Harlequin Historical July 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Madeline Martin

  ‘Gwen?’ he mumbled, stirring. ‘Are you still here?’

  ‘Yes, Ralph.’ She watched him, relieved to see he was finally awake. ‘Where else am I going to be?’

  ‘Where is Tom?’ His voice was barely a whisper.

  ‘He is being inconspicuous in another de Clancey tent, since the general belief is that he is the one in this condition and not you. Do not worry, he will sneak back later.’

  ‘I see. How long have I been like this? And where’s my horse? What happened to Fortis?’

  ‘Easy, Ralph. You have been like this for the past three days and two nights. And Fortis... I’m afraid he has been kept in lieu of payment for the loss at the mêlée.’

  ‘By whom?’ He pushed himself to sit up. ‘Oh, God, not Fortis. It’s all over then.’

  ‘No, Ralph.’ She laid her hand on his arm. ‘Even now, as we speak, Lords de Clancey and Tallany are speaking with the privy council on your behalf.’

  ‘I need to get up.’ He tried getting out of bed, but Gwen placed her hand on his arm. ‘I need to...’

  ‘You do not need to do anything other than get well and back to your old self.’

  He gently removed her hand. ‘I’m much better as can you see, my lady.’

  ‘I am sure you are, but you still need your rest, Ralph. Everything can wait until later.’

  She caressed his forehead and smoothed back his dark hair. Her fingers grazed the deep, distorted, gnarled skin on one side of his face. It was astonishing what this man had gone through these past few days and also in the past at the hands of men intent on bringing him down. Ralph’s courage and tenacity never failed to amaze her even though she was once again struck by the fragility of life. She had almost lost him again, so soon after finding him alive. It didn’t bear thinking about.

  She sighed deeply. ‘May I get you anything?’

  ‘Water, please,’ he muttered and sank back into the pallet.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Gwen returned to Ralph’s tent in the de Clancey area the following morning after matins, with her prayers solely for Ralph’s speedy recovery. To her surprise, however, he was no longer in his tent. Instead she encountered Thomas Lovent who informed her that Ralph had felt much better and had gone to the stream for a wash.

  She had not accepted the offer of waiting for Ralph under the amused gaze of his friend so had decided to return to the castle. But somehow her feet seemed to take her on a somewhat different path than on the periphery of Pulverbatch Castle.

  Gwen found herself walking into the dense woodland on the edge of the demesne lands. She glanced around to make sure she was unobserved before stepping on to the wooded path—a path she had last ventured upon when she had met Ralph again for the first time and discovered that he lived and had survived his ordeal in Poitiers. It made her uneasy to know that again his life had been under threat, albeit inadvertently as he dissembled as another man. Yet, once it came out in the open that Ralph was alive, Stephen le Gros would double his effort to bring about his cousin’s demise.

  She smiled faintly to herself as she passed the great big oak tree, her fingers grazing the trunk, and moved to follow a narrower path taking her deeper into the woods, the dense thickets and overgrown brambles on either side before it opened out to the gently sloping grassy bank beside the stream. Tall branches provided shelter all around the enclosed clear water that pooled and rippled to a narrow gurgling stream that gradually meandered its way between two large trees and somewhere beyond her periphery. It was as though time had stood still, preserving this little secret haven from all who were unaware of its untouched beauty or even its existence.

  Gwen pulled down a branch and looked out, her eyes resting on the man whom she had sat beside, holding his hand and mopping his brow as he lay in a state of delirium on his pallet.

  Standing with his back to her and submerged in waist-high water, Ralph de Kinnerton looked like the epitome of health and virile masculinity now. No one would have believed that only a few days ago he had been so unwell. Ralph looked revived and remarkably well, diving under the water before re-emerging and flicking his wet dark hair to the side.

  He must have heard her footfall as he turned around quickly, a dark, instinctively predacious look crossing his eyes before his features softened as he realised it was a friend and not a foe who was disturbing his peace.

  Her breath hitched in the back of her throat, as he gave her a small smile and moved towards her, dragging his wet hair back with his hands. Water droplets ran like rivulets down his jaw, his chest and his huge arms. He kicked the water up as he emerged from the water, his hose sticking to his thighs.

  What was wrong with her? The poor man had just gone through a terrible ordeal and all she could do was become hot and a trifle bothered about the way the hard ridges of his body glistened as he came out of the water.

  And it was not as though she hadn’t seen his naked chest before either. Only a day ago he had lain incapacitated on his pallet under a thin blanket. But, of course, she had been far more preoccupied with worry about his recovery to fully appreciate the state he was lying in.

  But now...well, it was quite different.

  She returned his smile, chastising herself with these inappropriate musings, especially at such a difficult time. Oh, for goodness sake, she had declared that she would soon take the veil and here she was ogling at the sight of Ralph’s sculpted bare chest and wide shoulders.

  Yet it was impossible to ignore his magnificent state of undress, so she averted her gaze instead.

  ‘Good morrow, my lady.’

  Gwen dragged her eyes back, ensuring that they remained fixed on his face and nowhere else. ‘Good morrow to you, Ralph. I can see that you are much better than when I last saw you?’

  ‘Indeed.’ His voice seemed suddenly distant and flat.

  Her eyes darted around before settling back on him. ‘It has been a very long time since I ventured this far into these woods and to this idyll.’

  ‘For me, too.’ He nodded toward the deeper waters of the stream. ‘And if my memory serves, it was here that I taught you how to swim, Gwen. Or was it waters closer to Kinnerton?’

  ‘It was here.’ Gwen flushed, pushing the memory out of her head. She did not want to be reminded of those happy recollections.

  ‘Ah, I thought so.’

  ‘Even with its familiarity, should you be alone here, after what happened?’ She didn’t want to remind him, but after the attack at the mêlée it might have been prudent not to come here alone.

  ‘Stephen and his men believed that they attacked Thomas Lovent, who is probably gambling with a few of the de Clancey knights as we speak. And as my friend informed me himself, he is damn well able to look after himself.’

  ‘What about you, Ralph?’ She moved a little closer to the edge of the stream, the clear water lapping gently at her booted feet.

  ‘I thank you, but I’m perfectly fine.’

  Gwen blinked, looking around the beautiful yet peaceful area secluded from the outside world. It was still as confined and hidden as it had been in the past. But the fact that it still offered a sense of privacy and shelter from anyone intent on disrupting and ruining the peace did not mean it could not happen. Anyone could find this haven if they looked hard enough.

  ‘Even so, after what happened, do you not think there is a need for caution?’

  ‘I believe we have now passed that stage.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ She frowned. ‘What do you intend to do?’

  He shook his head as he picked up his tunic from the ground and put this on. ‘Nothing that you need to worry about, Gwen.’

  ‘That is something I cannot do.’

  ‘I thank you for your care and concern, but I’m fit and hale in body and dispirited in everything else.’ He grimaced.

  ‘Surely you cannot blame yourself
for what happened.’

  ‘Can I not?’

  ‘The fault, I believe, lies with your cousin and not you, Ralph.’

  ‘I know, but I should have foreseen that he would attempt something like this, but I became too complacent.’

  ‘I’m sure your powers of foretelling the future are admirable, but you could not have known that this would happen.’

  ‘But I should have, since it is Stephen we speak of. I know that he somehow tampered with the wine that had been left in the tent or gave an order to do so and I know that he was responsible for what later happened in the mêlée, when every damn knightly code was broken.’ He exhaled through his teeth. ‘But neither I, nor anyone else, can prove that he was responsible.’

  ‘What will you do?’

  ‘There’s little I can do except to, somehow, attempt to remedy the situation.’

  ‘I know everything may seem lost, but I’m sure that you’ll find a way through.’

  ‘I have lost everything...including...’ he swallowed ‘...including Fortis, whom I reared since he was a foal. God, but I don’t know how I’m going to replace him.’

  ‘I am so sorry.’

  He shrugged, looking away. Gwen could only imagine how difficult it must be for Ralph, knowing that he had lost something as precious as his dependable horse. If only there was something she could do to help.

  She lifted her head. ‘You must believe that all is not lost, Ralph.’

  He reached up and brushed his fingers against her cheek and down the column of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. ‘Your faith in me means more then you’ll ever know. And right now, that is all I have. Your faith and my blind hope.’

  ‘Don’t say that. You have much more than that,’ she whispered.

  He dropped his hand to his side. ‘Do I? I do not know any more. My endeavours here were always going to be difficult and hard. An arduous challenge with no certainty of success.’ He sighed.

  ‘But not impossible.’

  He shrugged. ‘I suppose nothing is beyond the bounds of possibility. Although, as I said, my blind hope seems to rise every time I face adversity.’ His laugh seemed hollow, bitter even.

  Yet there was more to it than Ralph gave himself credit for. He was now a powerful warrior who could match any other in skill, resolve and fortitude. Every time he had been knocked down in life, he just got back up, refusing to give up.

  She reached out and touched his arm. ‘I would call it courage, Ralph.’

  ‘Would you?’ His eyes fell to her hand, reminding her of the need to remove it. ‘I’m a fool to believe in the conviction that if I train harder, focus better, be more persistent and assiduous, then somehow everything will fall into place. But the truth is somewhat different. Far more onerous.’

  ‘You are not, nor have you ever been a fool, Ralph de Kinnerton.’

  ‘Oh, I beg to differ,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘You asked me what I would do now. Well, let me tell you, Gwen—the time has finally come for me to face Stephen.’

  ‘Oh, Lord,’ she said, unable to hide her concern. ‘Would that be a wise course of action now? Just after being attacked in the underhand way you were?’

  ‘Absolutely. What could be better than inflicting the element of surprise when Stephen least expects it. When he is so confident of his claim on Kinnerton and on you, may I add, with impunity. Especially since he has the ear of the Earl of Hereford. Indeed, my cousin believes that no one would now stand in his way. But he is wrong.’

  ‘You will be careful?’ She tilted her head up at him and took in his handsome face, marred by his gnarly scars, and his dark brown eyes, intense and impassioned.

  ‘I’m no longer that petulant, impulsive and, yes, foolish boy. That boy has gone and gone for good.’

  ‘I rather liked him, Ralph. He was also kind, considerate and he cared about so many things that most men, frankly most lords, seldom do.’

  His eyes locked on to hers, a curious sort of look in them. ‘Is that so?’

  ‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘Tell me, Ralph. What happened to him?’

  ‘I’m afraid to say that he had to grow up.’

  ‘Well, that is a shame, since he did not need to alter as much as you might believe.’

  She watched as the strain in his eyes eased. ‘For all that I have lost, at least I have found you again, Gwenllian ferch Hywel. Mayhap you are right. His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, his damp tunic against her. ‘Mayhap all I need is right here, after all.’

  His left hand, callused and rough, cradled her cheek, his thumb brushing against her lower lip, dragging back and forth. She heard him gasp softly as the tip of her tongue licked her lip. Just as he bent his head, tilting his head close to hers, a sudden splashing noise in the stream jolted her, making her take a step back.

  She spun her head around to find young William Tallany splashing towards them in the shallow water of the stream, with Lady Isabel’s dog, Perdu, yapping as he followed him.

  ‘I was not actually alone here. There, you see...’ Ralph smirked as he waved his hand in their direction ‘...my protectors.’

  ‘Good day to you, William Tallany,’ she said, bending to pat Perdu.

  ‘Gwen! Good day to you.’ He beamed at her. ‘Were you about to kiss Ralph?’

  ‘Ah...well... I...’ Her gaze flicked to Ralph, who was covering his amusement behind his hand, then back to William who was staring up at her, waiting for her to respond. ‘No, I was not.’

  ‘Well it looked as though you were.’ William shrugged his little shoulders before picking up a stick for Perdu. ‘If you are going to kiss, I shall have to look away.’

  Ralph shook his head. ‘Sharp as a lance is our William Tallany. Never misses a thing.’

  She flushed and elbowed Ralph gently in the chest as he began to chuckle. ‘You’re not exactly helping,’ she muttered from the side of her mouth.

  ‘Allow me a moment with my young protector.’ He grinned before bending down to address William. ‘Now, young sir, I believe you should cease your impertinence in the presence of a lady.’ Ralph smiled, mussing up William’s hair.

  ‘What is “pertinence”?’

  ‘Being rude.’ Ralph nodded blandly. ‘You cannot gallivant about the woods, asking fair ladies impolite questions about kissing.’

  ‘I need to know, Ralph, in case I have to avert Perdu’s eyes.’ He scowled, covering his eyes with his hands. ‘Mama and Papa are always doing the kissing thing and it’s ’gusting!’

  ‘One day, you will think quite differently about that, my little friend. I assure you.’

  Ralph brought himself to William’s level. ‘Besides, I cannot be kissing a lady who is soon to be entering a convent to take the veil.’

  ‘But Gwen’s too pretty to be a nun.’ William scratched his head. ‘And she did like to dress as a squire, although I suppose she has a dress on now.’

  The young boy pointed at her attire.

  ‘Now, what did I say about being impertinent to a lady?’ Ralph admonished.

  ‘And it is true, William, I shall soon leave here and enter a convent. You won’t tell anyone, will you?’

  ‘Oh, no. Not more secrets. I cannot remember all of these secrets.’

  ‘I’m sure you can manage one more, my young sir.’

  ‘Maybe if you kiss her, she’ll change her mind,’ William whispered to Ralph.

  Ralph stood back up, and pinned Gwen with his heated gaze. ‘Mayhap it might.’

  Gwen flushed as she looked away, trying hard not to laugh. Oh, Lord, it was a mistake to come back to this peaceful spot. With all these confusing new feelings for Ralph, she felt anything but at peace.

  * * *

  ‘Are you sure this is the course you wish to take?’

  Ralph looked around the tent at each of the men w
ho had stood shoulder to shoulder beside him. From Hugh de Villiers, William Geraint to his friend Thomas Lovent.

  ‘Yes.’ He nodded at each of them. ‘It’s time that I made an appearance as myself. Especially at this time when the Earls of Hereford and Chester are still in counsel with King Henry about the legitimacy of the mêlée à cheval and its aftermath.’

  ‘It is likely that the outcome of the mêlée would still stand, Ralph, despite everything Will and I have tried to put forth.’

  ‘And I thank you for it. All of you for everything you have done for me.’ He tried to swallow a knot that had formed in his throat. ‘I do not know how I can ever repay any of you, but know that you shall always have my fealty, until I draw my last breath.’

  ‘Well, let us hope that it shall not be too soon.’ Tom smirked, shaking his head. The solemnity in the tent suddenly lifted and became lighter.

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘At least not until after this tournament officially ends.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘And I for one am happy to finally take my place as myself, the real Thomas Lovent.’

  ‘Not that you couldn’t at those hugely difficult moments such as attending the evening banquets.’ Will smirked.

  ‘Or basking in all that glory when Sir Thomas did exceedingly well.’ Hugh slapped Tom on the back.

  ‘Well, apart from those times and you are right, my lord. It has been exceedingly trying.’

  The four men laughed before Will moved forward and clasped Ralph’s arm.

  ‘I hope you know that the reasons that I, for one, have given you my assistance have been more than gaining your fealty, my friend, although I would gladly have it. For one thing, my lady wife would have had my head if I refused to help you.’ He smirked. ‘But, no, in truth, the sense of injustice that you faced never sat well with me. Not after everything that happened to you, Ralph.’

  ‘Thank you, my lord. I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘There’s nothing to say.’ Hugh stepped forward. ‘Except that I feel the same as Will. This kingdom would do better with honourable, valiant men like you, Ralph. To that end, I would stand with you whatever happens.’