My Lord Bertran:
As this will be my final correspondence with you before I am to be betrothed to Sir William, I implore you again to release me from this duty. I am amidst a houseful of babbling women with nothing to relieve me except my daily excursions, which will soon be ending once I am betrothed.
I was able to ascertain that the Valley of Hamir, below the castle, is where most of Lord Conrad’s army will stay camped until the day of my betrothal. After that, they will be guarding the entire castle and the outlaying area very closely until the day of the wedding. Your original plan to attack them there is in your hands, but I have been able to come up with an alternate plan that would discredit Sir William and cause him to be forced to marry another maiden who visits here. His dishonor would also be to your advantage as Lord Conrad would be forced to yield to your demands to satisfy my outcry of being disgraced. Trust me, it will be done. Come prepared to demand satisfaction.
Your loyal daughter and servant,
Lady Emeline Bertran
Sir William had stopped shaking by the time he was done reading the letter. He was gritting his teeth and wrinkling his brow as anger darkened his face.
“What devious thing could she be planning that would so discredit me?”
Victoria carefully took the letter from Sir William’s hand and placed it back in its envelope. “My brooch. It’s going to end up in your bedchamber, of course. Either that, or something else of mine that she will have stolen by then.”
Sir William stared at Victoria. “Aren’t you at all concerned how this will look for you?”
“For me?” I’m not worried. It isn’t true. Why should I be worried?”
“Because I shall be forced to marry you. And her contract will be annulled. That would be the only chivalrous thing to do.”
“Except that I would refuse.”
“You wouldn’t be able to. Don’t you see? Lady Emeline knows that you are under my protection and that we have spent time alone. The only proper thing to do in those circumstances is to wed. And then wait for her father to attack the castle because we have not kept our contract.”
“Do you really think Lord Bertran would attack with his daughter still in the castle?”
“He will claim his daughter, when he declares war. We are doomed!”
“Sir William, you give in far too easily.”
* * *
It took another hour of planning before Sir William returned to the castle by himself and Lady Victoria was seen riding along the beach by herself. No words were spoken between the two for the rest of the day and it was at the dinner feast that they saw each other again. Sir William was seated next to Lady Emeline and Victoria was seated again next to Lady Mirabel.
“Tell me, Lady Mirabel is there any more news about the upcoming nuptials?”
Lady Mirabel shook gleefully at the chance to reveal her hard won gossip.
“Oh yes!” she gushed, “Lady Emeline’s sister arrived today to help prepare her. It seems as though they were expecting something that didn’t arrive and Lady Emeline was quite beside herself. Her sister is the Lady Annaliese…over there on the other side of Sir William.”
Victoria feigned interest as she leaned in to whisper to Lady Mirabel. “Did I tell you that my brooch went missing from my bedchamber?” She knew telling Lady Mirabel something was like sending out an all-points bulletin on the gossip chain.
“No!” Lady Mirabel gasped and pulled her hands to her mouth. “When did this happen, my dear, do tell me everything,”
“It was on my first day here…after we met in the ladies’ sewing room.”
“Ah yes, I remember, when you fainted so suddenly.” Lady Mirabel shook her head and threw up her hands. “Was it the chamber maid, do you think?”
“Oh no! I trust her completely. Whoever it was will probably take something else eventually.”
“Yes, indeed!” With that comment, Lady Mirabell turned away to pass on this new tidbit of gossip to the lady on her other side. Victoria knew that it wouldn’t be long before the whole castle knew of the theft and the brooch would be useless to Lady Emeline, as would any other item that belonged to Victoria. Now it was Lady Emeline’s turn to move. How would she strike?
Chapter 7
The ladies were dismissed from the hall when the discussions about war began. This was Sir William’s cue to bring up the secret communications going in and out of the castle between Lady Emeline and Lord Bertran. To prove the truth of his accusations, he produced the letter to Lord Bertran that was never sent. Lord Conrad was ready to summon Lady Emeline that moment and question her, but Sir William explained it would be better to let her think the letter was sent and let her trap herself in her own perverted plan. Instead, Lord Conrad summoned Victoria to the hall to report everything she heard the day she saw Lady Emeline meet with her messenger Stanton. After Victoria was through reporting what she had seen and heard, Lord Conrad turned to face her.
“I have treated you with suspicion since you have arrived, and yet now you are the one to save my shire from being invaded by my enemy. How can I ever repay you?”
Victoria shook her head. “I don’t need anything, except your trust and your promise that Sir William doesn’t have to marry Lady Emeline.”
“My promise? Why? What interest is that of yours? Do you wish to marry him?”
“Me? No! I just know he doesn’t love her and she obviously doesn’t love him. Those kinds of marriages are doomed to failure.”
Lord Conrad smiled at Victoria and made a sideways glance to Sir William. “I see what you are talking about, William. She is full of spit and vinegar.” He laughed as Victoria turned bright red.
“I don’t have to stand here and take your insults, Lord Conrad.”
“They are not insults, my dear, they are compliments. It seems most of the young ladies that chase after William are, uh…”
“Airheads?” Victoria offered.
“Airheads. Hmm, yes, heads full of air. That is exactly correct. Anyway, I would like you to consider becoming his spouse and the next Lady Conrad. Of course, I will not pressure you, but I rather think William might be more persuasive than I.”
Victoria shook her head. “No, I have other plans. But I thank you for your kind offer, my Lord.”
Sir William turned to his father and shrugged. “What did I tell you?”
As they began walking away from the hall, they all heard Lady Emeline shouting from the foyer. It was expected. For tomorrow was the official day of her betrothal ceremony.
“I have been disgraced! This is unacceptable! I demand satisfaction! Where are Lord Conrad and Sir William? Where is Lady Victoria? I want them all here!”
By now the house was alive with servants re-lighting the candles in the hall and rushing this way and that. Lady Adelaide was trying to soothe Lady Emeline, but she would not be calmed.
Finally, Lord Conrad entered back into the great hall and shouted above all the din.
“Everyone calm yourselves!” He waited for the noise to dissipate. “Now, Lady Emeline, what is this all about?”
Lady Emeline gave a sideways glance at Victoria and dropped a blue brooch on the table. “This was found in Sir William’s bedchamber. It shows that she was there. This is evidence of what they have been doing.” Lady Emeline pointed an accusing finger at Victoria.
“Who found it there, my lady?” Lord Conrad calmly asked.
“I did. When I went to consult with Sir William regarding tomorrow’s ceremony. And of which there shall not be one, now that I know he has already been unfaithful to me.”
“Calm yourself, Lady Emeline. That brooch was stolen from Lady Victoria’s bedchamber the first day she arrived. How do you explain having it in your possession?”
Lady Emeline paled slightly, but caught herself quickly. “I only found it in his bedchamber just now. Perhaps you should ask Sir William…”
But Lord Conrad would not relent. “How do you explain using it as a seal on l
etters you were secretly sending to your father informing him of your plans to disgrace William?”
“But I don’t…see…how…” Lady Emeline sputtered. Then she caught herself. “How dare you intercept a private letter that was sent to Lord Bertran?” Looking around, she could see that her ranting was ineffectual. So she did what she’d seen Victoria do in a stressful circumstance, she cried.
And Lady Aldelaide attempted to comfort her. But Lord Conrad only waved his hand and dismissed her and in a loud voice he huffed, “Enough!”
All was quiet except for Lady Emeline’s sniffling. “Everyone is dismissed to retire for the night.” and Lady Emeline, you will be confined to your room until your father arrives tomorrow. I do agree with you, your wedding contract is dissolved. You are released from this obligation.”
Victoria watched Lady Emeline and thought she saw a twinge of relief beneath a grief-stricken face. But she also thought Sir William looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him. The worry lines on his forehead were gone and a smile was forming at the corners of his mouth.
As she was headed for her room, he stepped beside her and fell in stride.
“Would you like to have a bit of refreshment before you retire for the night, Lady Victoria?”
“Is it acceptable with your father?”
“I’m sure he approves, Lady Victoria.”
“Only if you stop calling me Lady Victoria and just call me Victoria. The other is too formal.”
“Agreed, Victoria, and you may call me William.”
They laughed and headed for the deserted kitchen. William led Victoria to a long, winding path downstairs that she had never seen before. The servants would bring food through the back stairs to the main dining hall. As they went down, the stairs got very narrow and William squeezed in next to Victoria so she would have enough light from the torch he was carrying. As their shoulders touched, a bolt of electricity shot through her body. Even in the closeness she shared when she was married, she had never had such a strong feeling. Strange, it must be static electricity, but in an old, damp castle? The stairs spiraled down to reach the kitchen and a servant sitting by the hearth startled in surprise at their arrival. But Sir William dismissed him as they entered the room. Victoria’s face glowed at the thought that she would have some alone time with Sir William.
Chapter 8
After the servant was gone and they were alone, William lit the candles and led Victoria toward the fire, tossing logs on the open flame.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“Yes, a bit.” Goose bumps rose on her skin and she shivered in the dark, stone kitchen.
William walked over to her and gently rubbed her arms with his hands until she stopped shivering.
“This should help. It will be warmer in a minute. We have to wait for the fire to get hot.”
But Victoria looked at his parted lips and murmured, “I’m already warmer, just from you rubbing my arms.” Then, realizing what she’d said, she snatched her arms away in embarrassment.
“Are you hungry? I noticed you didn’t eat much at dinner.” Victoria said.
“Starving.” He kept his eyes focused on her face despite her change in topic.
“Let me make you something to eat.”
Victoria turned to prepare something, but realized there were no modern appliances available for her use. A large iron kettle sat in the fireplace, but it was empty. Then she saw the bread, meat and cheese on the table in the middle of the kitchen. She grabbed a knife and a slab of meat and started slicing.
“I’m going to make you a delicacy from where I’m from.”
“What’s that?” He tilted his head in interest, leaning close in to her.
“A sandwich.” Victoria felt his hot skin against hers.
“A sandwich? What is that? Some French dish that’s barely edible?” He grimaced, wrinkling his nose.
“No, two slices of bread with meat and cheese in between.”
William laughed. Victoria listened to the happy sound of his laughter and smiled to herself.
“Who would have thought of jamming the meat between two pieces of bread?” he said.
But he accepted her offer of food and ate his sandwich without another word. When he was finished he picked the crumbs from his fingers with his lips.
Victoria poured a glass of wine as she watched him. “I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s definitely a handy way to eat your meat, but I don’t understand why it’s considered a delicacy.” He drank the wine Victoria offered him.
“I don’t know either, it’s something I learned from my mother.”
Victoria’s heart was racing and it frightened her. He was kind and gentle and so different from Robert, her ex-husband. How could William ever understand what she had experienced? Their cultures were so different.
In his world, the woman was subservient and he probably couldn’t even understand the concept of a woman divorcing a man. But she had done that to protect herself and had promised herself that she would never be vulnerable again. She knew that her fights with William had been born out of that need to protect herself. But now, with this amiable young man, she was having feelings she thought would never happen to her again.
In fact, she was having feelings that had never existed for her before now. The ice around her heart melted as she looked into his smiling face. She knew she was falling in love with him. The thought surprised her. But she was suddenly seeing him in a whole new light. She’d never noticed how green his eyes were or how the laugh lines around his mouth crinkled just so.
William broke her reverie by drawing her close and kissing her soft and carefully. She returned his kiss and drew her hands up to his face to feel the rough features that the sun and salt air had hewn in him. All at once she pulled away, not sure of what she had done or implied in this thirteenth century medieval setting. She didn’t know the customs. Had she shown that she was a loose woman? But William only smiled.
Victoria opened her mouth to speak but she stopped herself when he reached for her hand. He covered it with his own and dropped a heavy, rough edged brooch into her palm.
She glanced down at the lady in the blue brooch and inside she cried: Oh no, not now. I’m not ready to leave!
Victoria looked around the kitchen with wild eyes and then back at William. She wanted to memorize his face so she would never forget it. She wanted to remember the love she felt for him and how she wanted to be with him always. She wanted to remember their one kiss together. And then, it all faded away into a swirling pool of sparkling stars.
Chapter 9
Victoria awoke to find herself right in the middle of the path in Meadows’ Lane. It was dark, but she could see Raven standing beside the path, munching on a tuft of grass in the moonlight. She wore the dress Rose had loaned her to go to the medieval faire. As she struggled to stand up, the first thing she remembered was William. He was gone forever, but she would continue to love him with all her heart. Something hard pressed into the palm of her hand as she pulled herself over to grab the loose reins on the ground. Opening her hand, she spied the pale, blue brooch that was the lady of the Knight’s Tale shining up at her.
Horse hooves sounded on the path behind her and she turned toward the sound. The dark haired rider stopped and slid down off his horse. He was tall and wore jeans and a sweatshirt. Casually, he walked over to her and extended a hand.
“Good evening. My name is William. Do you need some help?”
Looking at William’s green eyes reflecting off the moonlight, Victoria wondered where he had come from. She’d never seen him around here before.
“Hello William, I’m Victoria. Do you have a cell phone?”
“I sure do.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the shiny object. Victoria grinned when she saw the phone in his hand. It was good to know that she was back. She had a story to write and a precious memory to muse about. But this William wasn’t a memory; he was standi
ng right in front of her, waiting expectantly. Victoria looked towards the path he had ridden from, and then down at the blue brooch in her hand. She wondered if it had truly given her the desires of her heart.
She smiled as she slipped the brooch in her saddlebag, mounted her horse and headed for home.
# # #
About the Author
Karen Elizabeth Brown’s passion for writing is what fills her entire life with exhilarating inspiration. She spends her days writing, doing research and studying about the subjects of her stories.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys music and reading, especially medieval fantasy. Born in Southern California, she migrated to Southern Oregon in 1974 where she now resides in the Rogue Valley with her family and friends. Find out more about the author at her official website:
https://www.karenelizabethbrown.com
What’s Coming…
Look for her upcoming sci-fi/fantasy series:
Dragon Kind - What happens when a young woman is sent on a modern day quest by her deceased grandfather, to slay a dragon? With her fierce resolve to stay true to the request, Marsilynda ends up in medieval times, battling more than just dragons. She is in a fight for her life, but she has the help of Richard, who is willing to risk his life to save hers. All goes haywire because of deceit and trickery, and the two must find their way back to the present day. She becomes a true Dragon Kind and wants to stay with the dragons, but Richard wants her to return to claim her inheritance. Will Marsilynda return or stay in the past?
The MacKenzie Chronicles is a three part series, starting with Supernova, that follows the lives of the MacKenzie family in their search to re-unite the broken factions of their family. Their quest is hindered by an angry father who refuses to accept his daughters bonding into the MacKenzie family. This dissonance follows four generations of fight, flight and strife. As new generations are born, new problems arise for the MacKenzies. And they discover their heritage is wrapped up by a mystic who stays alive to follow each generation through their struggles.
Cover art by Loretta Stephenson
Loretta enjoys acrylic painting in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Oregon, USA. When creating cover art for books, she uses traditional acrylic painting with digital art... combining the best of both worlds. The artist can be found online at: