Castles, Knights, and Chivalry: 4 Medieval Romance Novels

by Ruth Kaufman

  Garret replaced his sword and ran after her, noticing she’d said us, including him in the whole scheme. She headed toward the ship, but then stopped short.

  “Nay,” she said. “My father will know we are on the ship and attack it. I won’t put Edgar in the middle of a battle.”

  “How did they even get into port?” asked Garrett, knowing the black flags of their ship would be spotted leagues away. And also, that the herring festival was in progress with many ships including the Cinque Ports ships docked.

  “The Seahawk has a set of Cinque Ports flags they use when we want to dock. Since so many of your ships are here today, I am guessing they docked far out in the water and sent Filtch by another boat like the one we stole.”

  “We need to get back to Hythe quickly,” he told her. “Actually, just give me the boy. There is no need for you to come.”

  He reached out for his nephew, but the little boy bit his hand and clung to his mother, hiding his face in her chest.

  “Ow!” said Garrett rubbing his hand. “You’ve already started training him to be a pirate I see.” He extended his arms to take the boy. “C’mon son, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  The boy cried out and started screaming. He kicked his feet at Garrett, his eyes looking like one possessed. Echo had a hard time holding him, because he was so upset.

  “Silence him,” ordered Garrett, looking around. “He’s going to alert the pirates of our presence.”

  “Edgar doesn’t like ye,” she retorted. “And the only way te quiet him is if I come with. Ye obviously don’t have a way with children.”

  She was right about that. He didn’t know the first thing about children, not having any of his own, and always being a fighting man. The women always saw to the little ones, and he was surprised she knew anything about children either.

  “Fine,” he growled. “Let’s just get moving before Filtch catches up with us. I’d hate to strike down a man in front of the boy.” Then he thought about that and wondered. “He hasn’t been around any of your kind while they were killing, has he?”

  She didn’t like that comment. He could tell by the angle of her eyebrows and the purse of her lips.

  “God’s eyes, I can’t believe ye asked thet. Now stop with the addlepated questions and figure out how the hell we are gettin’ out of here.”

  Well, obviously she thought nothing about cursing in front of the child. He wondered just what else the boy had been exposed to.

  “I know a fisherman who can help us,” Garrett said. “Follow me.”

  It wasn’t long before they were in a small boat of a local fisherman and headed toward Hythe. Echo sat at the bow of the vessel with Edgar sleeping in her arms. Garrett was at the stern of the boat talking to the man who had done them the favor.

  Echo stayed quiet the entire trip. She didn’t even want to talk to Garrett after he’d had the nerve to tell her to stay there and he’d take the boy. That is, that she wasn’t needed. And then her father – sending Filtch to collect little Edgar so he could sell him off for money. She didn’t know who to trust anymore, and didn’t understand her father’s motives. All she knew was that she would never let her child out of her sight again.

  Garrett walked over and talked to her for the first time since they’d left Great Yarmouth.

  “He’s still sleeping?” he asked.

  “Aye,” she answered, looking down and running her hand over the boy’s hair rather than to look at Garrett.

  “We’re going to dock now,” he told her. “We’ll take a wagon to my manor and be there in time for dinner.”

  “I’m surprised ye’ll be feeding me, after the way ye tried to do away with me earlier.”

  “Echo, we can talk about all this later. Right now, let’s just get home where the boy will be safe.”

  “His name is Edgar, not the boy,” she spat. “Why can’t you even say his name?”

  “I told you – I will not call him that,” he answered.

  “I have nothing else te say te ye, now leave me alone.”

  He stood there for a moment, and she thought he was going to respond. But instead, he walked to the side of the boat to ready the lines for docking. She picked up her son who opened his sleepy eyes and smiled at her.

  “Mama,” he said. “I missed you.”

  It about melted her heart to hear his words, and she hugged him to her chest and kissed him atop the head. “I missed ye, too,” she told him. “And I swear I will never let anyone take ye away from me, so don’t ye worry. I will protect ye, baby.”

  Garrett watched Echo from a sideways glance, shocked by the tenderness she showed toward her child. A tenderness he didn’t think a pirate could possess. She truly did care for the boy. It wasn’t just her words that told him, but he could tell by her actions. By the way she caressed his hair and the way she kissed him tenderly atop the head. He’d half expected her to be putting a dagger in the boy’s hand to play with, but instead she held him against her chest and told him she would protect him.

  He had no doubt that was the truth. With her tenacity, she would protect her child like a bear and its cub – fighting to the death if need be. This struck a chord within him and he started to wonder if he was wrong in trying to take her son away from her.

  He’d only wanted the best for the boy, but mayhap ’twas better she came with him after all. The child didn’t seem to like him much, and he really didn’t know what to do to change the boy’s mind. He was a lot like his mother right now. Garrett knew Echo didn’t like him much either, and this bothered him.

  While the kiss he gave her on the island was at first naught more than a way to get her to lower her guard and give him the answers he needed, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He felt something when he’d kissed her that he’d never felt with any other woman. He didn’t understand it, but she excited him in ways that made him feel no better than a pirate himself.

  Who was he fooling? He wanted her to come to his home with him. He wanted to show her where and how he lived. He knew he could provide a good home and better life for his brother’s son. While she angered him constantly, he also wanted her with him as well. No woman should ever have to live with a band of cutthroat men with no morals.

  He ran a hand through his hair and wondered how the hell he was going to convince his men and the rest of his manor that she truly was a lady. If they got wind she was a pirate, there wouldn’t be much he could do to stop them from wanting to hang her. He had to fool them if he was going to make this work and keep his nephew safe. He wasn’t sure how the nobility would feel if they knew his brother’s son was half pirate. The boy may be taken away from him after all.

  He had to do whatever he could to keep Edgar’s son, and to raise him as his own. He owed it not only to his brother but his family as well. He had to make a right in his world of wrongs. And the only way he knew how to do this was a way Echo would never agree to in a million lifetimes.

  Aye, he decided, as soon as they got back to the manor house he’d call for the priest. Because like it or not, she was going to marry him and be his wife.

  Chapter 9

  Echo sat in the hay of the open wagon holding Edgar on her lap. Garrett sat upfront with the merchant who had given them a ride from the docks. She peered out at the surroundings. Garrett had told her that he was baron of all this land. As they traveled down the road and through the village, the villeins looked up curiously from their work, bowing to their lord as they passed. Garrett nodded and smiled.

  Clusters of small houses of wattle and daub dotted the countryside as the villeins worked the land. There was a pasture that backed up to the houses where animals grazed. Edgar pointed to a goat alongside the road and laughed as he watched it chew. She saw cattle and sheep in the distance as well.

  There was a large orchard, and fields of grain and fallow beyond that. They passed by several more buildings, with people bustling around hurriedly. They all stopped what they were doing to acknowledge Garrett by bowi
ng – some actually kneeling on the ground in respect.

  “Hmmph!” she snorted, thinking how ridiculous they looked. She could never imagine being as humble as that. She tucked a strand of hair under the cap that covered the rest of her long locks.

  “What’s that?” asked her son, pointing to a large stone building with smoke billowing from atop its roof.

  “That is the bakehouse,” said Garrett, answering the boy. He leaned back to them as he took it upon himself to give her son a tour. “Next to it is the blacksmith, and after that is the mill.”

  “What’s that?” her son asked, pointing once again.

  “That is the church,” he told him. Then under his breath she heard Garrett say, “we will all be very familiar with that by tomorrow.”

  She knew not what he meant, nor did she care. If he thought she was going to mass, he had better think again.

  She was surprised when she saw the size of the manor house before them. It was much like a smaller version of a castle. The manor was surrounded by a moat, and also a tall stone protection wall around the perimeter. It had a square turret on each of its four sides and a crenelated wall walk atop. The driver directed the cart over the drawbridge and under the portcullis of the gatehouse. He stopped, and Garrett jumped out and thanked him.

  Before she knew it, servants and people appeared from nowhere, filling the inner bailey. Two men walked up and approached Garrett.

  “My lord, we did not expect you back so soon,” said the taller of the two.

  “Aye, Sir Jacob,” said Garrett. “I would have sent word of my early arrival, but ’twas . . . unexpected.” He glanced over to her when he spoke.

  “I’ll see that your banners are displayed to announce your arrival,” said the man, “and your books and tallies are all in order. I will also have the cooks prepare a meal anon.”

  “Thank you, steward,” he said.

  “I’ve seen to your demesne in your absence,” said the shorter man with blond hair. “I have collected your taxes from the villeins, and the harvest is almost ready for market.”

  “A job well done, bailiff Vernon,” he answered. He exited the cart. “I noticed a stray goat on the road chewing on what I suppose were my crops. See to it the Hayward is notified immediately.”

  “Aye, my lord.” The men followed Garrett to the back of the wagon. Then Vernon looked over to Echo in surprise. “Oh, I see you’ve brought another servant and her child to the manor.”

  “I’ll escort her to the kitchen at once, milord,” said the steward, “or would she be trained as chambermaid instead?”

  “I am not his servant and never will be!” Echo hurriedly got out of the wagon and put Edgar down next to her.

  Vernon looked to Garrett in question. “I apologize my lord, but she looked like . . . so who is she and the boy, if I may inquire?”

  “The boy is my nephew,” said Garrett, walking over to pick him up. When Edgar clung to Echo and hid behind her instead of going to him, she was secretly glad.

  She didn’t like the fact Garrett had changed their story once again. But he’d told her to go along with whatever he said, so she figured she would. After all, these people hadn’t heard their last set of lies, so what difference did it make?

  “Aye,” she said, trying to follow his lead. “I was married te his brother who is now dead.”

  “I am so sorry. I didn’t know,” said Vernon.

  Then Sir Jacob looked to Garrett, and asked, “so will she be staying at the manor for a visit my lord? I will have a chamber prepared for her by your wish.”

  “Aye, she’ll be staying but not just for a visit, as this will be her new home. But don’t concern yourself with the chamber, as she’ll be staying in my solar with me. However, I would like a bath prepared anon.”

  “What?” asked Echo, not sure she’d heard correctly.

  “Of course, my lord, and forgive my asking,” said the steward. “But her staying in your solar - is that . . . proper? Tongues will wag.”

  “No tongues will wag,” he answered, “and ’twill be proper, I assure you. Please summon the priest.”

  “My lord?” the man asked with a quizzical look upon his brow.

  “A priest, Sir Jacob. You do know what a priest is, I assume?”

  “I do, my lord. But what is the reason, if I may be so bold to ask?”

  “I need a priest to conduct the marriage ceremony. We will be married immediately.”

  “Echo was so shocked by his words that she couldn’t even respond. She was contemplating it in her head trying to decide if this were another lie to go along with the story or not, when she saw the priest walk out from the manor house.

  “Oh, no need,” said Garrett, “here is the priest now. Father Gabriel, can you join us for a moment?”

  The priest came to his side, carrying his Bible in his hand.

  “So good to see you Garrett, and such a surprise.”

  Garrett nodded his head. “I need you to marry me to this . . . lady, anon.”

  Echo was stunned by the whole incident and did not like the pause he’d used before he’d called her a lady. She knew what he really thought of her, and his pause proved it.

  The priest looked Echo up and down and nodded slightly. “Anon?” he asked. “Would she care to – cleanse herself and clothe herself in proper attire first?”

  “Aye,” said Echo, not meaning to agree to the marriage, just needing an excuse to get away from there fast.

  “Nay,” said Garrett. “No need for that. She won’t be bothered by it, I assure you. I don’t suppose you could just marry us right now?”

  “What?” shrieked Echo. Garrett gave her a shake of the head, warning her to go along with the plan.

  “I could, if that’s what you’d like,” he said.

  “Lord Garrett, are you sure about this?” asked his steward.

  “Quite sure, now please make it fast as I have a lot to do today.”

  If Echo hadn’t been so surprised by the whole outcome, she would have protested. But this man shocked her in more ways than one. As if it weren’t bad enough that he decided to marry on the spot – and without consulting her first with this absurd plan – he acted like it was a burden and breaking into his precious time. As if it were naught more than a chore.

  She decided she didn’t like this, and opened her mouth to tell him so. But before she could even protest, the priest had his Bible open and was spouting a few short lines. Then she heard Garrett saying I do, and he was staring at her. They were all staring at her, and she could no longer hear anything above the noise in her own head. All she wanted was to stop this at once. She leaned over to Garrett and spoke in a whisper.

  “Ye don’t need te take the lie this far. I think we should just stop.”

  “What?” whispered Garrett. “I can’t hear you, speak louder. Did you want to stop the wedding?”

  “Aye,” she whispered.

  “What did you say?” he asked again. “Louder, please.”

  “I said aye – I do,” she all but shouted.

  “You may kiss the bride,” said the priest with a satisfied nod of his head. “You are now husband and wife. Congratulations, my lord.”

  Garrett leaned over and placed his lips against hers briefly. ’Twas such a small peck, if she had blinked she would have missed it. It was such a slight brush, that she wasn’t even sure if he’d actually touched her lips at all.

  “What?” asked Echo, not sure what just happened. “Wait,” she said as the priest left, speaking energetically with Vernon as they headed to the manor house as if nothing of importance had just transpired. Garrett gave a last instruction to Sir Jacob, and the man hurried away to carry out his orders.

  “Mommy, why did that man kiss you?” asked Edgar.

  Echo glared at Garrett, but he just smiled back. “I am not quite sure,” she replied, “but I believe I was just tricked into getting married.”

  Garrett walked into the great hall with Echo following close behin
d, holding Edgar’s hand.

  “What do ye think yer doin’? she asked.

  “I am going to the great hall for an ale to celebrate our wedding.”

  “Of all the low down, swindling, no good -”

  “Congratulations, my lord,” said a man coming up to greet Garrett. “I just heard the happy news.”

  “What is happy about it?” she snapped.

  “And congratulations to you, my lady,” said the nobleman picking up her hand to kiss it, with a very odd look upon his face.

  She pulled her hand away quickly, and Garrett saw her reaching for her sword which he’d removed long ago. He decided to intervene before she tackled the man and straddled him to the floor next.

  “Sir Dwight, this is Echo – Lady Echo,” he said.

  “Welcome, my lady,” the knight said with a slight bow. Then looking back to Garrett, continued. “I didn’t know the fleet had already returned from Great Yarmouth. I thought you were staying for the annual herring festival.”

  “I returned early,” Garrett grumbled.

  “Without your ship and crew?”

  “They stayed. I had – other business to attend to.”

  “I see,” he said turning toward Echo. He looked at her clothing and her dirty face, and the cap that hid her hair. He opened his mouth to speak, but then decided not to. Instead, he bent down to Edgar and asked, “and what is your name, little boy?”

  “I’m Edgar,” said the boy, then stamped on the knight’s foot.

  Sir Dwight winced and pulled away.

  “I apologize for my son’s behavior,” said Garrett.

  “He’s not yer son,” said Echo, “he’s mine.”

  “Now dear wife,” he told her, taking her by the elbow and escorting her to the corridor, “we are married now, so he is my son as well.”

  A lady and a small boy came to join them then. She greeted Garrett and looked at Echo but didn’t say anything.

  “This is Lady Perdita,” Garrett told her. “She is Sir Dwight’s wife. And the child is their son, Tristan.”