Part 13 (1/2)

'Oh, no-at least, he would not be interested in me. He came here but once with Stefan and has never returned.'

'But you will marry one day. I am sure of it.'

'Of course you will be invited when that happens,' Marguerite said and hugged her. 'I shall miss you, Elona. You have been the sister I have longed for and never had. But you must go to Stefan. I know that is where you want to be, and I am sure that he must be impatient for your coming.'

Elona smiled but made no reply. She was filled with trepidation as she took her farewell of Sir Ralph and Lady Alayne, thanking them for their kindness to her.

'It was a pleasure to have you here,' Alayne told her and kissed her warmly. 'We shall always be pleased to see you and Stefan at Banewulf, Elona. You will tell him that I said that, won't you? I have sometimes feared that he felt himself cast out when his father sent him from home at such a young age. It is the custom to send sons away for their training, but must often be hard for the child.'

'Yes, I shall tell him,' Elona said, but in truth she did not know when. Would Stefan even speak to her-would he admit her? What would she do if he turned her away?

'G.o.d speed, lady,' Sir Ralph said. 'I am sending ten of my best men with you and Alain. I do not believe you are in any danger, but I would not have harm come to you from my neglect.'

'I thank you for your care of me-and I ask you to forgive me, sir.'

'For what?' His brows rose and he was so like Stefan that her heart jerked. 'You are a lovely woman, Elona, and I believe no lasting harm has been done.'

Elona nodded, but could not meet his eyes. She had wanted to confess her sin to him, but Alain had advised against it.

'My father would not approve of what you did,' he told her. 'It is better that he does not know for the time being. When you have made your peace with Stefan will be time enough for the truth, I think.'

Elona could only take his advice, though she knew that Sir Ralph must suspect something, for it must be obvious to him that she was not carrying Stefan's child. Indeed, her grief had caused her to lose weight and she was more slender than she had been before she came to Banewulf.

'You are ready, lady?' Alain came to help her mount her palfrey.

She gave him her hand, her heart racing wildly. She was far from ready for Stefan's reaction when she arrived at his manor, hardly daring to think how he would look or what he might say to her. Indeed, she knew that she would never have dared to set out on this venture without Alain's help and rea.s.surance.

Their journey took them three days. They rode at a steady pace, finding time to talk and enjoy the pleasant countryside about them. He was, Elona thought, a wholly charming companion, but there was no danger that she would fall in love with him. Alain's smile brought her cheer, but it did not cause her knees to tremble or her body to ache with longing as the merest glance from Stefan always had.

When the large manor house came into view, Elona drew rein, her breath catching in her throat as they looked up to it, as it sat broodingly on a rise, its grey stone walls imposing and severe. The fortifications had been strengthened recently, as though Stefan felt that the peace England had enjoyed during much of King Henry's reign, despite the rebellions of his sons, might not always hold good. Yet the dwelling had also been improved, with new windows added to bring light and suns.h.i.+ne to what might otherwise have been a dark interior.

'Supposing he will not admit me?' she said to Alain as he brought his horse to a standstill beside hers. 'Where shall I go? I could not return to Banewulf.'

'Fear not, Elona. My brother will not send you away.' Alain smiled at her encouragingly. 'Do not forget that you are the Lady de Barre as well as Stefan's wife, and you have the right to be treated with respect if nothing more.'

Elona's head went up. She must have the courage to carry out this bold plan, though her knees felt suddenly turned to water and her mouth was dry.

As the column of men, women, and wagons wound slowly up towards the manor of Sans...o...b.., she could see activity about the gates and wondered if they would be closed against her. However, nothing happened and their entire party was allowed in unchallenged.

Alain helped her dismount as a man she had never seen before came to greet them. He was in his middle years, clearly a steward and just as clearly bewildered by seeing his lord's wife in their courtyard.

'Sir-my lady, I fear I was unprepared for your coming. My lord did not tell me he expected you.'

'My brother must have had other matters on his mind,' Alain said, covering Elona's confusion with his easy charm. 'Where is he? I would have words with him.'

'My lord and some of his men went hunting this morning,' the steward said. 'Forgive me, sir. My wits are scattered. I am Piers, Baron Sans...o...b..'s steward. I shall have rooms made ready for you at once.' He turned to Elona with a bow. 'Your apartments have been ready for some time, my lady, though a fire would have been lit had I known you were expected.'

'It may be done when your people have time, Piers,' she said and smiled at him. 'If you could have someone show me the direction, please? I would rest for a little-before my lord returns.'

Her heart had stopped racing. The meeting that she had dreaded had been postponed. Stefan had not been here to deny her entrance, as she'd feared-but what would he say when he returned?

'My wife is here?' Stefan managed to keep his tone level as he looked at the steward. Why had his heart leapt with joy? Was he fool enough to love her still, after her self-confessed wanton behaviour? 'And my brother? He escorted her here himself?'

'Yes, sir. I am sorry that I was not better prepared for their arrival. If you told me of it, I had forgotten.'

'No, no, it was not your fault,' Stefan said, his face expressionless as he fought against the warring emotions raging through him. The immediate joy had faded swiftly to be replaced by doubt and rage. Elona here? How dare she defy him? He would send her packing immediately!

And yet in truth he had been thinking of sending for her this past month or more. Stefan had begun to realise that it was foolish to keep her at arm's length. She was, after all, his wife and he could never take another without casting her off. How could he do that when it would shame her? Surely he was man enough to accept what was past and look to the future?

'I had not realised that she would be here so soon.' He nodded dismissal to Piers, pacing the room as he tried to calm himself for the inevitable interview with Elona. She was here now and he must learn to live with the knowledge of her sin, the fact that she was bearing another man's child. He must learn to control his feelings! To accept that what had been done could not be undone.

'Ah, brother. I am glad to see you returned safely from the hunt.'

Stefan swung round as his half-brother came into the room. 'Alain,' he said, some of his anger defusing as he saw the other's merry smile. He had never held a grudge against Alain, blaming his father alone for his banishment from Banewulf. 'So you have brought my wife to me. I must thank you, though I should have come to fetch her myself in time.'

'She was pining,' Alain replied with a careless shrug. 'She truly loves you, Stefan. You should have brought her with you instead of leaving her at Banewulf. She would not have minded a little discomfort to be with you.'

Stefan's eyes narrowed, his hackles rising like a dog defending its food. Elona was his, even if he had not claimed her. 'Did she tell you that?'

'Yes...' It was on the tip of Alain's tongue to reveal all, but something held him back. If Stefan loved his wife, he would discover the truth for himself, and if he did not-then Elona must bear the consequences. He did not have the right to interfere between husband and wife. 'I admire her a great deal, Stefan. She is as brave as she is lovely.'

Stefan's eyes narrowed. Had his brother come here to pick a quarrel with him? 'No doubt you think me a knave for stealing her from you?'

'Indeed not,' Alain cried and laughed. 'It was for this reason that I brought her to you myself, Stefan, so that we might clear any misunderstanding between us. I admire her and love her as a brother should, but I have no wish to marry-Elona or any other woman. I am not yet ready to marry. I have other plans.'

'You wish to prove yourself, I think?'

Alain nodded. 'I must gain my knighthood. I have stayed at home for my mother's sake, but I shall go very soon now.'

'Then perhaps you might care to hear news that reached me yesterday? Duke Richard has decided that Saladin must be stopped and he intends to march against him. He is even now rallying men to fight with him in the Holy Land.'

'Take up the Cross!' Alain's eyes lit with excitement. He was as devout as any young man of his era, but it was the thought of battle, of winning glory and earning his knighthood that appealed to him; to join a great crusade was exactly what he had yearned for. 'I vow 'tis a worthy cause. Even my mother will not deny that-nor that I must offer the Duke my sword. Think you he will accept it?'

'I am sure he will be pleased to accept your service, brother. I have had my share of fighting and shall not go, but you will stand in my stead and win honour for yourself and our family.'

'It is my heart's desire. I cannot bide at home forever, even to please my mother.'

'She will understand and give her blessing,' Stefan a.s.sured him. 'But you will stay with us for a few days?'

'For one night,' Alain told him. 'You have no need of me here, brother.'

'You are always welcome in my home,' Stefan said with a smile. 'I have never held a grudge against you, Alain.'

With the insight that was a part of his nature, Alain had known and understood that Stefan felt his father had rejected him as a child, hut between them there had never been anything less than friends.h.i.+p.

'I envied you, living and training with our kinsman's men, learning to be a knight. When you were winning your spurs in battles with Duke Richard and I, just a boy, I wished I could follow in your footsteps. The travelling minstrels sung stories of great heroes of the past, but you were my hero, brother. I wanted to be you.'

Stefan smiled, for he could not doubt the other's sincerity.

'I believe you will surpa.s.s me, Alain. You have it in you to be a great knight, a man of mercy and right.'