A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) (10 page)

“Your son?” He looked with disbelief at Alyna then back at Nicholas. “But how...I mean when?”

“Nicholas is just past four years.” Alyna held Nicholas’s hand firmly in hers.

Lord Blackwell shook his head, still bewildered at the news. “It seems I’ve missed more than I thought.” He looked again at Nicholas and squatted down. “How do you do, Nicholas?”

Nicholas stepped forward and stared for a long moment. He bowed to Lord Blackwell, much to Blackwell’s delight. “Well. Thank you.”

“We have much to discuss,” her grandfather said, with a pointed look at Alyna.

She nodded, but held her tongue, not offering any explanation for her son.

Lord Blackwell rose and tucked Alyna’s hand in the crook of his elbow. “I’ll wager you have your hands full with this lad. Come, let us go inside and see you settled. You must be famished.”

They walked up the steps to the forebuilding that protected the entrance to the keep. Inside the massive, carved doors, the great hall spread out to the right with a stone staircase rising to an upper level on the left. Trenchers of food had been set on the long, oak tables in the hall, awaiting their pleasure.

The great hall was enormous, impressive but for the cobwebs and dust coating the entire space. Soot marred the display of weaponry that hung above the huge stone hearth dominating the room. Alyna could easily step inside the large hearth along with most of the other occupants of the room and still have space left to fill.

Two tapestries graced the wall opposite the hearth, their pattern dinged by soot and grime. The meager furnishings in the hall were in a similar condition as was the floor. It looked as though only the pack of dogs sprawled in one corner had cleaned it in recent memory.

Alyna couldn’t help but wonder if the kitchen looked anything like the hall.

Her grandfather seemed to read her thoughts. “The keep has not yet been set to rights since our return from Poitou, so please forgive the disorder. The steward I left in charge had more interest in the grounds of the castle than in the keep and disappeared before our return.” He shook his head as though puzzled. “Let us ease our hunger while we visit.”

Alyna removed her cloak and laid it on the bench beside her. Only she, her grandfather, and Nicholas sat at the head table, but others sat at the tables nearby. The hall was less than half full much to her surprise.

“I trust Royce treated you well?”

She looked at him, trying to determine what he meant and how she should respond. Did she tell him Royce had scared her half to death and then seized her when she tried to escape? Just thinking of the incident brought heat to her cheeks. Then again, she’d hit him with her basket hard enough to leave a mark. Perhaps they were even. “Royce surprised me and was...most insistent that I accompany him with all haste.”

She could feel her grandfather studying her expression, so she kept her gaze on the food before her until she could think of some way to change the subject. “I’m eager to hear what you have to say, especially of my betrothal.”

Her grandfather looked away. “This is a difficult and complicated situation and I would speak with you in private.”

Alyna nodded, disappointed that she’d have to wait. “As you wish.”

“Tell me how you’ve fared these past years. Is your father well?”

“Aye, he is...fine.” She could think of nothing more to say about her father that would be both truthful and pleasant, so she moved on. “Montvue has done well. Our harvests have been plentiful, and the villeins healthy.”

Lord Blackwell glanced at Nicholas, then looked back at her and lowered his voice. “Alyna, is the child Tegmont’s?” His eyes were so big that it might have been comical had he discussed any other subject.

“Nay, Tegmont is not his father.” The mere idea of it made her shudder. She gave a quick prayer requesting forgiveness for her lies as an omission of the truth was no less than a lie. “His father died before he was born.”

“I see.” He stared at Nicholas and rubbed his chin as he absorbed her explanation.

“He’s a delightful boy and a true joy to me. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him.”

He turned and looked at her, as though still trying to understand how all this could’ve happened in his absence. “Indeed. I’m pleased to have the chance.”

“Might I send for my servants, Charles and Enid? I was not able to tell them I was leaving when Royce came for me. I’m certain they’ve been terribly worried about my absence.”

“Aye. We’ll send a message at once.” He took her hand in his. “I know I’ve lost touch with you, but it is my intention to rectify that, if you’ll let me.”

Touched and pleased, Alyna gave his hand a squeeze. “I would like that, too, Grandfather.”

As the meal progressed, he left her little time to observe, so intent was he on learning more of her life. He treated her with warmth and kindness, just as she remembered. He kept Nicholas entertained as well. The boy’s laughter warmed Alyna’s heart.

All of her grandfather’s attention was not enough to distract her from the meal. While the serving dishes appeared clean and the meal edible, the pheasant lacked much in flavor and the sweetmeats were hardly that. Alyna thought longingly of her well-stocked spices and bountiful herb garden at Montvue. Perhaps at a later date her grandfather would allow her to give some advice to the cook.

After their appetites were satisfied, her grandfather refilled their cups and continued their conversation. The hall had been cleared and grown quiet before at last he rose from the table. “Let me show you to your solar. I’m sure you’re in need of rest.”

Alyna nodded and rose before lifting a sleepy Nicholas into her arms. She was certain her grandfather would explain everything to her once they reached the privacy of her chamber.

He gestured toward the stairs and followed them up to the second floor where he opened a door to reveal a room generous in size with two narrow windows. A large tester bed dominated the room, draped with red woolen curtains coated in dust. Cobwebs clung to the corners. Time and effort would be needed to set the room to rights. Nicholas wiggled to be let down and hurried to the window.

“Oh, dear,” her grandfather said as he looked around with dismay. “I thought Florence was going to see to the room. I’m sorry, Alyna. I’ll send someone up to get it cleaned before you settle in.”

“Thank you.” Relieved, Alyna moved to where Nicholas peeked out the windows. One overlooked the main inner yard and the other the herb garden, or at least what used to be the herb garden. In the distance, she heard the ringing of the blacksmith’s hammer.

She wondered how long ago the steward her grandfather had mentioned had left. Who was Florence and why hadn’t she seen to the cleaning of the keep?

“I’ll send a maid.” He turned to leave, much to Alyna’s dismay.

“Grandfather, I was hoping we could speak of the reason for my being here.”

“We will. Very soon.” He placed a hand on the door. “You and Nicholas need a chance to recover from your journey.”

“What I most desire is an explanation,” she argued as her frustration spilled over at last. “I was taken from my home against my will by a knight I’d never met before. I don’t even have any clothing except what I’m wearing. I would appreciate some sort of account for all of this.”

Lord Blackwell turned back from the door to face her. “Alyna, I know you don’t know me well, nor do you have any reason to trust me. But I would assure you that I have your best interests at heart.”

She waited, but he said nothing more. “Your words mean much, but I would still like to know why you brought me here.”

He moved toward the window where Nicholas stood. Blackwell smiled down at him and tousled his hair before addressing Alyna. “I’m not certain of the depth of your affection, if any, for Lord Tegmont.”

He turned to her and paused as though waiting for her to confirm or deny, but as he said, she did not know him well, and until she knew what this was about, she would keep her own counsel.

With a sigh, he looked out the window again. “Nor do I know why your father chose to make such an arrangement, but your marriage to Lord Tegmont would be most unwise, in my opinion.”

Alyna waited, but again he remained silent. While she agreed with his assessment and had no desire to marry Tegmont, she still felt she deserved more of an explanation than that. “Unwise? In what way?”

Lord Blackwell pursued his lips as though he’d tasted a sour apple. “It would be a poor match for a variety of reasons.” He nodded as though he thought that should be sufficient.

Alyna gathered her patience. “It would be most helpful if you could tell me more.”

“Aye, well, I’m sure it would. As I said before, this matter is quite complicated. Let us address it once you’re settled and rested from your journey.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “I truly am pleased to have you here. I hope you’ll consider staying for a time, at least until all this is sorted out. It might take time to do so. I can tell you that much.”

Alyna could tell his words were spoken with sincerity and that pleased her. Not knowing the real reason for his objection to her betrothal made her uneasy, but he was obviously not going to tell her now. Did it matter when she objected to it as well?

“So, I’m a great grandfather now, eh?” He shook his head and smiled at the thought.

Alyna ruthlessly squelched her feelings of guilt as she smiled in return. Mayhap one day soon she would explain the full circumstances of Nicholas’s birth, but that day would have to wait until she knew her grandfather better.

Besides, he was withholding information from her as to why he didn’t want her to marry Lord Tegmont. Surely turnabout was fair play.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” her grandfather commanded.

Matthew stood at the door, his face flushed, as it always seemed to be when Alyna saw him. “My lord, my lady.” He looked at each of them uneasily.

Alyna’s breath caught in her throat. Something was wrong.

“My lord, I beg your pardon, but there are some people at the gate, and they insist upon speaking with you about Lady Alyna.”

CHAPTER SIX

“Sage can calm those in a fit of temper

but add a bit of rose to further please their spirit.”

Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

Alyna paced her chamber, alternately peeking out the door to listen for sounds of her grandfather and looking out the narrow window at the yard below.

Neither provided her any satisfaction.

Who could possibly be at the gate asking about her? No one knew she was here.

Was it her father? He might’ve guessed where she was though she thought it unlikely. She knew his search for her wouldn’t be driven by concern but anger that she’d interrupted his plans.

She sighed in frustration. Why hadn’t she heard anything by now? Unable to remain where she’d been instructed she gestured for Nicholas to follow her and descended the stairs only to find the great hall empty.

She looked with impatience at the door of the keep but her grandfather had specifically told her to wait inside. Perhaps he, too, thought her father might be here and wanted to keep her hidden from view.

“What should we do, Nicholas?”

The boy looked up at her and shrugged before returning his attention to his wooden knife. What else had she expected?

Just when she thought she could bear the suspense no longer, she heard commotion outside. Her lip between her teeth, she hurried to the door of the keep. Surely no harm could come if she took a quick look. She eased the heavy door open a crack to peek out.

Her heart rejoiced!

Charles and Enid rode toward the keep with her grandfather walking alongside them.

Alyna hurried down the stairs with Nicholas beside her. “Enid! Charles!”

They reached the group and Nicholas flew into Enid’s arms with a squeal of delight. The maid laughed as she steadied them both and squeezed him as hard as he squeezed her.

“We found you!” Nicholas declared.