The Iron Knight (The De Russe Legacy Book 3) (6 page)

“Ah,” he said, trying to cover for the fact that he was quite blatantly staring at her. “A loyal traveling companion, I see. But it is unfortunate that your journey came to such a violent pause.”

Sophina’s smile faded. “It could have been much worse,” she said. “We have our lives and that is truly all that matters. However, I am concerned that we have been abandoned. I do hope du Ponte’s soldiers return for us soon.”

Lucien looked around; there wasn’t any hint of soldiers returning. He couldn’t see or hear anything and he certainly couldn’t leave the women alone in this wilderness. He realized that it gave him great pleasure to ponder the possibility of them returning with him to Spelthorne because he wasn’t finished basking in Lady Sophina’s beauty, not in the least. She wasn’t some silly, giddy girl; she was a mature woman with a young lady for a daughter. Even through the panic of the carriage crash, other than punching him in the nose at the onset, the woman conveyed maturity and a calmness that only came with age. She had grown up, she had lived, and she had experienced.

He liked that.

“It is my sense that the soldiers may have run off to chase down the bandits,” he said. “They may have returned to Gillingham altogether. In any case, I cannot leave you and your daughter here, alone. You will return with me to my home where I will send word to du Ponte on your whereabouts.”

Some anxiety returned to Sophina’s expression. “I am greatly appreciative of your concern, my lord,” she said hesitantly. “I insist that we would be perfectly fine at an inn in town.”

“Do you have coinage?”

Embarrassed, she averted her gaze. “I do,” she replied, eyeing the sunken carriage. “But it is at the bottom of the lake along with all of our possessions.”

Lucien turned to look at the carriage in the lake; only a corner of it and part of a wheel were visible. “Then we shall return to Spelthorne Castle and I will send my men back here to retrieve your possessions,” he said decisively. “Even if I fished them out, I have no way of carrying them back. They are safer underwater right now than they would be sitting on the bank for anyone to take.”

Sophina was reluctant to agree. “I suppose you are correct,” she said, watching him as he turned and whistled for his fat horse. The horse was off foraging in the thick grass several feet away. But it was clear that something more was bothering her and she summoned her courage to speak of it. “My lord, I pray you do not think me foolish or ungrateful, but we do not know you. It would not be prudent to return to the home of a man I am not acquainted with. I am sure du Ponte’s men will return for us shortly so, with your permission, we will wait here.”

She was being cautious, as she very well should be, but Lucien didn’t have time for such nonsense. She was sopping wet, as was her daughter, as was he. They all needed to get before a warm fire and put on dry clothing. Moreover, he wasn’t about to leave her and he certainly didn’t want to leave her for du Ponte’s men to take her on to Gillingham. That thieving wretch wasn’t nearly worthy of a woman like this.

Although Lucien didn’t know much about her, he didn’t really have to – he could simply tell what kind of character she had by looking her in the eye. Her manner, her behavior, and their conversation had confirmed his observations – she was a woman of integrity and strength. He had a gift to know such things, an intuition, and it had never steered him wrong.

He didn’t want to let her get away.

“You said you’ve never met du Ponte, yet you were clearly heading for his home,” he pointed out. “You, at least, have met me. If I have not introduced myself correctly, then allow me to do so. I am Sir Lucien de Russe, eldest son of Sir Aramis de Russe, Duke of Exeter. I am, by birth, Baron Exminster, but I am also Lord Tytherington, Sheriff of Cranborne, a title bestowed upon me by King Henry, and the seat of my fiefdom is at Spelthorne Castle. I am the pinnacle of law and order in this area and if anyone is able to protect you and your daughter ably, my lady, that would be me. Now, are you still reluctant to return home with me?”

By this time, Sophina was looking at him with some awe. “Nay, my lord,” she said quickly. “You… you are really the sheriff?”

“I would not lie to you.”

She recovered quickly. “I did not mean to imply that,” she said. “It is simply that it was quite fortuitous for you to be here when we needed help.”

“Indeed, it was.”

“I am sorry we have been so much trouble.”

Lucien was pleased that his litany of titles had achieved the desired effect. She was impressed, as he meant she should be. She was also willing to comply with his suggestions and he was thrilled. He reached out to grasp the horse as it came near.

“You have been no trouble at all, my lady,” he said. “You and your daughter may ride the horse and I will walk. It is not a long journey back to Spelthorne.”

There wasn’t much more to say at that point and Sophina pulled her daughter to her feet, watching protectively as Lucien lifted the girl onto the horse. Then he turned and put his hands around Sophina’s small waist, lifting the woman onto the saddle behind her daughter. It had been so long since he felt a woman in his hands that he thought he might have lingered on her a little longer than he should have, quickly removing his hands when he realized that he should have long taken his hands from her. But there was something about the feel of her against his flesh, that branding feeling again, that he found both fascinating and magnetic.

Not only did he like the look of her, he liked the feel of her as well.

The long walk back to Spelthorne turned out to be one of the more pleasant experiences of his life.

CHAPTER TWO

Spelthorne Castle

“L
ook at all
of this, Juno,” a man with a graying beard and wildly bushy eyebrows spoke. “All of this shall be yours when you marry de Russe. Does this not please you?”

Lady Juno de Saix had just emerged from her fine carriage into the dusty bailey of Spelthorne Castle. She was dressed in her finest, silk with gold threading, jewelry that had belonged to her mother, and her cousin had dressed her hair in an elaborate style that displayed the thickness, color, and length.

It was her crowning glory, this head of luscious brunette hair that she cultivated, and she was very proud of it. It had brought her many a compliment, so she smoothed at her hair, carefully, as her cousin climbed out of the cab behind her. Her cousin began brushing furiously at the red silk that already had dust on it. Summer breezes kicking up in the bailey already had a fine coating of dirt around the bottom, but the cousin would have none of it as Juno tried to push her away. She didn’t want to be beaten like rug in front of everyone.

“It… it
is
big,” Juno said hesitantly, looking up at the mighty keep and the complex of buildings that clustered around it, including a great hall. “It is a very impressive.”

Wardell de Saix, Earl of Holderness, pulled off an expensive glove and scratched at his forehead. As a man who valued political connections above all, he was thrilled at the prospect of being related to Lucien de Russe by marriage. De Russe was old for his daughter, that was true, but Juno had seen seventeen summers and she was wise beyond her years. She was also lovely, graceful, accomplished in the areas of painting, singing, literature, and religions practices, and she could speak three languages. Therefore, she made a fine match for a man who held more titles than most and would inherit the dukedom of Exeter upon the death of his father. It would be a great political marriage.

Even so, Holderness knew that his daughter was oppositional to the marriage. Juno had been subdued since they’d left their home but he wouldn’t resort to discussing her issues with her. He knew what they were and they were of no concern to him. Holderness had plans for his daughter regardless of her personal feelings on the matter. With his own son in line to inherit the Holderness earldom, it was Holderness’ intention that his daughter should marry very well also. The dukedom of Exeter was marrying exceptionally well, in his opinion, and he intended to do all he could to ensure the marriage happened. Moreover, he had to get her married off and married quickly.

There was a little matter of a secret she was hiding.

“It has been long time since I have been here,” a big, dark-haired knight walked up beside Holderness, a warrior bearing the red and green colors of Holderness. Sir Laurent de Saix looked over his surroundings as he loosened his heavy leather gauntlets. “The last time I was here was sometime around the Battle of Shrewsbury, I believe. De Russe was gathering troops for a northward march at the time.”

Holderness wasn’t particularly interested in his son’s recollections. His head bobbed around like he was looking for someone. “Where
is
de Russe?” he demanded. “I would expect the man to greet us immediately.”

Laurent looked around as well. “He will come,” he said. “In spite of what you think, Papa, the man isn’t waiting around to throw himself at your feet the moment you enter the gates. Lucien de Russe is a very busy man.”

Holderness looked at his son with outrage. “Too busy to greet his future wife?” he said hotly. “Deplorable behavior. He should be right here, right in front of us, to….”

“Greetings, my lords, my lady.” A big, handsome blonde knight interrupted. Having approached from the direction of the hall, he bowed politely to the group. “I am Sir Colton de Royans. I have been asked to see to your comfort, as Lord Tytherington is indisposed at the moment. He begs your forgiveness but he shall join you as soon as his duties permit.”

Holderness couldn’t decide if that smooth explanation placated him or not. “Where is Sir Lucien?” he asked. “I expected him to greet us the moment we arrived.”

Colton cleared his throat softly. “He sends his sincere regrets that duties have kept him, my lord,” he said. It was then that he noticed Laurent standing next to his father. He grinned at the man. “It is agreeable to see you again, Laurent. You are looking well.”

Laurent beamed, flashing straight white teeth. “And you are looking ugly,” he teased. “But it is nonetheless a pleasure to see you. It has been a long time, de Royans”

Colton nodded. “Almost two years to be exact,” he said. “I last saw you at Bramham.”

“How is Lucien these days?”

He meant after his terrible injury. Every fighting man in England, and especially those who served Henry, had heard of the nearly life-ending wound. Colton’s smile faded.

“It did damage,” he said. “But you would never know by looking at him. He is the same as he has always been.”

“That is good to know,” Holderness put in, not the least bit concerned with an old war injury on his daughter’s future husband. All he cared about was that the man didn’t die before he married Juno. “I am pleased to hear that the baron is not weak enough to fall victim to an old battle wound. What duties have kept him away from greeting us?”

He wasn’t going to let the subject go and Colton glanced at Laurent, who simply rolled his eyes. Laurent was a good man, seasoned and reasonable and moral, but this was the first time Colton had ever met the man’s father. He could already see that the Earl of Holderness was not a lord to be denied anything, including a personal greeting by the son of a duke.

“Trouble in the village, my lord,” Colton lied. Well, it wasn’t
exactly
lying… there could be trouble in the village, couldn’t there? “He will return as soon as it is settled. Now, may I show you inside? We have a great variety of refreshments awaiting you, including St. Cloven ale from Norfolk because Lucien heard that you liked it.”

That seemed to ease Holderness’ offense. Truth be told, St. Cloven ale was the preferred drink of England’s nobility so Colton simply said that Lucien had heard the ale was a preference of the earl because, more than likely, it really was. He was trying to ease the earl’s anger against Lucien and, luckily enough, it seemed to work, so he held out an arm, indicating the direction of the hall.

Holderness took the hint and moved towards it with Laurent behind him. Colton met Laurent’s gaze and the two of them fought off mutual grins as Laurent took his father inside. The both understood the needs of a demanding lord. As Laurent and his father headed for the hall, Colton waited politely for the ladies to act as their escort.

“My lady?” he said evenly. “May I show you inside?”

Juno looked at the big, blonde knight. He had a square jaw, close-cropped hair, and the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen. He was quite young, too; not as young as she was, but certainly a young knight. Still, he had a deep voice and a manner about him that suggested maturity. Moreover, he was quite attractive. She flushed around the ears, grasping at her cousin’s hand as if she needed support while speaking to the handsome young knight.

“Thank you, my lord,” she said, hardly able to look him in the eye because she was terrified he would see her flush. “You are very kind.”

Colton smiled at the rather pale but pretty young woman. “It is my pleasure, my lady,” he said. “Please permit me to formally introduce myself – I am Sir Colton de Royans. Your brother and I have fought together on a few occasions. I consider him a friend.”