Author: John Reed Scott
Category: Adventure
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V
THE CAPTURED FAVOR
St. George's day was dropping into night. Since early morning thecastle had been busy in the various ceremonies with which mediaevalEngland observed the feast of her patron Saint; the garrison had beenparaded and inspected; the archers had shot for a gold bugle, and themen-at-arms had striven for a great two-handed sword; there had beenraces on foot and on horseback, and feats of strength and wrestlingbouts; and the Duke himself had presided at the sports and distributedthe prizes.
It was almost sundown when the last contest was over and the greatcrowd of spectators that had congregated within the outer bailey beganto disperse. Richard had dismissed his attendants, with the exceptionof Ratcliffe, and leaning on the latter's arm he sauntered slowlyacross the stone-paved courtyard toward the keep.
"Methinks," said De Wilton, as he and De Lacy followed at somedistance, "that the order we have so long expected must come to-morrow.And I, for one, shall be well content; it is many a long day since Isaw London."
"Why so certain of to-morrow?" De Lacy asked.
"Because if His Grace intend to be present at the coronation, he maydally here no longer. . . Say you not so, Dacre?" as the latter joinedthem.
"Verily, yes," said Dacre, "and I have already directed my squire toprepare for the journey. Marry! it will be a joyous time in London."
"It is long since there was a peaceful crowning in fair England,"observed De Lacy, "and I shall be glad indeed to see the pomp."
"It may not equal the splendors you have seen in France," remarkedDacre, "but there will be a goodly show nevertheless; something ratherbrighter than Yorkshire hills or Scottish heather."
"I have no quarrel with the heather," replied De Wilton, "but the hillsare . . . well, not--so soft as the cheeks and eyes of the dames of theCourt."
"In sooth," said De Lacy, "I am with you in that. To me a pretty facewas ever more attractive than a granite crag."
"Both are handy in their places," said Dacre with a shrug. "Yet,Pasque Dieu! of the two it were not hard to choose the trustier."
"Go to!" exclaimed De Wilton; "it was not a gallant speech. You willhave to mend your mind in London."
"Nay, Sir Ralph, my words, perhaps, but scarce my mind."
"It is the same thing there," De Wilton laughed.
At that moment the Master of Horse suddenly left the Duke and turnedtoward the stables.
"Busk yourselves for the road, fair sirs," he called, as he passed."We march after matins to-morrow."
The news spread like the wind through the castle, but it occasionedneither confusion nor even bustle. The personal following of Richardof Gloucester were selected from veteran soldiers who were ever ready.They had but to don harness and mount horse when the route was sounded;and they could have ridden across the drawbridge at sundown, just asreadily as the next morning.
In the antechamber that evening there was much discussion by theyounger Knights as to the Duke's probable course; would he head theNobility; would he aim for the Protectorship; would he remain quiescentand let the Woodvilles control? Those older in his service, however,were content to bide patiently the future, for long since had theylearned the folly of trying to forecast the purposes of their silentleader.
And Sir Ralph de Wilton and Sir Henry de Vivonne were hot in theargument when Sir James Dacre arose and clapped De Lacy on the shoulder.
"Come along," he said. "These two gentlemen are vastly entertaining,doubtless, but I am for the presence chamber to make my adieux."
The Lady Mary Percy was reading aloud Chaucer's "Knight's Tale" whenthey were announced, but she quickly laid aside the heavy tome, and theDuchess paused in her embroidery and greeted them with a smile.
"I have seen nothing of you since you saved the Countess," she said,giving each a hand to kiss, "and I owe you both a heavy payment."
"And which, then, does Your Grace rate the higher: the Countess or herhat?" Dacre asked.
"I do not quite understand," said she.
"Sir Aymer de Lacy saved the Countess, and I saved the hat," heexplained.
"And what did Lord Darby save?" the Lady Mary asked pertly.
Dacre smiled placidly.
"Nothing--not even his temper; the Countess saved that for him," heanswered; and every one laughed--even the Duchess; though she shook herhead at him, the while, in mock reproof.
"That forfeits your share of the reward," she said; then turned to DeLacy. "Some time, Sir Aymer, I must have a gallop beside the wonderfulSelim."
De Lacy bowed low. "Why not on him?" he asked.
"Well, perhaps--when we all are together again."
"In London--or at Windsor?"
A faint shade of concern came into her eyes, and De Lacy's thoughtsinstantly recurred to the scene in the Duke's chamber the day hearrived.
"At Windsor, let us hope; the roads are charming there," she said, andthen she resumed her embroidery.
"Be seated, sirs," she commanded.
"Come hither, Sir Aymer de Lacy," called the Lady Mary, who was sittingbeside the Countess of Clare. . . "It just occurred to me to-day thatI heard of you a year or so ago from a friend in France."
"It seems to me," said De Lacy, taking the low stool at her feet, "thatI have a sure quarrel with your memory, either because it is laggard orbecause it is not."
"And which do you think it is?" she asked.
"I might guess the better if I knew your friend's name."
"Marie."
"Half the women of France are Maries."
"You were then at Blois."
"At the Court, you mean?"
She nodded. "And but lately returned from an expedition into Navarre."
De Lacy shook his head. "I cannot guess."
She gave him a knowing smile. "Who of the Princess Margaret's maids,think you, it might have been?"
"It might have been any one of three," he said, "but I will guessMademoiselle d'Artois."
"At last! At last! . . . How rapidly your mind works under pressure.I wonder, sir, if you will remember us so promptly a year hence."
"Suppose we wait and see," De Lacy answered, and tried to catch theCountess' eye, but failed. Indeed, save for a quick smile of greetingwhen he joined them, she had given him not a single glance, but hadkept her head bent over her needle.
Lady Mary drew down her pretty mouth. "If you can forget Maried'Artois so soon, what chance have we?" she asked.
"But I have not forgotten her; we were quite too good friends for that."
"And she was quite too fascinating," the Lady Mary laughed.
"Aye, and quite too beautiful."
"Goodness, Beatrix, listen to the man," she exclaimed. "He has the badtaste to praise one woman, to another."
The Countess looked up. "Sir Aymer was lauding Mademoiselle d'Artoisto me, last night," she said.
"Can it be, Lady Mary," De Lacy asked, "you do not know that two monthssince, Marie d'Artois was wedded to the Duc de Boiselle?"
For a moment Lady Mary was taken aback; then she laughed gayly andarose.
"I will leave you to discuss the other two Maries," she said, and movedaway. . . "Perhaps they, too, are married," she added, over hershoulder.
De Lacy looked after her contemplatively.
"I wonder," said he, "why the Lady Mary Percy resents my preferring youto her."
"Do you?" the Countess asked--then held up her hand. "Stop, sir, youmay not answer--I did but jest."
"And may I not answer . . . in jest?" leaning toward her.
She shook her head. "No, sir, you may not; and if you attempt it, Ishall leave you instantly."
"Pardieu!" said he; "you are the most alluringly tantalizing woman Ihave ever known. The evening of the ride you would scarce look at me,but talked with Lord Darby all the time."
"He was making his farewells; he left the following morning."
De Lacy laughed. "Two hours of farewells! Doubtless, you weredelegated to receive them for the Household."
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The Countess was busy with her needle. "He seemed to wish it so," shesaid.
"And the next evening, when I asked you to walk on the wall, you wellnigh froze me with the chill of your refusal."
"And will do so again to--Sir Aymer de Lacy."
"And the following morning, at the first asking, you rode with me forleagues."
She flashed a smile at him. "And may do the same again."
"And yet that very evening, when by accident I touched your hand, youturned your back upon me and ignored me for a day."
"And will do the same again," she answered calmly.
"And the next evening you talked with me for hours."
"And am ready to do the same to-night. You, too, may take yourfarewell of the entire suite through me--unless, of course, you havetired of my foolish vagaries."
"Methinks I am quite satisfied to be classed with Lord Darby in thematter of farewells; and as for the vagaries, they may be tantalizingbut, believe me, they are far more winning."
She held up a cautioning finger.
"I prefer your arraignment to your compliments," she said. "Methinks Itold you once before of my dislike for flattery."
"That was to Sir Ralph de Wilton . . . the night you walked with him onthe wall."
"True, so it was," she laughed; "but you were there and heard it."
He casually picked up a skein of silk that had slipped to the floor,but finding her eyes upon him gave it to her straightway.
"Why not walk now on the ramparts with Sir Ralph?" he asked very lowand earnestly.
For an instant she seemed to hesitate; then she looked at him and shookher head.
"I may not," she said. "I have promised the evening to Sir Aymer deLacy . . . for two hours of farewells."
But the two hours were very brief, indeed; for almost immediately DeVivonne and De Wilton arrived, and shortly thereafter came Sir RichardRatcliffe and Sir Robert Brackenbury, and the talk became general. Andpresently Richard himself entered; and when he withdrew the Duchesswent with him and the gathering broke up; and De Lacy got no more thana casual word of farewell from the Countess.
In the morning all was activity. The bailey resounded with the stampof hoofs, the neighing of horses, and the rattle of armor, as the threehundred and more men-at-arms assembled before the keep, awaiting theorder to fall in. The under officers stood apart conversing, butglancing, ever and anon, toward the main stairway in anticipation ofthe coming of the Duke or one of his suite. Presently the dark face ofRatcliffe appeared at the door; and after a quick glance about he wavedhis hand. Instantly the blare of the trumpet lifted every man intosaddle; and in another moment, that which seemed but a confused masshad disentangled itself and swung into a square of glittering steel,over which the morning sunbeams rippled in waves of silver as thehorses moved in restlessness.
De Lacy was standing before the entrance, watching the soldiery, when apage hurriedly summoned him to the Duke.
He found Gloucester in the lower hall, booted and spurred for the road,and pacing slowly back and forth, his head upon his breast. He wasdressed entirely in black, and his heavy cloak, lined with fur, lay ona near-by bancal. He carried his gauntlets in his right hand, andevery step or two would strike them sharply against the top of his highboot. Catesby, Brackenbury and Ratcliffe were gathered a bit apart,talking in low tones. They glanced up when De Lacy appeared, and as hehalted just within the doorway, waiting for the Duke to address him,Brackenbury spoke:
"My lord, Sir Aymer de Lacy is here."
Richard wheeled abruptly. "Come hither," he said, and led the waytoward the window. "Do you know the country or people in the region ofKirkstall Abbey?"
"No, my lord," said De Lacy. "I have never been north of Pontefract."
"Then you are the one for the purpose. A dozen men-at-arms have beendetailed for you; take them and proceed direct to Craigston Castle anddeliver to Sir John de Bury this letter. I ride to York to-day andSouth to-morrow. If you hasten, you can rejoin me at Nottingham. Doyou understand?"
"Perfectly, my lord."
"Then away. Come, gentlemen!" and the Duke walked briskly to thestairway.
As he came within view of those in the courtyard, there arose a mightyshout that echoed from the walls and keep. Gloucester's calm facerelaxed in a slight smile and he waved his hand in response. Thenscarce touching his foot to the stirrup which Catesby held he leapedinto saddle. The trumpet rang out, and the horsemen, breaking fromsquare into column, filed out of the courtyard and across the outerbailey.
Gloucester had tarried, meanwhile, to speak a final word to Sir RobertWallingford; and when he had finished, the last clatter of hoofs on thedrawbridge had ceased. As the Constable stepped back with a farewellsalute, Richard's quick eye discerned the face of the Duchess at anupper window. Swinging his charger in a demi-volte, he doffed bonnetand flung her a kiss with his finger tips.
"_Au revoir, amante_," he called.
She smiled sweetly upon him and answered his kiss; then stood watchinghim as he rode rapidly away, followed by his attendant Knights, untilthe dark arch of the distant gateway hid him from her sight.
A few moments later Sir Aymer de Lacy came riding across the courtyardwith his escort. He had changed his suit of velvet for one of steel;for being ignorant both of the country into which he was about totravel and of what manner of adventure might lie before him, he haddeemed it well to have something more than silken doublet between hisheart and a cloth-yard shaft. His visor was raised, and as he passedthe keep, he looked up at every window. All were deserted, however,and he was about to turn away when, suddenly, a casement swung open andthe Countess of Clare appeared in the stone-framed opening.
"_Au revoir_," she cried, and waved her kerchief.
Then by some mischance the bit of lace slipped from her fingers andfloated slowly downward. She made a quick grasp for it, but it hadsunk beyond her reach. A puff of wind spread it wide and carried itout toward De Lacy. He watched it as it dropped, bringing Selim almostto a stand to keep beneath it, and at length it rested upon hisextended hand.
"I claim my favor, fair Countess," he called, and wound it round thecrest of his helmet--then loosened rein and dashed away.