Lespada (9 page)

CHAPTER FOUR

Lady Katharine was greeted by Hugh at the great gatehouse of Castle Acre Castle. She’d traveled with fifty men at arms the nine miles from Breckland Castle to Castle Acre to spend the evening with her eldest son and new wife. Given her conversation earlier in the day with Davyss, she thought it might be a wise thing to do. She’d sent word ahead of her arrival and was met at the bailey gate by Hugh, Nikolas and Phillip. 

The sun had set and a line of torches lit the road from the bailey gate into the heart of the compound. The glow they gave off into the velvet night was eerie, the only light amidst a vast sea of darkness. Hugh greeted his mother with a kiss to each cheek while Nikolas and Phillip each showed how gracefully they could salute her.  Lady Katharine eyed Nikolas in particular.

“Nik,” she said. “Come closer.”

Nikolas stepped forward, gazing full-faced at Lady Katharine. She reached out a bird-like hand and grasped his chin, turning his face slightly.  She was looking at something in particular.

“Where did you get that black eye?” she asked.

Nikolas didn’t falter although Phillip, next to him, fought off a smirk. “In the struggle with Lady de Winter earlier today, my lady,” he replied steadily.

“Did she strike you?”

“Not with her fists, my lady,” he replied. “She hit me with the leg of a chair.”

Lady Katharine’s eyes narrowed at the injury and she unfortunately caught a glimpse of Phillip; his nose was swollen and purple. She jabbed a gnarled finger at him.

“And what happened to you?” she demanded.

Phillip’s smirk was gone and he cleared his throat softly. “A door to the nose, my lady.”

“Lady Devereux?”

“Aye, my lady.”

Lady Katharine shook her head. “God’s Blood,” she breathed. “I have never heard of such nonsense.”

Hugh stood next to his mother, still feeling the sting of embarrassment and inadequacy from earlier in the day when they had all failed to charm, or subdue, Lady Devereux. Davyss’ collection of knights were some of the most powerful warriors in the court of King Henry the Third but they had failed to effectively restrain one very small lady.  It was a shameful display that they hoped would never become public knowledge.

The carriage carrying Lady Katharine moved from the gatehouse towards the massive lower bailey beyond.  At sunset, the smells of cooking fires and roasting meat were heavy in the air.  Hugh rode beside the carriage astride his big bay charger.

“All that is in the past, Mother,” he assured her. “She surely understands her place now.”

Lady Katharine cast him a long look. “What makes you say this?”

“Because she has been confined to her chamber since arriving here earlier today,” he replied. “Davyss spent a good deal of time with her earlier. I am sure he explained things to her.”

“Where is your brother now?”

“In the hall.”

“And how is your brother’s mood since his undoubtedly productive discussion with Lady Devereux this afternoon?”

Hugh looked at her; he resembled his mother a good deal with his dark eyes and angular face. “Why do you ask?”

“I am curious. Answer me.”

Hugh shrugged as the passed into the vast bailey with its collection of cooking fires and scent of men and animals. “He seems well enough.”

Lady Katharine didn’t say anymore as the carriage neared the great all, a massive thing planted in the middle of the lower bailey.  Its stone walls soared skyward and the roof was sharply angled, covered with a matting of pitch and sod.   The enormously long lancet windows cast bright streams of light into the darkened bailey, the result of a massive fire in a hearth that could have easily fit ten men inside it.  Hugh helped his mother disembark and escorted her into the hall. Her severely wimpled ladies, three of them, followed close behind.

There was one very big table near the hearth, large enough for fifty men. Servants moved around the room, lighting tapers and bringing food to the table. The hall itself was spartanly furnished with a cluttered dirt floor and dogs huddled in the corners. It smelled almost as bad as the bailey outside.  Davyss was sitting facing the door when his mother and brother entered. He watched his mother come near, his expression unreadable, and took a long drink of his wine. 

Lady Katharine reached the table and was helped to sit by Hugh and Nikolas. The bench was dusty, with bits of old food on it, and they brushed it off for her. Nikolas took her cane and leaned it against the hearth as Lady Katharine’s women took position behind her; never would they dare sit in her presence.

Katharine watched her eldest closely; there was something about his expression that had her curious as well as concerned.  The man seemed to have difficulty holding her gaze which was unlike him.  Davyss was, if nothing else, fearless and confident. He always looked people in the eye because he believed you could tell a good deal about what they were thinking simply by the countenance of their eyes. Were she to use her son’s logic, his thoughts were not good.

“Davyss,” she accepted a cup of wine from one of her women. “You did not greet me at the gate.”

Davyss eyed his mother. “My apologies.”

He didn’t sound as if he meant it but she let it go. “Where is your wife?” his mother asked. “I have traveled a great distance to spend time with her.”

Something in Davyss’ eyes darkened; Lady Katharine saw it.  After a moment of holding her gaze, he averted his eyes and took another swallow of wine.

“In her chamber, I would presume.”

“You do not know?”

He looked at his mother then. “I left her there some time ago. She was there when I left.”

Lady Katharine was growing edgy at her son’s evasive manner. She smacked the table and demanded her cane, which was brought to her by one of her cowering women. Cane in hand, she rose stiffly.

“Davyss,” she said firmly. “You will attend me.”

Davyss knew better than to argue, although he was fairly drunk and in no mood for his mother’s imperious manner. He knew what was coming. Still, he did as he was told; slamming his cup to the table, he went to his mother and gently took her elbow.  He led her from the hall, out into the starlit night beyond.

The bailey was muddy with excrement, a start contrast to the crisp and pure sky above.  Lady Katharine was unsteady on her feet and the uneven walking surface nearly toppled her, so Davyss swung his mother into his powerful arms and carried her across the muck.

“Where did you wish to go?” he asked.

“Take me to your wife.”

Somewhere low in his throat, he growled.  Lady Katharine’s eyes narrowed at her boy.

“What has happened, Davyss?” she asked, although there was no true force behind it. “Why is she not down in the hall?”

Davyss was not in a chatting mood and he didn’t feel like answering foolish questions. He would not look his mother in the eye as he headed for the distant, lonely keep.

“I do not know what you mean,” he rumbled.

She smacked him on the shoulder. “You know very well what I mean. Where is your wife and what has happened since you and I spoke at Breckland? Did you not speak to the woman and try to reconcile your rough beginning?”

He didn’t answer until they reached a portion of the bailey that was hard-packed earth. Gently, he set his mother to her feet.  Before them loomed the motte and keep, stretching long and dark against the starry sky. Instead of escorting her forward, he simply stood there.  Lady Katharine sensed great turmoil but waited patiently for him to speak. She was, in truth, surprised to see him so agitated, an unusual condition for the usually-cool man.

“If you must know, I fear that I have irrevocably damaged whatever chance Lady Devereux and I had of having an agreeable marriage,” he finally said.

“What did you do?”

Davyss looked at his mother, realizing that he was embarrassed to tell her. But he knew he could not avoid it. He averted his gaze, taking a deep breath as he tried to delicately phrase the situation.

“I consummated the marriage,” he told her. “It was not… pleasant.”

Lady Katharine lifted an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

He grunted, scratching his neck in a nervous gesture. “I took her by force.”

Lady Katharine’s dark eyes cooled dramatically. “You raped her.”

He shook his head. “Nay, not in the true sense,” he said. “I thought… I thought we were of one mind at the time. I thought she was agreeable but I realized that… I did not even realize she was resisting me until after it was over. It never occurred to me that….”

He was having difficulty spitting it out and Lady Katharine’s attitude grew colder.

“It never occurred to you that she could resist your charm and your wit because no woman ever has,” she moved closer to him, her dark eyes blazing. “Davyss, you are the greatest knight in the realm. Do not believe for one minute that I do not hear of your every triumph and every exploit.  I know of your fearlessness, your strength and your bravery. I also know that you have every woman at court mad for you. God knows how many bastards you have about; it makes me ill simply to think on it. But for all of your strength and skill and dashing good looks, you are a fool when it comes to women. Do you hear me? I have raised in idiot!”

He took her scolding; nothing she said was untrue. He hung his head, unable to look her in the eye. Furious, she grabbed him by the chin and forced him to face her.

“Did you hurt her?” she demanded.

“Other than the obvious, I do not believe so.”

“Where is she?”

“I left her in the chamber on the second floor.”

“And you have not talked to her since? Not even to see if she is well?”

He tried to shake his head. “Nay,” he replied. “But I did send Lollardly to her with food and her trunks. He saw to her needs.”

Lady Katharine’s features tightened and she dropped her hand.  “You sent that lecherous drunk to see to your wife?”

“I did.”

“Did he speak to her?”

“He brought her food and drink.  Beyond that, I have not spoken with him further about her.”

Lady Katharine’s dark eyes glittered; there was great displeasure in the dark and stormy depths, unusual for the woman who was much like her son in that she did not readily show emotion. Then she smacked him on his taut buttocks with her cane.

“Get up there,” she growled. “Go to your wife and beg for her forgiveness. Make every effort to make amends because if you do not, so help me, you will not like my reaction. Is that clear?”

He sighed heavily. “I doubt she wishes to see me. ‘Twould be better if you went. Perhaps she would not be so hostile.”

Lady Katharine’s eyebrows flew up. “If I…?” she sputtered. But, after a moment’s thought, she cooled. Perhaps he was right; perhaps she should be the ambassador for peace and beg forgiveness for her inept son. “Very well,” she agreed after a moment’s deliberation. “I shall see if I can make a masterpiece out of the mess you have created.”