head. Alden? Mayhap you could fetch Lord Amaurys bedclothes. We will
change him into them after I finish here.
His lordship has no bedclothes, my lady.
Emma paused, her head raising at that. No bedclothes?
Nay. He only has the two tunics as well. He says that a warrior has no need for more than
the two. One to wear while the other is laundered. His young brow furrowed. Is that true,
my lady?
Well... Emma had no idea how to answer the boy. She had never known anyone in her class to
have only two tunics before, but then she had never known a warrior before. I am not sure,
Alden, but if my husband says tis so, then it must be.
Aye. Alden bit his lip unhappily. But my father is a warrior and he has many tunics. Fine
ones. Some with jewels bedecking them and his crest.
Emmas eyebrows rose at that. And who is your father, Alden?
Lord Edmund Northwood, he is the Earl of
Aye. I know, Emma interrupted. Pursing her lips, she shook her head. If your father is an
earl, why do you train with Amaury?
He is the best. He said it with such pride, one would think he were responsible for Amaurys
reputation and abilities. My father said so. Lord Amaury turns out the best-trained
knights. Father said, should I be trained by him, I would live to a ripe old age and
garner many titles and fine tales along the way. Father said he would trust me to no one
else.
I see. Emma glanced at her husband with new respect. Not only was he a savior of kings, he
was considered first among trainers of knights. Even by earls.
Truly my father is a good warrior as well, Alden told her now.
I am sure he is, Emma agreed soothingly.
Yet he has many tunics as well, Alden pointed out fretfully, and Emma smiled gently at his
obvious distress.
Your father is an earl as well as a warrior. He must dress accordingly.
Alden nodded with relief. Aye. Tis so. Then he perked up. Now that Lord Amaury is a duke,
he shall have to gain more vestments too.
Aye, I suppose he will, Emma agreed with a frown. Dress is very important. Her eyebrows
rose at his serious tone. Is that so? Aye. I heard the king say so.
Ah. Emma sighed over that. Twas true. Even Rolfe told her their king was most concerned
with fashion. No doubt she had been a great disappointment to the king with her plain
clothes. Probably to her previous husband as well. Easing back in her seat, she peered at
her present husband closely for the first time since they had been wed the day before.
She had managed a peek or two, first at the church, then at the reception, and once or
twice after, but this was her first real chance to look her fill and allow her eyes to run
over his strong features slowly.
He was a handsome man, she supposed. Not handsome as Fulk had been. Fulk had been almost
pretty in his attractiveness, like a deer perched on slender legs. This man was a more
rugged sort. Stronger and dark, he made her think of wolves and bears.
Leaning forward, she brushed a strand of hair off his face. Even in sleep he held on to
his strength, a fearsome scowl on his face. Her father had had a strong face too, as did
Rolfe, but on the few occasions when she had caught them in slumber, it was to find their
features softened and almost boyish. There was nothing boyish about her husband. That told
her more than Blakes words could have that his childhood had been full of hurt and sorrow.
Even in repose he was afraid to let down his guard.
She would change that, Emma determined without even really knowing why she wished to. She
would give him a good home that he could be proud of, and a wife he could be proud of as
well. If he lived long enough to allow it, she thought suddenly with a frown.
The Deed
Chapter Five
Is he awake?
Emma took in her cousins hopeful expression as she joined the table at dinnertime, then
sighed as she shook her head. She had been sitting with Amaury throughout the day,
watching him until her
change him into them after I finish here.
His lordship has no bedclothes, my lady.
Emma paused, her head raising at that. No bedclothes?
Nay. He only has the two tunics as well. He says that a warrior has no need for more than
the two. One to wear while the other is laundered. His young brow furrowed. Is that true,
my lady?
Well... Emma had no idea how to answer the boy. She had never known anyone in her class to
have only two tunics before, but then she had never known a warrior before. I am not sure,
Alden, but if my husband says tis so, then it must be.
Aye. Alden bit his lip unhappily. But my father is a warrior and he has many tunics. Fine
ones. Some with jewels bedecking them and his crest.
Emmas eyebrows rose at that. And who is your father, Alden?
Lord Edmund Northwood, he is the Earl of
Aye. I know, Emma interrupted. Pursing her lips, she shook her head. If your father is an
earl, why do you train with Amaury?
He is the best. He said it with such pride, one would think he were responsible for Amaurys
reputation and abilities. My father said so. Lord Amaury turns out the best-trained
knights. Father said, should I be trained by him, I would live to a ripe old age and
garner many titles and fine tales along the way. Father said he would trust me to no one
else.
I see. Emma glanced at her husband with new respect. Not only was he a savior of kings, he
was considered first among trainers of knights. Even by earls.
Truly my father is a good warrior as well, Alden told her now.
I am sure he is, Emma agreed soothingly.
Yet he has many tunics as well, Alden pointed out fretfully, and Emma smiled gently at his
obvious distress.
Your father is an earl as well as a warrior. He must dress accordingly.
Alden nodded with relief. Aye. Tis so. Then he perked up. Now that Lord Amaury is a duke,
he shall have to gain more vestments too.
Aye, I suppose he will, Emma agreed with a frown. Dress is very important. Her eyebrows
rose at his serious tone. Is that so? Aye. I heard the king say so.
Ah. Emma sighed over that. Twas true. Even Rolfe told her their king was most concerned
with fashion. No doubt she had been a great disappointment to the king with her plain
clothes. Probably to her previous husband as well. Easing back in her seat, she peered at
her present husband closely for the first time since they had been wed the day before.
She had managed a peek or two, first at the church, then at the reception, and once or
twice after, but this was her first real chance to look her fill and allow her eyes to run
over his strong features slowly.
He was a handsome man, she supposed. Not handsome as Fulk had been. Fulk had been almost
pretty in his attractiveness, like a deer perched on slender legs. This man was a more
rugged sort. Stronger and dark, he made her think of wolves and bears.
Leaning forward, she brushed a strand of hair off his face. Even in sleep he held on to
his strength, a fearsome scowl on his face. Her father had had a strong face too, as did
Rolfe, but on the few occasions when she had caught them in slumber, it was to find their
features softened and almost boyish. There was nothing boyish about her husband. That told
her more than Blakes words could have that his childhood had been full of hurt and sorrow.
Even in repose he was afraid to let down his guard.
She would change that, Emma determined without even really knowing why she wished to. She
would give him a good home that he could be proud of, and a wife he could be proud of as
well. If he lived long enough to allow it, she thought suddenly with a frown.
The Deed
Chapter Five
Is he awake?
Emma took in her cousins hopeful expression as she joined the table at dinnertime, then
sighed as she shook her head. She had been sitting with Amaury throughout the day,
watching him until her
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