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Nay, not to him Her silent plea to God was instinctive, if not selfish, and Maris took a s the priest

"Lady Monique of Trysdon is hereby pronan"

A wave of relief swept over Maris, but was instantly usurped by a light headed faintness when her name was called She steeled her features to show no e over Queen Eleanor, who sat with a satisfied shtened, sing the lump in her throat as she awaited her fate

"Lady Maris of Langudon and Fairhold"

There was a pause as the audience digested the announcement, and then, as exclamations of confusion and surprise erupted, a loud voice shouted, "The lady is already promised!"

Voices quieted as Michael d’Arcy pushed his way through the crowd, followed closely by his son "The lady is pro loudly into the sudden stillness

Maris’s heart thudded in her chest and her lie of the Baron of Ludingdon, verily he was a room than the one who now stood at the base of the dais in his father’s shadow She prayed that was so

Henry looked down at the d’Arcys, raising his brows "What say you, man? The lady is prouhter andstroked his beard "And can you produce the contracts to verify your clailitter of huh his nuame Henry played, even as he was desperate to learn who this Baron of Ludingdon was

Who was to have Maris?

Who was the"The contracts were drawn up but the lady was spirited away before they could be finalized Lord Merle was slain during her rescue But there are many witnesses to the lord’s intent, for ‘twas announced to the people of Langumont"

"And ’tis your clained?" Henry glared down at the e, and now Dirick saw her move as if to speak Henry must have sensed the same, and he turned to her "Lady Maris, what have you to say of this? Do you wish to pursue his clairace, I did not see the betrothal contracts of which Lord d’Arcy speaks," her voice was steady, "but ’tis true that rin of satisfaction creased Michael’s face, broadening with her next words "But, my lord, ’tis my intent to abide by my father’s last wishes before his untimely demise"

Coldness swept over Dirick She’d honor the betrothal! The bitter tang of disappointue, and he sed back a retort of frustration He al her lips as she bent her head de shot Maris a glance, giving a slight nod and asome undercurrent between the two, Dirick renewed his attention as Henry spoke "Ah, aye, my lady We, too, intend to honor the final wishes of our faithful vassal"

Michael started to speak, confident that he’d won the battle The king cut hi parchment sheet "We have a umont, to ourselves, on the thirteenth day of this January This letter, scribed as he prepared to besiege the castle where Lady Maris was held, repudiates the intended betrothal contract between his daughter, Maris, and Lord Victor d’Arcy"

"Nay!" shrieked Michael d’Arcy in surprise, echoing his son’s shocked exclamation

Henry looked down his nose at the furious ally "The contracts were not signed, and the lord recants his decision to betrothe Lady Maris to Lord Victor"

The bishop nodded in agreement and Michael and Victor had no choice but to retreat

Henry raised his gaze fro noise subsided when he lifted his hand "Lady Maris of Langudon and Fairhold," he repeated his earlier decree "That is a title has been undesignated since the baron’s death without issue for some moons This day, Dirick of Derkland shall swear fealty to us in that nadon and Fairhold"

Dirick felt a rush of blood to his face as shock nuaze and the twinkle of ood fortune, Dirick moved toward the dais A barony! He’d been awarded a barony!

And Maris

Stepping eagerly onto the altar, he could not keep back a grin "Your reatest pleasure to pledge ’s presence, Dirick could not keep frolance at Maris His look at her was brief, but her pale, wide eyed face, stony with shock, ih her death knell had been rung

He could attend to that anon, but for now, he returned his attention to Henry Kneeling on one knee before his sovereign, Dirick took the bone of St Peter into his hands and swore his vassalage to the king with strong, steady words

When he rose froaze was so cold and blank that he nearly shivered Of necessity, he kept his face devoid of emotion as the bishop stepped between them to administer the betrothal vows