Johanna Lindsey - Johanna Lindsey When Love Awaits

come unexpectedly into their conversation, and Henry asked Rolfe if he

wanted Kempston.

In truth, Henry had long wanted to reward Rolfe for saving his

natural son Geoffrey's life. Until then, Rolfe had refused all offers,

staunchly maintaining that keeping the son safe was only his duty. To be

sure, that was not the first time Rolfe had helped Henry. But Henry was

surprised when Rolfe accepted the offer of Kempston, for in truth

Kempston was no prize and would have to be won at great cost. He

immediately offered Rolfe something better, now that Rolfe was finally

showing an interest in settling down. "Something closer to home? I can

arrange—"

Rolfe put up a hand to interrupt before the king could tempt him

further. "It is the challenge I want from Kempston, my lord. I could buy

estates aplenty in Gascony, but I do not call Gascony home any longer,

nor do I want land I cannot earn. I will take Kempston and thank you for

it."

"Thank me?" Henry seemed embarrassed. "It is I who must thank you, for in truth I was loath to pay an army to secure it. Now it will cost me

nothing and I will have a man I know I can trust to curb the lawlessness

in that area. You do me a service, Rolfe, and this is not how I meant to reward you for all your other service. What else can I give you? A wife

who will bring you a large estate?"

"No, my lord." Rolfe laughed. "Let me secure Kempston before I think of a wife."

Ironically, a wife was the very reason Rolfe was there, pacing the

anteroom. His offer for Leonie of Montwyn had been flatly refused.

There were ways other than marriage to end the troubles, he knew

that. He could always hire more men to patrol the borders of his land and

keep her serfs out until Kempston was secured. But then, the cost of

hiring enough men to patrol the whole area would be huge, he told

himself.

"Damn me, she will not dent my purse more than she has already!"

Rolfe exploded aloud, then saw to his embarrassment that Henry had

entered the room.

"Who will not dent your purse?" Henry asked, chuckling as he came

forward. "The lady Amelia? Have you brought her with you?"

"No, my lord. She is in the country," Rolfe replied, uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

Rolfe was never at ease in the king's presence. Rolfe was the bigger

man by far, but Henry was the king of England and unlikely to

encourage anyone to disregard the fact. He was also heavily built, with

broad shoulders, a thick neck, and the powerful arms of a fighter. Henry

had red hair which he kept cut short in the current shaggy fashion, and

which emphasized his florid face. He was not lavish in his dress, unlike

Queen Eleanor, though no one saw her often since Henry had confined

her to Winchester for instigating the battles between him and his sons.

Henry was in superb shape for a man forty years old. He could

outwalk and outride his courtiers and usually exhausted anyone who

tried to keep up with him. He was a man of such energy that he seldom

even sat down. His meals were usually taken standing up, walking about

his hall. Court etiquette prevented everyone else from sitting as well, a

bother much complained about, though never in the king's hearing.

After the amenities had been dispensed with and they were seated,

each with a silver goblet of wine, Henry asked with a twinkle in his gray

eyes, "I did not expect to see you for some time. Have you come so soon

to curse me for Kempston?"

"All goes well there, my lord," Rolfe quickly assured him. "Four of the eight keeps are mine, and the other four are closed tightly, waiting to be

secured."

"So the Black Wolf has lived up to his reputation!" Henry cried,

delighted.

Rolfe flushed. He hated the name, certain it was inspired by his dark

looks rather than by any wolflike prowess. It embarrassed him.

"My coming has less to do with Kempston as a whole than with

Crewel particularly, your majesty. I have a neighbor there who has set

her people against mine. I am not a man to deal with domestics."

"What fighter is?" Henry chuckled. "But you say 'her people'? Your neighbor is a woman? I can think of no widow in that area."

"She is no widow, nor wife to an absent lord. She is daughter to Sir

William of Montwyn and residing on her dower property which lies next

to Crewel."

"Sir William." Henry considered, thoughtful. "Ah, now I have him. A baron who wed one of my earl's daughters, the lady Elisabeth I believe,

yes, daughter of Shefford. But he closed himself up in his estates some six

years ago when Elisabeth died. A tragic affair. They were a love match,

and he suffered terribly at her death."

"He has closed his daughter up in Pershwick and forgotten her, I am

told."

"What do you mean?"

"It seems the man does not wish to be reminded he has a daughter."

Henry shook his head. "I remember her. Not a comely child, but

spirited. She had a nervous disorder, I believe her mother said. The poor

woman was forever having to run after the child with medicine. You say

Sir William is neglecting her? There is no excuse for that. Why, the girl

would be around twenty years old. She should have been wed long ago.

Even if finding her a husband proved difficult, there is always some man who can be bought, isn't there? If she is not for the church, then she must

have a husband."

"I agree, my lord." Rolfe leaped at the ideal opening. "And I would be that husband."

There was a shocked silence, and then Henry began to laugh. "You

jest, Rolfe. That face of yours sends my loveliest ladies swooning, yet you

would settle for a plain girl?"

Rolfe flinched. He supposed it was too much to hope that the ugly

duckling had grown into a swan.

"Few marriages are made for preference," Rolfe replied stoically.

"But . . . you are your own man. No one is telling you you must marry this girl, so why would you wish to?"

"Not counting the domestic peace she will bring me, she and I are

neighbors. She has lived there for a long time, and can help me in

dealings with my other neighbors. Then, too, she has retainers. I have

nine knights who follow me, but some are not suited to command and I

need men to hold the other seven keeps."

"I can see your reasoning, Rolfe, but I can find you a wife who can

accomplish at least half your purpose and is pleasing to look at."

Rolfe shrugged. "There are always women like Amelia."

Henry understood that very well. He was living openly as man and

wife with Princess Alice of France. As long as a man had his mistress,

what matter his wife's looks? It was true.

"Very well," Henry concurred. "Is it only my permission you require?"

"More than that, Your Majesty. I have offered for the girl and was

refused. Without explanation."

"To deny his only daughter a husband?" Henry growled. "By God, you will have her three weeks hence. I will have the banns posted

immediately and my messenger will reach Sir William on the morrow."

Then, in a less aggrieved tone, he asked, "But you are certain this is what you want, Rolfe? You have no hesitation about this marriage?"

He certainly did, but that need not be mentioned. "I am certain," he declared, and Henry grinned. "Then you will be pleased to know the lady

is sole heir to Sir William, and Montwyn is worth five knights' fees, as I

recall. She was also her mother's sole heir, and her mother left her a

dower of three keeps." Henry chuckled here. "The vassal at Rethel has six sons you might find useful. Lady Leonie is also niece to the earl of