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When he opened his eyes, what met his gaze was a true wonder. A lily-dotted pool rested in the center of a verdant and otherworldly glade. It was a secluded spot, completely cut off from even the rest of the forest around it. He felt rather like a knight braving an enchanted hedge in a tale of chivalry.
Stephen wasn’t quite sure why, but something inside told him to remain quiet. Mayhap it was the cathedral-like stillness he felt as he stood there and looked up at the arched canopy of treetops over his head.
He moved forward slowly, almost reverently, through the dense growth of brush at the edge of the glade. It was then he looked up toward the far end of the pool and halted. He stopped thinking of anything, save the nude feminine form poised there on a rock that jutted out over the water.
It was a woman, a nymph, a silver spirit of the forest. Jesu, what a woman.
She stood tall, bathed in a shaft of pure golden light, her hair hanging down her back in a silvery curtain that reached to her knees. She reached high, hands over her head as if basking in the sweet warmth of that single bright beam of sunlight as it pierced the treetops. It shimmered on the perfection of her high, full breasts, narrow waist and gently curved hips. Her legs were long, slender and shapely, the muscles flexed as she paused there on one slender foot. Her very skin seemed to glisten with incandescent fire.
Stephen was struck dumb by the sight of her. Never in all his twenty-seven years had he dreamed such a woman existed.
Something, some inner sense of caution, told him to keep his presence secret. Surely he had stumbled upon this bright silver fairy maid by accident and she would disappear, did she become aware of his presence in her lair.
Without pausing to reason out the wisdom or sensibility of his actions, Stephen hunkered down out of sight. But a need to see again that lovely creature, to reassure himself that she was indeed real, prodded him to move forward until he was able to part the dense brush at the water’s edge.
When he did so, he saw but a flash of pale skin as she disappeared into the cool depths of the water scarcely a few feet from where he crouched. The only things to mark her entry therein were a faint splash upon his face, and the heady sweet scent of the water lilies that were disturbed by her passage. Stephen wiped at the water, feeling its wetness upon his palm, and knew that he could not have been imagining the beautiful woman.
This was no dream, he told himself, and thus she was no wood sprite that would disappear if frightened.
She was a woman, flesh and blood, and so beautiful his body ached at the thought of how she had looked only moments ago, poised upon that moss-covered rock. And that meant she would have a real woman’s reaction to being spied upon by a strange man.
Stephen felt himself flush as he realized how it would appear to her if she discovered him here like this. Why, he must look like some lecherous knave lurking in the bushes.
He ran an unsteady hand over his face as the unchivalrous nature of his behavior became clear to him. What in the world had come over him? Not in his life had Stephen acted so despicably.
He realized he had to leave, and quickly, before the woman noted his presence. ’Twas surely the only way for her to keep her dignity.
She was swimming now just a few feet away, her arms cleaving the water with firm, clean strokes, the sound of her passage drawing his rapt attention. And unconsciously he found himself watching for a glimpse of creamy flesh.
Dragging his captive gaze away from her, Stephen chided himself once again. He had to leave now, though it was not easy. The thought of never seeing her again was more disturbing than he would have imagined, and his chest ached at the very notion.
Then he reminded himself that such thinking was skewed. He knew nothing of this female, had no knowledge of who she was or anything about her.
Besides, if she knew what he was doing right now, she would not welcome him. Of that Stephen was sure. It was obvious that she had come to the place in the utter certainty that she would not be seen. The very lack of self-consciousness in her gestures and actions gave proof of this.
Could he simply walk away, never to know her name?
And then he knew. He would have to find her again, no matter how difficult it might prove. He must discover what lay beneath that exquisite covering of delicate white flesh, must learn of the woman inside.
But that could not be done now, not here in this secluded place.
With cautious deliberation, Stephen edged away until he felt the wall of trees at his back. Only then did he turn and force his way through the tangle of branches to his waiting stallion. And away from the sensuous pull of that silver-haired beauty in the forest pool.
Fellis felt the cool water glide over her bare skin with a shiver of pleasure. She moved her arms in long, sensuous strokes that pulled her forward smoothly.
’Twas her greatest sin, this desire to swim without clothing to hinder her enjoyment of the water and air. It made her feel so alive and so much a part of the gentle throbbing hum of the forest around her to go naked and unrestrained in the glade.
The whole of her life was so ordered, so determined by her mother and others. This was the one place that she felt herself. And though she knew it was wrong to come here, there were times when she could not keep herself away. This morning had been one of those times. The day ahead of her stretched lengthy and filled with the many responsibilities that were her lot. Prayer, passing out alms and helping the poor, caring for her aged grandmother, these duties occupied her life.
It had seemed almost a sign that Fellis had wakened long before her mother would be up and about. Mary Grayson was ever ready to chastise her daughter for any thought of deviation from her appointed tasks. Never would her mother understand the sensual pleasures that beckoned Fellis to this glade, this pool.
With a sigh Fellis slipped through the gentle caress of the water, her eyes closed as she drifted. In the buoyant liquid she was neither cautious nor awkward, but supple and fleet, diving here and surfacing there. And each time she did, the water lapped at her skin, bathed her in silken kisses. Unbidden came the thought that a lover’s hands might feel much the same way, slipping over her legs, her hips, her breasts.
Her eyes flew open and she gasped, shocked at the path her own imagination had taken. ’Twas wrong of her to give form to such thoughts. Never before had they come to her with such intensity and she knew not whence they had sprung.
The course of her life had already been determined and, no matter that her future was not of her own choosing, she had resigned herself long ago to the knowledge that she would do as her mother insisted. Fellis was never to know the touch of any man’s hands, never to hear the cry of her own child.
Her mother had determined for her long ago that she must one day take the veil.
She turned toward the shoreline, knowing it had been a mistake to come here. Each time she felt the call of the forest, she told herself that she had gained the power to hold all lustfull thoughts at bay, and each time they crept back into her mind. Once again the sensuous pleasures of being in her glade had conjured up thoughts she must not succumb to.
And today they had more vividness than ever before.
Stephen entered the high-ceilinged circular stone hall directly on the heels of the guard who announced him. A row of arched windows ran the whole circumference of the chamber, allowing ample light even without tapers. Only the far end of the room lay in shadow, where a wide-arched opening led to a dimly lit stairway. He was tired, hungry and more than a little angry with himself for his actions of the morning.
What had he been thinking to allow himself to become so enraptured by a strange woman he had no knowledge of whatsoever? Surely she could not have been as he remembered. Though he’d madly roused up fanciful thoughts of woodland sprites, Stephen realized the woman must reside somewhere locally.
Stephen told himself he must stop thinking of her. His foolishness had already delayed his arrival at Malvern by no small length of time. After leaving her, the knight had been forced to backtrack and come by the main road in the end anyway.
But the instant tightening of his body as that silvery image flooded his mind for the thousandth time since leaving her told Stephen he was only fooling himself. With a silent growl of self-disgust he forced himself to attend to what was happening as he followed the guard across the rush-strewn floor of the hall.
The trestle tables had been set up for the meal as he had hoped, but by this late hour the serving women were even now removing trays which had earlier been loaded with yesterday’s bread, cold roast meat and cheese. There was only a smattering of crumbs and bones to greet his hunger. He forced back a grimace of disappointment.
The few remaming occupants of the room looked up as he came forward to the high table where a well-favored man of some forty years sat. As Stephen moved closer, he saw the man’s tanned face was marked by few lines though his hair was an all-over shade of iron. Far from adding age to the features, the gray hair only served to highlight two deep blue eyes that lit up as the knight approached.
Lord Richard Grayson welcomed Stephen to the morning meal with an open smile. “Ah, Sir Stephen,” he greeted, “the guard tells me you are just come from the king’s court. I feel fortune to have lingered in breaking my fast else I might have missed you. You are most welcome to our hall. News from court is always received with gladness.” He went on with a frown, “We get few visitors so close to the Welsh border.”
Seeing the other man’s adverse reaction to even mentioning his enemies, Stephen wondered how the king’s solution to his problems would be met.
Richard Grayson’s features cleared. “Please take a seat and join us. Surely you have not broken your own fast.”
Stephen nodded with a smile. “Nay, my Lord Grayson, I have not and I thank you for your hospitality.” He was pleased that he would not have need to discuss the most delicate matter of a marriage between this man’s daughter and his enemy without sustenance.
He took the place indicated to him at the high table to Lord Grayson’s left, as the older man raised his hand and called for more food to be brought. The other seats at the table were vacant and Stephen could only assume that the other members of the baron’s family had taken their meal and gone.
When the golden-haired and curvaceous serving woman arrived bearing a laden tray, her eyes held a flirtatious smile as she set it before him. Taking only cursory notice of her, Stephen took liberal helpings of meat, cheese and bread. He was too occupied with behaving casually with the other man’s close attention on him. He was careful to keep a relaxed demeanor, for he knew not how Lord Grayson would take the news of his daughter’s proposed marriage. From what he had been told by the king, Lord Grayson had been feuding with his closest neighbors, the Welsh, since he had taken over the running of the castle.
Judging from the tone of Lord Grayson’s voice when mentioning the Welsh, it seemed he was no nearer to developing a tolerance for them. This did not bode well for Stephen’s mission and he knew he must tread carefully here. Mayhap it would take more time and care to see the matter done than he had envisioned, but he was determined to accomplish what he had been asked to do.
With obviously waning patience, Lord Grayson watched Stephen as he began to eat.
Realizing that he had best get the initial disclosure out of the way without further ado, Stephen took a long drink of the watered wine that had been set before him. He smiled then and sat back in his seat. “I must thank you, Lord Grayson, for greeting me with such warmth.”
Lord Grayson nodded pleasantly enough. “As I said, we are always pleased to greet a messenger from court. I am most eager to hear the news.” As if he could not withhold the query any longer, he asked, “Has King Edward decided what will be done about our feud with the Welsh? I have waited long for his reply.”
Stephen returned the nod, pleased that Lord Grayson had introduced the subject on his own. Obviously the problem was an important one in his eyes. Mayhap he would be eager to see any solution to the situation and would welcome King Edward’s decision, though from what Stephen had observed thus far, this would come as a surprise to him.
“I have come with news,” Stephen replied. “The king is indeed ready to see your troubles settled.”
Lord Grayson smiled, looking pleased as he folded his hands together and leaned closer. “I am most eager to learn of his plans. Will he be sending troops to add to our garrison here? Or mayhap he intends to attack and put down our enemies without preamble.”
The bent of Lord Grayson’s thinking further confirmed that his mind and the king’s were not following similar paths. Stephen answered with careful deliberation. “Nay, neither of those things will occur.”
Lord Grayson frowned then and leaned back. “What then? Pray tell me. How will he make this aright?”
Stephen laid his hands flat on the tabletop and met Lord Grayson’s troubled gaze without wavering. “His Highness has proposed a union between your house and that of Wynn ap Dafydd.”
“A union?” Lord Grayson’s expression could only be described as baffled.
Stephen went on evenly. “Aye, a marriage between your daughter and Wynn himself.” Reaching into his sleeve, Stephen removed a roll of parchment.
When he saw the royal seal that held the document closed, Lord Grayson’s mouth opened but no sound emerged for a moment.
The serving woman, who had, at that very moment, been pouring more wine into his cup, let out a gasp of shock.
It was as if the sound of her gasping helped Richard Grayson find his tongue, for he cried, “Nay.” He rose, pushing back his chair and nearly knocking the luckily quick footed serving woman out of his way. “I will not have it. Not my Fellis. Not while there is breath in my body.” He hit his chest with an outraged fist.
The reaction was even worse than Stephen had feared, and seeing it, he was convinced that he was not going to have an easy time of it. But he also knew that no matter how Lord Grayson reacted at the moment, he had to come to see that he had little or no choice in this. King Edward would brook no defiance to his decree.
What Stephen had to do now was handle the situation with as much delicacy as possible. He could understand that Lord Grayson might be disturbed at this news and had no small amount of sympathy for him. Carefully he returned the king’s order to his sleeve. Lord Grayson clearly was in no state to read it. The knight knew that what he said now could make the difference between an ultimately peaceful outcome and a disastrous one. He chose his words carefully. “I can see, my lord, that this news has come as an unhappy surprise to you. I must tell you though that I cannot allow you to defy King Edward’s instructions. As his messenger it is my duty to see his orders carried through. I can only hope that you will have some understanding of where my duty and loyalty must he and not force me into a position that would be impossible for me by defying the king.”
Lord Grayson looked at Stephen with rising anger. “You inform me that I am to marry my only daughter to that barbarian, and then you have the temerity to tell me not to put you in an impossible position.”
With deliberate concentration Stephen forced himself to remain seated as Lord Grayson went on.
“How dare you come here and ask this of me! How dare the king send you! He has no understanding of the problems we have faced trying to live here next to these people. They raid my lands, burn my crops and my buildings. ’Tis untenable.”
Calmly Stephen answered his tirade. “I can see that you feel strongly on this matter. But I can only add that there must be some way to go forward with His Majesty’s proposal. What has been going on for all these years must be brought to a halt.”
“Even if I was willing to cry pax with the Welsh—” Lord Grayson glared at him “—they would not. And offering them my daughter will not gain that peace. They resent English rule to the point of hatred. Truth to tell, they would never even agree to hear such a proposal. They are too occupied with planning raids on my land and people.”
Stephen steepled his fingers under his chin for a thoughtful moment. Perhaps what the other man said was true, but he also wondered if anyone had ever tried to speak to them about a truce. Then he looked up at Richard Grayson with arched brows. “If I were to bring about a cessation of these hostile activities, you could then feel more inclined to talk with Wynn ap Dafydd on the matter of his marriage to your daughter?”
Richard scoffed. “’Twould not happen.”
Stephen shrugged. He knew much could be accomplished if one set his mind to it, even that which seemed impossible. It was something his father had always told him, and Stephen attempted to live by that creed. “I think you may leave that to me. I must also tell you that such an agreement on the part of your enemy wouldst of necessity have to be abided by on both sides.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean, my lord, that you would also need stop any such activities as you have complained of.”
Richard Grayson had the grace to look uncomfortable for a moment, then he smiled unpleasantly, his gray brows drawn together. “I will agree to abide by such a plan. But I must tell you, sir, that you are a foolhardy knight. The Welsh will in fact kill you before you can even present such a plan. Neither Wynn nor any of his folk have any respect for English law. King Edward’s part in this plan will be as nothing to them. They understand nothing of honor and would not abide by any agreement entered into with those they consider their enemy.”
Stephen shrugged. “As I said, you must leave that to me.”
Richard looked at the younger man long and hard, then said, “Aye, I will leave it to you then. Know you that I will not assist you in this farce. If you must treat with the Welsh, it will be by your own wits. I will not help you to perpetrate this action against myself and my family.”
Stephen frowned. “As you will, my lord.” It was not what he wanted to hear, but Stephen refused to allow himself to become worried. A glimmer of a plan was forming in his mind, and he had no need of Lord Grayson’s assistance to set it in motion. Later, once the baron had become accustomed to the notion of his daughter marrying Wynn ap Dafydd he would surely relax this hardened stance.
In truth Richard Grayson had no choice. He held these lands and keep by virtue of the king. In the end he must do as ordered, or risk losing all.
But Stephen did not mind giving him some time to adjust to the truth of the situation.
Slowly Richard reseated himself, putting his face in his hands as he did so. Then he looked at Stephen with an expression that could only be interpreted as sympathetic. “You have no idea what a task you yave set for yourself, young man.”
“What mean you?” Stephen asked him, surprised at this new turn of attitude. Surely he did not think Stephen needed to be further warned in the difficulty of convincing the Welsh to comply?
“I mean, sir, that even if you were to convince Wynn to go along with this scheme, which is nigh impossible enough, then you must face another even more insurmountable obstacle.”
This time it was Stephen who frowned. “You talk in riddles, my lord.”
“I speak of my dear wife.” There was a hint of bitterness in the older man’s tone. “The Lady Mary has her own plans for Fellis’s future and she will not be easily deterred. And you will gain no ally in my daughter, either, for she has agreed to go along with her mother’s wishes.”
Stephen relaxed back in his seat. The man might be overconcerned with his wife’s wishes; Stephen was not. Not that he planned to leave this situation with enemies at his back. He simply knew there was a way to work around this new impediment. The girl’s mother must simply be brought to see the wisdom of complying with the king’s decision.
Surely they would all come to understand that King Edward has proposed a very sound solution to the problems Lord Grayson had been complaining of for years. He was clearly ready to have the feuding at an end.
If they but considered, a marriage between the two houses might not be so very disagreeable. Once a babe was born to the young couple, attitudes would be greatly changed on both sides, Welsh and English.
Thus it was with slight amusement in his tone that Stephen asked. “What then is your wife’s plan for the girl’s future?” Then suddenly a rough edge crept into his voice as an unpleasant thought occurred to him. “You have not contracted for another marriage without notifying King Edward of the fact?”
Richard raised his hand in denial. “Nay, I wouldst not.”
Again Stephen settled back. “Then, beyond your troubles with the Welsh what could possibly hinder the proposed marriage?”
The older man’s expression remained closed. “That, Sir Knight, I will allow you to see for yourself.”
Without another word, Lord Richard beckoned the serving woman to him. When she arrived, he said, “Go and ask my lady wife to attend me here in the hall. And tell her I wish for her to bring our daughter with her.” He stopped her then as she prepared to leave, his eyes stern. “And make no mention of what you heard here.”
The woman nodded briefly, then hurried off. She was making an obvious effort not to look in Stephen’s direction, but her expression was resentful.
Stephen could see that this news had come as an unpleasant surprise for those at Malvern. In time they must all come to accept it.
As she left, Stephen realized that sending for the girl was a good idea. He would have need to gauge her reaction to the king’s wishes. Mayhap the girl would not be as set against the plan as her parents. That would be of great help to his cause, for in the end she was the one who must agree to the marriage.
While they waited, Stephen did try but was unable to gain any further information from the Lord of Malvern. The baron seemed to take an almost perverse pleasure from withholding his secret knowledge concerning his wife’s intentions for the girl. The knight decided to allow the matter to rest.
He would discover the facts soon enough.
But he was determined not to let whatever it was stand in his way. He had been given many tasks to perform in his duties to the crown. He knew that though this one be clearly difficult, he was not about to admit defeat at the onset.
Stephen felt certain he could see this through.
And once it was settled, there was the matter of the woman from the wood. Though he knew it was pure foolhardiness on his part, Stephen could not dismiss the notion of trying to locate her.
His body tightened at the very idea. Be she some nobleman’s bastard, he would surely be able to come up with the coin to loosen any possible resistance.
But once more he dragged his thoughts back to the present. Not until Stephen had seen to his official duties would he be free to pursue his own interests.
