The Falcon and the Flower Part 3

How else would they attain their high position and sustain it?

Mayhap you have been kept too innocent for this world, child.

You think a king would cavil at the stain of murder on his soul?

There's never been one yet who has! How many deaths lie at the door of the b.a.s.t.a.r.d Wil iam the Conqueror, or for that matter Richard Coeur de Lion? How many bodies paved the road to Jerusalem and back? Not only the bodies of the enemy, I might point out. Nay, child, it comes with the territory of kings.h.i.+p."

Jasmine gazed with unseeing eyes at the red strawberries.

"Wil I go to court?" she whispered.

Estel e looked at her grandaughter long and hard, then said slowly, "I think perhaps you wil ."

Chapter 4.

Falcon de Burgh became a little uneasy as his troop reached their destination. He was loath to receive bad news about the king, and truth to tel , he was more than a little apprehensive about meeting Ela and Isobel. Salisbury Castle, however, was another matter. The vast wooded hil s and meadows belonging to the castle were rich with cattle and sheep. The castle itself with its Norman keep was fas.h.i.+oned entirely of stone. The rooms were enormous, with high-vaulted beamed ceilings rising to a ful second "story, al topped by towers and crenelated parapets. It was a ma.s.sive fortress, enclosing bailey, courtyard, stables, and numerous outbuildings within a thick stone wal .

There were a dairy and stil rooms, a spring shed and a There were a dairy and stil rooms, a spring shed and a b.u.t.tery, laundry, outdoor kitchens, and baths. Salisbury had its own blacksmith's forge and armory as wel as tiltyards and gardens.

Walters, the steward and castel an of Salisbury, had obviously been told to expect de Burgh for in less than an hour he had taken charge of the produce and cattle brought from Berkley and Castle Combe, had shown the men-at-arms a fresh meadow by a stream where they could set up their tents, had settled Falcon's knights into the knights' quarters, and had shown young Lord de Burgh into the great hal where he was warmly greeted by Wil iam.

Instead of turning him over to a servant to show him his chamber, Wil iam put him into the tender care of his daughter Isobel. Falcon was startled at how lovely the girl was. Al along he had been harboring a suspicion that Wil iam's daughters might be ugly or, at the very least, plain. The young woman who smiled warmly at him had expressive dark eyes that showed humor. Her hair was obviously dark, but it was seductively hidden beneath a wimple, and when his eyes dropped lower to frankly a.s.sess her figure, he did not find it wanting in any way. Though Isobel was tal for a female, she stil had to tilt up her head to look the dark knight in the face. As she led the way to an upper chamber, his eyes were fixed upon the swel of her b.u.t.tocks as they gently swayed up the stairs. After she ushered him into a luxurious chamber she said, "Father insists upon you having his room while you stay with us. Please don't protest, I a.s.sure you it pleases him to do this for you." She smiled at him, a.s.sessing him as openly as he had her, and she more than liked what she saw.

"Demoisel e, you are too kind. What can I say?" He bowed formal y to her before looking about him. The floor was covered by a silken carpet, the wal s by rich colorful tapestries, and the huge bed by thick furs. A ma.s.sive wardrobe covered one wal , and the far wal was fitted with a stained-gla.s.s window that fil ed the room with colored lights when the suns.h.i.+ne filtered through.

"I am sure you wil find everything you need, from wine and ale to quench your thirst to soft leather slippers to ease your feet.

But I imagine you want nothing more than a warm bath to remove the stains of your travel and ease the ache of your bones."

"Demoisel e, my bones do not yet ache, thank G.o.d," he said, laughing, but he felt a definite ache in his groin at her mention of a bath.

"Please cal me Isobel," she said rather breathlessly as his maleness fil ed the chamber.

"Lady Isobel, you are everything your father has told me," he said as formal y as he could.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ah, save your com- pliments until you have met Ela, I beg you, milord; her virtues are outstanding."

The delicious play on words came back to him later when he was introduced to Ela, for apart from an attractive face and prettily pouting mouth, her most outstanding feature was a pair of b.r.e.a.s.t.s that could only be described as breathtaking.

Falcon's eyes sought out IsobeFs and they shared the humor with relish.

Ela had spent the afternoon with the head cook, Joan, a formidable woman who held sway in the kitchens with an iron hand and would have long since bul ied Wil iam Longsword and reduced his authority to that of a smal boy if it hadn't been for his capable daughters. The result of the afternoon's running battle between Joan and Ela was a culinary delight designed to seduce a man into wis.h.i.+ng for such domesticity that turned ordinary food into manna.

The conversation flowed easily as they dined, showing de Burgh how pleasant a meal could be in the great hal of one's castle when a wel -trained chatelaine was in charge of a man's comforts. He learned that each daughter had been trained by their late mother to review the accounts and inventory of the castle's provisions daily. Control ing an enormous staff of strong-wil ed, capable servants and cooks was no smal accomplishment. When necessary Ela and Isobel traveled from demesne to demesne gathering supplies needed for war, bul ying the bailiffs and stewards into supplying money, supplies, and arms. They looked after the poor and set the moral standard for al the households on their vast properties.

"Father, enough!" cried Isobel, laughing. "I'm sure our guest is not interested in how we check the salt meat for maggots or the flour barrels for weevils or see that the drains are running clear."

Falcon de Burgh put up his hand in protest. "Nay, Lady Isobel, I am most fascinated to learn the role a woman plays in running a castle. I had never given it a thought before. Pray continue, I beg of you."

Ela looked at him with wide eyes. "We don't do the work ourselves, milord, but rather must see that it is done and done wel . Cloth has to be woven and clothes sewn. Leather has to be cured for shoes and tunics. Then there is the laundry, the candles, the rushes."

Isobel picked up where Ela left off. "We look after the sick and the wounded, select the seed and plan the gardens." The mischievous look came into her eyes again as she added, "And tomorrow I was thinking about hunting down a few wolves because so many of the new lambs have been taken."

"Cry foul, Isobel," her father exclaimed, laughing. "You must leave something for us poor males to take care of."

"My men and I would relish a hunt tomorrow, milord, if your time permits such indulgence," de Burgh offered enthusiastical y.

"I have some fine hawks and falcons I'd like you to try out; to hel with the wolves," said Salisbury, who was inordinately proud of his mews fil ed with magnificent birds of prey.

Isobel refil ed the men's goblets and the ladies left them to their cups. Both girls were bursting to discuss their visitor to find out exactly the other's inner thoughts and share them.

Inside her chamber Ela hugged herself then pul ed off her wimple to let her chestnut hair come tumbling down. "G.o.d's nightgown, I think I've died and gone to Heaven!"

"Blasphemy, Ela?" Isobel chuckled, flinging herself into the center of her sister's feather bed. "That tel s me exactly how deep your feelings are running at this moment."

"My feelings are indeed running," Ela said breath- lessly. "I'm al liver and lights! Did you note the breadth of his shoulders?"

"I never noticed" Isobel giggled "nor did I observe the length of his thighs, the thickness of his wrists, the flatness of his bel y, the bulge of his "

"Isobel!" Ela cried in mock alarm.

"I was going to say bulge of his muscles, so that shows just where your thoughts are centered!"

"Do you know my legs are trembling? Oh, Isobel, I hope he chooses me, but if he chooses you I wil try to bear it," Ela said with her usual generosity.

"He has no great rank, you know. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer an earl?" asked Isobel, trying to be practical and objective, though failing utterly.

Ela's nose wrinkled. "Remember the last earl who visited father? He ate like a rhinoceros with sore gums."

"How could I forget? But in al seriousness, Ela, we do have a large field to choose from and most of the eligible men father approves can be led by their p.r.i.c.ks. Life would be easier wed to another. This one I think is dangerous and would be master in his own castle. He is not in awe of Father."

"I would give my salvation if he were masterful with me!" Ela sighed.

Isobel sighed also. "He looks fierce even when he smiles. Ela, my love, I give you fair warning I want him. Lord, I could eat him whole!"

"I don't believe we'l trap him with the artful tricks of our s.e.x, for women must positively hurl themselves at him. My guess is he wouldn't even consider taking a wife except for practical reasons," Ela warned.

Isobel, who considered herself slightly more clever than Ela, was often surprised by her sister's astuteness. "But we are equal y competent as chatelaines, therefore it wil be the one he most responds to physical y who wil win the prize."

Falcon and Wil iam sat late into the night drinking cup for cup and matching tale for tale. Half drunk, Wil iam became sentimental. "You need a wife, my friend, to bear you fine strong sons. 'Tis what al men want above al things. However, in my case it is perhaps a blessing in disguise that I never had any. My father Henry bred a pack of wolves who tried to bring him down like a hunted stag. I'm the only sensible one he bred, but perhaps if I'd had sons they would have been consumed by greed and ambition. I blame Eleanor of Aquitaine for urging the sons to destroy the father, but sometimes I wonder if they needed much urging."

Falcon steered the conversation away from the crown and back to the subject of wives when suddenly Wil iam put the blunt question to him. "Would you have me for father-in-law?"

Falcon clapped him on the shoulder. Though he had not the slightest notion which daughter he would choose, he was very sure of one thing. "I tel you true, Wil iam. I wil have none other for father-in-law!"

When they returned from a successful morning's hunt, Falcon was relieved to see his squire Gervase had arrived at Salisbury. On a pretext of showing him around the forge and armory, de Burgh questioned him closely about Mountain Ash and was satisfied with Gervase's detailed report.

"You surely didn't expect trouble from the castel an you appointed?" asked Gervase.

"Not before the head of the last castel an rots and drops from its spike," de Burgh said with a grimace.

Gervase cleared his throat in hesitation then said, "Morganna gave me no trouble, milord."

"Who?" de Burgh asked blankly.

"The female hostage you gave into my care," prompted Gervase.

"Oh, that one. G.o.d's spine, I don't know why I put you to al that trouble."

Gervase began to laugh.

"I amuse you?" asked de Burgh.

"You hardly remember her, yet she has set herself up as your mistress and has the servants running to obey her commands."

De Burgh flashed his wolf's grin. "She'l be in for a nasty shock if I bring a wife home."

"I can tel you have made good use of your time, milord."

"Both of Wil iam's daughters could run my three castles with their hands tied behind their backs. They have both been wel and rigidly trained. Wait until you see them. I can't choose; I'l need your help in that direction."

Gervase's happy grin faded from his face and he hoped fervently that de Burgh was jesting with him, but nevertheless he observed the young women closely every chance he got.

Wil iam's daughters had trained the servants so wel that the household ran smoothly as they went about their appointed tasks un.o.btrusively. Though Falcon de Burgh sought to find some flaw in either Ela or Isobel, he could not fault them in anything. They were efficient, industrious, courteous, ful - figured, and each seemed wil ing, nay eager, to favor his suit.

As his squire inspected and cleaned every piece of armor in de Burgh's war chest, the two of them exchanged their thoughts.

"Since no news is good news, I suppose we can a.s.sume al is wel with King Richard," said Gervase.

De Burgh frowned. "The uncertainty could sp.a.w.n anarchy, especial y with the northern barons. If England is left long without authority, a wave of lawlessness wil sweep the nation." He flashed his grin. "It is good you are keeping my armor at the ready. I don't like the men to remain idle, so I've told Wil iam we'l hunt down his wolves tomorrow."

"They are pa.s.sing the time wagering which of Wil iam's daughters wil become Lady de Burgh," Gervase said with a familiarity de Burgh al owed no other man. Falcon's eyebrows shot up. "And who's the odds-on favorite?"

"I believe the betting runs in Lady Ela's favor, milord."

"They've undoubtedly discussed her fine points," Falcon said vulgarly. Gervase flushed slightly and laughed. "I don't know,"

said de Burgh, "there's a lot to be said for Isobel's humor."

"So you have made your choice?" "Not real y." De Burgh shrugged. "I don't suppose it matters which. There is nothing to choose between them," he said almost indifferently.

Gervase cleared his throat as he always did when he was about to make a suggestion to de Burgh. "If it were me, milord, I would find out which lands and castles each lady wil inherit and then make my selection."

"Splendor of G.o.d, and I thought I was a cynical b.a.s.t.a.r.d!

Perhaps you've been my squire too long. I've tainted you, Gervase."

Chapter 5.

Dame Estel e Winwood decided that she owed it to Wil iam Longsword to warn him of coming events. The bad news would travel quickly enough, but if she could prepare him for the shocks that lay ahead she would not only feel a great deal of gratification but would entrench herself as infal ible in seeing the future when messages confirming her mystic predictions arrived at Salisbury.

Estel e and Jasmine set out early on their relatively short journey. The sun shone bril iantly, warming the air delightful y even if a little unseasonably. Jasmine wore her prettiest gown for the visit to her father, a shel -pink velvet with a finely spun head veil fastened with silver hair ornaments. She rode a white palfrey and chose a fanciful, ornamented harness for her. Her grandmother prided herself on Jasmine's appearance whenever they rode out. She saw to it that the girl looked exactly like a princess from a fairy tale and smiled when mouths literal y fel open as the virginal, ethereal vision of loveliness pa.s.sed by.

They took no maids or attendants with them as Salisbury Castle overflowed with servants, but they did take two extra packhorses to carry their clothes and a goodly supply of herbs and electuaries Estel e had concocted especial y for Wil iam's people.

After they had pa.s.sed through Old Sarum, about two miles from the castle, Dame Winwood looked at her grandaughter indulgently and said, "Go ahead, child, I know you are longing for a gal op. If you contain yourself much longer spring fever wil steal your senses. Just remember, not a word to your father. I want to find out what he knows before I share my knowledge. Power shared is power halved!"

Jasmine whispered softly to her palfrey and took a handful of its long white mane to anchor herself for the swift gal op. The wind soon took her filmy veil, and Jasmine tossed back her silvery-gold hair so that the suns.h.i.+ne turned it molten, silvery-gold hair so that the suns.h.i.+ne turned it molten, surrounding her whole being with a nimbus of light.

Falcon de Burgh and his knights had arisen long before light of day to hunt down the wolf pack. It hadn't taken Falcon long to detect the distant howling, then he easily pinpointed their location by the clamorous yapping that signaled the wolves had made a kil . The men were too late to save a pair of newborn lambs, but they managed to save the ewe from the jaws of death.

They were bloodied and de Burgh had a pair of wolf carca.s.ses slung across his saddle as they rode back to the castle br.i.m.m.i.n.g with satisfaction that they had helped repay some of Salisbury's hospitality. They suddenly stopped in their tracks as a vision rode into the suns.h.i.+ne from a smal wooded area.

" 'Tis a unicorn!" Normand Gervase gasped. "No such creature," a.s.serted Falcon de Burgh, his dark brows drawing together in sudden doubt.

The girl on the back of the unicorn took instant fright at the party of mailed knights only a hundred yards off. Dismay clouded Jasmine's delicate brow. She wheeled her white palfrey and took flight back into the trees.

Falcon de Burgh issued a sharp command to his men. "Stay!

This quarry is mine."

As the great destrier closed the distance to the stand of trees, Jasmine heard the hooves pounding the ground like thunder.

She felt like hunted prey. When she glanced up, recognition hit her like a thunderbolt. It was he the Devil! He would devour her like a hound of Hel bringing down a white doe.

Falcon de Burgh grabbed her bridle and looked into her face.

Fear clearly sketched its dark presence upon her lovely countenance. He was mesmerized at the sight of her. For one unreal moment he believed this beautiful creature riding the back of a unicorn was of another world. Such an exquisite vision could not be mortal. He was enchanted. The unicorn came to a halt and trembled.

The girl put up her smal hands in supplication and breathed, "Ah . . . no! Whatever have I done that you must hunt me down and punish me?"

He was off Lightning in a trice. This close, he could clearly see that the "unicorn" was merely a white palfrey wearing a clever ornamental harness fas.h.i.+oned with a long, spiraled ivory horn.