Once Upon a Castle - Jill Gregory [86]
At Felicity’s look of surprise, she continued. “Falcon’s Lair was a gift from the king. It is said he often came here to hunt with his friend and to play tennis. And, of course, to be entertained by the ladies. Falcon’s Lair has a fascinating history. I’ve made it my life’s work to study it.”
“How did the first Lord Falcon…?” Felicity couldn’t bring herself to say the word.
“Die?” Before waiting for an assent from the young woman beside her, Maud Atherton went on. “He accepted the offer of a duel with his brother, Adrian.”
“His own brother?”
“Half brother, actually. Adrian was a bastard. He coveted Falcon’s Lair and complained to all who would listen that had he not been born on the wrong side of the blanket, Falcon’s Lair would have been his.”
“He was willing to kill for it?”
“He wanted much more than Falcon’s Lair. It is rumored that Gareth loved Cara, a maiden from the village, and she in turn loved him. To taunt his brother, Adrian boasted that he would kill Gareth and force Cara to marry him instead. Falcon’s Lair would pass to Adrian’s descendants, since Gareth had none of his own.”
“Couldn’t Gareth save his ladylove from Adrian?”
“He desperately wanted to. He was an excellent swordsman and a fierce warrior. But instead of a fight between the two of them, Adrian sent an army to do his fighting for him. Gareth was forced to remain at Falcon’s Lair to protect the lives of his retainers and tenant farmers. That is, after all, the duty of the lord of the manor. It caused Gareth even greater sadness, knowing his honor and duty had to come before love. So he stayed, even though he knew that he would lose forever the woman who owned his heart.”
Felicity held her candle higher, to see the sad, tormented eyes of the man in the portrait.
“It is rumored that Gareth roams these halls still. Though the betrayal occurred centuries ago, he refuses to accept his eternal reward because he is haunted by the thought of his beloved bearing another man’s son.”
“You mean Adrian made good his threat?”
“Aye.” Maud pointed to the next portrait. “Alexander, son of Adrian and Cara. Thus, all who rule Falcon’s Lair are descended from Adrian instead of Gareth.”
For long minutes the two women fell silent, each caught up in the drama that, after all these centuries, still held them in its thrall.
As the housekeeper started to turn away, Felicity touched a hand to her sleeve.
“Mrs. Atherton, I know you must be tired after the full day you’ve put in here at Falcon’s Lair. Thank you for taking so much time with me.”
The woman glanced down at her hand, then up into Felicity’s eyes, all the while pursing her lips in a tight, thoughtful line. “I am never too weary to talk to anyone who truly cares about those who dwell at Falcon’s Lair.” She seemed to consider for a moment, then gave voice to her thoughts. “If you wish to learn more, there is a book. ‘Tis old and dusty and difficult to read, since it is handwritten. It is the history of Falcon’s Lair, and it resides on the highest shelf in the library, beside the family Bible. Few save me know of its existence.”
Was that a spark of…friendship in the older woman’s eyes? Felicity could have hugged her. Maud Atherton turned away, and within minutes Felicity was alone, with the portraits of all the lords of Falcon’s Lair staring down at her.
It was that rare hour between darkness and dawn. A soft pearl mist seemed to cover the land. The world was at rest.
Felicity sat on a stone bench in the garden, poring over the pages of the Falcon family history. Just as Maud Atherton had promised, it was all here. Births, deaths, wars. Those who had loved. Those who had lost. Recorded by those who had lived here and had witnessed it all firsthand.
As she turned another page she felt the heat. It seemed to shimmer in waves, until she was forced to lower her shawl.
She knew, without looking around, that Gareth had approached.
Setting the book aside, she turned to him. “Why didn’t you tell me that someone was trying to harm Lord Falcon?”
“By all that is holy, woman,” he said, his