Reckless (Age of Conquest #5) - Tamara Leigh Page 0,100
a man trying to decide whether to gift his children with a bedtime tale or withdraw to the solar De Warenne had yielded to him.
He would make them wait, Nicola guessed as she fingered the brooch fastened above her left breast. And nearly squeaked with relief and alarm when he strode forward.
As dramatically as he had exited the chair positioned before the hearth following supper, he returned to it so heavily its legs shuddered.
“Those of the family D’Argent, approach!” he commanded.
They were already standing, restless over his solitary descent to the cellar. But as they advanced with Nicola between them, William held up a hand. “Hold! That is not proper, is it?”
With all eyes on the D’Argents, Nicola tried to make sense of what was improper and could not. But from the tension on both sides of her, she believed Guarin and Dougray understood. Maël was not as rigid, but enough to evidence he was not oblivious.
Silently pleading with the Lord to keep William from announcing Vitalis was to die for acts against the realm, so public an announcement making it unlikely anything would move the king from that decision, Nicola held her breath.
“I forget, Sir Guarin and Sir Dougray,” the king said, “you are known by other names now you have renounced that of D’Argent to gain English lands.”
As the murmurings began, Nicola silently cursed William for bringing that to the attention of all—including Daryl who lurked in an alcove near the high table.
Though both brothers must bear this, greater the weight upon Dougray who had just come into his new name by accepting the lands his birth father wished him to inherit. All his life he had struggled to make the name of his brothers’ sire his own, and now he must relinquish it before all.
“It is true our surnames have changed,” Guarin said with the confidence of the D’Argent he was born and the Wulfrith he had become. “Now I am called Baron Wulfrith, having been honored to gain the hand of the daughter of the renowned trainer of England’s greatest defenders—Lady Hawisa, a warrior in her own right who recently gifted me a son and daughter.”
How I love you, Guarin, Nicola thought. Your face does not brighten, spine does not shrink. You let no man prick your pride. And you do it not only for yourself but Dougray lest his own pride is stuck through.
“Well spoken, Guarin Wulfrith,” William said, “and congratulations to you and your Saxon wife on the first of your new line.” He looked to Dougray. “Your acquisition of a different name is also of much note.”
Nicola’s third brother took a step forward. “As all are aware, though I am not of D’Argent blood, I was gifted that name. The blood that flows through me is that of Michel Roche who was Your Majesty’s friend in your youth. Since I have claimed him as he has claimed me, with the blessing of the father who raised me, henceforth I am Dougray Roche.”
Also confidently told, no evidence of shame.
Were we alone, I would hug you so hard and rain so many kisses on your cheeks you would lose patience, dear Dougray, Nicola thought.
“Also well-spoken, Dougray Roche.” William frowned. “Now that you are returned from Normandy, are not you and your wife to journey to Derbyshire to take your place as heir?”
“We are, Your Majesty.”
“And yet I do not see your wife—Em, is it not?—at your side. She is well?”
“Indeed. I left her in the care of Godfroi and Robine D’Argent to sooner aid my brother in freeing our sister from the Danes.”
“Ah, the Danes,” William murmured, then said, “Now that you have recovered Lady Nicola, you shall collect Lady Em, oui?” His emphasis on his wife’s title was a reminder the Saxon of common birth was made noble only because her king permitted Dougray to wed her.
But that was not what caused Nicola’s brothers and Maël to tense, she realized. It was that Dougray would not soon return Em to England. Theriot was still missing and, doubtless, William was aware of rumors he had deserted the king’s service. The D’Argents did not believe it and, hopefully, neither did William.
“Certes, I am eager to be reunited with my lovely wife,” Dougray said.
William considered him, then beckoned the four forward. When they halted, he said, “I have tidings you will find interesting and pleasing, Lady Nicola. As I have shared them with few beyond Earl De Warenne, I shall speak loud for all to hear.”