walls. I suppose that will be my home when I do not ride with Henry.”
“ You will be so far away -- ” she began.
A hush seemed to fall over the room and Chandra turned to see Lady Udele enter the packed hall. Close behind her was Edwina and serving women whose position was to trail behind the great beauty. Alaric was the first to rise to greet her, placing a kiss on her hand. Udele smiled toward the many appreciative male glances and the crowd seemed to part magically to allow her passage. She finally came to pause before Conan and Chandra.
“ You have made me so proud today, Conan,” Udele said to her son.
Chandra almost sighed. Many a young maid hoped one day to have the beauty and grace of Lady Udele. Conan took his mother’s hand and brushed a kiss on its back.
Udele turned her attention to Chandra. “ I have a gift for you, and for Edythe. Where is she? Ah, fetch her for me, and you will find your gifts in my chamber. And hurry, for soon we begin the feast.”
Chandra curtsied and fled to find Edythe. Udele turned to her son. “ You’ve carried the day well, Conan. A word with you, I pray. I will not keep you from your friends long.”
Conan presented his arm to his mother, leading her toward the stair where others would not linger to listen.
“ Do my eyes deceive me, or are you smitten with young Chandra?” Udele asked with a raised brow.
“ Smitten? Madam, I assure you, I would not take advan tage of -- ”
“ Conan, do not misunderstand me! Of course you would not hurt the maid. But when you look fondly on any lass our breaths all stop, for we are eager for you to accept your bride. I thought perhaps you had chosen.”
“ I’ve pledged nothing, madam, but -- ”
“ Good, for there is another I would have you look to. Edwina is lovely and rich. Phalen will be hers and our lands could be joined to form one mighty holding.”
“ Edwina... ” he mused.
“ Edwina, of course. The dear child confessed she holds the hope that you will notice her, and the thought of it made my heart sail! To think of our family joined with Medwin’s! Mon dieu! I should not try to persuade you.”
Conan laughed and reached for his mother’s hand. “ And when, madam, have you fought that temptation?”
“ Do not laugh at me, Conan. I think only of your best interests. And I am concerned for the land Medwin holds.”
“ Why are you concerned?”
“ It lies close to our own, and Medwin is eager to have his oldest daughter married. Edwina is sweet and lovely and I fear he will not choose carefully for her.”
“ Medwin is not a fool. He will -- ”
“ He considers Tedric even now. If you are tempted by the maid and her dowry, you must speak soon: on this very day.”
Conan gave little thought to the bride, but the prospect of having Tedric as a landholder so close to Anselm brought a frown to his brow. Phalen was not as rich as Anselm, but in time Tedric could be nearly as powerful in wealth and arms as Conan.
“ I hardly know Edwina,” Conan said, his frown deepening.
“ You’ve known her all your life! And what need a man know of his future wife? Her wealth, family and willingness to give you heirs. Above that, if she is comely, virginal and willing, you have every measure of a man’s desire.”
As Udele spoke, Conan listened with half an ear. She judged his faraway expression and smiled inwardly. The seed had been planted. Now, if Edwina looked lovely tonight and put forth her best behavior ...
Udele looked past her son to see Edwina with some other maids. She wore a gunna of the softest blue, and her flaxen hair trailed down her back to fall in ringlets to her thighs. As she laughed with the other maids her face seemed to shine. She was a frail, petite beauty, one who would make Conan seem stronger and larger.
“ Should you choose to look further for a suitable mate, Conan, be certain that you will not regret giving her to Tedric,” Udele said softly to her son. Conan looked over his
“ You will be so far away -- ” she began.
A hush seemed to fall over the room and Chandra turned to see Lady Udele enter the packed hall. Close behind her was Edwina and serving women whose position was to trail behind the great beauty. Alaric was the first to rise to greet her, placing a kiss on her hand. Udele smiled toward the many appreciative male glances and the crowd seemed to part magically to allow her passage. She finally came to pause before Conan and Chandra.
“ You have made me so proud today, Conan,” Udele said to her son.
Chandra almost sighed. Many a young maid hoped one day to have the beauty and grace of Lady Udele. Conan took his mother’s hand and brushed a kiss on its back.
Udele turned her attention to Chandra. “ I have a gift for you, and for Edythe. Where is she? Ah, fetch her for me, and you will find your gifts in my chamber. And hurry, for soon we begin the feast.”
Chandra curtsied and fled to find Edythe. Udele turned to her son. “ You’ve carried the day well, Conan. A word with you, I pray. I will not keep you from your friends long.”
Conan presented his arm to his mother, leading her toward the stair where others would not linger to listen.
“ Do my eyes deceive me, or are you smitten with young Chandra?” Udele asked with a raised brow.
“ Smitten? Madam, I assure you, I would not take advan tage of -- ”
“ Conan, do not misunderstand me! Of course you would not hurt the maid. But when you look fondly on any lass our breaths all stop, for we are eager for you to accept your bride. I thought perhaps you had chosen.”
“ I’ve pledged nothing, madam, but -- ”
“ Good, for there is another I would have you look to. Edwina is lovely and rich. Phalen will be hers and our lands could be joined to form one mighty holding.”
“ Edwina... ” he mused.
“ Edwina, of course. The dear child confessed she holds the hope that you will notice her, and the thought of it made my heart sail! To think of our family joined with Medwin’s! Mon dieu! I should not try to persuade you.”
Conan laughed and reached for his mother’s hand. “ And when, madam, have you fought that temptation?”
“ Do not laugh at me, Conan. I think only of your best interests. And I am concerned for the land Medwin holds.”
“ Why are you concerned?”
“ It lies close to our own, and Medwin is eager to have his oldest daughter married. Edwina is sweet and lovely and I fear he will not choose carefully for her.”
“ Medwin is not a fool. He will -- ”
“ He considers Tedric even now. If you are tempted by the maid and her dowry, you must speak soon: on this very day.”
Conan gave little thought to the bride, but the prospect of having Tedric as a landholder so close to Anselm brought a frown to his brow. Phalen was not as rich as Anselm, but in time Tedric could be nearly as powerful in wealth and arms as Conan.
“ I hardly know Edwina,” Conan said, his frown deepening.
“ You’ve known her all your life! And what need a man know of his future wife? Her wealth, family and willingness to give you heirs. Above that, if she is comely, virginal and willing, you have every measure of a man’s desire.”
As Udele spoke, Conan listened with half an ear. She judged his faraway expression and smiled inwardly. The seed had been planted. Now, if Edwina looked lovely tonight and put forth her best behavior ...
Udele looked past her son to see Edwina with some other maids. She wore a gunna of the softest blue, and her flaxen hair trailed down her back to fall in ringlets to her thighs. As she laughed with the other maids her face seemed to shine. She was a frail, petite beauty, one who would make Conan seem stronger and larger.
“ Should you choose to look further for a suitable mate, Conan, be certain that you will not regret giving her to Tedric,” Udele said softly to her son. Conan looked over his
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