Page 7 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“’Tis the largest o’course,” said Maggie, “nearly twice thesize of the others.”

The bedchamber they entered contained a poster bed with darkgreen curtains and furs strewn on the cover, extravagant even for a wealthythegn. The bed cushion looked well stuffed and comfortable. His gaze lingeredon the soft coverings in anticipation of his rest that night. He had not slept ina bed since he had left London.

Several chests lined the wall on the other side of the bedbeneath a small window. Directly in front of him was a trestle table and benchseat, which would provide him a place to work. Behind the table, on the wall,were wooden shelves that contained scrolls and other writings. The old lord hadbeen a man of letters, it seemed.

Renaud walked to the window above the shelf, his bootscrushing dried rushes underfoot releasing a pleasant scent of herbs. He openedthe shutters, allowing light to spill forth so he could examine the writings.

“Was the old lord educated?”

“Aye, m’lord,” said the housekeeper as she lit rush lightsnear the bed, the slender torches adding light to the chamber. And then with anote of pride, she added, “The children as well.”

“Most unusual….” He fingered some of the writings and wassurprised to see a collection of poems in Norman French. As he looked around,he saw no feminine touches to indicate a lady of the manor.

“Does the old thegn’s wife still live, Maggie?”

“Nay, m’lord. She died giving birth to Lady Serena. The lordnever took another to wife.” The housekeeper looked toward the door as ifwanting to move beyond the pain the memory obviously brought her. “The othertwo bedchambers can serve for yer men if ye desire, m’lord,” she said.

“Whose bedchambers are they?” Geoff asked.

“They belonged to Lady Serena and her brother Steinar.Neither is here now, o’course.”

Renaud exchanged a look with Geoff. The reminder of hismissing bride brought his frown back.

They left the bedchamber and walked the length of the narrowcorridor open to partial view from the entry below.

Each of the two other chambers was also decorated withtapestries. Like the master’s bed, they were draped in curtains and had bed cushionsthat, although smaller in size, invited the weary to rest. From the softercolors and the gowns in the wardrobe chest, Renaud assumed the chamber closestto the lord’s had belonged to a woman.

Lady Serena’s chamber.

Renaud caught the faint scent of flowers and wondered howlong she had been gone.

As he turned to leave, his attention was drawn to a flash oflight from a silvered glass. “Only in Rouen have I seen one so fine.”

“’Twas a gift to Lady Serena from her father,” offered thehousekeeper, her voice reflecting a sadness he did not understand.

Surrounded by the lady’s things, Renaud was suddenlycurious. “Did the old thegn pledge his daughter to anyone?” Other questions hedid not voice. Had she traveled north with a young man? Was she promised to oneof her own?

“Nay, m’lord, though there were many who asked for herhand.” The housekeeper shook her head. “There was talk of a betrothal to EarlMorcar, brother to Earl Edwin of Mercia, but the old thegn delayed. I think hedinna want to lose her to a husband, even if he be an earl.” Mayhap thehousekeeper realized that Renaud was now an earl, for her cheeks suddenlyreddened, and she hastily added, “We lost the old lord at Hastings. Had hereturned, he would have arranged a marriage to some worthy lord, ’tis certain.”

Some worthy English lord, she means.

Renaud touched the fine surface of the glass, not sure whyhe was pleased that Lady Serena had not been betrothed to another. It matteredlittle. She would be his wife. He had only to find her.

“Geoff, take the bedchamber farthest from mine, the one thatbelonged to the son. I would hold Lady Serena’s chamber unoccupied for now.”

“Yea, my lord. I am content just to have a bed.” Geoffsmiled broadly at the housekeeper and she returned his smile.

“I will see to yer bath, m’lord,” said the housekeeper.“We’ve a serving lad, Eric, who will assist ye since we are a bit short onlasses.” Not waiting for a response, she dipped her head and shuffled out thedoor.

Renaud faced his friend. “Our squires can sleep on palletsin our rooms for now. I imagine Maugris will prefer to be out among the starsas is his wont, at least until winter. By then the castle will be completed andthere will be room for all.”

“Aye, Ren. I’ll see about the men. And our supper.”

Left alone, Renaud lingered for a moment in Lady Serena’schamber trying to conjure an image of the woman. Trying to understand what haddriven her from her home. He knew some of the English women had taken the veilrather than be forced to marry Normans. Would she? William would notbreak such a vow to the Church, no matter he had given the woman to his knight.

Renaud wandered back to his bedchamber, content with his newdemesne and the future it portended. The decorative tapestries on thewalls and the rich fabrics on the bed reminded him of the old thegn’s wealth.There was even a rush mat on the floor painted with geometric designs inbrilliant shades of red, gold and green.

He smiled, gratified the day had arrived when he could setaside his sword, at least for the moment, and claim his place in William’skingdom. In the back of Renaud’s mind was the nagging concern that the Englishmight never accept their Norman king or his overlords, but Renaud did not dwellon it. The peasants, now serfs, had little choice, and William was not one tobe thwarted. But Renaud wanted more. He longed for peace and an end to war.