Swords and Shields (Reign of the House of de Winter) by Kathryn Le Veque

daughter… so what about the daughter? Already, he thought he knew the answer and he didn’t like it in the least. Not one bit. He cleared his throat softly.
    “As I recall, Your Highness, East Anglia had one child,” he said, trying not to sound ungrateful or hesitant. “I believe it was a daughter.”
    Edward knew where he was leading and he quickly met the subject head-on. “He does indeed,” he said. “Du Reims has asked me to find a husband for his daughter and that husband will be you. Through the daughter, you will inherit the earldom and all of her riches.”
    It was a tactical move on Edward’s part, making sure Drake understood the wealth that came with East Anglia in spite of him having to marry the heiress to get it. He could see the instant defiance rippling through de Winter’s expression, the resistance and displeasure. But Drake was also very good at masking what he was feeling so the flicker of emotions was just as quickly gone.
    “I am afraid that is impossible, Your Highness,” Drake finally said. “My mother and father have already brokered a marital contract for me with the House of Summerlin. In fact, I was due to marry the girl before your march to Scotland circumvented that.”
    Edward was unmoved. “I will offer Summerlin an attractive husband for his daughter,” he said without missing a breath. “You needn’t worry over that. I will inform du Reims that you will marry his daughter immediately and I will further inform him that I am gifting you and the future Lady de Winter with one of my holdings on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. Being that you are from Norfolk, do you know where Spexhall is?”
    Drake was reeling from the turn the conversation had taken but managed to nod. “I do,” he said. “It is on Norfolk’s border with Suffolk. There is a small keep there as I recall.”
    “It is yours,” Edward said. “You and the future Lady de Winter shall live there until such time as Christian du Reims passes away and you can take control of Thunderbey Castle, his seat. I will gift you with one thousand men for Spexhall Castle and you can garrison it for the crown. At the moment, it is a very small outpost under the command of Watcyn de Witt, but I expect you to take charge and become acquainted with the area you will one day rule over. You are now one of my commanders with the autonomy to administer justice for my subjects. At some point, I will more than likely make you Sheriff of the Shire, but for now, you will be the military power in that region. I trust these terms are acceptable, de Winter?”
    Drake didn’t know what to say other than the fact that there was no possibility that he could deny any of this. The king was gifting him with tremendous riches, all for saving the foolish Brittany, and Drake knew he could not refuse. It simply wasn’t done. Like it or not, in order to inherit the East Anglia earldom, which he realized he very badly wanted, he had to marry the heiress. Stunned, and overwhelmed, he simply nodded his head.
    “Aye, Your Highness,” he said.
    Edward smiled although there was no warmth or humor behind it. He was simply forcing a smile because the knight, who clearly wasn’t thrilled about the marriage part of the reward, had agreed to everything. The king drained what was left in his cup and stood up.
    “Take heart, young de Winter,” he said, putting his hand on Drake’s shoulder. “I hear that the heiress is quite beautiful. In fact, I have been rather curious for a glimpse of her myself. Even if she is a peckish shrew, mayhap her physical appearance will make up for it. Sometimes we must do things that are distasteful in order for a greater gain. That is how you should look at this.”
    Drake looked up at the man. “You have been most generous, Your Highness,” he said, though there was defeat in his tone. Greater gain, indeed! “My father will be greatly pleased, I am sure, as will my mother. But I would ask one thing, if I