Harlequin Historical July 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Madeline Martin

  They were striding through the gatehouse of the castle, for a meeting with King Henry, the Marcher Earls, knights and nobles. The time had come to explain the reasons for their contrivance.

  ‘Are you nervous, because I confess that I am?’

  Ralph nodded. ‘Yes, but I am glad that this is all finally coming out in the open. I have hidden behind your good name for far too long.’

  ‘You have, but let me just say that you have certainly elevated my name much further than I during this tournament.’

  ‘I doubt that.’ Ralph chuckled as he pulled his hood over his head. ‘Although it is true that when I dissembled as Sir Thomas, I made quite a good left-handed sweeping strike across the body.’

  ‘Ah, but then that was something that I instilled in you.’ They climbed the stone stairs and made their way up the great hall.

  ‘Is that so?’ He stopped outside the huge wooden door, manned by two guards.

  ‘Absolutely.’

  Ralph snorted as he turned and clasped Tom’s arm. ‘Either way, I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude for everything you have done for me.’

  ‘Will you stop? You shall put me to blush.’ Tom extended his arm and clasped Ralph’s arm as well. ‘Besides, you know that I only helped you for the silver.’

  ‘Of course you did.’

  ‘Naturally.’

  ‘It’s been a privilege, my friend.’ Tom motioned towards the door. ‘Well, are you ready to step inside and face the inevitable indignation?’

  ‘I believe so.’ Ralph nodded. ‘Yes, let’s do it.’

  * * *

  Ralph knelt beside his good friend on the cold stone floor strewn with rushes in front of the assembled group of men in the great hall. His sword lay in front of him, his head bent reverently low in front of the young King Henry and the most powerful men in the kingdom who loomed above as they sat on the dais. He felt beads of sweat on his forehead as he stared at the floor. The palms of his hands were clammy, but he resisted rubbing them together while he felt the deafening beat of his heart pierce through the eerie silence of the room. The only light was from the torches flickering on the wall sconces dotted around the large chamber.

  ‘You did what!’ the Earl of Hereford bellowed. ‘And you, de Clancey and Tallany allowed this...knew about this duplicity? This mockery?’

  Ralph felt Will and Hugh walk and stand either side of them.

  ‘We supported this man in his bid to claim his birthright, but it was never an attempt to dishonour anyone at this tournament,’ Will said.

  ‘What else could we possibly derive from such actions?’

  Ralph lifted his head and addressed the Earl of Hereford, who sat on one side of the King and the Earl of Chester on the other.

  ‘I wanted the privilege to be able to pay the heavy scutage settled on my castle and its lands many years ago with anonymity and in the guise of a knight. As my friend here, Sir Thomas Lovent.’

  ‘What we fail to understand is why you would feel the need to behave in such an underhand manner. To conduct your affairs and enter this ennobled tournament that exemplifies our chivalry and honour in such secrecy. This has been badly done of you all!’

  ‘I implore you to listen to my reasonings, my Lord Hereford.’

  ‘Why should we do that? You have made fools of everyone here.’

  ‘I beg pardon, Sire...my lords...but that was never the intention. Our conduct was never nefarious.’ Ralph looked from the King to the other more seasoned men sitting beside him, making sure he looked each of them in the eye. ‘Otherwise, why would we have come on our own behest to inform the Crown of our conduct?’

  ‘Why indeed?’ the Earl of Hereford snorted.

  King Henry stamped his foot. ‘I wish to hear this man. Stand and make us privy to your reasonings, sir.’

  The two knights stood up and bowed before Ralph spoke. ‘There is a very good reason as to why Sir Thomas and I switched our identities, Sire. I did not want my existence, the fact that I’m alive and escaped death, to be known until a time that was more prudent. As it is now.’

  ‘This is preposterous,’ the Earl of Hereford snapped, getting out of his seat.

  ‘Let the man speak, for God’s sake, Hereford,’ the Earl of Chester, Ranulph de Blondville, said in irritation before addressing Ralph. ‘Why would that be, sir? Did you believe your life to be in some sort of danger?’

  ‘Yes, it already had been. But once I joined the retinue of my Lord de Clancey, it was also the opportunity to gain advantage. One that would escape the notice of my enemies.’

  ‘As you said, with the guise of anonymity?’

  ‘Just so, my lord.’

  ‘I see.’ The Earl of Chester narrowed his eyes. ‘Who are you, sir?’

  Ralph took a deep breath before speaking. ‘I am Ralph de Kinnerton, the rightful lord of Kinnerton Castle.’

  There was an audible gasp as Ralph had predicted there would be with such a proclamation. His eyes darted around the chamber and settled briefly on Stephen le Gros, who had drained of colour, spots of greyish puce appearing on his face. The corners of Ralph’s lips lifted faintly as he saw the shock etched on his cousin’s face. The man, however, quickly recovered himself.

  ‘That is a lie!’ Stephen cried. ‘My cousin, Ralph de Kinnerton, whom I would like to remind the court was one time accused of being a traitor, is dead.’

  ‘Silence!’ the Earl retorted. ‘We are not in session at the King’s Court for you to vociferate your protestations, sir, and, as I may recall, it was you, Stephen le Gros, who accused your young cousin of being a traitor!’

  That should have silenced the man, but Stephen had always had the knack to deflect an awkward situation.

  ‘And you think this is him, my lord?’ Stephen pointed at him, barely hiding his contempt. ‘Do you think this man even looks or behaves like my cousin, Ralph de Kinnerton? He is so disfigured that he must be an imposter!’

  With that the hall was suddenly filled with a huge commotion and uproar as many voices clamoured to be heard. Ralph turned, looking in every direction as many of the men who stood around the periphery were openly either disputing or agreeing with Stephen’s allegation.

  But against this he stood tall, resolute, facing forward, with his stance never wavering. Ralph could not show any of these men that inside he felt as though he were faltering under the pressure.

  ‘Silence!’ The Earl of Chester stood, casting his gaze around the hall. ‘What is this rabble we have here?’

  The din eventually quietened until there was only a lingering hum of uncertainty hanging in the air.

  ‘You were saying that you are Ralph de Kinnerton, the only son of Walter and Maud de Kinnerton.’

  ‘I do, my lord.’

  ‘And is there any way you can prove your claim, sir?’ The Earl of Chester gave him a short nod of encouragement.

  ‘Yes, do enlighten us, as I must confess that you do look nothing like the boy I once saw beside Lord Walter de Kinnerton,’ Hereford sneered. ‘He was vastly unremarkable, as his own father privately mentioned to me. You see, we were acquainted.’

  Some of the men including his cousin sniggered, evidently amused at the Earl’s base comments, but Ralph had to hold his nerve and not cower. With a muscle ticking in his jaw, his fists clenched at his sides at being reminded of his own father’s perception of him, Ralph tried to retain his composure.

  Damn, must he continually be reminded of how lacking he once had been?

  He caught Tom’s eye, and saw a barely visible nod of his endorsement. Ralph sensed that the same would be true of the other two men who stood shoulder to shoulder with him—Will and Hugh.

  God, but he was a lucky man to have friends and allies like these men. Ralph squared his shoulders and exhaled deeply before responding.

  ‘You are quite right, my
lord, when you describe the boy I once was, but that was over six years ago when my whole life was turned upside down and I was forced to flee my home in peril.’ Ralph pinned his gaze on to the Earl of Hereford who had always endorsed Stephen le Gros. ‘And I may have left as a boy, but I have returned a man—I hope a worthy man as the Lord of Kinnerton.’

  ‘And yet you have hardly proved anything regarding your claim?’

  ‘That is because the scoundrel is an imposter!’ his cousin bawled, chiming in.

  ‘Sir Stephen, you will have your chance to refute any claims this man may have regarding his kinship with you, but if you blurt out once more, then I shall have to ask you to remove yourself from the hall. Do you understand, sir?’

  ‘I do, my lord, but you can appreciate my indignation at having this man claim to be my dead cousin, Ralph de Kinnerton.’

  ‘Oh, believe me, I am very much alive,’ Ralph retorted.

  ‘Ah, but that is just the point, as it will take far more than just sheer faith and belief to confirm your true identity to us, sir, especially as your cousin here repudiates your very claim.’

  Hell’s teeth, but this was ridiculous. How was he supposed to validate his claim?

  ‘What would you have me say, my Lord Hereford?’ He made a pointed look at the Earl. ‘That I carry my father’s seal, his signet ring of the Lords of Kinnerton? Or should I divulge details about Kinnerton, castle and all its surrounding areas or my knowledge about its security arrangements that only the constable would be privy to? Or should I regale you with stories of my childhood, talk about my mother, my betrothal? Mayhap you prefer I present the court with my personal belongings, which I still have in my possession? Would any of these convince you that I am who I say I am? Or do you intend to take the word of a man who, after all, had much to gain from my downfall as well as my father’s?’

  ‘That is an outrage!’ Stephen’s snarl echoed through the hall. ‘I have been acting sergeant of Kinnerton, with my Lord Hereford as its Sheriff for over six years, collecting the burden of heavy tax from peasants so that I can somehow pay the Crown its due and finally become its Lord, as my uncle always desired me to be. His heir apparent.’

  There was a stunned silence at this disclosure. On the one hand it exposed Stephen le Gros’s ambitions to enhance his own position at the expense of hardworking men and women who toiled the land, but also the backing of Hereford who stood as Kinnerton’s Sheriff.

  Ralph’s shoulders tensed at the mention of his father’s favouring his cousin over him. But then he realised something that he had always overlooked before. If what his cousin disclosed had been the case, then why had the man been so eager to lend his support to usurp the man who claimed him as his heir apparent? It did not make sense.

  ‘And yet you, along with many others, later accused my father of conspiring against the Crown. An accusation that was never actually upheld even after my father’s untimely demise,’ Ralph declared, flicking his gaze to his cousin.

  ‘My Lords, you cannot allow this upstart, this imposter who has brought this great tournament to disrepute to throw these vile accusations.’

  ‘Indeed.’ The Earl of Hereford turned to the young King, who had been listening to the proceedings. ‘How can we believe the words of this charlatan, Sire?’

  ‘This man can certainly prove that he is, in fact, Ralph de Kinnerton, Sire,’ Hugh said, lending his support.

  ‘Indeed, I can also affirm the truth of that statement for all the reasons given.’ Will nodded. ‘My wife, Lady Isabel de Clancey, can also attest to helping Sir Ralph after he was ambushed and brutally attacked in Aquitaine, leaving him with the scars you are now witness to.’

  ‘All very interesting, yet this does not prove that you knew Ralph de Kinnerton before, when he lived in his ancestral home, to affirm that the man we now see before us and that boy are one and the same.’

  Ralph exhaled through his teeth, realising the truth of Hereford’s observation. After all, it was his word against his cousin’s.

  ‘But mayhap I can, my lord.’ Gwen’s soft yet determined voice suddenly burst through from the back of the hall.

  Ralph turned, his jaw dropping as he watched in awe as she strode gracefully but with purpose, her head held high, with her maid following behind her.

  His heart soared as he pondered the marvel that was Gwenllian ferch Hywel.

  God, could this woman be any more magnificent as she was here in the hall. Once again acting on his behalf.

  The Earl of Hereford stood and stepped down the dais. ‘Lady Gwenllian, how fortuitous for your arrival in the hall at this very moment, but this is a privy council, which prohibits women from attending, as you well know.’

  Gwen made a deep curtsy as she addressed the men who sat on the dais.

  ‘I do know, my lord, and I apologise profusely for disturbing the proceedings here, but believed that since I am someone who knew Sir Ralph de Kinnerton for over ten years, my evidence might be welcomed, under the circumstances. That is, if you would grant me the opportunity to speak at this council?’ she said.

  ‘I am afraid not, my lady. We would not be in need of your testimony here.’

  ‘No, my lord, wait.’ The young King Henry stood and walked down the dais to approach Gwen, who swept into a low, graceful curtsy as the young monarch made a bow in return. He extended his arm and ushered her further into the hall, by the foot of the dais. ‘I would like to hear this evidence. Please continue, Lady Gwenllian.’

  ‘My eternal thanks, Sire, my lords.’ She dipped her head deferentially. ‘As you may know, I was the ward of Lord Walter de Kinnerton and went to live in Kinnerton Castle after the death of my beloved father, Hywel ap Rhys of Clwyd, as a young girl. Here I came to know my betrothed, Ralph de Kinnerton. We grew up together and would have married had the disastrous circumstances of six years ago not intervened.’ She paused and straightened her back. ‘But I can tell you, as God is my witness, that this man before you and the boy I knew are one and the same. He is, indeed, Ralph de Kinnerton.’

  ‘So the man before you had revealed his true identity before doing so to us?’

  ‘Yes, Sire, he did, but only because I became suspicious of who he was. I will say that although he has altered physically, this man is nevertheless who he claims to be.’

  Ralph caught Gwen’s eye briefly and smiled faintly.

  ‘Thank you, Lady Gwenllian, for your affirmation in support of this young man, who does indeed look like his father the more I look upon him,’ the Earl of Chester agreed, lending his support. ‘Subject to confirming the evidence that this man, or should I say Sir Ralph, has stated, I think we can all stand in agreement, can we not, Sire?’

  Ralph found that he was holding his breath, waiting for what seemed like an age before King Henry finally nodded. ‘Yes. We believe that you are indeed Sir Ralph de Kinnerton, but you will need to vouchsafe your claim.’

  ‘I would happily do that, Sire.’

  ‘Good. Very well, I think we can surmise everything by what you have declared and upon presenting your father’s ring and personal belongings and recounting tales of Kinnerton to the scribe.’

  ‘But, Sire...my liege! This is most irregular. You cannot accept the testimony of...a woman,’ Stephen ground out, but was silenced by the young King holding his hand out.

  ‘And yet we have, Sir Stephen. Your objection has been duly noted, but know this...’ The Earl of Chester pushed forward, addressing his cousin. ‘If we find out that your grievance stems from a stance to discredit Sir Ralph for pernicious and dishonourable reasons, then charges shall be brought against you.’

  ‘Sir Stephen le Gros understands that, do you not?’ the Earl of Hereford said between clenched teeth. ‘However, Sire, there still remains the unresolved issue of the way in which Sir Ralph brought this tournament into disrepute.’

  ‘Hardly that,’ Chester count
ered. ‘And he explained the reasons for that, did he not?’

  ‘Yes, I believe he did.’ King Henry nodded.

  ‘I thank you, Sire.’ Ralph stepped forward and knelt before the young King and bent his head. ‘If I may also ask about settling the matter of Kinnerton Castle and its environs as well.’

  ‘You have some nerve, young man,’ Hereford blustered.

  ‘I hope you can appreciate, my lord, that Kinnerton is my ancestral home and I have finally raised the silver scutage hanging over it. I can now, with your approval, reclaim it.’

  This was not quite true as Ralph still had much of the difference to make up, but he would raise the feudal relief somehow. Having the attention of King Henry and the most powerful Marcher Lords in England was far too good an opportunity to pass by.

  ‘Must it be settled? Surely the castle can stay part of the Crown’s estates.’

  ‘Sire, that would not do.’ The Earl of Chester turned to the King. ‘Llewelyn of Wales grows stronger by the day. We need stability and security in the marcher borders, held together by powerful lords who can lead cohesively in this province.’

  ‘Which is why the right candidate is Sir Stephen le Gros, who also has the support of his men and the Kinnerton guards,’ Hereford argued.

  ‘Even with so many voices of dissent about the hardships at Kinnerton, eh?’ the Earl of Chester asked of Hereford, who looked away. ‘Oh, yes, I have heard much about it.’

  ‘Besides, would that not be unlawful, Sire?’ Ralph made sure that this question was addressed directly to King Henry. ‘Since I am the rightful heir of Kinnerton.’

  ‘As his father before him had always wanted?’ Gwen added.

  It seemed that Gwen was of the same mind as him, appealing to King Henry. This was, after all, something the young monarch might share in common with Ralph, coming into his reign at such a young age with so many still doubting his ability.

  They waited a while as King Henry rubbed his chin, his mood pensive before he got up and walked down the dais to stand in front of Gwen, who curtsied once more.

  ‘You are quite right, my Lady Gwenllian, my father King John did everything he could to secure the smooth succession of the throne.’ King Henry raised her back to her feet and dipped his head over her hand. ‘That is despite all the problems of the Barons’ conflict in his own reign, so I do understand.’