Chapter 3
Two days later, Raven awoke to a knock at her solar door.
Usually, she was up early to work with her weapons before any of the men got to the practice yard, but she was too distraught lately even to do that.
After the chastising she received from her father and brother, she was rebelling in her own way.
She barely spoke to them, and decided she wouldn’t even show up in the great hall this morning to break the fast.
“Who is it?” she mumbled, pushing up in bed and looking over at the door. The slight stream of light coming into the room from the crack in the shutter told her it was probably already late morning.
The door swung open and her handmaid, Emma, hurried into the room, followed by someone else. It was too dark to see who it was. Raven rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawned, and lay back down.
“Lady Raven, your father sent me up here to wake you,” announced the handmaid.
“I told my father I don’t want or need a handmaid,” she answered, yawning again and turning over and closing her eyes.
“I’m sorry, but I am only doing my job.” Emma opened the shutter. Bright light filled the room. Even with her eyes closed, Raven could tell. “You missed the meal in the great hall and your mother is worried that you might be sick.”
“I am,” she said, with her eyes still closed. “Sick and tired of being told what to do.”
“Cousin, ye are a lazy oaf—now get up and start yer day.” The covers were ripped off of her and a chill traveled through her body. Raven’s eyes popped open, a smile crossing her face.
“Lark? Lark! What are you doing here?” Raven bolted to an upright position, giving her Scottish cousin a big hug.
While Raven was the daughter of the English lord Corbett Blake, Lark was the daughter of Corbett’s sister, Wren.
Wren married a Highlander named Storm MacKeefe.
The MacKeefes were known to be crazy at times, and even called madmen on occasion.
Storm and his clan proved that was true by their actions.
“I traveled here to help ye prepare yerself for yer upcomin’ weddin’.” Lark scooted onto the bed next to Raven, leaning back next to her.
“How did you even know about it?” asked Raven.
“Yer father told mine a week ago.”
“A week ago?” she gasped. “I only found out about it two days ago. Why am I not surprised I’m the last to know?” Raven flopped down on her back and threw her arm over her face. “Well, your trip was for naught because I’m not getting married.”
“Ye dinna have a choice,” Lark told her. “No lassie ever does.”
“Don’t remind me.” Raven sat up, leaning her back against the wall that was directly behind the bed.
Emma emerged from the wardrobe, carrying one of Raven’s best gowns over her arm.
Emma was young, probably a few years younger than Raven.
She’d just married another servant last year.
“I think this is a good gown for you to wear today, my lady.” It was a purple velvet gown with gold buttons up the bodice.
Long white tippets made from a sheer material hung down to the ground, almost dragging on the floor since Emma was very short.
“Nay, not that one,” said Raven, with a quick shake of her head. “That’s one of my best gowns, Emma. Put it back. There is no need for me to wear it. It’s for special occasions only.”
“Lord Corbett insists that you must look nice today, my lady,” protested the handmaid.
“Whatever for?” Raven yawned without covering her mouth.
“There are two lords in the solar waiting to meet you,” Emma informed her.
“What?” Raven’s head snapped around to face her handmaid. “Well, who are they? Why are they here?”
“I’m not sure,” Emma answered timidly. She always seemed to pull back and become shy when Raven got upset. “All I know is that I’m supposed to make sure you look your best when you meet them.”
“I think they are potential suitors,” said Lark. “Actually, when I arrived here this mornin’ with my father, he recognized them.”
“He did? Are they Scottish?” asked Raven, feeling her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.
“Nay, they are both English,” said Lark. “I heard yer father tellin’ mine that they are both single and will be competin’ for yer hand in marriage at the tournament. Mayhap they want to meet ye ahead of time.”
“Hrmph,” she sniffed. “To see what they’re getting, I suppose.” Raven’s anger grew. She wouldn’t be put on display for anyone.
“Please, Lady Raven, you really need to dress now,” begged Emma. “If you don’t, I might be blamed for it.” A frown turned down the corners of her mouth. “I need this job. Especially now.” The handmaid’s gaze dropped to the ground.
“Emma? What is it?” Raven slid off the bed and hurried over to her handmaid. “Something is troubling you, I can tell. What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, my lady. Not really. It’s just that, I’m not sure how long Lord Corbett will let me keep my job... in my condition and all.”
“Condition? What condition?” Raven had no idea what the girl meant.
“I ken what she means,” said Lark excitedly, running over to join them. “Emma, ye’re bairned, are ye no’?”
“Oh! You’re pregnant?” Raven asked the girl in surprise.
“I am, my lady.” A glow colored the handmaid’s round cheeks. Instantly, her frown turned back into a smile. “My husband and I are expecting a baby.” She put her free hand on her belly.
“We’re so happy for ye,” Lark told her, smiling and reaching out to hold the girl’s hand.
“Aye, we are,” agreed Raven, even though having a baby wasn’t anything that excited her.
Raven didn’t particularly want children.
Then again, neither did she want a husband.
All she wanted was to make her own choices and practice with her weapons.
What she’d really love was to be able to use her skills in a competition someday.
That was naught but a dream because women were not allowed to do so.
“You don’t even look pregnant, Emma. Not really.
” Raven’s eyes traveled down to the girl’s waist. “Well, mayhap just a little.”
“I will look very pregnant soon,” said the girl with a giggle, putting both her hands on her belly and curving them out in a large circle.
“Emma, we dinna want ye to get in trouble. Do we, Raven?” Lark took the gown from the girl. “I’ll help Raven dress. Now that I’m here, it’ll allow ye more time to rest, Emma.”
“Nay!” Emma’s eyes opened wide in fear. “This is my job. I am not supposed to be resting.” She reached out for the gown, but Lark held onto it.
“Emma, it’s fine.” Raven put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I’d like to spend time with my cousin during her visit, so you are not needed.”
“I’m not?” The handmaid looked terrified, thinking she was being let go.
“What my daft cousin means is that she doesna need help dressin’ since I am here.” Lark explained, putting the gown down on the bed. “However, she missed the mornin’ meal, so she will need ye to go to the kitchen and prepare her somethin’ to eat.”
“Nay, I’m fine. I’m not hungry,” said Raven, getting a stern look from Lark in return. “I mean... yes, that is what I need. Now hurry along, Emma,” she said, escorting the girl to the door. Lark followed. “We’ll meet you in the kitchen shortly.”
“If you’re sure, my lady.” The handmaid still seemed as if she didn’t want to go.
Raven realized the girl wouldn’t be in any hurry to leave until Raven put her mind at ease.
“I’ll be sure to speak to my father. Don’t worry.
I promise you won’t be in any trouble and neither will you lose your job when you have the baby.
You can help in the kitchen until my cousin goes back to Scotland. ”
“Thank you, Lady Raven.” Emma curtsied, smiling from ear to ear before turning and running out the door. Raven slowly closed the door behind her.
“Now, see?” asked Lark with a knowing smile. “That wasna hard, to put the lass’s mind at ease and make her stop worryin’, was it?”
“Plus, it got rid of her so we can talk in private.” Raven giggled, grabbing Lark’s hand and running and plopping down on the bed, pulling Lark along with her. “Tell me everything that’s been happening in Scotland. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“I’ve missed ye, Raven. Things have happened. Bad things,” she said, her smile fading.
“Bad? Oh, nay. What? Tell me.” She held Lark’s hand in both of hers. “Florie isn’t ill, is she?” asked Raven, speaking of Lark’s four-year-old daughter. “Where is she? Did she travel here with you?”
“Nay, Florie is in Scotland with my parents and she is fine. It’s... it’s Gregoire, I’m talking about.”
“Oh, your husband. I see. Oh my. Did he die fighting in France?”
Lark had become pregnant with the Frenchman’s baby when the French aligned with the Scottish for a spell, when she was only sixteen.
She had discovered she was pregnant only after the man returned to France.
They’d had correspondence, but he never came back.
In respect to her cousin, Raven referred to the man as Lark’s husband, even though she wasn’t married and the child was a bastard.
“Nay, Gregoire didna die but I wish he had,” spat Lark, tears filling her eyes.
“Lark? What is it?” asked Raven, feeling her heart go out to her cousin. Something awful must have happened to upset the girl like this. Lark had always been so cool and calm until now.
“He’s... he’s married, Raven,” she said, sniffling and wiping a tear from her eye.
“He married someone else when he knew you had birthed his child? How awful.”
“Nay,” protested Lark. “Ye dinna understand.” She did her best to hold back the tears. “He was always married, and never intended to return for me or his daughter. He used me, Raven. I hate the man and never want to see him again.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Raven held the girl in a hug as Lark wept softly on her shoulder. “So, is that the reason you’re here? You didn’t want Florie to see you so upset?”
Lark pulled back and looked up to Raven with watery green eyes.
Tears dripped down her cheeks. Such a kindhearted girl who wouldn’t raise a finger to hurt anyone should never be treated so badly.
She didn’t deserve this awful twist life had handed her.
Raven reached out and wiped a tear from Lark’s cheek.
“Aye, that’s part of it,” said Lark. “I also heard of yer upcomin’ weddin’ and decided I had to be here for ye.”
“It seems everyone knew about this but me,” Raven answered with a sigh.
“Well, even if I’m not really getting married, at least the time away from your clan will do you good.
” Raven got up and walked over to a trunk, pulling out an oversized tunic and a pair of trews.
“This will do. I’ll get dressed and we’ll make our way to the kitchen to see if the cook has prepared any pie this morning. That should make us both feel better.”
“Nay.” Lark jumped off the bed. “Ye canna wear that, Raven! Those are the clothes of a boy.”
Raven chuckled. “They most certainly are. They are some of Rook’s old clothes. I saved them because it’s easier for me to practice with my weapons if I’m wearing a tunic and trews and not encumbered by a long gown and tippets tangling around me with every swipe of my blade.”
“Yer father is goin’ to kill ye,” gasped Lark.
Lark was usually an obedient girl, never doing a thing wrong.
That is, except for her brief encounter with the lusty Frenchman.
That one act of passion ruined Lark’s reputation forever.
Even if she wanted to be married now, no man would ever want her.
She had spoiled herself and tied herself down with a bastard child.
“I don’t care what my father thinks. I don’t want these noblemen to want me. I have to scare them off somehow.” Raven continued to dress, attaching her weapon belt that held her sword and dagger.
“Nay, Cousin. Dinna do it. Ye should be thankful of what ye have. I only wish I could catch the eye of a nobleman.”
“I don’t want those curs looking at me at all.” Raven pulled on a pair of boots and stomped over to the mirror, dragging a brush through her long hair.
“I would give anythin’ to have a respectful nobleman look at me in any way besides disgust. Dinna ruin this chance, Raven.
Ye have the opportunity to marry well and be rich and respected.
Ye have everythin’ to look forward to, so dinna do somethin’ that ye’ll regret someday.
Like I did.” She frowned and looked at the floor.
“Oh, Lark. If I could, I’d change places with you in a minute. You are welcome to any of the noblemen who want me for their bride, because I don’t want a one of them.”
“If only it were that easy.”
“Come.” Raven placed the boar bristle brush down on the dressing table. “Let’s go have some fun.” She took her cousin’s hand and dragged her toward the door.
“I’m no’ sure I like the sound of this, Raven. What are ye goin’ to do?”
“I’m not sure yet,” said Raven with a smile. “However, I assure you it’ll be whatever it takes to make every eligible nobleman run the other way.”