Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"T his situation is going to work in our favor astonishing well," Flora said. "Did you see how the earl's son looked at Lista? We have two knights to vie for her hand!"

They were back in their tower chamber. Having burned through the hemp, literally, they were now burning lavender and chamomile, which had a slightly calming effect. They also had at least three pitchers of wine and Flora had already drank her way through one of them. She was very drunk, inhaling the lavender and chamomile, as Meadow sat in the corner with her third cup of wine.

"Well?" Flora said. "Do you hear me?"

Meadow nodded. "I hear you."

"We must do something about it."

Meadow didn't think any of this was a good idea, but not because she didn't want to impose on her daughter. Lista's thoughts or opinions never had any bearing on what Meadow thought. It was more that Meadow simply didn't like making decisions. Her husband had always made the decisions and once he was gone, Simon had for a short time. Now, it was Flora and Flora was pushing her into doing what she wished.

There were two knights at Felkington.

Two knights, two potential husbands.

"What do you want to do about it?" Meadow finally asked. "You wanted Sir Julian for her and I am prepared to speak to him, but now you think I should not?"

Flora waved her off as if she were completely stupid. "Now we have an earl's son in our grasp," she said. "The House of de Velt is prestigious, but there is no earldom. We have Sunderland within our grasp, Meadow. That would be a much better marriage for Lista and a much better family for us. Sunderland is an advisor to the king and we can have everything we have dreamed of."

Meadow looked at her sister. "What you have dreamed of," she said. "Flora, I do not share your dreams. I am content to remain here and wait for death to claim me. There is nothing left for me, certainly not court life."

Flora frowned. "Then you remain here," she said, snappish. "Remain here and rot for all I care. But you must convince the earl's son that he should marry Lista."

Meadow shook her head and turned away, drinking heavily from her cup. "I am not going to force anyone."

Flora was on her feet, stalking her sister. She knew that yelling at her would do no good, nor would fear, so when dealing with Meadow it was better to cajole her in such a way that would make her want to do it. Meadow was a fool but, in this case, she was a fool who contained the key to Flora's future.

Their dreams seemed to be splitting.

"I want you to listen to me and listen carefully," Flora said. "Can you do this?"

Meadow could feel her nearby and she recoiled. "I always listen carefully."

Flora knelt down beside her, gripping her with her sharp-taloned fingers. "We must create a competition," she said. "We must make the knights vie for her hand."

"I thought you only wanted the earl's son?"

"I do," Flora said. "But he will have no incentive if he believes Lista is an easy target. But if there is competition, it will force de Rhos to move swiftly."

Meadow frowned and looked at her sister. "How do you know he is even interested in her?" she questioned. "I was in the great hall today, too. I did not see anything that would indicate he is interested in her."

Flora held up a finger. "We need a challenge."

"What challenge?"

Flora's drunken thoughts were gaining steam. "The knighthood is based on challenges," she said. "Men proving themselves stronger against their enemies. Men thrive on challenges and if the de Rhos son is challenged, he will fight. He will fight for Lista."

Meadow thought her sister was becoming mad. "Why should he?" she said. "He does not know Lista. He has no claim on her."

Flora knew that, but she was concocting a plan that, to her, made perfect sense. "But the de Velt son does," she said. "He is very fond of our Lista. Let him see her with de Rhos and then there will be a challenge. De Rhos will have to fight if de Velt challenges him."

Meadow shook her head, baffled. "And what if he does not?" she said. "What if he walks away, which is what any sane man would do. We are left with de Velt and you do not want him."

Flora looked at her. "He is acceptable," she said. "But de Rhos is better. The man does not intend to remain here at Felkington; I heard him. He said he was traveling to Kelso, but we must delay that. We will send him to the vineyard and tell Lista that he wishes to speak to her. She will arrive and they will be puzzled, but then we will send de Velt to the vineyard. He will see them together, become insane with jealousy, and the challenge will be issued."

Meadow thought it was an extremely weak premise. "I think you are mad," she finally said. "They have only just met one another. What reason do they have to fight?"

"Because de Velt is fond of Lista," Flora said as if her sister were foolish. "I told you this– de Velt will be jealous and he will challenge de Rhos."

Meadow didn't think it was a good plan. In fact, she thought it was ridiculous. But Flora seemed convinced and she would not go against her sister. She never had. She went over to the big bowl in the center of the room, a pewter bowl that had turned black from all of the soot with the burning that took place in it, and she inhaled the smoke deeply.

"You risk much with this plan," she finally said. "Do you not see how weak it is?"

"It is not weak," Flora snapped. " You are weak. Weak and foolish."

Meadow ignored the comment for the most part, though it always hurt her when Flora took to insults to get her way. "If you do not see how weak this plan is, let me explain it to you," she said. "Both knights could become enraged at us and Felkington will suffer. We will have no husbands for Lista then because they will leave us and spread tales of the foolish women at Felkington. No man will want Lista then and your dreams of returning to court will be ruined."

Flora wasn't going to be refused. She was convinced she had the right scheme. "Trust me," she insisted. "Trust me that all will happen as it should. When you see de Rhos rise, you will send Lista out to the vineyard. Tell her that you want her to bring you some grapes. Tell her anything. But send her out to the vineyard. Then, you will tell de Rhos that Lista is in the vineyard and wishes to see him. That will send him to Lista."

Meadow was gazing at her, guarded. "And then what?"

Flora held up a finger as if the greatest idea was yet to come. "Then, we find de Velt and tell him that Lista wishes to see him," she said. "De Velt will go to the vineyard, see them together, and challenge de Rhos. Trust me, Meadow. All will happen as it should and, soon, we shall either have access to the great battle lords of de Velt or to the Sunderland riches."

Meadow sighed heavily. She knew Flora wouldn't be put off and if she tried, the woman would insult her and pester her until she gave in. It had happened before.

Therefore, she knew she had no choice.

She had to do it.

Summoning a servant, Meadow told the woman to inform her when de Rhos had risen. Six hours later, when the news came, she had a servant find Lista in the great hall with the wounded with a special request from her mother. Lista refused at first, but the servant was insistent, which sent Lista up to the tower room to demand to know why her mother needed her to bring her grapes, all of which had been stolen in the raid.

With Flora's silent prompting, Meadow drummed up tears and Lista unhappily surrendered. With her daughter heading out to the vineyard, Meadow went to find Louis to tell the man that Lista wanted to bid him a private farewell. He seemed reluctant at first, but that reluctance turned to curiosity. That was obvious.

With Louis on the move, the last piece of the puzzle was Julian.

Flora took care of that last detail herself.