Siege Of the Heart by Elise Cyr Page A

to handle the situation.
    They led the horses outside and mounted in silence. Isabel pulled up the hood of her cloak and spurred her horse forward, beyond the palisade walls and along a snow-covered road. One of her men-at-arms followed at a discreet distance. They held a moderate pace before she finally reined her horse to a stop.
    “As you can see from here,” she began, her face seemingly devoid of emotion, “my father’s castle is but a few miles west of the village of Ashdown. The town of Gloucester is due south of here. A day’s ride.” He wondered what it cost her to hide her irritation with him.
    The castle was well situated on a small hill with a good vantage in all directions. Even in the distance, Alex could make out the wooden palisade that enclosed the bailey and motte castle. “My lady, I confess I was surprised to find your father has begun renovating the castle with stone.”
    “Yes, we have begun with the walls of the hall and the motte itself. Next summer, we plan to reinforce the palisade with stone. Someday, my father hopes to move the living quarters into the tower.”
    “My father’s castle is designed in much the same manner.” He examined the castle in the distance once more. “Lord Dumont should be proud of what he has accomplished here. William was disappointed to find so few English lords built proper fortifications.” He thanked God Dumont had already brought Norman architecture and sensibilities to Ashdown for it would reduce the burden on Alex to improve the holding in order to meet William’s standards.
    Isabel nodded in agreement. “Many English castles have been built on top of hillside forts and other sites dating back to the Romans. My father had different plans. He was convinced stone was necessary, given how close we are here to the Welsh border. It was also his idea to add a second story to the hall for our rooms and living spaces. An uncommon idea at the time.”
    “But the added space provides much comfort and privacy.”
    “Indeed. I enjoy retiring to my solar every night. I am able to escape members of the household and our guests for a few hours. Especially the unwanted ones,” she said with a sharp look at him.
    He grinned at the barb. Eyes narrowing, she abruptly wheeled her mount and did not bother to see if he followed.
    They spent the rest of the morning surveying the Dumont domain. While Alex had learned much about the holding from what he had been able to pry out of Matilde, it did not compare to the details and intimate knowledge Isabel was able to give him. She showed him the forest where her father’s men hunted, the network of streams off the Severn River irrigating the fields and the leagues of snow-covered tenant farms that paid tribute to Lord Dumont. The holding impressed him, but only once the snow melted would he have a true picture of the land.
    Isabel had at first been terse in her description, but she eventually warmed to her task. Pride imbued her voice as she explained what each field produced and the innovative projects her father had undertaken. Whatever questions Alex asked, she had a well-informed answer, and he was forced to conclude Captain Thomas was not the only one Lord Dumont had confided in.
    At last they arrived in the village of Ashdown. Alex had not paid much attention to the village when he and his men first came through it, as he had been eager to meet with the Dumonts. This time, he listened as Isabel pointed out the blacksmith, the bakery, the watermill and the church. The few villagers who were out-of-doors eyed him warily but brightened upon seeing Isabel, and it seemed she knew all of them fairly well, judging by her ease in striking up conversations with them. The garbled, incomprehensible English words meant nothing to him, but it was obvious they respected her and were pleased with her interest in their lives.
    Isabel stopped her horse outside the local inn. The ride had turned her cheeks dusky rose, and at some point,