Page 74 of Never Leave Me
Will’s hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, which she’d learned was a permanent fixture at his belt. “’Twould appearLord Worth has availed himself of not only Ickham but now also the archbishop. I have no doubt they are colluding to gain access to the wellspring and will sorely use Lady Ellen in an attempt to wrest the keys from me.”
The very thought of beingsorely usedmade Ellen’s skin crawl. “If they come, I’ll refuse to go with him.”
“If the archbishop demands it,” Will said, “we shall have little choice in the matter.”
“The church cannot force me to marry someone I don’t want to.”
“The archbishop’s authority comes from the pope himself. To defy him will bring great censure and difficulty to all those in my household.”
Ellen didn’t want that to happen. But she wouldn’t willingly go with Lord Worth and marry him, even if the archbishop demanded it. What could she do? Run away and hide?
Will stared into the distance, his silence stretching taut, until at last he motioned to the empty place next to Ellen. “Sir Nicholas, I pray you will join us for supper.”
Nicholas hesitated. His leather boots and chain mail were dusty, and his face was etched with weariness. No doubt he’d run himself ragged riding throughout the countryside spreading the news of the plague, which made his warning regarding Lord Worth all the kinder.
“There may yet be a way to avoid conflict,” Will said. “But I shall need your assistance.”
Nicholas nodded and started across the room. The inside of the hall had sustained damage from the earthquake—cracked ceilings and walls, broken dishes and decorations, overturned shelves and cabinets. But thankfully, no one had been injured.
As Nicholas took a place beside her, a waft of forest and earth emanated from him. The conversations around the hall resumed.For a short while, Will questioned Nicholas about the extent of the devastation from the earthquake throughout the countryside.
Finally, as Nicholas pushed back his empty plate and wiped his mouth, Will narrowed his eyes upon the man. “I have spoken to several of my trusted knights about you, Sir Nicholas. They all agree you are a man of honor, fortitude, and integrity. You have not only won the favor of the king, but you have proven to be a man of valor in battle.”
Nicholas bowed his head in acknowledgment of Will’s compliments but remained silent.
“Thus, I shall offer you my wife’s sister as a bride this night.”
“What?” Ellen stiffened and sat up at the same time as both Nicholas and her dad.
“I cannot—” Nicholas started.
“No.” Her dad protested at the same moment Ellen did.
“Hear me out.” Will’s steely tone silenced them. “If Lady Ellen is wed to Sir Nicholas then Lord Worth must forfeit his right to have her. He will have no recourse for claiming her.”
“My brother will not be so easily swayed.”
“If you are wed in the sight of God and man and consummate your union, there will be naught he nor the archbishop can do to change the circumstances.”
Nicholas cast a glance at her from beneath his long lashes. His eyes were dark and unreadable.
Would he really consider Will’s offer?
She absolutely couldn’t. She’d never considered marriage before and wouldn’t start now. Besides, her heart yearned for only one man. Harrison. Even though she couldn’t have him, she had no desire for anyone else.
Adamantly she shook her head, but Will cut her off. “You are my responsibility now. And I shall have the final say in the matter.” He spoke as if the decision was already made.
Ellen opened her mouth to contradict him, but her dad spoke first. “You know Marian and I both desire for Ellen to return to her country. We don’t want her to stay here indefinitely.”
If only Marian were present to speak up too. Though she’d wanted to join them for supper, Will hadn’t succumbed to her pleading and had insisted she remain in her chambers for the duration of her post-birthing confinement, which for noblewomen in the Middle Ages could last up to a month.
“If she belongs to Sir Nicholas,” Will said, “then she will spare us this conflict with Lord Worth and the censure from the archbishop.”
Ellen’s ready retort stalled. Did she really have the power to spare Will and his household additional problems? Would a marriage with Nicholas prevent needless difficulties—difficulties brought about because of her arrival at Reider Castle in the first place?
Her dad shook his head. “Ellen belongs with Harrison. And she must go home to him.”
Belongs with Harrison? What was her dad saying?
