Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) (9 page)

8

Although Jilliana's coronation had been secret, that was not to be true of her wedding, which was held at Westminster with as much pomp as could be arranged in one day.

Henry sent heralds forth throughout the land, announcing the nuptials. With great satisfaction and no little cunning, he sent a messenger to France to inform King Philip that not only had Queen Jilliana been located, but that she was to be married and would soon produce an heir. He signed Philip's letter with a flourish and laughed aloud when he affixed his seal. How he wished he could see the French king's face when he learned that Talshamar had slipped from his grasp. Henry would not allow himself to think that it was also out of his reach.

Jilliana wondered how her life could change so rapidly. Two months ago she had been a carefree maiden, thinking only of her lessons and attending Queen Eleanor. Had it only been this morning that she had entered London to confront King Henry and help free Prince Ruyen and his sister?

Nothing seemed real to her as she stood beside Ruyen Rondache in the elaborate cathedral and repeated the vows that would bind them together as husband and wife.

She turned her head slightly so she could see his face, for indeed she could not remember what he looked like. That was not surprising considering her whole attention had been centered on Henry Plantagenet that morning.

Prince Ruyen was dressed all in dark green, from doublet to boots. For a moment her eyes rested on his dark hair and the way the light shining through the stained glass window made it glisten like polished ebony. She drew in her breath as she looked into his dark, cold eyes and found them filled with contempt and loathing.

Ruyen's voice was harsh when he answered Cardinal Failsham. The words seemed drawn from his lips against his will and he spoke in a low tone.

"I do take Queen Jilliana as my lawful wife."

"And do you Queen Jilliana take Prince Ruyen as your husband and liege lord?"

She looked undecided for a moment before giving her answer, then spoke in a clear voice. "For the sake of my kingdom, I will set no one above me, save God. I agree to take Prince Ruyen as my husband, but I do not accept him as my liege lord."

There was a long moment of silence while everyone, including Ruyen, stared in shocked surprise at the young queen. There was a soft murmur of surprise when the cardinal continued the ceremony, asking the two of them to join hands. He seemed slightly amused at Jilliana's refusal to accept Prince Ruyen as her lord and master.

Jilliana turned her eyes to the cardinal as he spoke the final affirmation pronouncing them husband and wife. As they knelt beside each other, with hands joined, Jilliana thought the solemn mass would never end. At the same time, she prayed it would go on forever because she was frightened of what would happen when they left the sanctuary of the cathedral and she would have to be alone with this stranger she had just married.

Jilliana was not aware of the silence around her or that the mass had ended until she was aided to her feet by her new husband. In a daze, she accepted good wishes from the cardinal, and turned to look into the solemn faces of her nobles, who were in attendance. It was apparent that they did not understand the reason for the marriage.

She felt Prince Ruyen's hand on her elbow, guiding her out of the chapel, and they were flanked on each side by Henry's guards, a reminder that Ruyen was still a prisoner.

Once outside, Jilliana drew in a cleansing breath as she searched the crowd that had gathered to observe the wedding party. In the distance, she saw Sir Humphrey holding the reins of her horse. Jerking her arm free of the prince's grip, she moved quickly toward the security Sir Humphrey represented.

When the knight would have helped her mount, she felt strong hands about her waist and she was lifted onto her saddle by her new husband. Coldly, she turned to look at him.

"What do you expect from a wife, Your
Highness
?" she asked, deliberately emphasizing his lesser title.

"I expect nothing from you, Your
Majesty
," he sneered. "I would sooner see you go your way and allow me to go mine. After we are quit of England, that is exactly what will happen."

"Then we are in agreement. I did not marry you because of some unrequited love, Prince Ruyen. I did not shame myself before the English court because I pined to be your wife."

"Why then did you do it?"

Jilliana's lips trembled and she felt like crying. "Is it not enough to know that you are alive?"

Ruyen could swear that he saw tears in her eyes, but it might be a trick of the light. He had not noticed before how young she was or how beautiful. She was dressed in white from head to toe and all he could see was her face. He found himself wondering about the color of her hair. Her blue eyes were fine, and her lashes dark and long.

Suddenly he felt disloyal to his beloved Katharine. He would never love another as he loved her, especially not this brazen young woman who seemed to be in control of his life.

"We should leave," Ruyen said, noticing that Henry's guards were closing in around them to escort them back to the castle. "We seem to have attracted a crowd of curiosity seekers."

Jilliana nodded gratefully. When he mounted his horse and rode to her side, she decided to make an attempt to be pleasant; after all, they were both united by a common enemy.

"Tis a pity your sister was too ill to attend the wedding."

"Yes," he said noncommittally.

"I hope you do not mind, but when I learned that your sister had no woman to see to her needs, I sent my maid to your quarters. I also sent word to Henry's physician to attend her."

"You took it upon yourself to do this." His tone was biting.

"I had to do it. You have no power to bargain with Henry, and I do. Should I have allowed your sister to suffer because of your pride?"

"Nay," he said stiffly, feeling his indebtedness to this young woman mounting. He did not like to be obligated to anyone, especially not someone who had already extracted a high payment from him for her aid.

"You acted compassionately on my sister's behalf," he admitted grudgingly. "I am again in your debt. If you have no objections, I would like to go at once and see how my sister fares."

"Then let us make haste. I am sure she will want to see you as well."

Ruyen felt the sun on his face and glanced up at the blue sky. Had he merely traded one kind of prison for another? Nudging his horse in the flanks he moved away with Jilliana at his side.

It occurred to Ruyen that only strangers had been in attendance at his wedding. Many had been Henry's representatives and the others were subjects of Queen Jilliana.

His eyes were drawn to the woman who rode beside him. Her face was in profile and her beauty touched a chord within his heart. He was not fool enough to believe she had sacrificed herself for him out of some noble gesture. Without a doubt, she had her own reasons for wanting the marriage. Cardinal Failsham had indicated she needed an heir. He ground his teeth together—he would hear the reasons from her own lips.

As they rode through the gates of Henry's castle, Jilliana halted and looked at Sir Humphrey and the others, who had been stopped on the other side of the gate. "Will you not come with me, Sir Humphrey?"

He saw the troubled look in her eyes. She was feeling frightened and uncertain and he wanted to take her away to safety, but he no longer had the right. None of the emotions he was feeling showed on his gaunt face as he tried to offer her some small comfort.

"Your Majesty, I have lodgings at the Bear and Bull Inn. If you have need of me, you have only to send word and I will come at once."

Jilliana nodded reluctantly. "1 would ask that you attend me on the morrow. There is much we must decide."

He bowed his head. "Until tomorrow, Your Majesty." Sir Humphrey then turned his attention to the prince. Lowering his voice, he spoke hurriedly so the queen would not hear. "I will expect you to be kind to her. If you are not, I shall surely cut your heart out."

Ruyen's eyes bore into the man. "It would take more than you to accomplish such a feat. But rest assured that I have no desire or reason to harm your queen." So saying, Ruyen moved through the gate to join Jilliana.

After dismounting, they entered the castle, and a guard escorted them to Ruyen's quarters. There was an awkward silence between them as they moved down the narrow corridors.

Netta had been listening for their arrival and whisked the door open. There was a worried frown on her face.

"I am glad you are here. I fear Princess Cassandra is desperately ill. She has complained of pains in her stomach and she is very weak and feverish."

"Has King Henry's physician seen her?" Jilliana inquired.

"He was with her for a time. He said she has a weakness of the lungs. He tied a poultice about her neck, although I doubt that will help her condition."

"As do I," Jilliana said with rancor. "The man is clearly incompetent."

Jilliana then turned to Ruyen. "May I see her? I might be able to help since I had training in healing herbs."

Feeling helpless, Ruyen nodded and the two of them entered the dimly lit bedchamber. When Ruyen saw his sister tossing upon her bed in febrile restlessness, he went to her and gently took her hand in his. Her condition had worsened since the morning, and it caused him great concern.

"Cassandra, it is I, Ruyen," he said softly. "Tell me where you hurt."

The girl merely groaned, flinging his hand away and turning her face into the pillow.

"Did the physician recommend any other treatment?" Jilliana asked her maid.

"Nay, Your Majesty, other than trusting in God."

Jilliana watched and listened to the girl's breathing long enough to discern that despite the physician's diagnosis, her lungs were clear. "I believe she has flux of the stomach. I know what is to be done. I will need cool water and towels, Netta."

When the maid moved to the other room, Jilliana spoke kindly to Ruyen. "I have seen this illness many times at the convent. With the proper medication, your sister will be cured."

Jilliana removed the smelly poultice from the girl's neck and flung it across the room. She then unfastened her own white overskirt and placed it across a chair.

By now Netta had returned with a water basin and linen towels and placed them on a side table. Jilliana dampened the cloths and laid them on Princess Cassandra, who was writhing in obvious pain.

"Netta," Jilliana said, "Go at once to the Bear and Bull Inn and seek Sir Humphrey." As she walked the servant to the door, she explained what she needed. "Inform him that I want these ingredients at once."

When the maid departed, Jilliana went back to her patient. "If you will step aside, Prince Ruyen, I will do what I can to help your sister. But I can do nothing with you in my way."

He stood his ground. "I have seen many grown men die of this sickness and she is but a child. You cannot help her. No one can."

"Who has stripped you of your faith? Your sister is not going to die," Jilliana said, rolling up her sleeves and wetting a towel. "If you want to be of help, leave her to my care."

Obediently he moved back. Jilliana might appear young, but she was confident and every inch a queen. "Once more it would seem I owe you my gratitude."

She placed another towel on the girl's forehead, all the while glaring at him. "I neither want, nor ask for, your gratitude. My concern at the moment is to alleviate your sister's suffering. I would do the same for anyone—even you in likened circumstances."

He heard the anger in her voice and wondered at the reason for it. He had married her, had he not? What else did she want from him?

By the time Jilliana had finished bathing the girl, she heard Sir Humphrey's gruff voice in the outer chamber.

Hurrying out to him, she took the herbs and potions he had brought and ground them up and added them to a flask of water.

"I see you are using Mother Magdalene's remedy for flux," he observed as he watched her.

"Yes, it always worked for her, let us hope it does the same for me."

Jilliana reentered the bedchamber, raised Princess Cassandra's head and encouraged her to drink. After much coaxing, the girl finally swallowed the bitter medicine.

Ruyen's sister was so young—so pale. Would she survive? Jilliana was not as confident as she pretended to be.

"I have done all I can," she said, turning to Netta. "I will want you to remain with the princess. Bathe her often with cool water and encourage her to drink liquids. In the morning, you will administer another dose of medicine. I'll see that you have a bed so you can rest as well."

Ruyen sat in a chair in the outer room, his eyes worriedly locked on the door to his sister's bedchamber. He had forgotten that Sir Humphrey was in the room until the man spoke.

"Her Majesty will do all she can to help your sister."

"But will it be enough?"

"Only God can say."

"God has paid little heed to me or my sister of late," Ruyen said bitingly.