Connie Mason (37 page)

“Your Majesty,” John said. “I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“Rise, Sir John,” Henry said. His gaze was riveted on Martha. “What happened to the lady?”

Mariah entered the hall at that moment, saw Martha and let out a heart-wrenching cry. “Martha! Oh, you poor thing. What happened to you? Who did this to you?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Henry roared. “Who abused that poor woman, Sir John?”

Mariah could tell that Martha was in pain by the way she held her ribs. Her left eye was swollen shut, and purple bruises marred her face. Mariah sent a servant after
Edwina and ordered the guardsmen to carry Martha to a guest chamber.

Elizabeth stepped forward, her face a mixture of anguish and anger. “Sire, the lady is my mother. John and I traveled to Southwold to remove her from Father’s influence. Father is a vicious man, and I feared for her life. When I lived at home, I was able to protect Mother and myself from Father’s brutality in a limited way, but after I married John, she had no one to protect her. I knew I had to return for her. John felt the same way.”

“We found Dame Martha as she is now,” John said, placing a comforting arm around Elizabeth. “Osgood had beaten her. My mother-in-law said Osgood took his frustration out on her after Falcon defeated his forces and sent him fleeing from Mildenhall.”

“When John and I arrived at Southwold, I told Father we were taking Mother with us,” Elizabeth said, continuing the tale. “Of course he refused to let her go. Walter was no help. Though he didn’t condone Father’s treatment of Mother, he did naught to protect her.”

“I couldn’t leave Dame Martha with Osgood,” John said. “I feared he would kill her.” He paused to catch his breath.

“What happened next?” Henry asked impatiently. “How did you manage to pry Dame Martha away from Sir Osgood?”

“I asked the men who had accompanied me to find a cart, pad it with blankets and place Dame Martha in it. No matter what it took, I wasn’t going to leave Elizabeth’s mother with that madman.”

Henry shook his head. “I knew Sir Osgood had a mean
streak, but I never thought he would take his frustration out on a defenseless woman. Did he put up a fight?”

John sent Falcon a sidelong glance before replying. “Aye, he did. We fought. He lost. I am a much better swordsman than Osgood, thanks to Falcon’s training.”

Henry’s eyebrows arched upward. “You killed him?”

“Aye, sire. I didn’t want to, but he gave me no choice.”

“John speaks the truth, sire,” Elizabeth cut in. “Father drew his sword, forcing John to defend himself. We left immediately afterward. Walter promised to see to Father’s burial.”

“The kingdom is better off without Sir Osgood,” John said.

Henry gazed thoughtfully at John. John held his breath, waiting for the king’s verdict. Would he punish or praise him?

“After learning of Sir Osgood’s misdeeds from Falcon, I intended to dispatch my royal guardsmen to Southwold to arrest him,” the king said. “He would have been charged with treason. No one deliberately disobeys my orders without paying a price. The way I see it, his death was well deserved.”

John expelled the breath he had been holding. “My wife was distraught when she saw the condition her mother was in. I’m glad you understand my predicament and approve.”

“Thank you, sire,” Elizabeth said. “Please excuse me; I must go to my mother.” When the king nodded, Elizabeth executed a clumsy curtsy and made a hasty exit.

“Join us, John,” Falcon invited. “You look like you could use a drink.”

A servant approached with foaming mugs of ale and placed them on the table. John sank down into a chair. “I knew Osgood would protest if we tried to take Dame Martha,” he said, “but I never expected him to draw his sword. He must have been desperate.”

“You did what you had to do,” Falcon replied. “Dame Martha is safe now, and in good hands. Edwina will heal her. As for Osgood, he was indeed a desperate man. He had disobeyed his king and faced punishment.”

The three men fell silent, each thinking his own thoughts about Osgood and his demise. They didn’t look up until Mariah joined them.

“How is Dame Martha?” Falcon asked.

“She’ll survive,” Mariah replied. “Edwina found three broken ribs and painful bruises on her back and hips. Fortunately, she wasn’t damaged internally. You all saw her face; Osgood was a monster. If he were here now, I’d kill him myself.”

“You are nearly as fierce as your husband, lady,” Henry crowed. “Methinks you will suit.”

Falcon grasped Mariah’s hand. “You have no idea, sire,” he said with a twinkle.

Her cheeks blooming with color, Mariah squeezed Falcon’s hand.

Much later, the king and Falcon sat in Henry’s bedchamber, discussing Falcon’s new title and the castle at Norwich.

“What do you intend to do about Norwich Castle? If you don’t move there, you’ll have to find a suitable steward,” Henry advised. “Have you made any plans yet?”

“Aye, I have,” Falcon replied. “I hold fond feelings for
Mildenhall, and so does Mariah. But since I am now the Earl of Norwich, I should make Norwich Castle my primary residence and appoint a steward for Mildenhall until Robbie comes of age. I already have a man in mind, if he will accept.”

“I shall leave that in your capable hands, Falcon.”

The following day, the entire household except for Dame Martha, who was still recuperating, gathered in the courtyard to bid the king farewell.

“Well, my lord,” Mariah teased once Henry had departed, “what is your first order as Earl of Norwich?”

“I told Henry we would move to Norwich,” Falcon revealed. “I’d like to accomplish that as soon as possible. The people there need to meet their new lord and know that they will be taken care of.”

Dismay colored Mariah’s words. “You want us to live at Norwich?”

“Does that upset you, love?”

“A little. What will happen to Mildenhall?”

“Good things, I hope. Ah, here comes Sir John. I’ll know more after I speak to him.”

“Well, my lord,” John said, grinning. “It seems as if you’ve finally gotten everything you wished for. I hope you will accept my offer to remain in your service. Elizabeth and Martha need a home, and they are both fond of Mildenhall.”

“Join Mariah and me inside, John,” Falcon invited. “There’s something I wish to discuss with you.”

Falcon pulled up three chairs before the hearth.

“What is this all about, Falcon?” John asked once they were seated. “If you decide you no longer need me, I will understand and seek a new lord.”

“Nay, never that, John,” Falcon said. “I want you to be Mildenhall’s steward until Robbie is old enough to take over the reins of his estate. I am moving my family to Norwich; it’s where I belong now. If you accept, Elizabeth and Martha will always have a home here.”

Mariah clapped her hands. “What a wonderful idea! Mildenhall will fare well in John’s hands, and Elizabeth and Martha are familiar with the keep. What a perfect solution, Falcon. What say you, Sir John? Will you take care of Mildenhall for Robbie?”

“Your generosity overwhelms me,” Sir John replied. “I gratefully accept, and promise that Mildenhall will prosper under my care. I swear Robbie will find no fault with my stewardship.”

After John left to tell Elizabeth the good news, Falcon grasped Mariah’s hand and led her up the stairs to their chamber. He took her into his arms the moment he closed the door behind them.

“I haven’t paid proper attention to my wife during the king’s visit,” Falcon said. He reached over and latched the door. “I intend to change that, starting now, sweeting.”

Mariah wound her arms around Falcon’s neck, pressing her body against his. “It’s the middle of the day.”

“Any time is a good time to show my wife how much I love her. Ah, Mariah, whatever would I do without you? When I first arrived at Mildenhall, I was badly injured and without a memory; I left healed in both mind and body. And somewhere along the way, you bewitched me.”

She planted a soft kiss on his lips. “I seduced you, my lord, plain and simple; no witchcraft involved.”

He began to undress her, letting her clothes fall where they might. “I was willing to be seduced, if you recall. It took little effort on your part.”

She tugged at his shirt, and soon he was as naked as she. Together they tumbled onto the bed. The first time they came together, it was fast and frantic. The second time was slow and leisurely. They had just finished and were dozing in each other’s arms when Robbie pounded on the door, demanding entrance. Falcon didn’t have the heart to turn him away. He rose, slipped into his hose and shirt, waited until Mariah dressed, and then opened the door to their son.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Robbie said. He stared from one to the other. “What have you been doing? Your hair is all messed, Mama.”

Falcon choked back a laugh. “We were discussing our move to Norwich,” he replied without missing a beat.

“We’re leaving here? I don’t want to go. Mildenhall is my home.”

Falcon knelt down to Robbie’s level. “Mildenhall will always be yours, son, but the king has honored me by making me the Earl of Norwich; moving there is the right thing to do. Sir John will take care of Mildenhall until you’re old enough to accept the responsibility of the earldom.”

Robbie seemed to mull that over in his mind. “Can I come back to visit?”

“Of course,” Mariah said. “Your father didn’t lie to you, Mildenhall is yours; Sir John is merely its keeper until you come of age.”

“Then I suppose it’s all right,” Robbie said, apparently
appeased. He grasped Falcon’s hand. “Will you take me up on your horse today, Papa? The sun is shining; it’s a good day for a ride.”

Mariah and Falcon exchanged glances over Robbie’s head. Hearing Robbie call him Papa made Falcon’s heart swell with love. It was a good day to begin the rest of their lives.