The Baron's Quest (18 page)
Authors: Elizabeth Rose
Chapter 26
The wedding banns had been posted on the door of St. Nicholas’s Church for two weeks before they were married, even though everyone already knew Muriel was pregnant. Nicholas had told her he wanted to do things the proper way, and he also threatened that anyone who protested the marriage would have to deal with him personally.
Invitations had been sent, and preparations had been in progress planning one of the best weddings ever.
Everyone from the docks as well as the manor and the town had attended their wedding ceremony today, and watched them takes their vows on the steps of the church. They were also invited to the banquet afterwards that Nicholas had been preparing for, but now it turned into a celebration of their marriage. Today was also the day of the big trade fair, and the streets and docks were so crowded it was hard to move.
“Muriel, you look beautiful,” said Cecily from her side as they descended the steps of the church.
“Yes, Wife, you are stunning,” Nicholas told her. Muriel had decided to wear the silk gown made from the cloth her father had promised her before his death. It was bright blue with a gold ornate collar and bodice, with small gold chains connecting the two pieces. Her hair was pulled back, but not pinned up since Nicholas said he loved to see it blow in the breeze.
Nicholas wore dark hose and a dark tunic that Muriel had made for him. Across his chest he wore the bright red, blue, and yellow crest that signified he was a Baron of the Cinque Ports. His sword was at his side, the hilt made of gold and silver, with a large cross embedded in the top.
“Congratulations,” said his father as they walked down the stairs. “I must say I’m still not happy about the marriage, but at least now my grandchildren won’t be bastards.”
“Thank you, father,” said Nicholas as they shared a clasp of hands and a pat on the back.
“Aye, I hope you’ll be happy with Muriel,” said his brother, Reynard.
“It is Lady Muriel now,” Nicholas corrected him, and Muriel just smiled. She knew it would take a while for his brother and father to accept that he’d married a merchant’s daughter. Still, just the fact that they had showed up was a good start.
“Romney, we never thought you’d do it,” said Lord John, as he and Lord Conlin came to congratulate them next.
“So which of you is next?” asked Nicholas, his question seeming to roil both of them.
“I have no intention of ever being married again,” said John.
“I am doing fine without a wife as well,” added Conlin.
“Uh huh,” said Nicholas with a slight nod. “And just a few short months ago, I thought the same as both of you.”
“The harbor is filled with ships for the trade show, and now there are others arriving as well,” Brother Germain pointed out next.
“They look like merchant ships,” said Isaac.
“I can’t believe they are all here for the trade fair,” said Roger, squinting to see them.
“Well, I may have . . . invited some of the nobles from Sandwich as well as my daughter to the wedding celebration,” Conlin admitted. “I hope you don’t mind, Romney.”
“I happened to mention it to some of my knights as well,” added Sir John.
“I hope to hell you two plan on paying for this, because I don’t have any intention of paying for food to feed half of England,” Nicholas said with a teasing smile.
“I like that they will all be here,” said Muriel. “I would love to meet your friends, and the friends of the other barons as well.”
“She’s already acting like a noble.” Nicholas pulled Muriel into his arms. “Come here, Wife, and let me kiss you.” They shared a passionate kiss right there on the steps of the church, and everyone cheered and clapped their hands, accepting the newly married couple.
The herald blew his straight trumpet, standing atop the shoulders of another man to make an announcement. “I’d like to present Baron Nicholas, and Lady Muriel – the new Lord and Lady Romney.”
More cheering continued, and alewives walked by passing out tankards of heather flavored ale that Nicholas had imported here from the Highlands for this special occasion.
“So when would you like to have the Tart de brymlent?” asked Henry, standing at the foot of the stairs with his arm around a peasant woman.
“As soon as we get back to the great hall is fine,” said Nicholas. “And Henry, don’t make me sorry I allowed you beyond the manor walls.”
“I’ll never run away again, my lord, now that you have hired my love to work at your manor as well.” He reached over and gave the woman a kiss atop the head.
“That, you’ll have to thank my wife for, as it was her idea.” Nicholas pulled Muriel into his arms and she lay her head against his chest. “The only reason I agreed was because instead of losing a servant, I was gaining one instead.”
“She’s not a servant, but a freewoman,” Muriel reminded him.
“Aye,” he said with a nod. “But I have a feeling she won’t want to leave.”
“I do believe I am craving those silly fish tarts you like so much,” she told him.
“I know,” said Nicholas with a nod. “And since ’twill be a long time before the babies are born, I thought it would be a good idea to keep Henry around to make the tarts rather than to put up with an unhappy wife.”
“Romney, your mind is addled by the way you make decisions nowadays,” said John, and everyone laughed.
“Well, thank you both,” said Henry with a bow. “And I promise never to disappoint you again.”
“Everyone over to the great hall for the celebration feast,” called out the steward. And with that, the procession of people headed toward the manor.
Muriel turned, and with her back toward Nicholas’s chest, he wrapped his arms around her as they watched the ships pull into the harbor. The sea air kissed her skin, and the sound of gulls filled the air as he nuzzled the top of her head. The sky had been previously overcast, but now the clouds parted and sun broke through in rays that looked like they were being sent from God himself.
“Well, even if the king doesn’t agree to our union, it looks like his superior does,” said Nicholas with a chuckle.
His hands came around her belly, and she felt that she, as well as their unborn babies, would always be protected by this noble, courageous and wonderful man.
She leaned her head back against his chest and closed her eyes, basking in the glory of having everything she could have ever dreamed of, coming true.
“Nicholas, Husband. You have made me so very happy. I have found everything I have ever been looking for in life with you. But I am saddened that your quest will never be fulfilled.”
“Oh, but I have exactly what I’ve been searching for as well, Muriel.”
“But you’ll never get your own castle,” she told him. “It was your passion – your quest in life.”
“Sometimes things that seem so important at one time, won’t seem that way later. And I have found everything I want with you, Muriel, so don’t think I am disappointed in any way at all.”
“I am happy to hear it,” she said, and smiled, watching the ships on the sea. “And never, in all my life have I ever dreamed that I – Muriel Draper, a spinster and the daughter of a merchant would end up being the answer to
The Baron’s Quest
.”
I hope you enjoyed Nicholas and Muriel’s story. I loved researching the way clothes were made back then, as well as the process of spinning wool. You can now find
The Baron’s Quest
on audio-book format as well.
This is the first of the
Barons of the Cinque Ports Series
. It is followed by my new release,
The Baron’s Bounty
– Book 2.
The Baron’s Destiny
– Book 3, will be released this winter.
If you enjoyed the book, I’d love for you to leave a review for me on Amazon.com.
You can read more about the Cinque Ports in my book,
Lady of the Mist – Book 4
of my
Legacy of the Blade Series
, where my hero, Garrett, is a Baron of the Cinque Ports and my heroine, Echo, is a pirate.
Here are some of my other series, followed by excerpts.
Daughters of the Dagger Series:
This series is followed by my Scottish
Madman MacKeefe
series, with the first book being about the girls’ brother
,
Onyx – Book 1,
who they thought was dead.
Aidan – Book 2
,
is next, followed by
Ian – Book 3
.
(Watch Book Trailer)
Greek Myth Fantasy Series:
The Legacy of the Blade Series:
The Elemental Series:
The Dragon and the Dreamwalker
Book 1: Fire
The Duke and the Dryad
Book 2: Earth
The Sword and the Sylph
Book 3: Air
The Sheik and the Siren
Book 4: Water
My latest new work has been writing short westerns such as
The Bounty Hunter
,
The Gambler
,
The Outlaw
,
The Drifter
and
The Gunslinger
. I have more planned in the future, so be sure to watch for them.
And one last series I’d like to tell you about is my
Tarnished Saints Series
.
Watch book trailer
.
This is a twelve book series about the sons of a preacher – but they are far from saints. Matter of fact, these men are nothing but trouble! Please be sure to visit my website at
Elizabethrosenovels.com
for more information on this series and to subscribe to my blog in order to receive updates about new releases. You can also read excerpts from any of my novels on my website as well as get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. And please remember that there are other authors by the same name, but my novels can be identified by the rose on every cover. If you’d like to follow me on twitter, my handle is
ElizRoseNovels,
and my facebook is
Elizabeth Rose – Author
(don’t forget the dash.)
I’d like to leave you now with excerpts from some of the series I’ve mentioned.
Elizabeth Rose
(Book 3, Barons of the Cinque Ports Series)
Isobel couldn’t find the horse, and figured she had no choice but to make her way toward the lighthouse on foot. She was already very late, and had been warned more than once by Catherine that the baron insisted on punctuality and would not keep his ship on Scottish soil longer than he had to.
She picked up her heavy, wet skirts and trudged up the road toward the lighthouse. She braved the downpour of rain and the wicked weather. She was almost to her destination when she heard the neighing of a horse through the trees. She made her way toward the noise, thinking it was her own steed, until she saw the horse’s trappings with the king’s crest displayed prominently. She pushed her long, wet hair out of her eyes and walked forward to investigate.
The horse’s reins were tangled in the brambles at the edge of the cliff. She reached out to untangle it, and heard some low voices but couldn’t decipher what the people were saying. Startled, she jumped backward when she heard the loud sound of a thud and breaking branches. Something – or someone fell from the top of the cliff hitting on the rocks and roots along the way down.
She ran to the edge of the cliff and peered over just as the moon broke through the clouds once again. She gasped when she saw King Alexander lying on the beach with his neck twisted at an odd angle, obviously broken from the fall. More twigs snapped underfoot, and she heard the sound of someone hurrying through the underbrush - headed in her direction.
Her heart beat furiously, and her body shook in fear. The murderer of the king was not going to be in a hurry to be caught. She couldn’t let him see her, or he’d kill her as well. Without her escorts she was unprotected and very vulnerable. She had only a dagger at her side – no match for the broadsword of a knight, or even the strong hands of a crazed serf. She had no choice but to hide in order to save her own life.
She hurried behind a tree and hunkered down behind a bush, not able to believe what she’d just witnessed. She heard the person free the king’s horse and slap it on its rear to send it off. Hoofbeats sounded loudly as the horse ran through the foliage. Leaves crunched underfoot and she heard the killer coming toward her.
Step, Drag, Swish. Step, Drag, Swish, echoed in her brain as she focused on the sound of their footsteps. She couldn’t keep her body from shaking as the murderer walked past her, so close she could have reached out and touched him.
She moved her hand slightly, and a twig snapped beneath her palm. The killer stopped right in front of the bush that concealed her presence. She didn’t dare move or even breathe, for fear the man would hear her and she’d end up at the bottom of the cliff alongside their ruler.
Her eyes fastened onto the man’s feet, and his boots immediately took her interest. She’d never seen any like these before. They were side-laced riding boots that looked to be made of two-toned Cordoba leather. They were of the finest quality, and obviously very expensive since Cordoba leather came all the way from Spain. They were made from the hides of Musoli goats, tawed in alum in a secret method only known to the Moors. That’s what the cordwainer in town had told her. They were good friends since she spent so much time in his shop, and she’d learned everything she could about making shoes. He’d also said this type of leather was brought back by the Crusaders and very expensive. So expensive that cordwainers only made these shoes on special order from nobles who paid dearly for them.
The killer, obviously satisfied no one was there, started forward again. As he passed by her, his very long cape dragged on the ground, brushing against her hand in the process. It felt soft, as if it were made from fine-spun wool. It wasn’t the coarse material used to fashion cloaks for traders or servants. This cloak surely must have cost a high price. The killer had money. Or was perhaps a thief!
When she glanced up from the corners of her eyes, she was sure she’d seen a flash of bright blue, red, and yellow that reminded her of the crest of the Cinque Ports. She closed her eyes tightly and clamped a hand over her mouth in order not to cry out. The intruder’s gait continued to echo in her brain. Step, Drag, Swish. Step, Drag, Swish. It was unlike anything she’d ever heard before, and odd. Very odd indeed, but she couldn’t decipher why.