Providence? Was this his chance to beget an heir? Breeding seemed no problem whatsoever for the Leslies.
A moment of self-doubt assailed him. Did the fault lie within 78
VIRGINIA HENLEY
himself? The de Warennes were not prolific breeders; neither he nor Jory had produced a child.
Still, he argued with himself, his father had produced not one but two children. If he mated with a Leslie woman, mayhap the odds would be in his favor!
Lynx imagined how shocked the nobility would be if he wed a commoner. John de Warenne would disapprove of such a union, but Lynx cared naught for that. He was a man who made his own decisions regarding his personal life. The king would not be best pleased either, yet hadn't Princess Joanna just married her husband's squire?
His thoughts turned to the young Leslie woman. Her appearance, age, and temperament were of little importance to Lynx de Warenne. If she could give him a child, the rest was immaterial. All that mattered was that she be willing. The accepted custom of handfasting somehow made the idea more plausible. If the union produced no child after a year and a day, the union could be dissolved. On the other hand, if the young woman became pregnant, he would marry her immediately.
Lynx's thoughts became clouded as he recalled the feelings of loss he had suffered when his wife Sylvia had died. He hadn't spent enough time with her and had been ridden with guilt. He assured himself that would not happen if he wed a girl of lower station. There would be no romantic involvement whatsoever, for either of them. The relationship would be a simple one. She would be the mother of his child. In return she would receive the respect and honor due her as his wife.
Try as he might, Lynx could think of few disadvantages to the idea. Alicia would throw her usual tantrum, but when he pointed out to her that their relationship would remain unchanged, what possible objection could she have? In any case, Alicia had no say in the matter and would be miles away in Carlisle for the next few months.
Lynx's thoughts returned to Jock Leslie. His steward was the key to any such plan. He would speak to Jock in the morning. If
79
he and his steward could come to terms on an agreement regarding this matter, that would be all that was necessary.
Now that he had made up his mind to pursue the handfasting, Lynx felt more at peace with himself than he had in a long while. He fell asleep visualizing himself holding his baby son. When his dream began, he was surrounded by children who looked like him.
Eight
lhe following morning Lynx de Warenne decided to ride to Lochmaben to buy livestock. The Bruces derived a great deal of their wealth from the herds of cattle and flocks of sheep that covered most of Annandale. Lynx asked Ben and Sim Leslie to accompany him since they knew far more about sheep than he would ever know. Lynx also invited their father, Jock Leslie, to accompany him. The six-or seven-mile ride up the valley to Lochmaben Castle would give Lynx the opportunity to lay the proposal for the handfasting before his steward.
Lynx left his squires at Dumfries, relying on their innate common sense to handle whatever might arise in his absence. Though lower in rank than the young de Warenne knights, Thomas and Taffy had their lord's full authority to take charge should it become necessary.
At midmorning, Jane was startled when her brother James came bursting through the doorway of the stone house, his arms and face strea0ked black with soot and sweat. Jane stepped back when she saw that a tall, fair-haired stranger accompanied him.
James addressed Megotta. "There's bin an accident at the forge! One of the lord's knights has bin burned. Fetch some ointment!"
Megotta's face and attitude became stony. "My healing salve is for Scotsmen, not filthy Englishmen!"
James's mouth fell open. "Are ye daft, woman? We need yer help!"
Megotta folded her arms across her scrawny chest, pressed her lips together, and
A moment of self-doubt assailed him. Did the fault lie within 78
VIRGINIA HENLEY
himself? The de Warennes were not prolific breeders; neither he nor Jory had produced a child.
Still, he argued with himself, his father had produced not one but two children. If he mated with a Leslie woman, mayhap the odds would be in his favor!
Lynx imagined how shocked the nobility would be if he wed a commoner. John de Warenne would disapprove of such a union, but Lynx cared naught for that. He was a man who made his own decisions regarding his personal life. The king would not be best pleased either, yet hadn't Princess Joanna just married her husband's squire?
His thoughts turned to the young Leslie woman. Her appearance, age, and temperament were of little importance to Lynx de Warenne. If she could give him a child, the rest was immaterial. All that mattered was that she be willing. The accepted custom of handfasting somehow made the idea more plausible. If the union produced no child after a year and a day, the union could be dissolved. On the other hand, if the young woman became pregnant, he would marry her immediately.
Lynx's thoughts became clouded as he recalled the feelings of loss he had suffered when his wife Sylvia had died. He hadn't spent enough time with her and had been ridden with guilt. He assured himself that would not happen if he wed a girl of lower station. There would be no romantic involvement whatsoever, for either of them. The relationship would be a simple one. She would be the mother of his child. In return she would receive the respect and honor due her as his wife.
Try as he might, Lynx could think of few disadvantages to the idea. Alicia would throw her usual tantrum, but when he pointed out to her that their relationship would remain unchanged, what possible objection could she have? In any case, Alicia had no say in the matter and would be miles away in Carlisle for the next few months.
Lynx's thoughts returned to Jock Leslie. His steward was the key to any such plan. He would speak to Jock in the morning. If
79
he and his steward could come to terms on an agreement regarding this matter, that would be all that was necessary.
Now that he had made up his mind to pursue the handfasting, Lynx felt more at peace with himself than he had in a long while. He fell asleep visualizing himself holding his baby son. When his dream began, he was surrounded by children who looked like him.
Eight
lhe following morning Lynx de Warenne decided to ride to Lochmaben to buy livestock. The Bruces derived a great deal of their wealth from the herds of cattle and flocks of sheep that covered most of Annandale. Lynx asked Ben and Sim Leslie to accompany him since they knew far more about sheep than he would ever know. Lynx also invited their father, Jock Leslie, to accompany him. The six-or seven-mile ride up the valley to Lochmaben Castle would give Lynx the opportunity to lay the proposal for the handfasting before his steward.
Lynx left his squires at Dumfries, relying on their innate common sense to handle whatever might arise in his absence. Though lower in rank than the young de Warenne knights, Thomas and Taffy had their lord's full authority to take charge should it become necessary.
At midmorning, Jane was startled when her brother James came bursting through the doorway of the stone house, his arms and face strea0ked black with soot and sweat. Jane stepped back when she saw that a tall, fair-haired stranger accompanied him.
James addressed Megotta. "There's bin an accident at the forge! One of the lord's knights has bin burned. Fetch some ointment!"
Megotta's face and attitude became stony. "My healing salve is for Scotsmen, not filthy Englishmen!"
James's mouth fell open. "Are ye daft, woman? We need yer help!"
Megotta folded her arms across her scrawny chest, pressed her lips together, and
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