Hostage Bride (21 page)

Her heart fluttered. What could he mean?

* * *

The hall had been decorated with greenery and there were kissing boughs of mistletoe hanging here and there. Now that there were more women servants in the castle, the sound of laughter as they dodged eager suitors lent an air of excitement and mischief to the night. Raphael had decreed that there were to be games, as well as the dancing and the feasting that night, and
during the afternoon they watched an archery contest. The servants played bob-apple and blind man’s buff and everyone was given a small gift of money from the lord.

Rosamunde wore her best gown of emerald velvet. She was cheered as she took her place at table and sat beside Raphael. The entertainment began almost at once. The travelling players put on a display of tumbling and a dwarf rushed around the hall hitting people with a pig’s bladder filled with air. Then the minstrels began to play.

Food was served to all the tables, course after course of rich meats, worts and sweetmeats, with fresh bread, sweet and savoury pies, nuts, dates and sticky marchpane. Then the musicians struck up and Raphael stood, offering Rosamunde his hand.

She blushed with pleasure for she had not expected that he would dance with her. They took their places to the sound of clapping from the men. Rosamunde was surprised at her betrothed’s elegant dancing as they performed a slow, graceful dance. More cheering greeted them as they retook their seats and Raphael invited everyone else to begin dancing.

It was then that the merriment began in earnest. Men who were used to working and training hard relaxed and joined in the dancing, drinking freely of the ale provided. Rosamunde watched and clapped, joining in some of the jigs and carols. Not until the torches began to flicker did she wish everyone good night and leave the table.

She was surprised when Raphael joined her, escorting
her to her chamber at the top of the tower. He took her hand and kissed it.

‘I wish you pleasant dreams, my lady,’ he said. ‘Please accept this token as my gift to you this festive season.’

‘Oh…’ She looked with surprise and pleasure at the small packet he handed her. Inside the square of silk was something hard. When she opened it, she discovered a pendant of silver enamelled with bright colours and set with a garnet and large baroque pearl. ‘I have never seen anything this exquisite.’

‘It came from the craftsmen of the east,’ he said and smiled at her pleasure. ‘You can clip it to your tunic at the shoulder or here…’ He took it from her and clipped it at the place where her gown crossed over between her beasts.

Rosamunde trembled as his hands just brushed against her cleavage, her stomach fluttering with something she recognised as desire.

‘Thank you for my wonderful gift,’ she said and looked at him shyly. ‘I fear I have nothing to give you.’

‘You have already given me more than you know,’ he said and bent his head to kiss her on the lips.

Rosamunde felt that she was swooning, her body melting into his, her lips soft and welcoming as she surrendered her being to his. She wanted the kiss to go on and on. She wanted more, far more, from him but he smiled and let her go.

‘We shall be married soon,’ he whispered, recognising and understanding her frustration. ‘I can wait a
little longer. Besides, it is nearly Christ’s day and we must keep it holy. Sleep well, my lady.’

Rosamunde sighed in acquiescence, then went into her chamber, closing the door behind her. She stood for a moment with her back against it, feeling the glow of happiness surround her. She was so fortunate to have found a man she could love. Her selfish cousin had sent her here as a sacrifice and now she was truly the luckiest of women.

* * *

She had all that she could want of life.

The day of Christ’s birth was spent quietly. In the morning everyone visited the chapel and a mass was said. Afterwards, the ladies sat at their sewing while the men trained or played games in the courtyard. In the evening they gathered for supper as always, but it was a much quieter celebration without the singing and dancing.

Rosamunde said good night early and left Raphael with his guests and his men, going up the twisting stair to her room. Maire and Elspeth were waiting for her, but Lilia had stayed in the hall.

‘I believe she has found a young man she likes,’ Elspeth said. ‘She will be happier now, my lady. She was a little jealous of Beth, but Eric gave her a gift of cloth and she says they are pledged to one another. She asks that you will speak to Lord Mornay on her behalf.’

‘Yes, of course I shall, but she must wait for three months to be certain of her feelings, and then they can be wed,’ Rosamunde said.

‘She will be happy when I tell her,’ Elspeth said. ‘Shall you undress now, my lady?’

‘If you could help me out of my gown and then leave me—you too, Maire. I shall just sit here and think for a while.’

When her ladies had gone, she sat gazing out at the moon. She had never expected to be so happy, and she couldn’t help but be aware of a tiny doubt at the back of her mind. She was almost Raphael’s wife but not quite yet. Pray God nothing happened to spoil her happiness.

* * *

‘It is many years since we celebrated Christ’s Mass in the old way,’ Mellors remarked when Rosamunde spoke to him about checking their stores the next afternoon. ‘I believe we have enough meat and flour to last the winter, my lady, but perhaps we need more spices and sugar. If you wish to give gifts of cloth to the villagers we shall need to purchase more for our own use.’

‘I think we must resume all the old customs. The poor of the village must be given cloth and flour or meat as a gift. You will send for what we need from London? The roads are still hard with frost. When the thaw comes, it may be impossible to pass this way,’ she said.

‘It shall be done now, my lady.’

Rosamunde nodded and walked away to attend to other duties.

Some hours later, as she entered the hall, she saw Raphael and the Earl of Loxley speaking together. She
went up to them, for the servants had not quite finished setting out the places at the high board.

‘Good evening, my lords.’ She curtsied to them. ‘I thought I should be late, but it is not so.’

Raphael looked at her, his brows rising as if he wondered what her reaction would be. She smiled and he inclined his head, holding his hand out to her as the horn was sounded.

‘I believe you are in good time, my lady. This is Loxley’s last night with us, for he must return to the forest.’

‘It has been pleasant to make your acquaintance, my lord,’ she said to the earl.

‘I must tell you that I am glad to see my friend in better spirits. I believe that must be because of you, lady. I hope that we shall meet again in the future,’ Loxley replied with some considerable charm.

‘When the King is restored and you are no longer outlawed.’ She smiled.

‘We must hope that justice will prevail.’ He grinned.

Rosamunde murmured her agreement and they moved to their seats at the high board. Letting her gaze move round the hall, Rosamunde saw that the men were smiling and jesting amongst themselves. It seemed that the feasting had banished any lingering unease from the men’s minds.

‘You are thoughtful.’

Raphael’s lowered tone made her turn her head to look at him. ‘I was thinking the men seemed pleased with life, my lord.’

‘Is that not how it should be? I am privileged to be
lord here, and you will soon be my wife, but we should not take advantage of our position. Instead, it is our duty to care for and protect our people—and if that sometimes means we must correct or punish it is a part of the price we pay for our privilege,’ he said quietly.

‘Yes, I think I understand that now,’ she murmured. ‘Our duty is to the men we live amongst and the villagers we protect by a show of strength. If you were thought weak, other knights might seek to take what you have, and to terrorise our people.’

‘With strength there must also be fairness, but every knight learns to behave with honour and compassion. It is a part of our training. Those that abuse their power, as I fear my father and Sir Edmund did, betray their vows,’ he said somewhat sadly.

‘I am very glad you are not like your father,’ Rosamunde replied, her cheeks slightly warm.

Raphael’s hand reached for hers. He held it lightly, but with a look in his eyes that set her pulses racing.

‘I think that perhaps we begin to know each other a little better, lady. We shall do well enough once we are wed,’ he said.

‘And when is that to be, my lord?’

‘In three weeks’ time.’ His finger caressed the back of her hand, sending little tremors down her spine. ‘I would it were sooner but I wish to observe the laws of the church. I would not have your father think I rushed you into an illegal marriage. My sons must know that they were born in wedlock.’

Rosamunde felt a spasm of desire clench deep inside
her. Her lips parted and she wished that they could be alone so that he could take her in his arms and kiss her.

‘It must be as you wish, my lord,’ she said on a sigh instead.

‘Must it?’ A wry smile touched his mouth. ‘You sound exceedingly modest, Rosamunde, but I know that you have a temper.’

‘I am shamed that I lost my temper before,’ she said. ‘A wife should not question or doubt her husband.’

‘I would not have you doubt me—for I swear to you that you will have no cause to do so—but you may question me whenever you wish. You are to be my wife, Rosamunde, not my slave,’ he said earnestly.

‘My father said my mother was constantly nagging him. I do not think you would wish for a nagging wife, would you?’

‘I should probably beat you,’ he teased, and then laughed as he saw her eyes darken. ‘No, my lady, I do not mean it. I speak in jest, but I do not believe you would nag me constantly.’

‘I should not,’ she said and laughed softly. ‘I was testing you a little, my lord. I hope that we shall live in harmony and peace.’

‘That is also my hope. I shall do my best to make you happy and content with your lot,’ Raphael said and took her hand to raise it to his lips. He dropped a kiss in the palm and smiled as she blushed. ‘Have I told you that I think you one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known?’

‘I think you flatter me, my lord,’ she murmured and
dropped her eyes. Her heart was racing wildly. The heat in his eyes told her that he wanted her in the way a man wants a beautiful woman, but at the back of her mind the warning still lingered. He was marrying her because it was convenient for him to do so, not because he loved her as she loved him.

Rosamunde turned her head away as Sir Jonathan began to sing. Her gaze followed him about the room. He sang of love and disappointment, his song ending with a knight wasting away for a love of another knight’s wife.

‘I think once Richard returns our minstrel will leave us,’ Raphael remarked. ‘I believe he intends to seek a place at court. Shall you miss his company, Rosamunde?’

She glanced at him, surprised by the odd expression in his eyes. ‘He has a pleasant voice and I enjoy his music. I believe he is a good friend to you, my lord. You may miss him yourself.’

‘Yes, I dare say I shall. I have other friends who may choose to settle here when they return with Richard, but that is for the future.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘You know why Jonathan will move on, do you not?’

‘No, my lord. I thought him settled here,’ she said innocently.

‘He is in love with you. Had you no idea?’ he asked curiously.

‘None at all!’ She gasped. ‘I have done nothing to encourage him, my lord. I would not have it so for I do not wish to cause distress.’

‘He knows you have given him no encouragement. Had he chosen to do so, he might have courted you, but he believed you would refuse him. Was he right?’

‘I like Sir Jonathan but I could not marry him,’ she said bluntly.

‘Why?’

Rosamunde was silent for a moment. ‘If you do not know the answer, I shall not tell you, my lord.’

‘Is it that…?’ Raphael broke off as there was a commotion at the other end of the hall. Three guards entered, dragging another man with them. They hauled him in front of Raphael and then forced him to his knees. ‘What is the meaning of this?’ Raphael rose to his feet.

‘This rogue was trying to sneak into the castle,’ one of the men said. ‘He says he brings a message for you but would not give it to anyone but you.’

‘Stand up like a man and speak,’ Raphael commanded. ‘What do you have to say to me that cannot be said to my men?’

‘Baron Sigmund sent me,’ the man said, visibly shaken by his treatment. ‘He bid me tell you that he has heard the King is soon to land on English soil. He begs that you will join him on the road to London.’

‘His Majesty is on his way home to England?’ Raphael said eagerly. ‘This is wonderful news. When did your lord receive this news?’

‘It came a few hours ago. I was sent to warn you but commanded to speak with no one but yourself.’

‘You have spoken and your lord will forgive you for
disobeying his orders in the circumstances. You may find a place and eat with us.’

Raphael turned to the earl. ‘I think we must leave at once, Loxley. We journey in different directions. You must return to your men, but alert those you can on the way. I shall take thirty men and ride for London at once. We shall meet when you bring your supporters to join Richard.’

‘I shall leave immediately,’ the earl said, rose to his feet and made a sign to the men he’d brought with him. ‘My men and I must meet the King and pledge our loyalty.’

‘How can you be sure this news is true, my lord?’ Rosamunde queried cautiously.

‘We cannot be entirely sure,’ Raphael said. ‘I shall respond to the summons but I shall not drop my guard either here or on the road. Yet we must leave, for Richard will need all men loyal to him.’

‘You will need to make preparations,’ she said. ‘Is there anything my ladies and I may do for you, my lord?’

‘There is nothing for the moment. However, it may be that I shall invite Richard to visit here with us,’ Raphael said. ‘Be ready to receive him, if he consents to make this his stronghold until he is ready to take the throne.’