Rhuddlan by Nancy Gebel Read Free Book Online Page B

whirled around. “Is that a problem?” he
inquired.
    Haworth’s glare faltered. “No, my lord.”
    “Good. Because you know if you have problems
with any of my decisions, you’re free to leave my service. I don’t
own you, Roger. You’re a free man.” He spoke sharply because he was
angry at Haworth’s jealous interference. He almost wished he’d told
his captain to ride ahead to Chester.
    “You know I don’t want to leave you,” Haworth
said. His dark eyes burned so intensely that Hugh felt his face
grow hot. Suddenly he couldn’t stand Haworth’s anguish. He looked
away.
    “Sir Thomas and I have to set a date for the
wedding,” he said, relenting. “And his steward has persuaded him to
get me to pay off the abbey since he was content to leave the girl
there. I’ll wrangle a bit over that but I’ll probably pay it. I’m
not particularly comfortable staying here, either.”
    “It will be good to get home again,” Haworth
said with feeling.
    “Yes…Six months away from Chester is five and
half months too long.” He added casually, “I’m looking forward to
showing it to Robert.”
    Haworth was stunned. “Bolsover is coming with
us?”
    “Of course,” Hugh laughed. “It will suit him.
It’s simply amazing, isn’t it, how a place like this and a father
like his managed to produce so fine a man as Robert Bolsover.”
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    April, 1172
    St. David’s, Deheubarth, Wales
     
    William Longsword dropped to
his knees, crossed himself and muttered a short, earnest prayer of
gratitude that he had once more made it safely to solid ground. It
made no difference that the brief voyage had been smooth; he had,
as his father had one time laughingly accused, an unnatural fear of
the sea for a man of Norman blood. “It’s actually reassuring to
know that there is something you fear, Will,” Richard Delamere had told him
cheerfully. “A little weakness makes you seem human.”
    The king and his court had just returned from
a six-month stay in Ireland. Several years earlier, a small band of
Norman adventurers had invaded the island and in September 1171,
Henry had heard rumors that their lord, Richard de Clare, was
styling himself king of Leinster. Henry didn’t object to his
knights conquering new lands to the greater glory of his empire, as
long as it was understood that he was the king and they no more
than his vassals. He sailed for Ireland in October, confronted de
Clare and demanded his submission which he received without a
fight, with that of a few of the Irish kings voluntarily thrown in
for good measure.
    Longsword wasn’t impressed with Ireland, but
at least it had been terra firma. They had planned to leave for
Britain soon after Christmas, but the winter winds had been
contrary and had prevented departure. Longsword had been the only
one relieved with the frustrating delay, even though he knew it
just prolonged the inevitable. In February, a messenger had managed
to get across to the king with the news that papal legates had
arrived in Normandy to negotiate his absolution of the murder of
Becket. It was important that Henry return to bargain with the
legates and restore himself to the fold of the Church. Rome was a
powerful force, and if it were to decide against him and give its
full backing to his adversaries, such as King Louis VII, the empire
he had so painstakingly created could very well fall down around
him.
    Longsword rose. The capricious wind, so
gentle the last few days, was beginning to blow harder. The sky
overhead was fast filling with ominous purple and black clouds.
From behind him, a horse whinnied shrilly and he turned in its
direction, back to the quay. The sight of the choppy water made him
shudder. He shifted his eyes instead to the boatload of horses
being unloaded with efficient skill. One animal, however, was
impatient, perhaps aggrieved with the sudden rocking of the ship.
It snorted and thrashed within the confines of its leather bonds
and caused the