to leave him. Nona told him so, as did I.” Roydon stepped back so that he could look at his Eagle Lady, tilting her face up to him. “The boy carries your feather wrapped in a of piece cloth against his heart. As do I.”

  The earl leaned down and kissed his lady tenderly. Holding her face cupped in his hands, he wiped the tears away with his thumbs. “He loves you very much, just as I do.” Roydon stepped back briskly. “I think it is time that you spoke to him. Let him know how much you love him too.” He waited until he received Roslyn’s nod.

  “I will send Aguilus in to you.” Roydon turned and walked towards the door. His hand on the handle, he looked back at his wife, a devilish smile on his face. “Take as long as you need, but remember it is getting late and I do have orders from my king to consummate this marriage.”

  Roydon exited the room leaving behind a blushing bride.

  <><><>

  In the ante-room the earl found both Aguilus and Ivan sitting on the narrow cot. Ivan worked, as usual when he had free time, whittling on a piece of wood with his dagger. His son just sat staring at nothing, unusually silent; he turned a small object over and over in his hands.

  They both jumped to their feet at his entrance. “Aguilus, your lady mother would speak with you now. Go to her.”

  “Yes, sir.” The boy walked slowly towards the inner chamber, nervously rubbing at the carving he held in his hand. A hand on his shoulder stopped him and he looked up at his father, apprehension in his eyes.

  “What is that you have there?” Roydon tried to distract the boy, to put him at ease.

  The earl’s question took Aguilus by surprise. He offered the eagle carving to his father. “It’s a gift that Ivan gave me,” he flashed his friend a smile. “It is beautiful, is it not, Father?”

  Roydon swept his fingers over the proud head, the exquisitely carved wings. “Yes it is,” he nodded slowly. “I am sure your mother would love to see it.” He returned the carving to the boy and squeezed his shoulder affectionately. “Do not be concerned, son. She loves you deeply.”

  Aguilus squared his shoulders and grinned up at his father, more his old self. “I know, sir. I saw it in her eyes.”

  “The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. Just like yours. Now go to her, son. She needs you.”

  Aguilus nodded. Clutching his wooden eagle tightly, he knocked on the chamber door and obeyed the soft summons to enter.

  “Can I get you anything, my lord?”

  “No, I need nothing, thank you, Ivan.” The earl strolled to the narrow window and looked out at the night. There was little movement in the courtyard below and Roydon turned back to face the little room. “That is a nice gift you gave Aguilus, I am glad you are here to guide him.”

  “He is a good boy, my lord. It’s no hardship to be with him,” the young knight grinned. “When he is where he is supposed to be.”

  Roydon’s lips turned up in a small smile. “Like this afternoon.”

  Ivan nodded. “I found him behind the king’s bodyguard speaking with Princess Elizabeth.”

  “Lady Elizabeth? Surely she should not have been there?”

  “Probably not, sir, she ran off when she saw me.” The knight’s smile widened. “Aguilus though tried to brazen it out. When I told him he was supposed to be standing behind your lordship, he answered that he was, only a bit further back!”

  The earl burst into laughter. “I hope you didn’t let him get away with that!”

  “Certainly not, my lord, but I can tell you I had serious trouble trying to keep a straight face,” he laughed.

  At that moment the outside door opened to admit Sir Stefan and Antonia. The former stared in puzzled amusement at the two laughing men. “What’s going on?”

  When Sir Ivan related the incident, Stefan grinned proudly. “That’s my boy!” he exclaimed, joining in the general hilarity. At last Stefan sobered enough to make his report. “I have put our men on alert, Roy. As soon as you get leave from the king, it will take only three or four hours to ready our departure.” The knight sounded pleased. “By tomorrow morning we will have an extra tent and the cart for Lady Roslyn’s chests delivered. Rafe,” he continued, naming the leader of their men-at-arms, “will take care of the provisions for the journey.”

  “Good. If I get to the king early, we should be able to leave by mid-afternoon.” The earl nodded satisfied. “I’ll get Henry to let me have a dozen extra guards,” his voice hardened. “I want no incidents on the return journey.”

  The door to the bedchamber opened and Aguilus scampered out. There were traces of tears on his cheeks but a happy smile had replaced the anxious look he had worn when he left. He looked round the room until his eyes fell on Antonia, who stood quietly by the door. “Mother asks that you go to her, please. She needs your assistance,” the squire smiled shyly at his mother’s companion.

  “Of course, my lord.” Antonia quickly disappeared into the adjoining bedchamber leaving a puzzled Aguilus behind.

  The boy turned an inquiring gaze on his father. “She called me ‘lord’?”

  “Well, you are her king’s grandson.” Roydon supplied, watching his son carefully.

  Aguilus thought for a moment. “So if Mother is a princess that would make me…”

  “My son and my squire,” interrupted the earl quietly but forcefully.

  The boy cocked his head to one side, a serious expression on his face as he thought over his father’s words and then he nodded. “That is much more important,” he crossed the
room to stand before the earl. “How may I serve you, my lord?”

  Roydon laid his hands on the squire’s shoulders. “I am very proud of you, son.”

  Aguilus didn’t know what to say. Just like the last time his father had acted strangely, he looked to Sir Stefan for help.

  The knight obliged, grinning. “No need to reply, Aguilus. Your father just wants a hug,” he supplied with a smug smile.

  The earl glared at his friend in mock disapproval but returned the boy’s eager embrace before disentangling himself from his son.

  “You know that you will pay in sweat and aches for all this, don’t you, Stef?” Roydon asked conversationally, referring to the times that his friend had purposely prodded him and enjoyed himself at his expense.

  Stefan sighed, a look of mournful resignation on his face. “Yes, but I just can’t seem to help myself.”

  The opening of the chamber door interrupted them. Antonia came out and curtseying to the earl, she quickly left the rooms.

  “I think that is my cue to retire. I wish you a good night, gentlemen.” Roydon walked eagerly towards the bed chamber.

  “Good night, my lord,” chorused three voices, and if Sir Stefan’s held more than a hint of amusement, Roydon did not notice. He had eyes only for his wife as he closed the chamber door behind him.

  Chapter Twelve

  This time when the earl of Eagle Rock, with his new wife on his arm entered the king’s audience chamber, the king greeted him with a smile. No private meeting this, thought Roydon, as he advanced towards the dais through groups of courtiers and noblemen. Henry stood at the foot of the dais with the Gibel delegation.

  The king, he noticed, as he rose from his obeisance, seemed in a good mood. For the first time the earl studied the Gibel envoys as they were introduced to him. Of the four, one had the bright golden eyes that he had learned marked him as ‘special’.

  “My Lady, you look beautiful this morning.” Henry glanced at Roydon, “Marriage seems to agree with you.”

  Roslyn did indeed look lovely. A pale gold chemise, that complimented her eyes, peeped out from the low neck and slashed sleeves of her deep green velvet over-dress. A beautifully worked gold girdle hung low on her hips and her hair cascaded down her back, held in place only by the gold circlet on her brow. She was not beautiful as the king stated, Roydon admitted, her face had too much character and strength for that, handsome, yes; she had pride and poise in every bone, in every inch of her body. She was a princess, a countess from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

  Roydon set Roslyn’s hand on his arm again and covered it with his own. “We are content, Your Majesty.” That was probably the understatement of the century, he thought, he was ecstatic.

  “So I see.” The king turned to address one of the envoys and Roydon felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he found himself face to face with Emma’s father.

  A whisper of anxiety swept up Roydon’s spine. “Lord Reinhart,” he greeted the Northern earl. “My daughters?”

  “The girls are fine, Mountroi. I left them at Eagle Rock with their ladies on my way down here.” The earl of the Northern Provinces set his cold stare on Roslyn. “A new wife, I see.”

  “Roslyn, this is Lord Reinhart, Earl of the North and my departed wife’s father.” Roydon’s voice turned as cold as Reinhart’s eyes. “Reinhart, this is my countess Lady Roslyn.”

  Reinhart stared hard at the countess, but Roslyn met him look for look and did not look away. “Pleased to meet you, my lady,” he said at last and then he turned to Roydon. “You got yourself a strong woman there, Mountroi, my congratulations.”

  Roydon nodded, but said nothing. The compliment, coming from the hard, unbending lord, was high indeed. Reinhart nodded silently back and walked away.

  “What a strange man.” Roslyn followed Lord Reinhart with her eyes as he disappeared among the courtiers.

  “To Reinhart duty is everything, strength a way to achieve it. Emotion to him corrupts strength, which is why he is so cold and unbending.” Roydon grimaced. “He has always been so. Emma held duty sacred too, but she loved our daughters, she died trying to give me a son.”

  “I will love your girls too, Roydon. Do not doubt me,” Roslyn’s eyes sparkled. “Soon they will have a little sister.”

  The earl squeezed her hand. “Only if it does not…distress you, my love.”

  “This time it will not be a problem. I can easily go a year without changing, after that a wet nurse can tend to our daughter.” Roslyn spoke softly, her voice hesitant, “Will my changing occasionally be…difficult for you?”

  Roydon looked at his wife, a tender look in his eyes. “Can I watch?” At her positive nod, he continued. “Are you asking me if I would mind watching you fly, soar the skies over our mountain; mind watching the beauty of your flight as you return to me?” The earl’s voice deepened, “Because you will always return to me.” The last was not a question.

  “Always, my love.”

  The quiet conversation was interrupted by the king. “Let us finish this,” Henry had mounted the steps and now sat in his high-backed chair. Silence descended on the room as he called the newly wedded couple forward.

  “Roydon, fourth earl of Eagle Rock, do you swear on your honour, that having consummated your union, you find no impediment to the validity of this marriage?” The king’s voice could be heard in the furthest corners of the room.

  Tense silence awaited the earl’s reply. “I do so swear, Sire.” Roydon’s answer echoed strong and unequivocal.

  “Lady Roslyn, Princess of Gibel, do you agree?” The bride did not have to swear, only agree that she was satisfied with the union. If she did, it would be the last time she heard her previous title. Henceforth she would embrace her husband’s rank and title.

  “I do, Sire.” Roslyn’s voice rivalled her husband’s in confident assurance.

  “So be it,” Henry’s voice oozed satisfaction. “In front of witnesses it has been sworn.” Having finished with the ceremony, the king descended the steps. “Eagle, you may keep your countess,” a very pleased expression adorned his face.

  “And you can keep her dowry, Sire!” Roydon grinned as he made the outrageous remark. At last he felt sufficiently at ease with his sovereign once again to make the joking remark, a return to the easy camaraderie they shared on occasion.

  Henry stilled for a moment and then he laughed outright. “Only you could make that observation and get away with it. I see you have read the contract. The holdings I have given you are more than a fair trade, Eagle.”

  “A headache, Sire, trouble and problems,” Roydon countered.

  “You like solving problems, my lord. You have been doing it for me for the last thirteen or fourteen years, that’s why I give them to you. You solve them at no extra cost to my coffers.” Henry smiled complacently.

  In truth, Roydon already had plans for his new holdings, especially for the port. But the king liked verbal sparring. “One of these days, Sire, I am going to say no and mean it,” he smiled to rob the words of malice.

  “You can’t, Eagle. You are my most loyal Earl; your honour would not permit it.” Henry gathered himself for the coup. “Besides look how much you have appreciated carrying out my latest request.” The king looked pointedly at Roslyn, then back at the earl. “Changed your mind, Eagle?” he asked innocently raising a brow in query.

  Roydon capitulated completely. “You win, Sire. I am content.”

  “I’m glad,” the sincerity in the king’s voice surprised Roydon; Henry did not usually express his feelings. “You have served me well, Eagle. I am pleased that you have found some happiness.” The king’s voice acquired a shrewd undertone. “Remember it was I that forced you to it.”

  “I’ll not forget, sir. But I have a further favour to ask of you.”

  “Ask away. I am in a good mood,” Henry waved a magnanimous hand.

  “Your leave to depart today, Sire, and the loan of a dozen soldiers to help protect my lady
.”

  “So soon, Eagle? I enjoy your visits. This one has been more entertaining than most.” The king looked totally unrepentant for the turmoil through which he had put his vassal.

  The earl grimaced. “I promise to return soon and offer Your Majesty more entertainment.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

  Henry ignored him, instead he turned to Roslyn. “You wish to leave, my lady?”

  “I am anxious to see Eagle Rock, Sire, and meet my stepdaughters…” The countess paused and glancing meaningly at her husband she rephrased her answer. “I am eager to meet my new daughters.”

  “And what do you think of your husband’s son…squire, lady?” Curiosity marked the king’s voice.

  Roslyn narrowed her eyes at Henry and straightened to her full height, which surpassed the king’s by a few inches. Every pore oozing pride, the countess smiled regally at Henry. “My stepson…our son, Aguilus, is a good and courageous boy. The condition of his birth has no bearing whatsoever on his status in my lord’s household. We are proud to call him our son,” she paused, her eyes glittering. “Our first born son.”

  Henry stared in baffled amazement at the countess. “Good Lord, Eagle. What have you done to her?”

  “She is my wife, Sire.” Roydon glanced with unconcealed pride at his lady. “Our thoughts are the same. Roslyn has accepted all my children as her own.”

  “Yes, but…but. But you only married yesterday,” Henry spluttered. Then his eyes narrowed. “There is something going on that I am not aware of,” he glanced at Roydon’s suddenly blank, expressionless face and a glimmer of interest, of suspicion flickered to life in his eyes. “This will be something to contemplate until your next visit, Eagle. I shall look forward to it.”

  “There is nothing to ponder on, Sire. Merely does Gibel society welcome all children, of both spouses, into the family unit.”