A Tournament Knight Read online

  A Tournament Knight

  By

  Marisa Chenery

  © copyright by Marisa Chenery, Nov 2007

  Cover art by Alex DeShanks, Nov 2007

  ISBN 978-1-60394-106-8

  New Concepts Publishing

  Lake Park, GA 31636

  www.newconceptspublishing.com

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

  ?

  For my father, Ray Chenery, who passed on his love of writing

  to me.

  My husband, Ray Martin and my kids Dylan, Troy, Shane and Roxanne

  who are always there for me.

  And to the real Jacqueline, Jackie Kitchen, who wouldn't let

  me give up on my dream.

  Chapter One

  Isle of Wight

  Carisbrooke Castle

  July 1389

  "Give me one good reason why I cannot go. That is all I ask."

  "You know very well I have my reasons why. I will speak of this with you no further, Jacqueline."

  Jacqueline Montacute repressed the urge to stamp her foot in frustration. Her mother was being stubborn, but Jacqueline could be just as stubborn when pushed.

  "I know why it is you do not want me to go, mother. He is going to be there, is he not?"

  Elizabeth Montacute, Countess of Salisbury and Lady of Isle of Wight, sighed deeply. She knew how frustrated her daughter was with the restrictions placed upon her. But they had been made to protect her. The 'he', Jacqueline spoke of was her father, William Montacute, Earl of Salisbury and the absent Lord of Isle of Wight.

  William was seven and ten years older than herself, and Elizabeth was not his first choice of a bride. His first marriage had been to Lady Joan Plantagent, who was also known as the Fair Maid of Kent.

  In 1349, William had married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John, Lord Mohun of Dunster. After impregnating her, William had left her on the Isle and never returned, which suited Elizabeth very well. Theirs was no love match by any means.

  "Aye, your father will be at Windsor. That is the main reason I forbid you to go to the tournament with your brother."

  Jacqueline felt nothing but disgust at the mere thought of her father. The stunt he had pulled two years before still left a bitter taste on her tongue.

  Thinking to further himself, he had contracted marriages for both his children. With her brother, William and herself being twins, their father decided at age nine and ten, they were both of an age to wed. William's marriage had ended up being a blessing. Her brother loved his young wife dearly. And Beth FitzAllen was devoted to William.

  The earl had contracted the marriage of his only son with Beth's father, Richard, Earl of Arundel, without the knowledge of his wife. He had also done the same for his daughter. The match had not been to her liking, nor had Jacqueline's mother been prepared to meekly accept what her husband had done.

  Her chosen bridegroom had been thirty years older than her nine and ten. He was Forwin De La Mare, Earl of Somerset. Besides being older, Forwin was obese and known for his cruelty to his past wives. All four of them.

  Jacqueline was exactly what he preferred in a wife, beautiful and in the peak of health. With her waist-length wavy auburn hair, vivid turquoise blue eyes, and a perfect face to match, Forwin had found her ripe for the picking. He had practically licked his lips in anticipation when he came to look her over before signing the marriage contract. That Jacqueline at five feet nine inches towered over him by three inches had not concerned him at all.

  She had felt physically sick when Forwin had presented himself at the castle. She had known in that instant, that she would never bind herself to such a man.

  So her mother had come up with the ruse to foil her husband's plans. It had been drastic, but it assured Jacqueline would never be bothered by any such goings on again.

  They had faked her death, even going so far as to place a headstone in the family cemetery with her supposed date of death inscribed upon it. It was assumed by all concerned that Forwin would want proof, and they were correct in their thinking. A week after receiving word of Jacqueline's supposed demise he arrived at the Isle to see for himself. It had not taken much effort on her part to avoid him. The man had taken one look at the headstone and then promptly left.

  Now, to the rest of the world off the Isle, Jacqueline Montacute was no more.

  "But mother, I can do what I have done in the past when I have been to other tournaments with William and Beth. No one has ever questioned whether I was Beth's maid or not." She had never been to Windsor and was determined not to miss out on experiencing it.

  Lady Elizabeth felt for her daughter. Jacqueline was forced to miss so much of life outside of the safety of the Isle. But what was done, was done, and could not be undone.

  Reaching out, Elizabeth tucked a wayward curl back behind her daughter's ear and looked into her eyes, hoping to convey that her mind could not be changed. No matter how much she was to pushed to do just that.

  Jacqueline was so much like herself at that age in appearance. To be truthful, both of her children took after her. William and Jacqueline looked so much alike that, when they were really young, they had tried switching clothes to see if anyone noticed. Which no one did, to the twins delight.

  "Jacqueline, no more of this. The discussion is pointless. The other tournaments were different. Your father was not present and they were only small affairs compared to what Windsor will be like. Now go and leave me in peace for a while."

  Leaving her mother in the hall, Jacqueline went in search of her brother and his wife. If they could be swayed to her side, maybe the three of them could change her mother's mind.

  * * * *

  Carisbrooke Castle was the only home Jacqueline knew. The castle itself was seven acres including the earthworks surrounding it and had been built atop earlier Roman and Saxon defenses.

  Inside the walls were a keep, chapel and a one hundred and sixty foot deep well, situated in the middle of the bailey.

  Jacqueline now skirted past the well and, knowing where her brother and his wife were, she headed straight to the tilting grounds. Sure enough, as she drew closer, she could make out Beth's form standing on the sidelines.

  Moving to stand next to her sister by marriage, Jacqueline watched William take a run at the quintain. He hit the target with his outstretched lance. He must have hit it squarely. If not the weighted arm would have swung around with enough velocity to unseat him. William went past still firmly seated in his saddle as the arm swung harmlessly aside.

  Both women cheered for him as he turned about and rode to where they stood watching. Dismounting, William pulled off his helmet. Finding his sister next to his wife, he began to chuckle.

  "No luck with mother I see."

  Jacqueline huffed and shook her head in response. "She will not be moved by any of my reasons for going with you."

  William flashed her a brilliant smile. "I wonder why not. Maybe it is because she knows you never think far enough ahead to see the trouble you get yourself in to."

  Balling up her fist, Jacqueline punched her brother in the arm. She instantly regretted it when she made contact with the steel plating of his armor. Shaking her bruised knuckles, she glared at him when he chuckled once more.

  "Are you saying you agree with her, William? I thought you, of all people, would take my side in this."

  Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, William pulled her to his side. "Jacqueline, mother is right. Windsor is too risky. There will be too many people there. All it would take would be one of them to see how closely my wi
fe's maid and I look alike."

  Jacqueline could not argue with that. Though he was male, William only stood an inch taller than she. They both had the same turquoise blue eyes and slightly wavy auburn hair. Jacqueline wore hers to her waist. Her brother kept his trimmed to the nape of his neck.

  Being twins, they were very close. When younger, they were inseparable. Whatever the one did, the other had to try, as well, with Jacqueline being the more adventurous of the two.

  At one and ten, she thought nothing of putting on William's clothes and taking part in lessons in swordplay.. Such activities had come to an end the year before. Lady Elizabeth could no longer abide her only daughter dressing as a man or acting as a knight would.

  "And you Beth, do you agree with William and mother?"

  Beth, only ten and seven, could make Jacqueline feel much younger than she was. All it took was a certain look Beth used when she thought Jacqueline was being unreasonable, a look most mothers seemed to develop in their dealings with their offspring. Since Beth and William had no children, Jacqueline could only guess how her sister by marriage came by it. Standing at only five feet four inches, Beth seemed not to care that she had to look up at Jacqueline to give her such a look either.

  "Jacqueline, there will be other tournaments. Think of how your mother would feel if anything happened to you."

  "Must you do that, play upon my emotions like I am some thoughtless child?"

  Beth's tinkling laughter filled the air. "If not me, then who else?"

  Jacqueline could not help but join in Beth's laughter. She could never bring herself to be annoyed with William's wife. She was one of those people who were just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Jacqueline loved her as a true sister and had from their first meeting. Just as William had. He had not been able to stop staring at her beautiful heart shaped face, small pert nose and ruby red lips. Massive amounts of long light blonde hair and pure green eyes made up the rest of Beth.

  In exasperation, Jacqueline threw up her arms. "Fine, you all win. I will stay on the Isle with mother. But I will miss you both terribly."

  William once more pulled his sister to his side and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "It is not as if we will be gone forever. It is only for a fortnight."

  "Just promise me William, you will be careful. I have a feeling not all will be as it should. If anything happens to you …."

  Placing a finger on Jacqueline's lips, William silenced her before she could complete the sentence. "I am coming back, Jacqueline. I promise you."

  "You swear?"

  William kissed the tip of her nose. "I swear."

  * * * *

  She knew something was wrong. It was just a gut feeling she had, but it would not go away. Jacqueline had felt on edge ever since the day William and Beth left the Isle. In the beginning, she had come to the conclusion this feeling was caused by the separation from her twin. But now, almost two weeks into her brother's absence, it was even stronger.

  Trying to quell the foreboding feelings, she climbed up to the castle walls. William was to have returned home two days ago. Hoping to catch a glimpse of his return, she walked the walls for hours at a time.

  Pacing in a gown was not a particularly easy thing to do either. Jacqueline missed the freedom of the male clothes she wore during arms training. Every time she turned she had to push the skirt of her gown out of the way, or she would become entangled in its length. Besides, a gown was too stifling to wear in early August, with too many layers. Bad enough the gown had tight fitting long sleeves, which helped to keep her body heat in but to have to don an under gown beneath it made it all that much worse. If given the choice, Jacqueline would gladly never wear a gown again, ever. She much preferred the tunic and hose in which William, and every other man, garbed themselves.

  After completing her first circuit of the walls, she stopped at one of the twin towers attached to the gatehouse. She searched for any sign of travelers approaching the castle. Squinting against the sun's bright rays, Jacqueline focused intently on what were slowly becoming discernable shapes in the distance.

  Realizing her eyes were indeed not playing tricks on her, Jacqueline raced down the steps to the bailey below.

  Setting off at a run, she crossed the bailey and went to find her mother, who was inside the hall. Seeing her daughter enter the large room out of breath, Lady Elizabeth smiled.

  "William has returned?"

  Jacqueline took a few deep breaths, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. "I did not see for sure, but who else can it be? We are not expecting visitors."

  Lady Elizabeth took her daughter's hand. "Now you will see all your worrying was for naught. William was more than likely delayed for a very good reason."

  "I suppose you are right, mother."

  "I know I am right."

  Releasing Jacqueline's hand, both women left the hall and went to stand in the middle of the bailey.

  They did not have long to wait. A few minutes later, the men-at-arms who had accompanied William to Windsor, passed through the raised portcullises. Following behind was Beth. William was nowhere to be seen.

  Grabbing the bridle of Beth's horse, Jacqueline pulled it to a halt. "Where is William? Is he back with the baggage cart again? Making sure his precious armor is not getting scratched."

  Her sister-in-law did not respond, causing Jacqueline to look up into the other girl's face. It was then she noticed the trail of tears streaming down Beth's face.

  Jacqueline felt her gut clench. Her feelings had not been so unfounded after all. Something had happened to William. "Where is William, Beth?" When the girl still remained silent, she released the bridle and took hold of Beth's leg and squeezed it. "Answer me! Where is William?" she shouted up at her.

  At the rumbling sound of the baggage cart entering the bailey, Jacqueline released Beth and rushed over to it. The closer she came, the more intensified the feeling of having lost a part of herself became.

  Her whole being centered on the covered form lying in the middle of the cart. It felt like the world had fallen away, with only herself and the cart in existence. Jacqueline did not notice her mother come to help Beth to dismount, then pull the girl into her arms. She did not hear her mother softly crying. All that mattered was what lay in the cart.

  With a shaking hand, Jacqueline pulled back the blanket which completely covered what the cart carried. As William's face was revealed, she knew he was dead. His face was too pale. It showed none of the laughter he was always so quick to share. Feeling as if her heart was being ripped from her body, Jacqueline slowly backed away from the cart. She could not accept this. That could not be William.

  "Nay.....nay, William cannot be gone. He promised to come home to me. He has never broken his word to me, ever."

  Her mother tried to take her into her arms, to offer comfort. Jacqueline roughly shrugged out of her embrace. Seeing Beth standing on her own, she grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Tell me, tell me how this happened!" When Beth did not answer promptly, she shook her again.

  Her mother stopped her from shaking the girl again. "Enough, Jacqueline! Can you not see she is distraught? She just lost her husband. She grieves as much as we do."

  "I need to know, mother." Lady Elizabeth could see her daughter was very close to falling completely apart.

  "Beth, I think it best you tell Jacqueline." Holding back her own tears, Lady Elizabeth once more held her daughter by marriage in her arms, hoping it would be enough to give the girl strength to tell what had to be said.

  Beth wiped her tears away, only to have more flow. This would be the most painful thing she had ever done, but Jacqueline needed to know. Even through her tears, she could see William's twin was perched on a very precarious precipice emotionally. Knowing, if she did not get some answers soon she would quite possibly shatter was the only reason Beth found the strength to tell the tale.

  "William was unseated when his competitor's lance shattered. A large piece of i
t managed to enter his neck, just where his helm and collar of his breastplate meet." Beth swallowed back the urge to dissolve into a fit of weeping. The images her telling brought to mind of what had happened to William was almost too much to bear.

  "A physician removed the piece of broken lance. He even said William would recover, but wound fever soon set in. When William's condition began to deteriorate even more, I had him placed in the baggage cart. I thought if I could just get him home to the Isle all would be well again." Beth could say no more as her grief overtook her. Turning in her mother-in-law's arms, she buried her face in Lady Elizabeth's shoulder and started to weep in earnest.

  Jacqueline had stood dry-eyed as Beth related the details of William's death. She still could not shed a tear. If she did now, she knew she would never be able to stop. Someone had to be the strong one. Someone had to keep their head. Even though it seemed Beth had told the whole tale, she had neglected to tell the most relevant piece of information. Against whom had William tilted with and paid with his life?

  "Beth, who did my brother tilt with?" she asked in a monotone.

  The girl brought her weeping back under control once more. She did not want Lady Elizabeth or Jacqueline to know, but she could not keep it from them. They had a right to know.

  Looking into Jacqueline's eyes, Beth hoped this would not push her over the edge. "William tilted against the earl, your father."

  Lady Elizabeth gasped and felt all the blood drain from her face. The earl had to have known who William was. How could he have jousted with his son, his heir? She could understand William wanting to meet the earl in the list, wanting to prove to his father he was a man, but the earl was another story. He had nothing to prove. He already held sway over William.

  Watching her daughter, Lady Elizabeth could see Jacqueline's face harden. She did not weep as William's wife did. If anything she seemed to be totally lacking any emotion at all. It was like looking at a mask which someone wore to hide from the world.