their deaths."
"You think it wise to rule with force?"
"It is the only thing they understand. They are defeated, and William rules. If they do not learn obedience, then it is their own destruction they will understand."
"Lady Oriel, I have found it is easier to rule living and productive people. Their deaths will only make fewer hands to serve this manor. It is easier to rule justly, and show what mercy you can."
"If you show justice, they will take advantage. Lady Lynette is an example. Already she has taken over your child's care without showing any consideration for your thoughts. She would raise herself above her station."
"Her station?" Royce questioned. But Oriel missed entirely the gleam of annoyance in his eyes.
"Aye, Lord. She is but a slave here. You must use an iron hand or she will believe she rules here, not you." Oriel smiled as if they were sharing a confidence. "If you give her freedom, she will take more and more. Then she will turn loyal men and women against you. One day she will bring revolt. She pretends submission, but she will begin with those you trust most. Only this morning I met Sir Robert coming from her chamber."
Royce laughed softly. "You think Robert would turn traitor?"
"Who is to say what men will do... given the right incentive?"
"Lady Lynette's reputation has preceded her. She is not free with her favors, nor has she been accused of that by any lips."
"There are none but her own surrounding her... until now. Other knights at your table look upon her with favor."
"They may look, Lady Oriel. What lusty man does not? But there are none who would betray me ... and Lady Lynette is a woman who is wise enough to know the consequences should she have such ideas."
"And... what would be the consequences to her should she do so?"
"That," he said thoughtfully, "would be in William's hands."
"Yes"—Oriel smiled—"I thought it might." She rose, and Royce rose at the same time. They stood inches from each other, and the delicate scent of her came to him. But he was as surprised at his lack of reaction as she was.
"It is very late, Lady Oriel, and I would not want to bring your brother's anger to the point of challenge. Sleep well."
Oriel was sorely disappointed, but she smiled and left him there. He wondered if he could have taken her... and if he would have found any satisfaction if he had. He doubted it.
Annoyed with himself, he tossed the last of his wine into the fireplace and heard it sizzle as he strode toward the stairs.
He dreamed that night, strange dreams he could not understand. In them, the vision of Sybella he had clung to faded into childlike eyes of lavender blue .. . and then silken strands of hair the color of ripe wheat.
He woke in the morning far from rested, and tried, to push the unwanted dreams from his mind. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he wasn't surprised to find Lynette already waiting for him.
"And I thought you were an early riser, my lord. I have been waiting this past hour for you," she teased. "I am about to perish from hunger. We were to break our fast together, but I was about to eat alone."
"I am sorry, my lady," he replied with a smile, "but I shall make up for my tardiness. I am interested in seeing if your abilities live up to the praise your father has given. I can judge firsthand the loyalty you have acquired."
"You will find the people willing and able, my lord. And you will find them loyal to my father and to me."
"And to William soon, through me. Lady Lynette, you would be wise to urge your people to give their loyalty to those who rule these lands now."
"Do you believe I would jeopardize one life to thwart William, when I know he has the power to destroy everyone living here? Do you think me a fool, my lord?"
"Nay," Royce laughed. "I would never be so unobservant as to think you a fool. In fact, I am in your debt."
"If you mean Cerise, you owe me no debt. She is a pleasure to care for."
They started into the main room as
"You think it wise to rule with force?"
"It is the only thing they understand. They are defeated, and William rules. If they do not learn obedience, then it is their own destruction they will understand."
"Lady Oriel, I have found it is easier to rule living and productive people. Their deaths will only make fewer hands to serve this manor. It is easier to rule justly, and show what mercy you can."
"If you show justice, they will take advantage. Lady Lynette is an example. Already she has taken over your child's care without showing any consideration for your thoughts. She would raise herself above her station."
"Her station?" Royce questioned. But Oriel missed entirely the gleam of annoyance in his eyes.
"Aye, Lord. She is but a slave here. You must use an iron hand or she will believe she rules here, not you." Oriel smiled as if they were sharing a confidence. "If you give her freedom, she will take more and more. Then she will turn loyal men and women against you. One day she will bring revolt. She pretends submission, but she will begin with those you trust most. Only this morning I met Sir Robert coming from her chamber."
Royce laughed softly. "You think Robert would turn traitor?"
"Who is to say what men will do... given the right incentive?"
"Lady Lynette's reputation has preceded her. She is not free with her favors, nor has she been accused of that by any lips."
"There are none but her own surrounding her... until now. Other knights at your table look upon her with favor."
"They may look, Lady Oriel. What lusty man does not? But there are none who would betray me ... and Lady Lynette is a woman who is wise enough to know the consequences should she have such ideas."
"And... what would be the consequences to her should she do so?"
"That," he said thoughtfully, "would be in William's hands."
"Yes"—Oriel smiled—"I thought it might." She rose, and Royce rose at the same time. They stood inches from each other, and the delicate scent of her came to him. But he was as surprised at his lack of reaction as she was.
"It is very late, Lady Oriel, and I would not want to bring your brother's anger to the point of challenge. Sleep well."
Oriel was sorely disappointed, but she smiled and left him there. He wondered if he could have taken her... and if he would have found any satisfaction if he had. He doubted it.
Annoyed with himself, he tossed the last of his wine into the fireplace and heard it sizzle as he strode toward the stairs.
He dreamed that night, strange dreams he could not understand. In them, the vision of Sybella he had clung to faded into childlike eyes of lavender blue .. . and then silken strands of hair the color of ripe wheat.
He woke in the morning far from rested, and tried, to push the unwanted dreams from his mind. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he wasn't surprised to find Lynette already waiting for him.
"And I thought you were an early riser, my lord. I have been waiting this past hour for you," she teased. "I am about to perish from hunger. We were to break our fast together, but I was about to eat alone."
"I am sorry, my lady," he replied with a smile, "but I shall make up for my tardiness. I am interested in seeing if your abilities live up to the praise your father has given. I can judge firsthand the loyalty you have acquired."
"You will find the people willing and able, my lord. And you will find them loyal to my father and to me."
"And to William soon, through me. Lady Lynette, you would be wise to urge your people to give their loyalty to those who rule these lands now."
"Do you believe I would jeopardize one life to thwart William, when I know he has the power to destroy everyone living here? Do you think me a fool, my lord?"
"Nay," Royce laughed. "I would never be so unobservant as to think you a fool. In fact, I am in your debt."
"If you mean Cerise, you owe me no debt. She is a pleasure to care for."
They started into the main room as
Similar Books
