Part 25 (2/2)
Relief rode hard on the heels of her horror. ”Was the coffin...?”
He lifted a brow inquiringly.
”Open?”
”That thing scared young Eudo into a gibbering jelly.”
She hadn't thought it could get worse, but she now lived the nightmare she feared. ”Eudo saw?”
”He won't tell anyone.”
Perspiration formed a sheen all over her body and she dabbed the blanket on her upper lip. The kitten hunkered down and watched, its hindquarters twitching. ”How do you know that?”
”I instructed him to keep his silence, and anyway, he's ashamed.”
”Ashamed?”
”That body frightened him so badly he abandoned me and ran away. I told him that every knight I knew would run from such a thing, and I tried to ease his torment.” He looked grim. ”I wouldn't have that brave lad fret about such a trick.”
She wanted to cover her eyes and wail at the failure of her plot. A lifetime of sensibility, destroyed by one act of mercy. But she had to a.s.sure herself that no one else would suffer. Only Alisoun would pay for her charity. Desperate, she asked, ”Will you tell?”
”That you buried a wolf and her pup in your family plot?” No muscle moved in David's face. His hands remained still. He gave nothing away with his stony blankness. ”Never. I would not have the Church authorities arrest my wife.”
So that was the price. Marriage to Sir David.
It would not be so dreadful. Not dreadful at all. Except that this hard stranger facing her across the room expressed no empathy. He was like a merchant, bargaining his silence for her hand and knowing she had no choice but to agree.
Bowing her head, she gave herself into his keeping. ”I'll instruct the priest to announce the banns tomorrow.”
”That's today.” He indicated the growing light which shone through the window. ”He'll call them every day after that, also. I would not have anyone cry foul about our marriage later.”
”I wouldn't do that!”
Solemnly, he said, ”That hadn't occurred to me. However, you are a considerable heiress and the king wished to dispose of you as he would. As it is, we'll have to pay for a wedding without his permission.”
She winced as she thought of the gold which would leave her coffers.
”It's for a good cause,” he said. ”How soon can you be ready to move to Radcliffe?”
In a normal year, she spent time in each of her castles and moved her household accordingly. Moving to Radcliffe would require extra preparation, for she had no idea what circ.u.mstances she would face when she got there. She combed the fur on the cover with her fingers and considered. ”Four days.”
”How efficient.” His lips quirked and he looked a little more like the candidly demonstrative man she knew. ”I should have expected nothing less. So three days calling the banns and negotiating the marriage contract. We'll be wed on the fourth day and leave immediately after the ceremony.” He stood and placed the quill and parchment in one corner. ”And Alisoun?”
She tensed, anxiously awaiting his new demand.
”That cat's stalking you.”
She glanced down just as the kitten pounced on her restless fingers. She gasped. David laughed. The kitten hung onto her hand and licked her until Alisoun could disengage herself and climb from the bed.
”Have you named the kitten, yet?” David asked with more than casual interest.
Alisoun automatically demurred. ”Nay, I do not care to give it a name.” Then she stared at the little creature and saw how its feisty nature camouflaged, but could not conceal, its vulnerability. ”But perhaps we could take it with us to Radcliffe.”
”Let me come with you.”
Alisoun paused in the act of packing her finest plate and lifted her head to look upon Edlyn. Illuminated by the great hall's rush lights, the girl looked pinched and miserable, and Alisoun's store of compa.s.sion welled within her. But she knew her duty, and answered, ”Dear, I can't do that. You must go to your parents' home and prepare for your coming marriage.”
”My mother is even now preparing for my nuptials. She's putting a pair of sheets in the trunk, a new gown atop that, a new wimple atop that, some packages of herbs for physicking. My father is picking out his best horse from the stable and tightening the cart against the long journey. They're contacting the monastery for a monk to accompany me. They don't need me for that. When I arrive, I'll be given a welcome-and-farewell dinner and be hastened on my way-they need the money the duke of Cleere will settle on me, so there's no need for delay.” Edlyn leaned forward and placed her cold hands on Alisoun's. ”But I want to delay, just a little longer. I want to know that all is right with you before I leave. Let me come.”
Alisoun longed to grant Edlyn's wish, and her own hesitation in doing the proper thing horrified her. Mayhap her pregnancy had loosened the bonds she placed on her emotions. Mayhap, as all her doubts about her marriage rushed at her, she wanted the support of all who loved her. Mayhap she wanted to give Edlyn the gift of one more month of maidenhood. Whatever the reason, she said, ”Sir David says the plight of his hungry people is very bad, and I do need someone to coordinate the packing of foodstuffs for Radcliffe.”
Edlyn's hands tightened. ”I can do that!”
”And someone to distribute the foodstuffs when we arrive.”
”You know I can. You taught me how to look for those who need help the most.”
”Aye. I taught you.” She'd taught Edlyn the practical things and she could only hope that the girl had absorbed enough of Alisoun's stoicism to ease her way in her new home. But not yet. Slowly, Alisoun nodded. ”If you would come with us-”
”Aye. Aye!”
”-I could easily leave Heath here. I would feel better if she remained to care for Sir Walter, and having you with me would remove a burden from Philippa.” Taking that as permission and not wanting to hear more, Edlyn tried to jump away. Alisoun caught her before she could flee. ”For a month, only. Then, regardless of my situation, you must go to your parents.” Sighing, she added, ”When this shortcoming of mine becomes known, no parent will send me their child for fostering.”
”I will.” Edlyn's eyes glowed. ”If I ever have a daughter, I'll have her fostered by no one else.”
On that promise, Edlyn fled as if fearing Alisoun would change her mind, and Alisoun watched her with a heavy heart. Resuming her packing, she said to the furs, ”After all, it's not as if I am leaving her here within temptation's reach.” She glanced toward the solar where Sir Walter lay. He had survived these two days, and with the saints' help he would live a long life. Yet for now George's Cross needed another chief man-at-arms, and David had named Hugh.
Hugh, who swore on bended knee he would protect Alisoun's demesne. Hugh, who had celebrated by sleeping with half the maids. Hugh, who broke Edlyn's heart without even knowing she existed.
”Besides-” Alisoun wrapped her largest silver platter in one of her softest rugs, ”-what will the pa.s.sing of another moon matter to Edlyn's duke?”
”Radcliffe is not what you're used to. It's small and it's dark.”
David had scarcely left Alisoun's side during the five days they'd been on the road. They'd ridden at the front of the column which included Lady Edlyn, Alisoun's maids headed by Philippa, Alisoun's carts, and of course, Ivo and Gunnewate and her men-at-arms. During that time, David tried to brace her for the great disaster of his home. She didn't know whether it was truly as bad as he said or whether he simply sought rea.s.surance, but she knew how to be gracious. ”Many of my other holdings are less genteelly appointed than George's Cross.”
”Actually, it probably won't offend your senses. Of course, it's not nearly as clean as you like, I'm sure.”
The morning sun s.h.i.+fted through the leaves and dappled David's face, and she liked the way the shadows lessened the toughness of his brown skin and the stubble which covered his unshaven chin. He looked younger, with a raffish distinction.
”Not as clean as you like,” he repeated. ”But what is?”
Taking his comment as permission, she allowed her gaze to wander down his form. She thought him the finest figure of a man she'd ever seen. Oh, he hadn't grown the lobe of his ear back or a finger to replace the one he'd lost, but he had big feet to plant on the ground and a height that lifted him to the clouds. A pleasant mixture of earthiness and whimsy was her husband.
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