Read Online The Falls of Erith by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online

am, or at least I used to be?”
    She
fought off a smile. “Nay, I would not. My father considered hunting quite a
sport, but I thought it was cruel.”
    “Cruel
but necessary to feed an army.”
    “Or
a fortress.”
    He
lifted his cup to her in agreement. “Was your father a great hunter, then?”
    For
the first time since they had met, the conversation was flowing freely. No
tension, no fears.  Braxton was relieved to see that she was finally relaxing
around him.  It made him feel light hearted as he hadn’t felt in years.
    “My
father had been a great knight, once,” she replied. “He was the son of a great
knight.”
    He
stared at her a moment. “Simon de Montfort.”
    She
met his gaze. “Aye,” she said slowly. “How did you know?”
    He
poured her more wine. “Because your daughter introduced me to your mother as
the Lady Constance de Montfort.  Since you said your mother was of the
Northumberland Grays, I could only assume de Montfort is her married name. I
also happen to know that Erith is a holding of Simon de Montfort, or at least
it used to be many years ago. So logically, your father must be a son or
descendent of de Montfort.”
    She
nodded. “My father was Simon’s sixth child and third son, Richard.”
    Braxton
smiled faintly. Gray gazed back at him, wondering what his reaction would be to
her lineage. It was not something she bragged about, being the granddaughter of
a publicly disgraced earl.  The wine on her empty stomach was loosening her
tongue, causing her to speak before she could think through clearly.
    “Now
that you know my family lines, I do not blame you if you should take back every
nice deed you have done for me,” she drank of the deep red liquid. “Most people
do, you know. Once they discover my grandfather was Simon de Montfort, they
smile to my face yet whisper behind my back.”
    He
frowned. “Simon de Montfort was a great man with great ideas. I have a great
deal of respect for his memory.”
    She
snorted. “You speak treason, my lord.”
    “Perhaps.
But I speak the truth.”
    “Most
people do not think that way, especially in these lands where de Montfort held
a presence. The king was hard on those who supported my grandfather when the
tides finally turned against him. People around here have still not forgotten
that.”
    “True
enough. But it is a pity they cannot remember that de Montfort’s only true
crime was his quest for a better England.”
    “You
know something of my grandfather’s history?”
    “I
know a great deal.”
    “Then
you know that he believed the lesser nobles and common people of England should
have a say in the rule of their country.  Did you know that there was a time
when he had more power than the king? Simon held a parliament of barons to help
direct this country on a better path. He did so much good for this country in
the short time he was able. But a key ally turned against him because of a
silly quarrel and betrayed him to the king at Evesham. It was horrible. My
father never recovered from what King Henry did to his father.”
    Braxton
could see her distress. He could only imagine it had been part of her life
since the day she was born, the tragic tale of Simon de Montfort. “Be that as
it may,” he said quietly, “there are those left in England who believe that de
Montfort did something great. There are those that believe he has showed us a
better way of governing a country.”
    She
smiled, without humor. “Perhaps. But those people were nowhere to be found to
support the family Simon left behind.”
    He
wriggled his eyebrows. “Those people conveniently forgot that your noble
bloodlines ran deep on both sides of the family,” he said softly. “You are the
great-granddaughter, niece and cousin of kings. Your grandmother, Eleanor, was
King Richard and King John’s sister. Your great-grandfather was Henry the
Second. Even now, you are a direct relation to Edward Longshanks.”
    It
may have been the truth, but he made her