by Diane Darcy
She took a deep breath, gave the king her best smile, and though she hadn’t acted since high school, prepared for the greatest performance of her life.
She had to go with her strengths. If there was one thing she knew how to do, and do well, it was flatter the talent. In this case, the king.
“Oh, Your Majesty, though you don’t know me, you have no idea the role you’ve played in my life.”
She put a dramatic hand to her heart as she wasn’t against emphasizing her assets, either.
“When I was shoved from the edge of the crowd, and nearly crushed by a huge destrier, only Lord Wolfsbane’s skill with a horse, saved my life.”
She looked left, right, making sure she had everyone’s attention. “Though I do believe it was the fact that he was performing in front of his king, that gave him added strength.”
The queen smiled and took her husband’s hand, as he nodded at Cara in acknowledgment. “Just so.”
“Sire, when you gave Lord Wolfsbane permission to take me with him so that he could question me, I was scared, confused, and uncertain.”
She looked at the king again, and smiled, wobbly. “I should have trusted you. Obviously, you know your men better than anyone, and knew that Lord Wolfsbane would treat me like a lady, even saving me from myself when I ran away.”
“What happened?” The king asked, though she figured he already knew.
“I must admit I ran from Lord Wolfsbane, through the trees, looking behind me, fearing recapture and imprisonment. The bushes and trees became so dense in places, that I had to break through, until I was convinced there was no way I’d ever be found.”
“But you were?”
Cara nodded, determined to make the next part as exciting as possible.
“I was, or rather, I found three men, and thought to beg their mercy, and did just that, only,” she gasped in a breath, and held her hand to her throat.
“Only they were knaves!” King Henry laughed, inviting those around him to do the same, as he told the next part of the story. “They were blackguards and they attacked you, and Lord Wolfsbane saved you from a fate worse than death!”
“Yes, yes, he did,” Cara said, making her voice breathless, as any good damsel in distress would. “He came into the clearing, big, bold, brash, swinging his sword.”
The king’s lips twitched. “They should have known better than to attack a gentle lady.”
“They really should have, because in the next moment, Wolfsbane lopped off one man’s head as if it was the easiest thing in the world to do.”
The king laughed, and so did the others gathered around. “I’d wager that was a sight to see.”
Always give them more of what they want.
“You can’t imagine. The head literally rolled across the clearing, like a ball gone wild. I’ve never seen so much blood in my entire life, spurting from his body, a fountain of red, even as he fell over backward, his decapitated body hitting the ground hard. His head landed upright, eyes staring in horror, as if he’d seen the devil himself dragging him straight down to the depths.”
In all honesty, Cara hadn’t gotten that good of a look, but it made for good cinema, so why not?
After a shocked silence, the men all laughed again, as the women pressed handkerchiefs to their mouths, whispering to each other.
One woman sank into a faint, making the men laugh all the more as one of the other women quickly caught her, and held her on her lap.
“What next? I have to say, my dear, I am left wondering where you were while all of this occurred. One man down, two left. Perhaps you were on the ground with thy skirts about your head?”
The crowd seemed to press closer, chuckles and whispers growing like wildfire in the group.
Blinking, Cara put on her most angelic expression.
She saw no reason to inform this group that she had been on the ground, or else they’d twist her words into nasty gossip.
She pressed her hands in front of her as if in prayer, and said, “Why, no, Your Majesty. Though if Lord Wolfsbane hadn’t shown up at exactly the same time I came out of the brush, I’ve no doubt my virtue, and honor, would have been betrayed in the foulest manner imaginable.”
That seemed to please the king as he laughed again, and then motioned with his hand for her to continue. “What more, what more?”
“When the dead man’s friends saw what Lord Wolfsbane had done, they screamed, piercing war cries, sounds I’d never heard in my entire life, and never hope to hear again. The second man attacked Wolfsbane, slicing with his knife so fast I thought Lord Wolfsbane would be unable to withstand the attack.”
She paused and drew in a deep breath, pressing both fists against her chest as she glanced around the room. “Lord Wolfsbane backed away, and I thought that perhaps it was because there were two of them against him, but I soon realized it was to draw the fight away from me, to keep me safe.”
A woman in the audience made approving noises.
“And the knaves? What did they do next?”
Satisfaction filled her. The king was caught up in the story, as was everyone else. “At that point, it happened so fast, it was like a blur, like watching children fight against the strongest, most skilled warrior in the world.”
She looked inward at this point, remembering, and this time when she put her hand to her heart, it was to calm the fluttering. “One man,” she gasped for breath. “One was stabbed through the stomach, and when Lord Wolfsbane drew the sword out, it made the most horrible squelching noise.”
Wide-eyed she glanced at the rapt faces surrounding her. “He turned in a circle, and sliced the throat of the other man. Blood was everywhere, flying through the air, landing in the grass, trees, and bushes.”
She focused on the king again. “Just like the first knave, they were dead before they hit the ground.”
With cries of distress, two more women sank to the ground, only to be caught close by the ladies surrounding them.
Now was the time to convince the king to release Wallace.
She gazed into the monarch’s eyes and pulled in another deep breath. She pressed her fingers to her collarbone as she said, “Never, ever, in my entire life,” her voice gave a little tremble, “have I seen anything so heroic. He held out his hand and before I could even think, I was running to him, to safety, and jumping into his arms.”
Tears filled her eyes. “He swept me up as if I weighed nothing, held me while I cried, and somehow mounted his horse without setting me down. His strength was unbelievable.”
Everyone in the room was silent.
“Your Majesty,” she gave a slight curtsy. “Your sending me with Wallace that day, was the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Even she could hear the truth in her voice. “I had no idea that a man could be so steadfast, honorable, and powerful. As you know, since I’ve been here, I’ve lost my necklace, which was to be my dowry, but I would lose it a hundred times over and still consider myself blessed, if I could keep Wallace.”
The women in the audience were wide-eyed, teary-eyed, and touched.
The king glanced around at his people, then drew in a breath, and held out his hand.
Cara was quick to grasp it, as she knelt on the ground before him.
“My dear, you have swayed my resolve.” He glanced around at the audience, and then to his queen, before stating, “I cannot let such heroism go unrewarded. We have had a beautiful wedding this day, been well entertained with music and dancing, and now by Lady Cara’s story.”
He glanced around. “Think you we could be entertained even more?”
He smiled at the enthusiastic agreement.
Cara, clutching his hand, waited breathlessly for his next words.
“Let us get Wolfsbane out of the dungeon, and reinstate the joust between Wolfsbane and Dinsdale once more.”
The crowd roared its approval, and Cara burst into tears.
The king pulled his hand away and awkwardly patted her on
the head, even as the queen reached forward to give her shoulder a squeeze.
“Thank you! Thank you, Your Majesty, you are everything that is good, and kind, and I know with my entire heart, that your men pull their strength from you.”
“Aye, that is truth.”
“But do not forget, that the stakes are the same. If Wolfsbane wins, I will award him his lands and title once again, and you may consider them your dowry. We will let God decide on the battlefield.”
Cara nodded her acknowledgment and as fierce joy raced through her, she caught Amelia’s equally gratified expression.
“This is an outrage,” Lord Dinsdale came forward. “Everything has already been decided, finished, taxed!” He growled in an undertone.
The king shot him an amused look. “I shall decide what has and has not been finished. I am sure many in the court have wondered if perhaps Wolfsbane was cheated. I am sure your family wishes the chance to prove, once and for all, that is not the truth of it. No doubt Lady Amelia would wish to join her new family with the resolve that it is God’s will, as well as her King’s.”
The king waved a hand. “Have Wolfsbane brought forward!”
Cara quickly curtsied, “Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you.” She shot the queen a grateful look, and the queen nodded, seeming pleased.
Cara backed her way out of the crowd and quickly found Lady Helena.
“Make sure Wallace cleans himself up quickly.”
“What?”
“It’s like a scene in a movie. We need him to look like a hero, and not a villain.”
Without a word, Lady Helena rushed after the guards.
Chapter 33
The doors to the dungeon yanked open and each one slammed to the ground as it fell.
Wallace had already been fed, though he hadn’t touched the meal and he sprang to his feet, expecting Lord Dinsdale to come down the stairs to see if he’d eaten poisoned food and died.
The man probably wished to reassure himself before sounding the alarm.
But it was not Dinsdale coming down the stairs, but first one guard stomped down the steep staircase, and then another.
Wallace stood by the bars, wondering what the men wanted, and if it boded ill for him.
The guards halted outside his cell. “Lord Wolfsbane, you’ve been summoned by the king.” The guard’s voice was calm, slightly deferential.
Was this a trap? He could not see the men’s expressions, but one unlocked the door and when it swung wide, Wallace half-expected an attack of some kind, but the guard stepped back and gestured him forward.
The second guard offered his weapons, both sword and dagger. Surely, a trap?
He cautiously came out of his cell, took his weapons, felt better with them in hand, and moved a few more steps toward the stairs.
The expected blows didn’t come and he started up the stairs, every fiber of his being anticipating a trick. He pounded upward as if the dogs of hell were at his back, ready to rend and tear.
When he came out in the fresh air and twilight, a familiar voice called out, “Wallace?”
His mother.
The tension left him. She would not be there if this were a trick. “What has happened?”
“Cara has spoken to the king, and he’s agreed to another joust between you and Dinsdale for our lands and property.”
The excitement coming off her was palpable.
Shock held him in place as he wondered, was he still in his cell, asleep and dreaming?
Cara had spoken for him?
Disbelief warred with pleasure. As he’d languished in the dungeon, she’d taken his part before the king? If that was true, she must have defended him in front of everyone. The entire court.
He drew in a breath. That she would do such a thing, jeopardize her own position, would never have occurred to him.
Did she love him?
A deep rush of satisfaction flooded him.
If he’d captured her heart, there was naught he could not accomplish.
Both guards were at his back, and one made an impatient sound in his throat.
Lady Helena glanced at them, and grasped Wallace’s hand in hers and gave him a tug. “Quickly, to the kitchen. We need to get you cleaned up and in front of the king as swiftly as possible.”
“Why do I need to be cleaned up? Should I not go directly before the king?”
“He should,” one of the guards said.
“Cara insists, and she seems to know what she’s about.”
In the kitchen, Lady Helena demanded a cloth and some of the water warming over the fire.
Lady Helena bid him quickly wash his hands, face, and then used another dry cloth to brush at his clothing.
She finger-combed his hair and when she was satisfied, led him to the kitchen toward the great hall.
She stopped in the hallway and her hand shot out. She tugged him down and whispered in his ear, “Lady Cara has named you a hero. Shoulders back, voice steady, and do us all proud.”
As confused as he was, he gave his mother a quick nod and strode around the corner and into the room.
Whatever he’d been expecting, it was not this. Lords and ladies still in their wedding finery, chatting, laughing, all of it ceasing abruptly as every eye in the room turned toward him.
A quick glance showed Lady Cara stood near the queen. He gave her a quick once over, and moved forward, understanding his mother’s admonishment to look strong and steady in the face of ... whatever this was.
The crowd parted as he made his way to the king and knelt on one knee, bowing his head. “My liege.”
“And here he is, warrior, savior, and dare I say, gentleman?”
At his words, there was laughter, and Wallace didn’t understand any of it.
Still, he’d take the praise over the king’s condemnation.
“Rise and stand tall, Lord Wolfsbane, I’m sure your betrothed wants to assure herself of your good health after your separation.”
He did as the king commanded, meeting the king’s sharp gaze for a moment, before it slipped to Cara once again.
“See you, Lady Cara, your betrothed, and he is none the worse for wear. I am sure he will soon feel up to any duties you require of him.”
A few of the men snickered.
Cara tipped her head and smiled. “Duties, indeed, Your Majesty. What can you be suggesting?”
The king, and everyone else laughed, and Wallace tried not to show his confusion.
As glad as he was to have Cara acknowledged as his, his wariness didn’t abate. If there was to be another joust, he wanted it stated plainly.
“Sir Rupert, come forward.”
Sir Rupert left Amelia’s side, a fact not lost upon Wallace. When the man died upon the morrow, his sister would suffer the man’s presence no longer.
When Sir Rupert stopped beside Wallace, their gazes clashed and Wallace drew in a deep breath, his heart picking up speed, his body readying for a fight.
Sir Rupert, blue-eyed, looked naught like his father, and was a few inches shorter than Wallace. His bulk was made up of muscle, though Wallace could but wish the man had run to fat.
Wallace’s lips curled into a sneer and his fists clenched and unclenched as he stared down the man who would be dead and buried soon enough.
“Gentlemen, there are ladies present,” King Henry admonished. “Do not forget yourselves.”
Sir Rupert thrust his chin at Wallace before facing the king, and Wallace’s lips curled when the other man looked away first.
When everyone quieted, the king smiled at the two of them. “It has been decided, by me, that the joust that was interrupted at Stirling will take place on the morrow, directly after we have broken our fast. All properties shall be restored to Wolfsbane should he win. Naught if he loses.”
At the words, a slight shock, equal parts relief and disbelief raced through him. Though his mother had informed him of the king’s change of heart, he’d not quite believed it.
“Dinsda
le, Wolfsbane, are we agreed to the terms?”
“Your Majesty.”
Wallace hadn’t realized how close Lord Dinsdale was until he came forward to stand on the other side of his son.
Hatred and dark satisfaction swirled within him, even as the other man bowed to the king.
He had every intention of killing Sir Rupert this time, and depriving Dinsdale of his heir. Finally, it would be a life for a life. “Agreed, Your Majesty.”
“I want things kept civil,” the king continued. “We want to be sure we made the right decision in seizing the Wolfsbane property.”
The king looked stern. “Understand me, this is a wedding. I would prefer no one is slaughtered upon the morrow. I do not wish for tears staining the festivities.”
The king smiled at his wife. “I do so hate to disappoint the ladies.”
Wallace’s mouth opened and closed, instinct telling him he’d best not complain. Apparently, the king had no problem disappointing the men. Still, when blood ran hot, many an injury happened upon a jousting field, some fatal, and the king would likely not hold such a death against him.
The king suddenly clapped his hands. “And now, for more entertainment, I think ’tis time to take the newlyweds upstairs!”
The crowd signaled its approval by gathering up the bride and groom and escorting them out of the great hall as the king led the way.
Eyes narrowed, Wallace watched Lord Dinsdale stare after Lady Helena as she took Amelia away.
He finally slunk after the rest of the crowd, but it mattered not. His comeuppance would come on the morrow.
Lady Cara slipped her hand into his, and soon enough, they only shared the great hall with the servants.
“Thank you, my lady,” his words were heartfelt, sincere.
She wrapped her arm around his. “You can thank me by surviving tomorrow.”
He gave her a slight smile. “If you promise not to run between us, I can assure you, that I will win.”
“You’d better,” she said, and tugged him forward.
He moved, willing to let her lead, still unable to believe he was out, free, and he’d get his second chance.
He was not sure how Cara managed it, and it seemed a miracle somehow, and gratitude, and mayhap love, welled within him.