Word of Honor (Knights of Valor Book 1) (15 page)

Except for
problems when he slept at night, Geoffrey surprised himself at how quickly he
adjusted to a normal life at Kinwick. Familiar faces abounded everywhere he
turned. Within a week, the names came back. He discovered all the gossip of
what had passed in his time away—marriages, deaths, and the birth of many
babes.

Merryn
toured the estate with him on horseback, pointing out improvements made and new
fields plowed. He had never been interested much in farming or husbandry. His
thoughts and training always turned to war. But he now found an appreciation
for how well Kinwick ran and how self-sufficient the estate proved to be,
especially under Merryn’s leadership.

His wife
also went over the ledgers with him, so he could see the profit the lands had
turned whilst he was away. Though he still looked forward to training exercises
with the knights on the estate, Geoffrey was happy to settle into a more
domestic life with his family.

Only the
king’s upcoming visit had him worried.

“You will
find our king a most interesting conversationalist,” Merryn had told him. “He
is one of the most intelligent men in the kingdom, tall of figure and handsome
for one his age. The only flaw I find in him is his petulant attitude. He is
quick to anger, almost like a small child who’s denied a toy.”

Though
Geoffrey had only seen the king from a distance, Merryn told him Edward had
visited Kinwick twice and would return for his third time during June. As May
ended, Geoffrey found himself anxious about the king’s visit.

Until a
missive arrived.

He entered
the Great Hall after having spent most of the morning looking over the ledgers,
familiarizing himself with the husbandry of the estate. Kinwick easily fed its
people. After storing a goodly amount of grains and keeping a certain number of
herds from the animals each year, Merryn had taken to selling off the surplus.
Her good sense and careful measures left Kinwick with an abundance in its
treasury. A good thing because of the upcoming royal visit. When Geoffrey
studied how much it had taken to entertain their liege and his court on their
last visit two years ago, the sum left him speechless.

The noon
meal was about to start. He went to the dais and took his place next to his
wife. Father Dannet blessed the meal. The pantler brought them their bread and
butter. Geoffrey split the trencher in half as Merryn accepted cups of poured ale
from a page. He downed it and indicated for it to be filled again.

“Who knew
working with numbers could be such thirsty work?” he said teasingly.

“I am happy
for you to take on that responsibility,” she replied. “I do think before the royal
progress arrives that we should take a few days to ride throughout the estate
and visit all who reside upon it. We did not take time to speak to tenants when
we rode through before.” She took a sip of ale. “‘Twould be good for everyone
to see in person their lord, and you could study what repairs might be done
upon the various cottages scattered across the estate come winter.”

He bit into
the boiled pheasant, succulent and spiced to perfection. Already, he had gained
a few pounds and now fit better into his clothes. If not careful, he would
burst from them. Geoffrey knew the time to begin military training again had
arrived.

Tilda
appeared with a scroll in her hand. “My lord. This just arrived from the earl
of Winterbourne. The messenger has joined us for our meal and will await your
reply once ye have dined.”

She handed
him the scroll. He dropped it immediately on the table as if it might burn his
fingers and returned his focus to his food. But what he chewed and swallowed
left a sour taste as his stomach knotted. He sensed the dread running through
his body and forced himself to keep his seat instead of fleeing from the hall
in terror.

“I wonder
what Lord Hardi wants,” mused Merryn.

Just
hearing that name made his head pound. “’Tis best that you refer to him as the
earl or as Winterbourne now. I doubt he wants to be known by a foolish
childhood name.”

“Open it. My
curiosity is aroused.” She rested a hand upon his thigh under the trestle
table.

Usually,
her touch brought him comfort. He tried to concentrate on her love for him as
he broke the seal and unrolled the missive. Geoffrey allowed Merryn to hold the
left side as he did the right so they both could read the contents.

To my special
friends Lord Geoffrey and Lady Merryn—

I would ask
for the pleasure of your company tonight at Winterbourne. We can dine in
private as I introduce you to my betrothed and ask a favor of you.

I hope to
see you in good spirits and that you will accept my hospitality and stay the
night before returning to Kinwick.

                             Hardwin

“Hmm.”
Merryn frowned. “I never quite thought of Hardi as a friend. And I suppose news
of your return has reached Winterbourne
.
But I wonder what favor he
might ask of us?” She gave his leg a squeeze and took a sip from her cup.

A cold
chill ran through Geoffrey despite the warmth of the room. Hardi had asked two
things of him before he had granted him his freedom. The first was never to
reveal where he had been in order to keep Berold’s reputation from being
smeared. The second had been to grant some future favor, no matter what Hardi
asked of him.

The time
had arrived in which to pay up.

Geoffrey
wondered what the price of his freedom would truly cost.

***

Geoffrey
escorted Merryn into the Great Hall of Winterbourne, his steps leaden. He
glanced about the room and thought of all the meals taken here, all the feasts
and celebrations that had occurred, whilst he shivered with cold and hunger in
the damp dungeons below.

“Welcome,
my friends.”

He turned
and saw Hardi approach them, his arms spread wide. The earl greeted Merryn with
a kiss and then stretched a hand in greeting to Geoffrey. He took the offered
hand as Hardi clapped him on the back.

“I am
delighted that you took me up on my invitation. Come. I would have you meet
Johamma.”

Hardi led
them up a winding staircase and to the solar, where a petite, dark-haired girl
of about ten and six sat with needle and thread. She smiled shyly as she put
her sewing aside and stood to drop a curtsey.

Hardi took
her elbow and guided her over. “This is Johamma, my betrothed. We shall marry
soon.”

“’Tis
lovely to meet you, Lord Geoffrey. Lady Merryn. Hardi has spoken highly of you
both. I hope you will consent to attend our wedding.”

“We would
be honored to see you joined in marriage with the earl,” Merryn told the girl.
“Have you set the date?”

“No,” Hardi
replied. “But I am eager for us to wed.”

“I only
wish my parents could be here,” Johamma said. “They both passed away some years
ago. I was raised by my aunt and uncle. And they are too elderly now to travel
and see me wed at Winterbourne.”

“Then I
have an idea,” Merryn said. “King Edward will visit Kinwick this very month. He
loves pageants and tournaments and all manner of things which bring people
together. I believe holding a wedding whilst he is here would be of great joy
to him and the queen. What say you? Would you like to marry at Kinwick before
our king?”

Geoffrey’s
hands fisted at his side. He tamped down the fury that threatened to spill from
him. He saw the look of surprise cross Johamma’s face and then the sweet smile
as she looked up at her intended.

Hardi met
his eyes. “Would that suit you, my lord? I would not wish to impose on you in
any way.”

He forcibly
relaxed his hands. “We would be honored to host your wedding. ‘Twill surely
amuse the king and bring pleasure to the two of you.”

“Then ‘tis
settled,” declared Merryn. “Johamma and I shall see to the details. ‘Tis
women’s work that we will enjoy, and being neighbors, ‘twill be nice to learn
about one another as we plan the event.”

Johamma
smiled. “To think I shall marry in front of our king. Thank you, my lady, for
such a lovely suggestion.”

Hardi asked
for them to be seated. He poured out wine and offered them fruit and cheese.
They talked of the area and some of the customs in southern England since
Johamma came from the north, where she declared things to be somewhat
different.

Geoffrey
kept waiting for Hardi to speak of the favor he wanted him to agree to. Until
he knew what the earl had in mind, he found it hard to relax.

An hour
into their pleasant conversation, Hardi struck.

“And how
are your children, my lady?” he asked Merryn.

“The twins
grow every day,” she said with pride. “Alys is interested in nature and the
healing arts. I have taken her under my wing. She already knows which herbs to
pick and how to create several tonics.”

“And your
boy?”

Merryn
chuckled. “Ancel is all boy. He sleeps with a wooden sword Geoffrey’s cousin
Raynor made for him. He watches the knights in the training yard and wants
nothing more than to ride into battle as his father did.”

“You fought
at Poitiers, Lord Geoffrey. Am I correct?”

“Yes.” He
felt no need to elaborate.

“And how
old are your children?” Hardi asked him.

“’Twill be
six years of age they turn in August.”

“So another
year before they leave to foster elsewhere.”

“They might
forego that for another few years,” Geoffrey smoothly replied. “I have missed
seeing them grow up, and I wish to have them close to me for an extended time.”

The earl gave
him a winsome smile. “Then I have the perfect solution, and ‘twill speak to the
favor I request of you.”

Understanding
ran through Geoffrey at those words. He held his outrage and nodded for Hardi
to continue.

“As an
earl, I must agree to foster several youths in my household. I hoped that you
might send Ancel to me for training and instruction.” Hardi looked at Merryn.
“And as our estates adjoin one another, I am certain we could manage to allow
Ancel to return often for visits, mayhap each week. ‘Twould allow you both to
see him grow into manhood without a long absence of many years away from Kinwick.”

Geoffrey
saw the joy on his wife’s face as she absorbed the idea. “Knowing Ancel would
be near to us and a part of your household would be the best of all
possibilities, my lord.” She paused. “And with your upcoming marriage, mayhap
Lady Johamma would consider taking on Alys as part of her household once Alys
is of age. That way both twins would not have to face separation, and Geoffrey
and I could see them on a regular basis.”

Hardi
looked to his betrothed. “Would that please you, Johamma?”

Her eyes
sparkled. “Yes, my lord. ‘Twould make me ever so happy.” She turned to Merryn.
“And I, too, would love to learn more of herbs and the healing arts. Would you
consider teaching me? That way you could continue Alys’s education, too.”

“Nothing would
please me more.” Merryn paused and faced him. “Geoffrey? You are so quiet. ‘Tis
something that might give you happiness, having the twins nearby?”

He reached
and brought her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss upon it. “If ‘tis
pleasing to you, Wife, then I am also pleased.” He looked at Hardi. “But what I
said stands. I want the twins to remain at Kinwick a while longer.”

Hardi
looked content. And victorious. He lifted his cup. “I can agree to that. Here’s
to Ancel and Alys one day becoming a part of the household at Winterbourne.”

All four of
them joined in and sipped their wine. Geoffrey smiled, hiding his displeasure
at the thought of his flesh and blood parading about Winterbourne, the place he
had been enslaved.

A servant
brought their evening meal. As they ate, the two women became engrossed in
their conversation. Geoffrey decided to ask Hardi about this favor.

He leaned
closer, his voice lowered. “Why? When you and your father took everything from
me—robbed me of years and of seeing my own children grow up—why do want them to
foster with you? As an earl of the realm, you have your pick of the litter
amongst the noble families as who might foster in your household. Why must you
take my children?”

Hardi
sighed. “’Tis for that very reason, Geoffrey. I want to make it up to you.
You
helped parent me when my own father chose not to. I want to become a man of
honor as you are and teach your children. In some small way, I hope that will
repay my debt to you for partaking in stealing years of your life from you.”

Though the
thought sickened Geoffrey, he knew the decision had been made.

And the
code of chivalry which he had lived his life by now became something he hated.