Free The Troubadour's Romance by Robyn Carr

riches alone. I would rest easier, finding someone I could trust. ”
    “ The tale is that the king will influence your choice of husband, ” Aswin remarked.
    “ He will influence us away from alliances with the duke. ” Harlan shrugged. “ How can I blame him for that? Has he not already battled with his wife and his own sons to keep his crown? And with all the trouble in their family, those Englishmen who would not give Richard aid are not easy to discover. Henry has but a few he can trust. Those knights of Henry who sympathize with the duke are cautious. ”
    “ Where are the fathers and sons who serve each other ’ s purpose? ” Aswin mused. Then his attention was drawn away to a young man standing alongside their table. He returned his amused gaze to Harlan, murmuring, “ A young stag in rut seeks a kindness from us. ”
    Harlan returned the smile knowingly and rose, Aswin rising with more difficulty. The young man approached with a gleeful light in his eyes. He bowed before the elder lords and ladies.
    “ I would present my son, Sir Boltof, ” Aswin said. “ Lord Scelfton and Lady Edrea. ” Then he sighed heavily. “ The woman whose acquaintance you have anticipated, Lady Felise. ”
    Boltof postured over her hand for a long moment, seem ingly finding the proper words difficult. Aswin finally urged the younger man onto the bench that he might be eased by conversation. Felise looked at him with a puzzled frown. She thought she had seen him before, but he was difficult to place.
    “ Have we been introduced before, sir? ” she asked.
    “ Nay, lady, I would have remembered. ”
    “ But your face is familiar to me. ”
    “ I have watched you from afar, in this very hall. ”
    “ That must be when I saw you, ” she said, but she was unsure, for many stared at her but she was usually unable to meet their eyes.
    Boltof made every attempt at impressing her, telling her about his many travels, the home he shared with Aswin, his prowess in battle, and his frequency at court. Felise was entertained, but more so by Aswin. And since her encounter earlier in the day with Sir Royce, she had been feeling even more strange about this entire marriage problem.
    “ ‘ Twas in Anjou with Royce that I .. . ”
    “ Royce, ” she breathed unconsciously, startled by the mention of his name. “ You ride with Royce? ”
    Boltof stiffened slightly. “ He is a good friend, but we each command our own arms, madam. I am not a vassal of his. ”
    “ Nay, I did not mean ... that is, I have twice met this Sir Royce and I may have seen you with him. ” She immediately flushed, thinking Boltof might have been in Royce ’ s compa ny the afternoon she had so brazenly leaned out of her window and toyed with the knights. “ But then, perhaps not ... ”
    “ I couldn ’ t say when, lady, but I ’ ve been about these last two days, and mayhap we passed in the courtyard or halls. ”
    “ I suppose we have ... ”
    “ So you ’ ve made the acquaintance of my future son, Sir Royce, ” Aswin broke in, leaving Felise startled once again. “ Aye, the lad will wed my Celeste early in the new year. Harlan, you know Sir Royce Leighton, do you not? ”
    “ Nay, ” he frowned. “ The name -- ”
    “ For his father, long dead. He is the son and namesake of Royce Leighton of Segeland. You would remember. The old Leighton had a dreary reputation. ”
    Harlan frowned. “ There is sour talk of Segeland -- ”
    “ Babble, ” Aswin blustered. “ Royce is as fine a man as I ’ ve ever known. But truth, many men prefer rumors, especially those of the darkest nature, to knowing the real man. I will vouch for Royce. He is an honorable man and a fine knight. ”
    “ His family was none too fine. There were many ill- concealed battles, ” Harlan continued.
    “ Years ago, ” Aswin allowed. “ But all that is buried, for Royce is the only one left. Aye, there were family battles that rival the king ’ s own, but they are laid away with