Read Online Promised to the Crusader by Anne Herries - Free Book Online
Authors: Anne Herries
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all Elaine had, it might be that his only course was to wed her. He knew her pride would forbid her to live on his charity. In that eventuality, she might be left penniless and vulnerable, forced to work as a servant for her bread. Marriage to Zander would then be the better alternative. He would honour andprotect her while he lived—and if he died his fortune would be hers. To protect her he would appoint Philip of Stornway as her guardian.
Zander’s heart thudded against his ribs as he went down the twisted stair to the great hall, which was a scene of activity as men prepared to leave with him. Armour and supplies had been loaded onto the packhorses, and knights were already wearing their coats of chainmail beneath their tabards.
Zander saw his squire talking with Lady Anne. She was laughing and talking animatedly, her face alight with interest as she listened to Janvier’s words. Janvier turned his head and saw him; he bowed to the lady and walked towards Zander.
Zander caught the look of annoyance on the lady’s face before it was swiftly hidden and once again he wondered. Why should Anne be angry and yet try to hide it?
He knew that the Saracen’s family was noble, but he was penniless, stripped of his land and much he’d had by marauding knights. What little was left he had given to his mother and sister—all that was left of a once-proud family. He’d refused Zander’s offer of gold for saving his life in favour of becoming his servant, but he was a proud and clever man. By birth andintellect he was the equal of Anne of Stornway, but the colour of his skin and his lack of wealth made him a pauper in a strange land—and not a man her brother would consider fit to be her husband.
What nonsense was he at now? He must have a touch of fever to even think of such things. If the lady could guess at what was in his mind, she would no doubt think herself insulted. Zander smiled sadly. How unfair was life? Would that respect and love were all, but in the world Zander knew pride and prejudice ruled the heart and marriages were made for land, not love.
‘Are you ready to leave, my lord?’
‘We but await my lady,’ Zander said and then something warned him and he turned to look at the stone steps that led to the solar. Elaine had taken him at his word and she was dressed, seemingly ready to continue.
‘You feel able to continue?’ Zander asked as she came towards him.
‘Yes, my lord. I am fully rested. I think we have not so far to go now.’
‘It is but a few hours’ ride from here,’ he said and offered her his hand. Even as she took it, Anne came up with them.
‘If you wished, Lady Elaine could stay until you are sure that rogue has not taken her lands.I should be glad of her company.’ Anne said, smiling at them, no trace now of the resentment he’d glimpsed earlier. ‘You know that you may trust my brother to guard her for you.’
‘I must go with Zander,’ Elaine said, an odd little shiver at her nape. Something told her not to stay here, though these people were clearly Zander’s friends. ‘My people will not be certain they can trust him unless I am there. If they have barred the gates against Newark, they will only open to me.’
‘The offer remains if you need it,’ Anne said. She smiled, but Zander noticed that her eyes were cold.
‘We thank you for the offer,’ Zander said and kissed the hand she offered. ‘Should my lady need sanctuary, I shall bring her to you until I can find somewhere for her to live.’
‘So you will marry her,’ Anne said, taking his vow for proof of his intention. ‘She will need a strong man to protect her, sir. She is the rightful heir not only to her mother’s dower lands, but also those of Howarth Manor. My brother will petition the king as soon as he returns to England and then Newark must make reparation or suffer the consequences of treason.’
‘Does his Majesty return?’ Zander asked. ‘Ihad not heard he was released from his
Zander’s heart thudded against his ribs as he went down the twisted stair to the great hall, which was a scene of activity as men prepared to leave with him. Armour and supplies had been loaded onto the packhorses, and knights were already wearing their coats of chainmail beneath their tabards.
Zander saw his squire talking with Lady Anne. She was laughing and talking animatedly, her face alight with interest as she listened to Janvier’s words. Janvier turned his head and saw him; he bowed to the lady and walked towards Zander.
Zander caught the look of annoyance on the lady’s face before it was swiftly hidden and once again he wondered. Why should Anne be angry and yet try to hide it?
He knew that the Saracen’s family was noble, but he was penniless, stripped of his land and much he’d had by marauding knights. What little was left he had given to his mother and sister—all that was left of a once-proud family. He’d refused Zander’s offer of gold for saving his life in favour of becoming his servant, but he was a proud and clever man. By birth andintellect he was the equal of Anne of Stornway, but the colour of his skin and his lack of wealth made him a pauper in a strange land—and not a man her brother would consider fit to be her husband.
What nonsense was he at now? He must have a touch of fever to even think of such things. If the lady could guess at what was in his mind, she would no doubt think herself insulted. Zander smiled sadly. How unfair was life? Would that respect and love were all, but in the world Zander knew pride and prejudice ruled the heart and marriages were made for land, not love.
‘Are you ready to leave, my lord?’
‘We but await my lady,’ Zander said and then something warned him and he turned to look at the stone steps that led to the solar. Elaine had taken him at his word and she was dressed, seemingly ready to continue.
‘You feel able to continue?’ Zander asked as she came towards him.
‘Yes, my lord. I am fully rested. I think we have not so far to go now.’
‘It is but a few hours’ ride from here,’ he said and offered her his hand. Even as she took it, Anne came up with them.
‘If you wished, Lady Elaine could stay until you are sure that rogue has not taken her lands.I should be glad of her company.’ Anne said, smiling at them, no trace now of the resentment he’d glimpsed earlier. ‘You know that you may trust my brother to guard her for you.’
‘I must go with Zander,’ Elaine said, an odd little shiver at her nape. Something told her not to stay here, though these people were clearly Zander’s friends. ‘My people will not be certain they can trust him unless I am there. If they have barred the gates against Newark, they will only open to me.’
‘The offer remains if you need it,’ Anne said. She smiled, but Zander noticed that her eyes were cold.
‘We thank you for the offer,’ Zander said and kissed the hand she offered. ‘Should my lady need sanctuary, I shall bring her to you until I can find somewhere for her to live.’
‘So you will marry her,’ Anne said, taking his vow for proof of his intention. ‘She will need a strong man to protect her, sir. She is the rightful heir not only to her mother’s dower lands, but also those of Howarth Manor. My brother will petition the king as soon as he returns to England and then Newark must make reparation or suffer the consequences of treason.’
‘Does his Majesty return?’ Zander asked. ‘Ihad not heard he was released from his
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