Velvet Touch. Catherine Archer

worse than Stephen had feared, and seeing it, he was convinced that he was not going to have an easy time of it. But he also knew that no matter how Lord Grayson reacted at the moment, he had to come to see that he had little or no choice in this. King Edward would brook no defiance to his decree.

      What Stephen had to do now was handle the situation with as much delicacy as possible. He could understand that Lord Grayson might be disturbed at this news and had no small amount of sympathy for him. Carefully he returned the king’s order to his sleeve. Lord Grayson clearly was in no state to read it. The knight knew that what he said now could make the difference between an ultimately peaceful outcome and a disastrous one. He chose his words carefully. “I can see, my lord, that this news has come as an unhappy surprise to you. I must tell you though that I cannot allow you to defy King Edward’s instructions. As his messenger it is my duty to see his orders carried through. I can only hope that you will have some understanding of where my duty and loyalty must he and not force me into a position that would be impossible for me by defying the king.”

      Lord Grayson looked at Stephen with rising anger. “You inform me that I am to marry my only daughter to that barbarian, and then you have the temerity to tell me not to put you in an impossible position.”

      With deliberate concentration Stephen forced himself to remain seated as Lord Grayson went on.

      “How dare you come here and ask this of me! How dare the king send you! He has no understanding of the problems we have faced trying to live here next to these people. They raid my lands, burn my crops and my buildings. ’Tis untenable.”

      Calmly Stephen answered his tirade. “I can see that you feel strongly on this matter. But I can only add that there must be some way to go forward with His Majesty’s proposal. What has been going on for all these years must be brought to a halt.”

      “Even if I was willing to cry pax with the Welsh—” Lord Grayson glared at him “—they would not. And offering them my daughter will not gain that peace. They resent English rule to the point of hatred. Truth to tell, they would never even agree to hear such a proposal. They are too occupied with planning raids on my land and people.”

      Stephen steepled his fingers under his chin for a thoughtful moment. Perhaps what the other man said was true, but he also wondered if anyone had ever tried to speak to them about a truce. Then he looked up at Richard Grayson with arched brows. “If I were to bring about a cessation of these hostile activities, you could then feel more inclined to talk with Wynn ap Dafydd on the matter of his marriage to your daughter?”

      Richard scoffed. “’Twould not happen.”

      Stephen shrugged. He knew much could be accomplished if one set his mind to it, even that which seemed impossible. It was something his father had always told him, and Stephen attempted to live by that creed. “I think you may leave that to me. I must also tell you that such an agreement on the part of your enemy wouldst of necessity have to be abided by on both sides.”

      “What do you mean, sir?”

      “I mean, my lord, that you would also need stop any such activities as you have complained of.”

      Richard Grayson had the grace to look uncomfortable for a moment, then he smiled unpleasantly, his gray brows drawn together. “I will agree to abide by such a plan. But I must tell you, sir, that you are a foolhardy knight. The Welsh will in fact kill you before you can even present such a plan. Neither Wynn nor any of his folk have any respect for English law. King Edward’s part in this plan will be as nothing to them. They understand nothing of honor and would not abide by any agreement entered into with those they consider their enemy.”

      Stephen shrugged. “As I said, you must leave that to me.”

      Richard looked at the younger man long and hard, then said, “Aye, I will leave it to you then. Know you that I will not assist you in this farce. If you must treat with the Welsh, it will be by your own wits. I will not help you to perpetrate this action against myself and my family.”

      Stephen frowned. “As you will, my lord.” It was not what he wanted to hear, but Stephen refused to allow himself to become worried. A glimmer of a plan was forming in his mind, and he had no need of Lord Grayson’s assistance to set it in motion. Later, once the baron had become accustomed to the notion of his daughter marrying Wynn ap Dafydd he would surely relax this hardened stance.

      In truth Richard Grayson had no choice. He held these lands and keep by virtue of the king. In the end he must do as ordered, or risk losing all.

      But Stephen did not mind giving him some time to adjust to the truth of the situation.

      Slowly Richard reseated himself, putting his face in his hands as he did so. Then he looked at Stephen with an expression that could only be interpreted as sympathetic. “You have no idea what a task you yave set for yourself, young man.”

      “What mean you?” Stephen asked him, surprised at this new turn of attitude. Surely he did not think Stephen needed to be further warned in the difficulty of convincing the Welsh to comply?

      “I mean, sir, that even if you were to convince Wynn to go along with this scheme, which is nigh impossible enough, then you must face another even more insurmountable obstacle.”

      This time it was Stephen who frowned. “You talk in riddles, my lord.”

      “I speak of my dear wife.” There was a hint of bitterness in the older man’s tone. “The Lady Mary has her own plans for Fellis’s future and she will not be easily deterred. And you will gain no ally in my daughter, either, for she has agreed to go along with her mother’s wishes.”

      Stephen relaxed back in his seat. The man might be overconcerned with his wife’s wishes; Stephen was not. Not that he planned to leave this situation with enemies at his back. He simply knew there was a way to work around this new impediment. The girl’s mother must simply be brought to see the wisdom of complying with the king’s decision.

      Surely they would all come to understand that King Edward has proposed a very sound solution to the problems Lord Grayson had been complaining of for years. He was clearly ready to have the feuding at an end.

      If they but considered, a marriage between the two houses might not be so very disagreeable. Once a babe was born to the young couple, attitudes would be greatly changed on both sides, Welsh and English.

      Thus it was with slight amusement in his tone that Stephen asked. “What then is your wife’s plan for the girl’s future?” Then suddenly a rough edge crept into his voice as an unpleasant thought occurred to him. “You have not contracted for another marriage without notifying King Edward of the fact?”

      Richard raised his hand in denial. “Nay, I wouldst not.”

      Again Stephen settled back. “Then, beyond your troubles with the Welsh what could possibly hinder the proposed marriage?”

      The older man’s expression remained closed. “That, Sir Knight, I will allow you to see for yourself.”

      Without another word, Lord Richard beckoned the serving woman to him. When she arrived, he said, “Go and ask my lady wife to attend me here in the hall. And tell her I wish for her to bring our daughter with her.” He stopped her then as she prepared to leave, his eyes stern. “And make no mention of what you heard here.”

      The woman nodded briefly, then hurried off. She was making an obvious effort not to look in Stephen’s direction, but her expression was resentful.

      Stephen could see that this news had come as an unpleasant surprise for those at Malvern. In time they must all come to accept it.

      As she left, Stephen realized that sending for the girl was a good idea. He would have need to gauge her reaction to the king’s wishes. Mayhap the girl would not be as set against the plan as her parents. That would be of great help to his cause, for in the end she was the one who must agree to the marriage.

      While they waited, Stephen did try but was unable to gain any further information from the Lord of Malvern. The baron seemed to take an almost