Chapter Seventeen

R anulf remained silent throughout the numerous effusive welcomes his wife was receiving, all cut short as soon as it was noticed who held her. He did not like leaving so many dumbstruck people behind him as they advanced through one gatehouse, then the other, cutting off his retreat, but it could not be helped. He did not actually grow uneasy until they had reached the inner court, where more than a hundred men-at-arms waited, and at least fifteen knights, some merely wearing swords, some fully armored, some still hurrying down the stairs of the keep, all obviously only just warned the lady had returned.

“Be easy, my lord,” Reina said quietly to him when he halted his destrier to face this small army. “’Tis merely two of my vassals with their knights and men. I told you I had sent for Lord Simon, telling him about the attack. He no doubt picked up Sir John on his way here.”

“John, your hoped-for betrothed?”

“Nay, my vassal, John Radford. He is a man set in his ways, inflexible even, so his first impression of you is the one he will adhere to. Three knights are his, and twenty of the soldiers. The rest are Simon’s men, though I see Sir Meyer has returned. He is the household knight I sent to assist my bailiff. He and Sir Arnulph have been with us nigh on four years now. Both have given excellent service, but as they are retainers, ’twill be your decision if their terms are to be renewed or not.”

“You want no say in that?”

“It would be nice did you ask my opinion on anything you are not sure of,” she replied, “but nay, the final decision is henceforth yours.”

“And is that your Lord Simon stomping toward us with his hand on his sword?”

Reina flinched at his suddenly aggressive tone. “Aye, but do you let me handle this. ’Twould help if you set me down and took your hands off me so they do not think I am still your prisoner.”

“Is that an order, lady?”

“I would not presume to order you, my lord.”

“Oho,” he grunted. “Like you did not do this morn in my tent?”

She blushed at that reminder, just in time for Simon to see, which did not help at all. But Ranulf did dismount and lift her down in front of him. And he did keep his hands off her, though ’twould be no hard thing to change that with as close as he stood behind her.

“Lady Reina, you are not hurt?” Simon asked immediately he reached her.

“Not in the least,” she replied with a smile. “If you must know, Simon, ’twas a high adventure I quite enjoyed.”

Ranulf at that point met the man’s blue eyes, which were not unfriendly yet, though not easy either. He was a man of middle years, robust of health and frame, but only of medium height, which meant he had to look up to Ranulf, far up, a fact no man of rank liked.

Since he was studying Ranulf, Reina quickly intro duced them. “Let me make known to you Sir Ranulf Fitz Hugh. Sir Ranulf, my liege man, Lord Simon Fitz Osbern.”

“But is he not the man who—”

She cut him off swiftly with the assurance, “That was all a mistake, Simon. He did not take me for himself but for a Lord Rothwell, who had lied to him, claiming I was his betrothed and had refused to wed him. Naturally, as soon as I informed Sir Ranulf that I had never even heard of this Rothwell, he was honorbound to bring me home. ’Twas no fault of his that he was misled by a craven lord who thought to have me at any cost. Rothwell is no different than de Rochefort, and I am glad you answered my summons so quickly, for we need to discuss what to do about my presumptuous neighbor, though I am inclined to let the matter be with my wedding pending—which we also need to discuss.” When his eyes returned suspiciously to Ranulf, she added, “When did you arrive?”

“This morn, to be given that letter that was left behind,” Simon replied surlily.

“Oh, that,” she said with a forced grin. “Come now, Simon, admit ’twas cleverly done and it worked, but not a word of it was true. Look at him. Does he look like a man who would kill a defenseless woman just to avoid a little skirmish? I would have been perfectly safe had you followed, though ’tis well you did not, for de Rochefort is likely watching Clydon for another opportunity, and ’tis not likely he knew I was absent, leaving after matins as we did. I cannot tell you how much I had worried over that, and how it eased my mind, hoping you were here to defend against another attack.”

He took her soothing and pacifying words as they were intended, relieving his guilt that he had done naught to get her back, and praising him for doing naught to get her back.

“Come, John, Meyer.” She beckoned the other two knights forward. “I would have you meet the man who has given up a fortune just on a lady’s word. This is Ranulf Fitz Hugh.” And to Simon: “He did not have to believe me, you know. ’Twas only my word against everything Lord Rothwell had told him.” She had to grin at that point, knowing without looking at him that Ranulf would not like what he was hearing, that doubt was rearing up in his mind as he wondered if she was the one who had lied. Mischievously, she waited a long moment before adding, “I am sure confirmation at this point would not be amiss. Do one of you gentlemen relieve Sir Ranulf’s mind. Am I, or was I ever, betrothed to a Lord Rothwell?”

There were three ready “Nays” to that, but it was John Radford, even older than Simon, who added gruffly, “She is to wed John de Lascelles, if the boy can ever find his way back to Clydon, which is become doubtful.”

“Do not be cruel,” Reina admonished gently. “Lord John has had his troubles, which have kept him from coming sooner. But as to wedding him, I have had a change of heart. Do you all come inside and we will discuss it over supper, but I really must let my ladies know I have returned safely, and see that my servants have not grown lax in my absence. Simon, do you assume my honor and introduce your men to my guests and make them welcome for me.” At last she turned to Ranulf. “I will join you in the hall anon,” and then with a grin: “You may be sure my ‘soon’ is sooner than yours, my lord.”

She knew he hated to let her out of his sight, but there was naught he could do as she rushed up the stairs and into the keep. He was left standing amidst her men, and with the lady gone, the other knights converged on him. But he need not have worried. Her having informed Lord Simon that he and his men were guests and welcome was all that was necessary to assure there would be no antagonistic questioning. Simon did no more than she had bidden him, introducing the two groups of knights, then slowly leading the way into the keep, talking about anything and everything except the lady’s abduction.