When Love Awaits Read Free Page B

reason.”
    “No, but to gain peace where peace is wanted is,” Rolfe countered.
    “Rolfe!”
    “Do you know anything about this daughter of Sir William’s?”
    Thorpe sighed with exasperation. “How could I know? I am as new in England as you.”
    Rolfe turned toward his men, gathered at the opposite end of the hall. Three of his knights had returned with him from Kenil, as well as a small troop of men-at-arms. Two were from Brittany, but Sir Evarard was from the south of England.
    “Know you my neighbor, Sir William of Montwyn, Evarard?”
    Evarard approached. “Aye, my lord. At one time he was often at court, as I was before I came of age.”
    “Has he many children?”
    “I cannot say how many he might have now, but he had only one, a daughter, when he was last at court. That was five or six years ago, before his wife died. I understand he has a young wife now, but of children from this union I do not know.”
    “Know you this daughter?”
    “I saw her once with her mother, the lady Elisabeth. I remember wondering at the time how such a beautiful lady could have such an uncomely child.”
    “There!” Thorpe interjected. “Now will you let the fool idea rest, Rolfe?”
    Rolfe ignored his old friend. “Uncomely, Evarard? How so?”
    “She had great red splotches covering every part of her skin that could be seen. It was a shame, for the shape of her face might have foretold beauty like her mother’s.”
    “What more can you tell me of her?”
    “I only saw her once, and she hid behind her mother’s skirts.”
    “Her name?”
    Sir Evarard frowned thoughtfully. “I am sorry, my lord. I cannot remember.”
    “It is Lady Leonie, my lord.”
    All three men turned toward the maid who had spoken. Rolfe did not like the servants to be so attuned to his conversations. He frowned.
    “And what is your name, girl?”
    “Mildred,” she replied with proper meekness. Now that the lord’s eyes were upon her, she could have torn her tongue out for speaking up. Sir Rolfe’s temper was a terrible thing to behold.
    “How do you know the lady Leonie?”
    Mildred took heart at the quiet inquiry. “She—she came here often from Pershwick when—”
    “Pershwick!” Rolfe bellowed. “She lives there? Not at Montwyn?”
    Mildred blanched. She was beholden to Lady Leonie and would have died rather than hurt her. She knew her lord blamed Pershwick for the damage Crewel had suffered since his taking it over.
    “My lord, please,” Mildred said quickly. “The lady is all that is kind. When the Crewel leech left my mother to die of a disease he could not cure, Lady Leonie saved her. She knows much of the healing arts, my lord. She would never cause a hurt, I swear it.”
    “She does live at Pershwick?” At Mildred’s reluctant nod, Rolfe demanded, “Why there and not with her father?”
    Mildred stepped back, eyes wide with fear. She could not say anything bad of another lord, even one her new lord might not like. She would surely be beaten for criticizing her betters.
    Rolfe understood her fear and softened his tone. “Come, Mildred, tell me what you know. You need not fear me.”
    “It—it is only that my former master, Sir Edmond, claimed Sir William liked—drink too well since his first wife died. Sir Edmond would not let his son wed Lady Leonie because Sir William swears he has no daughter. He said an alliance with her would gain them naught. She was sent to Pershwick when her mother died and has been separated from her father since, or so I have heard.”
    “So Lady Leonie and Sir Edmond’s son were…close?”
    “She and Sir Alain were only a year apart in age, my lord. Yes, they were very close.”
    “Damn me!” Rolfe stormed. “So she has set her serfs to plague me! She does it out of love of the Montignys!”
    “No, my lord.” Mildred risked herself again. “She would not.”
    Rolfe paid no attention to this declaration for he had already dismissed the maid from his mind. “It is no wonder