“Welcome to my demesne,” Drake said with a flourish. “I assume you come in peace.” The portcullis grated open, allowing Waldo and Duff to enter. When Waldo’s army rode forward to follow their leader, the portcullis lowered with a bang, barring their entrance.
“My men go where I go,” Waldo said gruffly.
“Nay, the keep is filled to overflowing. The king’s guard is garrisoned within the walls. Your men can camp on the moors beyond the walls. Fear not; no harm will come to you. The king does not condone fighting between his subjects.”
“How is my sister?” Duff asked anxiously.
Drake’s brows arched sharply upward. “Do you actually care?”
“Aye. Raven is all the family I have left. I have made some grave mistakes in my life; one of them was giving Raven to Waldo. I hope she will forgive me.”
“Bah! You speak nonsense.” Waldo snorted. “Raven is mine and there is naught anyone can do to change that. Not even the king can deny a man access to his lawful wife. ’Tis good that Edward is here. Mayhap he will find what you did so dishonorable that he will banish you from his kingdom.”
“Mayhap,” Drake agreed. He did indeed fear that the king would return Raven to Waldo. If Edward decided in Waldo’s favor, Drake would be forced to do more than strenuously object. Two people who loved one another belonged together.
The king was breaking his fast at the high table when Drake entered the hall, followed closely by Waldo and Duff. All three men dropped to one knee and waited for Edward to acknowledge them.
“Rise,” Edward said. “Come, break your fast with me. You will not find Lord Drake’s hospitality lacking.”
They seated themselves at the high table. Immediately servants carried in trays of food and pitchers of ale. Silence reigned while the men ate, and Drake wondered how long Waldo’s patience would hold.
To Waldo’s credit, he said nothing until the king pushed his empty trencher away and belched.
“Sire, I have traveled a long way to retrieve my wife from Drake’s custody. Did he tell you he raped her and carried her off?” Waldo asked around a mouthful of food. “ ’Tis a sad tale, sire, but true, nonetheless.”
Drake continued to slowly chew and swallow his food. “Raven is not your wife.”
“God’s blood, man, of course she is my wife. Bring her forth immediately.”
When Drake made no move to comply, Waldo said, “Does His Majesty know you made Raven your whore? That I am willing to take her back after she has been defiled should speak well for my good character. Once Raven is returned to my protection, she will be properly chastised.”
The king cleared his throat. “Lord Drake, would you please summon Sir John, Father Ambrose, and my own confessor? Methinks ’tis time for Sir Waldo to learn of his new rank. And,” he added, “Lady Raven should be present, since this also concerns her.”
Drake rose, spoke briefly to Balder, who was hovering nearby, then rejoined the others.
Waldo blanched. “What is this all about, sire? I am here to claim my wayward wife, not to make trouble. And what is this new rank of which you speak? I have been Lord Waldo since my father died and made me an earl.”
The king’s answer was forestalled when Raven entered the hall. Drake rose to meet her. He kissed her hand and seated her beside him at the high table.
“I hope your clothes are packed,” Waldo said angrily by way of greeting. “We leave for Eyre before the day is out.”
Raven glanced at Drake, her eyes revealing her fear. Drake clasped her shoulder to reassure her. “Naught has been decided,” he said.
Waldo’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? There is naught to decide. Raven belongs to me.” He turned to the king. “What say you, sire? The Earls of Eyre have always been forthright in their loyalty to the Crown. I demand respect.”
“The Earl of Eyre does indeed have our respect,” Edward assured him.
“Believe naught that my bastard brother told you. I demand what is rightfully mine.”
“I have a great fondness for the present Earl of Eyre,” Edward replied. Waldo’s chest puffed out and he gave Drake a condescending look.
“Sir Waldo, please acknowledge the new Earl of Eyre. Rise, Lord Drake.”
Drake rose. He had waited a long time for this moment. Pride swelled within him. Finally his mother had been vindicated. The title mattered not, nor the wealth. What mattered was the acknowledgment of his legitimacy.
Eighteen
A knight knows his enemy.
Waldo leaped to his feet, his face mottled with rage. “What did Drake tell you, sire? ’Tis a lie, all of it. I am the rightful Earl of Eyre. Naught he says can change that.”
“Careful,” Edward warned. “I do not pass judgment on the word of one man. There is proof that Leta ap Howell and Lord Basil of Eyre were legally wed. That would make Drake of Windhurst Basil’s oldest son and legal heir, while you . . .” His words trailed off, but the full impact of what he meant was not lost on Waldo.
“Show me your proof,” Waldo demanded, “and I will discredit it.”
“Ah, here come Father Ambrose and Sir John now,” the king said.
“Who, pray tell, is Father Ambrose?”
“Father Ambrose married my mother and father,” Drake answered. “The marriage was legal, but Basil’s marriage to your mother was not. Given our closeness in age, and the haste with which your parents were married, no formal annulment or divorce could have possibly been granted in so short a time. Basil’s father ordered the church burned to destroy the records. You are the bastard, Waldo, not I.”
“The priest is lying!” Waldo said angrily. “He was paid to bear false witness.”
Father Ambrose stepped forward. “I do not lie, my son. I performed the marriage in good faith and recorded it in the record book myself. I brought sufficient proof to verify my claim.”
“The church burned years ago,” Waldo replied smugly. “You are an imposter.”
“Enough!” Edward thundered. “The proof is overwhelming, and my decision has already been made. All that is required of you now is to swear fealty to your liege.”
“Swear fealty to Drake!” Waldo exploded. “Nay! Never.” His dark gaze settled on Raven, and a smile that did not reach his eyes stretched his lips. “You have stripped me of my title and wealth, but you cannot take my wife. ’Tis my God-given right to take Raven with me when I leave this cursed place.”
Drake’s expression turned feral and his lips drew back in a snarl. “Over my dead body!”
“That can be easily arranged,” Waldo said smoothly.
“Aye, you would like that, brother. Until now I could never figure out why you wished me dead. You feared the truth would come out.”
“You do not know the half of it,” Waldo muttered beneath his breath. More loudly, he said, “Your Majesty, only God can take a man’s wife from him.”
“There is no true marriage,” Raven claimed, jumping into the fray. “An unconsummated marriage is not legal.”
“ ’Tis your word against mine that our marriage was never consummated,” Waldo maintained.
“And we all know you are a liar,” Raven charged. “How long have you known Drake was the true heir of Eyre?”
“I owe you no answers, wife.”
“Mayhap not,” Edward injected, “but I am your king, and you owe me an answer. How long have you known Drake was Basil’s heir?”
Drake was afraid Waldo would lie, but apparently his brother feared the king too much. “I have known since I was old enough to question Father about his decision to foster Drake at Chirk. Had Drake been a bastard, Father would not have cared about his welfare.” He returned his regard to Raven. “Come, wife, ’tis time to leave.”
Raven turned to the king, her eyes pleading. “Your Majesty, I beg you, do not send me away with Waldo. I could not live with a man I hold responsible for my sister’s death.”
“What say you to that, Sir Waldo?” Edward asked.
“My wife knows not what she is saying, sire. Daria died of a stomach ailment. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.”
“I cannot make a judgment without first weighing everything I have heard today,” Edward said, tapping a finger against his chin. “ ’Tis not a simple matter. Mayhap Father Ambrose and Father Bernard will lend me their wisdom. Together we will decide whether a legal marriage exists.”
“The marriage is legal,” Waldo persisted. “I will not allow Drake to have Raven. I have waited too long for her.”
“Drake is not the issue,” Edward advised. “I already have a bride in mind for Lord Drake.” He sent Drake a benevolent look.
“When can I expect your answer?” Waldo asked curtly.
“I will confer with the priests and give you my answer when a decision is reached. Meanwhile, you and Lord Duff can either return to your campsite outside the gates or remain within the keep.”
“I will stay,” Duff said. “I have not always been a good brother to Raven and I would like to make amends.”
“I will stay also,” Waldo replied.
“Very well,” Edward said, “so be it. I am sure Lord Drake will find adequate quarters for you within the keep.”
Drake motioned to Balder and the steward hurried forward. “My steward will show you to your rooms.”
“Follow me, my lords,” Balder said, bowing to Waldo and Duff.
Moments later the king swept from the room and shortly afterward the hall cleared, leaving Drake and Raven alone.
“I am worried,” Raven said, clutching Drake’s hand. “What if the king decides that I should remain Waldo’s wife and you should wed Lady Willa?”
“Come, we cannot talk here,” Drake said, urging her toward the stairs. Neither spoke again until they entered Raven’s chamber and Drake closed the door behind them.
Drake opened his arms and Raven launched herself into them. “I hate him, Drake, I truly do. I shall die if I have to remain his wife. Where will he take me to live? Eyre is no longer his home.”
“I believe Waldo’s mother left him a small estate near York. He will not be penniless. Do not concern yourself. I vow he will never have you. No matter what Edward decides, you are mine.”
His hand caressed her belly. “My child,” he said possessively.
“Aye, yours,” Raven acknowledged.
Then he sealed his vow with a kiss. When the kiss ended he released her and stepped away. “Duty awaits, my love. Try not to worry. I trust the king to make the right decision.”
Drake hated to leave Raven, but running the castle was complex and time-consuming, especially with the king in residence. When he reached the hall he found the captain of his guards waiting to speak with him.
“My lord, Sir Waldo’s captain of the guards wishes a word with you. He awaits you at the portcullis.”
“Do you know what he wants?” Drake asked, puzzled by this new turn of events.
“Nay, but he was quite adamant about speaking to you in person.”
“Very well,” Drake said, hurrying off.
The scene that greeted him beyond the portcullis stunned him. Ranged behind their captain, whom Drake recognized immediately as Sir Hugh, the man whose gifts of food and water had kept him alive in Chirk’s dungeon, was Waldo’s army. The portcullis was raised and Drake stepped through.
“What is this all about, Sir Hugh?”
“ ’Tis simple, Lord Drake,” Sir Hugh explained. “We wish to swear fealty to the Black Knight, the new lord of Eyre.” As if on cue, every man knelt before their new lord.
Drake looked out over the sea of eager faces and a lump rose in his throat. It had never occurred to him that one day he would command the kind of respect these men now accorded him.
“How did you know?”
“Word spread like wildfire. It reached us a short time ago. I speak on behalf of everyone present. We offer our fealty to you, Lord Drake of Eyre and Windhurst.” He fell to his knee and held out his hand, palm upward. Drake placed his foot in it.
“Rise,” Drake commanded. “I accept your fealty.”
“What are your orders, my lord?” Sir Hugh asked, rising.
“Stay tonight for the feast. On the morrow, take the army to Eyre to protect my demesne from predators. Tell the steward to expect me soon to inspect my estate, and inform the bailiff that I intend to go over the books with him upon my arrival.”
“What is this?”
Waldo appeared at Drake’s elbow, his anger palpable. “I came to address my men. Why are you giving them orders? You have no right to command them.”
“They are no longer yours,” Drake said. “I am the new lord of Eyre. Every man present has sworn fealty to me.”
“Every man?” Waldo asked, clearly stunned.
“Aye, every man. I have ordered them back to Eyre. Windhurst cannot support so great a force.”
“Wait!” Waldo shouted to Sir Hugh. “I command you to stay.”
“We serve the Black Knight now,” Sir Hugh replied. “Lord Drake is a worthy lord; we will serve him well. We are no longer yours to command.”
Having had his say, Sir Hugh saluted Drake and led the men back to their campsite.
“You will pay for this, Drake,” Waldo said in a hiss. “You think you have it all now, but there is still Raven. Naught can change the fact that she is my wife.” His voice vibrated with menace. “The only way you will have her is dead. Think about that, Sir Bastard.”
Then he whirled and marched away. Had Drake seen Waldo’s menacing expression he would have slain Waldo on the spot, for Waldo’s eyes revealed his intention to exact retribution on the two people he hated the most.
The hall was crowded for the midday meal. The king looked harried when he and the priests appeared, and Raven wondered if Edward had reached a decision yet. She sat beside Drake at the high table, trying to remain calm despite her anxiety. She felt Waldo’s evil glare upon her and refused to look at him. He had not been invited to sit at the high table and she was grateful, but his malevolent gaze rested on her far too often for her peace of mind.
Raven chewed thoughtfully on a succulent piece of roasted venison that Drake had put on her trencher and turned her attention to Duff and Lady Willa. Seated side by side, they seemed to have found common ground as they chatted comfortably with one another. Unlike Drake, whom Willa feared, Duff seemed to have captured her fancy. Raven had to admit that Duff was a handsome and unassuming sort of fellow, except when Waldo goaded him into doing things that went against his nature.
Raven had been surprised when Duff sought her out and begged for forgiveness. He expressed regret for forcing her into a marriage she abhorred and vowed that he would do nothing to hurt her again. They had made a tenuous peace, and Duff had told her she was welcome to return to Chirk, that he would keep her safe if she chose to seek his protection from Waldo.
Raven suspected Duff would become an entirely different person without Waldo’s evil influence; it seemed Lady Willa had already discovered Duff’s good qualities. She smiled as an idea suddenly occurred to her. Duff had no betrothed, nor to her knowledge did he have a mistress. He was two years older than she and should have taken a wife long ago. When she saw Lady Willa blush at Duff’s outrageous compliments, Raven’s spirits rose.
“What are you smiling about?” Drake asked, leaning close to whisper in her ear.
“Look at Duff and Lady Willa,” Raven answered. “They seem quite taken with one another.”
Drake glanced at the pair and grinned. “Think you Lady Willa likes Duff better than me?”
“I hope so. Mayhap I will ask her whom she prefers. I believe the king wishes her to be happy, and Duff needs a wife.”
His gaze caressed her. “I always knew you were clever.”
After the meal the king cloistered himself with the priests again and Drake left to train with his knights. Waldo slunk off on his own to sulk, and Duff joined Drake.
Raven cornered Lady Willa before she left the hall. “May
I have a word with you, Lady Willa?”
For a moment she thought Willa would refuse and was relieved when the lady grudgingly acquiesced. “Very well, Lady Raven. What is it you wish to discuss?”
Raven led her toward a deserted spot near the hearth. “My brother appears quite taken with you.”
“Your brother is a gentleman. He does not frighten me like . . .”
“Like the Black Knight,” Raven said, completing the sentence. “Why do you wish to marry Drake if you dislike him?”
“I must obey the king,” Willa said. “But I did not know the Black Knight would be so . . . so frighteningly male. So virile.” She gave a delicate shudder. “I had hoped for someone like . . . Lord Duff. But I will obey my king and endeavor to make Lord Drake a good wife. Do you intend to leave with your brother? This marriage may not be to my liking, but I will not allow my husband to keep a leman.”
“Mayhap this marriage is not to Drake’s liking, either,” Raven suggested. “He will not give me up, you know. If you prefer Duff, as I believe you do, you should make your preference known to the king. Duff is as good a catch as Drake. Better in some ways, for he does not keep a mistress. His lineage is impeccable, and he is wealthy.”
“Lord Drake is wealthier now that he is an earl,” Willa mused thoughtfully. “The match would be a good one.”
“Are you prepared to deal with Drake’s enormous capacity for bed sport?” Raven asked. “He is a sensual, masterful lover.”
Willa blanched. “I have already informed him that once I am increasing he will no longer be welcome in my bed. And that we will only do that again should he desire more than one child.”
Raven nearly laughed in Willa’s face. “I can imagine what he said to that.”
“Is he so insatiable then?” Willa asked, clearly shaken. Raven hoped Willa was having second thoughts about marrying Drake.
“Aye, but ’tis not a bad thing.”
Willa grimaced. “I would not like it.”
“Then I suggest you set your sights elsewhere. Mayhap on Lord Duff. He is the kind of man who will honor your wishes. Mind you, Duff was not always a good brother. Lord Waldo led him astray. But Duff has apologized to me, and I truly believe he intends to change his life. You are exactly the kind of woman he needs to keep him from following unscrupulous men like Waldo.”
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