He must be his father’s son.
“I am honored to accept your pledge, Roland de Montvieux,” he said, speaking so clearly that his words carried over the company. He imagined his father might even hear them in his tomb. “I welcome your blade, your pledge and your counsel in ensuring the future of Montvieux.” He touched the blade to his brother’s shoulders, one after the other, then returned the blade to him. Roland replaced it in his sheath but remained on one knee until Amaury caught his brother’s hands within his own and raised him to his feet. He kissed Roland on one cheek and then the other, the pair of them smiling into each other’s eyes.
“Welcome home, Amaury,” Roland said quietly. “We have missed you indeed.”
“And I you,” Amaury said, catching his brother in another tight hug. His heart clenched in his chest and he felt his tears rise. He was home, and he would do all that he could do to make matters right again.
Over Roland’s shoulder, he saw Isabella, her features composed but her eyes shining with unshed tears. He nodded minutely to her and she smiled just a little.
When he and Roland stepped apart, Amaury realized that Sebastian stood behind Roland, his blade similarly offered on his hands. The entire company that followed Roland were in a line, prepared to swear themselves to him, and Amaury felt a profound gratitude that all should be thus.
Aye, now he was home.
The rebuilding of Montvieux began.
CHAPTER 6
The sons of Montvieux were the villains in the woods. Isabella was not truly surprised by this revelation, though she hoped that they would cease to be brigands now that Amaury had returned. Perhaps they had needed only direction and she was glad that they willingly pledged to Amaury’s command.
Even with the caveat that she did not command their loyalty. That detail stung. Isabella could not blame them for resenting her family, though she might have wished that matters might have been otherwise.
But then there was that destrier. Amaury’s brothers seemed to think that taking Denis’ horse was a playful jest, but she feared a harsh retaliation from her half-brother. Denis was not inclined to find amusement at any prank played at his expense.
She watched and listened as Amaury introduced his companions and his brothers introduced the men who followed them. Some of these warriors Amaury clearly recalled. There was much hearty shaking of hands and some laughter, all of which excluded her.
Once she had noticed her isolation, she could not overlook it – though the realization made her feel a shrew. Amaury hadbeen away for years. How could she begrudge his reunion with his brothers?
She might not have done as much if it had not felt like a portent of her future by his side. Even in that, she saw the shadow of her father’s lessons and she felt impatient with herself. What did she expect? That her new husband would defy expectation in every regard? That he would treat her as a partner and a lover both? Truly she had savored too many romantic tales. Marriage was an alliance and in this case, a reluctant one. Her merit to Amaury lay in bringing him sons and thus the seal of Montvieux.
Not even one night as his wife and she was already desirous of his every attention.
Isabella might be many things, but she would not be a fool.
“I would ride for Provins on the morrow,” Lothair said when the conversation slowed and Isabella looked up at this. “For the harvest will soon begin and I would learn of the preparations that are made afterward.”
Amaury was clearly unsurprised by this choice, and he explained the knight’s choice to his brothers. “Lothair rides to Provins to study under the apprenticeship of a great apothecary and thus increase his skills.”
“The roses,” Roland said, even as Isabella had the same thought.
Lothair nodded agreement. “They are used to heal so many conditions. I am most interested in learning more.”
“But I would not have you ride alone, given these tidings of bandits upon the roads of Montvieux,” Amaury said.
“We will not attack him,” Sebastian, the youngest brother, said. Though both favored Amaury, having the same striking coloring, and both wore spurs, an indication that they were knights, this one seemed more impulsive. He could not have been much older than Denis.
“Nay, I would have you escort him,” Amaury said firmly. His tone made sense when Isabella saw Sebastian’s inclination to refuse. “Consider that Lothair does not know the roads here so well as you do, which makes it more difficult for him to anticipate where best to halt for the night.” The youngest son of the house still appeared unconvinced. “I would ask you to do this, as a favor to me and a courtesy to my comrade. I also would ask you to seek out a mason, for we will need one to rebuild the keep.”
“In stone?” the two younger brothers asked in unison.
Amaury nodded. “I had plans to make improvements on my return, but now we shall start anew. You will be more likely to find good masons closer to Paris and do not send me inferior ones.”
Sebastian looked between Amaury and Lothair and his resistance visibly melted with the addition of this responsibility. He nodded once. “As you will,” he said to Amaury.
“I thank you, Sebastian,” Amaury said. “You might ask Lothair on your journey for advice on the traits of good masons, for he, too, has seen much in our travels.”
The conversation continued after that, ebbing and flowing with the exchange of tidings and laughter. Amaury appeared inclined to linger all night with his brothers, and he began to recount a tale of his adventures in Outremer. Isabella felt that she might not have been present at all. She sat in the chair that Philip had fetched for her again, Amaury’s heavy cloak over her shoulders and the stars overhead. She watched as the deer was skinned and the roasting began, listened as the men teased each other, aware that she might have been a thousand leagues away.
Unable to hear the tale clearly, Isabella’s thoughts wandered. She blamed the cooling in Amaury’s manner upon a reasonable desire to confer with his brothers. His loyalty lay with them first,above her, and though she could not blame him for the choice, she did not like it.