Page 55 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
William snapped a branch from a nearby tree and started peeling the bark from it, likely in a bid to release some of the anger she saw boiling under the surface. His eyes threw sparks, and his gestures were unusually brusque.
“Were you and your stepfather close?” he asked, keeping his eyes on his working fingers.
She had to admit that asking the question showed considerable aplomb. She waited until he had stripped the piece of wood completely before answering.
“No, not particularly.” His courage should at least be rewarded with honesty.
He threw the naked branch into the water and nodded. “In that case I will tell you why I killed him.” The words were uttered with a determined effort at composure, but Rowena wasn’t fooled by his detached tone. His jaw was clenched so hard, it looked about to crack. “You deserve to know the truth.”
She liked the fact he spoke to her in such a straightforward manner, as he would to an equal, not to an impressionable female he should shield from the truth. He trusted her to be strong enough to handle whatever he would tell her. Above all, she liked that he did not shy away from his responsibility. He had killed Godric, and he was not trying to pretend otherwise or downplay the fact.
And now, she was about to find out why.
“Tell me.”
*
William had come to find the girl because he wanted her to know the truth about what had happened that day. He hated that she believed him a cold, ruthless assassin, capable of running a man through with his sword at the least provocation, without care or thought to the family he was leaving behind.
He was nothing like that.
“I first became involved with Godric the Redman about three years ago,” he explained. “He approached me himself when he understood I was trying to create better relationships between Norman barons and Saxon lords.”
“I never knew he was so involved in such dealings. I am not even sure my mother knew,” the girl mused. “I have to say I am impressed he would want to aid such a far-sighted and commendable scheme.”
“Don’t be too impressed,” William scoffed. “He was playing a double game. Far from aiding the cause, he secretly encouraged Saxon riots. He only wanted to have an ear to my plans.”
“Yes. That sounds more like the man I knew.”
William was gratified to see she did not question his word for a moment. “You never wondered why he spoke my language so well?”
“No, though I was surprised he would want to teach me. I told you I wanted to improve before finding you, but I already had some knowledge of it because my stepfather insisted I learn it. As he had never lavished time or attention onto me before, I could not help but find the matter peculiar.”
William made a dismissive gesture of the hand. Who knew what the man’s reasons had been? It mattered little now anyway. “Maybe he thought it would send the right message to me, show his commitment. Or maybe he was planning an alliance between you and a Norman baron.”
“Yes, I think he was,” the girl said slowly. “He alluded to it on more than one occasion.”
“Do you know who he had in mind?” he asked, striving to sound neutral when his whole body had tensed.
“No. I think he might not have been sure himself.”
She would not have been married to a man, as much as to a project. In such circumstances, any of the local Normans would have been acceptable. Godric had only meant to use the match to further his own ambition.
William tried to imagine the girl married off to one of his countrymen and had to forcibly steer his mind away from such an unsavory proposition. The thought that one of them would have been entitled to take her to bed was enough to make his blood boil.
“I will admit I was relieved to see the project abandoned at his death, yet another reason for me not to feel too much chagrin at his demise.”
William nodded. At least the man’s scheming had had one positive effect. He had taught his stepdaughter the Norman tongue, without which they would never have been able to converse. And her speaking his language had been the reason why he’d noticed her…
As usual his body gave a jolt when he remembered what had happened that night at Old Sarum, how she had felt in his hands. He forced his mind back to the present. They were discussing something of importance, he should not let his mind wander on such licentious paths.
“You still haven’t told me why you killed my stepfather,” the girl reminded him. “I would like to know, even though by now you’ve said enough to convince me his death should not be lamented overmuch.”
No. Indeed.
“I told you he only wanted to keep abreast of my plans to suit his own purposes. I think he meant to show the local Saxons lords he should be their leader because he had managed to rid the county of the hated Normans,” William said in a snarl. “A few months after my first meeting with Godric, a delegation of barons traveled to Winchester. An ambush in the forest killedthem all. One of the men who perished that day was my brother Stéphane. I felt responsible for their deaths, for I had made no secret to your stepfather and a couple of his friends of the route they would take that day, thereby allowing the men to plan their attack.”
“So you killed him to avenge your brother’s death.” The girl sounded somewhat crestfallen, as if she had expected better from him. “And despite that, you told me that I should forget about avenging my mother’s death? You are no better than I am; you only wanted revenge. The only difference is you actually succeeded in your mission.” She shook her head, clearly not impressed.
