They locked concerned gazes.
“What are we to do?” Joanne asked fearfully.
“I will have to find some way to get Lord Draven to marry me before father attacks him.”
“You can’t do that!”
“I have to.”
“But Emily-”
“But nothing, Joanne. If father attacks, he’ll lose everything. Including your dowry and his life.”
Joanne covered her mouth with her hand as the full horror dawned on her. “We’ll be outcasts,” she whispered. “Niles will cast me aside without my dower lands.”
“Aye, and we’ll have no one to shelter us. Already the king hates father for what he did under King Stephen’s reign. I should think he’d like nothing better than to see us all out on our ears.”
“Oh Lord, Emily. This is too frightening to contemplate. You can’t marry a madman.”
“What choice have I?” It’d be the only way to save her family.
Joanne shook her head. “There must be another way. Besides, why would Lord Draven want you?”
Emily dropped her jaw, offended to her very core at her sister’s words.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Joanne said quickly as she folded Emily’s under-kirtle. “But you know what father says of him. The man has never married and to my knowledge no woman has ever caught his eye. It does bear mentioning that he may not be bent to feminine company, that he prefers other men.”
Emily shook her head. “Nay, I don’t think so. Not from the look he gave me this afternoon.”
“And you’re the daughter of his enemy,” Joanne continued. “Not to mention that if Lord Draven touches you, the king will have his head for it.”
Emily considered it for a moment. “Do you believe the king would kill him for touching me?”
“Why should I doubt it? Henry is a man of his word.”
“Perhaps, but would he dare take the life of one of his champions over a mere dalliance? Father betrayed him far worse than that, and the king did nothing more than fine him, and confiscate part of his holdings. Do you not think Lord Draven could petition the king for my hand and be forgiven?”
“The king did more to father than just a little fine and confiscation, Em.” Joanne sat back on her heels as she thought the matter over. “I don’t know if the king would forgive him. ‘Tis possible, perhaps.”
Emily could think of no other way to save her family. If her father marched on Lord Draven, they’d all pay for it. “What choice do we have? You know as well as I that father is no match for Lord Draven. Why else would he have petitioned the king when Lord Draven attacked instead of marching against him?”
“But Em, do you understand the full impact of what you’re thinking? Lord Draven is an enemy to father. To the father who has sworn he’ll never allow you to marry and leave him.”
“Aye, I understand. But the last think I want is for father to die because of me.”
“And if Lord Draven wants no wife?”
“Then I shall make him want one.”
Joanne gave a short laugh. “You are so very stubborn. I pity Lord Draven for having to contend with you. But promise me one thing?”
“Aye?”
“If you see he is cruel, then I beg you rethink this scheme. I know how much you want out of here, but the last thing I would have is you married to a man who beats you. Better I should be thrown to the streets of London to sell my body, than see you sacrificed to a monster.”
Emily hugged her tightly. “I promise.”
Dawn came all too soon to Emily who met it with a mixture of tiredness, hidden tears, and excitement for the unknown. She entered the great hall where her father waited still awake. Drunk, but awake.
