A Knight Of Honour Part 6

'But we speak of things best left unsaid. The King will hardly notice you, Elona. You have only to smile and curtsy, and it will be over.'

'You will stay with me?' she asked nervously, and felt better as he inclined his head, giving her an encouraging smile. With Stefan by her side, how could she fear anything?

As he had promised, the introductions to his Majesty were brief; the King inclined his head, but gave no further sign of having noticed her. He was clearly weary, his face sallow and sickly, his body slumped in the huge chair that had been set for him on the dais as if he found it almost too much trouble to attend the festivities. Within seconds they had pa.s.sed on and Stefan was introducing her to his friends as the daughter of John de Barre and kinswoman to the Lady Alayne de Banewulf.

Elona met several knights who greeted her with courtesy, bowing over her hand and smiling. One of them, she learned, was Sir Orlando of Wildersham, Stefan's closest friend, for whom, she guessed, he held a warm affection.

She saw one or two glances between the knights, which seemed to say that they sensed more-that perhaps they suspected an understanding between Sir Stefan and the lovely woman he had brought to the tourney. However, nothing was said to bring a flush to her cheeks.

She was given one of the seats of honour, just five or six places down from where the King's own party was seated. Stefan stood behind her, for all the seats were occupied by ladies, who were laughing and whispering behind their hands to each other, clearly very excited.

'Who do you think will be the champion of the day?' asked a pretty dark-haired girl sitting next to Elona. 'I am Constance Graves. Someone said that your name was Elona de Barre-is that correct?'

'Yes. My father is John de Barre,' Elona replied. 'I do not know who may win. I am newly come from France and this is the first time I have attended such a splendid tourney.'

'Ah, I see.' Constance smiled in a friendly way. 'I have been many times. My father is one of his Majesty's advisers and we travel about the country in his service. Not that he is well enough to travel as he once did. We have been quartered in London for some months now.'

'Does your father take you with him wherever he goes?'

Elona was surprised, for her father would have thought it unsuitable to take her with him. She had always been left at home when he and her stepmother visited the Duke's court at Aquitaine.

'Oh, yes, he cannot be parted from me,' Constance said with a soft laugh. 'My sisters say that it is time I was wed, but my father will have none of it. He will not bear to lose me for another year.'

'What does your mother say?'

'She died some months after I was born. My father has not married again, though he has five daughters. My eldest sister was twelve when our mother died and she has been a mother to us. We are trying to find our father a pretty young wife, for we all love him dearly.'

Elona found her merry smiles enchanting, and wondered at the relations.h.i.+p she was describing with her father, which seemed to be an ideal one. They continued to talk happily to each other until a fanfare of trumpets announced the parade of challengers. As each name was announced there were cheers from the crowd, and, occasionally, some booing or cries of disapproval.

'Everyone has their favourite,' Constance confided. 'Mine is Sir Robin Adair, but I do not dare to give him my favour lest my father disapprove.'

'Of what should I disapprove, child?' a booming voice said from behind them. 'Do not let my daughter lead you astray, lady, for she is always in some mischief.'

Elona glanced back at the man who had spoken. He was fair-haired with a small, neat beard, merry blue eyes and looked too young to be the father of five daughters.

'I think you jest, sir?' Once she would not have realised that he was teasing her-but that was before she had come to know Stefan de Banewulf. Now she knew that jesting was something many knights enjoyed. Her father had seldom laughed, and never since his son died.

'Take no notice of him, Elona,' his daughter cried. 'I was telling Elona that you might disapprove of my showing favour to Robin Adair, Father.'

'Nonsense, child,' he said, his eyes twinkling at her. 'He has only to ask for your hand and I'll have you wed ere you can blink!'

His tone was gently teasing, his smile warm with affection. Elona liked him immediately and felt a little envious of Constance's comfortable relations.h.i.+p with her father.

'You are Elona de Barre,' Sir Basil Graves said. 'I was told that you were fair. 'Tis a plain lie. You are beautiful, and most welcome in our midst, lady.'

Elona blushed at the compliment, for none so gracious had come her way before. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Stefan had moved away and was talking with some friends. He had seen that she'd found a friend for herself and left her for a few moments.

The knights had begun a parade in front of where the ladies were seated. Some of them were given favours-scarves and ribbons thrown down to them-which they tied to their armour.

Constance did not give her favour to anyone, though she waved to a knight wearing colours of red and silver.

Elona had no desire to give her favour to anyone. Stefan was not taking part in the lists and she was glad of it. Especially when the melee began. For a while it was so fierce and noisy that it looked like a real battle and she was terrified that someone would be killed, as did sometimes happen.

However, despite the thunder of the huge horses' hooves, the clash of metal against metal, and the loud cries of the partic.i.p.ants, it seemed that no one was fatally injured that morning. Some knights were winded as the fast and furious contest went on apace and they had to be carried off by their squires, and some prudently retired from the fray after they had been knocked from their horses. Others carried on when the hand- to-hand fighting began, and there were some excellent contests between men of equal skill. Gradually, most knights were either deprived of their weapons or too exhausted to carry on.

At last there were only two. Elona saw that one of them was Sir Robin Adair, the other a knight dressed in black armour whose name she did not know.

'They are well matched, are they not?' whispered Constance, looking excited. 'Oh, I do hope Robin will win-Sir Gavin has won too many times.'

'Do you not like Sir Gavin?' Elona asked and the other girl shook her head.

'He wants to marry me, but he has been wed twice before-and I do not like him.'

Elona glanced at her thoughtfully. She believed there was one knight that Constance liked very well, but before she could question her further there was a gasp from the crowd as Sir Gavin's sword went flying through the air. Sir Robin was the victor and a great cheer went up as the knight he had vanquished saluted him, for the crowd always appreciated a show of gallantry and honour.

'So...' Stefan's voice sounded close to Elona's ear, startling her. She suddenly discovered that her pulses were racing, her breath short as she felt him so close to her. 'Have you found it exciting, my lady?'

'Yes.' She turned to look at him. Today he was dressed finer than she had ever seen him in an embroidered tunic and rich gown, though still in the sober colours he favoured, and she wondered how she could have ever thought that he was not handsome. He was so close to her, his head so near hers that she could have reached out and placed her lips against his. 'Where did you go just now? I looked for you, but could not see you.'

'I knew you were safe enough with Constance Graves and her father, and I had an errand. It is finished now and we can visit the peddlers to see what trinkets they have to please us.'

'I must first say goodbye to Constance, for I may not see her again.'

'Certainly you may say adieu, but she will be at the King's feast this evening and you will see her there.'

'We are going?' Elona was surprised-she had not expected it.

'Of course. All the knights and their ladies will be there. I would not have you miss it.' His eyes were bright with amus.e.m.e.nt. 'Come, Elona, let us see what trinkets we can find. I imagine we might discover some small treasures if we have good fortune.'

As Elona turned to say goodbye to Constance she saw a lady standing a short distance away. She seemed to be staring very fixedly at Sir Stefan, Elona thought. Although beautiful, her face was hard, her mouth turned downward at the corners.

She noticed Elona at that moment and her eyes narrowed as if in dislike. A s.h.i.+ver went through Elona and she felt as if a chill wind had pa.s.sed across her heart. Then all at once the woman turned away.

'Did you see her? That beautiful lady with the pale hair, like the silver of the moon...' Elona asked of Constance.

'Who?' Constance looked in the direction she indicated, but the woman had disappeared.

Everyone was moving from their places now, intent on enjoying the rest of the day as they pleased. There were peddlers, stalls selling hot pies and sweetmeats, jugglers performing marvellous feats and entertainers of all kinds from many countries, who earned their living wandering from one village fair to another. Seldom could there be such a gathering as here, Elona thought, feeling a rush of pleasure. She was so fortunate to be present!

'Shall you be at the feast this evening?' Constance asked. 'Oh, yes,' Elona said. 'We shall be there.'

It was all so very exciting. First the tourney and now a splendid feast. Elona's only concern was for the gown she would wear that evening.

'Sir Stefan warned me that you would need a fresh gown for this evening,' Bethany said later that afternoon when she returned to the house to change and tidy herself. 'I went back to the merchant we visited yesterday and bought this silver surcote for you, my lady. If you wear it over your blue kirtle, you will look fine enough for anyone.'

The surcote was a loose tunic and was intended to be worn over a plain tunic or kirtle; this particular one was fas.h.i.+oned of silver cloth with long, full sleeves that had been heavily embroidered with blue beads.

'How clever of you,' Elona cried, delighted with the garment. She had seen it the previous day, but rejected it because she felt she had already spent too much, but after seeing the richness of the ladies' clothes at the tourney she was glad to have it now. 'I must hurry and change; Sir Stefan will be here shortly.'

'It was he who thought of it,' Bethany said. 'He is such a thoughtful man. Any lady fortunate enough to be his wife would be well cared for, I dare swear.'

'Yes,' Elona replied and smiled inwardly as she recalled the way her heart had raced at the tourney when he whispered against her ear. She thought that the woman he married would be fortunate in many ways! 'I shall not deny that you speak truly, Bethany. At first I did not trust him, but I have come to see that he is a true knight.'

'None truer,' Bethany said and their eyes met in shared laughter. 'And I think I waste my breath, for your mind is already set.'

'How well you know me,' Elona said and laughed. 'And now I must hurry!'

The hall was already crowded with knights and their ladies when Stefan and Elona arrived to take their places at the boards. Stefan's rank secured them places near to the high table, though not at it. This evening one of those much-coveted places had been awarded to Sir Robin for winning the tourney, and another, further down, to his vanquished opponent, Sir Gavin. Ladies sat on either side of the King, who seemed less weary that evening, though perhaps bolstered by the wine he drank.

Elona saw that both Constance and her father were seated at the high table and she waved in their direction as she took her own place, then she frowned as she saw that the beautiful woman, who had been staring at Stefan at the tourney, was seated next to Constance's father.

Elona touched Stefan's arm. 'Do you know that lady? She was staring at you oddly earlier today.'

Stefan glanced in the direction she indicated, stiffening as he saw the woman he most detested. She smiled at him, raising her wine cup in mock salute.

'You do know her!' Elona exclaimed.

'I knew her once for my sins,' Stefan said, his face grim. 'Keep a distance from Isobel de Montaine, Elona. She hath a poisonous tongue and I would not have you suffer from her darts of envy.'

Looking at him, Elona was shocked by his expression of loathing. What could the lady Isobel de Montaine have done to arouse such disgust in him?'

'Why do you dislike her so?'

'It is a story I would fain not repeat,' Stefan replied. 'Believe me when I tell you that she is not the kind of woman you would feel comfortable with-nor would you like her.'

Did he think her a silly child, to be overshadowed by a woman of the court-a woman so beautiful that most others paled into insignificance beside her? The thought brought a swift pain but she smothered it immediately. She would be naive indeed to imagine there had been no female companions in his life.

She turned away from him, sipping her wine thoughtfully. Why had he looked so angry? Had Isobel de Montaine hurt Stefan-had he once loved her and been rejected? It was a painful thought, but one that Elona could not put from her.

But there was too much to see and enjoy to dwell on such thoughts for long. Some mummers were performing for the company, declaiming fine verse in loud clear voices, and there were fire-eaters, jugglers, minstrels and a fool, who ran around hitting the knights about the knees with his pig's bladder on a stick.

The food was rich and flavoured with spices and herbs, often swimming in delicious sauces or gravy. The bread was crisp and freshly baked, the fruit preserved in honey, which had become crystallised and was so sweet that it made Elona's mouth water. She was careful with the wine she drank, for it was very strong, and she made sure to have it watered; she did not want to become intoxicated as some others were- ladies as well as gentlemen.

The seemingly endless feasting went on for hours. Course after course of delicious food was brought to table, but some of the courtiers were dancing now, surfeited with food and wine, their cheeks red and flushed. They formed circles within circles, laughing and clapping and then joining hands. Every now and then someone broke from the inner circle and came to drag a man or woman from the outer circle. When that happened, the 'victim' was forced to either sing or declaim a verse before being allowed to join the dance once more.

Elona watched, her eyes bright with amus.e.m.e.nt as some of those rather more intoxicated than others began to sing rather ribald ditties.

'If you have had enough, I think we should be leaving,' Stefan said with a frown as he caught one particularly scandalous verse. 'You do not wish to dance, do you?'

Elona would have liked to dance earlier when the company was more decorous, but now she shook her head. Some of the gentlemen were much the worse for wine and she did not care to be manhandled as was happening to some of the ladies.

She noticed that Isobel de Montaine was dancing with Sir Gavin, and she saw that knight, who had fought so bravely, glance at her and then at Stefan. He whispered something to his partner, who seemed to find it most amusing.

Isobel's behaviour was almost lewd, Elona thought. The way she looked up at her companion, flaunting herself in the most intimate manner. Stefan had been right to warn her to stay away from that lady, and she would take care to do so. Not that she expected to see her in the future, for they would be leaving for Banewulf Manor very soon.

'Go and say goodnight to your friend,' Stefan said, pointing out that both Constance and her father were also leaving. 'I must speak to someone, but I shall be with you very soon.'

Elona nodded and walked towards her friend, who had paused to wait for her beside one of the huge stone pillars that supported the arched roof of the banqueting hall.

'My father says we must leave,' Constance said. 'Sometimes the knights go too far in their jesting and some ladies forget their modesty-and it seems it will be that way this evening, so we are leaving.'

'Sir Stefan has someone to see and then we are also leaving,' Elona said. 'I had hoped we might get a chance to talk this evening, for I am not sure if we shall meet again.'

'But you cannot leave the city yet,' Constance said. 'Tomorrow most of the men will go on a hunt, but I shall stay behind as will several ladies I know. Come and join us, Elona. We are going for a meal by the river if it is fine. My father will be there and Sir Robin, for he says he will not hunt.'

'I should like to join you,' Elona said. 'But I am not sure that Sir Stefan will allow it.'

'But I am sure he does not intend to leave us yet. He told my father that you would be in London for several more days.'

'Did he?' Elona's face lit up with pleasure. Remembering his haste to leave her father's house, she had not thought he would delay long at court. 'Then I shall be pleased to join you tomorrow, Constance.'

'I am glad, for my father likes you, I know.' Constance raised her brows, a teasing look in her eyes. 'He does not like many of my friends-but he likes you, Elona. He says you are the most beautiful lady to come to court in many years.'

'I am not beautiful-not compared to Isobel de Montaine.'

'Oh, her...' Constance pulled a face. 'She does not count. No sensible man would want to wed with that serpent. They say.. .but I must not repeat that kind of malicious talk. My father forbade it and he is right. I cannot know the truth.'

Elona was curious and sure that with a little prompting Constance would tell her more, but, before she had a chance to press her, she saw that Stefan had finished his business and was about to join them.

'I have asked Elona to join us for an outing tomorrow,' Constance cried as he came up to them. 'Do say that you will come too, Sir Stefan!'

'If it is fine, I can think of nothing more pleasing,' he said and smiled at her. 'We thank you, lady, and perhaps I may arrange a trip upon the river if it pleases you?'

'That would set the seal upon the day,' Constance said, pleased by his entering into the spirit. 'You are good to think of it, sir.'

'It was on such an errand that I was bent a few seconds ago, for your father had already invited us to join you,' Stefan told her. He glanced at Elona and a tiny s.h.i.+ver of pleasure went through her, making her tremble. Sometimes when he looked at her she was sure that he cared for her-that he desired her. 'I have arranged for Lord Fernhaven's barge to be at our disposal the whole day, and for his minstrels to play us over the water.'

The Lady Constance clapped her hands, clearly delighted. Glancing over her shoulder at that moment, Elona saw that Isobel de Montaine was watching them; a look almost of hatred in her eyes. A s.h.i.+ver went through her and she turned quickly back to her friends.

'Tell me, what may I bring to the feast tomorrow?'

'Only yourself,' Constance said. 'My father's steward will arrange it all.' She moved impulsively towards Elona, kissing her cheek. 'I am glad that we are to be friends, and I shall look forward to seeing you tomorrow.'

'And now I must see you home,' Stefan said, taking her arm. The touch of his hand sent tingles down her spine and she caught her breath. How was it possible that she had gone from hating to loving in so short a time? But she knew without doubt that her love for this man had become a living flame inside her. 'The hour grows late, Elona, and the streets of London are not safe in the dark hours. It is as well that my men are waiting to escort us home.'

A little chill touched the nape of Elona's neck. For some reason she was remembering the way Sir Gavin had looked at Stefan and then laughed with Isobel de Montaine-and there had been something in the lady's eyes that made her feel afraid.

Chapter Five.

It was pleasantly warm by the river with just enough breeze to prevent the sun becoming overpowering. The food Sir Basil's servants had provided was scarcely less festive than at the royal banquet the previous evening; the dishes were cold, but no less delicious for that.

Having eaten their fill, Constance and Elona were two of the first to be rowed down the river in Lord Fernhaven's barge. It was so relaxing on the water, listening to sweet music and the gentle splash of the oars. The young women were becoming fast friends and Constance did her best to persuade Elona to remain at court.