The Troubadour's Romance (30 page)

Royce sat up suddenly.
“
Yea,
”
he answered.
“
But she has
been known as
Felise
Scelfton, growing up in that noble English family. And as any blooded daughter. I was never told of this. I don
’
t know how she has come to me.
”

Jasper smiled a slow, knowing smile.
“
Perhaps, my lord, neither does she.
”

***

As Twyford castle and the town came into view, the Scelfton knights improved their pace. This place more than tripled Segeland in size and had never suffered a moment of neglect. Over one thousand people occupied the castle and town, yielding many hands and heads to the constant upkeep and improvement. Each heir to Twyford for the past five generations had added to the original keep until it flourished as this grand place.

All were smiling as they rode into the town, raising a hand now and then to an acquaintance and dismounting before the main hall. Things they took for granted when in residence here had been sorely missed, and each one smiled with every small service. Their horses were taken by pages, their mail and mantles pulled off just inside a clean and warm hall by servants, their preferred drinks, whether cold or hot, quickly fetched.

Lord Scelfton, hurrying into the hall from somewhere in the rear, was sweating although it was cold. He wore a soiled linen tunic, chausses, and boots and had a large hunting knife at his belt. It was not beneath the lord of all this to be skinning game, cleaning the stable, or perhaps shoeing a horse. Harlan fiercely loved his labors. He greeted each of his sons with a typical grunt and smile, the combination showing his tendency to be harsh but also his obvious pleasure in his family.

Edrea had been called from the uppermost chambers and she, too, wore her working clothes. A tunic she used for cleaning or sewing and working in the kitchens was worn over her gunna, and her hair was pulled back and covered with a tied kerchief. She was not so stingy with her affection and embraced each son fondly.

“
Felise
is well?
”
she asked instantly.

“
Aye, madam, we bring her letters.
”

The conversation stopped there for a few moments as they bustled about the great room. The fire was stoked, the
chairs pulled in around the fire for each to have a decent seat and yet be near enough for comfortable exchange. And once all were seated, boots were pulled off and platters of food were brought to the weary travelers. All amenities provided, Harlan broached the subject of Felise again.

“
That you are home leaves me to assume that you found Segeland to your liking?
”

“
In a manner, Father,
”
Evan said.

Edrea sat up straighter in her chair.
“
Your missives said that you were delayed to help them settle some improve
ments on the place. Is it a good place?
”

Maelwine laughed shortly.
“
‘
Twas a sty that would sha
me a pig when we arrived. Not a
care had been given the place in years, and the people living around the hall were a pitiful, frightened lot. But by the time we were asked to leave, the comforts there were adequate, I suppose.
”

“
Asked to leave?
”
Harlan blustered.

“
‘
Twas not Royce, Father,
”
Dalton quickly explained.
“
It was our sister who saw it fit to excuse us.
”

“
Is she all right?
”
Edrea asked fearfully.

“
Don
’
t ask us to know her mind, madam, but perhaps you should read her letters, and then we will tell as best we can about Segeland. She told us that we interfered with her progress with Royce.
”

Maelwine produced the rolled parchments and handed one to each of his parents. Harlan
’
s was considerably shorter and he had read it over twice, his face growing red, before Edrea had finished hers the first time through. She sighed heavily and let the long document fall into her lap.

None of the brothers had opened the letters to see what their sister had written, but agreed that if Felise had made the situation appear better than it was, they were under obligation to Harlan to tell him the truth of it. Harlan
’
s first statement revealed that Felise had not colored a pretty picture.

“
We leave on the morrow to fetch her home, Henry be damned,
”
he stormed.

Edrea reached for her husband
’
s hand but looked at her sons.
“
The wall is stout now and the guard a safe and loyal troop?
”
she asked.

“
None of us could argue that, Mother. We had some
concern about the local priest, for he was driven from the shire when
Felise
reasoned him to be evil and greedy. But the men Royce left will not let him in again, and I do not expect him to attack the place, but rather petition for their excommunication. That is an ordeal they can protest with
out physical injury.
”

“
And the people there
--
they are on the mend?
”
she asked.

“
‘
Twill take a goodly sum of months to prove that, madam. We offered to stay on until Royce was returned, but she would have none of it.
”

Harlan shook his letter in aggravation.
“
She has asked to borrow against her dowry for seed, building supplies, weav
ing materials, many necessary things. How can a father leave his child in a village of ruin and a house that is obviously falling down around her? Nay, we
’
ll fetch her home.
”

“
Harlan,
”
Edrea said softly.
“
Excuse these men to a bath and their comforts, and here,
”
she said, handing him the pages that
Felise
had written to her,
“
read this and be still.
”

Harlan grumbled in agitation, but Edrea pressed the letter on him and he took it. While he read, she spoke softly to her sons.
“
You would not have left her in danger, I am assured. That her materials are modest is no threat to her safety. We will talk more later, when you are better rested and clean.
”

Maelwine shrugged almost apologetically.
“
Mother, there was little we could do to
make Segeland a rich home for Fe
lise, but she seems to thrive on their need for her. And no urging would convince her to leave.
”

“
I do not think it is her great loyalty to Henry that keeps her there, but some strange attraction to Royce,
”
Dalton added.

Edrea raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“
You do not under
stand this, Dalton?
”
she asked.

“
He was not openly cruel to her, but he is a surly bastard, just the same,
”
Dalton said.

Edrea looked askance at Harlan.
“
Yea,
”
she said softly.
“
I expected as much.
”
Then back to her sons:
“
Go, and let us settle this argument. And thank you for what you
’
ve done for us.
”

When they left, Edrea wa
ited patiently for Harlan to
finish reading the letter. Finally he put it aside.
“
What does this mean?
”
he asked hotly.

“
It is very simple, my lord. Our daughter loves Royce.
”

Harlan picked up the parchment again, scanning it impa
tiently.
“
It says that nowhere. Nowhere. Where do you see that she loves him?
”

“
In every word, every mark. Listen to me, Harlan, for you
’
re an old fool with love so plentiful all around you that you
’
ve scarce had to look for it in your lifetime.

“
In her very first line she admits that it is a far better thing that the marriage was decided before anyone knew Segeland, for you would not have approved it. And better done in secret, for even Royce seems wont to cling to these old ghosts of the Leightons, and she says he is not afflicted beyond sore memories. Then she proceeds to list her needs, stating that it is a choice between patience over the years to see the place prosper, or a quick remedy with our help. And the most important thing, I think, is the need for a church there. Harlan, let us send her twice what she asks. Let her help Royce heal the town and keep ... that her firstborn can be baptized in their home.
”

Harlan shook his head in confusion.
“
How you decipher these secrets is beyond me, woman. Is it not an equal possibility that her length of request is meant to warn us of her deprivation? Would it not be better for us to go there and see these conditions for ourselves?
”

“
Nay, Harlan. We will go there, but at harvest, when her child is born.
”

“
Child?
”

Edrea sighed and took up the parchment again, searching with her eyes and then, finding the place, reading it aloud to her husband.

“
My brothers will explain the banishment of the priest, which I assure you is all to the good, as I watched my father in this practice in Twyford. But the lack of a friar sorely hurts me, and one needs to be found and a small place of worship quickly erected for him to say mas
s, perform rites, and give thes
e people the Word. I would not fain to birth a son to Royce if there is no man of God to bless him. If you would convince my father to advance the sum for building, I invite you to travel here for our harvest celebrations and
view the improveme
nts for yourself. By then, with your help, much will be done ... and quite soon, much will be growing here.
”

“
Harlan, I feel certain that our
Felise
suspects she is with child and will harvest crops and a babe when the summer is done. Let us grant her this; we have no reason to deny her.
”

“
I am not certain she is well,
”
he argued.
“
She may suffer miserably but tries to ease us with these courageous words.
”

“
Harlan, she sent her brothers away. Royce cannot rule while they reside so close. And I am confident that Vespera would not allow
Felise
to be abused. She would send word to us or steal
Felise
to safety of her own.
”

“
Vespera? That meddlesome woman has
--
”

“
Has worried over
Felise
for all her life. We must give this a chance, my lord. Vespera gave
Felise
to us.
”

“
That is what you say, but there is no proof.
”

“
I trust her word ... I trust her prayers. I know that this is true.
”
She paused and tears gathered in her eyes.
“
We have to mind the order of this conspiracy, Harlan.
Felise
is not ours.
”

Harlan slumped slightly. He was no longer angry with his wife, but when he had first found out that Edrea had guarded the reason for Vespera
’
s interference with such secrecy, he had been furious. Just prior to the naming of Royce and the disappearance of
Felise
from Windsor, Vespera had confided in Lady Edrea.

The search for a proper mate, a sound manager for what would show itself to be rich French property, involved more than the Scelftons, Henry, and various suitors. It mattered not at all how rich the husband be, for what
Felise
brought to the marriage would build a noble household enviable even by Harlan. The only characteristic the man needed to have was unquestionable loyalty. There were a few Henry would approve, but Royce was the highest in his eyes
--
and also he was unmarried and old enough to have gained fair experience.