Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online

Montfort’s demesne keep was as large, nor Ranulf’s father’s, for that matter. The outer bailey was several acres at least protected by the thick curtain wall with its many towers projecting at regular intervals. Numerous buildings stood back against the walls inside the bailey: a large stable, a thatched barn with animal pens on either side, a smithy, a brewhouse and several storehouses. There was a fish pond in the left field as well as a large dovecote, but the entire right field was allowable for an exercise yard.
    The mews were in the inner bailey, as were a granary and a smaller stable and more storehouses. Here too were the kitchen and a garden complete with beehives, though a newer kitchen had been added inside the keep, following the example of keeps built in recent years, in an attempt to have food passably warm by the time it reached the table.
    The whitewashed keep itself, with immensely thick walls, rose at least a hundred feet, the corner towers rising another twelve. Divided by a cross-wall to support its height, the keep boasted three floors above a basement, with garrison quarters and wellhead sharing space now with the new kitchen on the second floor, the Great Hall on the third. Entrance to the keep was through the forebuilding, a substantial extension on the left side of the castle. It rose three stories itself, the external stairs leading up to the second floor protected at the top by a collapsible bridge, the chapel on the top floor of it, off the Great Hall.
    Ranulf had seen much of this himself. The squire Aubert had supplied more detail during his rattling discourse as he led them up to the Great Hall, and the servant the lady had called Theo was also a font of information, answering whatever questions Ranulf put to him. ’Twas the only reason Ranulf had let the boy attend him at his bath when he offered his service, sending Lanzo off straightaway to clean his bloodied armor and sword.
    Usually a female servant was sent to assist a guest at his bath, though if the guest was important enough, the lady herself would do it—the lord’s wife, that is, rarely his daughter. Ranulf had never been considered important enough to have the lady of the house attend him, which he was grateful for, but he did usually getthe cream of the wenches fighting for the honor, and he could remember many a pleasant hour spent not just in bathing.
    At the back of his mind, he had expected to see that luscious blond wench from the hall show up in the tower chamber he had been led to, but instead the boy had arrived with the menservants carrying in the large tub and heated water, a tray of wine, cheese and fine manchet bread to tide him till the afternoon meal was served, and even a change of clothes, which he was not usually offered, mostly because of his size, then again, because he was not an important guest. He allowed the Lady of Clydon did consider him important, not only because he had said he came from her lord (he was not unaware she assumed he had meant a different lord than Rothwell) but because he had literally saved her and Clydon from her enemies, whoever they might have been.
    That he was not getting a wench to assist him did not matter. He was not in need of a woman after his indulgence last night. He was instead intrigued by Theo’s presence. Not full grown yet, the boy was lanky with a slow grace of his movements that was almost womanish, surely to be outgrown eventually. Dark blond hair curled about his ears and nape, and his brown eyes were too boldly direct for a servant’s. But he was a handsome boy, or would be once his face matured past its prettiness.
    Ranulf had noted the way Lady Reina had put her hand on the boy’s shoulder as she gave him her orders in the hall. The gesture was noted because it was not usual to see a lady touch a servant, for any reason, especially a male servant. He had also heard her say to him, “Then you may see to me.” What that couldmean he could not imagine, but