Free The Dark Lady by Dawn Chandler Page A

protect her.
    “ You will not marry any man you do not want to marry. You were in my mother’s care and now you are in mine. If you give me your trust, I will take care of you.”
    Amy’s head came back up and she regarded Van intently. Whatever she had seen in Van’s eyes must have convinced her of Van’s sincerity, because she smiled. “Thank you, Sir Burgess, I trust you.” Amy tightened her grip on her hand and glanced at the bed once more. “Patricia told me that I could. She said you would take care of everything.”
    Amy’s brows furrowed and her concerned gaze lit on Van’s face. Van raised a black brow and waited curiously to see what questions had come to her. “What if the woman you are supposed to marry does not want me around?”
    Van grinned at her. She pulled her hand out from under Amy’s and patted her thigh as one would pat a child who had asked an obvious question. The young woman was innocent, not knowing that the men had all the say, women had none. Well, most women—she intended to have a lot of say.
    “ First, you will call me Van. I will tell my new betrothed that you will be coming. There will be no argument.” She knew that her new husband-to-be would not care if she brought her own day maid, would, in fact, expect it. This removed two problems at once. “Go to your bed chamber, and get some rest. I will let you know of the arrangements to be made.”
     
    ***
     
    Her mother’s funeral began close to sunset. The men had crowded around the small grave site as the preacher said his prayers. He kept looking nervously at the multitude of warriors who stood respectfully at attention.
    Van stood next to the grave with Richard on one side and Amy, dressed all in black including a black veil covering her face, on the other.
    As the sun sank down behind the tall trees her mother was lowered into the ground in a sweet smelling cedar box. Van’s breath threatened to quit on her. Her heart felt heavy and empty. She now had nothing. No mother, no men, no Dark Knight. She did not hear a word the preacher said as he recited the final prayers. She didn’t even notice when he walked away, she just knew he was gone.
    Richard touched her shoulder gently and she realized it was over. She turned to the men and at once they fell to one knee. Tears trembled on the edge of her eyes and her throat constricted in protest. This was not what she wanted. She wanted to scream at them to stay, that she needed them. Instead she smiled bravely and forced her eyes to dry once more.
    Richard stood between her and her men. “We will always be loyal and faithful to the Dark Knight, my liege. If you need us, find us, let us know, and we will be there.”
    She knew she was doing the right thing, yet letting them go ripped at her heart. Richard dropped to his knee and held his hand up in an offering of allegiance. Van shook violently as sorrow and fear gripped her. She placed her booted foot on his outstretched hand and all their heads bowed in unison.
    Van placed her foot back on the ground and Richard stood. He leaned close to her ear, placed a trembling hand on her shoulder, and spoke gently. “I will always be here for you, my child.”
    Van only nodded not trusting herself to speak. She knew Richard understood. With that the men mounted up and, with one last look, they reined their horses around.
    Pride swelled in Van’s heart at their loyalty as she watched them ride away. None questioned their leader now, not as they had in the beginning. Van had fought for the last three years for the respect now so freely given. She had indeed fought for respect ever since she was ten years old.
    At ten she had been the youngest to ever be accepted at Grayweist Castle for page training and unlike most of the other boys she did not come from a long line of knights or from the line of a rich lord. From the very beginning, Van had struggled to earn a place among the boys.
    As the men faded from sight she was swept back to her