Page 39 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“See that your lady has a bath and something to eat,” heordered shortly.

A startled look crossed the housekeeper’s face asrecognition dawned. “Yea, m’lord.” Maggie’s eyes took in Serena’s bedraggledappearance. “Come, m’lady, I’ll see to ye meself.” Maggie wrapped a comfortingarm around her and led her toward the stairs.

“So he knows, does he?” Maggie whispered.

“Aye.” Serena let out a sigh. She was tired but her desireto fight was changing into a new resolve. It was no use fighting theinevitable. Mayhap it was time to resume her position as the Lady of Talisandeven if she had to become a Norman’s wife to do it.

They started up the stairs, and from behind them, the RedWolf shouted to Maggie, “See that her hair is washed and that dreadful color ofdirt gone from it. I will have a tray sent up.”

Maggie looked over her shoulder. “Yea, m’lord.”

Nearly to the top of the stairs, Serena heard the Red Wolforder Sir Niel to guard her door.

So it was to be a prisoner, after all.

* * *

Renaud took a deep drink of his wine, forcing himself to calmas the evening meal commenced. He was fighting exhaustion but he was pleasedhis bride was now in her chamber behind a guarded door.

Sitting on his left, Geoff speared a large piece of venisonon the point of his eating knife. “Is it true?” he asked, holding the meatbefore his mouth. “You have found not only Sarah, but your bride?” At Renaud’snod, he continued, “I can scarce believe it, Ren. All this time Lady Serenaliving among us. I must say, she fooled me. I failed to recognize the lady inthe servant’s garb.”

“As did I,” Renaud muttered as he circled his goblet withhis hand. Something was nagging at him, a thought that had not left him sincehe had nearly taken her at the edge of the stream. She was clever in deceivinghim, disguised first as a maid and then as a lad. On the ride home she hadfallen asleep, curled against him like a protected child. But she was no child.She was a woman full grown and he could not hold her without his body stirring.He had wanted the violet-eyed beauty since the day he had first seen her, andnow she was returned as his bride. One day she would be the mother of his sons,would she prefer it or no. Still, he has no illusions. She might try and escapeagain if she could. The desire he had awakened in her, he was certain, did notalter her feelings for Normans. He had to remember the battle was not over.

“Why are you so sullen?” Geoff needled. “This sudden turn ofevents should please you.” The blond knight snatched the venison off the knifewith his teeth.

“Aye, it does, but I’ll not celebrate the marriage just yet.Something tells me the fight for the lady’s hand is not over. I cannot trusther, Geoff. As you observed yourself, the woman has only disdain for Normans.And she is clever at escape. Hence, I have posted Sir Niel at her door. I wanther watched at all times Mayhap the next days will disclose her intent. Iexpect she may yet try to flee.”

Renaud gazed about the room. Some of his knights stilllingered over their meal. Others diced or played échecs, the gameof skill with carved pieces, occasionally letting out a yell when one won around. The red-haired serving girl he recognized as Maggie’s daughter wassmiling at Sir Maurin as she filled his tankard with ale, and the knight smiledback. Mayhap there would be more weddings celebrated ere midwinter was uponthem.

“Would it help to recall that you need no priest’s blessingto claim what William has given you, Ren?”

“That may be, but I would have our marriage blessed by thechurch. Best send for the priest, or the bishop, if near. I want the people toknow we are wed according to God’s law, not just William’s command.”

“Have you forgotten? Father Bernard left some time ago, not toreturn for a fortnight. Sarah…that is, Lady Serena said he is seeing to theneeds of other villages. And the nearest bishop is Ealdred, Archbishop of Yorkto the east.”

“Ah, so it is. I remember now, the chapel was missing apriest. Mayhap ’twould be best if I await his return. Still, I would keep herguarded until the marriage ceremony, no matter she shares my bed. Tell the menshe may have free run of the manor and the yard as long as her movements arewatched. She may not ride unescorted.”

“Get her with child and she will nay travel far.”

“’Tis my plan.” Renaud had thought of little else on hisride back to Talisand. Now that he had his bride, he need not woo the servantgirl. And he wanted no other. Serena had ruined him for any other woman. Geoffand Sir Maurin were not the only knights at Talisand who were besotted withEnglish women. But Renaud knew well he would have to hide his weakness for hisbride. If she were not loyal, she could do him great harm.

He drank deeply of his wine and pushed back from the table,bidding Geoff a good night. He was barely able to keep his eyes open, yet hewas eager to see the lady who had so long eluded him. Likely, she was stillangry with her Norman captor. He was angry as well for her deceit had disturbedhim.

As he dragged his tired body from the hall, Maugrisintercepted him at the bottom of the stairs.

“My lord, I understand the Lady of Talisand has returned…isit so?”

“Yea, I hunted the servant girl, Sarah, but found the LadySerena. It seems she has been deceiving all of us.” Renaud studied the wiseone’s face and realized from his knowing smile he had been aware.

“’Twas nimble witted, you must admit,” the old man said withamusement dancing in his ancient blue eyes. “Me thinks she is a worthy mate forthe Red Wolf.”

“I did not find her behavior praiseworthy, wise one. ThoughI am certain it brought smiles to the faces of the villeins. They knew, all ofthem. To fool the Normans who went about their business unaware the lady of themanor was living under their noses as a mere servant must have amused them. Andyou, my own advisor—you knew, yet did not tell me!”

Maugris’s smile faded. “No, I did not. I knew from my visionit was you who had to find the jewel among the stones. And I had confidence youwould find her, though you had to reason it on your own if you were to be hermate. Think, my lord. She was angry and afraid, and only fled for her honor andthat of the other maidens. Do you not remember?”

“Aye, I remember the women.” Renaud could not find faultwith the servant girls who had fled that first day. Mayhap Serena was onlydoing what she thought was right. But when she learned he would be honorabletoward her people, she had not revealed herself. Instead, she had sought toescape again.

The old man’s blue eyes stared at Renaud. “You have but tohold her close, my lord, and she will be yours.”