Roland, ever the peacemaker. Merek was, Roland seemed to think, the least likely of his brothers to care about naming a puppy. And he was probably right. Merek was two years younger than Delia’s eighteen years, but he was commanding and hated when she tried to take care of him.
Edwin suddenly lifted his head, staring in the direction of the road that ran past Dericott Castle. He put the puppy beside its mother and stood to his full height.
“What is it?” Roland asked.
“Sounds like horses.”
A lot of horses. She and Roland also replaced their puppies, laying them against their mother’s belly, and hurried up the slight incline toward their home.
Delia glanced down at her dress. Normally, if they were expecting guests, Delia would be wearing one of her fine gowns, the brightly colored silk ones with embroidery of gold and silver thread. But today, as on most days, she wore one of her older, plainer frocks for taking walks in the woods and playing with puppies and running footraces with her brothers. Her hair was uncovered, not even plaited or bound, hanging in loose curls down her back and over her shoulders, “like a common serving wench,” her stepmother had once said with a scornful twisting of her lips.
Perhaps Delia should not show herself until she knew what manner of guests she would encounter. The horses’ hooves were headed toward them, having turned onto the lane that led to the castle instead of continuing down the road.
Edwin reached the front of the three-story castle made of light-colored stone, its towers stretching up another level or two. He stood in front of the door as Delia watched from around the corner.
A whole company of soldiers galloped into view, emerging from the tree-crowded lane. Edwin narrowed his eyes and stood with his shoulders tensed.
Where were the guards? There was always at least one or two of them around. And why did Edwin have that angry look on his face? Did he know why these men were here?
The soldiers were all wearing gambesons and their swords were strapped to their bodies in ready reach. They galloped right up to Edwin before slowing their horses to a halt.
Several of the soldiers got down off their mounts while the one in the lead, who appeared to be the captain, spoke down to Edwin from atop his horse.
“We are here by the authority of Richard of Bordeaux, King of England, to arrest the seven sons of the recently deceased Earl of Dericott for treason against the king and against England.”
Before he finished speaking, the soldiers seized Edwin and began tying his wrists together in front of him.
Delia’s heart pounded as she ran forward.
“Stop! He has done nothing wrong!”
“Go and find the others.” The captain motioned outward with his hand.
Soldiers brushed past her and charged into the house.
Edwin would stop this. He was the Earl of Dericott now.
She turned to the dark-haired captain, who was dismounting from his horse. “What do you think you are doing? He has not committed treason!”
“I have orders to arrest the seven sons of the late Earl of Dericott. Who are you?”
“The youngest is but ten years old. You would imprison a ten-year-old boy for treason?”
The captain’s expression faltered. He was quite young to be a captain, hardly any older than Delia. His eyes were bright blue, and were he not trying to take away her brothers, she might have said his features were handsome.
Not answering, he glanced around. She followed his gaze and saw several soldiers coming up from the stable with David, Gerard, and Roland. The soldiers pointed their swords at her brothers’ backs.
Her breath left her in a gasp. She turned to the odious man. “Stop them!” She took a few steps closer to the captain. “Surely you would not allow your men to arrest children!”
“My orders are to arrest all seven sons.” He didn’t look at her, but his jaw appeared hard and a muscle twitched as he watched the king’s guards force her brothers up the grassy slope toward them.
“But they haven’t done anything wrong!”
He suddenly turned to her. “You must step away. Better yet, go in the house. This is not a matter for women.”
“How dare you?” He must mistake her for a serving wench, as her stepmother had said.
He ignored her and strode toward her brothers. He went to little Roland and began tying his hands together.
She wanted to hurl herself at him, snatch her brother’s hands out of his grasp, and fight him off. But he could easily clout her in the head and knock her to the ground. After all, if he believed she was only a servant, he likely would not hesitate to retaliate . . . But if he knew she was the boys’ sister, might he not seize her too?
Just then two soldiers came out of the house with Berenger, her nineteen-year-old brother who had been sick in bed with a head cold. That left only Merek and Charles, who were out hunting pheasants.
Some of the soldiers had gone inside the castle, so Delia ran to see what they were doing. She could feel the soldiers watching her, but she ignored them. As she entered she saw guards questioning the servants.
“Where are the rest of the master’s sons?” they demanded. The servants’ eyes were wide and frightened.
“Stop scaring them!” Delia glared at the guards.
“And who are you?”
“Tell us where the other two sons are,” another guard said as they moved menacingly toward her.
“Why are you seizing innocent boys?”
The first guard suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, squeezing it so hard she cried out. Every one of his fingers dug into the soft flesh of her upper arm.
“Unhand that woman!”
The guard turned and let go of her arm. The young captain stood behind him in the corridor.
“Sir Geoffrey, we were only trying to get information from her,” the soldier replied.
The captain looked at her. “Are you hurt?”
“You should be worried about yourself. Arresting innocent boys, lords and sons of an earl. Who are you? What is your name?”
“I am Sir Geoffrey Grenefeld, captain of this guard.”
Sir Geoffrey. How she hated him.
“And who are you?”
“I am their sister, Lady Delia Raynsford.”
His eyelids flickered. He was obviously surprised.
“Forgive us, Lady Delia, for our lack of decorum, but we have our orders and will do our duty.”
Delia gave him what she hoped was a look of utter disgust. She pushed past him, brushing him aside with her shoulder, then lifted her skirts and took the stairs two at a time to the second floor of the castle.
Chapter Two
What would life be like in her new home, married to the Duke of Wolfberg?
Magdalen’s cart jolted as they hit another hole in the road, knocking her nearly into the wooden side rail. She had begged her mother to let her ride her horse, but Mother said riding a horse all the way on a three-day journey was not appropriate for a lady. Did she think it was ladylike to ride in a cart for twelve hours a day, rattling her teeth every time a wheel found a dip in the road?
But no one argued with the Baroness of Mallin.
Erlich, who had served Magdalen’s family for years, rode his horse while his daughter, Agnes, walked. And Lenhart made up the fourth member of their group as he walked beside the mules who pulled Magdalen’s cart.