Royal Feud

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

He lifted her unresisting hands to his mouth and pressed a light kiss on each of her palms. "Thank you." She took a deep, shuddering breath as Delvin lifted his face and looked at her. A

small smile spread across his lips, causing creases to form around his mouth. After

releasing her hands, he rose to his feet.

"We will need to face our witnesses soon. I will leave you to finish dressing, but I will send Mother in to assist you."

Hermione felt some of the lead within her heart melting away. His confession and repentance had moved her in a way she had not expected when he first walked into the chamber this morning. Her hope, which had been trampled and stomped into the

ground last night, regenerated and quietly, cautiously, unfurled once more.

By the time Lucy entered the bedchamber, Hermione had finished braiding her

hair and had put on her hose and shoes.

"Good morrow, Hermione." Lucy's smile radiated from her beautiful face.

"Good morrow, Lucy."

Lucy crossed the room and drew Hermione into an embrace. "My dear, 'twould

give me so much pleasure if you would call me Mother."

Hermione blinked rapidly as she buried her face against the taller woman's shoulder. "I would like that very much, Mother."

Lucy tightened her arms around Hermione, then released her. "Now, may I help you secure your veil?"

"Aye, please."

"I think a more formal style is called for this morning. Sit down, my dear."

Hermione complied. Lucy picked up a piece of linen and wrapped it around her head, efficiently forming a wimple that covered Hermione's forehead and throat.

"There." Lucy rested her hands on Hermione's shoulders. "You are ready to face anything." Lucy stepped back and started walking toward the bed. "Unfortunately, "Tis my duty to inspect the sheets for evidence." She made a small noise of disgust. "Why do men develop these barbaric traditions?"

Lucy reached the bed and drew back the covers. Hermione followed Lucy to the mattress and stared at the sheet, appalled at the amount of blood staining it. She glanced at Lucy, whose mouth was pursed as she considered the bedding. Then her expression smoothed out, she briskly stripped the linens from the bed, and bundled them into a ball.

"My dear." Lucy turned toward Hermione. "Please know I am always ready to listen, if you wish to confide in me." Hermione could not meet the older woman's eyes, so turned her face away.

"When I was a new bride I was quite appalled and shocked at what went on in the marriage bed. But I found, as I grew to know my husband, that there was much pleasure in the physical sharing between husband and wife. God has ordained marriage for the mutual joy of man and woman, for the help and comfort they may give each other."

She came over to Hermione and laid her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "In time, you will come to know that joy and that pleasure, my dear. Everything will work out, Hermione. You just need to give it time."

Hermione nodded.

"I will send a maid up with your breakfast. The men are set to leave soon, but first Lord Wyham must hear your and Delvin's testimony. Remember, my dear, hold your head up high and look them in the eye. You have nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about."

When Hermione and Lucy entered the solar, the conversation among the men abruptly ceased and they all stood. Delvin came to meet Hermione, taking her hand in his and drawing her forward. In addition to Delvin and Lord Wyham, Father Thomas, Sir Hugh, and another man she did not know were gathered in the room.

"Good morrow, Countess." Wyham bowed toward her. "I do not believe you know Sir William." The courtier gestured toward the stranger. "He is one of the king's most trusted knights."

Hermione nodded to Sir William as he bowed courteously.

"Lord Ishton, would you please give me your sword?" Wyman Delvin handed over the sword, hilt first, to the older man.

asked.

Wyman took the weapon, holding it just below the guard, pommel pointed up, so it looked like a cross. He held it in front of Delvin. "Ishton, please place your right hand on your sword."

Delvin reached out his hand and laid his palm flat against the intersection of the pommel and the guard. "Delvin, Earl of Ishton, do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to

give is the truth, on your honor as a knight?" "Aye, I do."

"Have you consummated your marriage to Hermione, Countess

"Ave," Delvin stated.

"Was your wife a virgin when she came to your bed?"

"Aye."

"Your marriage to Hermione, Countess of Ishton, can never be annulled, dissolved, or

set aside."

"Aye. Our marriage cannot be annulled."

Wyham handed the sword back to Delvin and waited until he had sheathed it. He turned to Hermione and spoke to her in a soft tone. "Countess, were you a virgin when you came to your marriage bed?"

"Aye," she whispered.

Despite Lucy's words, she could not bring herself to look at the men in the room. She felt her face flame with her embarrassment. Delvin squeezed her hand gently, as if offering her encouragement.

"I am sorry, milady, Wyham said, "but you need to speak up so the witnesses can

hear you." Hermione cleared her throat. "Aye."

"Was your marriage to Delvin, Earl of Ishton, consummated last night?"

"Aye."

"I have an affidavit each of you will need to sign." Wyham looked first at the bridal

couple, then glanced around at everyone in the room.

Delvin took the document from the king's emissary and read it before signing it. He handed the affidavit and the quill to Hermione. She did not examine the statement but added her own signature underneath her husband's. Once she had finished, Wyham took the document and added his own signature. When all the witnesses had signed the affidavit, Wyham took the document, rolled it up, and secured it by tying a piece of string around it.

"Ishton," Wyham said, "now that this business has been concluded, Tis time to

depart for Morefy." "I will be along directly, Wyham, but first I wish to take leave of my wife in private. Mother, gentlemen, please excuse us."

Delvin waited until they had all filed out of the solar before turning to her. "Hermione,

I do not know how long I will be gone. It all depends on how Morefy reacts to the

king's decree."

"Aye." She nodded, looking at his chest. "I cannot see him giving up quietly."

of Ishton?"

"Nay, I cannot see that either. We may be in for a lengthy siege. I will senda messenger back with information as soon as possible." "Thank you. We will be waiting most anxiously for your news." of trustworthy men will remain here to protect the

"A small contingent my most castle. They will be under the direction of Sir Bernard, so you will be safe." She nodded. He put his finger under her chin to raise her face. She automatically tensed at his touch but then consciously willed herself to relax and meet his eyes. She was rewarded by his slight smile. He cupped her face in both of his hands and bent to kiss her. The touch of his lips was feather light upon hers, but she remained stiff and unresponsive. When she opened her eyes to look at him, his face was a polite mask.

"Fare well, Hermione," Delvin said, stepping back from her.

"Fare well, milord. Godspeed."13

ardel sprawled in the chair and brought the wine bottle to his mouth. He upended the jug, draining the wine inside, before throwing the empty been Gerald's thirtieth birthday. "Ishton will die!" He shouted the words in the empty solar, then staggered to his

feet, kicking empty bottles out of his way. It was time he stopped wallowing in his grief

and made plans. He had let Ishton go unpunished for Gerald's death as he mourned.

but the best way to honor Gerald was to extract revenge.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Go away."

"Milord, I must speak with you." It was Edgar, his seneschal.

"Well, unless the castle is under attack I do not want to be disturbed." "Milord, the castle is surrounded. There are fifteen knights and over forty men-at arms. Both the king's and Ishton's banners are on display." Cursing, using every vile word he could think of, Morefy wrenched the door open.

"What's this you say?"

"The castle is surrounded by the king's troops. Lord Wyham says he is here on the

king's business, and he is demanding entry."

Morefy ran his hand over his mouth, clutching the side of the open door in his right hand. Think. He had to think. "Admit Wyham, but only him. I'll see him in the hall. And send a servant with some water."

He shut the door in the seneschal's face. Grabbing a hunk of bread from the table, he tore into it and chewed. The bread in his stomach might dilute the wine enough to enable him to focus. By the time he had consumed the food, the manservant had brought fresh water. He jerked off his tunic and splashed water on his face. After drying his face and chest he pulled on a clean tunic. With measured steps he descended the stairs to the hall, where he found the king's emissary waiting.

"Lord wyham, welcome to Morefy," the earl said. "May I offer you some wine?"

"This is not a social visit, Morefy," Wyham stated. "I come here as the representative of the king. As punishment for your treason, King Henry has confiscated your property here in the Mersted Valley. The king has ordered this castle to be razed to the ground and has stripped you of the title of Earl."

"What? I have committed no treason against the king!"

"You did willfully disobey a direct order of your king. That constitutes treason." "I have never disobeyed the king." Morefy narrowed his eyes at Wyham. "You attempted to invade Ishton Castle by subterfuge after the king ordered that you live in peace with Ishton."

"That is a lie! Ishton is lying for his own purposes. "There is no lie. I clearly saw for myself the knights who invaded Ishton. Your son Gerald was seen fleeing Ishton Castle after his forces were defeated."

Morefy attempted to rein in his temper. He needed to make a good case, or he would lose everything. Spreading his hands wide, he adopted a conciliatory tone. "I had no control over Gerald, I am sorry to say. He acted completely on his own. Regretfully, his actions were misguided and wrong.

"The proof of your wrongdoing is irrefutable, Morefy. I refuse to engage in this discussion any longer." Wyham pulled a scroll from his tunic and handed it to Morefy. "This is a copy of the king's decree. You are hereby ordered to vacate the castle tomorrow at dawn. All your possessions inside the castle are confiscated. You may take with you only your personal effects. Your knights may accompany you, but the soldiers and villeins will remain." Wyham gave Morefy a curt bow, turned, and walked away.

Morefy's rage built with every step Wyham took. He barely managed to contain it while wyham exited the hall. Once he was gone, Morefy slammed his foot into one of the dogs lying asleep on the floor. The dog howled and scrambled away. Morefy charged toward a group of villeins working at the side of the hall. He overturned a trestle table before grabbing one man by the neck. The other villeins fled as Morefy's fist connected with the man's face. Morefy held the man up and savagely pounded him, the man's blood coating Morefy's fist.

"Milord. Stop."

Langston grabbed his fist just as he was about to slam it into the peasant's face again. Snarling, Morefy dropped the villein and turned toward the steward, aiming his fist instead at Langston. The look in the other man's eyes, fearless and resolute, stopped Morefy. Stepping back from Langston and the prostrate man, Morefy shook his fist. "I want two bottles of wine in my solar immediately. And clean up this mess."

The earl turned his back on the servants and went upstairs. As he washed his b****y hands, he contemplated his revenge on Ishton. He sat in a chair before the lit brazier and drank deeply as he considered and discarded ideas.

Several hours later, when there was a knock on the solar door, consumed another two bottles of wine and was more than halfway done with a third.

Morefy had

"Father, may I come in?" Morefy barked.

"Aye," Percy entered the solar and stood close to the door. Morefy snorted in disgust as he surveyed his youngest son. Why did Gerald have to die, leaving this weakling as his only heir? Ishton will pay.

"Father, I have heard the news. What are we going to do?"

"Stop hovering there like a girl," Morefy snapped. "Sit down and have some wine, like a man." Percy picked up a goblet from the table and poured some wine into it. Then he

perched on the edge of a chair, watching his father. Morefy shifted in his seat and raised the wine bottle to his mouth, taking a long drink. "I've come up with the perfect plan, my boy. Perfect." He waved his arm expansively.

"What is your plan, Father?"