Bold Conquest

by Virginia Henley

  At last she received her wish. Aedward had walked all the way from Oxstead. She spied him through the trees going toward the hall. Breathlessly, she ran to him, then was at a loss for words when he stopped politely to see what she wanted.

  "I ... I missed you," she blurted out, unable to conceal her feelings.

  He smiled sadly. "I came to see my mother. I fear she is gravely ill."

  "Oh, Aedward, I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do?" she begged, longing to take his hurt onto herself,

  "Only pray," he said simply.

  Lillyth and her mother took turns looking after Lady Hilda, who seemed a little worse each day. Lillyth sat beside the bed and did her sewing. She had decided that Guy should have a new mantle and she was determined that it wouldn't be of a somber hue, so she picked scarlet wool and chose an amber jewel to fasten it at one shoulder. How brave he would look in the bright color with his dark hair for contrast. She looked up at a low knock on the door, and setting aside the material, she rose to answer. Aedward came into the chamber, took her hands and said quickly, "I came to see how my mother fares, and to see you too, Lillyth."

  She smiled at him sadly. "She is sleeping now thanks to the potion my mother brews for her, but I am afraid she gets no better, Aedward."

  "I appreciate everything you are doing for her, Lillyth, thank you." He hesitated. "Lillyth, you know I still love you. Why don't we steal this opportunity to get married while they are away? Who knows, perhaps we will be lucky and they will never return." He went on his knees to her. "Oh, love, it would be a fait accompli and there would be nothing he could do about it."

  "He would simply kill you," she said softly.

  "Perhaps not, perhaps he would not want you after I'd had you," he begged. "I am willing to risk all for you."

  She looked at the boy before her, and thought, That's exactly what he is, a boy, and not nearly man enough for me.

  She took his face between her hands and said, "Aedward, if you had only said to me those words 'I am willing to risk all for you` before I was wed to Wulfric, I would have gone away with you and wed you. You should have taken me that day we went hawking and never allowed me to go to him. Now I do not love you— I love another." She thought silently, You were not man enough then, and for me, you are not man enough now.

  Her denial cut him deeply. He held up his stump and cried, "Is it because of this?"

  "That is unworthy of you, Aedward," she said quietly.

  He looked at her and knew the truth of her words.

  The Lady Hilda lingered a few more days, and during the night when it was Lillyth's turn to sit with her, Aedward's mother drew her last labored breath. Lillyth went to the next chamber where her mother was resting, pondering whether she should first awaken Rolf to send a man over to Oxstead to bring Aedward. She went into her mother's chamber without knocking and checked on the threshold. Alison and Rolf, naked, were in the most passionate embrace Lillyth had ever witnessed. Her mouth fell open and she went pale, then finally murmured, "Lady Hilda ..."

  Alison reached smoothly for her robe and said, "I'll come at once."

  Rolf said quietly, "I'll send word to Oxstead."

  They laid her out and washed her, and put fresh linen on the bed, all without a word to each other. When the incense had been burned to freshen the room, Lady Alison motioned for Lillyth to follow her. They went into Lillyth's chamber and Alison closed the door.

  "I'm a passionate, woman, Lillyth, and Rolf is all man. What did you expect? Do you think you and Guy are the only ones permitted to sport naked in your chamber? Don't be a hypocrite, Lillyth!"

  "I'm sorry, mother," she said humbly.

  Aedward took his mother home to Oxstead for burial after the service in the church at Godstone. As the priest said the words over the small coffin and the dirt fell into the grave, Lillyth looked at Aedward's haggard face and felt a terrible remorse over the cruel words she had said to him. As she watched him, she realized he was a boy no longer, as she had accused in her heart. He had indeed become a man. Her attention was inexplicably drawn to one of the windows in the hall. What had she seen? A figure or watcher of some sort; someone out of place who was odd and unnatural. A shiver went over her and she was covered with gooseflesh. She had exactly the same feeling that had crept over her the last time she had visited Oxstead, and suddenly she couldn't bear the place a moment longer. Ghosts, it was filled with ghosts, and they haunted her peace of mind. She turned sharply away and slowly the others followed her away from the grave, away from Oxstead and its dead, toward Godstone, home, life!

  Edwina had watched them place Lady Hilda's coffin on a wagon, and the mourning party set out for Oxstead. She followed the riders on foot, at a distance. She did not know why she did this, she only knew she must. Aedward needed comfort. If no other would provide it, she would. She arrived in time to see them offering a prayer for the lady's soul. She watched Aedward invite the party from Godstone into the hail. She watched Lillyth shake her head and turn sharply away. She watched them all leave for Godstone, but this time she did not follow. Aedward kept vigil beside the grave until dusk began to fall. Edwina knew he would stay all night if she did not intervene. Quietly she approached him and said his name softly.

  "Edwina, what are you doing here?"

  "I did not want you to be alone this night," she said simply.

  He looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she shared his pain. They shone with so much love for him he could neither deny it nor refuse it.

  "Let me be with you tonight?" she pleaded.

  "I would like you to stay with me a while. Then I must take you home."

  She smiled up at him, indicating that whatever he decided for her would please her.

  Aedward said, "Come, I will take you to my old chamber." He took her hand and she followed him, excited now.

  "I have never been inside a great hall before," she told him.

  "Then I am sure you will be favorably impressed. Of course, it is not the equal of Godstone, but we managed to live quite graciously."

  Edwina's gaze swept about the entrance hall, admiring the fine tapestries. She jumped guiltily. "Someone is coming!"

  "It's only one of my mother's ladies. It's all right, sweetheart. Norah, I thought you went back to Godstone."

  "No, my lord. It seemed so peaceful now that the Normans have gone, I thought I would stay a few days and enjoy the way it used to be."

  "You must not call me 'my lord,' Norah. Remember, they will return."

  She curtsied to him. "Can I fetch you some supper, Aedward?"

  "No thank you, Norah." Then he realized that Edwina would be hungry. "I have changed my mind. I would appreciate it if you could choose food enough for two and bring it to my chamber. Fetch me some ale and some mead for my lady. I think she would enjoy that." He smiled.

  Edwina was enthralled to be called his lady and followed him up the staircase to his bedchamber.

  "You must be cold, Edwina. Forgive me, I never thought," he apologized. He bent to the fire and in a few moments had a small starter fire blazing in the open hearth. Edwina fingered the fur coverlet on the bed.

  "This is where you sleep?" she asked, because she had only ever seen bedmats on the floor. "I've never slept in a bed," she said.

  He stood up from the fire and came toward her. "You will tonight" he promised.

  She shook her head. "I would fall off."

  "I will hold you too tightly to fall off." He laughed for the first time that day. There was no need for candles. The fire lit up the small chamber, making it a warm haven for the young lovers.

  Norah knocked softly. She brought a platter of cold meats and cheeses. The fine white bread with butter to spread upon it took Edwina's fancy. She had never before tasted butter. Shyly, she waited until Norah left.

  "Can I have some of this?"

  "Of course. Put some meat on it," he urged.

  "What is it?" she asked curiously.

  "I think this is cold venison. Ha
ve you never had it before?"

  She shook her head, and he watched eagerly for her reaction when she tasted it.

  "It is very good," she laughed.

  "Now try this. I think these are slices of wild boar. The taste is much stronger."

  "Mmm, that's good too," she praised.

  Aedward was delighted with her. How thrilling it was to give a maiden her first taste of life's pleasures. He felt himself harden at the taste of the pleasures still to come. He knew she was virgin, so did not want to frighten her with his haste. He plied her with partridge, insisting that she take the leg while he picked at the wing. Then he poured her a horn of honey-sweet mead and held it to her lips until she almost drained it. He saved the last drop for himself, putting his mouth to the spot her lips had touched, then he took her into his embrace and touched their lips together, while they were still sweet from the mead. "We have shared the loving cup," he whispered. He lifted her to the bed, and she raised her face to receive his kiss. He paused to gaze down at her as the firelight flickered across her delicate features. Her short blond hair curled about her face, making her look like an angel.

  "Oh, my lord Aedward, I love you so much!" she cried.

  "Edwina, you are so pretty; so sweet."

  He gently removed her woolen tunic and traced the delicate, budding breasts with his forefinger. When he removed his clothes and lay beside her, she knelt up on the bed to gaze down at him. Her lips fell upon his chest with hundreds of little, hot kisses. She moved so quickly, down his chest, across his belly, down to his groin and back up again, he could only lie groaning in his need. With a swift movement he had her beneath him. She was extremely small, but by persistently pushing an inch at a time, he penetrated as deeply as he dare go this first time, then slowly he began to make her his. He was so inflamed he reached his climax after only a dozen thrusts and was greatly relieved that he had not hurt her.

  "Are you sure you are all right, Edwina?"

  For answer she curled against him, rubbing her cheek against his chest.

  He said wonderingly, "You are so selfless, you receive pleasure from giving it to me."

  "Must we go?" she dared to ask him.

  "Not tonight. Neither of us wants to leave this bed. Early tomorrow I must take you back and explain to your mother. She will be ill with worry for you."

  Edwina smiled up at him and snuggled down against him under the soft fur pelt.

  When Aedward awoke he found himself alone. He rose up from the bed quickly, about to search for her, when she came in carrying hot water. He laughed in his relief. "You remembered that I like to wash."

  "Let me wash you, my lord Aedward."

  "Not unless you allow me the same pleasure," he teased.

  "We must hurry. Lady Norah is bringing food."

  "Ah Norah, you are just the one to solve my problem," said Aedward as she entered the chamber with a tray. "I wish to see my lady in a fine gown. I would like it to be blue to match her beautiful eyes. See what you can do, my dear," he directed Norah, as he had often done in the past.

  Summoning all her courage, Edwina asked softly, "Can I be your woman?"

  "My lady," he corrected her. "After I see your mother and father I will bring you back with me."

  Guy gambled seldomly; however, when he saw the stakes were two sets of golden bracelets, one small delicate pair for a lady, the other larger, thicker to fit a man's arms, he decided he wanted them as a gift for Lillyth.

  Probably the man didn't realize they were real gold, and for just the hazard of a few silver denier, he soon had the bracelets safely stowed in his doublet. Guy burned to be home before Christmas so he could give Lillyth the present, but of course he didn't need this spur, he just wanted to be with her again. He sought out Robert immediately and came directly to the point. "I must return to Sussex for a few days. I'll be back in London in time for the coronation."

  Robert smiled at him. "There is such a crush around here, I don't even think you will be missed, but I'll say you have gone on a mission to the coast for me to hurry along building supplies that are long overdue, if there is any question. Godspeed!"

  Robert made a silent promise to himself to visit this Godstone and find out for himself what drew Guy so irresistibly.

  Guy startled his brothers by telling them they were leaving for home in the morning.

  "See that the men are ready before dawn," he ordered impatiently.

  "We are not missing the coronation, are we?" Nicholas asked incredulously.

  "You're not worried about any coronation— it's London you can't wait to get your hands on," laughed Guy.

  "And it's Lillyth you can't wait to get your hands on," Nick taunted.

  "We are to be back in London by the twentieth, so we had best break camp and head out without any delay. See to it."

  Faith sat huddled in a corner of the hut while Red Wolf dressed and checked his weapons carefully. She knew they were going out on another raid. Her plan was made; her decision reached. She would carry it out the moment the band of men quit the forest camp. She could bear this life no longer. The depth of degradation she had suffered at Red Wolf's hands could not continue.

  It was her job to prepare the men's food, and she went about her work calmly. She cut large chunks off the roe buck they had hunted and killed and placed them in the iron pot over the fire, with water she had carried from the stream. She put in the last of the wild turnips, along with some mustard greens, then walked upstream to where she remembered seeing a laburnum tree growing.

  She gathered the deadly poisonous pods from the tree, returned to her cooking and threw them into the iron pot. As the mixture bubbled, it gave off such a savory fragrance her mouth began to water. She took a wooden bowl, filled it with the stew, then ate every mouthful with relish. She lay down beneath a gnarled oak and gripped her arms about her middle tightly, knowing what was to come.

  Soon she would be with her beloved Morgan; soon she would escape the cruel torture of the Red Wolf.

  Lillyth awoke with a sore throat, and she felt flushed all over. She was considering going back to bed for the day when Aedward rode in like a madman.

  "Fire! Fire!" he shouted. He ran into the hall to find Rolf.

  Aedward was blackened from smoke and sweat, and he had a wild look in his eyes. "Half the peasants' huts are on fire at Oxstead. Some people are badly burned. I don't know how it started; it must have been set, I think. We'll need help. How many men did Guy leave behind— only five?"

  Rolf considered for a moment. "I'll get more men. Our peasants will come gladly. Giles, take the men and go immediately. I'll get Alfred and he can pick the men he will need. Aedward, you can take them to Oxstead. I'll stay here in case it is some kind of diversion to get everyone away from Godstone."

  Alison organized her ladies. Some tore strips off sheets and others rolled them into bandages. She went to the stillroom and began to mix ointment to soothe burns. She sent Adela to ask at every hut for any clothing, especially for the children, that they could spare. She sent word to the kitchens to prepare extra food, and Rolf went to the stables to ready some wagons to take the necessary supplies to Oxstead. He had just returned to the hall when the sound of horses coming at a full gallop filled the yard.

  About a dozen men thrust their way into the hall, and Lillyth raised her head and looked straight into the eyes of Wulfric. She felt the walls coming together and the floor rose up and almost smacked her in the face, and she realized she was fainting. She grasped the air in front of her and hung onto consciousness, though oblivion was to be desired in the face of this evil.

  Rolf reached for his sword, but a knife was thrust into his back and he fell in a pool of his own blood. Alison screamed and sprang forward, but Wulfric struck her across the face and she fell to her knees beside Rolf.

  "Tie her," he ordered.

  The girls were screaming and the men grabbed them and began their atrocities. Wulfric had his whip in his hand and he bared his teeth in anticipatio
n as he motioned Lillyth up the stairs. She picked up her skirts and ran wildly up the steps toward the back chamber where they had spent their wedding night. All the while a voice screamed in her head, I knew! I knew! She repeated it over and over with her heartbeats. One moment she was freezing and her teeth were chattering, the next moment she felt overheated as though she would suffocate. A part of her mind told her it was the influenza, so she dismissed it to secondary importance. Another voice in her head said quite clearly and calmly, You are no longer a child, you are now a woman! If you can control a real man like Guy, you can control this scum, this nothing! He has a whip, but your weapons are more deadly, and then very clearly she heard herself say, "I almost feel sorry for him, the poor bastard doesn't have a chance!"

  As he came through the chamber door she was waiting, facing him. Her mouth caressed his name as she whispered, "Wulfric, thank God you are alive!"

  He narrowed his eyes suspiciously and raised his whip arm, but as smoothly and easily as an otter slips through water, she slipped under the whip arm and cast herself into his arms.

  "No, love, please don't use the whip on me. That is what the Norman dogs use. They are not man enough to handle a woman without a whip, as you are, Wulfric," she purred. She lifted her mouth to his, but not quite all the way. Holding her lips very close to his, and every few seconds darting out her pink inviting tongue to moisten them, she told him, "I did not know what a man was until I married you. You are so masterful it sends shivers down my spine."

  He was concentrating on her mouth and was compelled to kiss her as he had longed to do for months. She quivered with a simulated ecstasy and he growled, "Let us see what fancy tricks these Normans have taught you, slut!"