Julie Garwood - [3 Book Box Set] (16 page)

“Amen to that,” Roger muttered, struggling to stand up. It was a difficult task, for Garth, a most affectionate dog, was standing with front paws on the knight’s chest to give him better advantage while he licked at the scowl on Roger’s face.

“What is happening here?” Elizabeth and Roger both looked up and saw Geoffrey standing in the doorway. Even little Thomas peeked out from behind
Elizabeth’s back to look at the lord. Elizabeth decided that her husband, legs braced apart and hands on hips, looked quite exasperated. But then, so was she. Another crash resounded in the background, and Elizabeth felt like grinding her teeth in reaction.

“Come here, Thomas,” Geoffrey commanded. His voice was harsh, and Elizabeth immediately wanted to shield her small brother from her husband’s anger. She did not think that Geoffrey would harm the lad, but she worried that his hard words would upset her sensitive brother immensely.

Geoffrey pulled the dog off the knight with one sure motion. “Sit,” he told the animal, and praise be, the dog decided to obey. “I am waiting, boy,” Geoffrey told her brother, folding his arms across his chest.

Couldn’t he use a little gentleness in his tone when addressing such a small child? Elizabeth asked herself. She frowned at her husband, hoping he would see her displeasure and soften his commands.

Little Thomas saw that both dogs had quieted, and making a wide circle around the dog his sister held, he ran to Geoffrey.

“Was that you I heard all the way from the walls, bellowing like an infant?” he asked the boy.

His reference to a baby had the desired effect. Little Thomas quit crying and wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his tunic. “I do not like them,” he stammered. “They want to bite my arms off.”

Elizabeth could not keep silent any longer. “That is nonsense, Thomas,” she snapped. “See how their tails wag? They only do that when they are happy.”

“I will keep the dogs chained a while longer, Thomas,” Geoffrey said. “But from now on, it will be your duty to take them their food and see that they have enough water. And if I hear that you have not done this duty, you will be punished. Do you understand me?”

“I will do it, my lord,” Thomas answered. “And I
won’t be afraid. If the dogs are tied, they cannot bite me.”

Geoffrey let out a sigh and nodded. “No, they cannot bite you, and after you have seen to their food, they will grow to rely on you.”

“Mistress?” Sara called from behind. “The new vat of ale has been spilled. It was an accident.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes against Sara’s excuse for yet another accident. “See that it is cleaned up, Sara,” was her only reply.

“I will chain the dogs,” Roger interrupted. “Lad, you come with me.”

The call that someone was approaching the gates stopped the knight’s action. He looked at Geoffrey and then grabbed Thomas, slinging him up and over his shoulder.

“We have company,” Geoffrey announced. He was looking at his wife as he spoke. “Your grandfather.”

His calmly stated news lifted the fatigue and frustration from Elizabeth. Joy welled up and she all but hugged her husband. “He is truly here?” she asked in a breathless voice, smoothing her hair in an unconscious gesture.

Geoffrey watched the excitement in his wife with a hint of a smile. He was pleased that she was happy with his news, and decided that he liked it considerably when she smiled. Soon, he thought to himself, she will realize her good fortune, and she will smile like that at me. Not that it truly mattered, if she smiled or not. Still, it would make for an easier arrangement. He did not ask himself why that was so, why he liked to see her content, for he considered it insignificant. Happy or not, she belonged to him. That was the way of things. “You are pleased?” he found himself asking Elizabeth.

“Aye, my lord, most pleased,” Elizabeth answered, clasping her hands. She started to hurry past him then, intent on greeting her grandfather, but Geoffrey’s hand stayed her.

“We will greet him together,” he announced.

Elizabeth realized that that was the proper way and nodded her agreement. Geoffrey let go of her arm and walked beside her to the top of the steps leading to the courtyard.

The gates opened with her husband’s order, and her grandfather, riding a white charger Elizabeth had not seen before, came galloping into the courtyard. He was dressed, as he always was, in gray tunic and hose, with the fur of some wild animal’s skin draped as a cape over his shoulders and around his feet. Another band of fur covered most of his white-blond hair, tilting over one blue eye like a patch. He stood proud and tall, this radical grandfather of hers.

If Geoffrey was amazed by the figure dismounting before him, he hid his feelings well. Elizabeth glanced up at him, a smile on her face.

Her grandfather was an extremely tall man with a gait as enormous as his build. As bold as ever, he smacked the back of his horse and sent him flying away and then turned to walk toward Elizabeth.

“I came as soon as your word reached me,” her grandfather began in his powerful voice. “You are the baron here?” he asked.

“I am,” Geoffrey acknowledged.

The giant nodded while he studied the man standing next to his granddaughter. When he was through with his appraisal, he nodded again and turned his attention to Elizabeth. “You have no greeting for your grandfather?” he asked in a soft voice.

He was watching her closely, saw the fatigue in her eyes, the lines of worry.

Elizabeth needed no further urging. Nor did she turn to her husband for approval. She ran down the steps and threw herself into her grandfather’s open arms, clasping her hands behind his neck. “Thank God you have come,” she whispered into his ear as he lifted her high into the air.

“We will talk later, child,” her grandfather whispered back. In a louder voice he said, “You are well, little Viking?” using his pet name for her.

“I am no longer little Viking, Grandfather, but a Baroness. Put me down and I will introduce you to my husband,” she said. She glanced over at Geoffrey, read his scowl, and added, for his benefit and his pride, “My husband is a most patient man when my behavior becomes improper.”

Although he knew the man holding his wife was her grandfather, he still found himself irritated that another touched her.

The grandfather placed Elizabeth back on the ground, gave her another enthusiastic hug, and then turned to Geoffrey.

Looking at the warrior, he said, “Granddaughter, was the marriage forced?” There was a hint of a threat in his voice, but Geoffrey remained composed. He too turned to his wife and waited her response. Her words would determine his action.

“No, Grandfather, it was not forced.” She was looking at her husband as she spoke, her expression serious. “I am most content.”

Geoffrey’s shoulders seemed to relax a bit to Elizabeth’s way of thinking, though he still did not smile. But then he rarely smiled, Elizabeth reminded herself. Why, coaching a bit of lightheartedness into his expression was as difficult as trying to force the sun to shine during a rainstorm. It was simply beyond her power.

Her grandfather’s voice interrupted her wonderings. “Then, why the hurry, I’m asking. I would have liked to see you wed,” he said.

“There was so much chaos that my husband thought it best to hurry the vows. And it would not have been proper to celebrate the event after what took place here, Grandfather.”

“Still another reason to wait,” her grandfather argued. He still hadn’t taken his gaze from the tall
warrior, and Elizabeth noted that the friendliness was gone from his tone. He antagonizes, Elizabeth realized as she watched him fold his arms across his chest and continue to stare at her husband. What was his game, his purpose? she asked herself, growing worried.

“It was
my
decision,” Geoffrey answered. His tone matched her grandfather’s and Elizabeth thought the two resembled hostile opponents now. “Do not dare to question it.”

Geoffrey well knew he was being tested, though he did not understand the reasoning. Regardless of the motive, it was time he showed this new challenger who was in charge.

“You do not kneel before me,” Geoffrey said. “You have failed to give me your pledge, though you know I am baron here.” His hand settled on the hilt of his sword, a silent message that he was prepared to battle if necessary.

“I am an outcast,” her grandfather answered. “You would consider my pledge honorable? Binding?”

Geoffrey nodded. “I would.”

The scowl left her grandfather’s face as he considered his next move. “Know you all the facts, my lord? I am Saxon, full blood, and once a noble. Still you ask my fealty? I have no lands to protect.”

“I would have your loyalty or your life. The decision is yours.”

Elizabeth could not understand what was happening between the two men. Fear swept over her as she watched the mental battle going on between her husband and her grandfather. His life? He had demanded his fealty or his life? No, she wanted to scream, do not ask this. He is his own man, loyal to no one but his family. Family! Aye, she realized, that was the key to this frightening game the two played. Was Geoffrey demanding acceptance by asking the pledge? And if so, why?

Geoffrey witnessed his wife’s distress and hoped that
she would not interfere. It was imperative that he have her grandfather’s trust and loyalty, and though he had not voiced his reasons to his wife, he expected her to keep her silence.

“Go to your husband.” The quiet instruction was heard by Geoffrey.

Elizabeth felt torn in half between the two. She wanted the time to explain her grandfather to her husband, and to explain her husband to her grandfather, but there was no time. She let go of her grandfather’s embrace and walked to stand on the step, beside her husband.

Silence filled the area as the two giants considered each other. It was a most difficult moment for Elizabeth. She did not know what she would do if her grandfather refused to bend to her husband’s will, did not know if her husband would truly carry out his threat to do battle . . .

The game ended. With absolute ease, her grandfather flipped off his cap and knelt on one knee before her husband. He placed his right hand over his heart and said in a clear and forceful voice, “I, Elslow Kent Hampton, give you my loyalty and vow on this day nare to betray you.”

It was an emotional moment for Elizabeth. She had never seen her grandfather so intent. His word was his bond, and all he had to give. It was his honor, his soul. Did her husband sense this about her grandfather? she wondered. No, he could not, for he barely knew him, she reminded herself. He could have no idea that her grandfather was as fiercely loyal as she was.

“Stand,” Geoffrey said. All harshness was gone from his voice and Elizabeth could tell he was pleased. Her husband walked down the steps and placed a hand on his new relative’s shoulder. “There is much I would discuss with you, and before night arrives, now that I have your loyalty.”

Geoffrey was not prepared for the mighty whack he
received on his shoulder, nor the deep bellow of laughter that filled his ears, making them ring. “You will have my time, my lord, for time is all I have to give. And there is much on my mind also . . . much I would like to ask you.”

“So be it,” Geoffrey responded.

“You would have fought for my pledge?” the grandfather asked, chuckling.

“Aye, and won too,” Geoffrey replied, smiling.

“Do not be too sure of yourself. I’ve still strength left in these old bones. I’m thinking I’d have the advantage of the wisdom age gives.” His eyes sparkled at Geoffrey’s reaction.

The lord began to laugh. “Not a chance,” he replied. “I have the strength of younger bones, old man, and would have cut you down in one quick blow.”

“Ha! We will never know for sure, now, will we?” her grandfather teased. He threw his arm around Geoffrey just as if they had been boyhood friends and changed the subject before her husband could answer. “Know you the treasure you have in your new wife?” he asked. And then, before Geoffrey could speak, he said, “I have a terrible thirst for a cool drink, Baron. Share a toast with me to your marriage.”

Geoffrey was chuckling as the two men walked up the steps and disappeared behind the doors. Her grandfather was saying something in a low voice and then her husband’s deep laughter reached her ears. He was actually laughing! Elizabeth looked to the sky and saw that the sun was shining. Amazing, she thought. There wasn’t a single rain cloud in sight!

It was nearly the dinner hour, and still Geoffrey continued in deep conversation with Elizabeth’s grandfather. They sat at the long table, across from each other, with cups of ale before them. Twice she tried to join them in their discussion but both times the talk
would stop and both men would simply stare at her. They made it very obvious that they did not wish her present.

She knew the talk concerned Belwain and the “other” that Geoffrey had hinted at and decided that they were planning their course of action. God, give me the strength to see this charade through, to look at Belwain and not plunge my knife into his heart.

Elizabeth grew increasingly restless. She sought solitude and went for a walk, and although she could not bring herself to visit the graves, she headed in that direction. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow to the horizon. In the distance, on the knoll, she could see the wooden crosses anointing the freshly turned earth, marking the area where her family was buried.

“Granddaughter?” Her grandfather’s voice intruded and she turned and watched him make his way to her.

“I was this very minute wishing you were by my side,” she said, smiling. “Grandfather, I am so very glad you are here.” She grabbed his hand with both of hers and held it in a tight grip.

“You were going to the graves?” her grandfather asked.

“No,” Elizabeth admitted. “I cannot say good-bye yet.”

“And have you wept for your parents, your sisters?” he asked, his voice soft.

“No. Perhaps when it is done, when Belwain is punished—”

“Do not wait,” her grandfather said, “cry for them now, before it becomes too bottled up inside you. It will tear at your insides then and make you a bitter woman. Your mother would not have wanted that.”