The Valcourt Heiress (Medieval Song 7)

“Tell me, Merry, how did you recognize Sir Halric?”

She stood before him, dumb as a post.

“How did you know he was Jason of Brennan’s man?” He saw her swallow hard. “You are somehow tied to these men, are you not? Have you told anyone who you are?”

“I asked Aleric if I could wait to tell you first.”

“Good. Aleric, leave us.” He raised his voice to shout to everyone in the inner bailey, nearly full now, with people, his people, “We are home. Furly and Radstock are both loyal to us. You have all done very well, and I thank you.”

No one wanted to move. Everyone knew something important was happening that involved Merry and Lord Garron, but Aleric ordered them back to their jobs, and no one would dare to disobey Aleric.

Garron studied her a moment. “I will not turn you away, Merry, not after you have done so much for Wareham. Tell me, are you Jason of Brennan’s wife? Did you run away from him? Did he send Sir Halric to fetch you home? But how did he know where to find you?”

He’d reached the most awesome conclusion. “Jason of Brennan is not my husband. I am not wed.”

“All right,” he said, and waited. He watched her wring her hands. He’d never seen Merry do that.

Her words poured out in a flood. “My mother sold me to Jason of Brennan. When I found out I was to be wedded to him, I ran away. Sir Halric is his man. He caught me, made me wear boy’s clothes. I was the boy you saved in Clandor Forest.”

Aleric hadn’t stepped all that far away and Garron could hear him suck in his breath. Merry and that scruffy boy were one and the same? No, it was too outlandish, impossible—

“I really am the boy you saved, my lord,” she said again, searching his face.

Garron said, “Why did you not come out when I called out to you?”

“I did not know who you were. You could have saved me merely to take me yourself. And I was puking up my innards from being hit on the head.”

“But then you decided to follow me?”

“Aye, I’m not entirely stupid.”

He gave a fleeting smile. “No, you are not. You slipped into Wareham?”

She nodded. “Miggins and Lisle took care of me.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I told them I would fix Wareham if they would help me. They believed me. Lisle had some of Lady Anne’s gowns hidden beneath the stones in the lord’s chamber. She gave them to me. They spoke to all the people, and everyone agreed to say I was the castle priest’s bastard. Because you fed everyone that first night, I believe they were ready to give me a chance as well.”

“You told no one who you were?”

“No.”

“Who are you, Merry? What is your real name?”

“My name is Marianna.”

“Marianna. Well, that is a nice name.”

“You will not like the rest of it. Garron, I am very sorry.”

He lifted his hands to her shoulders, shook her slightly. “I know you are not the Queen of England. What matter then? Tell me.”

She looked briefly heavenward, swallowed, then said finally, “My name is Marianna de Luce de Mornay. I’ve heard I am called the Valcourt Heiress.”

For an instant, his mind was blank. He stared down at her, his brows drawn together. Then his mind filled with the knowledge of her. Slowly, carefully, he set her away from him.

“I see,” he said.