Part 28 (2/2)

If it weren't for the danger which threatened, she'd go back to George's Cross and take her chances, but that open grave proved that her enemy knew the truth, and she feared he would do anything now to take his revenge.

So she had a choice. She could fret and complain and be like David's first wife, a weight to drag him down. Or she could do as she had always done. She could do her duty.

Armed with a new resolve, she looked at David. He, too, seemed tired, and lines of concern marked his dark tanned skin. She smiled at him graciously and picked up her spoon. ”This all smells quite delicious. I look forward to the end of our first day at Radcliffe.”

David sat back with a sigh that sounded like relief. From his hungry expression, she expected that he would gobble his food in the manner of a barbarian. But he ate politely and drank his fill, always attentive to her needs and chatting like a host making his new guest at home. When at last he pressed the goblet to her lips and let her drink, then turned it to the same spot and drank while gazing at her, she realized the reason for his desirous aspect-and all her pretense of serenity almost went for naught. She rose so quickly he knocked their bench over trying to get to his feet, and she moved toward the solar with a firm stride. She heard him scrambling to catch up, but she refused to look back or in any way acknowledge his presence. But when he trod on her skirt, it jerked her to a halt, and when he took her arm, it brought her around to face him at the very door of the solar.

”I wish to sleep now,” she said.

”So we will,” he answered.

”Alone.”

”We're married.”

”I am aware.”

”So I'll be in the marriage bed with you.”

He looked so firm, so calm, so determined. She wanted to retort, but she couldn't breathe. She felt as if bands were tightening around her throat. Only now did she realize what a facade she'd erected around her emotions. She wasn't tranquil. She wasn't serene. She was absolutely livid.

She meant only to lay her hand on his chest. She really did.

But she hit him so hard she knocked him backward. She didn't yell, but only because she couldn't. In a low tone, she said, ”I will be the mother to your child. I will be the mistress of your people. I will be the money chest which provides prosperity, and I will give it gladly.” She slapped her hand on his chest again and this time she heard his grunt of pain. ”But I will not be an expedient body in your bed. Go and find yourself a mistress.”

David's people couldn't hear, but they watched the scene avidly and the humiliation struck at his pride, just as she knew it would. Exploding in a display of exasperation, he said, ”Fine! I know where ten mistresses are, and willing ones too.”

With a tight smile, she shut the door in his face.

Ruefully, he looked at his hands, especially noting the one missing a finger. ”Well, nine mistresses anyway.”

19.

”G.o.d's teeth, man, you've got to do something about Lady Alisoun.” Guy shoved his way through the crowd that surrounded David in the castle bailey. ”If you don't, she's going to drive me mad.”

David raised his weary head and stared at his steward through bloodshot eyes. ”Why should you be any different?”

Glancing around, Guy observed the angry expression on the face of every servant who worked in the castle, but he clearly had no sympathy. ”She's supposed to be supervising them.”

The servants murmured angrily.

Guy ignored them. ”But the guard is none of her affair. 'Tis mine, and I resent her sending her two trained apes in to teach me what I already know.”

With a sigh, David agreed. ”She should not. I will speak to her.” He looked around at the household staff. ”I will speak to her about all of you, too.”

”Do it, m'lord,” one of the women said. ”We did well enough without her before.”

David frowned and pointed a finger right under the woman's nose. ”Well enough isn't good enough, and with Lady Alisoun I find that she's always right. If she says there's more to be done, then you'll work until you do it. I'll do nothing more than suggest she weed out the troublemakers and promote the more ambitious among you.”

The woman drew back, clearly frightened.

”That way, you'll be working for one of your own, and not for a stranger from George's Cross. But you'll still be working for the food which Lady Alisoun has provided, I promise you. You'll still be working.”

As David stepped away from his servants, he heard no sound at all. He'd given them ideas to ponder, and thought it best if they pondered them on their own. Guy apparently thought so, too, for David heard footsteps as Guy hurried to join him.

”You told the lazy knaves well enough that time,” Guy said. ”They've been slacking on purpose.”

”I know.” David rolled his shoulders, trying to get the kinks out that came from sleeping on the floor of the great hall. ”I've been waiting for the chance to warn them what would happen. But I'm warning you, too. If my lady comes to you with suggestion to improve your defenses, listen with an open mind.”

”You've got eels for brains! What would a woman know about defense?”

”She knew enough to hire me.” Guy laughed and David jostled him. ”You know the best defenses, and if you listen to her, you'll hear her respect for that. But she's so organized there's no operation she can't make better.”

”If you say so, but she certainly has a way of getting my back up.”

This time David laughed. ”Aye, she's good at that, and here she has had so many new people unused to her effectiveness she's alienated them all at once.”

”The servants. Me. My men. If it weren't for Philippa calming me after Lady Alisoun had left the guardhouse, I would be angrier yet.” Guy half-smiled. ”She's a lovely lady.”

”Alisoun?”

”Philippa.”

”She's not-” David gave up. If Guy wanted to call Philippa a lady, David didn't care. ”Unfortunately Philippa isn't following Alisoun everywhere, for half the village has been complaining.”

Guy waited, and when David didn't continue, Guy said, ”And Bert?”

”Bert hides from her. She only comes out for her lessons as a warrior, and that, I suspect, only so she can learn to use a real sword-on Alisoun.”

”You're training her with your squire, aren't you?”

”Eudo? Aye, I'm training them together.”

Guy stopped at the base of the keep stairs. ”What does he think?”

”I haven't asked him.”

”You should. He's a bright lad, and sees much.”

David smothered a grin.

”And what's so funny?”

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