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Without another word, Bon turned and strode frora eased herself slowly back onto the stool, her head light The world was in a darkening spiral

What could she do?

Bone-weary, dirty, and suardsmen above the heavy portcullis of the Tower of London At last

Nick’s sure hooves clattered on the polished wood as they continued through the entrance into the bailey of King Henry the Plantagenet’s current residence It had been a brutal two days’ ride in snow and sleet from the funeral of Dirick’s father at Derkland Keep, and he wished only to strip off his half-frozen, sweat-soaked sherte and chausses and slip into a stea spice or other

With one of the king’shim, of course

Mayhap that, at least, would turn his nawed his ht past

Fortunately, Dirick had visited Henry uncountable times and Nick knew the whereabouts of the stable without proed, as did his shoulders, and when he slid to the ground, planting his boots in the snow, his knees buckled from weariness One of the ratefully toward the main keep where he would find food and warmth The bath and the woman, he amended internally, could wait for the morrow

He would search out a pallet on the floor in the below-stairs chamber for the men, and he would sleep Sleep He prayed he was too tired to dreahtmare of what had befallen his father would surely haunt hied the steps into the hall, but had barely begun his search for a spot at the long trestle tables when he was hailed from behind

"Dirick! You are here"

He turned toward the fao I a the forear

Lord Gavin of Mal Verne was shaking his head, his stark features more sharp than usual "I fear your rest must needs wait Henry de his frozen fingers "How can he know I am arrived? I have only just left the stable I didn’t even take the time to unsaddle Nick myself"

"We were in his private chae He bade me send you to him immediately, before you found yourself in the coave the words a hurieved to hear of your father’s death I am sorry that Madelyne and I could not attend the funeral, but the news did not reach us here until ’twas too late"

"Aye I learned the news in bare ti into reluctant step with Gavin as they left the hall "I traveled two days with no rest from Kent, and then at the nonce of the funeral’s end, I remounted Nick and rode here with no rest"

He’d felthis brother Bernard--as now Lord of Derkland--to deal with the grief of their mother, but it could not be helped Joanna, Bernard’s wife, was a kind and gentle soul, and she would take good care of their ," Gavin pointed out as they caave Dirick a wry sood eve and wish you luck on finding your pallet sometime before the dawn I have been with Henry all the day etic humors all these last days and has kept me since dawn And Madelyne awaits , then, God willing, find that pallet and sleep for two days ’Tis that, or ave his friend a weak grin, then turned toward Henry’s chae The sooner he should learn of the king’s needs, the sooner Dirick could see to his own

’Twas not as if his own requireest son of Harold of Derkland, Dirick had neither lands nor an affinity for the Church--as his two elder brothers did, eldest and middle, respectively Instead, he had land when he washis bride, Eleanor of Aquitaine Henry had grown to trust and rely upon Dirick, and as he had naught to offer any woman but his company and his body, Dirick had enjoyed his ti the variety of tasks Henry set before him

’Twas just as well that he had not been seated in the hall, he reflected nuood mood to charm the ladies of Eleanor’s court, nor did he wish to offend any of thele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>