Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) (10 page)

“Our lord does love his elegant life all right,” Chadwick grumbled under his breath, wiping his dirt-stained hands on the hem of his tunic.

Kendrick sensed their peevishness but had no choice but to prod them along anyway. He intended to be a resident lord at his own manor and wanted to oversee things himself even if it did mean more than just a few blisters. And after all, if hard work was good enough for him it was good enough for the men who served him. Was it not?

“Merry-go-up! You are so hard at work that you must indeed be frightfully thirsty.”

Glancing up, Kendrick hoped to see his lovely neighbor standing there but saw a tall, red-haired buxom young woman standing there instead. Her smile exhibited a  crooked front tooth as she waved at Kendrick.

“And just who might you be?” Kendrick didn’t recognize her.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” She clutched at her dark brown skirt. “Maida. I…I am Rowena Fitz Hugh’s…. She thought a moment before saying, “Companion.”

“Companion.” The white linen cap that covered her head, the plain cloth of her dress and the bucket she was carrying declared her to be some sort of serving girl. Nevertheless, he played along, thinking it a wise matter to ingratiate
himself with the young woman. It might well give him a spying eye and ear inside his neighbor’s manor.

“Aye.” She crossed her fingers. “Rowena and I are as close as this.”

“Indeed.” Kendrick watched as she sauntered over to the nearby stream to fill her empty bucket. The water was cool and refreshing, quenching his parched throat and tongue. “Then I must suppose that you can easily tell me of her comings and goings.” He suggestively raised one brow, then with a smile plopped a gold coin in her hand.

The red-haired woman was quick to catch on to his meaning and more than eager to be a tattle-tale. “I do suppose that I could.”

So began their association, one which allowed Kendrick to bump into Rowena Fitz Hugh at every turn. Though Maida was clearly disappointed at first that the manor lord was not interested in her, her ego and pride were soon soothed by the attentions of Chadwick and Humbley.

Though it was winter and
there were no flowers to pick, Humbley bought the young woman ribbons at the fair, Chadwick a bag full of fresh-smelling herbs to sweeten the smell of  her underthings.

Maida responded in kind, baking pastries and collecting eggs for their breakfast, much to the amusement of Kendrick.

“Did you see the tart Maida baked just for me?” Humbley bragged, licking his fingers.

“Tart?” Why ‘tis surely not as tasty as the prune pudding she gave to me.” Chadwick naughtily thumbed his nose.

“Th-that pudding was surely meant for me!”

Back and forth the two men verbally tussled. Kendrick watched
as the two servants nearly got into a fistfight over who was the favored swain, then turning his back, began to chuckle. Leave it to a woman to turn a reasonably sane man into a stuttering fool. Well, that would not happen to him. He would court Rowena Fitz Hugh in such a manner that she would be the one stuttering over him. On that point he was determined.

Oh, what a small world it was!  So small that it seemed Rowena was destined to bump into the irritating Kendrick de Bron over and over again, at the lake, the mill, and the fair. Oh, irony of ironies that he was their neighbor. Without even waiting for poor Ethelred's body to grow cold in his grave the usurper had boldly moved lock, stock and barrel into his ill-gotten manor house, digging and hammering.  Oh, what a villain, albeit a villain who would be hard pressed to find workers for his manor. Poetic  justice. A justice goaded on by Rowena, who had cunningly bribed and cajoled the Melburn workers to cross s over to Grantham Manor’s workforce.

“And, ‘tis just the beginning, de Bron.” Kendrick de Bron, she winced as she whispered his name, refusing to give even a moment’s thought to the second kiss that they shared. De Bron must be repaid in kind for what had happened to Gwyneth and Ethelred. “De Bron, a most worthy puppet for John, the puppet master.”

Nor was Ethelred the only victim of John and his cronies. All over England there were others of Saxon blood whose possessions were being stripped from them to give to John’s cowardly crew. Well, John and the others had better beware. Rowena was determined to show him. She would show them all.

It was a matter that had been given significant thought.
"Though my head will be in the hangman's noose if I am caught," she breathed, realizing that what she planned to do was no longer "child's play".  From now on she was not going to go up against John’s men whenever she had a whim. She intended to go up against him on a much larger scale. Her escapade when she had saved those two young Saxons, had made her realize how dearly she was needed. Robin Hood haunted Sherwood Forest, but there was no one to watch over the Saxons here at least until now.

Rising from her bed, Rowena took a linen chemise from her servant's outstretched hands, slipping the garment quickly over her naked body before the chill of the winter morning air could touch her.  Washing her face in a basin of cold water, prepared by her servant, Maida, Rowena thought carefully.   Should she join with other rebels or work entirely on her own?  Strike at night or during the day?  Should she tell her father
or keep the secret to herself?  Most importantly, how was she going to dispense with Maida's services so that she would be free to come and go without arousing curiosity? She dare not trust Maida with the truth, for the young woman often ran on with her tongue. Moreover, the young woman had been much too curious as to her comings and goings of late.

In truth I can trust no one
.  It was a sobering thought.

"Maida." 

“Aye, my lady.”

Reaching for the towel the girl held out to her, Rowena attacked the situation as delicately as she could.  "From now on I will not require your services in dressing.  There will be no need for you to come to m
y chamber unless you are called."

"No need?"  Maida was flustered, totally unprepared to be dismissed.  "But, my lady
--“ She hung her head like an errant child.  "Have I done something to offend you?"

Rowena shook her head
, though she could have sworn that the girl’s face was marked by a guilty expression  "No, you have pleased me well.  It is just that I am quite capable of dressing myself and...and there may be times when I will be up and about later than usual."

"Later?"  The young woman's eyes were slits of suspicion.

Rowena thought quickly.  She could not take the chance of Maida discovering her climbing in the window dressed as a lad some fine morning but what could she say?  What reason could she give for her sudden need for privacy?

Maida
, a lusty one to be sure, answered for her.  "Oh, my lady has a knight."

"A knight
?"  Rowena recovered quickly. The more she thought about it the more convincing it sounded.  “Aye, that's it.  A lover."   Maida giggled like a child. A quizzical look came into the servant girl’s eyes, as if trying to ascertain the identity of Rowena’s nightly suitor. Then with a coy smile she breathed out a name.  "Is it Kendrick de Bron."

"What?"

Twittering at the very mention of his name, Maida made it obvious that she was well aware of that man’s charms. “It is, I feel it in my bones.”

“Aye.”  Oh how such a lie gal
led her.  The very name made Rowena stiffen with resentment; still she managed to keep her poise.  His name was as good as any other and in truth she could not think of another.  That name would have to do. “De Bron.”

Lover indeed and de Bron be damned. Rowena was determined that she would be hung before romping about in some hay loft or succumbing to the likes of a man like her neighbor. Still she played along. 
"There are times when I...I sneak out the window to meet with him." 

“As well any woman would!”

Being a lusty wench, always available for a toss in the hay, Maida was quick to believe the excuse. “I have an interest or two myself.”

For just a moment Rowena felt a stab of jealousy as s
he imagined that interest to be Kendrick de Bron. Between gritted teeth she said, “You will not tell?”

Maida winked.  "Nay, I will breath n'er a word."

“And I will see that your silence is rewarded.”

“I’ve seen him, you know.”

“I might well suppose that you had.”

Maida's expression took on the look of a love-sick cow.  "He's handsom
e.”

Rowena clenched her teeth as she answered, “Yes….yes indeed he is.”
Anxious to be rid of Maida's chattering, trying to control her ire she whispered, “ but how tired I am of hearing women tell me that.  You may go, Maida."  She gestured towards the door with the stern order, "do not rattle your tongue about it."  Even as she spoke she perceived that to be a futile command.  By tomorrow it would be the talk of the manor.  Ah well.   What did it matter?  She certainly had no intention of seeing that haughty lord again.  Why, even the mention of his name put her in a foul mood.  Her hands shook, her heart was beating erratically. Closing her eyes she seemed to see his arrogantly grinning face staring at her.

Suddenly the walls of the room seemed to be closing in on her.  She was anxious to be out and about.  Going to her clothes chest, she picked up her kirtle and donned it quickly, then tied her girdle around her waist.  Kendrick de Bron indeed!

The glow from the still lit wall sconces flickered on the wall as she ascended the stairs.  Step by step she forced herself into a calmer mood, a humor that was shattered as she caught sight of a visitor to the manor.  It couldn't be.  How would he dare!   Not after what he had done. "De Bron!"

"Ah, Rowena, so there you are."  Her father, unlike Rowena, was in a congenial mood.  "Look, we have a caller."   He patted the interloper on the shoulder.

"So I see," she replied icily, running a nervous hand over her rumpled kirtle.  Why was de Bron staring at her so?

"My Lady."  Kendrick gave a nod of his head, enchanted by the vision she made with her hair slightly tangled and her eyes flashing daggers at him.   Damn, but he was attracted to the willful little chit. She reminded him of a mischievous elf.  So much so that he grinned.

That smile goaded Rowena into  rudeness.  "So, de Bron.  Have you come to steal our land and manor from
us
too?"

The question took Kendrick totally by surprise.  "I beg your pardon."

"Rowena!"  Sir William was horrified.

Rowena tensed
every muscle. Ignoring her father she said coolly,  "My pardon you shall never have, Sir.”  Never.  Ethelred and Gwyneth were like family to me. 
I can never forgive you for being responsible for their being thrown off their land like beggars,
she thought.

Sir William hurried to put himself between his daughter and the man she was insulting.  "You must, pray tell, excuse my daughter," he sputtered.  "I fear that being raised without a mother's soft guidance has left her a bit rough around the edges."

"A bit," Kendrick said wryly, remembering the way she had punched him in the jaw, but oh, so soft and desirable the other day in his arms

"She does...does not mean any offense."

Kendrick was willing to let the matter rest. "Then none is taken."

Rowena was angered all the more at what seemed to be an alliance against her.  Damn her father for being so obsequious.  Because of this man and his desire to steal someone else's land
, Ethelred was dead and Gwyneth left nearly homeless.  "None taken by you perhaps," she insisted, pushing the matter, "but as for me, I am not as eager to let bygones be bygones as my father.  A great wrong has been perpetrated and I will not rest until it is righted."

“A great wrong?” For
the love of him he did not know what that could be. “What?”

“As if
you did not know.”  Rowena’s next words sounded like a threat ."I give you fair warning."

"Is that
so?"  So, Kendrick thought, it was to be a war of wills between them.  So be it. Rather than angering, him he found the idea stimulating.  This young woman was challenging, interesting.  He pressed on. "Then I suppose were I to ask you to go to the archery tournament with me you would refuse."

"Archery tournament?"  Immediately she was curious.  "What tournament?"

Playing her at her own game he took a while to answer. "The Sheriff of Nottingham has proclaimed a tournament be held at the fair to celebrate the longing for spring.  A golden arrow is the prize."

Rowena's eyes opened wide at this bit of news.  "A golden arrow?"  She thought immediately how proud she would be to win such a trophy from the hands of those who thought of women as weak and inferior creatures, fit only for their pleasures.  Men such as this conceited oaf who had tried to seduce her
, not once but twice.

"Aye."  Kendrick could see her anger softening.  "That is the first prize.  The second, third, fourth and fifth are new bows and a chance to serve the Prince as foresters.

"A job as the king's forester, indeed," Rowena shot back.  Suddenly she broke out into gales of laughter.  She would enter the tournament.  No one could stop her.  Not even her father.