bulky form to see the object of such passionate joy.
“ Edward was victorious? ” she asked, still uncertain about what was happening all around her.
“ Anne, ” Ferris said, frowning. “ For his life, do not look at him! For his life! For yours! ”
Perplexed, she studied her father ’ s face, his anguished eyes.
“ DeFraynes! ” Marcella shouted with joy. “ What better gift could you bring me? ”
“ Oh Father, no, ” Anne said, beginning to tremble.
“ Have a care, child. His life, yours, and mine, all rest on caution now. If you give any secret away, he will only die faster and we will suffer greatly. ”
Terrified of her own feelings, Anne looked at the ground. She could feel the heat of blood rush to her head, covering her face to the roots of her hair – her heart began to pound. She clutched her shaking fingers together so that if anyone noticed her, they would think she hung her head in disappointment that her betrothed had not returned with the others. Fortunately, Marcella and the others were busy inspecting the catch. “ What can be done? ” Anne asked quietly.
“ For now, very little. I have to think. I would not have allowed this much to happen, but I have little control over my sons now. And they knew how this would please their mother. ”
“ And Brennan? ” she asked weakly.
Ferris shook his head. “ Lord Forbes is not opposed to the taking of hostages among the defeated, but this odd, personal zeal offends him. Edward called to spare the common soldiers and execute the lords. Few enough of Henry ’ s nobles survived the battle. These men should have been restrained with Edward ’ s forces, not brought here as prizes of war. ”
“ Perhaps she will ransom them, ” Anne said hopefully.
“ That possibility, though remote, is why I have returned with my sons. We should not have left Lord Forbes. Certainly not for this farce. ”
Anne warily looked up at her father. She felt the weakest hold on her control, but she longed to see Ferris ’ s expression. “ I would have thought you would bare my back for this sin. ”
A rueful smile spread across his face. “ For the sin of being a woman? Of being good in your heart? ” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “ There is very little I can still do, Anne. Do not let anyone know what you feel. Not now. They do not under stand. ”
“ But you do, Father. How can it be so? ”
“ Do not question small mercies, I have never been in favor of senseless plunder. Fair battle will see me fight, otherwise will be dealt with otherwise. How did I fail to teach this to my sons? ”
“ Why do you have no better control over them? Why do they do this for madam? ” she asked.
“ Perhaps my sons think they do this thing for all of us, Anne, ” he said quietly. “ When y our mother has her mind set .. . ” He paused for a moment. “ Anne, hear me, though this is difficult for you now. Lord Forbes is your single hope. He is the only one who can keep you safe. If, through some miracle, young Dylan can escape with his life, it is still only Lord Forbes who can save you. Do you understand? ”
She nodded weakly. For her sake, for Dylan ’ s, the only pos sible answer was marriage to the earl.
“ Will Edward win his crown? ” she asked.
“ Almost certainly. King Henry is held hostage and Edward ’ s armies are invincible. ”
***
Raedelle squires had begun to pull destriers from the returning knights, and a large group of laughing, ecstatic people who had been gathered around the captive hostages started to disperse. Bart passed by with two badly injured men wearing the deFrayne blue livery embroidered with red roses for the Lancaster house. These two unfortunates were lyin g on their bellies, across sad dleless horses, their dangling hands tied at the wrists, stained with blood. He paused before his father and sister, his chin proudly jutted out, his chest full and high. Ferris squeezed Anne ’ s arm as if to give
“ Edward was victorious? ” she asked, still uncertain about what was happening all around her.
“ Anne, ” Ferris said, frowning. “ For his life, do not look at him! For his life! For yours! ”
Perplexed, she studied her father ’ s face, his anguished eyes.
“ DeFraynes! ” Marcella shouted with joy. “ What better gift could you bring me? ”
“ Oh Father, no, ” Anne said, beginning to tremble.
“ Have a care, child. His life, yours, and mine, all rest on caution now. If you give any secret away, he will only die faster and we will suffer greatly. ”
Terrified of her own feelings, Anne looked at the ground. She could feel the heat of blood rush to her head, covering her face to the roots of her hair – her heart began to pound. She clutched her shaking fingers together so that if anyone noticed her, they would think she hung her head in disappointment that her betrothed had not returned with the others. Fortunately, Marcella and the others were busy inspecting the catch. “ What can be done? ” Anne asked quietly.
“ For now, very little. I have to think. I would not have allowed this much to happen, but I have little control over my sons now. And they knew how this would please their mother. ”
“ And Brennan? ” she asked weakly.
Ferris shook his head. “ Lord Forbes is not opposed to the taking of hostages among the defeated, but this odd, personal zeal offends him. Edward called to spare the common soldiers and execute the lords. Few enough of Henry ’ s nobles survived the battle. These men should have been restrained with Edward ’ s forces, not brought here as prizes of war. ”
“ Perhaps she will ransom them, ” Anne said hopefully.
“ That possibility, though remote, is why I have returned with my sons. We should not have left Lord Forbes. Certainly not for this farce. ”
Anne warily looked up at her father. She felt the weakest hold on her control, but she longed to see Ferris ’ s expression. “ I would have thought you would bare my back for this sin. ”
A rueful smile spread across his face. “ For the sin of being a woman? Of being good in your heart? ” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “ There is very little I can still do, Anne. Do not let anyone know what you feel. Not now. They do not under stand. ”
“ But you do, Father. How can it be so? ”
“ Do not question small mercies, I have never been in favor of senseless plunder. Fair battle will see me fight, otherwise will be dealt with otherwise. How did I fail to teach this to my sons? ”
“ Why do you have no better control over them? Why do they do this for madam? ” she asked.
“ Perhaps my sons think they do this thing for all of us, Anne, ” he said quietly. “ When y our mother has her mind set .. . ” He paused for a moment. “ Anne, hear me, though this is difficult for you now. Lord Forbes is your single hope. He is the only one who can keep you safe. If, through some miracle, young Dylan can escape with his life, it is still only Lord Forbes who can save you. Do you understand? ”
She nodded weakly. For her sake, for Dylan ’ s, the only pos sible answer was marriage to the earl.
“ Will Edward win his crown? ” she asked.
“ Almost certainly. King Henry is held hostage and Edward ’ s armies are invincible. ”
***
Raedelle squires had begun to pull destriers from the returning knights, and a large group of laughing, ecstatic people who had been gathered around the captive hostages started to disperse. Bart passed by with two badly injured men wearing the deFrayne blue livery embroidered with red roses for the Lancaster house. These two unfortunates were lyin g on their bellies, across sad dleless horses, their dangling hands tied at the wrists, stained with blood. He paused before his father and sister, his chin proudly jutted out, his chest full and high. Ferris squeezed Anne ’ s arm as if to give
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