His Rival's Daughter (Stafford Family Book 1)

by Catherine Woodville

  What was going on? She walked to the door.

  “Hildred,” she called for her maid, who normally slept in the solar. The girl appeared by the door a moment later.

  “What is going on down there?” Elizabeth demanded.

  “I don’t know my lady.” Her eyes were open wide, and tears pooled near her lashes.

  “Help me get dressed. I need to go down there.”

  “No,” Hildred cried, her voice shaking. “Please, don’t go there. It might be dangerous.”

  “‘Tis not safer to stay here in ignorance. Help me get dressed, I tell you.” Elizabeth commanded.

  Hildred had no choice but to obey.

  With shaking hands, the girl helped Elizabeth into a red velvet dress. Elizabeth suspected it was Humphrey outside the walls and William was getting ready to fight him. This morning could end badly for them, for she knew what Humphrey was capable of. Elizabeth was scared, too, but she would never show her fear, at least not to this frightened girl.

  When she was finally dressed, Elizabeth took Hildred’s hands in hers and spoke, looking into the girl’s eyes. “Do not be afraid. We have nothing to fear. Sir William will not let us be hurt.”

  Elizabeth turned around and started towards the door.

  “My lady,” Hildred ran towards her. “I beg you, don’t go there,” she fell to her knees, tears running down her cheeks, and started kissing Elizabeth’s hands.

  Elizabeth pulled her hands away and wiped away her own tears, determined not to show her weakness to the maid. She pulled the girl to her feet. “I have to be there, but you stay here, whatever happens outside. It is safer within the walls of the keep. Do you promise me?”

  Hildred nodded, wiping tears away and stepping back, letting Elizabeth leave.

  With a pounding heart, Elizabeth rushed down to the inner bailey.

  When she left the great hall and ran down the outer stairs, she was sucked into chaos. Knights, maids, servants, and peasants were rushing everywhere, pushing one another, screaming, shouting. Fear was heavy in the air.

  Elizabeth pushed her way to the outer bailey searching for William, but he was nowhere to be seen. She looked at the walls, but it was too dark to differentiate faces from one another. Torches on the walls were so rare, they were little help. She saw a glimpse of James on the wall, but he disappeared in a moment. William had to be there somewhere, she thought and made her way to the wall as fast as her long skirts allowed her.

  On the wall, it was even more crowded than down in the yard. Knights were running along the wall walk, screaming, giving commands. The preparation for the upcoming battle was reaching its peak. Elizabeth stopped by the embrasure and looked down. What she saw made her legs go weak.

  A large army had gathered around the castle, her family’s coat of arms flying above it. No, it could not be. Her father had come to claim her back. With an army that could easily destroy Backleigh castle. William had no chance against them. The only way he could save the castle and people inside it was to give her away.

  But she did not want to go. It wasn’t just Humphrey who scared her. It was William. She did not want to lose him. She wanted to stay here, close to him, whatever it meant for her. Because she loved him. She leaned against the wall and shut her eyes, stunned by the realization. She had never thought herself worthy of love. Was it possible that William loved her as well? He wanted to marry her, but deep inside she still believed he was doing it for revenge. If they all survived the coming battle, and she and William married, perhaps he could learn to love her as she loved him. She would take the chance.

  Astonished, Elizabeth stepped back and almost bumped into a knight standing nearby. She took a deep breath and returned to the embrasure, controlling the trembling that belied her calm. She did not show fear to the maid, and she would not show it to the men either. In just a short time all the chaos calmed down and everyone took their places. Elizabeth froze in anticipation of what was to come.

  “Look,” a young knight beside her whispered to another knight. “They’re coming.”

  Elizabeth regained control and looked down again. Indeed, a small group of men had separated from the rest and was getting close to the gates. Beams of the rising sun were glinted off their armour.

  Elizabeth recognized Edward at once. He was the tallest man in the group, riding ahead of it. Her father was nowhere to be seen. Of course, he had sent his son to bring her back while he himself had stayed in the castle close to the bottle.

  “We came to negotiate,” Edward shouted when they approached the drawbridge.

  “What do you want?” William shouted from the wall just above the group.

  Elizabeth stepped away from the embrasure and started walking towards the place where William stood. She could not stay away when her destiny was about to be decided.

  “I came to get my sister back. Give her to me and no one will be hurt.” Edward was as serious as she had ever seen him. Every word he said scared Elizabeth to death.

  “What if I don’t do as you say?”

  “We will attack. You have no chance against us.”

  Edward meant what he said.

  “Then we have to fight,” William answered, his voice lacking emotion. “Lady Elizabeth is staying here.”

  “No!” Elizabeth cried as loud as she could, and everyone turned their astonished faces to her. Paying no attention to anyone else, she started running to William. She crossed the remaining distance in seconds and, when she was there, she grasped William’s arm and looked into his eyes with a plea. “Let me talk to him, please. Maybe if he knows that nothing threatens me, he will leave.”

  William looked at her with a grin. “It does not seem that your brother came here to check on how you are feeling. He said clearly he is here to take you away.”

  “Please, let me go and talk to him.”

  “Go where?” his eyes narrowed at her. Then, he looked down to the drawbridge and his eyebrows rose in surprise. “You want to go there? Lass,” he looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “If you step out of the castle, he will take you away immediately.”

  “No,” she cut him off, “If he promises not to take me way – he won’t. Edward is a man of honour. If he promises something – you can rely on his word.”

  William was still sceptical, but after a moment of hesitation he returned to the embrasure.

  “I will allow you to talk to your sister, but you have to promise that you will not touch her.” He shouted.

  “I cannot promise that,” Edward said in a hard voice.

  “Then you will not see her.”

  William stepped away from the embrasure and threw a questioning glance at James. James nodded in reply. Elizabeth thought to herself, how the heck could they understand each other without words?

  Suddenly, William lifted his right hand, demanding attention. “The enemy is about to attack,” he said in a loud voice, when all eyes were on him. “Prepare for battle. The fighting will be fierce.”

  Elizabeth swore under her breath and caught William’s stare on her, full of surprise.

  “Stubborn men,” she whispered and went close to the embrasure. “Edward,” she shouted. When her brother lifted his eyes, she saw his surprise. A satisfied smile touched her lips. “You have to promise him not to touch me if you want us to talk.”

  Edward’s lips formed a thin line and he bent his head, thinking. He stayed in that posture for several long moments.

  Elizabeth bit her bottom lip. So many lives depended on her brother at this moment. He had to make the right decision. She was too scared to think what could happen if Edward answered “no”.

  Suddenly, Edward lifted his head and looked at her. “Good. William Stafford, I will not take Elizabeth de Vere away against her will if you allow me to talk to her. Here. You have my word.”

  William silently moved his stare from Elizabeth to Edward, and back to Elizabeth.

  Please, her lips whispered.

  William looked at Edward an
d nodded. “She is coming.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, fighting back an urge to embrace William and give him a kiss of gratitude.

  Elizabeth turned around and started running to the stairs, when William caught her arm. “Where do you think you are going?”

  Elizabeth looked at him in astonishment. “You promised that I will see my brother.”

  “Yes, I did. But I will not allow you to do it alone. James and I are going with you.”

  Elizabeth gave a sigh of relief.

  William looked at James and ordered him to follow. All three of them rushed to the stables.

  “Do you trust him?” James asked when he caught up with William.

  William shrugged.

  “I don’t know. Elizabeth trusts him. And I trust her. I hope he is as honourable a man as she describes him.”

  “What if he isn’t?”

  “Then I will have to kill him.”

  Elizabeth wanted to say a word in her brother’s defence, but the men were walking too fast and she had to run to catch up with them. Soon, she was out of breath. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do.

  When they reached the stables, horses had already been readied for them. William helped Elizabeth into the saddle, and then mounted his horse.

  Silently, they rode to the gates, William and James riding on either side of her, protecting her. She smiled, feeling well guarded. She had nothing to be afraid of in such company.

  Once they were outside, the gates closed behind their backs.

  There was no way back. If something went wrong, they would be trapped. Elizabeth prayed that Edward would keep his word and William and James would not die protecting her.

  When they passed the drawbridge, Elizabeth stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” William asked, looking at her with worry.

  “From this point I should go alone,” she said, looking straight at her brother. As scared as she was, she did not dare look at William. If he saw her doubts he would make her return. She could not allow that to happen.

  “You will go alone only if he is alone, too.”

  Elizabeth nodded.

  William turned to Edward. “She wishes to speak to you, alone.”

  Edward nodded, commanded his men to stay where they were, and moved towards Elizabeth.

  William waited for Edward to be half-way between them and his army before he allowed Elizabeth to leave.

  Slowly, she directed her horse to Edward.

  She had never thought she would be so happy to see Edward. His face brightened when she reached him.

  “Has he hurt you?” he asked, a shadow of worry covering his face.

  “No,” Elizabeth smiled. “I feel very good here and he treats me well.”

  “Come with me, Elizabeth,” he looked at William, as if checking how far away he was. “I came with a large army. He will not be able to do anything to get you back.”

  Elizabeth shook her head in denial.

  “I am not going anywhere, Edward. Besides, you gave your word.”

  Edward cursed, his lips forming a thin line.

  “Why is he holding you here? Why has he kidnapped you?”

  Elizabeth’s smile became wider.

  “‘Twas not his fault. He helped me to run away from Humphrey. If not for him, I would be married by now.”

  “Yes. Humphrey loves you and still wants to marry you, despite everything.”

  “That’s not true! Humphrey told me he would kill me if I tried to run away again. I don’t want him. Why can’t you understand?”

  “Do you prefer to stay in this man’s castle? On what rights? As a hostage? Mistress?”

  “As a wife,” she said bluntly.

  “Our father would never…”

  “William doesn’t need our father’s approval,” she cut in. “He has asked the king for permission to marry me. As soon as he gets the answer, we will marry.”

  Edward was stunned.

  Suddenly, his eyes narrowed at her and for a moment Elizabeth thought that he was trying to see the depths of her soul.

  “Has he bedded you?”

  The question took Elizabeth by surprise. She didn’t answer, but looked down, embarrassed.

  “Do not answer,” his eyes narrowed, peering at her while he spoke, “I can see everything myself. Bastard,” he cursed and looked at William. “I will kill him.”

  Abruptly, Elizabeth lifted her head and looked at Edward. He spurred his stallion and directed it towards William.

  “Stop,” Elizabeth spurred her horse and blocked his way. “Do not interfere. I beg you.”

  Edward stopped, hesitating. “You are my sister,” he said, this time softer. “‘Tis my duty to protect you. If I don’t do it, who will?”

  “William. He protects me well enough.”

  “In his bed?”

  Edward’s reply was like a knife in the heart, but she swallowed the assault. She would not show him her true feelings.

  “Please, don’t be like that. You are my only brother and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Edward opened his mouth to answer but said nothing.

  “What if the king doesn’t approve?” he asked after a short pause.

  Elizabeth had never thought of that. If the king didn’t approve their marriage, her life would be ruined.

  “I hope for the best,” she said with a forced smile.

  Edward nodded and a reassuring smile crossed his face.

  “I hope everything goes well. But if he hurts you, he won’t live long. You have my word.”

  Elizabeth smiled.

  “He is waiting for you,” Edward pointed at William.

  Indeed, William was making circles around James, his eyes fixed on Elizabeth.

  “I have to go,” she said and turned away.

  “Elizabeth!” she turned around and saw Edward’s worried face. “If you ever need my help – just ask. I will always help you.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered and spurred her horse back to the castle.

  William and James caught up with her and all three of them entered the gates. When they were in the safety of the castle walls, William dismounted and helped Elizabeth to the ground.

  “What did he tell you?” he asked, when Elizabeth slipped from the horse into his arms.

  The receding fear made her tremble. Elizabeth looked up into William’s eyes.

  “He asked me to leave with him. His army is stronger than yours and he could win me back.”

  “But you did not agree, did you?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “No. I want to stay here and become your wife.”

  William smiled and gave a sigh of relief.

  Elizabeth look down at her hands. “But what if the king does not agree?”

  William lifted her chin with his hand and looked into her eyes. “You are my woman. You belong to me. No force can separate us. If the king does not agree, I will still marry you.”

  Tears of relief ran down her cheeks. William wiped them away and covered her lips in a hot kiss.

  “They are leaving, sir,” a voice sounded over the wall.

  “Good,” William whispered, breaking the kiss. He took her arm in his. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  William did not answer but pulled Elizabeth to follow him. They crossed the inner yard, then the great hall, and soon entered William’s chamber.

  He locked the door behind them and pulled Elizabeth into his arms. He covered her lips with a deep kiss, his hands pulling her clothes off her shoulders.

  The strength of his desire scared her, but her desire was just as strong. When her chemise fell to her feet, she entwined her arms around his neck and leaned closer to him.

  William took her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Once there, he almost threw her to the centre and undressed as quickly as he could.

  Elizabeth lay on the bed, all her modesty gone. She watched him. Every inch of his body. He took off his hose and codpiece and her breath s
topped when she saw his cock. It was bigger than she had imagined.

  Quickly, William joined her in the bed and took his place on top of her. Instinctively, Elizabeth brought her legs apart, and moaned with pleasure when his hard manhood touched her centre

  “I’m sorry, lass,” he whispered in a hoarse voice, “I cannot wait long. Not now.”

  Before she understood what she was doing, she grabbed his buttocks and pushed them ahead, inviting him into her. William did not need another invitation. He thrust into her with all the passion he felt. Elizabeth moaned and arched her back, her lips searching for his.

  “I am all yours,” she whispered into the kiss.

  His thrusts became stronger and stronger, bringing them to the peak of pleasure. Elizabeth moved instinctively, passion taking away her ability to think. There was only the two of them. Nothing else mattered.

  When she thought she could not bear it any longer, her release broke over her. Instantly, William gave a final thrust and cried out when his release came.

  Breathless, Elizabeth embraced him and kissed his forehead. “I am all yours, William,” she whispered. “All yours.”

  ***

  Elizabeth was still sleeping, when a soft knock at the door woke her up and Hildred entered the chamber.

  “What is it?” Elizabeth asked, still half asleep.

  “My lady,” Hildred made a curtsey and walked to the chest where Elizabeth kept her clothes. “Sir William wishes to see you.”

  Lazily, Elizabeth sat up, covering her naked body with a blanket. Although it was still summer, mornings were getting colder, a reminder of the coming fall.

  “Is it urgent?” she got up and put on her chemise.

  “We are expecting some guests. They will be here soon.”

  “Guests? Do you know who they are?”

  “No, my lady.”

  The news surprised Elizabeth. After Edward’s visit several weeks ago no one had visited them. Intrigued, Elizabeth asked for her blue dress.

  “My lord wishes you to wear the best dress you have,” Hildred said softly.

  “The best dress, you say?”

  Elizabeth was confused. Recently all her new dresses had been delivered to her and each of them seemed to be a piece of art. She loved every one.