The Heir (The King's Cousins Book 2)

by Alexa Aston

  Her nails dug into his back. Landon felt the waves of anger coming off her.

  “Tarquin pointed out how my father would soon die and that I must urge him to petition the king to allow me to control Briarwood upon his death.”

  “Let me guess,” Landon ventured. “Grosbeck offered to wed you so that he might become the next liege lord of Briarwood.”

  Her eyes filled with pain. “He never cared for me. Tarquin merely flattered me into thinking he desired me so that he could use me to gain control of what he truly wanted—Briarwood.”

  Landon’s fingers stroked her long neck. “I’ll never be able to identify him with certainty. The battle at Sluys raged for hours and dusk began to fall. The man I saw who ignored helping Tobyn was covered in blood and filth, as all of us were. I only glimpsed him for a moment and when I saw he refused to help Tobyn, I concentrated on reaching your brother. This man, whom I believe to be Tarquin Grosbeck, melted away.

  “I will say this. The only man who would have even noticed that I was close to Tobyn—that I tried to stop the French swordsman from attacking him—would most likely be the man who fought beside your brother and disappeared after neglecting to intervene and help him.”

  “The very man who just now tried to turn me against you,” Cassiana said, her voice shaking with emotion. “Tarquin sought to drive a wedge between us, thinking I would refuse to marry you, and that would give him another chance to weasel his way into my life.” Her lips trembled. “Tarquin told me I didn’t know the man you truly were. He was wrong. I know exactly who you are, Landon. What you are made of. Whether you want to hear it or not, you are the man that I love. The man I trust with my life. The man who will continue to protect me and his people. I beg you, Landon. Forgive me for taking Tarquin’s word as truth. For questioning who you are and what we have. I will never do so again.”

  Cassiana pressed her mouth to his. Desire exploded within Landon. He wrapped his arms around her, his mouth slanting across hers, his tongue pushing inside her mouth and consuming her. He kissed her long and hard, needing to possess her, to make her his. To erase any questions she might still have. Finally, he broke the kiss, shivering as he did.

  “Never doubt me again, Cassiana. Never doubt that I will always be true to you. And never, ever doubt that I love you.”

  He kissed her again, gently this time, hoping his kiss rid her of any uncertainty.

  This time, she broke the kiss and looked at him with hope in her eyes. “You love me? Truly?”

  “With a passion that will never die. I promise to always be by your side, no matter what. I love you, Cassiana Campion.”

  “I love you more, Landon de Blays.”

  He grinned. “Then I will let you prove it to me tonight. In my bed this time.” Scooping her up, he stood and set her on her feet. “For now? We deal with Tarquin Grosbeck. Together.”

  Landon entwined his fingers with hers and led her to the great hall. As they entered, a hush fell over the room. Hand-in-hand, they returned to the dais. Relieved murmurs swept through the room.

  “Nicholas, Katelyn, would you please join us in the solar?” Landon asked.

  “Of course,” they both replied.

  Landon took Cassiana to the first table on the left, where his captain of the guard sat finishing his meal.

  “Sir Adam, I would request you come to the solar at once. With Tarquin Grosbeck accompanying you. He may not come quietly,” Landon warned.

  “I’ll see that he is delivered, my lord” the knight promised. He looked to his companions.

  The entire table of soldiers stood.

  “Come, my lady,” Landon said.

  They joined Nicholas and Katelyn, who waited for them outside the entrance to the great hall. No one spoke as they ventured upstairs.

  Once they arrived, Landon said, “I wish for you to act as impartial witnesses since you are not residents of Briarwood.”

  “What’s this about, Landon?” Katelyn asked, concern written across her face.

  “We’ll speak more once I’ve dealt with a soldier,” he said. “Please, have a seat.”

  The women sat and Landon and Nicholas stood behind them. Landon placed a hand on Cassiana’s shoulder. She looked up at him and nodded encouragingly.

  He’d deliberately left the door to the solar open and heard the approaching footsteps. From the sound of it, Sir Adam had involved several soldiers to escort Grosbeck to them. Landon thought that good. They would hear what occurred and spread the word afterward.

  The group of men arrived, Sir Adam leading the way and Sir Baldwin bringing up the rear. In the middle was Tarquin Grosbeck. Two soldiers held tightly to him as he struggled, with another two nearby in case he broke from their grasp. Landon saw the knight had been disarmed.

  “My lord,” Sir Adams said, bowing his head and then stepping aside.

  “Release him,” Landon ordered, his eyes boring into Grosbeck’s as the ring of knights tightened about him.

  The soldier looked around in desperation and saw he had nowhere to go. He accepted his fate and stood tall, sneering at Landon.

  “You are the knight who broke his code. Who deliberately turned his back in the heat of battle and let Tobyn Campion be struck down,” Landon began. “You swore to protect the Campion name and yet sacrificed your liege lord’s son to the enemy. All because you wanted to wed Lady Cassiana and control Briarwood.”

  “You have no proof of that, de Blays,” countered Grosbeck. “I say you are the man who neglected to come to Sir Tobyn’s defense and allowed him to be struck down and killed.”

  “Nay,” Sir Baldwin called out, stepping from behind the group of soldiers. “I wasn’t far from Lord Landon at that point in the fighting. I heard him shout a warning and then leap to another ship. I witnessed him arrive a moment too late to save Sir Tobyn. He cut down the French swordsman who killed Sir Tobyn with a single blow. Lord Landon did everything in his power to save the boy, not cause him harm.”

  Turning to Cassiana, Sir Baldwin said, “I swear this on my oath as a knight, my lady.”

  “Why didn’t you tell her this before now?” Grosbeck complained.

  The knight wheeled to face Grosbeck. “Because Lady Cassiana had lost her last brother and her father. What good would it have done to share with her the details of how Sir Tobyn was cut down? She didn’t need any more heartache. The king had already commanded that Lord Landon receive Briarwood and the lady. I knew he would be a strong liege lord and make her a good husband.”

  Sir Baldwin turned back to Cassiana. “Things move quickly in battle, my lady. I did not see Tarquin Grosbeck’s lack of action. I can only attest to Lord Landon’s bravery. I also know of his goodness and that he would never lie. If he says Grosbeck acted in such a manner, then it is fact.”

  Landon squeezed Cassiana’s shoulder. “What would you have me do with him, my lady? How would you see him punished?”

  “I want him off Briarwood lands. We will announce to our wedding guests what this man did. How he acted deceitfully. No lord of the north will ever trust you to be in their service, Tarquin Grosbeck.”

  Cassiana stood and went to stand in front of the shamed knight. “Collect your gear and your horse and be gone, man. If you’re ever foolish enough to be seen by any of us again, ’twill be your death.”

  She returned to her seat and the guard of soldiers escorted Grosbeck from the solar. Sir Baldwin remained behind and came to Cassiana.

  Kneeling before her, he said, “I am sorry for your brother’s death, my lady. Sir Tobyn fought bravely against the French.” He stood and exited the room.

  Landon let out a long breath. Men humiliated such as Tarquin Grosbeck had been were dangerous. His eyes met Nicholas’ and they nodded at one another.

  Landon would need to be on constant watch against this new enemy.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cassiana awoke to her wedding day. Guests had arrived for two days, up until late last night, keeping her busy introducing the
m to Landon and making sure everything ran smoothly. She’d hired extra hands from the village to help with cleaning and preparing all of the bedchambers and to help cook the meals prior to the ceremony and the feast afterward. Just thinking about all the effort that had been expended made her doubly glad that they had already consummated their marriage. Her only regret was not having spent last night in Landon’s arms. He told her it was best to keep to their own bedchambers, telling her they had a lifetime of love play ahead.

  Word had spread of Tarquin Grosbeck’s banishment from Briarwood. The knight would find no lord to serve in Northumberland. He would have to make his way far south to outrun the gossip and rumors about him. It angered her that she had actually believed Tarquin’s words for a moment and wrongly accused Landon. Thank the Christ, he’d been able to harness her fury and help her to see the truth before she caused irreparable damage between them.

  A smile spread across her lips. The one good thing that had come from the incident was that Landon had openly declared his love for her. He’d told her again several times, both in and out of bed, the past two days. Her future husband was proving as affectionate as Nicholas was with Katelyn. Mayhap more so.

  A knock sounded at her door and she went to answer it. Messina stood waiting, holding a tray with something for her to break her fast.

  “We’ve brought hot water for your bath, my lady, and something for you to eat and drink.”

  The servant directed a line of servants to enter, each carrying two buckets. As Messina prepared her bathwater, mixing hot and cold water and adding a heady vanilla oil, Cassiana ate quickly. Once the servants were gone from the solar, she removed her clothes and sank into the scented water. Messina washed Cassiana’s hair for her and then scrubbed her from head to toe, just as she had when Cassiana was a child.

  “Stand, my lady.” Messina held a large bath sheet up and wrapped Cassiana in it. “Sit by the fire and let me comb your hair while it dries.”

  She allowed the older woman to fuss over her, closing her eyes as the comb ran through her long locks.

  “Your mother would be very proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  “I hope so. I wish she could have been here for this day. Do you know . . . I mean . . . did my mother love my father?”

  “They respected one another. Of that I’m certain. Love, though? Nay.” Messina patted her shoulder. “You are one of the blessed, my lady. Fortune has smiled upon you and Lord Landon. Everyone at Briarwood can see the love between you. You will make many fine babes in the years to come.”

  A light rap sounded at the door.

  “Come,” Cassiana called.

  Katelyn Mandeville entered the room, carrying something in her hands. As she approached, Cassiana recognized what she held.

  “I brought you this circlet,” her friend said. “I think if you leave your hair down and top it with the circlet, my brother will be most pleased with your appearance.” Katelyn offered it to her.

  Cassiana held the thin band up, admiring it. “It’s lovely. Thank you so much for letting me borrow it for the wedding.”

  “Oh, ’tis a gift,” Katelyn assured her. “I think the gold will suit your hair well.”

  Messina excused herself and the two women chatted while Cassiana’s hair finished drying.

  “I’m so happy that Landon is starting a new life with you. I know it was hard on him when the king stripped him of his future title and land. To know he has a new home, with a woman he loves, goes beyond anything I could hope for him.”

  “I do love him, Katelyn. Very much. I never dreamed I would be able to remain at Briarwood as its countess, much less have the love of a good man.”

  “Landon showed me his wedding finery last night. I think, more than how the cotehardie turned out, he was pleased that you’d sewn it for him yourself and not a servant,” Katelyn confided.

  “It was a labor of love. Landon has forgotten all about making us wait a year to declare our love. He’s already told me many times that he loves me.”

  Katelyn took Cassiana’s hand and squeezed it gently. “He will do so every day of your life. I can tell you that when you have a child, your love for one another will grow even more.” Her hands went to her belly and she rubbed it affectionately.

  Cassiana watched as Katelyn’s cotehardie moved without warning. “’Tis the babe?”

  “Aye. A very active one. I do hope we have a girl, for Nicholas’ sake.”

  “He truly wants a daughter? Most men prefer sons.”

  “Nicholas loves Ruston but he is a man who would love any child of ours. Landon will be the same, I’m sure.” She paused. “Let me check your hair. It’s probably time for you to begin dressing.”

  Cassiana allowed Katelyn to take over and soon she wore her new velvet cotehardie of midnight blue, embroidered with gold. Katelyn fluffed Cassiana’s hair and it spilled about her shoulders and down past her waist, the reddish-gold a stark contrast to the deep blue of her gown. Katelyn set the gold circlet atop Cassiana’s head and stepped back.

  “You are a bride everyone will admire. The most beautiful one I’ve ever seen.” Katelyn retrieved the hand mirror and allowed Cassiana to view herself.

  Her eyes were more amber than brown and her skin had a rosy hue to it. The circlet gave her a regal look.

  “Wait. I forgot my pendant.”

  “I’ll place it around your neck,” Katelyn offered.

  Once it rested against her breasts, Cassiana was satisfied. She and Katelyn chatted about the upcoming babe and funny things that Ruston was now doing until a strong knock sounded and Nicholas poked his head in.

  “Are you ready?”

  Cassiana had asked the nobleman to escort her to the chapel and give her away since she had no living male relatives. Nicholas would also serve as the best man to Landon, standing beside him in support during the ceremony.

  He came and helped Katelyn rise, pressing a soft kiss on her brow. “I’ll see you at the chapel.” She left the room.

  Nicholas gave her an appreciative glance. “You make a stunning bride, Cassiana. We are both lucky to have landed a de Blays as our soul mate. If only there were more of them to spread around the north,” he mused.

  “Thank you for accompanying me today, Nicholas. It means much to me and to Landon. He values your friendship.”

  “We are family now, Cassiana. Or we will be within the hour. I am happy to escort the bride to her bridegroom.”

  Nicholas offered her his arm and they made their way from the solar to outside the keep. A group of musicians joined them, playing a merry tune as they led her through the bailey to the chapel. Everywhere Cassiana looked, she saw smiles from their invited guests and the many workers, servants, and soldiers of Briarwood who’d come to witness their union. The crowd parted to allow the musicians through and she and Nicholas remained close behind them.

  Then she caught sight of Landon, tall and impossibly handsome in his own cotehardie of rich gold interwoven with dark blue. Cassiana had reversed the colors she wore and thought they would be a matched pair as they made their vows to one another. Her heart began thumping wildly as they approached Landon, who stood at the steps of the door leading into the chapel. Nicholas handed her off to her bridegroom and took his place by Landon’s side.

  Her bridegroom’s hand enveloped hers in warmth as his eyes shone down at her in love. In that moment, Cassiana knew perfect happiness, knowing she loved and was loved by the best man in all of England. Life with Landon de Blays would only get better with each passing day.

  “Are we ready to begin?” asked Father Peter.

  “Aye,” she and Landon answered, finally tearing their eyes from one another and looking to the priest.

  Father Peter began the ceremony, asking them if they were of age and if they were related in a way which might prevent them from wedding in accordance to law. They had previously determined among the three of them to skip the question regarding parental consent since the king had commanded the
y were to wed.

  The priest explained to those gathered that no dowry would be required from the bride since Lord Landon, by virtue of the king’s expression, had been awarded everything at Briarwood.

  Father Peter began his brief homily, which would be followed by the exchange of their vows and Landon placing the wedding band on Cassiana’s finger. She tried to listen to the priest’s words but every thought in her mind was of the man who held her hand and how happy he made her.

  A sudden commotion sounded behind them. Father Peter fell silent and stared out across the crowd, his lips pursed in displeasure with the interruption. Cassiana saw three riders had arrived near the back of the crowd. Her eyes were drawn to the first man. She gasped.

  Tobyn was alive!

  Somehow, Landon—and Sir Baldwin—were wrong. Tobyn hadn’t died at Sluys. They’d only thought him mortally wounded. Happiness flooded her. Then she realized if Tobyn were back from the dead, Landon was no longer the Earl of Briargate.

  Tobyn Campion was.

  Murmurs from those in attendance began to swell as Tobyn threaded his way through them. Cassiana glanced and saw the other two men who accompanied him had also dismounted and followed. One was a priest. The other, she didn’t recognize. Then Tobyn came to stand before her.

  It wasn’t her brother.

  From a distance, he’d been the very image of Tobyn. Up close, though, she saw subtle differences. This man was older than Tobyn, probably a few years older than she was. He was slightly taller and his frame more filled out. While his hair had the same deep red tint in sunlight, his eyes were blue, unlike Tobyn’s brown ones.

  Who was this stranger?

  “Are they wed?” he demanded, looking at Father Peter.

  “Lady Cassiana and Lord Landon are about to speak their vows.”

  “Then I’m in time,” the man said, relief sweeping across his face. He faced her. “Greetings, Cassiana. I am your brother—Collin Campion.”

  She gasped. “What?” Landon’s hand tightened around hers.