The Troubadour's Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

importance to the king becomes known, many will, my lady. And their characters may not be good. Indeed, some may be commissioned by Richard. Or John. I want my daughter neatly settled, not abducted for her wealth and made a prisoner of some oafish knight. ”
    Lady Edrea rose slowly, brushing down her heavy velvet gown and raising her chin proudly. “ Then make your presence felt, my lord, so that her protection is a known fact. And let us get this matter done to our satisfaction. Your king is no fool, or you would not have battled for him these many years. And while you lay indignities to Eleanor by the score, she is wise in the plights of women and land and will see some purpose served by our daughter ’ s marriage. ”
    “ I cannot abide these manipulations, ” he growled.
    “ Nay, Harlan. You cannot abide your lack of control where it has never before been questioned. ” She ap proached him gently, running a hand along his arm. He looked down at her and she smiled tenderly. His grouchy features smoothed, for he could never deny her sweetness. This woman had held ever strong through the years of labor she endured for love of him. When faced with her firm strength, he could feel as vulnerable as a lad. Her show of meek femininity could make him feel powerful and stal wart.
    He turned her in his arms and put his hands to her still-slim waist. “ You turn my most anguished thoughts to sweeter things, my lady. Even now. ” He gently kissed her lips, and there, after knowing her so well for over thirty years, he felt the same lilting in his chest from her response. “ I would have Felise know a marriage like ours. What chance, when her lands add more flavor than her simple womanhood? ”
    Edrea laughed at her worried spouse and planted kisses on his face. “ Harlan, you boast such wisdom in fighting and farming and breeding of war horses, yet you know nothing of your own daughter. ” She looped her arms around his neck. “ What knight of ambition, his arms hewn of the hardest rock, would not crumble to sand when met with her sorceress eyes? What lord of this kingdom would turn away from her winsome smile or mark in cruelty her velvet skin? Aye, her lands become a prize, but no prize greater than her beauty and charm. ”
    She kissed his lips long and lovingly, feeling the same surge of passion she knew when first they met. When they parted, she knew that his mind was almost turned to other things. “ My lord, allay your fears. Felise will turn the most brutal beast into a lad to do her bidding. Now come, we cannot change a royal command, but we can fill the night without worry. ”
    He took her hand, pressing it to his lips. “ I hope you are right, lady, ” he said. “ But meanwhile, madam, you may lead me from worry. ”
    “ With pleasure, my lord, ” she murmured, allowing him to escort her to the stairs.
     
     

 
     
     
    Two
     
    Although the air was cold, there was an abundance of sunshine on the day Felise ventured forth to Windsor. On five steeds they rode, Felise beside her father while behind them were her brothers, Evan, Maelwine, and Dalton. Since it was her first journey to a royal event, she did not know that her retinue was unusual nor that it was meant to impress a particular point upon the people at court.
    Felise was gowned in rich gre en velvet embroidered with gold en threads and cloaked by an ermine-lined hooded mantle. Beside her, her father was garbed in his own rich velvet in the Twyford colors of silver and blue in his chausses, tunic, and mantle. The brothers were in full armor and carried the Scelfton blazon, boasting their family arms and, if that were not impressive enough, their grand size.
    The horses were taken at the gate, and once inside, the family was escorted to the king ’ s presence chamber. They stood at their leisure for only a few moments before Henry arrived to bid them welcome. Harlan raised his daughter ’ s hand high on his own and led her toward the king. Just