The Marriage Prize (47 page)

the privacy of their chamber. The moment their door closed,

Rosamond was in Rod's arms, pledging her love and her trust

to her beloved husband.

The next evening, just as the sun set, a lone rider brought the

message that Rodger de Leyburn had been awaiting.

Rosamond graciously showed the man every hospitality,

seating him in the place of honor next to her husband at the

evening meal and asking Master Burke to plenish a

274

guest chamber. When she and Rodger were at last alone, she

questioned him. "Is it news about Lord Edward?"

Rod did not want to deceive her. "Yes," he said quietly.

"The messenger is Mortimer's man Has Edward escaped?"

Rod was surprised at how much she perceived. "Yes," he

acknowledged.

"So, it begins." She lifted his hand and rubbed her cheek

against it. "Thank you for trusting me enough to tel me."

Rod cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand. "I have

complete trust in you, Rosamond. I believe in your strength,

your ability, and your love. I do not have a moment's hesitation

in entrusting our child to you when I go off to battle, even

knowing I might not return. I trust you to guard him and guide

him for the rest of your life." Tenderly he brushed a tear from

her cheek, with his thumb. "The question is, do you trust me?"

The only times Rosamond had trusted him were when Fate

had given her no choice to do otherwise, and yet he had

saved her life both times. "I do," she pledged. "You once told me that if I gave you my trust, you would never betray it, and

you never have."

"Tomorrow, I ride to Gloucester. Gilbert has agreed to meet

with Lord Edward; I'm confident he wil join us."

Rosamond lay secure in his arms al night, knowing that dawn

would part them. When Rodger arose, he did not awaken her,

but when the bed turned cold and empty, Rosamond roused

and flew to the window. He was already mounted and ready to

depart, and she knew there was no time to go down to the

courtyard. She watched him pause and look up at their high

window, and the heaviness of her spirit dissipated as he

placed two fingers against his lips, then pressed them to his

heart.

******************

husband Gilbert treated her with cold indifference. She had

arrived when he was away for a few days, and by the time he

returned, she had made herself at home, issuing her demands

to the kitchen staff and treating the castle servants like dirt

beneath her feet. Gilbert confronted her immediately.

"Madam, you wil limit your orders to your own women; you

have no authority here at Gloucester."

275

VIRGINIA HENLEY

"But I am your wife. ... I am the Countess of Gloucester!" she protested.

"Are you indeed? I don't recal the marriage being

consummated. Remember, Alyce, you are here on my

sufferance." He glared into her black eyes until she submitted

and lowered her lashes.

After that, Alyce changed her tactics and became al -

submissive. Most days, Gilbert was absent from the castle,

but when he returned in the evening, she tried to engage his

attention by dressing and acting in a seductive manner. She

was determined to lure him to bed her and consummate the

marriage. If she could give him an heir, her position would be

secure. When Gilbert remained indifferent to her, Alyce

doubled her efforts.

As Rodger de Leyburn traveled through the Forest of Dean on

his way to Gloucester, he saw that Gilbert was gathering a

great force of armed men. When he arrived at the castle,

Gilbert welcomed the news that Lord Edward had escaped,

and readily agreed to accompany Rodger and meet with the

heir to the throne at Ludlow.

"News travels fast," Gilbert observed. "I soon learned how few barons attended Simon de Montfort's great Parliament!"

"I am sure he was shocked when you did not arrive, Gilbert."

"After the shabby way I have been treated, he should not be

shocked! I expect him any day at Gloucester, demanding the

reason why I wasn't in London to support him."

"And if he does come, he wil see that Gloucester is an armed

camp. It is a considerable show of power, Gilbert."

"It wil show him that he does not hold the preponderance of

power without me, and I predict the numbers wil double when

word spreads that Edward has escaped."

At supper, when Alyce joined them in the dining hal , she took

the seat next to Rodger, as if they were stil intimate friends. It

occurred to her that perhaps she could make use of Rodger

de Leyburn's visit to make Gilbert jealous.

"Countess," Rod murmured politely, though in actuality he

wanted to choke the bitch for the havoc she had wreaked at

Tewkesbury. He held his tongue, wanting no trouble with hot-

tempered Gilbert.

"Has your wife made you a father yet?" She toyed with his

wine goblet, provocatively running her finger around its rim.

276

THE MARRIAGE PRIZE

"As a matter of fact, I have a son." Rod moved his goblet

away.

"Congratulations, Rodger, that's wonderful news!" Gilbert

raised his wine in a salute.

Alyce de Clare placed her hand on Rod's sleeve, caressing

his arm beneath his doublet. "It takes a virile man to produce

a son; are you not envious, Gilbert?"

"I am envious indeed of his lovely wife, Rosamond."

With a provocative finger, Alyce traced a pattern on Rod's

velvet-covered chest while she gave Gilbert a teasing glance

from beneath her lashes. "Perhaps you should ask Rod to

give you a lesson in how to go about the business of making

an heir."

Gilbert's face turned bright red. He withdrew his dagger and

thrust it into the wood of the trestle table in front of Alyce.

"Touch him again, and you lose your fingers!"

Alyce jumped up in alarm. "Oh! How dare you threaten me

with violence? Rod, do you not see how he treats me? I wil

not sit here and suffer such abuse!" She swept from the hal ,

and her attendant ladies fol owed her.

For once, Rodger de Leyburn was at a loss for words to

smooth over the explosive situation. "Gilbert, I apologize—"

"Nay, my friend, it is I who apologize for subjecting you to such an unseemly display. The French slut knows no better." Within

minutes, Gilbert was discussing their journey to Ludlow in the

morning, clearly demonstrating to Rodger that the woman

meant absolutely nothing to him.

Before Gilbert retired for the night, he sought out Alyce in her

chamber. "I am leaving just after dawn. When I return, I want

you gone from Gloucester. I intend to put you aside as my

wife; you are unfit to be the mother of my children."

She ran to him and placed her hands on his chest in

supplication. "Gilbert, I swear I was never unfaithful to you with Rodger de Leyburn— I hate the arrogant swine!"

"Woman, it matters not to me that you have slept with others; it

gives me the legal right to put you aside."

"Divorce? You cannot divorce me, I am the Countess of

Gloucester!" Alyce protested frantical y.

277

"Divorce or death," Gilbert said grimly. "One way or another, I do intend to be rid of you."

******************

Tewkesbury again was Alyce de Clare. When a stone-faced

Master Burke announced the arrival of the Countess of

Gloucester, Rosamond handed her son to Nan and asked her

to take him upstairs. Then she swept out to the courtyard to

confront the woman she detested. To Rosamond's great

consternation, Alyce burst into tears the moment she saw her.

"Whatever is amiss?" Rosamond asked warily.

"Lady de Leyburn ... Rosamond ... I must beg your hospitality."

Rosamond's gaze traveled from Alyce to her forlorn female

attendants and the packhorses laden with baggage.

"It wil only be for one night... have pity!" Alyce cried.

Since the sun was already setting and Rosamond could see

the women could travel no farther that night, she said, "You

had better come inside." She signaled the grooms who had

come forward to take the horses into the stables. "Master

Burke, please have the servants plenish chambers for the

ladies." She led them into the spacious hal and offered them

wine.

Alyce drained her cup and, pacing the chamber dramatical y,

began her diatribe. "My husband has thrown me out and

forbidden me to return! I have done nothing, absolutely

nothing, to deserve such cruel treatment! Rosamond, you

know he has a temper of fire! He threatened to kil me, and

you know Gilbert's temper helped cause his father's

death! He has sworn to set me aside as his wife I wil no

longer be the

Countess of Gloucester!"

"What started al the trouble?" Rosamond asked, not unkindly.

Alyce dashed away her tears and hissed, "It was that

lecherous de Leyburn! Gilbert and I were very happy until your

husband arrived and made advances to me—"

"Alyce, that is a lie!" Rosamond was furious at the accusation.

"You make advances to every man you see. Rodger would not

do such a thing—he knows too much about you! My husband

loves me, and I trust him with my life!"

Alyce began to laugh hysterical y. "Love? Trust? You poor

deluded

278

wretch. Every man breathing is a selfish, greedy, ruthless

swine. Every man is created evil!"

"Not Rodger de Leyburn," Rosamond said firmly.

"Your innocence makes me spew! It was Rodger de Leyburn

who kil ed your brother Giles!"

"You lying bitch!" Rosamond's cheeks burned with anger, and

her eyes flashed their warning.

"Rod hated Giles—they were bitter rivals in the tournaments."

Rosamond drew back her hand and slapped Alyce ful in the

face, then Alyce lunged at Rosamond, digging her nails into

Rosamond's cheek, leaving five bloody scratches. "Months

before they jousted at Ware, your brother left the guard off his

lance—it pierced Rod's thigh. The wound left him scarred for

life!"

Rosamond doubled her fist and swung hard at Alyce,

knocking her to her knees. "Shut your lying mouth! You are

jealous and seek to destroy my happy marriage to Sir

Rodger."

Alyce sneered. "The marriage that brought him Pershore and

your brother's castle of Deerhurst? De Leyburn plotted Giles's

death because it doubled your property! The avaricious swine

didn't wait one day to ask Edward to betroth him to the little

heiress!"

Rosamond's hand, about to deliver another blow, fel to her

side as Alyce's words sank in. "How do you know al this?"

"I was with Edward and his companions after they jousted at

Ware. I heard them plot to cover it up as an accident!"

Rosamond drew herself up to her ful height and lifted her chin

proudly. "I do not believe one word of these vicious lies. You

may remain here tonight, only because I take pity on the

women who must serve you. Tomorrow, when I come

downstairs, you had better be long gone from Tewkesbury, or I

shal set the dogs on you."

When Rosamond entered her bedchamber, Nan was

alarmed. "My lamb, your face is bleeding!"

"It is nothing, Nan." My heart is bleeding.

"Let me bathe it for you."

"No, Nan, give me the baby and leave me.... I wish to be

alone." She sat down in a carved rocking chair, holding her

son to her heart. Lies! Lies! Lies! The word repeated itself in

her brain. 279

But was it real y true? She pushed the thought away, horrified

at herself. She began to rock to soothe her agitated thoughts,

and slowly, gradual y, a measure of calm descended on her.

She unbuttoned her tunic and offered her baby son her breast.

She smiled down tenderly as he began to suckle, bringing

them both comfort.

The baby fel asleep at her breast, but she rocked him for

another hour. Then she gently laid him in his cradle and tucked

his blanket securely about him. Final y, Rosamond undressed

and climbed into the wide bed. She lay there for a long time,

staring into the darkness, then, trustingly, she laid her hand on

her husband's empty pil ow. Rosamond knew that Alyce de

Clare had to be lying, for if Rodger had kil ed Giles, her life

would be shattered forever.

A wave of stark terror swept over Rosamond, snatching her

breath away. She began to run the moment she saw the dark

horse and rider, knowing instinctively they would pursue her.

Relentlessly! The rider was faceless. Al she knew was that he

was dark; it was the horse she feared most. It was huge,

black, and terrifying.

An icy shiver slithered down her spine. Her pale golden hair

tumbled wildly about her shoulders as she pul ed her skirts

high, baring long, slim legs in a desperate attempt to escape

being trampled by the cruel hooves. Her lungs felt as if they

would burst as she gasped for just one more breath that would

carry her to safety. Her pulse hammered inside her eardrums,

deafening her as she turned to look over her shoulder.