King’s Knight (Medieval Warriors #4)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Merewyn loved the end of autumn when wheat seeding was completed and everyone was busy with preparations for winter. The air was brisk, gusts whipping leaves to the floor of the woodland. The old stock and swine were slaughtered and salted to supply meat, villeins cut reeds and sedges for thatching so no roofs would leak when the rains came in full force and herdsmen gathered bracken for the cattle’s winter bedding.

Added to that was the candle making that the women did together to assure Talisand had a goodly supply of light for the short winter days.

But this year, an excitement filled the air beyond the normal preparations for the Martinmas feast because they were to celebrate the marriage of Talisand’s heir. Father Bernard had agreed to bless their marriage on St. Martin’s Day and Maggie assured Lady Serena they would have enough roast goose to feed all of Talisand.

Alex had joined the men hunting geese for the feast and Merewyn was helping Lady Serena and Lady Emma with the candle making. Cecily and her two ever-present companions were gathering wood with the other children.

By now, the half-dozen women making candles just outside the kitchens had filled many racks of the long tapers. Merewyn had just dipped her candles into the hot tallow mixture for the third time when the babe quickened within her. The flicker of movement made her start. She brought her hand to her slightly rounded belly waiting for the next movement .

“The babe?” Lady Serena asked holding up a rack with a half-dozen candles she had just dipped. The honey-colored candles were nearly done.

Merewyn smiled at her mother-in-law. “Aye. ’Tis the first time I have felt the babe move.”

Lady Emma left the candles she was dipping and came to join Merewyn. Like Serena, Emma, who was also in her fourth decade, barely showed her years. Her skin was smooth and her blue-green eyes clear and beautiful. “I feel as if this child will be my first grandchild as well as yours, Serena.”

Lady Serena shook her head. “Two grandmothers and Maggie to dote on him.”

Hearing her name, Maggie raised her head from where she was working. “And why not?”

Merewyn was delighted to have so many she cared for look forward to the birth of her child. “I think he will be much loved,” she said.

Lady Serena wiped her hands on her linen apron. “You said ‘he’. Do you believe the babe will be a male child?” Emma and Serena paused in what they were doing to wait for her answer.

Merewyn smiled remembering her encounter with the wise one after morning prayers. “Maugris told me this first child will be a boy, one with a will to match his father’s and his grandfather’s.”

Maggie looked up from where she was inspecting the candles drying on the long rack. “Another wolf?” she asked, resignedly. “As if the pack we have is not enough. May the Good Lord save us.”

“Mayhap this one will encourage my Tibby to be responsible,” said Lady Serena. “After all, he will be the babe’s uncle.”

“Your daughter, Bea,” Merewyn said to Lady Emma, “has already offered to help me with the babe.”

“Aye, she would. Bea loves children.”

Lora, who had just dipped her candles in the hot mixture, laughed. “She will have a time of it fending off Cecily. I expect the imp will take charge and command her two swains and everyone else concerning the babe. My brother, Ancel, will not question her dictates.”

Merewyn laughed with the women. Surrounded by so many she loved made her feel like she really had come home. Maugris had been right. Her future was at Talisand.

Maggie issued instructions to the servant women, then walked to where Merewyn stood with Serena and Emma. “I’d best see how Cassie is coming with the feast preparations. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

“Maggie reminds me that time is short,” said Lady Serena to Merewyn. “I would show you the gown I have for you to wear tomorrow. Would you like to come?” she asked Lady Emma and Lora.

The faces of the two women lit with interest. “Oh, yes!” said Lora.

Wiping off her hands, Lady Emma said, “Indeed, I want to see it.”

The four women walked to the chamber in the manor Merewyn now shared with Alex, the one that had once been her own. Lying across the large bed was a shimmering blue silk gown, the neck and sleeves embroidered with golden thread.

“Oh…” Lady Emma and Lora exclaimed together.

“It is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen!” said Merewyn.

Lady Serena smiled. “I do not wonder but that I was thinking of this day when I purchased the silk and thread in London. I could not be more pleased with Alex’s choice for a bride.”

As Emma and Lora stood admiring the gown, Lady Serena reached for a circlet of silver intertwined with intricate gold leaves. Presenting it to Merewyn, she said, “This was a gift from my father. I wore it on the day I wed the Red Wolf many years ago. And I would have you wear it tomorrow.”

“I have never seen that circlet,” said Lady Emma. “’Tis beautiful.”

Lora just stared at the beautiful circlet.

Merewyn took the delicate piece in her hands, tears filling her eyes. “You have been so good to me, my lady. To let me wear your own circlet is a gift I would never have expected.”

“’Tis yours, Merewyn. You are the only daughter I will ever have. And now you are my daughter-in-law as well. Mayhap one day, it will grace the head of your own daughter.”

“Do not forget, I count Merewyn as my own, too,” said Lady Emma. “You will be lovely in the gown and circlet, Merewyn. I hope you will wear the gold necklace I gave you.”

“I will,” Merewyn said, kissing Lady Emma’s cheek. “I treasure it.”

“Alex will be all agog when he sees you,” offered Lora with a grin .

Merewyn set the circlet down and hugged the women. She had been blessed with two mothers and a wonderful friend. “I love you all.”

“And we love you,” said Lady Serena.

***

Alex entered the hall the next day to the enticing smells of roasting goose wafting through the air. His leg still bothered him but he needed no crutch to walk. His father had teased him that they were now a matched pair of limping wolves, but Alex hoped in time he would have no limp.

He had left his bride tousled in bed where he had made love to her for most of the morning. It was the first time he had told her that he loved her. Mayhap his love began to grow from the first moment he looked at her in her archer’s clothing.

Father Bernard’s blessing was to be given just before the feast so he had time to share a goblet of wine with his father and his closest friends while Merewyn prepared. When he had left their chamber, his mother, Lady Emma and Lora and had just arrived to assist her.

“Hail the bridegroom!” shouted Guy from where he sat with the others. “You look fit for William’s court.”

Alex bowed. “I am honored you should wait for me to begin.” Around the table gathered with his father were Sir Geoffroi, Maugris, Jamie, Rory and Guy, all attired in their best tunics for the day. Sir Alain and Alex’s brothers, save for little Tibby, would miss the Martinmas blessing and the feast that followed, but the babe coming could not wait the months that might pass before they were home.

“Well, ’tis only now that Maggie has come to tend our thirst and since this is for you, we thought to wait,” said his father who looked every bit the Lord of Talisand this day with his chestnut hair combed back from his face and a tunic of dark green wool stretched over his broad shoulders. He was not a man given to jewels but he needed none with his noble bearing.

Maggie was directing the many servants bustling about the hall as they prepared for the feast, but she managed to see the men supplied with wine.

Once each man had been served, his father stood and lifted his goblet. “To a happy life and many sons!”

They all stood and drank.

“To lands in Normandy for Talisand’s heir!” said Sir Geoffroi.

They drank again.

“To the Black Wolf who has finally claimed his mate,” said Jamie with a wink.

Before they could drink to that, Rory added, “To the worthy bride!”

Another swallow followed.

“To Rhodri, who taught Merewyn to speak the Welsh tongue that saved our hides,” said Guy.

They laughed and imbibed more of the rich wine of Normandy.

Alex raised his goblet. “To Talisand!” His father and his friends echoed his shout and downed their wine.

***

Merewyn had waited, giving Lady Serena, Lady Emma and Lora time to get to the church. Now, she slowly descended the stairs, attired in the blue silk gown, her head covering graced with the silver and gold circlet Lady Serena had given her. Around her neck was the golden necklace Lady Emma had brought from York. And on her finger was Alex’s ring with the blue stone. She smiled to herself thinking Owain had been wrong about Alex not giving her a ring.

At the bottom of the stairs, Alex waited, his hand extended to her. “You look like a queen.”

“And you, my love, are not only the handsome favored knight of the king, but my champion for always.”

He took her hand and kissed it. She felt her cheeks heat. He had made love to her many times and still he could make her feel the shy innocent.

“Come, my own,” he said, “walk with me to the church where Father Bernard awaits.”

As they stepped out of the manor, a great crowd greeted them, parting like the flood waters in Moses’ time to allow them to walk the path through the village to the church. Cheers went up from the villagers who lined the way.

As they neared the church, on one side of the path she saw Lady Serena waiting with Earl Renaud, Lady Emma and Sir Geoffroi. On the other side stood Rory and Guy. Next to them was Lora with Jamie. Rory’s sister, Alice, held the hand of her younger sister, Cecily. Next to Cecily stood Tibby and Ancel. All them were smiling, their faces filled with joy.

Father Bernard waited in front of the door to the stone church. “My children,” he said, reaching out to take their hands. He crossed them over each other and then placed his hand over theirs. “May your days be long, your love strong, your children many. And may God lead you all of your days. In the name of the Father, Son and Spirit, I ask God’s blessing upon your union.”

When the good father was finished, Alex kissed her. Shouts erupted behind them. Then, taking her hand, he turned her to face their friends and the villagers gathered around them.

“I give you Lady Merewyn of Talisand and Fourneaux,” he said in a loud voice.

Cheers and good wishes surrounded them as they returned to the hall for the great feast that was to follow. Merewyn’s heart overflowed with love. She supposed she was a lady now, for the lands she brought to her husband had bestowed upon her that status. And this day, she would dance with the hero of her heart.

“Come, my love,” he whispered. “First we feast on duck and then I feast on you!”