Chapter Eleven
In the evening another feast was to be held. Since she had participated in the day’s tournament, Jacqueline attended. She did not want to give her father any more reasons to become suspicious of her.
Terric accompanied her and Beth, knowing how shaken Jacqueline had been by her confrontation with the earl. He still claimed she had nothing to worry about, and even went so far as to say that if her father knew her secret, he was almost positive the earl would have already acted against her. Still, hoping to lay her fears to rest, he planned to pay closer attention to the earl to see if he acted differently toward her.
The king and queen were present and seated at the table on a raised dais. King Richard was a young king, at the age of three and twenty, but the crown of England had been his since the age of ten. In his early years, John of Gaunt had acted as regent until Richard reached the age of majority. The regent had not been a favorite of the people. Their animosity had been caused by his oppressive government policies. They had been so intolerable the peasants had revolted in 1381.
That was all in the past. Richard now had full control over his throne. He was no longer king in just name, and he had chosen his queen. Queen Anne was the daughter of Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia.
Before the feast commenced, the winners from the day’s tournament were announced. This time the ladies, lords, and heralds had been the judges. The winner of the tilting was Count d’Ostrevant, the king’s foreign cousin. The tenants were given to an English knight, Sir Hugh Spenser.
Jacqueline was not particularly interested in who the winners of the tournament were. She had not been in the running for either prize, having only challenged her father in the end. She had accomplished what she had set out to do, and that was all that truly mattered.
As the evening progressed, Jacqueline allowed herself to relax. Her father acted as if she was not in the hall. He did not look her way. Not even once. She came to think maybe Terric was right, after all. No longer worrying about being summoned by the earl, she enjoyed the feast to its fullest. She ate and drank her fill, all the while talking and laughing with her companions.
She became quite startled to find her mother standing behind her seat when the feast drew to a close. Her first response was to quickly search for her father. He was no longer in the hall, much to her consternation. That did not bode well.
Jacqueline shifted her attention back to her mother and searched her face for any clues. Her lady mother’s expression was passively bland. Her eyes, so much like Jacqueline’s own, showed the strain she had been under since her arrival in London. There were prominent dark smudges under each of them. Jacqueline could only guess at what the earl had put her through.
“Is everything all right, Mother?”
Her mother nodded quickly. “For the moment. I must return to the earl shortly. He sent me to deliver a message to you, to William.”
Jacqueline’s eyes widened in panic. Was her father going to summon her to him? “What message?”
Lady Elizabeth smiled. “He did not send me here for the reason you are thinking. He has no idea.” She leaned closer and whispered for Jacqueline’s ears only, “You did well. You know how I felt about all you had planned, but you have made me very proud of you.”
Jacqueline had to blink back the sudden rush of tears that threatened to flow at her mother’s praise. “Thank you, Mother.”
Still smiling, Lady Elizabeth straightened. “Your father has instructed me to inform you that you are to depart London after the last day of the tournament at first light.”
It was an order, Jacqueline knew, but it was one she would gladly carry out. “And you, Mother? Are you to leave with us?”
“He has allowed me to depart with you and Beth.”
Jacqueline smiled brightly. “You may tell the earl we will be gone on the day he wishes.”
“Until then.” After taking a last look at Jacqueline, Lady Elizabeth left the hall.
A few moments of silence passed before Terric broke it. “It seems as if we will all be departing at first light on that day.”
“Truly?” Jacqueline had hoped Terric would return to the isle with them. She did not think she could bear being separated from him again so soon.
“Of course. I have business to discuss with your lady mother. The isle is the only place where I can do it.”
If they were not in a crowded hall where she posed as a man, Jacqueline would have thrown her arms around Terric and shown him how happy his words made her. Instead, she settled for reaching beneath the table and squeezing his thigh. He gave her hand a quick caress before she removed it. She wished they were someplace else.
Beth stood. “If we are to be awake for the events taking place in the early morning, I think it would be prudent to retire for the night.”
Jacqueline tore her gaze from Terric’s face, then stood as well and offered her arm to Beth. “Quite right.” After nodding to the man who still sat on the bench, she led her “wife” from the hall.
* * * *
On the following day, it was the squires’ turn to take to the list. They were to tilt in the presence of the king, queen, and all the nobles.
Since Edwin would be participating, Jacqueline and Beth joined Terric in the stands to watch. Edwin managed to acquit himself admirably. He did not win every match, but he had at least kept his seat throughout.
When it came for Edwin to finally face his last opponent, Jacqueline was about ready to jump up from her seat and run. As before, while being a spectator, she felt her father’s eyes watching her. This time his gaze seemed to bore into her as if he tried to see what or who she truly was.
Once Edwin left the list, she grabbed Beth by the hand and pulled her to her feet. Beth did not question why Jacqueline wished to leave before the end of the tilting. The atmosphere was decidedly icy around the stands.
Terric followed. They separated when they reached the pavilions. Terric went to see to Edwin while Jacqueline and Beth retired to their own dwelling.
“I do not think I can last until the end of this tournament, Beth.” Jacqueline sat heavily in a camp chair.
“You do not have much choice in the matter. The earl would become very suspicious if you left suddenly. Just a few more days. That is all.”
“I keep telling myself that very same thing, but it is not helping any.”
Beth took a seat in the chair next to Jacqueline. “You are safe.”
“If the earl’s behavior this day is any indication, I am not so sure of that. He looked at me as if he could see right through me.”
Both of them let that topic drop as Terric and Edwin entered the pavilion.
Terric headed straight for Jacqueline. He pulled her from the chair and kissed her thoroughly. Having rendered her satisfactorily weak-kneed, he released her lips. She still clung to him when he whispered into her ear, “Just a taste of what is to come later.”
Jacqueline’s breath hitched. “I will hold you to that.”
Terric reluctantly released her, taking a step away, and just in time since a visitor arrived unannounced.
A ripple of fear coursed through Jacqueline’s body at the sight of her father standing just inside her pavilion. “Hello, Father.”
The earl looked her up and down. Jacqueline hoped her face did not show any sign of the kiss she had received from Terric. She clenched her hands tightly at her sides and resisted the urge to wipe her lips with the back of one.
“I see you have company, William. Are you not going to introduce me?”
Needing further space between herself and Terric, Jacqueline went to stand beside Beth. “Father, this is Sir Terric Aubrey. This is his squire, Edwin.”
Her father’s gaze skipped over Edwin, having been deemed not worth of his lordly interest. “Sir Terric. I believe I have seen you before. At many a tournament, if I am not mistaken.”
Terric bobbed his head at the earl in acknowledgement. “Aye, you are correct. I follow the tournament circuit each season.”
The earl somehow managed to look down his nose at Terric. No small feat, considering Terric stood a few inches taller than her father, who was just slightly over six feet.
“How quaint, a tournament knight. I had not realized my son was acquainted with you. At past tournaments we attended together, I never noticed you in William’s company, Sir Terric.”
“William and I just became acquainted a few months past. At a tournament at Portchester Castle.”
“How convenient,” the earl said with a sneer. He turned his attention back to Jacqueline. “I came to make sure you attended tonight’s feast, William. Your mother seems to think you would not.”
Jacqueline stiffened. “I had not planned on attending.”
The earl shook his head. “That will not do at all. I will not have my son hiding away in his pavilion. You and your wife will be present at the feasts. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, Father,” Jacqueline answered meekly.
“I am glad we have rectified that. Now, I must return to the tournament. I will be watching for your arrival at the bishop’s palace.” With that said, the earl left the pavilion as suddenly as he had arrived.
Jacqueline trembled, and Terric fetched a goblet of wine. He made sure she had a large sip from it before he led her to one of the camp chairs. Taking another fortifying drink from her goblet, she looked at the others who hovered around her. “I have a very bad feeling about this. First, his comments at the list, and now this unexpected visit. It almost seemed as if he expected to catch me doing something I did not want him to see.”
“Which is precisely what very nearly happened,” Beth said.
Terric interrupted before she could continue. “It was entirely my fault. Do not blame Jacqueline for it. I put her in that position by kissing her. I will be sure to act with more circumspection in the future.”
“See that you do.”
After the earl’s unexpected visit, Jacqueline found she was unable to enjoy the rest of the day. She felt nothing but dread every time she thought of that evening’s feast. By the time they left for the bishop’s palace, her nerves were wound so tight she jumped at the slightest noise.
Now, standing before the hall doors, Jacqueline took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Beth squeezed her arm. “Steady now. You will be fine.”
Jacqueline nodded jerkily, then pulled herself up straighter and opened the hall doors. Once inside, she kept her gaze from the raised dais. She spotted Terric, who was seated at one of the many trestle tables, and led Beth over to join him.
Terric shifted down on the bench, making room for them to sit. “About time you two showed up.”
“Someone decided to take as long as she possibly could to dress,” Beth stated flatly. She seated herself on the bench, leaving enough space for Jacqueline to slip in between her and Terric.
“I am sure we did not miss all that much.” The other guests were already trying to get as much food and wine down their gullets as they could manage.
“You only missed the announcement made on behalf of the king.”
When Terric was not forthcoming with any more information, Jacqueline asked impatiently, “Well?”
“The king has decided to leave London on the morrow with the foreign knights and counts.”
Jacqueline felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. The earl would not expect her to follow the court. Hopefully, neither would her mother have to. “That is most interesting news.”
“I thought you would be pleased,” Terric said laughingly.
“I am more than pleased.”
Now that her time under her father’s rule would be drawing to a close, Jacqueline risked looking at the earl. Her father was deep in conversation with one of the foreign counts. He must have sensed her watching him, because he turned and looked directly at her. The smile that he had worn moments before disappeared. She refused to back down this time. She stared back at him, her gaze never wavering. The earl dipped his head in salute.
As the meal progressed, Jacqueline felt more relaxed. Forgetting about her father, she set out to enjoy what was to be her last night with the court.
Enjoy herself she did. After a few goblets of wine, she was able to completely ignore the earl’s presence at the high table. Terric entertained her and Beth with the gossip that usually ran rampant wherever the court stayed. He told them everything from whose wives were having affairs behind their husbands’ backs, to which of the courtiers padded their hose to create the effect of muscular legs.
In a small way, Jacqueline wished the night would not come to an end. Having Terric seated beside her, his leg plastered against her own, made her want more. After the earl’s unexpected visit at her pavilion, Terric had decided not to come to her later that night. The risk was too great. She really could not, should not, complain about it, but she ached for Terric’s touch, for the feel of him thrusting into her body. So, wistfully, she made do with what she could.
Once the dancing started, a young pageboy presented Jacqueline with a piece of parchment. After she accepted it, he bowed and left to continue with his other duties. She broke the seal on the missive and quickly scanned what was written inside. She smiled. “This evening is just getting better and better.”
Beth peered over Jacqueline’s shoulder, and asked, “Is that from the earl?”
“Aye. We have been sent our packing orders. We leave at dawn on the morrow. Mother will join us as well.”
Terric picked up his goblet and drained the rest of his wine before he stood. “If that is the case, I suggest we all retire for the night.”
Following suit, Jacqueline got up from the bench and offered Beth her arm. “On the morrow then, Sir Terric,” she said formally. Before quitting the hall, she once more looked at her father. She nodded in his direction, making it known she understood his wishes.
* * * *
They were greeted by Sir Guy when they arrived at Carisbrooke Castle. He anxiously searched each face in their party, waiting to see who would speak first. When he received no response, he took matters into his own hands.
“Well? Are you all going to leave me to guess what happened in London? Or are you going to give an old man peace of mind and tell me?”
Jacqueline took pity on him and linked her arm through his and led him toward the hall. “You are hardly an old man, and well you know it. I am parched from our travels so let me quench my thirst, then I will be happy to tell you everything.”
“Just do not keep me waiting too long.”
To ensure Jacqueline would not take any longer than she needed, he hurried her through the hall doors and then sat her in one of the chairs before the fire. He fetched a tankard of ale himself. Her mother and the others entered the hall at a more sedate pace.
Jacqueline sipped her ale and could not help but notice how Sir Guy hovered over her, impatiently tapping his foot. She said laughingly, “I can see you are not going to leave me be until I tell you.”
“Nay, my girl, I will not. Now out with it,” Sir Guy grumbled.
“You have not welcomed my mother properly as of yet. Should you not do that first?”
“She can wait. Talk.”
“I guess I have tortured you enough. I challenged the earl at the grand tournament. As you can see, I am not the worse for wear from it.”
“That is it? That is all you are going to say?”
Terric came to stand behind Jacqueline’s chair. “She is being modest, Sir Guy. Jacqueline did more than hold her own against her father. She managed to keep from being unhorsed and scored a point on one of the runs.”
Heedless of the tankard of ale she held, Sir Guy snatched Jacqueline from her chair and squeezed her in a bear hug. Her drink spilled into the rushes. The older man placed her back onto her feet. “I wish I could have seen you in the list.”
“The grand tournament will be the last time I am to enter the list. I have done what I set forth to do.”
Hearing Jacqueline’s words, Lady Elizabeth came over and sat in the chair next to her. “Does that mean you will let your hair grow back and start wearing gowns like a proper lady?”
Jacqueline reached up and pulled on her cropped auburn locks. “I will let my hair grow back, but I will not give up wearing a man’s attire.”
“Not even after you wed? Terric might not want his wife going around dressed like that.”
She once again found herself speechless by her mother’s statement. Jacqueline had not known her mother knew how close they had actually become. She shot a look at Terric, who shook his head to let her know he was just as surprised as she.
Lady Elizabeth clucked her tongue. “Do you think I did not know what went on during Terric’s previous stay? Just because I said naught of it does not mean I was oblivious to how you felt about each other.”
Jacqueline felt herself furiously blush. “You knew all this time?”
“Of course I did.”
“I thought you would be disappointed in me.”
“If the circumstances were different, I might have reacted in another manner. What you did helped to protect you from the earl. If he had discovered your ruse, he would not have been able to use you to further his gains. You are no longer a maid, therefore, not so prized as you were in the past.”
Her mother was canny, but she had not realized how intuitive she actually was. “What would you have done if Terric had no intentions of marrying me?”
“I would have not allowed what happened to take place. That is irrelevant now. Terric loves you. He will do all in his power to protect you.”
Terric, having remained silent during the discussion between Jacqueline and her mother, acknowledged the older woman’s praise by bowing his head in her direction. “I am glad to hear you find me acceptable, my lady. Then am I correct in assuming you will allow me to take Jacqueline to wife?”
“Aye, Sir Terric. You may have Jacqueline as your wife. The sooner the better.”
The elation Jacqueline felt upon hearing her mother accept Terric quickly changed to concern. “Why the hurry, Mother?”
“Even though your father did not see through you, I still do not trust him. He is a sneaky, conniving man. He could be the one who fooled us all. Not the other way around. The sooner Terric puts a wedding ring on your finger the better I will feel. Even the earl cannot break the vows spoken before a priest.”
Jacqueline felt a wave of uneasiness sweep through her. She hoped her mother’s fears would turn out to be unfounded. If it would save her from any malicious plans the earl might have in store for her, she would gladly marry Terric on the morrow.