“Pray inform him, my lord, for then Edward shall know I followed his wishes to perfection. If you intend to send your knights on patrol, do so. I am for Lady Eloise’s gracious offer of wine.”
Eloise remembered to breathe when Roland sheathed his sword, taking it as a sign the worst danger past, noting to whom he owed allegiance—King Edward, not Kenworth. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or not.
The earl waved at his knights. “Go. Before you leave set guards at the drawbridge. No one of Lelleford is allowed outside the gates until Hamelin is firmly within my grasp.”
The knights’ swords slid home and Eloise stilled her hands.
Before she could once more offer wine, the earl glared at Simon and Roland. “Bring Lelleford’s knights into the hall. I want you all within my sight. Be aware that aiding a traitor is cause for hanging, and I will not hesitate to so punish anyone who interferes with Hamelin’s arrest.”
With that, Kenworth stomped off toward the table where a servant had set out flagons and goblets.
Simon lowered his sword. “What goes on here, Roland? This makes no sense. Is Sir John truly charged with treason?”
“I fear so. Kenworth is to seize Sir John and take him to Westminster for trial. The king will sit as judge.”
Eloise forced herself to look into Roland’s hazel eyes. She saw no contempt for her father, no sign he thought any better of her. Still, she had to make her belief known.
“My father would not betray King Edward, I am sure of it.”
“Then he has naught to fear.”
“Does he not?” Eloise wasn’t so sure anymore. Kenworth struck her as a man out for blood, her father’s blood.
“ ’Tis for the king to decide on his guilt, milady, and Edward is a man of both intelligence and honor.”
So she’d heard—more than once—from the man accused of betraying the king.
“You serve Edward, not the earl. What do you here?”
Roland glanced around the hall before he looked at her again. “By the king’s order, I am to oversee Lelleford until after your father’s fate is decided.”
Stunned, Eloise managed to withhold a squeal of denial and displeasure. Roland St. Marten oversee Lelleford? Unthinkable!
Chapter Three
I NDIGNATION SHIMMERED in the lady’s sapphire eyes, deep pools of blue a man could drown in if he weren’t careful.
Roland never questioned why Hugh had been instantly smitten with his intended bride. Eloise’s beauty would capture any man’s attention. Fair of skin, bold of mouth, lithe of form, and possessed of a royal bearing, the woman deserved every tribute paid to her lovely face, curvaceous figure, and effortless grace.
Even knowing Eloise Hamelin was betrothed to his half brother, Roland hadn’t been immune to her beauty. From the moment of their introduction, he’d felt the natural stirring a healthy male feels for a desirable female, had envied Hugh the marriage bed with so delectable a woman.
Unfortunately, during the two days before the wedding, he’d watched Hugh become so enamored of his betrothed he neglected to note her presumption. Out of her bold mouth spewed bold words. Those sapphire eyes flashed with ire at the slightest provocation. He’d never encountered a less docile woman.
Still, if Eloise had given any sign of admiring Hugh to a high degree, Roland might not have taken his brother aside to warn him of his betrothed’s strong will. He should have realized Hugh was too besotted to listen. Nor had he counted on the lady overhearing and adding her opinion to an already heated argument.
So Hugh died angry at Roland for speaking ill of Eloise, who dressed today in the crimson and gold gown she’d worn on her wedding day. The velvet molded against her body as enticingly now as then. Inviting a man’s admiration, and worse, his hands.
“Insufferable,” she blurted out. “Surely you misunderstood the king’s intentions. He cannot have meant to give such an insult.”
“I assure you, my lady, the
Eloise remembered to breathe when Roland sheathed his sword, taking it as a sign the worst danger past, noting to whom he owed allegiance—King Edward, not Kenworth. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or not.
The earl waved at his knights. “Go. Before you leave set guards at the drawbridge. No one of Lelleford is allowed outside the gates until Hamelin is firmly within my grasp.”
The knights’ swords slid home and Eloise stilled her hands.
Before she could once more offer wine, the earl glared at Simon and Roland. “Bring Lelleford’s knights into the hall. I want you all within my sight. Be aware that aiding a traitor is cause for hanging, and I will not hesitate to so punish anyone who interferes with Hamelin’s arrest.”
With that, Kenworth stomped off toward the table where a servant had set out flagons and goblets.
Simon lowered his sword. “What goes on here, Roland? This makes no sense. Is Sir John truly charged with treason?”
“I fear so. Kenworth is to seize Sir John and take him to Westminster for trial. The king will sit as judge.”
Eloise forced herself to look into Roland’s hazel eyes. She saw no contempt for her father, no sign he thought any better of her. Still, she had to make her belief known.
“My father would not betray King Edward, I am sure of it.”
“Then he has naught to fear.”
“Does he not?” Eloise wasn’t so sure anymore. Kenworth struck her as a man out for blood, her father’s blood.
“ ’Tis for the king to decide on his guilt, milady, and Edward is a man of both intelligence and honor.”
So she’d heard—more than once—from the man accused of betraying the king.
“You serve Edward, not the earl. What do you here?”
Roland glanced around the hall before he looked at her again. “By the king’s order, I am to oversee Lelleford until after your father’s fate is decided.”
Stunned, Eloise managed to withhold a squeal of denial and displeasure. Roland St. Marten oversee Lelleford? Unthinkable!
Chapter Three
I NDIGNATION SHIMMERED in the lady’s sapphire eyes, deep pools of blue a man could drown in if he weren’t careful.
Roland never questioned why Hugh had been instantly smitten with his intended bride. Eloise’s beauty would capture any man’s attention. Fair of skin, bold of mouth, lithe of form, and possessed of a royal bearing, the woman deserved every tribute paid to her lovely face, curvaceous figure, and effortless grace.
Even knowing Eloise Hamelin was betrothed to his half brother, Roland hadn’t been immune to her beauty. From the moment of their introduction, he’d felt the natural stirring a healthy male feels for a desirable female, had envied Hugh the marriage bed with so delectable a woman.
Unfortunately, during the two days before the wedding, he’d watched Hugh become so enamored of his betrothed he neglected to note her presumption. Out of her bold mouth spewed bold words. Those sapphire eyes flashed with ire at the slightest provocation. He’d never encountered a less docile woman.
Still, if Eloise had given any sign of admiring Hugh to a high degree, Roland might not have taken his brother aside to warn him of his betrothed’s strong will. He should have realized Hugh was too besotted to listen. Nor had he counted on the lady overhearing and adding her opinion to an already heated argument.
So Hugh died angry at Roland for speaking ill of Eloise, who dressed today in the crimson and gold gown she’d worn on her wedding day. The velvet molded against her body as enticingly now as then. Inviting a man’s admiration, and worse, his hands.
“Insufferable,” she blurted out. “Surely you misunderstood the king’s intentions. He cannot have meant to give such an insult.”
“I assure you, my lady, the
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