Page 204

Deinwald shrugged. “I do not know. Mayhap to stand trial; he didn’t say. At any rate, he wants you ready to ride by this eve. He is in his private audience chambers now and asked that you come to him after I delivered the message.”

William nodded faintly, his mind already working. He was thinking ahead to the ride, to the battle. “Did the messenger say what kind of shape Northwood is in? Has she been breached?”

“Nay, my lord, the man didn’t say,” Deinwald replied. “He was fairly spent by the time he got here. He has been riding three full days and nights to reach us.”

“Where is he?” William asked.

“Resting in a room near the kitchens,” Deinwald said. “I thought you might want to interrogate him further.”

William didn’t say anything; his face was grim. Deinwald took deep breath. “There is one more thing,” he looked at Kieran. Raising his hand, they saw that he clutched a small scroll and offered it timidly to Kieran.

Kieran eyed Deinwald and took the missive from him. “What is this? It has been opened.”

Deinwald cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I know. The messenger from Northwood carried it and Henry took it from him and read it, even though it was addressed to William.”

Kieran frowned. “Then why are you giving it to me?”

Deinwald looked as if he wished he were anywhere but in that room. “Because it is for you.”

Kieran ignored Deinwald’s pale face and read the missive. He only read it once. Then it clattered to the floor.

William was gravely concerned. Something terrible must have happened to Jemma and he was deeply troubled as to what his wife’s reaction would be, as well as Kieran’s. Morbid curiosity and necessity forced him to pick up the missive and read it.

Jordan was wiping at her eyes, watching Kieran’s stiff back and her husband’s face as he read the message. She knew deep in her heart that it was something awful about Jemma. After the news of Langton, she wasn’t sure she could take any more bad news. But she had to know.

“What does it say?” she asked softly.

William looked up at her. He glanced at the vellum again, then at Kieran, before answering.

“Jemma delivered a daughter two weeks ago,” his voice was faint with dread. “Your cousin is fine, but the child was stillborn.”

Jordan’s hands flew to her mouth as if to block out the scream that was threatening to burst forth. Her wide eyes were wider, filling with fresh tears that gushed over her cheeks like a waterfall after a rain. She began to shake her head, back and forth, hauntingly chanting over and over,

“No, no, no!”

William dropped the parchment and went to her, cradling her in his arms and feeling the wracking sobs that shook her. He could only imagine her pain, Kieran’s pain, knowing that it could have so easily been tragic for their sons, as well. Only by the grace of God did they have two healthy children.

As Jordan expended her grief, another sound filled the room, deep and mournful. It took William a moment to realize that Kieran was weeping.

Jordan heard him and she immediately ceased her own sobs, pulling away from William to gaze at Kieran’s heaving shoulders. He stood facing the wall, but his hand was over his face. Jordan instantly forgot her own pain, tears anew for Kieran’s grief.

“I must comfort him,” she whispered.

He didn’t try to stop her. Instead, he lifted her from the bed and carried her over to where Kieran stood. Gently setting her down, he backed away as Jordan threw her arms around the big knight and they cried away their anguish.

William simply stood, watching, his heart breaking for the both of them. He’d never seen any of his knights cry, least of all Kieran. He hoped that Jordan could offer him at least a small amount of comfort until he was able to see his wife again.

But there were bigger things at hand, at least for him. Henry had a sizable force amassed for him to lead back to the border and even now the king awaited his presence. He was damn reluctant to leave at this moment, but he had no choice.

Pulling Deinwald with him, they ducked into a small alcove where William kept his armor. Between him and his knight, his armor was assembled and latched in no time. They had worked silently, knowing what was coming, and mentally prepared themselves for it. William and Deinwald had seen so many battles together that there was never any need for words. It was as if they could read each other’s minds.

They emerged into the bedchamber a few minutes later to find Jordan and Kieran sitting on the bed. William could see that Kieran was calm now and he was listening intently to Jordan’s soft voice. He wished he could allow them more time to deal with their grief, but there were simply too many pressing matters. He needed Kieran with him.

“Kieran,” he said quietly.

Kieran stood, looking somewhat sheepish at his earlier display of emotion. “My lord?”

Since Kieran seemed intent on moving forward, and was putting the outburst behind him, William was too. “You will attend me at my meeting with Henry. Deinwald, see to the assembling of the troops and make sure all knights are present. If I am going into battle, I want a full complement. And see if we can send a missive on ahead to Northwood, letting them know we are riding to their aid.”