The Temporal Knights (53 page)

There was a loud knock on the door, which startled both girls out of their thoughts and Ellyn stood up worried.

“It canna be time already,” she thought, absolutely mortified that she was late.

“Tis na yet time, M’lady,” Trudy said supportively and rushed to the door, and opened it wide. Sir Gospatrick bowed, and took a quick step inside before Trudy could stop him. Ellyn gasped and covered herself with her arms as the man stood gazing at her, obviously surprised, but pleased nonetheless. Ellyn thought of running to the next room, but decided that it would be a little undignified. Besides he was looking at her with such wide, appreciative eyes that she felt a confusing moment of gratitude mixed with her acute embarrassment. She felt her face go red.

“Oh, excuse me M’lady. I thought ye would be ready by now,” Sir Gospatrick said with a bow, though his eyes never left her, and he made absolutely no move to retreat from the room like a true gentleman would.

Trudy walked over quickly and grabbed him lightly by the arm, but he shrugged her off. Ellyn grew angry but dropped her arms in any case just so he could have a good look.

“Well, I am
na, and if ye intend to stay and gawk at me, at least ye could come and finish me hair,” Ellyn scolded and turned her back on him.

Sir Gospatrick smiled and snatched the brush from Trudy. “Gladly,” he said and took two steps forward when Trudy snatched the brush back and beat him twice on the backside with it. He jumped and turned on Trudy, smiling. He quickly grabbed her tightly and swung her around as if dancing.

“I’ll wait for ye outside then, but do hurry or I shall take Miss Trudy here,” he warned and with a flourish was out the door.

Ellyn turned as the door closed, a scowl on her face, but as soon as she realized he was gone she grinned behind her hand. “He’s impossible.”

“Yah, Mum,” Trudy said with her own smile and went to work finishing her Lady’s hair.

True to his word, Sir Gospatrick remained outside her rooms until Ellyn stepped out. She smiled shyly at his stunned expression.

“Ye truly be a vision from the western lands,” he said with a formal bow.

“Why thank
ye,” Ellyn replied, glad to have him here to escort and guide her through the strange halls. Trudy followed behind them, heading for the smaller nook, next to the kitchens were the servants ate. She was equally excited, hoping to see many a handsome man about the castle.

The great hall was enormous, over twice the size of the hall at Bridgwater, and by far the largest room Ellyn had ever been in. Hundreds of noblemen and women were mingling about, talking, drinking and laughing, since the seating for the sup had not yet commenced. Servants were also rushing about putting the finishing touches on the table decorations, and placing pitchers of wine here and there on the tables, and everywhere there were flowers and other touches of greenery.

Sir Gospatrick led her about by the arm and introduced her to so many new people she could not possibly remember them all, most were happy to meet her, and she was well aware of the looks of appreciation a number of the young men sent her way. She found she was enjoying their attention very much, almost as much as the jealous, sideways glances she was getting from many of the young maidens. She looked up at Sir Gospatrick, thinking him handsome enough with a likable way about him, but he did not hold a candle to her own Matthew Thane. Suddenly she missed Matt, and desperately wished he were here at her side, supporting and leading her through this important day.

“Ah, tis the Lady Ellyn is it
na,” a thin, dark man, with a small well groomed black beard said and bowed before her.

“Tis indeed,” Sir Gospatrick said with just a touch of cold politeness, and Ellyn realized instantly that her escort did not like this man at all. She held out her hand in greeting and he
bowed over it, and while looking deep into her eyes, softly placed his lips on the back of her knuckles, and though they were quite warm, she would remember his lips being cold on her skin.

“May I introduce Sir Helmstan, the King’s Chancellor,” Sir Gospatrick said flatly.

Ellyn froze for just a second, because if Master Ædwin was known throughout Angland as the best swordsman in the land, Sir Helmstan of Hawes was certainly the most notorious. It was said that he’d killed at least six in duels and baited men constantly for the chance to increase his number of victims. All of the rumors about this man flashed quickly through her brain, and Ellyn could well believe them now that she was in the man’s presence.

“M’lord,” she said with a small curtsey.

“She’s a lovely one,” Helmstan said addressing Sir Gospatrick as if she were not present. “Somehow ye always have the lovelies by the arm. Someday ye must tell me yor secret.”

“Tis easy....I pursue the ladies, like ye pursue the duel,” he answered and quickly guided Ellyn away before any retort could be made, and it was not until they were across the room that Sir Gospatrick stopped.

“Ye stay clear of that one,” he said softly and meant it as an order. “He’s nasty with men and women alike. He na be above ruining a lady’s honor to get a fight from her men.”

“Yah, he was quite frightening,” Ellyn answered truthfully, unconsciously rubbing the back of her hand where she’d received the kiss.

“Ye like him na?” She asked, looking up at her friend.

Sir Gospatrick smiled.
“Tis plain to see. He baits me, hoping to get at me friend, Ædwin, whom he wold like to duel above all else. Helmstan has tried to entice him many times, but found me friend’s tongue to be sharper than any sword, so he works on me, hoping to draw me out.”

“Master Ædwin
wold come to yor aid?”

“Na until I was dead.”

“He wold kill thee then?”

“Yah,
he wold kill me. Unless I had the luck of the bloody Gods,” he admitted, having no illusions about his skill with the sword. He was good, but he was not in the league with either Helmstan or his friend Ædwin.

“Lady Ellyn,” they heard from behind them and turned to find the Lady Ealhswith, escorted by a tall, thin man with long, though receding black hair. His thin, rugged face was handsome in a severe looking way, a look accentuated by his neatly trimmed black beard. The man had dark, penetrating eyes that the Lady Ellyn would find terrifying in an enemy, but at the moment they were twinkling at her with kindhearted interest.

“M’lord...M’lady,” Sir Gospatrick said bowing deeply.

Ellyn performed a formal curtsey. “M’lord...M’lady,” she repeated but still was unsure of the nobleman’s status.

The Lady Ealhswith smiled indulgently, sensing Ellyn’s confusion. “Tis me husband, yor King, Sir Alfred,” the Lady Ealhswith said simply and pinched her betrothed lightly on the arm.

Alfred smiled at Ellyn. “I met ye father some years ago in Mercia. He’s a fine man, good with drink and a tale, if’n I remember rightly,” he said and took Ellyn by the hand and led her away from Sir Gospatrick.

Ye’ll wait yor turn,” the King said with a slight smile and led the girl through the crowd, acknowledging his people as they bowed to him.

“Tis a bothersome thing…all the bowing…all the time.
I’d be rid of it but me council and me lovely Queen tells me it must be so, out of respect for the crown if na for meself,” he said softly, his hand warm and just a bit sweaty on hers. He led her out onto the verandah where the stars were just beginning to appear, Venus high in the west.

“Ye are a verily lovely girl,” he said turning and looking so candidly in her eyes that Ellyn was afraid he might try to kiss her. “Me daughter has written of yor beauty, but the word always fails to capture what the eye beholds. Is it na so?”

“If ye say so M’lord,” she answered very mildly, and lowered her eyes from the intensity of his gaze.

“Na by me, but tis rightly said even so,” he answered and smiled still holding her hand and she did not have the courage to remove it. “F
læ
d tells me yor heart belongs to one of the Ammericaans,” he continued and this was the first time she had ever heard the men called so by someone who’d not yet met them. She blushed at the statement.

“Yah, she wrote truly,” she answered even more quietly.

“Let us test her words then. Tell me wot does he look like?”

Ellyn looked up at her King, who was nearly as tall as her Matthew and smiled. “Oh, he is tall.”

“Taller than me?” the King asked, feigning surprise.

Ellyn giggled and nodded. “His shoulders are here,” she said and held her hands about half a foot above her head.

Alfred’s eyes went wide; he was very accustomed to being the tallest man in the room and believed it helped make his presence more commanding. After a moment he nodded for her to go on. “He has dark hair, like yorn, but it is short, cut just so, and his face is completely smooth like a lad, not yet a man. But tis na because he has na beard, but rather they scrap it off every day, wantin’ to be smooth. His eyes are grey and he has dark eyebrows and soft red lips. He’s a strong man, but gentle with me, and he smells heavenly since he bathes every day.”

“Every day?”
Alfred asked truly surprised. “Are they na afeared of plague?”

Ellyn shook her head. “Na, and their Docktor, a great man of medicine, he pulled a baby out of Meg...I think, of Aycliffe...out of her stomach, cut her open to get the babe...says that washin’ does na cause the plague. He tells in truth dat bathin’ keep the plague from spreadin’ so fast...tis a great and knowing man,” she explained, trying hard to make her King understand their vast knowledge.

“Ye think right kindly of these...Ammericaans, eh M’lady?”

“Yah, M’lord.”

“Do yor words do them justice?”

“Ye were right M’lord. I canna tell ye how kindly and good they be,” she replied and looked at him with a mixture of pleading and respect.

“I be movin’ me armies down on the Lizard come morn, tis said the Boneless be camped on Wight. Helmstan tells me he’ll move on Wareham or Christchurch soon and try to split Wessex in two. I’ve sent for Sir Eadwulf to move his own fyrd to Shaftesbury to watch me rear. If ye say these men to the west be na threat to me lands then I will do this thing with less worry,” he said surprising her with his candor.

“They will na take yor lands,” she assured him, very certain she spoke the truth.

Alfred smiled at her. “F
læ
d will see to that I’m sure. I’ve sent word for her to move wot men she has down from Tamworth to Winchester, just in case the Ammericaans be foolin’ ye.  Ye be na wrong ‘bout these strangers?”

“Na M’lord.”

“I will trust ye, and if’n ye be wrong I suppose it wold na be the first time a kingdom was lost on account of a pretty face and a firm bosom,” he said, reaching toward her. For just a moment Ellyn thought he was going to feel her breast, but instead he gently lifted her chin and gave her a quick kiss on each cheek. He pulled back, smiling down at her, and they both remained quiet for a long moment before he turned and led her back inside for sup.

§

The mood was not nearly so festive in the west where Matt was preparing to preside over the funeral of Stuart Greybon and Selby Conner. The Lady Merwinna and the Lady Æthelf
læ
d were busy spreading the word, while the Countess’ younger sister, Æthelgifu, a soon to be Abbess, worked with Friar Padstone making preparations for the service. It was a testament to the way the local people felt about the Americans that over three thousand people from all over the surrounding counties journeyed to Athelney to pay their respects. And it was a testament to the Americans trust in the locals that neither Major Thane, nor any of the soldiers, felt ill at ease or threatened by the English crowds, even though they were vastly outnumbered. These people were friends now. Matt felt it...they all felt it. This was the second and third funeral performed in the last few weeks and the mood around the Ealdorman’s Hall was noticeably somber. Friar Padstone again performed the services, though this time the weather cooperated and the day was truly beautiful, but somehow this made the deaths of the two young people all the more tragic, since they were not around to enjoy the sunshine and warmth. Captain Murphy Giles was especially hard hit by the death of both his friend and his new lover, and stood close to Beatrice, Selby’s mother, who was now all alone. Her husband, Selby’s father, had passed five years earlier of the bloody cough, since then it had only been her and Selby, her lone child. Murphy took the loss hard, and Matt made it a point to stay close to his grieving friend and colleague.

“Mayjor Thane,” the Countess said after the service was over and the large crowd began to break up and head off in many directions, most walking down to the gates of Athelney where a feast was to be laid out to help ease all of their suffering.

Matt turned about and was again struck by the woman’s great beauty.

“Yes, M’lady?”

“I was wantin’ to tell thee that I will be leaving come morn for Tamworth but I’ve written to the Lady Ealhswith, impartin’ to her the respect and friendship ye have shown for all the peoples of Mercia and Somerset.”
Matt smiled. “Well, I’m sorry we cannot fly you there. It will be a long journey will it not?” he asked thinking of Ellyn.”
“Near three days,” she answered then reached out and took his hand. “I be leavin’ me youngest under me sister’s charge, ‘til she moves down to Shaftesbury but I’d feel verily much better if’n ye’d also see to his protection. I have lost a husband and I fear a son in these past days, and Leoforic is verily precious to me.”