Julie Garwood - [3 Book Box Set] Read Online Free PDF Page A

Elizabeth questioned.
    “Roger.”
    “Roger, why do you call your leader the Hawk?”
    The vassal looked at her from his bent position in front of the fire and then gruffly answered, “All those who fight in battle with him call him thus. It is the way of things.”
    His noncommittal reply made little sense to Elizabeth but she didn’t want to irritate him by questioning him further on the matter. She would get to the heart of the need now. “ ’Tis said there is a boy here who does not speak and that the Hawk saved his life. Is this true?”
    “Aye.” Suspicion was back in the vassal’s expression and Elizabeth knew she would have to tread softly.
    “If he be the one I am thinking of, I know of his family and would be willing to take him with me when I leave.”
    The companion eyed her thoughtfully. His lack of reply was maddening but Elizabeth forced herself to remain calm. “What say you, Roger?”
    “I will see what I can do, though only the Baron can make that decision.”
    “But Baron Geoffrey never travels here! It would take a month of masses before word returned that I might take the boy. Surely he would want the child reunited with his parents. Can you not act in his stead? I am sure he would be pleased not to be bothered, for Montwright is but a small, insignificant holding compared to his others.” Elizabeth almost added that she had heard her father say so on countless occasions. And she knew it to be true, for Baron Geoffrey had never paid her father a visit. No, Lord Thomas always traveled to the Baron’s main holding when business needed to be conducted.
    The companion was surprised by her vehement out-burst. “A month? You have only to wait until the fever leaves and he awakens to ask him,” he argued. “And you are mistaken, lass. There is no such thing as a holding too insignificant for Geoffrey’s inspection. He protects all who pledge fealty, from the highest to the lowest.”
    “Are you telling me that the Hawk can give me permission? He can act in the Baron’s stead?” Elizabeth asked, her voice hopeful. “Then of course he shall,” she rushed to answer herself, “for I have taken care of him. He can do no less.” She smiled with relief and clasped her hands together.
    “Do you not know who you have just tended?” Roger asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
    Elizabeth frowned at him and waited.
    “The Hawk
is
Lord Geoffrey, overlord of Mont-wright.” Roger sat down in one of the chairs and propped his feet up on the other, waiting her reaction.
    “He
is Baron Geoffrey?” Astonishment sounded in her tone.
    “Aye,” Roger acknowledged. He crossed his anklesand smiled. “Why are you so surprised? All know of the Hawk,” he said with arrogance. “His reputation is well known.”
    “Yes, but I thought him to be old . . . older than . . .” She motioned to the sleeping warrior and studied him a long minute, her mind racing with this turn of events. Her father had never mentioned that his overlord was so young. Elizabeth had just assumed that he was an old man, like the lesser barons she had met. She leaned back against the cold stone and looked back at Roger. He seemed amused by her ignorance.
    “He is the youngest and the most powerful under William,” Roger answered. Pride underlined his words.
    “If the lord mends, then he will be under my obligation, will he not?” Elizabeth asked. She said a quick prayer that it would be true, that Geoffrey was an honorable man, for then perhaps he would listen to her. She could convince him of her uncle’s evilness. She must convince him! If he mended . . .
    A loud rap on the door interrupted Elizabeth’s thoughts. Roger motioned her to stay and went to open the door. He spoke in whispered words to the sentries and then turned back to Elizabeth. “Your servant wishes to speak with you.”
    Elizabeth nodded and followed one sentry to the end of the corridor where Joseph stood waiting. She could tell by his