Page 22 of Hers To Command
“You would let this castle be taken by Roald de Sayres because you don’t want to insult Cerdic?” Sir Henry demanded. “I regret having to insult your intelligence, my lady, but have youlookedat your garrison recently? They may fight well individually, but they’re undisciplined, and their armor and the condition of their weapons is a disgrace. I doubt they’ll listen to orders in a battle. They’ll do as they choose, and they’ll get themselves slaughtered in the process. If that’s what you want, by all means, refuse my help, but if not, you’ll agree with your sister that I should be in command until Roald returns.”
“And if he does not, how long will this Norman linger here, eating our food and drinking our wine?” Giselle asked, as if she’d forgotten Sir Henry was not ten feet away from her.
“He should stay until we are certain of what Roald intends to do, or Sir Henry decides to leave us,” Mathilde replied, even though she and Sir Henry had not discussed this.
He didn’t disagree.
“The men will not accept him,” Cerdic growled.
Despite his harsh observation, Mathilde realized the worst of his anger had passed, giving her hope that he would accept Sir Henry’s leadership after all.
“They will if you will,” she replied. “Be the leader I know you can be, Cerdic, by taking the lead in this. Accept Sir Henry as your commander.”
Giselle, however, was still unconvinced. “How can we be sure he won’t try to steal Ecclesford for himself?”
“How would he do that?” Mathilde retorted, embarrassed by her sister’s suggestion and its implication. If Sir Henry declared he wouldn’t stay another moment, she wouldn’t be surprised. “Even if he were such a dishonorable man, he has no right to it by law, and no men to help him. The only other way would be if he marriesyou.”
Giselle’s face reddened with a blush, but not as if she yearned to be Sir Henry’s wife and had been found out too soon. It was as if she’d never heard anything so unwelcome in her life. “I have no intention of marrying Sir Henry.”
“Then you need not fear he will try to steal Ecclesford.”
Still Giselle was not appeased. “You, of all people, should know that an unscrupulous man will find a way to get what he wants.”
“I amnotan unscrupulous man,” Sir Henry finally interposed, his stern voice and severe mien forcibly reminding them all once again that he was a noble warrior who fought for a living, not merely a smooth-speaking courtier who sought only pleasure.
Now he was insulted. Now he would surely go, and they would lose not just his presence and the power of his social position, but his help with the garrison as well.
Cerdic stepped forward and put his hand on Giselle’s arm. “There may be something this Norman could teach us. It is the safety of you and your sister and Ecclesford we must put first.”
Mathilde could have wept with relief. If she had Cerdic on her side…
“Oh, very well!” Giselle declared with a toss of her head. “Let him be the garrison commander. You both know better than I.”
And with that, she swept out of the room.
Ignoring Sir Henry, Cerdic addressed Mathilde. “I will try to appease her,” he said before hurrying after Giselle.
Letting her breath out slowly, Mathilde leaned back against the table.
“Well, that went better than I expected,” Sir Henry noted from his place by the window.
“Better?” Mathilde repeated incredulously. “That was terrible. Giselleneverloses her temper or argues with me.”
“Really?” he replied, strolling closer. “My brother and I quarrel all the time.”
His relationship with his brother might not be good, but she and Giselle had always gotten along. If he was used to anger and conflict, she was not.
“I’m sure she’ll get over it, my lady,” he said soothingly. “After all, we’re right, and she’s wrong—a loyal friend to Cerdic, of course, but wrong nonetheless. At least he agreed with us in the end.”
“Yes, there is that,” she said, taking some comfort in Cerdic’s acquiescence.
“And if I don’t make any improvements, you’re free to send me on my way.”
He spoke lightly, cheerfully, as if he hadn’t just had his honor and abilities questioned. “I’m sorry they insulted you,” she said.
“Oh, that,” he replied with a smile and dismissive wave of his hand. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been slighted.”
Slighted was a mild way to put the things Giselle and Cerdic had said. He was an amazingly amiable and forgiving man, especially for a knight, as well as kindhearted and generous….
