Johanna Lindsey: Johanna Lindsey When Love Awaits

"The new lord of Kempston."

"But Sir Edmond—"

"Dead these many months, William. His son fled before he could be

banished. Surely you remember. You never liked him. You suspected his

knavery long before others complained of it to the king."

William sighed. What good to say again and again that he could not

remember? He felt as if he had been asleep for years. He set his wine

goblet aside, but his hand began to shake uncontrollably. A little would

steady him, and he reached for the wine again. Only a little. He must see

to the marriage contract. And if he was to see Leonie, he wanted her not

to see him in this terrible condition.

Chapter 6

LEONIE was told that the large group of travelers nearing Pershwick

were from Montwyn. The size of the group gave her pause, but she

imagined Lady Judith was paying her another visit and was, this time,

traveling with more servants than usual.

She took her usual precautions, sending all her able-bodied men inside

to keep to the tower quarters to pose as part of her garrison. She could

not argue overmuch if Pershwick servants were recruited for Montwyn,

but she protested most vehemently when it came to depleting her men-

at-arms.

She sent a servant to the village to warn those who felt the need to

take to the woods until it was safe. And she sent Wilda and two other

young maids to her chamber, where they would remain safely out of

sight. Wilda was brazen enough to protest. She did not wish to miss the

excitement of having guests. Leonie snapped, "You wish to be raped in

the garden like Ethelinda? Did you see how she looked after Richer was

finished with her?"

Wilda was subdued by Leonie's anger and disgust. Richer Calveley

treated Lady Judith with the greatest care and deference when he

escorted her to Pershwick, making Leonie wonder about their true

relationship. When he came to Pershwick without Lady Judith, he

showed a different character, as foul as any Leonie had ever known. By

Ethelinda's account, he took pleasure in hurting her, and although Leonie

had sent a complaint to Montwyn, nothing had come of it.

Aunt Beatrix and Leonie joined Sir Guibert in the hall to greet their

visitors. Leonie steeled herself for another unpleasant encounter with

Judith, but nothing prepared her for the terrible sight she beheld as an

old man approached with Judith. She barely recognized him. Her

father—here? She went dizzy with a sudden swirl of fierce emotions:

bitterness, hate, sorrow for his pathetic condition and the dissipation in

his haggard face. His face proclaimed clearly that he had become a

drunkard. But there was love in that face, too, love for Leonie.

"Leonie?"

There was surprise in William's voice, as if he were not sure she was

his daughter. It brought Leonie's bitterness surging upward, blocking out

all the rest. Indeed, why should he know her? She was a woman now, not

a child. He hadn't seen her in six years. Six years!

"You do us honor, my lord," Leonie said coldly. "Seat yourselves by the fire and I will see to refreshment."

William was confused by her icy manner. "What is amiss, dear heart?

You are not pleased with your husband?"

The endearment sent a stab through Leonie's heart, but shock followed

that. "Husband?"

"You play, Leonie," Judith interjected. "You know your father means the man you will marry on the morrow."

"What?"

"Do not feign innocence, Leonie," Judith replied wearily. "The banns have been posted. The marriage is by the king's order. You know your

father sent you notice as soon as the king's messenger came." She turned

to her husband. "Is that not so, William?" William played right into the performance by looking thoroughly bewildered. "Do not say you forgot

to send word to her! The poor girl has only this day to prepare! Oh,

William, how could you forget such a thing!"

Sir Guibert was as shocked as Leonie, but he couldn't allow his mind

to whirl, as Leonie's was doing. Guibert's life would change now, just as

hers would. Her husband would be her lord and master. Guibert and

Leonie's other vassals would be asked to renew their oath to her at the

wedding, an act that signified their accepting her husband. There was no

question of whether Guibert would renew his oath to Leonie. Whether he

approved her husband or not, he could never forsake her. But her other

vassals might choose to leave her.

"Who is my lady's husband?" Guibert asked, and Judith smiled,

feeling the worst was over. "You will be pleased to know that he is your

neighbor, the new lord of Kempston."

In the shocked silence that followed, Guibert looked at Leonie, to see

all the color leaving her face. She said not a word. He knew why. She

could not refuse the king's will, no matter how she felt about it. And it

was time she married, Guibert thought. He had long thought so. She

would get used to the match. She would have to.

Leonie wordlessly turned and fled the hall. Closing herself in her

room, she threw herself on her bed and sobbed tears of self-pity. Her

father felt so little for her that he could wait to tell her of her wedding

until the day before it was to happen. Did he care nothing for her? What

had become of the loving man who had been a real father once?

She finally remembered that she was not alone and looked around.

Her wide-eyed maids had never seen her cry before. Roughly, she wiped

her face, angry that she had given in to emotions so childishly. Anger was

a boon, bringing her spirit back.

She sent the maids to the kitchen with orders about dinner, then sat by

her hearth, glad to be alone to think. She knew why the king was

interfering in her life. He wasn't concerned over her unmarried state. His

interference had been requested by the Black Wolf. She was certain of

that, but she could not guess what the man wanted of her.

It had been nearly a month since the burning of the woodcutter's hut,

and Leonie had ordered that no more of her people venture onto Crewel

land. The man's troubles had ceased, hadn't they? If they had not, she

might think that he wanted to marry her in order to end those troubles.

But since there had been peace for a month, that could not be his reason.

It was true she had a handsome dowry, but most alliances were made for

the aid they would bring as well as for money, and her father's aid could

not be counted on. So that was not the Black Wolf's reason. And the lord

of Kempston had never seen her, so there was no reason to be found

there either. Why did he want her . . . ?

Leonie gasped as Alain Montigny's words came back to her. "I must

leave. I have heard enough about the Black Wolf to know I cannot stay

and resist his taking possession of my land. He would kill me. He would

not care that I am innocent of the crimes he believes me guilty of."

"What crimes?" Leonie had asked, frantic.

"What matter the crimes!" Alain cried. "The king has killed my father and dispossessed me so that he may give Kempston to his French

mercenary, Rolfe d'Ambert, that black wolf of the devil's. No wonder he

is called that! He is a ravaging beast. I was not even allowed a trial!"

Alain wailed.

Leonie was fired by Alain's rage. She had known him all her life. They

had played together as children, and she had even thought of marrying

him. But the weakness of his character showed itself as he grew older,

and she knew he would not make a good husband. But they were friends,