|
|
|
|
|
|
sponded calmly. "I am glad you remember him kindly, Your Grace. I do not remember my parents at all. My grandfather and grandmother raised me." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Yes, Lord Rannulf I knew well. A fine man also. There is good blood in you, child." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And what, the old Queen wondered, had that hard-bitten old warrior been thinking of to leave such a child unmarried and unprotected when he must have known his time was hard upon him. And then she turned her face forward so that Alinor would not see the speculation growing in her wise eyes. Not so unprotected. Lord Rannulf had been dead over a year, and his "unmarried and helpless" granddaughter was still independent. And she had called Sir Andre and Sir John "my vassals" with all the assurance of a grande dame. Doubtless they were good men, and even more surely they were strongly attached to their lady. Alinor was not such a ripe plum for the picking as might appear at first sight. The child was speaking of her grandfather with enthusiasm, and the Queen drew her out with encouraging murmurs while she turned her attention to the men's voices. Unfortunately the deep tones did not carry forward well. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In fact the Queen would have received confirmation of her own deductions had she been able to hear the conversation. Sir Simon had opened the talk with a comment about the large troop the two knights led. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sir Andre laughed. "They are not all, Sir Simon. Others are posted to raise the alarm back at the keep if we should be molested. Such a prize as my lady is strong bait. I was not all ill pleased when the Queen's writ came. Now that she is known to be in the King's ward, perhaps my burdens will be somewhat lighter." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Not all ill pleased?" Sir Simon remarked mildly. "Then you were tempted to deny the royal writ?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No. I am not so much a fool as that," Sir Andre replied promptly. He struggled briefly with a smile at the memory of Alinor's first fury, and Simon noticed |
|
|
|
|
|