Page 70 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

He did not respond at first, but stared into the distance asif pondering. Then with a sigh, he let out his breath. “Yea, they are. Williamdoes not want the English to forget he is now their sovereign—that he is hereto stay. He builds more of them where the people doubt his intent.”

The conversation had soured Serena on the tour of the castleas it reminded her the structure dominating all of Talisand was yet anothersymbol of her country’s invasion.

As they returned to the ground floor of the wooden tower,she saw a door left open to what appeared to be a chapel and remembered theroom that jutted out from the keep she had seen from the outside. “Your newchurch?”

“A chapel for the family and our guests,” he said. Thentaking her hand and kissing her fingers, he led her into the chapel, adding,“It will be here that our sons will be christened.”

She did not speak her thought that it was constructed aspenance for the lives he had taken. Had her father’s life been one of those?Somehow she had to find a way to let such questions go if she was to giveherself completely to this marriage, and to him. Such things were now in thepast.

“It is good to have a chapel as a part of the keep,” shesaid. “There will be times a place of prayer will be needed.”

“Aye, I have always found it so.”

They left the keep and stood at the edge of the mottelooking into the yard. Rhodri was walking through the gate with the archers,headed in the direction of a clearing in the woods where Serena knew they oftpracticed.

“Why is the bard still here?” Renaud asked. “I thought hewandered from place to place?”

“It is true that Rhodri comes and goes as he wills and ofttravels far. In that he is much like the wind. We are fortunate he has lingeredso long among us.” The look in Renaud’s eyes told her he was displeased. “Wouldyou have me bid him go?”

“He watches you with interest,” he said with a scowl. “Ilike it not.”

He was jealous of the Welshman? Mayhap he cared more thanshe had thought. “You need have no worry for Rhodri, my lord. He was trusted bymy father and is much loved by Steinar. The bard merely protects me in theirabsence.”

“Even from your husband?”

“Of course not! Why would you ask such a thing?” She turnedto look at his face. His eyes that had been the color of rain only momentsbefore had hardened to the steel of his sword as they narrowed on the bard.

Without answering her question, he asked, “Will you betaking up your archery again now that you are no longer acting the servant?”

So he would remind her she had once lived in disguise. Itmade her restless to think that was still between them. Would it ever be so? “Itrust you only tease me my lord, and you are not still angry for my earlydeception. You know why I did it.”

“Aye, but I liked it not.”

She could do nothing to change the past, only try and builda future.

“Well, to answer your question, I do sometimes practice withRhodri, but not oft.”

“I would see your skill on display, Serena. Mayhap anothershooting match is in order. Now that I think of it, tell me, did you miss thatfirst arrow you aimed at Sir Hugue?”

“Nay.”

“You were aiming for—”

“His arm, aye. Sir Geoffroi just assumed I missed therogue’s heart. That would have been my next shot.”

“I still remember those rabbits you felled in the forest. Yea,we must have another match at Talisand.”

Serena’s cheeks burned at the memory of what occurred thatmorning on the bank of the stream. “If it would bring you pleasure, my lord.”

* * *

A few days later, Renaud persuaded Serena to leave Cassie forthe time it would take them to visit the west manor where Geoff had riddenearlier that morning to see his lady love, Eawyn, who had offered to prepare anoon repast for them. It would be his first foray to one of the three distantmanor houses that were a part of his lands, and this one held a specialinterest for him since he believed that one day it would be the home of hisfriend.

They crossed a narrow bend in the river and rode over therolling hills of the countryside. Renaud was struck by the peaceful nature ofthe land bathed in summer’s colors of green and gold. The sounds of birdschirping in the trees and the occasional bleating of a sheep or the bark of adog were far different than the harsh sounds of battle or the clamor of London.

For the foreseeable future, he would have to straddle twoworlds, heeding his sire’s call to battle while becoming a man of the land. Hehoped he could do well by both.

He was grateful to Serena for helping him understand theneeds of the people. Since their wedding, she had become the dutifulchatelaine, working with the steward Hunstan to see that all was as it shouldbe. Her hands were never idle. Though he’d not seen her embroidering or workingon a tapestry as one might expect of the lady of the manor, she worked tirelesslyat other duties. She and Maggie made the decisions about what food was to beserved and together they planned for adequate stores to be laid up for winter.They set about assuring that a supply of candles and mead was available for thecheerless months.