The Conqueror Read online

  His very quiet seemed to her only to add to his dignity. Other men might swagger through the halls, trailing mantles rich with orfrey, loudly asserting their importance, dazzling a poor stranger-maid with their splendour, but she did not think they appeared to advantage beside the straight, calm-eyed knight who made no stir, wore nearly always a soldier’s mantle of plain vermeil, and was hardly ever heard to raise his voice above its ordinary low pitch.

  She made a hero of him, chiding herself for her folly: imagined him to be far above her, courteous always, but kind rather than friendly, and all the time the man was deep in love with her, and could not keep his eyes from her face if she were in the same room with him.

  He saw her surrounded by younger men than himself, apparently happy in their company, and it did not seem to him that she regarded him as anything more than her brother’s friend. Ruefully he reflected that in all likelihood she considered him a greybeard. There was little enough arrogance in him, but he could not bring himself to swell a court composed of untried youths, or to sue for favours with a score of others.

  Matters might have continued in this way for ever had it not been for the rude conduct of William, Lord of Moulines-la-Marche, the Duke’s cousin upon the distaff-side.

  Between Raoul and this seigneur there had never been much love lost. The Lord of Moulines was of an intemperate disposition that accorded ill with Raoul’s, and he had a natural ferocity which he was at no pains to bridle. His pages were often seen to blubber out their hearts in some secluded corner, and it was no unusual thing for his horse to be led back to its stable with bleeding flanks torn by his merciless spurs. He was married, but his lady enjoyed little of his company, for at one or other of his houses there could always be found some light woman whom he had taken to mistress. None of them remained for long, since he tired of them quickly, and was ever on the look-out for a fresh charmer.

  He came on a visit to the Court when Elfrida had been there some eight weeks or more, and his attention was immediately caught by her unusual beauty. It was not to be supposed that he would consider her in the light of a possible leman, but he could not be placed near such fresh loveliness without attempting to trifle with it. He had a handsome cruel face, and a manner pleasant enough when he chose. He began to pay his addresses to Elfrida, and as soon as he saw that she was a little afraid of him the beast of prey, which his foes swore lay in him, purred gently, and stretched lazy claws.

  Elfrida had been warned of him. One of Matilda’s ladies had told her dreadful stories of his vengeance, so that however much she was teased by his love-making she dared not breathe a word of it to Edgar lest he should intervene and draw down the Lord of Moulines’ wrath upon his head. She contrived for some time to hold the man at arm’s length, but she was unfortunate enough to walk straight into his arms one day in one of the long galleries of the palace.

  He was lounging on a bench when she rounded the bend of the stair that led down from Dame Gundred’s chamber to the gallery. There was no one else in the gallery; she had a suspicion that he had planted himself there to waylay her, and because she feared him she would have drawn back.

  But he had seen her, and he sprang to his feet. ‘The fair Elfrida!’ he said, and advanced towards her.

  ‘So please you, lord,’ she answered in rather a small voice. He was standing before her, blocking the way. She said: ‘I must not tarry: I am stayed for.’

  ‘Why yes, pretty elf-maiden,’ he smiled, ‘I stay for you. Will you leave me disconsolate?’ He tried to take her hand. ‘Fie, you are a chill maid!’ he said. ‘See, does this trinket like you?’ He dangled a chain studded with garnets before her.

  She replied with dignity: ‘I thank you, I must not take so precious a gift.’

  ‘Eh, take it, my dear,’ he said, ‘it is nothing worth.’ For a brief cynical moment he tried to remember for which of his lemans he had first bought it. ‘I would give you better things than this poor bauble.’

  ‘You are kind, lord, but I would have you know that I have no liking for such toys,’ Elfrida said firmly. ‘Pray you, let me pass. Indeed I am stayed for.’

  He had succeeded in getting hold of her hand; he drew her towards the bench, and his right arm slid round her waist insinuatingly. ‘Nay, you would not be so cruel,’ he said. ‘Am I never to see you alone? You have a rabble of silly boys for ever gathered round you, or else you are mewed up amongst the bower-maidens. And so am I driven to a madness of desire.’ He had her fast round the waist now; his fingers gripped her side; he put his free hand up to her cheek, and pinched it playfully. The colour leaped up under his fingers. He laughed, enjoying her confusion, and let his hand wander downwards over her neck.

  She made an effort to break out of his prisoning arms. ‘Loose me, lord!’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady. ‘This work ill-befits your honour, or mine. I pray you let me go! The Duchess stays for me!’

  ‘Quoy, mistress, you are my captive,’ he said, teasing her. ‘What ransom will you offer? I shall demand a large one for so peerless a prisoner.’

  ‘Lord, this jesting is unmannerly. Must I call for aid?’

  He took her throat in his clasp; his face was bent close; she thought she had never seen so greedy a mouth, and gave a frightened sob. ‘Your cries shall be stopped with kisses, willow-maid. Nay, hold not off, I will do you no hurt, but only maybe wake the sleeping passion in you.’ He let go her throat, and wrapped both his arms round her, holding her breast to breast. ‘What, am I the first to sip your sweetness, little virgin?’

  It was at this timely moment that Raoul came up the stair at the other end of the gallery, and walked towards the door of one of the solars. He glanced casually along the gallery, and what he saw made him pause with his hand already raising the latch. He stood still, looking towards Elfrida with an alert questioning lift to his brows.

  Moulines had let her go when he heard the step on the stairs, but he still barred her passage. She was seriously alarmed; tears were starting in her blue eyes; she turned an imploring gaze on Raoul.

  His hand left the latch; he came down the gallery, not hurrying, but deliberately.

  ‘Well, Messire Watcher?’ snapped Moulines. There was a growing note in his voice. ‘What make you here? If you want aught of me let me hear it, and so be done!’

  ‘My thanks to you,’ Raoul answered imperturbably. ‘I want nothing but your room, Moulines, and that as soon as may be.’

  The Lord of Moulines’ temper flared up. ‘Spine of God, this to my face, upstart? You grow large in your own reckoning! Get you gone: I promise you you stand in some danger.’

  ‘Keep that tone for your own underlings, Moulines-la-Marche,’ Raoul said, unmoved. ‘Lady, let me lead you to the Duchess’s bower.’

  She moved towards him gratefully, but Moulines pushed her back. ‘Stay you there, maiden: myself will be your escort.’ He turned a snarling face upon Raoul, and his hand fumbled at the dudgeon of his knife. ‘So, Chevalier! The Duke my cousin shall hear of this insolence.’

  Elfrida saw the gleam of a smile in Raoul’s grey eyes. ‘You will find him in his chamber,’ he said. ‘Go tell him you are enraged with me. I give you God-speed on that errand.’ Amusement lurked in his voice, but he was watching Moulines’ hand, and his own hand slid to his belt.

  Moulines, knowing that a complaint against Raoul would be more likely to bring down the Duke’s wrath on his own head than on the favourite’s, lost the last rags of his temper, and sprang at Raoul with his dagger out.

  Elfrida cried: ‘’Ware! oh ’ware!’ but it seemed that Raoul was prepared for the savage onslaught. His hand flew up; steel clashed against steel; Moulines’ knife fell with a clatter to the stone floor, and Elfrida saw blood spurt from a gash across his wrist.

  Raoul stamped his foot down hard upon the fallen knife. The steel broke with a snap. ‘Get you hence!’ he said, more st