A Knight's Honor Read online

  become earl and you my heir. Mildenhall will belong to

  our branch of the family into perpetuity."

  "The wedding will be accomplished before Falcon re­turns, just like we planned," Walter gloated. "He won't be able to do a thing about it."

  Mariah heard every word. If she hadn't chanced upon Osgood and Walter, Osgood's dastardly plan probably would have worked. She peeked around a tree at Robbie. He had cried himself to sleep. He must be terrified, and there was naught she could do about it.

  "The brat is sleeping," Walter announced.

  "We should get some rest ourselves." Osgood got up and stompeu out the fire. "I want you well rested for your wedding night."

  Walter guffawed. "I'll plow Mariah so thoroughly she won't be able to walk for a sennight." He rubbed his crotch. "I get hard just thinking about rutting between her white thighs."

  They soon parted, each curling up in a blanket near the mercenaries, who had already settled down for the night. Mariah feared she would go mad waiting for the men to fall asleep. Fortunately for her peace of mind, the men were tired and fell asleep quickly. Mariah waited until the sound of snoring filled the small copse before creeping from her hiding place.

  At first her legs refused to work. She had crouched in the same position so long her muscles had stiffened. After stretching her limbs a few minutes, she began crawling cautiously toward Robbie. She moved slowly, careful not to snap a twig, holding her skirts so they wouldn't rustle.

  Robbie didn't awaken as she scooped him into her

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  arms, turned and picked her way through the forest to­ward the road where she had left her horse. The poor tyke was so worn out he barely stirred, except for an occa­sional sob that shook his tiny chest.

  Mariah flinched every time she stepped on a twig, waiting for a hue and cry from Osgood's camp. All was quiet. Fortune surely smiled on her. Mariah quivered with anticipation as she spied the road through the trees. That was when Robbie awakened and stared at her through huge, frightened eyes.

  "Mama?"

  "Be quiet, darling," she whispered. "I'm taking you home. But you mustn't make a sound. If you do, the bad men will come after us."

  Robbie continued to stare at her but remained silent as Mariah reached the road, and ran straight into the arms of two men. She was on the verge of screaming when a sliver of moonlight revealed the faces of Chad and Ho­race, two of her own guardsmen.

  "My lady, thank God you are well. We came upon your horse and were about to enter the forest to find you."

  "What are you dong here?"

  "Sir Martin ordered us to follow you," Horace in­formed her.

  "Mama, I want to go home," Robbie whispered.

  "Hush, darling, you'll be home soon."

  "You have Robbie?" Chad exclaimed when he realized the bundle Mariah held was her son. "Where is Falcon?"

  Mariah snorted. "Following a false trail. I'll tell you all about it when we reach Mildenhall. Horace, take Robbie on your horse and ride as fast as you can to the keep. I'll be right behind you. Chad, find Falcon. Tell him Os-

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  good's mercenaries are setting a false trail for him, and that Robbie is safe."

  Chad rode off immediately while Horace mounted and held out his arms for Robbie. Mariah removed the rope binding her son but left the blanket in place to keep him warm. Then she handed him to Horace.

  Robbie protested until Mariah said, "You know Ho­race, darling. He's going to keep you safe."

  "Are you ready, my lady?"

  Mariah mounted with the help of a nearby stump. "Aye, Horace. Don't spare the horses. We must reach safety before Osgood's camp awakens and he finds Rob­bie missing."

  They rode the rest of the night and into the day, stop­ping briefly near a stream to drink and feed Robbie the last of the bread and cheese Mariah had brought with her. Around midday, she took Robbie up on her own horse for the remainder of the journey. He wound his arms around her neck and nestled his towhead into the space between her shoulder and neck, gaining comfort from his thumb stuck firmly in his mouth.

  They reached Mildenhall near dusk. Once they rode through the portcullis, Horace ordered that the gates be lowered and not raised for anyone but Falcon and his party. People rushed out from the keep to greet them when they reached the courtyard.

  Mariah spotted Becca hastening toward her. "Take Robbie, Becca. He's dirty, hungry and thirsty."

  Becca took Robbie from Mariah's arms and carried him into the keep. Mariah slid from the saddle and col­lapsed the moment her feet touched the ground. Then she knew no more.

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  * * *

  During the time Mariah had been rescuing Robbie, Fal­con had called a halt for the night. He knew he was gain­ing on Osgood's party, but his men and horses were tired and needed a short respite. Though Falcon knew he would catch up with Osgood on the morrow, he feared that Osgood might hurt Robbie in the meantime. That thought had kept him going, pushing horses and men mercilessly to catch up. He had promised Mariah he would bring Robbie home safely, and he wouldn't countenance failure.

  Falcon scanned their surroundings, hoping to find a campsite. He had no sooner dismounted than he heard the sound of hoofbeats pounding along the road they had just traveled. "How many men does it sound like to you?" he asked John, who had come up to join him.

  "One horse, one man," John replied.

  "I agree. It could be someone from Mildenhall. We'll wait for him here."

  They didn't have long to wait. The horseman appeared a few minutes later, a mere shadow beneath the waning moon. He reached Falcon and skidded to a halt. Falcon grasped the reins, noting that the horse was foaming at the mouth and panting. The rider wasn't in much better shape.

  "It's Chad, one of Mildenhall's guardsmen," John cried. "What's amiss, man?"

  Falcon's heart was thumping so fast he feared it would leap from his chest. "Has something happened at Milden­hall? Is Lady Mariah all right?"

  Chad fought to catch his breath.

  Fearing the worst, Falcon grasped Chad's doublet in his fist. 'Tell me."

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  "My lady found Robbie," Chad said breathlessly. "She and Horace are returning to Mildenhali as we speak. My lady sent me to tell you that Osgood set a false trail for you."

  "How does she know that? Where and how did she find Robbie?"

  "I do not know the details," Chad replied. "Edwina en­countered Lady Mariah leaving the hall shortly after you rode through the portcullis. She intended to follow you. Edwina informed Sir Martin, and he sent Horace and me to follow her and make sure that she came to no harm. We found her some distance behind you; she had Robbie with her. Somehow she had stolen him away from Osgood and Walter; that's all I know."

  "Mariah followed us?" Falcon all but shouted. "Is the woman crazy?"

  "Like a fox," John observed. "She found her child on her own and sent someone to inform us that we are fol­lowing a false trail. What do we do now?"

  "Since there's naught to gain by continuing forward, we shall establish a campsite, rest here tonight and return to Mildenhali on the morrow. After this latest fiasco, Os­good deserves neither the earldom nor Mildenhali. Relay my orders to the men, and station guards near the road. Osgood and Walter are behind us. No telling what they'll do now."

  John nodded and departed. "Follow me, Chad," Falcon said. I want to know everything you can tell me about Lady Mariah and Robbie."

  Chad followed Falcon to a fallen stump. They both sat heavily, saddle-weary and exhausted. Chad spoke first. "Lady Mariah had no idea we were following her. As we

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  rounded a bend, we saw her horse cropping grass at the side of the road. She had tethered him to a branch but was nowhere in sight."

  "Did you follow her?" Falcon asked.

  "Not right away. She might have gone into the forest to relieve herself, and we didn't want to disturb her. She had been riding hard for some time."

  "Did you see aught of
Osgood or Walter?"

  "Nay, we neither saw nor heard anything; we never suspected they were near. We believed they were ahead of you. But my lady had been in the forest so long, we began to fear that something had happened to her."

  "So you followed her," Falcon guessed.

  "Nay, we intended to, but she returned for her horse be­fore we could carry through. To our utter astonishment, she had Robbie with her. My lady and Horace returned immediately to Mildenhall while I pressed on to infoim you of the latest developments."

  "That's it? That's all you know?"

  "Lady Mariah feared Osgood would discover Robbie missing and give chase; there was no time for a lengthy explanation."

  "Damnation! How could one woman rescue a child when ten men could not?" He clapped Chad on the back. "Get some rest. We return to Mildenhall at first light."

  ***************************************************************************************

  Osgood's camp was in disarray the following morning. He went into a rampage when he learned that Robbie had disappeared. He stomped around in a rage, sending Wal­ter and his men scurrying in all directions to search for the missing boy. After long hours of fruitless searching, Osgood was of the opinion that the child had been

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  dragged off and eaten by a wild animal, though there was no proof to support his theory.

  "What are we going to do now?" Walter complained. "We've lost our leverage and with it, the earldom. We should have left the brat sleeping in his bed, for we gained naught by taking him with us. Think you Falcon will look kindly upon your suit after what we have done?"

  Osgood paced away and then spun around. "The boy could not have wandered off. He was wrapped up and tied with a rope. I tied him myself."

  "We were all sleeping," Walter maintained. "It's as you said, a wild animal dragged him off to its lair."

  Osgood shuddered. " 'Tis not the end I had planned for the boy, but it will do."

  "Are we to return to Southwold, then?"

  "Nay! I have no wish to endure the company of my wife and daughter. We'll take ourselves to London and petition the king in person for Edmond's title and lands. We shall inform Henry that Mariah's son is dead. Every­thing is working out better than our original plan."

  "You're forgetting one thing," Walter reminded him. "We are responsible for the brat's death."

  Walter's words seemed to deflate Osgood. "Perhaps we'll reach the king before word of Robbie's demise. They'll be mourning him at Mildenhall and won't think to notify the king. The lapse will give me time to plead my case before the king in person. Henry needs to know that Edmond could not have sired a child in his condition."

  ***************************************************************************************

  Falcon and his men returned to Mildenhall the following day, tired, dirty and hungry. The portcullis clanged down into place as soon as the last man had passed through. Falcon strode into the hall and called for ale. His throat felt like a desert.

  Smiling broadly, Sir Martin joined him. "Welcome back, Falcon."

  "Where is Mariah? Is Robbie well?"

  Martin lost his grin. "Robbie is well and none the worse for his ordeal. Mariah, on the other hand ..."

  Falcon's heart skipped a beat. "Is something wrong with Mariah? Tell me, man."

  "Rest easy, Falcon. Mariah is merely saddle-sore and exhausted. Edwina ordered her to bed. Robbie's kidnap­ping and rescue wearied her nearly beyond endurance."

  Falcon decided to bathe before looking in on Mariah. He stank of horse and sweat; his ripe odor offended even himself. Deciding to forgo food until later, he ordered a tub before he climbed the stairs to his chamber. An hour later, clean and feeling more like himself, Falcon made his way to Mariah's room. Edwina opened the door to his knock.

  "Sir Falcon," Edwina greeted. "Mariah was beginning to worry about you."

  "How is your mistress?" Falcon asked, glancing over Edwina's shoulder at the bed. "Is she awake?"

  "She'll be relieved once she learns you've returned safely. She's awake, so you may as well go in. I imagine you'll have questions for her."

  Falcon's face hardened as Edwina slipped into the cor­ridor and shut the door behind her. He couldn't help feel­ing anger. Mariah had left the keep after he had ordered her not to. What if things hadn't worked out as they had? What if Mariah had been hurt?

  "If you're going to stay, come here where I can see you," Mariah said.

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  "Are you sure you're up to company?"

  "I'm fine. "lis easier to obey Edwina than argue with her, though I must admit to being a wee bit weary."

  Falcon strode to the bed, fully intending to issue a stinging rebuke, until he saw Mariah; her face was pale, her eyes rimmed with dark shadows. He stopped in his tracks.

  "You are ill!"

  Mariah struggled to sit up. "I assure you my malaise is temporary. I was in the saddle too long without sleep or respite. But I'd do it again for Robbie."

  Falcon perched on the edge of the bed. "You should not have left the keep; you placed yourself in grave dan­ger." Without conscious thought, he reached out and stroked her cheek. "Are you well enough to tell me what happened?"

  She nodded, turning her head into his caress. She wanted him to keep touching her, but he dropped his hand. After gathering her thoughts, she began talking. She told him everything that had happened, from the moment she'd left Mildenhall up to the time she snatched a sleeping Robbie from under Osgood's nose.

  Halfway through the telling, Falcon stood and began pacing. When she finished, his expression held a note of disbelief. "How could you hear Robbie crying when I did not?"

  "There were ten men and horses in your party. The pounding of hooves would have masked his cries. I was but one rider—a mother who recognized her child's crying."

  "You should have ridden for help."

  "Nay, I should not have. I did what was necessary. I heard Osgood and Walter talking while I waited for them

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  to go to sleep. They intended to double back to Mildenhall while you were chasing the men he sent ahead to lay a false trail. Once he returned, Osgood would have used Robbie to force me to wed Walter. It would have worked, for I would have done anything to save my son. When you returned, the deed would have been done, and Mildenhall would belong to Osgood and Walter no matter what your decision regarding the earldom."

  "Damnation! The man is a true villain, using a child to gain his own ends. How is Robbie?"

  "I'm told he's well, but I haven't seen him since we re­turned. I'm worried about him. Would you look in on him when you leave here to make sure I'm not being lied to about his health?"

  "Of course."

  Mariah gazed up at him. He was staring at her lips, and for a moment she was reminded of Sir Knight, the man who at one time could not get enough of her kisses. She closed her eyes, picturing them together, imagining his hands on her, loving her. Color tinged her cheeks, and she shook her head to clear it of arousing thoughts. Falcon was not Sir Knight. Falcon was a man who cared naught for her.

  "What are you thinking?" Falcon asked. "Your eyes are closed. Am I tiring you?" He started to rise. "Perhaps I should leave you to your rest."

  Mariah stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Don't go .. . please."

  Falcon settled back on the edge of the bed. "Do you have any idea what Osgood might make of Robbie's dis­appearance?"

  "Nay, I wondered about that myself. Do you think he'll return to Mildenhall?"

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  "I shouldn't think so, but I doubt we've seen or heard the last of him." Falcon's thoughts turned inward. "May­hap Osgood thinks that Robbie was dragged off by wild animals."

  Mariah sat up, a look of horror on her face. "What if Osgood believes Robbie is dead? What would his next move be?"

  "If it were me, I would take myself to London to pres­ent my petition to the king. Robbie's death could change everything. Osgood would become Edmond's l
egal heir."

  "But Robbie isn't dead!"

  "I know. I'll dispatch a messenger to apprise the king of Robbie's continued well-being."

  Mariah flopped back against the pillows, her color re­turning. "May I assume you are no longer considering handing the earldom to Osgood?"

  Falcon remained silent a long time ... too long. "Fal­con, please tell you aren't going to take Robbie's inheri­tance from him."

  "After Osgood's trickery, I cannot in good conscience rule in his favor." He stared at Mariah, as if searching for answers. "But before I take my decision to the king, I want you to tell me the name of Robbie's father."

  Mariah went still, returning Falcon's look without flinching. "I already told you. Edmond is Robbie's father."

  Grasping her shoulders, Falcon brought her to him nose to nose. "You lie! We both know that's impossible. Are you incapable of telling the truth?"

  "Falcon, stop it! You're hurting me."

  Immediately Falcon's fingers gentled as he pulled her into his embrace and held her close. "Forgive me,

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  Mariah. Imagining you with another man drives me mad. I find it difficult to forgive you when your lies have cost me so much."

  "You're thinking of Rosamond," Mariah whispered. "I'm sorry. I confess I was unfaithful to Edmond, but only with you."

  Falcon wanted to believe Mariah but couldn't. Though Osgood was no longer in the running for the earldom, Falcon was determined to learn the truth about Robbie before he left Mildenhall. His mouth settled into a grim line, but anger was difficult to maintain with Mariah in his arms. When he'd first learned Mariah had rescued Robbie, he had been worried and angry at the same time.

  Mariah stared into the intensity of Falcon's mesmeriz­ing golden eyes and lost the ability to think. His expres­sion ... He looked at her with desire, but how could that be? Moments ago he was angry and accusatory, but now .. .