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“Aye, I will not run amuck over Paris, I promise,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

He gave her an exaggerated scowl. “You had better not, for if I hear that you have so much as frowned at him, I will take a strap to your pretty little bottom.”

She kissed the end of his nose. “As ye say, husband. I shall behave.”

There was a knock at the door. They looked at each other, knowing the time was upon them at last. He gave her an encouraging smile and went to answer it.

De Longley stood in the doorjamb, circles beneath his eyes. He smiled weakly at the two of them.

“I do apologize for interrupting,” he said.

“Not at all, sire,” William said with more energy than he felt. “My lady is ready to accompany you.”

The earl passed a glance to Jordan. “Is she? Good, good. Your wife looks lovely, as usual.”

William glanced at her, standing alone in the middle of the room. He felt his heart twist painfully again at the sight of her. “Aye, she does indeed.”

De Longley sensed the pain in William’s voice. He held out a hand to Jordan.

“Come, my lady,” he said pleasantly. “See the splendid apartments I have selected for you.”

Jordan obediently moved forward, taking his hand. She paused a moment, her eyes seeking out her husband as if asking his permission to go. William gazed down at her wide green eyes, forcing himself to smile.

“Go ahead,” he said softly. “I shall see you later.”

She smiled faintly in return, allowing the earl to lead her on through the door.

“Oh, William, before I forget, Henry is awake and demanding to see you,” he said, appalled at his forgetfulness. “He sent a soldier to my rooms about an hour ago, saying he was unable to find you. I told him I would deliver the message.”

William nodded, squaring his considerable shoulders. “Then I shall go to him at once,” he said.

“ ’Tis likely he will announce you your lands and pass along a couple of formal charters documenting your barony,” the earl said. “Then I suppose he will send for me, so I will see you after I settle your wife.”

William nodded again, exiting the room behind them. At the stairs they parted ways; William was headed down the flight while the earl and Jordan continued down the corridor.

At the top step William paused just long enough to watch the seductive sway of his wife’s hips as she moved down the hall on the earl’s arm. With an appreciative shake of his head, he descended the steps.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The meeting with the king went exactly as the earl had said. After formally ascending to the title of baron in front of the king’s witnesses, William was passed two documents; one declaring his title, and the other bequeathing him all lands and related privileges to the barony of Kilham and Castle Questing.

The king was quite pleased with his generosity, as was William. He tried to act surprised when the monarch took great relish in announcing his new lands to go with his title and he must have done a good job, for Henry looked more than pleased with his reaction.

The earl joined them later for no apparent reason other than to congratulate his captain and express his pleasure to have William as an ally. But the king wasn’t finished with William yet.

“There is one more thing, baron, and then we will be finished,” he said, scratching his sparse head. “Not even John is aware of this for I wasn’t sure myself until this morn. John, you have been the largest fortress between the Scots and York for some time. But even your time is growing near and since Alexander is to inherit your title, I am frankly worried about the safety of the border. Alexander is not near the man you are, and I do not mean that as an insult, merely a fact. Which is why there is some method to my thinking when I made William a baron and handed him Questing. With that occupied, it will be the major force to be reckoned with on the border. Yet, of course, that will not be for some time yet; years, even.”

William did not like the sound of that. He did not want to be in London for ‘years.’ The king took a healthy swig of goat’s milk and continued.

“Therefore, I have come to a decision, John. Until such time as William fully occupies Questing, I will make you Warden of the North Border,” he announced. “You will be in charge of the entire length of the border between Scotland and England, and all of my vassals shall be answerable to you. If there is a problem, then it will be your duty to make sure it is resolved. Then, when such time as my champion returns to the wilds, he will take over the title. I will supply Questing with six hundred men to support the title and powers. Before we leave I will leave one hundred of my troops to reinforce your new responsibilities. With The Lyceum compromised, I am sure you can use the manpower.”

William and the earl stared back at the king, stunned at the announcement. ’Twas the earl who spoke first.

“Your Most Highness is generous to a fault,” he said. William thought he detected a note of sarcasm in his voice. “I shall do my best to live up to your confidence, my lord, but in faith, William is the tactician. He is certainly most deserving of the title.”

The king was being most ambitious in protecting his border with Scotland, William thought. Mayhap Laird Scott’s missive prodded the man into thinking that mayhap there would be great trouble along the border soon. With Wales and Scotland nipping at Henry’s heels, the king was taking no chances.

“Thank you again, sire,” William echoed. “I am thrice honored.”