Read Online Georgette Heyer by Simon the Coldheart - Free Book Online
Authors: Simon the Coldheart
Ads: Link
hot in thee. This is farewell, but before I go, wilt thou not lay thy hand in mine and tell me that my past neglect of thee is indeed forgiven?’ He held out his hand, looking almost wistfully at his son.
Simon put his into it deliberately, and for a moment their fingers gripped.
‘If wrong has been done to me I do readily forgive it, for thy neglect has made me what I am, and no cosseted stripling of the court.’
Malvallet still held his hand firmly.
‘Promise me one thing, Simon! If ever thou shouldst have need of me, if ever thou shouldst wish to undo this day’s work, thou wilt put thy pride aside and come to me, for that will be thy condescension, not mine.’
Simon frowned.
‘“If ever I have need of thee” – I can stand alone. “If ever I should wish to unsay my nay” – that will be never. I will promise, my lord.’
Malvallet almost crushed his hand. Then quickly he released it, and looked at Simon with a queer, twisted smile.
‘Thou son after mine own heart!’ he said softly, and strode forth with never a word to Fulk, and never a backward glance.
There was silence for a long minute when he had gone. Fulk was looking at Simon with wonderment in his eyes.
‘Is it to please thyself or me that thou hast said Malvallet nay?’ he asked.
‘Both, maybe,’ Simon answered briefly, and swung out of the door.
Five
How he rescued a fair damsel, and discovered a plot
The rest of the year passed quietly for those at Montlice, and once Simon’s grip was tight upon his men so that they durst not annoy him, be he at home or abroad, he began to ride out around the neighbouring country. Sometimes he took young Alan with him, but more often he was accompanied by his squire, a sturdy youth, who worshipped, in awe and fear, the ground on which his master walked. Occasionally Simon would go still farther afield so that he was absent from Montlice for days together. Fulk grumbled a little, and was curious to know the reason for these escapades. Simon would not tell him, nor did anyone know why he rode about the country, lynx-eyed, surveying every estate to which he came with a speculative glance that was sure sign of some scheme afoot within him.
At first Fulk’s grumblings were loud and insistent, but when he found that they had no effect upon his obstinate captain, and that in consequence of his absence no harm nor laxity in discipline came upon his men, they abated somewhat, and he bore with Simon’s vagaries with as good a will as possible.
Simon rode out one morning in the year 1404, bearing to the south-east. With him went Roger, his squire, in a gloomy mood, for he had fallen foul of Simon that very day and had received a severe reprimand, accompanied by a searching, flaming glance which he had learned to dread. Therefore there was no conversation on the journey, and Roger, feeling both sore in spirit and nervous, trotted as far behind his master as he dared. Simon paid no heed to him and felt no desire to talk. Now as ever he was frugal of words, and spoke rarely, but to the point. A little after ten he paused at a wayside tavern and dismounted. Roger rode up to receive his horse, and was bidden tend it and get his own dinner. Simon strode into the tavern and made a right hearty meal. Out he went again and pushed on towards the county of Suffolk. On the road they passed a large area of cultivated land, with a small castle raised on a slope, overlooking the domain. The place seemed well populated, but about the castle itself and the surrounding fields was an air almost of desolation.
Simon reined in his horse, and rose in his stirrups, the better to survey the land. There was pasture land in plenty, good grazing-ground, as Simon knew; away in the distance lay orchards and woodland, while through the estate ran a sluggish stream that wound about the castle, and kept moist the land. It appeared to be a prosperous domain, but little movement was afoot, and little care seemed to have been spent upon
Simon put his into it deliberately, and for a moment their fingers gripped.
‘If wrong has been done to me I do readily forgive it, for thy neglect has made me what I am, and no cosseted stripling of the court.’
Malvallet still held his hand firmly.
‘Promise me one thing, Simon! If ever thou shouldst have need of me, if ever thou shouldst wish to undo this day’s work, thou wilt put thy pride aside and come to me, for that will be thy condescension, not mine.’
Simon frowned.
‘“If ever I have need of thee” – I can stand alone. “If ever I should wish to unsay my nay” – that will be never. I will promise, my lord.’
Malvallet almost crushed his hand. Then quickly he released it, and looked at Simon with a queer, twisted smile.
‘Thou son after mine own heart!’ he said softly, and strode forth with never a word to Fulk, and never a backward glance.
There was silence for a long minute when he had gone. Fulk was looking at Simon with wonderment in his eyes.
‘Is it to please thyself or me that thou hast said Malvallet nay?’ he asked.
‘Both, maybe,’ Simon answered briefly, and swung out of the door.
Five
How he rescued a fair damsel, and discovered a plot
The rest of the year passed quietly for those at Montlice, and once Simon’s grip was tight upon his men so that they durst not annoy him, be he at home or abroad, he began to ride out around the neighbouring country. Sometimes he took young Alan with him, but more often he was accompanied by his squire, a sturdy youth, who worshipped, in awe and fear, the ground on which his master walked. Occasionally Simon would go still farther afield so that he was absent from Montlice for days together. Fulk grumbled a little, and was curious to know the reason for these escapades. Simon would not tell him, nor did anyone know why he rode about the country, lynx-eyed, surveying every estate to which he came with a speculative glance that was sure sign of some scheme afoot within him.
At first Fulk’s grumblings were loud and insistent, but when he found that they had no effect upon his obstinate captain, and that in consequence of his absence no harm nor laxity in discipline came upon his men, they abated somewhat, and he bore with Simon’s vagaries with as good a will as possible.
Simon rode out one morning in the year 1404, bearing to the south-east. With him went Roger, his squire, in a gloomy mood, for he had fallen foul of Simon that very day and had received a severe reprimand, accompanied by a searching, flaming glance which he had learned to dread. Therefore there was no conversation on the journey, and Roger, feeling both sore in spirit and nervous, trotted as far behind his master as he dared. Simon paid no heed to him and felt no desire to talk. Now as ever he was frugal of words, and spoke rarely, but to the point. A little after ten he paused at a wayside tavern and dismounted. Roger rode up to receive his horse, and was bidden tend it and get his own dinner. Simon strode into the tavern and made a right hearty meal. Out he went again and pushed on towards the county of Suffolk. On the road they passed a large area of cultivated land, with a small castle raised on a slope, overlooking the domain. The place seemed well populated, but about the castle itself and the surrounding fields was an air almost of desolation.
Simon reined in his horse, and rose in his stirrups, the better to survey the land. There was pasture land in plenty, good grazing-ground, as Simon knew; away in the distance lay orchards and woodland, while through the estate ran a sluggish stream that wound about the castle, and kept moist the land. It appeared to be a prosperous domain, but little movement was afoot, and little care seemed to have been spent upon
Similar Books
