his armor might have dulled a little, but James was a knight, honorable and noble to the core. His ambition wouldn’t prevent him from doing what was right.
Spirits lifted a little, Joanna quickly finished dressing and, leaving her sisters to their morning ablutions, hurried to the Hall.
Her father had been keeper of Douglas Castle under James’s father and, as befitting one of his most important vassals, their manor at Hazelside was one of the most impressive in the area. A fortified farmhouse, the rectangular two-storied building and the wooden outbuildings were situated on an old motte and were surrounded by a high wooden palisade. Although not as formidable as the stone wall of Douglas Castle, the wooden barrier had served its purpose for more than a hundred years.
The din of voices grew louder as Joanna hurried down the stairs. Something certainly was going on. Instead of a quiet morning, it sounded like a midday feast after the ale and whisky had been flowing for a few hours.
It looked that way as well. When Joanna entered the Hall, she could barely see her parents through the crowd of people gathered around the trestle tables that had been set up to break the fast. However, no one seemed interested in eating. The occupants were laughing and talking animatedly back and forth.
She saw her uncle first, with some of his men, and realized that a handful of her father’s nearby retainers were here as well.
“Bring the wine and ale,” her father called out. “This is cause for celebration.” Catching sight of her as she wound her way toward him, he beamed and opened his arms wide. “There you are, daughter! Come and hear the news.”
Seeing his happiness, Jo couldn’t help but return his smile. Thomas Dicson of Hazelside’s good-natured disposition was reflected in his appearance. Possessing the same fair coloring of Jo and her sisters, the years had grayed his hair and put a ruddy, weather-beaten stamp on his fair face, but he was still a handsome man. A thick barrel chest, sturdy build, and boisterous, larger-than-life personality made him seem taller than his handful of inches over five feet. When he enfolded her in his arms, Joanna’s head nearly aligned with his.
“What is it, Father? We heard the cheers upstairs.”
“Woke you, did we?” He smiled, tweaking her nose. “What a bunch of lazy lasses I have. How am I going to find husbands for all of you? Half the morning is gone already.”
Joanna felt a stab at the mention of the word husband, but seeing the familiar teasing glint in his eye, she managed to hide it behind a smile. “You will have to get up earlier to work harder to give us all rich tochers to have someone take us off your hands.”
He gave a sharp guffaw and kissed her on the cheek before releasing her. “They should pay me for such treasures. I already have half the men in the village vying for my eldest daughter; when Eleanor is of age, I will probably have all of them.”
Her mother stood beside her father, shaking her head as she listened to their teasing. “Are you going to tell her, Thomas, or should I?”
Joanna turned to her father expectantly, though she could already guess what he was going to say.
“Ah, lass, it’s the very best of news. Your uncle arrived this morning to tell us that our rightful lord has taken the castle and rid us of the English pigs forever.”
Joanna stilled, the air sucked from her lungs. He’d promised! “Forever?” she breathed. “What do you mean forever?”
“Young Douglas intends to raze the castle to the ground. There will be nothing left for the English to garrison. Nor do I imagine there will be English soldiers eager to defend Castle Dangerous.” He grinned. “Our young lord is making a name for himself.”
Dread washed over her. It was how he was making his name that worried her. “And Sir John?” she asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice. The English commander had always been kind to her. She knew they were
Spirits lifted a little, Joanna quickly finished dressing and, leaving her sisters to their morning ablutions, hurried to the Hall.
Her father had been keeper of Douglas Castle under James’s father and, as befitting one of his most important vassals, their manor at Hazelside was one of the most impressive in the area. A fortified farmhouse, the rectangular two-storied building and the wooden outbuildings were situated on an old motte and were surrounded by a high wooden palisade. Although not as formidable as the stone wall of Douglas Castle, the wooden barrier had served its purpose for more than a hundred years.
The din of voices grew louder as Joanna hurried down the stairs. Something certainly was going on. Instead of a quiet morning, it sounded like a midday feast after the ale and whisky had been flowing for a few hours.
It looked that way as well. When Joanna entered the Hall, she could barely see her parents through the crowd of people gathered around the trestle tables that had been set up to break the fast. However, no one seemed interested in eating. The occupants were laughing and talking animatedly back and forth.
She saw her uncle first, with some of his men, and realized that a handful of her father’s nearby retainers were here as well.
“Bring the wine and ale,” her father called out. “This is cause for celebration.” Catching sight of her as she wound her way toward him, he beamed and opened his arms wide. “There you are, daughter! Come and hear the news.”
Seeing his happiness, Jo couldn’t help but return his smile. Thomas Dicson of Hazelside’s good-natured disposition was reflected in his appearance. Possessing the same fair coloring of Jo and her sisters, the years had grayed his hair and put a ruddy, weather-beaten stamp on his fair face, but he was still a handsome man. A thick barrel chest, sturdy build, and boisterous, larger-than-life personality made him seem taller than his handful of inches over five feet. When he enfolded her in his arms, Joanna’s head nearly aligned with his.
“What is it, Father? We heard the cheers upstairs.”
“Woke you, did we?” He smiled, tweaking her nose. “What a bunch of lazy lasses I have. How am I going to find husbands for all of you? Half the morning is gone already.”
Joanna felt a stab at the mention of the word husband, but seeing the familiar teasing glint in his eye, she managed to hide it behind a smile. “You will have to get up earlier to work harder to give us all rich tochers to have someone take us off your hands.”
He gave a sharp guffaw and kissed her on the cheek before releasing her. “They should pay me for such treasures. I already have half the men in the village vying for my eldest daughter; when Eleanor is of age, I will probably have all of them.”
Her mother stood beside her father, shaking her head as she listened to their teasing. “Are you going to tell her, Thomas, or should I?”
Joanna turned to her father expectantly, though she could already guess what he was going to say.
“Ah, lass, it’s the very best of news. Your uncle arrived this morning to tell us that our rightful lord has taken the castle and rid us of the English pigs forever.”
Joanna stilled, the air sucked from her lungs. He’d promised! “Forever?” she breathed. “What do you mean forever?”
“Young Douglas intends to raze the castle to the ground. There will be nothing left for the English to garrison. Nor do I imagine there will be English soldiers eager to defend Castle Dangerous.” He grinned. “Our young lord is making a name for himself.”
Dread washed over her. It was how he was making his name that worried her. “And Sir John?” she asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice. The English commander had always been kind to her. She knew they were
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