Chapter 9
In the morning as she slept, Benjamin gently eased himself from Anne's arms and crawled out of bed. He looked down at the young girl. The covers were pulled to her waist and both breasts were exposed. She had not felt him moving and she was still sound asleep. Benjamin smiled and realized that he had tired her out. He could barely move himself. He quietly left the room, shutting the door behind him, and went to the kitchen to wash up.
As he went outside, he sucked the cool morning air into his lungs. This was the type of day that you would buy, if you had to buy your days. Fall was just starting and the first frost had not hit yet. The leaves had started to change, painting the landscape with a myriad of earthy colors. The birds were singing loudly, staking out their territories and hunting for the food that would get scarcer as the weather changed. Benjamin surveyed his estate. Life was good.
He was about to start for the stable when he heard the sound of hoof beats in the distance. It sounded like three or more horses coming fast. Benjamin stepped back into the house and strapped on his sword and stuck a dagger in his waistcloth. As he stepped back outside he saw that there were four riders, three soldiers and his father. The speed at which they traveled suggested some urgency.
The horses were reined in and stable boys held the horses while the riders dismounted. Benjamin motioned for the stable boys to water and cool down the horses. His father walked to him and threw his arms around Benjamin.
"My son, you have to get to the castle immediately. The King request s your presence as soon as possible. There is trouble. Three Spanish merchant vessels have disappeared after sailing for our lands and the Spanish are accusing us of plundering them and sinking them. There is talk of war. The King wishes you to go to the Spanish court and use your wiles to talk some sense into Spain. We know nothing about the disappearance of the merchant vessels. You do not have time to delay your departure for the castle. If you leave now, you will reach the castle before dark. A ship is being readied for your journey to Spain at this minute. Go!"
"Father, the Lady Nora and Lady Anne are my house guests. They are still asleep and I would like to inform them of the reason for my absence."
"Benjamin, the King demands that you leave immediately. I will inform them of your plight and will see to their welfare until they wish to go back to the castle. Get fresh horses for the soldiers and yourself and leave now."
The urgency in his father's voice struck him and he ran to the stables, barking orders to the stable boys. Within a half an hour the four horsemen, Benjamin and the three soldiers, were on their way to the castle.
Benjamin's father went into the house and ordered the cook to prepare food for him. As he waited for the food to be prepared, he went outside to enjoy the fresh air. His son was doing well. The estate was one of the finest in the kingdom and the pride of ownership showed. The servants, field help and stable help seemed to be reasonably well cared for and happy. The animals were healthy and clean. Anything that needed repair was tended to promptly.
Brian heard footsteps and turned to see the Lady Nora approaching him. She was smiling and held out her hand to him. This was another man that she should have on her side.
"The cook has prepared your food and has set a place for you in the dining room. Please take my hand and go with me as I am famished also."
The Earl let the young woman lead him into the dining room. He held her chair as she sat down and he sat next to her and reached for the food. The cook had prepared beef, fried apples and beans. Fresh bread was on the table, as bread was baked every day.
"The cook tells me that Benjamin was called to the castle on urgent business this morning. What is wrong?"
"Do not worry, Lady Nora, just some diplomatic matters that have to be taken care of. Benjamin will have to go to Spain for a few months for some talks."
Nora's heart sank and then her spirits brightened. She had started to worried that she would not be able to win Benjamin away from Anne, but this just might work out better. He would be away from Anne for months and his ardor will cool and Nora would be able to renew her efforts to win his affections. She could not get the vision of he and Anne walking to his bedroom in the night, thinking that no one saw them. She would make sure that Anne and Benjamin never had a chance to get together again.
A thought came to her and a smile crossed her lips. She turned her head to make sure that Lord Brian did not see her smile, wicked as it was. She had to talk to Ahgur and convince him that it was time for Anne to wed. Ronald, Duke of Weldon, would be the ideal husband for her. He had just lost his wife and he needed a wife to comfort him. At 55 he was still active and was well respected in the court. Nora knew that Anne did not like him, but that would be of little consequence. The Duke would tame her and that would get Anne out of Nora's hair.
Anne walked into the dining room, as they were finishing. She refused any of the food and ran outside to find Benjamin. She returned minutes later with a concerned look on her face.
"The stable boy tells me that Benjamin has been called to the castle on urgent business."
"Yes, he will have to go to Spain few a few months. Some diplomatic mess to clean up," Lord Brian said.
"No," Anne yelled and ran from the room.
Brian looked at Nora, "I think the Lady Anne is smitten with my son. Pity, she will never snag that one. He is a wild horse that will never be tamed."
Nora smiled and thought that the Duke of Weldon was very wrong. Nora knew that she was just the woman to tame Benjamin.
Anne ran to the stable and ordered the stable boy to prepare her horse. She gave him a quick lash with her riding crop when she felt that he was dawdling. She was perplexed that Benjamin would have such dolts in his employ.
She took off for the far end of the estate and drove the mare as fast as she dared over the fields. When she was as far away from the house as possible, she alighted and let the reins drop. The mare started to graze and, after a while, went to the stream to drink. Anne sat down to think. She knew that the King thought well of Benjamin, but she was still furious with the King and his silly politics. Benjamin had no right to go to Spain and leave her. She smiled and her hand went to her stomach. If their lovemaking had started a child growing inside of her, they would be wed when he returned.
Her teenaged mind started to ponder what plots the King and Nora were cooking up. Was the King trying to keep them apart? Was Nora trying to keep Benjamin for herself, she knew that Nora fancied him. Benjamin would never go for Nora, he liked women with character and Nora had none. The tears started to flow. It was almost dark before she cried herself out. She rode back to the stable slowly.
Anne went right to her room and went to bed. Nora and Brian ate a leisurely dinner and talked for several hours. Brian was pleased that Nora thought that her husband was weird and he decided to try and work his way into her bed that night.
After Brian closed up the house, he made his way to Nora's bedroom and knocked on the door. He had checked often to be sure that the servants did not observe. His son was just like the father, quite an appetite for the ladies. Both of them had considerable success with the women.
"Lady Nora, is there anything that you required before I turn in? Should I put more logs on the fire?"
Nora sat up in bed and the cover "accidentally" slipped down exposing her breast. She smiled and slowly pulled the cover back over her. Lord Brian walked over to the bed and leaned over and kissed her. She put her hand on the back of his head and held him, as she returned his kiss, not bothering to cover her breasts.
Brian undressed and crawled in beside the naked young woman. Nora
smiled, this would teach Benjamin to stray from her.