The Dragon Lord (3 page)

This hot-tempered girl was definitely not for him, Dominic decided. He glanced at the more demure sister, his look speculative. She stood with her eyes downcast and her hands folded in front of her; her lips moved in silent prayer. She appeared to be opposite in nature to the spitfire who dared challenge him with blazing eyes and raging temper. If he could not have Veronica, he would take the shy sister and find a husband for the other. A woman with a sharp tongue, bad temper and defiant nature would try his patience.

“I had naught to do with Lord Edwyn’s death,” Dominic said firmly.“I am but relaying the king’s message.”

“Our thanks, Lord Dragon,” Nelda murmured. “Our steward will direct you to a chamber, where you may rest before returning to London. If you will excuse me, I wish to mourn my lord in private.”

“There is more, my lady,” Dominic said. He removed the rolled parchment from his pouch and handed it to her. “Perhaps this will explain your situation more clearly.”

Lady Nelda read the document, her face turning paler by the minute.This cannot be true, my lord,” she gasped when she’d reached the end.

“What is it, Mama?” the outspoken twin asked.

“The king has given Ayrdale to Lord Dragon. Every hectare of land, the keep and its vassals are his by royal decree.”

The king cannot do that!” the girl exclaimed. “Papa did not deserve to die, and we do not deserve to be turned out of our home.” She stomped her foot. “Oh, I wish I had never let Lord Dragon inside the keep. Where is my sword?”

There’s more,” Lady Nelda whispered. “One of us must wed Lord Dragon.”

The document dropped from her hands, and she groped for the chair behind her. Her daughter picked up the scroll, read it through once and tossed it into the hearth.

“That is what we think of Lackland’s orders,” she sneered. She turned to the captain of the guard. “Sir Eric, see that Lord Dragon and his guardsmen are promptly escorted from Ayrdale and sent on their way.”

“You will do no such thing, Captain,” Dominic said in an authoritative voice. “The castle guards are mine to command. If you have heard of me, you are aware of my reputation as a crusader and warrior. I had naught to do with your lord’s death; I am but following the king’s orders regarding Ayrdale. If you and Fair-child’s personal guardsmen do not wish to serve me, then you may leave immediately. But I sincerely hope you will remain and help protect Dragonwyck.”

“Dragonwyck!” the outspoken twin exclaimed.

“Aye. Tis the name I’ve chosen for my demesne,” Dominic said, ignoring the girl’s gasp of outrage.

Sir Eric looked askance at Lady Nelda. He appeared to be torn between loyalty to his dead lord and the desire to serve the new one. “I am sworn to protect Lady Nelda and her daughters.”

The choice is yours to make,” Lady Nelda said faintly. “May I leave now, Lord Dragon?”

“Not yet,” Dominic said in a tone that stopped her in her tracks.“You may leave after I choose my bride.” He turned to Sir Eric. “Fetch the priest.”

Lady Nelda looked deflated, and the meek sister began to weep silent tears.

“I would know your daughters’ names, madam,” Dominic said. He had already decided not to marry the grieving widow. He wanted passion, not tears, in his marriage bed.

*     *     *

Rose stared at Dominic in horror. The thought that one of them would be forced to marry the Dragon Lord was incomprehensible—nay, absurd. How could anyone expect her mother to take a new husband so soon after her beloved lord’s death? And everyone in the keep knew that her sister was meant for a religious life. Father had promised that Starla could enter the convent as soon as he returned from London. That left… Rose, and she knew that no man in his right mind would choose a sharp-tongued bride.

But Rose could not help being the way she was. Though they were identical twins, Rose and Starla were as different as night and day. Sweet, shy Starla had her heart set on entering a convent and becoming a nun. It was all she had ever aspired to. Rose, the firstborn by five minutes, had always known she would be the one to marry and rule Ayrdale once her father was gone, but she hadn’t expected the day to arrive so soon.

Rose looked into her sister’s stricken eyes and quickly decided she would make whatever sacrifice was necessary to save Starla from the Dragon Lord. Her quick mind had already hit upon a plan. Placing an arm around Starla’s quaking shoulders, Rose looked Dragon boldly in the eyes and said in a quiet voice,“I am Starla. Rose is my twin.”

Starla started to protest, but Rose gave her such a stem look, she quickly clamped her mouth shut. Lady Nelda merely stared at Rose as if she had lost her mind. None beyond their immediate circle had heard her words.

Dragon seemed not to notice their agitation as he raised Starla’s chin and stared into her frightened eyes. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he turned toward those gathered around him and said in a loud voice, “I will wed Rose.” Every villein, guardsman, squire and freeman in the great hall stared at Dominic with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

“People of Dragonwyck, heed me,” Dominic said in a loud voice as the throng of vassals inched closer. “I am Dominic Dragon, your new lord, and Dragonwyck is the name I have chosen for my demesne. You are all invited to witness the marriage of your new lord to Lady Rose.”

A tall man of middle years stepped forward. “I am Sir Braden, Ayrdale’s steward. May I ask what happened to Lord Edwyn of Ayrdale?”

“I will tell you.” It was the warrior maiden, the one named Starla, who answered as she shoved past Dominic. “King John ordered my father killed and gave Ayrdale to Lord Dragon as payment for the deed.”

Dominic’s temper hung by a single thread. Instinct told him the acid-tongued twin was going to be trouble, and he was glad he had chosen her sister. “Not true. I had no hand in Edwyn of Ayrdale’s death,” Dominic claimed.“From what I have heard, Edwyn plotted treason. I was given Ayrdale because I am capable of protecting England’s border against Scottish invaders.”

“So the Dragon says,” the girl spat.

Dominic had taken all he could of the viper’s jibes. A harsh reprimand was on the tip of his tongue, but he withheld it when he saw a brown-robed man with tonsured hair and a round belly running behind Sir Eric, holding up his robes to keep from tripping on them.

“Did I hear aright,my lord?” the priest asked when he reached Dominic. “Is Lord Edwyn truly dead? Did you bring his body home for burial?”

Dominic glanced at Lady Nelda and cursed King John beneath his breath when he saw a glimmer of hope in her misty eyes—a hope he couldn’t fulfill.

“Nay, Father, I was not charged with that duty. I believe Lord Fairchild was buried in London.”

“In unconsecrated ground?” the priest asked in a shocked voice.

” Tis all right, Father Nyle,“Lady Nelda said. “Our Lord in heaven knows my husband was a good man. We do not need his body to mourn him.”

“We must go to the chapel immediately and offer a Mass for his soul,” Father Nyle said. He turned to leave.

“Nay, Father,“Dominic said, staying the priest. “You will perform a wedding within the hour.”

“A wedding?” The priest bristled indignantly. ” Tis not proper. We are in deep mourning.”

“I fear I must insist,” Dominic said. “I intend to wed Lady Rose within the hour.”

Rose shuddered involuntarily at his words, and her mother stirred herself to object. “I must protest, my lord. Tis far too soon to think about a wedding.”

“Protest away, my lady, but ‘twill do you no good. I am but following the king’s orders. Expediency is important for reasons that should be clear to everyone. Dragonwyck has been too long without a master, and dire consequences could result should an enemy of England try to claim the land for himself through marriage to one of you ladies.”

Father Nyle sputtered to himself but offered no further protest. “Very well, my lord.If you insist, I will perform the ceremony. The least I can do is see to the legal aspects of the union. Lord Edwyn would have wanted that for his daughter. Furthermore, I feel an obligation to protect our dead lord’s widow and other daughter. They deserve the security of a home, my lord.”

“I will hie myself to the convent,” Lady Nelda said, “and my daughter shall come with me.”

“Tis your decision, but know that I will not turn you out of your home if you wish to remain,” Dominic said.

“Aye, ‘tis a perfect solution,” Rose said. She turned to her twin and said in an aside,“I will ask permission so Mother can leave for the convent immediately following the ceremony. Just remember to call me Starla and refer to yourself as Rose.”

“What are you up to, Rose?” Starla whispered.

“Saving your skin. Unless you wish to wed Dragon.”

Starla blanched. “Nay, oh, nay. I could not bear it. He is so… fierce. Are you sure you know what you are doing?”

Trust me. Just do as I say before Dragon becomes suspicious.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Dominic asked harshly.

“May I ask a boon of you, my lord?” Rose asked.

“A boon?” Dominic asked in a suspicious tone. “Name it, but I can promise naught.”

“Allow my mother to leave for the convent with my sister immediately following the ceremony.”

“Is that your wish?” Dominic asked Nelda.

Rose sent a warning glance at Nelda, hoping her mother would understand and lend support. Lady Nelda must have suspected Rose had a plan in mind, for she nodded affirmatively.

” Tis done, then,” Dominic said. “Guardsmen of your own choosing will escort you to the convent immediately following the wedding. You may take your personal belongings, but everything else of value belongs to me and is not to leave the keep. Understood?”

All three women nodded in unison.

“Very well, then. You may repair to the solar to make Lady Rose ready for her wedding.”

Grasping Starla’s hand, Rose all but pulled her up the stairs to the solar. Lady Nelda hurried after them. Once the door had closed behind them, Rose all but collapsed against it. Then, stiffening her spine, she pushed herself away with the courage and determination that defined her character.

“Come,” she said, walking over to the trunk and throwing back the lid. “There is little time to prepare.”

“You will explain first,” Lady Nelda demanded. “What is your purpose in telling Lord Dragon that you are Starla?”

Rose removed one of her mother’s under-gowns from the trunk and placed it on the bed. “Think you Lord Dragon would have a wife with a sharp tongue? Nay. Men want a meek wife they can browbeat into submission. I am not that kind of woman, and he recognized it immediately. I sensed he would choose Starla, and we all know that wedding her to Dragon would destroy her.”

“I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for me,” Starla argued. “You have protected me all my life.‘Tis time I stood up for myself.”

Rose sent her saintly sister a tender smile.” Tis not in you to be forceful, sister. You have always known you wanted to dedicate yourself to God. Even Papa recognized your piety and gave in to your desire to be cloistered. Now you will get your wish.”

“What about Lord Dragon?” Lady Nelda questioned. Think you he won’t know the difference?”

“Not if Starla plays her part,“Rose explained.“She knows me as no one else does, not even you, Mama. If Starla puts her mind to it, she will have no trouble pretending to be me until after I wed Dragon. And I will pretend to be the meek sister. He publicly announced his intention to marry Rose and so he shall.”

” Tis a clever ploy,” Lady Nelda said thoughtfully,“but I fear for you.Rose. At some point Lord Dragon will know he has been duped. Then what will become of you? Consider this, daughter,” Nelda said earnestly. “Do you know what wedding a virile man like Lord Dragon means?”

Rose had her suspicions but no specific knowledge about what happened in the marriage bed.

“You can tell me later, Mama. Right now we have work to do. Starla, do you remember where Papa hid the cache of gold he kept for emergencies?”

Starla glanced at the hearth, her brow wrinkled in thought.” ‘Tis so long since he showed us, but I think I remember.”

“Good, get it. Mama, you get your jewelry while I rip out the hems of your gowns.”

“Lord Dragon said we are to take naught of value with us to the convent,” Nelda reminded her.

Rose sent her an exasperated look. “Devil take Dragon. I will not have you go as paupers to the convent. Mama, fetch your sewing basket.”

The gold is still here!” Starla crowed as she removed a brick from the front of the hearth and lifted out a bulging cloth sack from the cramped space behind it. She carried the sack to the bed and spilled a pile of gold coins onto the counterpane.

They worked quickly, sewing the coins into the hem of Nelda’s under-gown, spacing them so they would not jingle together when she walked. They did the same with the jewelry.

“There are sufficient coins here to pay your way,” Rose said when they finished. “Starla, go to your room and pack your personal belongings while I help Mama. Dress warmly, mind you.”

“What about you, Rose?” Lady Nelda asked as she placed some personal belongings in a small trunk. “Will you be all right? I said naught in front of Starla, but I fear you are placing yourself in danger. Lord Dragon has the look of a man not easily placated. You will bear the brunt of his anger alone when he realizes you tricked him.”

“I will survive, Mama,” Rose said with more assurance than she felt. “He will not hurt me lest he earn the wrath of our guardsmen. He has need of their loyalty.”

“He will indeed need our guardsmen,” Nelda agreed sagely. “If I know my brother Murdoc, and I believe I do, he will try to claim Ayrdale once he learns of your father’s death. I would not put it past him to try to force you, your father’s heir, to wed one of his kinsmen.”

Rose grimaced. Even if Dragon had not arrived, she would not wed a kinsman of Uncle Murdoc’s. She had seen them all, and none pleased her.

Starla arrived in the solar a few minutes later carrying a small casket containing her personal belongings. “I packed but a few things, for I intend to become a postulate and wear the robes they provide forme.”