Chapter One

Oxford, England

December 1142

L ord Richard Grancourt paced his sister’s bedchamber like a caged animal, pondering all that had brought him to this moment.

He had followed the Norwood brothers into the war that had raged throughout England for a decade. That his own estate neighboring Brockenhurst had not suffered at King Stephen’s hands had been a miracle. He was grateful to have a home to return to, and to know that his parents continued to live there peacefully, but his chosen place had been on the battlefront, fighting for the cause he believed in. His loyalty to the Empress was absolute…even when she gave him the most annoying of tasks, such as fetching his spoiled younger sister so she might join the Empress as one of her ladies-in-waiting.

Beatrix had a frivolous nature—unsurprising, after the way their parents always doted upon the girl. She had come to expect that she would always be allowed to have whatever she wanted and to do whatever she pleased, which might explain how she had scared off all of her suitors. That she was now an unwed woman of a score and four years did not sit well with Richard. He felt that ’twas up to him to find her a suitable husband, but he was under no illusions that ’twould be a simple task.

Up until recently, that need to see his sister properly settled had been the greatest task weighing on his mind…but then the castle had been put under siege. The walls protected them from harm, but supplies were running low, and there was no rescue coming. A desperate plan had been formed to allow the Empress to escape, aided by some of her most trusted men—including Richard. ’Twas all scheduled to take place on the morrow, and he was still uncertain how much he should share with Beatrix. ’Twas far from certain that she could be trusted to keep silent. But could he leave without telling her goodbye? If things went poorly, he might not see her again this side of heaven.

“Do sit down, Richard, before you give me a headache with all your pacing,” Beatrix warned. “Is it not enough that I am all but starving here?”

Richard turned his blue eyes to his sister. Her hair was as black as his own but that was the end to their resemblance. Her eyes were brown, and her body was petite in frame. She was a rare beauty, for all that she had a troublesome temperament.

Richard finally shook his thoughts from his head and did as Beatrix bid. He took a chair next to her as she continued to hold one hand up to her forehead. Her cheeks were gaunt, the sight filling him with remorse that he had not been able to provide for her. As much as he disagreed with his sibling on almost everything, he did not like to see her suffer.

He reached for her free hand. “I know ’tis difficult, Beatrix. But recall, you are not the only one hungry, Beatrix. We are all in the same position with empty bellies each eve.”

“I want to go home,” she complained bitterly turning pleading eyes to him.

He gave a heavy sigh. “Aye, as do we all. But there is nothing to be done but to continue to serve Empress Matilda.”

Beatrix leaned back in her chair before she narrowed her eyes. “What are you not telling me, Richard? You must have some news. ’Tis not like you to keep secrets between us.”

A harumph left him. The men might call him the Knight of Mayhem, speaking in awed whispers of his prowess on the battlefield, the way his strikes could never be predicted, always catching the enemy by surprise. But when it came to his sister, it seemed he could hide nothing. She had always been able to read him like a book. Telling Beatrix of the plans for the morrow could put the Empress and the entire escape plan in jeopardy, but how could he keep it from her? She was right to say that he did not like secrets between them.

“Beatrix… you must needs know that if there was another way…”

She gave an exasperated shout of displeasure. “Out with it, Richard. There is no sense keeping me in the dark about whatever is about to transpire!” she demanded. “My nerves have already reached the breaking point. I am beyond exhausted from this blasted siege lasting for months with no end in sight.”

Richard ran his fingers through his hair. He understood his sister’s frustration with being confined. There was not much to look forward to and a Christmas celebration in a couple of weeks was certainly not about to happen. There was not much to celebrate.

“Very well,” he began but then pointed a warning finger at her. “But I tell you this in the strictest of confidence.”

She raised one of her dark brows. “Then tell me and stop putting things off.”

“On the morrow, the Empress has plans to make her escape in the middle of the night,” Richard stated before Beatrix interrupted him by jumping up from her chair.

“What? How does she think we shall travel in the dead of night? Or did she forget ’tis the middle of winter?” she fumed. She stomped over to where a pitcher had been set. She picked up the container to peer inside only to slam it back down. Clearly, the wine it had once held was now gone.

He took a deep breath before he returned to his explanation. “You shall be staying here along with the Empress’s other attendants. This must needs be a small party to sneak past Stephen’s army.”

Beatrix had gone around the table and now leaned her hands upon the edges. “Are you trying to inform me that you are leaving me here? And that you shall be gone for who knows how long?”

“Aye.”

Another sound of outrage came from her lips and she swept her hand over the contents of the table, sending objects flying. Richard ducked as a chalice came soaring toward his head.

“You cannot leave me!” she cried out.

He quickly stood and went to take his sister in his arms, but she pushed him away. “Enough, Beatrix. You must remain strong.”

“Strong? You must be jesting with me, you dolt. How can I be strong when I am all but wasting away here without nourishment?”

“Once the usurper Stephen realizes that the Empress is no longer inside Oxford, he will have no choice but to allow those left behind to surrender,” Richard reasoned as she began to cry. “Please, little sister… if I could take you with me I would, but you would not fare well out there trekking through the snow for miles. You are safer right here.”

She stomped her foot in protest before raising her eyes to meet his. “How can you leave me here to starve?”

“You will not go hungry for much longer. I promise,” he whispered before attempting once more to pull her into his arms. This time, she allowed it.

“You should not make promises, Richard, that you may not be able to keep,” she whined hiding her face against his chest.

He took her chin to tip her head so she could view him again. “You will not go hungry for much longer,” he repeated. “Promise me you will keep this conversation between just us.”

She gave a huff of despair. “I may be spoiled but I am not a fool, Richard. You have my word.”

He kissed her forehead. “I will see you soon.”

“If you say so,” she pouted.

He began making his way toward the door to return to the Empress’s solar. “Try not to miss me too much, sister,” he teased, giving her a wink.

Her lips twitched as she tried to suppress the smile that nearly overtook her pout. He opened the door but stopped when she called his name. “Richard… be safe,” she murmured quietly.

“I will,” he promised, and then closed the door. He made his way back down the passageway to the Empress’s solar where those who were in her confidence continued to plot out their plan. Richard could only ponder in amazement if such a ruse would actually work. They would find out on the morrow.