The Countess Read Free Page A

Jacqueline a fitting spouse. When he tired of his bride, would he dispose of her with such indifference as well? Eglantine guessed as much. As for Esmeraude, well, Eglantine heartily doubted that Reynaud’s choice of spouse would better suit when the time to wed came.
    She must ensure he did not win his way, for the sake of her daughters. Perhaps then, Guillaume might regain his holding, as well.
    But what could she do?
    Family loyalty prompted Eglantine to turn to her brother. But she had asked Guillaume repeatedly about Jacqueline’s betrothal and repeatedly, he had quoted the law to her, albeit with apologies. ’Twas the way of a man of honor to uphold the law and Eglantine knew that her brother would not be swayed to her side.
    Men! Eglantine paced the chamber, hating the fact that her fate was yet again not her own.
    There had been a time when she might have thought her friend Burke de Montvieux would champion her cause, but those days were gone. He was in love with his wife, and enamored of his young son, and Eglantine knew she had no right to intrude on that happy scene. Burke had persuaded her once of the merit of love—though that course had won her naught but trouble, Eglantine was tempted to find such love for her daughters.
    What if even one of them might win the hand of a man like Burke?
    â€™Twas a possibility that halted Eglantine’s pacing. Aye, she would not stand aside and let her daughters be compelled to repeat her own fate. They would not marry old men, they would not be trapped in households hostile to them, they would not be so much chattel in men’s lives!
    They would have the love of which Burke so eloquently spoke.
    Eglantine would ensure it. She crumpled Reynaud’s missive as though she would destroy his plans with that one gesture, then flung the parchment across the room. She would not bow to this man’s will!
    And she was not compelled to do so—because Theobald had unwittingly granted her the means to make a difference.
    â€™Twould not be an easy task, but the alternative was sufficiently unattractive to make her reckless. Eglantine picked up the deed to faraway Kinbeath, a smile playing across her lips as her decision was made.
    She would take her daughters to Scotland, a place so distant that she could barely imagine it. Louis would go with them, Eglantine was certain, for there was no future for him beneath Reynaud’s hand.
    Aye, she would take any of the household willing to travel with them, Reynaud’s wishes be damned!
    Once established at Kinbeath, Eglantine would launch her own Bride Quest, not unlike that of the brothers Fitzgavin. She straightened at the sheer good sense of the thought. Aye, she would summon men to her court, she would persuade them to undertake tests of valor, she would coax them to win the hearts of their ladies fair!
    Three particular ladies fair did come to mind. Eglantine would ensure these men competed, the best of them winning the hearts of her daughters three. ’Twould be just like an old chanson , just like the Bride Quest tale which already was recounted in the halls hereabouts and in which Burke had participated.
    Perhaps Theobald’s legacy would bring more than he had hoped. Eglantine lifted her chin and strode from the chamber, her footstep light with her surety of the future. Perhaps she truly could wring something from naught.
    For the sake of her daughters and their happiness, Eglantine certainly intended to try.

Chapter One
    February 1177
    E glantine was growing to loathe Theobald with a most uncharacteristic vigor. If she had not been so vexed, she might have found it amusing that in his death, he had succeeded in thawing the icy demeanor of Eglantine de Crevy.
    He had always pledged that to be his goal, though ’twas cold comfort that he might be well pleased with her anger now.
    All over a deed.
    Not only were they crossing a land of barbarians, but the weather was foul beyond expectation.