A Perfect Knight by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Medieval
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

‘You look lovely.’ Marguerite said as she helped her to dress in the gown she had chosen for her wedding. It was a simple white silk tunic covered by a blue surcote trimmed with silver and a dark blue mantle lined with creamy fur, which Sir Ralph had sent as a gift that morning. It was just one of many gifts that he had given her over the festivities, but one of the most welcome in this cold place. ‘I am sure that you have made the right choice, Alayne. Sir Ralph is a good and gentle man.’

‘He is a man of ideals,’ Alayne agreed, a little smile on her lips. ‘I like and respect him, Marguerite. If I must marry, he is the man I would have as my husband.’

‘My father is disappointed for he wanted the match for me,’ Marguerite told her. ‘But perhaps now he will be more inclined to listen—if Baron de Froissart should ask for me when we next see him.’ There was a wistful note in her voice, dreaming in her eyes.

‘I hope that he will,’ Alayne said and kissed her warmly. ‘I would see you happy, Marguerite and I know that you love him. He must come to realise your value.’

‘Unfortunately I am not sure that he feels anything for me,’ Marguerite said, her mouth drooping a little. ‘But once he knows that you are married, he may take me as a substitute.’

‘Oh, Marguerite,’ Alayne said, ‘pray do not hurt yourself in this manner. I am sure the baron cares for you in his own way. You said that he paid you attention once and you refused him. It may be because of that that he turned to me. If he sees that you have changed towards him, he may realise that he has always loved you.’

‘Perhaps.’ Marguerite’s smile was wry. ‘I would accept him even if he did not truly love me, Alayne. For me there is no pride where love is concerned—’ She broke off as someone knocked at the door. Opening it, she found a young page standing there and asked what he wanted.

‘I have a letter for Lady Alayne,’ he said.

‘Give it to me.’

‘I was told to give it to no one but her.’

Alayne came to the door and took the letter from him. She thanked him and he blushed, then turned and ran down the stone steps that led away from the tower.

‘It must be from Sir Ralph,’ Marguerite said, and then, as she saw Alayne’s face turn pale, ‘What is it? He has not cancelled the wedding?’

‘It is not from him,’ Alayne said, her hand trembling. ‘It is not signed.’

She held it out and Marguerite took it from her, reading the brief and ill-penned message swiftly and with growing dismay.

‘This is wicked! To send such a message on your wedding day! How could anyone be so cruel?’

Alayne shook her head. She was beginning to recover from the shock of the hateful words that had accused Sir

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