Read Blood Sword Legacy 04 - A Knight to Remember for Free Online Page B

past few days, the one who saved his life, nursed him back to health and who had given herself freely to him, was lost to him forever, tore his guts up. He had never been a man to pine for a woman. Indeed, he had made a vow long ago never to surrender his heart. His father loved a ghost, and his mother, though she had given all to Hyclon, was miserable because he loved another. Rhodri had vowed never to tread into those dangerous waters, yet here he stood in a ramshackle manor, promised to a lady he did not want. How could he desire her when he longed for her sister? She was all that he wanted in a woman. Now, he understood perfectly how his sire felt. If he wed the fair Rowena, she would suffer the same fate as his mother. A lonely miserable existence, knowing her husband loved another.
    He looked candidly at Lady Rowena. She was beauty, to be sure. Serene and composed despite what had transpired. She met his gaze, willing by her stance to accept him still. He realized there were some things love could not conquer. A betrothal contract. Anger shredded his innards. He was a man of honor. He would wed Lady Rowena, for he was bound to her by a contract. Yet ‘twas her sister he wanted, and would take in her stead if she but allowed it.
    Rhodri turned his attention to the blubbering Lord Cedric of Wendover. He noticed for the first time that the man’s cloths were skillfully patched. He looked beyond him to the manor, and saw that beneath the layers of fresh rushes and cleaned walls it was in a state of disrepair. When they had ridden up from the beach they had seen the fields lay fallow, no churls to tend them. The stable had been bare of livestock. Morgan voiced his suspicions on the ride to the manor. Rhodri had ignored them, thinking he would have the woman he wanted, and would take her if she came to him with nary a piece of silver.
    “Lord Cedric, may I speak with you in private?”
    Cedric looked to his daughter, then to Rhodri. “Of course.”
    As the hall cleared and only the two men stood face-to-face, Cedric said, “I insist you wed Rowena immediately to still the wagging tongues. She is as pure as a new morn. Not a careless wench like her sister.”
    It took a great effort for Rhodri not to strike the insufferable lord. “Do not speak of Lady Mercia so. She saved my life. I will not have her slandered in her own house by her sire.”
    Cedric’s eyes popped from his head. “Eh? What say you? How?”
    Rhodri swept past him, waving his question off. “Show me the chest of silver promised me, and the charters for Lady Rowena’s dower lands.”
    Cedric sputtered. “Why ‘tis—‘tis an insult to ask for such things before the vows are sealed!”
    Rhodri turned on the stammering lord. “’Tis customary in Dinefwr. Show me.”
    “I—I cannot. ‘Tis hidden at Drury Abbey. ‘Twill take a day to retrieve it.”
    “I am a patient man, milord. I will not honor the betrothal until I have seen with my own eyes all that was promised to Dinefwr.”
    Cedric panicked. “You have deflowered Mercia! She was to say her final vows in three month’s time! The nuns will not take her now! Rowena’s silver will be demanded for her virgin’s blood! I cannot wed the wench as she is now. You owe me for that!”
    Rhodri grabbed the greedy lord by his tunic. “I owe you nothing, milord. Not when you are in breach of our contact.”
    He pushed Cedric from him. “Why did you not find a suitable groom for Lady Mercia?”
    Cedric pursed his lips. Rhodri nodded. “Aye it is apparent the house of Wendover has fallen on hard times. You could not afford another dowry, so you packed her off to the nuns. Did you think to trick me into marriage, sir? “
    “Nay! Mercia heard the call of God! She begged to go! Rowena is the prized daughter. In her veins flows the bluest blood in all of Saxony! Her beauty alone is worthy of a prince such as yourself!”
    Rhodri shook his head and pushed past Cedric. “On the morrow we ride to Drury