Chapter Seven

R eynard's gaze traveled over his shoulder to view the woman who had reluctantly come around to his way of thinking. She appeared miserable and he supposed he could not blame her. She must have felt his stare for her head jerked upright, her brows narrowed, and then she stuck her tongue out before turning away with a look of what appeared disgust. A childish act but so be it. Hate him if she must, but Reynard still felt he had made the right decision to bring her with him.

He had thought that by turning up wherever she went would eventually wear down the walls she had erected around her. They were bound to tumble just as surely as the stones surrounding her keep. She had not made his task of getting her to change her mind easy, but he had been as determined as she was. After all… how could he in good conscience leave a woman behind when she could barely feed herself let alone the few servants who remained loyal to her household?

It had taken her two long days of sulking before she sent Hawke to deliver her decision. Two long days of making her so angry with him that he swore she would drive a knife into his chest if given half a chance. Aye… she hated him with every breath she took but at least she would be safe.

The memory of when she turned the key into the lock of the front door of her keep would most likely haunt him for years to come. His own memories had briefly flashed before his eyes. At times, it felt as if 'twas just yesterday when he and his brothers had been forced to flee Brockenhurst. Once the key had been put away, Elysande had rested her forehead and one hand on the solid wooden portal as though she was saying a final farewell to the place. But 'twas the tormented look in her tear-filled blue eyes that would have been any man's downfall. Reynard almost reconsidered… almost. But he hardened his heart, took up the reins of his horse, and waited whilst her captain assisted her into the saddle. He could feel her stare boring into his back ever since.

"She will come around, Sir Reynard," Hawke said as if reading his thoughts. "She may be stubborn, but she eventually saw reason and came to her own conclusion that we were right."

"She was acting childish and thinking only of herself," Reynard retorted whilst keeping alert for possible attacks upon the open road.

A sound rumbled in the chest of Elysande's captain. "I suppose that is what you would see not knowing her as I do. She is only a score of years. Even though she is young, Lady Elysande has had the responsibility of her people thrust upon her when her parents went to travel abroad for their own entertainment for the past five years. 'Twas not easy caring for a dying grandfather and watching a man she adored slip away from this world. Give her a chance to come to terms with her new life. She will not disappoint you."

Reynard's brow rose. "Disappoint me?" he queried. "I have no feelings for your mistress so she cannot in truth disappoint me. My one and only concern was her welfare. Once we are again in the presence of the empress, I will leave the lady in our monarch's care."

Hawke leveled his gaze upon Reynard and then frowned before turning his attention once more upon the road ahead of them. "I thought mayhap since you were so adamant upon her leaving Blackmore, that you had quickly developed an affection for her."

"I barely know the woman," Reynard scoffed. The thought of falling under some woman's spell was more than abhorrent to him. He had made himself a vow never to fall in love again. He had every notion to keep the promise he had made in his youth, did he not?

"She would make some man an excellent wife," the Frenchman replied quietly. "She has been well trained in all that would be required of her once she married."

"Then you wed her," Reynard retorted. "I assure you I have no plans to wed her or any other woman."

"Never? That seems odd considering all men would eventually take a wife to fill their coffers and ensure their line continues," Hawke said, taking a short glance at the lady riding behind them.

Reynard cursed beneath his breath reminding himself once again of the vow he had sworn to himself in his youth never to marry. Inwardly, he sighed knowing 'twas foolish and one he knew some day he would unwillingly need to break. If nothing else, the empress would choose a bride for him with lands to further her claim to England. "I have no plans to marry anytime soon ," Reynard said rephrasing his reply from moments ago. "I am in service to the empress and am not at liberty to do as I please. But if the lady is so worthy to marry, again I have to ask, why do you not wed with her?"

"She has been under my protection since she was a little child," he said with a slight smile. "Her elevated status of a noble house made such a union impossible anyway. Her parents would have never approved. Besides, Lady Elysande is more like a sister to me and I could not think of her otherwise."

Reynard nodded. "I understand. My brothers and I have a woman who has been a friend of the family for most of our lives. She developed an affection for my older brother Wymar but he, too, would never cross the boundaries of falling for his best friend's sister."

"You have brothers," Hawke mentioned.

"Aye, two older, both now wed. I have been traveling with that same friend Lord Richard Grancourt and several others whom I fought beside at Lincoln and Winchester."

"You were at both battles and survived. Rumor has it there was not much left to Winchester once the bishop lit fire to the place."

"Aye. We were lucky to escape capture when we fled with the empress. 'Twill take years for Winchester to recover from the fires."

Hawke nodded. "And Lady Elysande… you will just leave her in the care of our monarch and return to whatever tasks the empress has in mind for you?"

"'Tis my way of life. I am duty bound to Empress Matilda until she releases me from her service. I am certain Lady Elysande will find plenty of prospects for her hand at court."

Hawke's brow rose. "Lady Elysande is not accustomed to court life. I have the feeling she will hate the intrigues that surround such a life more than she currently hates you," he grumbled. "But obviously I was wrong about my assumption earlier and misspoke about you possibly finding you may one day hold an affection for the lady. I apologize and will not bring the matter up again."

Hawke pulled on the reins of his horse and fell back into place next to his lady, leaving Reynard alone with his thoughts. Another glance at the woman in question and his head began to ache since she reminded him so much of Lady Johanna. Nay! He would not fall under Elysande's spell no matter how beautiful the lady might be. He continued that mantra inside his head until he almost believed his own thoughts. He wondered how many times he would need to repeat them until they stuck.