Word of Honor (Knights of Valor Book 1) (22 page)

“I agree.”
He brought his lips to hers. The kiss held his promise of love and that he
would do whatever it took to protect his family.

“Hardi and
Johamma will be gone on the morrow,” Merryn said after many minutes. “We shall
have our solar back.” She grinned. “And our own bed.”

“And all
the time in the world,” he said, catching the twinkle in her eye. “Let me
return you to your room, my lady. You look as if you could use some rest.”

She linked
her arm through his. They traveled across the hall and paused in front of his
mother’s door. Merryn wound her arms about his waist, reluctant to part from
him.

“Plan on
getting plenty of rest tonight,” Geoffrey advised her. “And do not overtax
yourself on the morrow. For tomorrow, I plan to love you all the night long and
show you how much you mean to me.”

Merryn
smiled at him. “You are the love of my life, Geoffrey de Montfort.”

She gave
him a sweet, lingering kiss which he wished could go on forever. Instead, he
opened the chamber door and escorted her inside. His mother lay asleep on the
bed. Geoffrey kissed her once more, soundly, and then moved to the door.

Merryn blew
him a kiss as he stepped into the corridor. He eased the door shut and turned.

A huge fist
came from nowhere and smashed into his face.

Geoffrey
fought to open his eyes as pain exploded along his temple and nose. His hand
came up to touch his face. Sticky blood met his fingers. He knew what had to be
done and viciously wrenched his nose back into place before he could change his
mind. A loud crunch sounded with the twist, but he gained immediate relief. He
moved to his temple and located the goose egg of a knot that caused his head to
pound so.

He searched
his memory, trying to recall the last thing that occurred. He had spoken with
Merryn about Berold’s treachery. Left her. Then someone had attacked him. He
knew the first blow had landed square in the nose, causing him to stagger
off-balance. Another few rained down upon him.

Then a
blank.

He
concentrated and forced his eyelids open. The ache in his head gnawed hungrily
at him, but he needed to see where he was and who had assaulted him. A flickering
torchlight caught his eye, but something obstructed his view.

“No!” he
cried.

A wall of
iron bars stood before him. He was in a dungeon.

Again.

Geoffrey
fought the rising hysteria to scream, else he feared he’d go instantly mad. He
pushed against the dirt he lay upon and rose unsteadily to his feet, using
those very bars to support himself.

“So, you
finally awaken. I did not hit you that hard, de Montfort. You have become a
weakling. Worse than an old man. But then again, being locked away for as long
as you were might have broken lesser men.”

He squinted
and saw the outline of a man leaning against the wall opposite him, just below
the torch. His face lay in the shadows, but he recognized the voice.

Symond
Benedict.

The royal
guardsman strolled toward him, remaining just beyond his reach. He studied his
prisoner, his lips pursed in thought.

Geoffrey
remained silent. He would not feed into the man’s ego, nor would he beg for his
freedom.

Symond
crossed his burly arms over his chest. “I heard everything, you know.
Winterbourne unburdened himself to Lady Merryn. Blubbered like a babe, he did.
I stood guard in the shadows as the king charged me to do. And I heard of the
wicked earl and the punishment he meted out to the man who destroyed his son.”

The knight
smirked. “’Twas quite an entertaining tale. The young earl promised he would
right things, but you and I know that that could never occur. A man could not
experience what you did and come out the same man. The man Merryn Mantel fell
in love with.”

Hearing his
wife’s name uttered by this bastard caused Geoffrey to tighten his grip on the
bars. He refrained from spitting upon Symond Benedict, not wanting to
antagonize his captor.

Yet.

“And then I
was treated to the touching conversation you held with your wife in the solar.
My, how you do love the lady. But you do not deserve her.”

Benedict’s
lips curled into a snarl. “The likes of you had everything handed to him. Your
father was a titled nobleman, and you gained the title simply by being his
first-born male. Me? I’ve had to work for all. I rose through the ranks. The
king recognized my skills in warfare and keen intelligence. He knighted me on
the battlefield. And I have served him loyally for many years.”

Benedict
leaned closer. “And now I want what he promised me. The time for my reward is
at hand.”

Geoffrey
finally spoke. “So you would actually leave me here to rot. And claim the
bounty you think you deserve.”

A harsh
laugh burst from the knight. “You are beginning to understand your predicament,
Lord Geoffrey. Desperate men will do just about anything to gain what they
believe to be theirs.”

Without
warning, he slammed a fist against the bars. “And the Lady Merryn was mine.
Mine!
The king vowed she would belong to no other. The most beautiful, seductive lady
in the land. He promised me her hand in marriage—and the castle and land at
Kinwick. Not the title of baron, mind you. Your little brat was to retain that.
But I would have shipped off those damned twins to foster as far away as
possible and coupled with my wife a thousand times till she birthed many
children carrying Benedict blood.

“And if an
accident happened to wee little Ancel?” He shrugged. “Then the king would have
no choice but to give me the title, and my sons will reign supreme once I am
gone.”

Fear for
Ancel’s well-being coursed through Geoffrey at the bold statement. Before he
could react, Benedict stepped away.

“Merryn—and
Kinwick—will be mine now. ‘Twill be as it should before you showed your ugly
face again. You appeared as a ghost from the past, barely flesh and blood, and
ruined all my plans.” The knight gave him an eerie smile.

“This time
there will be no feeding and cosseting you. You will die on your own estate.
Lady Merryn will believe you’ve run away, your shame so great at her having
learned the truth of those missing years. Her husband—the man too weak to fight
Lord Berold. The man who could not convince a young, impressionable Hardi to
release him from his prison so he could return to his lovely wife of a single
day and night. This time you will die as you should have all those years ago.
And ‘twill be me who comforts Lady Merryn.”

Benedict
chuckled and began to retreat. He called over his shoulder, “I can’t say which
will last longer. The torch burning yonder—or you.” He swept a bow in mockery.
“A good eve to you, my lord. I look forward to returning and taking command
over all of Kinwick. Especially the prize of my wife.”

Geoffrey
roared in despair, but Edward’s wicked knight kept walking.

***

Merryn rose,
careful not to disturb Elia’s sleep. Her mother-in-law had been restless
throughout the night. Mayhap she would need a sleeping potion tonight. She
dressed and went to check on Hardi, though she still had mixed feelings about
their neighbor after his ghastly admission yesterday.

As she
entered the room, she brushed against Sir Alard, standing duty near the door.
He greeted her with a nod of his head and brought a finger to his lips. Merryn
looked over at the bed. Johamma lay curled next to her husband, both sound
asleep.

It hit her
as a bolt of lightning, come from nowhere. Geoffrey was right. She had been
wrong to blame a boy, one raised—and most likely terrorized—by a brutal father.
Hardi had dared to go against his father’s command and visited Geoffrey
throughout his long imprisonment. He offered physical goods and his own
company, never knowing if he might be found out.

And Hardi
released Geoffrey once Berold died. He was trying his best to correct the
mistakes of the past, not ones of his making, but those which had nearly ruined
Geoffrey’s life. Hardi had married a sweet girl. He’d offered to train the
twins so they would be in close proximity to Kinwick, making up for the time
Geoffrey had been separated from them. Many children fostered hundreds of miles
from their homes. Some never returned once they left, going into service as
knights or marrying far from their loved ones.

Merryn dug
deep into her heart and found she could forgive Hardi, though in truth, she had
nothing to forgive. Berold had been the sinner and abuser, and he had answered
for his actions when he met his Maker. She hoped he burned in agony in the
eternal fires of damnation after what he had done to Geoffrey.

Her next
mission would be to convince the king that the twins should foster closer to
home. It helped that Hardi held the title of earl and would already be a
valuable supporter of the king. Merryn knew Edward had a soft spot for her. She
wasn’t above playing upon his sympathies where her family was concerned.

She nodded
at Sir Alard as she passed and met Hobard entering the solar as she left.

“I will
check on the earl once more before we depart, but I feel my job is done.”

“He—and
Lady Johamma—are sleeping, sir. Mayhap you can look in on him after breaking
your fast?”

Hobard agreed
and accompanied her to mass and then into the Great Hall to dine. Merryn
excused herself, wishing to check on Elia and take her something to eat. The
royal visit had taxed everyone’s nerves, and Elia seemed to find it more
stressful than most.

She arrived
to find her mother-in-law sitting up in bed but looking a bit flushed. Merryn
felt her brow and thought she might have a slight fever.

“I think
not,” Elia said. “I am simply tired and hot. You know I am older than the king
and queen. Not by much, but all the same, their time at Kinwick wore upon me.”

“Then let
me sit with you a few minutes. I’ve brought some ale and bread and a small
wedge of cheese.”

Elia
nibbled at the food and allowed Merryn to bathe her face in cool water as a
precaution. As they chatted, Merryn thought how Elia—and others—could never learn
the truth behind the years of Geoffrey’s disappearance. She did not know how
her husband had withstood such an ordeal, much less how he had kept the secret
to himself upon his return home. She’d always admired his physical strength and
good character, but to realize what he had survived and the desperate
loneliness he endured during the time he was locked away from the world was
almost more than she could bear.

Merryn
still believed that the king should be told of such treachery. She might have
to fight Geoffrey on this issue, though it occurred to her that with Berold
dead, sharing that kind of news with Edward would truly serve no purpose.
‘Twould be better to let the matter die—even if she believed justice had not
been served. At least she had her husband back, and she would hold fast to him
till eternity and beyond.

“I feel a
little better, child,” Elia said. “I wish to close my eyes and rest a bit
longer. Will you see our company off?”

“Of
course.”

Merryn
waited till Elia’s breathing slowed and soft snores began. She slipped from the
room and hurried downstairs, hoping she would catch their guests before they
departed.

A wagon sat
in the inner bailey, Hardi already stretched out in it.

The earl’s
eyes met hers. He’d begged her to keep the secret, much as he had Geoffrey,
though Merryn had no knight’s oath to swear. She stepped closer and glanced
around.

Lowering
her voice, she said, “I know you do not want Johamma judging you for your
father’s actions, but you must tell her one day. And soon.” She paused. “Some
secrets can eat you alive. You do not want anything to come between the two of
you in your marriage. Geoffrey’s oath to you caused a rift in ours. That is no
way to start your union. I beg you. Tell her.”

He clasped
her hand. “I shall find the strength of heart to do so. Thank you for
everything, my lady.” Hardi looked over her shoulder and smiled.

Merryn
turned and saw Johamma making her way toward them, accompanied by Symond
Benedict.

“Please,
Lady Merryn. Come visit us soon. I have so many things to ask you about running
a household.” The young bride blushed. “I do not know where to start.”

“I would be
happy to assist you in any way, Johamma. I hope that we will be good friends
and good neighbors as the years progress.”

Johamma
smiled. “I would like that.”

Merryn
looked at Hardi. “I wish you a continuing, speedy recovery, my lord. I look
forward to seeing you soon.” She gave him a genuine smile from the heart.

Hardi
received her message, a look of relief on his face.

Symond
assisted Johamma into the wagon, and she nestled against Hardi, pulling his
hand into her lap and holding it tightly. The couple waved as the wagon moved
off, a driver and guard of ten knights from Winterbourne escorting it from the
yard.

Merryn
looked at Symond, hoping to smooth over any awkwardness between them.

“’Tis the
first opportunity I’ve had to speak with you,” she said. “I hope that your
visit to Kinwick was a pleasant one.”

Symond gave
her a shy smile. “’Twould have been nicer if I could have spent time with
you
,
Merryn.”

She frowned
at not only his words, but the soft, loving tone in which they were spoken.

“’Twould
not have been appropriate, Sir Symond.” She emphasized his title and the fact
that she did not call him by his Christian name as he had her. “My husband has
returned and taken his rightful place as lord of Kinwick. You were here in
service to the king, not as before when you were our special guest. While ‘tis
nice we share an acquaintance, I would not expect us to spend time alone
together,” she admonished.

He gazed at
her longingly. “Mayhap the time shall come when we will be able to be together,
my lady. You never know what the future holds.” He bowed. “Until then, I bid
you adieu.”

Merryn
found his attitude odd and wanted matters clear between them before he departed.
“I do know what my future holds, sir. A lifetime with Geoffrey. I hope my
husband and I fill Kinwick with many children and that we live a long, happy
life. Together.”