Page 108

The army had been gone for four days. Four long, long days. Every day, Jordan would sit by the window watching for any sign of their return, but so far the horizon had remained green and unmoving.

She was depressed and apprehensive. Literally trapped in her rooms, she spent her time doing needle work and Ranulf had set up her tapestry loom in one corner. She kept as busy as she could, she and Jemma spending all of their time together. But her heart ached for William.

The earl spent a good deal of time with her, even escorting her for a walk once with Ranulf and several soldiers in tow. God help him, Ranulf had never been so nervous in his entire life and was exceedingly glad when the earl had decided Lady Jordan had had enough fresh air for one day.

De Longley had even seen it fit to sup with her every night in her rooms, and Jordan grew to know the man little by little. She was especially interested when he spoke of news from William and the battle for The Lyceum, and was frustrated when he would give her little information and then turn from the subject.

He was a kind man and she was beginning to like him. How such a man could have raised two vipers, she didn’t know. He did apologize for Analiese’s and Alexander’s behavior once, trying to explain it in terms she did not understand. But he did mention that his two eldest children were becoming used to the idea of Lady Jordan as the countess and he was positive they would eventually become civil to her. Jordan didn’t care; as far as she was concerned, she would be happy if they stayed away from her forever.

The earl spoke of the party often, as planning it was taking most of his and Analiese’s time. She came to understand that many important people had been invited, and it thrilled and frightened her at the same time. He was quite eager to describe the food and the entertainment, but seemed more concerned where to lodge various English houses. It ’twould seem that some families did not get along so well with others and that caused him great concern.

Every so often he would make reference to the absent army, most often mentioning Adam in the same breath, and Jordan was touched at his obvious concern for his son. Of course the man only had one decent offspring and it was apparent he loved the boy dearly. Jordan found herself reassuring him that Adam would be all right, that William and the other knights would see to that. He would quickly nod and change the subject, but a shadow of concern would linger on his tired face.

This fourth day Jordan was ready to climb out the window, anything to be free of her confinement. After the first day, she had insisted that Ranulf stay inside her rooms instead of outside and keep her company, and from his vantage point in the antechamber he could see her pacing by the window in her bedchamber.

“My lady will wear a hole in the floor,” he said to her. “Not to mention wearing out your slippers. Sit and I will read more of Homer.”

She looked at him and, with a resigned face, went out into the antechamber. Jemma sat in the high-back chair, sewing in hand.

“I dunna wish to hear Homer today,” she said listlessly. “I want to hear of yer battles. How many have ye seen since William has been captain?”

Ranulf pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Too many to count, my lady. Many, many skirmishes.”

“And how many knights have ye lost?” she asked.

He cocked his head in recollection of the fine men that had fallen under the sword. “In the six years I have served under Sir William, we have only lost two knights,” he said. “The first was Northwood’s former captain, John Winebald. The second was a knight by the name of Alec Hage. He was Kieran’s younger brother.”

At that, Jemma let out a small gasp but quickly stilled herself. Jordan let her gaze linger on her cousin a moment.

“When was he struck down?” she finally asked.

“Last year,” Ranulf replied. “In the same battle that so severely wounded William. In fact, nearly all of the knights suffered some sort of battle wound in that round. We were lucky we only lost one; we damn near lost two.”

Jordan and Jemma’s eyes locked, both remembering the battle well. Especially Jordan. Yet both women were thinking the same thing; that it could have been one of their kin who cut down Kieran’s brother. Jemma’s stomach twisted painfully with the thought.

“What was Sir Alec like?” Jemma asked quietly, going on with her sewing.

Ranulf sighed, thinking back. “He was younger than Kieran by a few years, tall, and very blond. He and Kieran had the same sort of smile, but he was much more arrogant than his brother. He and Deinwald were the best of friends.”

Jordan didn’t want to hear anymore of Alec Hage. She unconsciously rubbed at her arms, even though the day was very warm.

“Will they return today?” she asked Ranulf.

“Aye, I am sure of it,” he replied. “William sent word to de Longley that they were remaining behind to help clean up and secure The Lyceum. He also wanted to make sure the Scots would not change their mind and launch another attack after being so soundly defeated the first time.”

She looked at Ranulf, her eyes lighting up. “They were magnificent, weren’t they?” she asked. “Fending off wave after wave, even after Earl Coe joined the attack. I almost wish I could have been there.”

Ranulf was confident. “Aye, with The Wolf at the helm, the troops are always magnificent,” he replied, the light in her eyes not going unnoticed to him. “I would serve none other than him. ’Tis why young Adam wished to serve here at his home instead of at Beverley. He wished to serve the best.”

Her chest swelled with pride and she turned away so he would not see the smile on her lips.

The nooning meal came and went, and the weather was quite sticky for late August. Jordan’s thoughts kept drifting to the lovely little lake on the outskirts of the fortress and wished vehemently she could go for a swim. Physically, she was feeling perfect again and her strength had returned almost fully. Being a prisoner in her rooms were very nearly driving her insane and she felt from time to time she could literally climb the walls, anything to relieve the monotony.

Not only had her strength returned, but so had her devious little mind. It was harmless, really, but she could be quite manipulative. She eyed Ranulf where he stood by the windows, wondering if she could coerce him into letting her out for a swim. Had it been William standing there, she knew she could convince him to let her go. But Ranulf was crusty and coarse and she was unsure of herself with him. But, she must try. She was going insane in her rooms.

She straightened her dress and cocked a determined eyebrow; poor Ranulf was in for a test of wills.

“Sir Ranulf,” she began pleasantly. “What say ye to letting Jemma and I go for a walk?”