Chapter Twenty-Six

T he brief battle between Stephen and Earl Robert’s men at Wilton did not last long. Although Richard had informed Annora that she was no longer his prisoner, a guard had still been placed at the entrance to his tent. So much for trust had been her first thought, but when she fully considered her situation, she had to admit that she did not blame Richard for being wary of her. His plan to lay siege to her home in order to return the estate into the control of the Empress had many points at which it could fail. Whilst she had left Merek to ensure her son’s safety, she could not say that even now her captain was not residing in the castle’s pit—or in a grave.

For nigh unto a week, she had remained inside Richard’s tent. Since they last met, he had been appointed Captain of the Guard for Earl Robert. A prominent position and one he took with great seriousness. Men came to him throughout the day and he listened intently to their words before forming his opinion on the matters that needed his attention. He was fair with those who came to him, Annora had to admit as she listened to all he dealt with.

But this did not mean she would allow herself to be swayed so easily by Richard’s kind and flowery words. Or so she kept telling herself as she continued to remain in the confinement of a tent that seemed to get smaller and smaller as each day folded into the next. At night whilst they supped, Richard would tell her of his life at his home at Lyndhurst or his exploits with the Norwood brothers once they joined the Empress’s cause. The deep, rich baritone of his voice lulled her into a sense of security that she had not felt in many a year and the ice surrounding her heart cracked open a little more somehow letting the man in.

The nights had been the worst as she laid for hours tossing and turning unable to sleep knowing Richard was close. His soft breathing haunted her every waking hour and when she did finally manage to drift off, images of a handsome knight with the bluest eyes she had ever beheld made her yearn in desire until she awoke more frustrated than ever before.

When Richard came to inform Annora they would begin packing up their camp and make their way toward Meregate, Annora was relieved but also worried for her people. A siege could last for months. What would happen inside the castle to her people and son before Clifton Tashe might be forced to surrender? Annora was certain he would not give up easily, or quietly, and she did not relish the fact that starving out Tashe might easily harm her own son and remaining people loyal to her household as well.

The sound of the tent collapsing as the men continued their work brought Annora out of her musings. She did not know what her future held except for the hope that her home would again be returned to her. But even that thought held a bit of uncertainty. When she was once again lady of her castle, she would need to take a husband, that much was clear. With the exception of Richard, there was no other who she might petition to marry her.

“Lady Annora, we are here to take you to Richard,” a voice said pulling her again out of her thoughts.

She raised her head to stare at two knights. One with black hair and the other blond. She stood and tilted her head to one side. These two had been at Oxford. She was certain she had seen them training that day when she had confronted Richard.

“Since we shall be riding and fighting together, might I know your names?” she asked while she rocked on her heels waiting for them to reveal their identities.

The one bearing black hair and green eyes spoke first. “Blake Kennarde, at your service, my lady,” he said with a short bow of his head.

“Kingsley Goodee,” the other replied also giving her a bow.

Annora gave them a small smile. “Since I am to be escorted to Grancourt, we best not keep the man waiting.”

As she walked between the two towering men, she could not help but realize how small in stature she truly was compared to these warriors. That they would join her cause gave her further consideration of what everyone involved might hope to gain or might lose. She kept her silence as they continued to press forward until she saw Richard standing by the side of a man who she assumed was the Earl of Gloucester. Since she had not been formally introduced to the earl, she had no way of knowing his identity.

When she began to draw closer, she came to the sudden realization that there were at more than a dozen men she recognized as being loyal to King Stephen. She had fought beside them, shared meals with them, heard the tales of their lives. Though she had no love for their leader, sadness momentarily filled her knowing these knights were being held for ransom. Two in particular caught her attention and she knew she needed to have a private word with Richard in order to gain the men’s freedom. Since she had barely spoken to Richard in the past se’nnight, even though he had prattled on each night, she would likely need to put forth an extra amount of effort to be cordial if she wanted to convince him to have the men released. They had been loyal to her over the past several months and had watched her back. That in itself was enough for Annora to plead their cause.

She bobbed a curtsy before the two men. “My Lord Grancourt…” she began, whilst plastering a smile on her lips. “If I might have a brief moment of your time?”

Richard looked away from the man he had been talking to and one dark brow rose as though in amusement at the overly sweet tone of her voice. Inwardly she cursed knowing she had perchance put a little too much emphasis on the pitch. Richard returned his attention back to the lord whose attempt to hide his own sense of amusement failed.

“My lord, may I present to you Lady Annora de Maris of Meregate,” Richard said introducing her. She dropped down into a ladylike curtsy despite the fact that she was dressed in hose, tunic, and boots. “Lady de Maris, this is Robert, Earl of Gloucester.”

“My lord. I cannot thank you enough for coming to the aid of my people,” she said. ’Twas no small undertaking to lay siege to a castle and would cost this man greatly both in men and resources, representing a major loss to his coffers.

“Finally, I meet the legendary Lady de Maris,” the earl crooned softly. “I have heard much from Grancourt of your exploits both at Winchester and Oxford, my lady.”

Annora glanced between the two men, wondering just how much Richard had confided in the earl. “I only did what I must, my lord, in order to protect my son and home.”

“And now you return your fealty back to Empress Matilda?” Earl Robert inquired whilst his face went from amusement to stern seriousness.

“Aye, my lord.” Annora bobbed another curtsy for truly what other choice did she have but to agree to their terms? This may be her one and only chance to free Meregate and Leif. With the hopes of that freedom ahead of her, ’twas not hard to return her loyalty back to the Empress where it originally belonged.

Silence stretched between the threesome until the earl seemed satisfied with her answer. “Get the men moving toward Meregate, Richard,” the earl ordered before his eyes swept the mayhem of the camp as the knights continued their work. “With the number of knights and all this gear, the journey make take well over a se’nnight before we reach the shore.”

“Aye, my lord.” Richard bowed whilst Annora gave another short curtsy. Once the earl left them, Richard finally turned to gaze upon her. “You wished to have speech with me, Annora?”

“Aye.” She fumbled with the words to ask for a favor when she was well aware that Richard owed her nothing. She finally decided that speaking honestly would be her best approach. “There are two of Stephen’s men who are being held that I would like to be released into my keeping.”

A chuckle left him. “Did you not consider that perchance ’tis a little soon to be making demands of me?”

“’Tis more like a favor. Besides… this could be the start of coming to a common accord of a… personal nature between us. A token of good faith, so to speak,” she murmured softly whilst pondering the fact that she was not sure her heart could stand being broken again.

“That remains to be seen,” he replied gruffly sounding annoyed with her. But mayhap ’twas not necessarily her request that irked him so much as the prospect of all he must do to get the earl’s men moving. “What makes you think I would allow two of Stephen’s men to go free to return to killing my men?”

“They would not be going free if they remained by my side to watch over me. They are loyal to the Empress and have been fighting beside me since I left Oxford. They have watched my back in my Captain’s stead since I left Merek Baringar at Meregate to look over my home in my absence.”

His dark brow rose again at her words. “You do realize you most likely left Baringar to be taken and thrown into your dungeon.”

“Merek knew the risks, but I needed someone I could trust to ensure my son was kept safe,” she answered.

“And just how was Baringar to do this if he was held below? Or worse, if he was thrown into the castle’s pit?” he asked folding his arms over his chest.

Annora gave a heavy sigh. “’Tis something that I have considered many times over the past several months, but what better options were available to me? I worry over the fate of my people and son with every breath I take.”

“We shall be there soon enough and will do our utmost to return Meregate to its rightful owner,” Richard proclaimed until he turned to look at the group of men. “Which ones will you vouch for?”

She had not realized she was holding her breath until the air rushed from her lungs in relief that Richard would fulfill her request. She described the two men and Richard called to one of the guards watching over the group of prisoners. He issued his orders and just as quickly, the two men were brought before Richard.

“This is Percival Ford and Manfred Crump, Lord Grancourt,” Annora said grateful that the men would be released. “They have watched over me during many battles.”

Richard remained silent for several minutes whilst inspecting the two men. He then nodded to the guard who quickly took a knife and cut the ropes binding the men’s hands. “Lady de Maris has spoken highly of you and assures me that you are loyal to Empress Matilda and her cause. Is this so?”

Percival nodded. “Sometimes a person is forced into service against their will, my lord, as the lady herself is very much aware of.”

“I trust them, Richard,” she said, her use of his given name causing him to turn his full attention once again toward her. Those blue eyes delved deeply into her own green ones, and she swore they bore directly into her very soul.

“Let us hope I do not regret my decision to set them free.” Richard looked behind them and waved his hand. “Blake and Kingsley… oversee them and ensure they do not get into any trouble. Lady Annora says they can be trusted to watch over her back but I would see such loyalty for myself before I, too, believe their worth.”

“What shall happen to the rest of the men?” she asked wondering at their fate.

Richard quirked his brow. “They will be held in ransom and perchance they will be set free in exchange of Meregate’s surrender.”

Annora nodded knowing she could not do more for the other knights she had fought beside. She watched her two men as they began to follow Blake and Kingsley but not before Manfred’s lips silently mouthed the words thank you . Turning back to Richard, she gave him a bright smile. “I appreciate the kindness you offered them.”

“And what reward will you give me, Annora, for such a kindness?” he asked stepping close to her.

She stepped back knowing that if he touched her, ’twould be her downfall, especially given the dreams she had of him of late. “I did not realize I would have to forfeit something in return, Grancourt. A kindness given freely holds more worth than one that is expected to be repaid,” she said not hiding her sarcastic tone.

A corner of his lip turned upward. “I think I liked it more when you called me by my given name.”

“A mistake that I assure you will not happen again.”

“I would have hoped that such a favor would be freely given as you just mentioned.”

She tilted her chin up in order to fully stare upon this handsome man who was still such an enigma to her. “For something to be freely given requires the two of us to trust one another. We are barely on speaking terms. I do not think our relationship, such as it is, has yet to come to such a point that I even consider us friends.”

“And yet I see the conflict in you each time we are together. Say you are indifferent to me all you like, Annora, but I know you care for me on some level.” He stepped closer and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Or else you would not whisper my name in the middle of the night whilst you sleep.” He stepped back to watch her reaction to his words.

Her eyes went wide in alarm causing his smile to broaden. Before she knew what he was about, he again bent forward and placed a quick kiss on her temple. She swore her skin burned from where his lips had momentarily touched her skin.

She could find no sharp retort to lash back at him, nor could she deny the obvious with the now-arrogant knight. Instead, she remained silent, and Richard, likewise, said nothing more. Taking her numb arm, he began leading her toward her horse. Once she was settled in the saddle, Richard went to his own steed and swiftly mounted the animal as he began moving out the troops.

It wasn’t until several miles had been put behind them that two things registered in her poor feeble mind. First, Richard had somehow found her horse Shadow, another item to add to the growing list of things she owed him for. The second was far more disturbing… Richard was very much aware that Annora’s dreams had been filled with him. God help her!