Chapter 11
Serena woke to the movement of the horse beneath her and the Red Wolf shouting orders as they rode into the yard.
Sometime during the long ride back, she had fallen asleep against his warm chest where his strong arm now held her.
For hours she had fought to stay awake as the knight drove his horse at a maddening pace.
Finally exhausted, she had succumbed to the sweet oblivion of sleep.
Now fully awake, she sat up to see they had reined in before the manor where a crowd was gathering to greet them.
The Red Wolf dismounted and reached for her. She did not fight him when his hands circled her waist and he lifted her down, but when he again swept her up into his arms, she protested. “Put me down! I can walk.”
“Not just yet,” the Red Wolf replied stonily. Then to Eric, “See to the horses, lad. A good rub down and oats. It was a long ride home and Belasco did well.”
“Aye, m’lord,” said the boy, accepting the reins.
Serena twisted in the arms of the Red Wolf, embarrassed at being treated like an errant child in front of her people who watched with curious eyes.
Jamie ran up to his master, smiled at her, and awaited his lord’s instructions. Though his blond curls were in disarray, Jamie now wore with pride the dark blue tunic displaying a snarling red wolf.
“Jamie,” the Red Wolf looked down at his page, “see that Maggie gets the rabbits.”
“Yea, sir, I will. Welcome back, m’lord.”
Serena could feel the tension in the Norman’s body as he held her.
She gave up struggling, realizing he intended to carry her into the manor whether she liked it or no.
The Norman knights who had come to greet their returning lord gazed intently at the woman in his arms who was dressed like a Welshman.
Serena’s plait was under the cloak he’d wrapped around her, so none yet observed the change in the color of her hair.
They knew only what they observed: the maid Sarah had tried to run away disguised as a boy, and had been found by their lord who was now carrying her close to his chest. She could only imagine what they were thinking took place in the woods.
With her in his arms, the Red Wolf closed the short distance to the manor’s door.
She spotted Rhodri standing to one side, his clothes soiled as if he, too, had been in the woods.
He watched her with concern in his dark eyes.
Where had he been? Had he followed the Red Wolf?
Next to Rhodri stood a few of Talisand’s women who looked at her with questioning eyes.
She wondered, as mayhap some of them did, in what manner she had returned? Prisoner? Bride? Or both?
The Red Wolf carried her inside and dumped her onto the bench. She shot him a glare just as Maggie rushed to meet them.
“M’lord?” the housekeeper said, a worried look on her face as her gaze shifted from the Red Wolf to Serena. Both were wearing a scowl.
“See that your lady has a bath and something to eat,” he ordered shortly.
A startled look crossed the housekeeper’s face as recognition dawned. “Yea, m’lord.” Maggie’s eyes took in Serena’s bedraggled appearance. “Come, m’lady, I’ll see to ye meself.” Maggie wrapped a comforting arm around her and led her toward the stairs.
“So he knows, does he?” Maggie whispered.
“Aye.” Serena let out a sigh. She was tired but her desire to fight was changing into a new resolve. It was no use fighting the inevitable. Mayhap it was time to resume her position as the Lady of Talisand even if she had to become a Norman’s wife to do it.
They started up the stairs, and from behind them, the Red Wolf shouted to Maggie, “See that her hair is washed and that dreadful color of dirt gone from it. I will have a tray sent up.”
Maggie looked over her shoulder. “Yea, m’lord.”
Nearly to the top of the stairs, Serena heard the Red Wolf order Sir Niel to guard her door.
So it was to be a prisoner, after all.
* * *
Renaud took a deep drink of his wine, forcing himself to calm as the evening meal commenced. He was fighting exhaustion but he was pleased his bride was now in her chamber behind a guarded door.
Sitting on his left, Geoff speared a large piece of venison on the point of his eating knife.
“Is it true?” he asked, holding the meat before his mouth.
“You have found not only Sarah, but your bride?” At Renaud’s nod, he continued, “I can scarce believe it, Ren. All this time Lady Serena living among us. I must say, she fooled me. I failed to recognize the lady in the servant’s garb. ”
“As did I,” Renaud muttered as he circled his goblet with his hand.
Something was nagging at him, a thought that had not left him since he had nearly taken her at the edge of the stream.
She was clever in deceiving him, disguised first as a maid and then as a lad.
On the ride home she had fallen asleep, curled against him like a protected child.
But she was no child. She was a woman full grown and he could not hold her without his body stirring.
He had wanted the violet-eyed beauty since the day he had first seen her, and now she was returned as his bride.
One day she would be the mother of his sons, would she prefer it or no.
Still, he has no illusions. She might try and escape again if she could.
The desire he had awakened in her, he was certain, did not alter her feelings for Normans.
He had to remember the battle was not over.
“Why are you so sullen?” Geoff needled. “This sudden turn of events should please you.” The blond knight snatched the venison off the knife with his teeth.
“Aye, it does, but I’ll not celebrate the marriage just yet.
Something tells me the fight for the lady’s hand is not over.
I cannot trust her, Geoff. As you observed yourself, the woman has only disdain for Normans.
And she is clever at escape. Hence, I have posted Sir Niel at her door.
I want her watched at all times. Mayhap the next days will disclose her intent. I expect she may yet try to flee.”
Renaud gazed about the room. Some of his knights still lingered over their meal.
Others diced or played échecs, the game of skill with carved pieces, occasionally letting out a yell when one won a round.
The red-haired serving girl he recognized as Maggie’s daughter was smiling at Sir Maurin as she filled his tankard with ale, and the knight smiled back.
Mayhap there would be more weddings celebrated ere midwinter was upon them.
“Would it help to recall that you need no priest’s blessing to claim what William has given you, Ren?”
“That may be, but I would have our marriage blessed by the church. Best send for the priest, or the bishop, if near. I want the people to know we are wed according to God’s law, not just William’s command.”
“Have you forgotten? Father Bernard left some time ago, not to return for a fortnight. Sarah…that is, Lady Serena said he is seeing to the needs of other villages. And the nearest bishop is Ealdred, Archbishop of York to the east.”
“Ah, so it is. I remember now, the chapel was missing a priest. Mayhap ’twould be best if I await his return.
Still, I would keep her guarded until the marriage ceremony, no matter she shares my bed.
Tell the men she may have free run of the manor and the yard as long as her movements are watched. She may not ride unescorted.”
“Get her with child and she will nay travel far.”
“’Tis my plan.” Renaud had thought of little else on his ride back to Talisand.
Now that he had his bride, he need not woo the servant girl.
And he wanted no other. Serena had ruined him for any other woman.
Geoff and Sir Maurin were not the only knights at Talisand who were besotted with English women.
But Renaud knew well he would have to hide his weakness for his bride.
If she were not loyal, she could do him great harm.
He drank deeply of his wine and pushed back from the table, bidding Geoff a good night. He was barely able to keep his eyes open, yet he was eager to see the lady who had so long eluded him. Likely, she was still angry with her Norman captor. He was angry as well for her deceit had disturbed him.
As he dragged his tired body from the hall, Maugris intercepted him at the bottom of the stairs.
“My lord, I understand the Lady of Talisand has returned…is it so?”
“Yea, I hunted the servant girl, Sarah, but found the Lady Serena. It seems she has been deceiving all of us.” Renaud studied the wise one’s face and realized from his knowing smile he had been aware.
“’Twas nimble witted, you must admit,” the old man said with amusement dancing in his ancient blue eyes. “Me thinks she is a worthy mate for the Red Wolf.”
“I did not find her behavior praiseworthy, wise one. Though I am certain it brought smiles to the faces of the villeins. They knew, all of them. To fool the Normans who went about their business unaware the lady of the manor was living under their noses as a mere servant must have amused them. And you, my own advisor—you knew, yet did not tell me!”
Maugris’s smile faded. “No, I did not. I knew from my vision it was you who had to find the jewel among the stones. And I had confidence you would find her, though you had to reason it on your own if you were to be her mate. Think, my lord. She was angry and afraid, and only fled for her honor and that of the other maidens. Do you not remember?”
“Aye, I remember the women.” Renaud could not find fault with the servant girls who had fled that first day. Mayhap Serena was only doing what she thought was right. But when she learned he would be honorable toward her people, she had not revealed herself. Instead, she had sought to escape again.
The old man’s blue eyes stared at Renaud. “You have but to hold her close, my lord, and she will be yours.”