Part 22 (1/2)

He then set her down, but retained his hold on one of her slender arms. With his other hand he ripped away her servant's garb, exposing her body, which was almost as fine in its way as the horse was in its way. He opened his breeches and brought out a tool of horrifying implication. He bore her back against the wall and ravished her without ceremony. Then he dropped her and returned to his chamber for a good night's repose.

Teensa lay for some time where the n.o.bleman had dropped her. At first she was aware only of the pain, then the horror, for she had been raped, when she had never before even seen a man's tool, or known what it was for. She had been too terrified even to scream, not understanding any part of what the man had intended. Now it was too late to scream-and indeed, as she realized what had happened, she knew that she dared not say anything about it to anyone, for a woman, even a n.o.bleman's daughter, who was not a virgin was useless for any good match. So she dragged herself up, staunched the blood with a shred from her dress, and staggered secretly to her own chamber.

Her maid was horrified. ”Mistress, what happened to thee?” she exclaimed. ”Did a boar gore thee?”

”Yes,” Teensa said. ”But it was my fault. Swear to tell no one!”

The maid swore, for it was her job to support her mistress in all things. But she was not fooled; she had been ravished enough in her youth to recognize the signs. She provided Teensa with what she needed, and bathed her and clothed her for the night, and said nothing to the other servants.

Teensa wept herself to sleep. But she was, for all her shyness, of n.o.ble lineage, and in the morning she rose and pretended that nothing had happened. The visiting party departed, and the normal routine of the castle settled in. It seemed that the ravis.h.i.+ng had never happened.

But when the visitors were gone, the maid approached the n.o.bleman, Teensa's father, when he was alone. ”I have aught to tell thee, sire, though it distress thee,” she said.

”Speak, loyal maid,” he said, for he was a tolerant master.

”One of the visiting party ravished a maid in the stables,” she said. ”Even as thou ravished me when I was young and buxom.”

”Thou'rt still buxom,” he replied gallantly. ”It happens. Why report this to me?”

”The maid was thy daughter.”

The n.o.bleman had been in the process of picking his teeth. The toothpick snapped asunder. His fist clenched so hard it became white. ”Which one?” he asked through his teeth.

”Sire, I know not. She would not speak of it, and swore me to secrecy. But I have no secrets from thee.”

”None at all,” he agreed, remembering his erstwhile pleasure in discovering those secrets. ”Return to thy duties, maid, and keep this for thyself.” He gave her a fine gold piece. ”Say naught elsewhere.”

”Aye, sire,” she agreed. He had rewarded her as she had hoped he would.

The thing was, maids and wenches of low birth were fair game to n.o.bles, but a n.o.ble maid was fair game to none. In particular, Teensa was untouchable. The maid had had the fortune not only to serve her master loyally, as she had done in another way in the past, but to earn a reward for providing him with news that cut him to the very marrow. Thus she had a private triple victory, and was well pleased with herself.

The n.o.bleman investigated quietly, and in due course ascertained which visitor had gone to see his horse at what hour. He discovered the faint stains of blood under the hay where that horse had been stabled. He now knew the ident.i.ty of the ravisher.

But this was no easy matter. A lesser individual he could have had beaten to death; the visiting n.o.ble would have done it on request as a matter of simple courtesy. But the n.o.bleman himself-that were not expedient. In fact, no charge could be made, because of the circ.u.mstances. First, such a charge against a n.o.bleman would be tantamount to a declaration of war, which would gain no one anything worthwhile. Second, it was obvious that the visitor had not known the ident.i.ty of the maid. He had taken her for what she appeared to be: a slops wench. As such, she had no rights, and his action was in no way untoward. Had Teensa identified herself, it would have been another matter.

The n.o.bleman pondered a considerable length of time. Then he summoned his most trusted employee, the captain of the guard. ”There will be another n.o.bleman in charge of this castle for a time,” he told the man. ”Thou must serve him during my absence as thou wouldst me, in all things but one. If he abuses my daughter, thou must kill him and flee for thy life. Because I cannot, of course, sanction the killing of a visiting n.o.bleman in my castle, thou must arrange to do it beyond these demesnes, perhaps as a hunting accident. Here is gold to enable thee to survive in a far country when thou dost flee.” The n.o.bleman gave the captain enough gold to make him independently wealthy. ”Agreed?” For such a directive could not be imposed; it had to be done for loyalty.

”Agreed, sire,” the captain said grimly.

Then the n.o.bleman dictated a missive to his scribe. It stated that he had a pressing business excursion of some duration, and requested a n.o.ble to govern his castle and demesnes in his absence. He asked whether a particular young n.o.bleman of his acquaintance was available.

It was the n.o.bleman who had spent the night and ravished his daughter. A request of such nature could hardly be declined; there was a geis involved, an obligation of honor. More than the young n.o.bleman knew, perhaps. The man agreed, and in due course arrived with a limited entourage of one squire and one servant; he would, of course, avail himself of the local staff while here.

The host, having announced his incipient departure, delayed only long enough to greet the visitor and introduce him formally to his daughter. Teensa could not avoid it this time; she would be having meals with the visitor and would be under his protection for the duration. So, reluctantly, she got garbed and ready. She had not been informed of the ident.i.ty of the n.o.ble who was to be in charge; she knew only that she was required to defer to him as to her father. Such was the place of even highborn women in those days.

The host arranged it so that the two, visitor and daughter, first saw each other simultaneously, so positioned that the host could watch them both at this moment. ”And this is my daughter, Teensa,” he said, as she stepped around a screen and came face to face with the visitor.

Each recognized the other instantly. The girl froze in fear, while the man froze with horror. There was now no doubt: he was the one who had ravished her-and he had not known her ident.i.ty. It had indeed been an accident.

Then each recovered, true to training and breeding. She forced a polite smile and murmured something inconsequential. He nodded graciously and turned away, evincing no further interest. This was as it should be. Both were of n.o.ble birth; each knew when and how to keep a secret, and from whom. They were ironically united in this matter. Their lapses had been only momentary, but the host had caught them.

Now for the remainder of his plan. He turned over the keys to the castle, introduced the captain of the guard, and with his retinue departed the castle for the month. It was in other hands than his now.

Teensa was absolutely stricken. She thought her father had unwittingly brought in the very worst person for this job! Now the beast would be able to complete his ravishment and make an end of her, so that she could never tell-and she was powerless to prevent it. She retreated to her chambers and gave herself up for lost.

But when the time came for the evening repast, the n.o.bleman summoned her to the table. This was standard procedure, and she could not deny it. Her maid, knowledgeable in such things, a.s.sured her that it was best to follow the forms. She garbed herself appropriately and came down.

She was in terror of molestation, but the n.o.ble acted with perfect courtesy. The castle staff was impressed with his demeanor and his dialogue. He complimented her on her appearance, which was indeed outstanding; all that exquisite raiment could do for a woman, it did for her, evoking charms which had been barely apparent during her masquerade as a slops wench. The truth was that Teensa, stripped by circ.u.mstance of her self-abas.e.m.e.nt, was a lovely young woman.

Noticing that she had little appet.i.te, he said to her: ”It may be that thou art ill at ease in the absence of thy father. I a.s.sure thee that I am here to protect thy interests as his, and no harm will come to thee while I am here, while I live. This is a matter of honor.”

”My thanks to thee,” she said, not one whit rea.s.sured. She knew full well that he did not consider rape to be harmful to a wench. Few men did, whether n.o.ble or ign.o.ble.

But to her amazement, it was so. The days pa.s.sed, and the man made no move to molest her. He treated her always with perfect courtesy. There was no peremptory knock at her chamber door at night. She became fascinated, in the manner of a captive bird, and even allowed herself to be alone with him at one point, though with an exit handy so she could flee. Noting their isolation, he said: ”If I have given thee offense in any manner, I sorely repent it, and would make amends were it possible. But I fear it is not.” Then he turned away, evidently troubled.

Astonished, Teensa retreated to her chamber and pondered. She realized that the n.o.ble could not speak openly of what had pa.s.sed between them, for that would be a confession of a crime that would require blood to amend. Yet he had in his fas.h.i.+on apologized. She realized further that he had not known her ident.i.ty when he ravished her, and was now in an extremely awkward position because of it. It seemed that if she did not speak of it, neither would he, for it could not with honor be spoken of. It hadn't happened, as far as the castle was concerned.

Yet it had happened, and there would be an ugly reckoning at such time as her father married her to another n.o.ble. Her secret could be carried only through the ceremony; the moment she proffered herself for her wifely duty, her husband would discover that she was not chaste, and would be outraged. He would have the marriage annulled, and she would be condemned, and unbearable shame would be visited on her father. Rather than bring that horror upon him, she would take poison before the ceremony. This was the true measure of what the visiting n.o.bleman had taken from her: her married life.

The life of the castle continued. Now less fearful, Teensa observed the n.o.ble more closely. He was a great bear of a man, enormously powerful physically, yet he was n.o.ble, and possessed the manners of his office. He was also a competent administrator, seeking advice when he needed it, so that the management of the demesnes was satisfactory. She was seeing another side of him.

Then an army advanced into the region. It was a Gothic marauding party, out to ravish the land and take spoils. This could not be tolerated.

The n.o.ble summoned Teensa and the captain of the guard. ”Have we resources to turn back this ill tide?” he inquired of the captain.

”No, sire. At best we can defend the castle, for they lack siege equipment. They will depart in time, but the lands will be laid waste and the peasants savaged.”

The n.o.ble turned to Teensa. ”What would thy father do in such case?”

”He would offer tribute,” she said, flattered despite herself that she should be asked. ”He would say it was cheaper than the alternative, though it made him wroth.”

”I will do as they father would, this being his estate,” he said. ”Though it makes me wroth too.”

Then he sent out a party with the offer. In due course it returned with the Goth chiefs answer. ”All thy gold and grain, and thy fair daughter for my plaything.” They were not aware that a visiting n.o.ble was in charge.

The n.o.ble pondered. ”The gold and grain they would take anyway, in war, or the equivalent,” he said. ”But a n.o.ble woman is no plaything. I will not accede to this.”

”But if they ravish the lands-” Teensa protested, knowing well that he knew she, already ravished, was of little worth anyway.

”Make them this counteroffer,” he said to the leader of the negotiation party. ”I will meet their champion in single combat. If he wins, the castle gates will be opened to them. If I win, they will depart without warring on us.”

The party departed. The n.o.ble turned to Teensa. ”Disguise thyself and hide during the combat. They must not know thy ident.i.ty. Thou canst then escape with the peasants, if the gates are opened.”

”But-” she protested, aghast.

”I owe it thee.”