Page 50 of Knight of Darkness
Mother… She had not thought on her dame for many a year, having lost her long ago to an illness when Ceridwen had been little more than a babe. But she knew that her mother and father had shared a great love, and she had learned much of the woman from her father’s stories. She supposed there was some comfort in knowing that her parents were at least together now. “Do you really think so?” she asked before standing and smoothing out the fabric of her gown. She was nervous. She would finally be heading to her soon to be husband, or so she had been told.
“Aye, ye be the spittin’ image of her,” the servant replied with a smile of encouragement.
“Thank you, Agnes,” Ceridwen replied before heading toward the door. There was no point in putting off the inevitable. She was to wed. Period. Did it truly matter whom the groom would be if she could not have the man she loved?
The passageway felt colder than normal as though ’twas a premonition of how her life would now be. Each step down the winding turret brought her closer to her fate. Her heart began hammering inside her chest as if ’twould explode. Before she came into view of the great hall, she took a deep breath to calm her fears and raised her head. She would in no way let the new steward intimidate her. She knew her worth even though she felt like a pawn in a game she could not win.
Descending the last step, she began making her way toward the hearth where the gentleman sat. The chair faced the fire so his features were obscured but his black hair fell in wavy lengths to his shoulders. He lifted a tankard to his lips and Ceridwen noted the fine cut of his tunic. He was obviously wealthy enough to see himself well attired. He must have been lost in thought for he did not hear her approach.
“I am glad to see my servants have seen to your needs, good sir,” she began offering this slight bit of hospitality even though she wished him to be on the other side of the kingdom.
“My apologies for not hearing you, my lady,” he said quickly, putting his tankard down and turning to face her. Blue eyes twinkled back at her in amusement before he gave her a courtly bow. “’Tis good to see you again, Lady Ceridwen.”
“Good heavens, Sir Richard. You are the last person I expected to receive in my hall. Is their aught amiss with Wymar? I mean… Lord Norwood,” she said whilst she began shaking with the thoughts of the wellbeing of her former lover. Though she might try to deny it, she was still in love with the man. Even when another man took her to wife, she knew she could never forget her feelings for Wymar.
“Wymar is fine as far as I know. Last I saw of my friend he was in London although he was to make his way home come the morn. Shall we take our ease, my lady? I must admit ’tis been some time since I have had the luxury of a fire and a cup of ale to enjoy,” Richard replied whilst waving to the chair opposite him.
Ceridwen nodded and took her place beside the hearth whilst a servant readily thrust a goblet of wine into her hand. ’Twas as though the woman knew she would need sustenance to get through the conversation.Good heavens!The Empress did not expect her to wed with Norwood’s friend, did she? She made every attempt to calm her nerves before she spoke. “What brings you to Norwich, Sir Richard?” She took a sip of her wine awaiting his answer.
His brow furrowed before he replied. “You did not receive the Empress’s message?”
Her wine almost spewed across the space between them. She began choking before air once more returned to her lungs. “I am waiting for the steward who will oversee my lands…” she began.
“…and to be taken to your future husband,” he finished taking another sip of his drink.
“But why areyouhere then?”
He hid a smirk beneath his tankard before placing it down. Amusement rushed across his visage. “I would think the reason for my presence would be obvious, my lady. I am here to ensure your lands are taken care of in Wymar’s name before we travel to Brockenhurst for your wedding. Did not the Empress inform you that you are to be my friend’s bride?” ’Twas obvious from his twinkling eyes that Richard already knew her answer.
Shaking hands placed the goblet upon a nearby table but still it rattled upon the wood until she steadied it. Beads of sweat formed on her upper lip, and she swore she felt faint.Wymar? To be her husband?she mused whilst the room spun before her eyes. All these months spent agonizing over whom the Empress may have chosen as her husband were for naught! She could not be happier.
Richard reached over to take one of her hands. “I see this all comes as a surprise… a pleasant one, I hope,” he asked whilst rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.
Ceridwen’s attention returned to the man before her. “Aye, I cannot complain about the Empress’s choice in a husband for me, yet I am not pleased on her delivery of such information. She could have informed me months ago. ’Twould have given me peace of mind instead of endless hours worrying over whom she might have chosen.”
Richard chuckled before releasing her hand and taking up his tankard once more. “Our Empress does as she pleases and at her whim. Who are we to gainsay her on her approach to such matters? Besides, she has had a difficult time of late whilst attempting to gain control of England.”
“Aye, you have that aright,” Ceridwen whispered whilst thoughts of being with Wymar once more filled her heart with joy.
Richard took up his tankard again. “Do you have someone in mind that you can trust with the upkeeping of Norwich? Although I know you were expecting some stranger to take over the running of the estate, the Empress made it clear that you were more than capable of appointing someone you were already familiar with who lives here. I am certain Wymar will be more than agreeable to anyone you might name to watch over the estate.”
Ceridwen was once more surprised at Richard’s words. She did not have to think overly hard on the matter. “Aye. My guardsman Arthur is more than capable of becoming steward of Norwich. He was my father’s right-hand man for many a year whilst he also watched my back. He would be perfect for such a responsibility, and there is no one I would trust more.”
“Then you can tell him the good news that his status has been elevated. You will no longer need to have him as a guardsman once you arrive at Brockenhurst. Wymar will always ensure your safety,” Richard said whilst draining his cup.
Ceridwen nodded and could hardly wait to tell Arthur of his good fortune. “We shall ride out come the morn so I may show you the land. In the meantime, I will have a chamber readied for you.” She motioned for a servant and conveyed her instructions to the woman who hurried off to do her bidding.
“I will appreciate the comfort of a bed and good food for a change instead of traveling on the open road. I will admit I have tired of the ground to sleep upon.”
“I will show you to your bedchamber personally,” Ceridwen said before standing. Taking Richard’s arm, he escorted her through the great hall and up the turret stairs all the while speaking of Brockenhurst.
“My own estate is near to your new home. You will love it there, Lady Ceridwen. The forest is so thick you sometimes wonder how a castle was built without using all the trees for its lumber,” he boasted.
“I am sure I will love making my home,” Ceridwen said as a small smile lit her features. They continued down the passageway before she halted at his chamber. “When do we leave?”
“A fortnight,” Richard said whilst opening the door. “You can be ready by then?”
“Of course. I have been packing for several se’nnights now. There has been no reason to delay the inevitable. I knew not how much time I would have to ready myself, so I ensured all was taken care of. I have some instructions I will need to convey to Arthur, but then I would be most happy for us to be on our way.”
