Bold Conquest

by Virginia Henley

  "So!" Alison stormed at the three brothers, "this is just the first of a whole crop of Norman bastards we will be harvesting by summer." Her eyes blazed her indignation as she washed the wound carefully, and Andre ground his teeth to keep from crying out. She was secure in the knowledge that her nursing skills were indispensable for the moment, so she turned her wrath upon Guy. "After you left, Lillyth was in a frenzy of fear counting the days until she got the sign that she was not with child, and when you leave again in a few days, the worrying and counting will start over."

  Guy stiffened. "That will not be necessary, madame. Lillyth is ill, I won't take advantage of her."

  Alison took the dark green balsam ointment made from adder's-tongue boiled in oil and spread it thickly onto the wound to keep out the inflammation.

  "Edyth, hand me those clean dressings and take Emma and make her lie down."

  After the two girls departed, Alison began to bind up the leg, making sure the bandages were not too tight.

  "Do you think if we had a wedding it would set the fashion, madame, and others would follow?" Guy asked carefully.

  "A marriage between a Saxon and a Norman is exactly what we need. It would set a precedent and things would be as they should," she agreed.

  "I intend to wed Lillyth when I return from William's coronation."

  Her eyes kindled as her fondest wish was about to be realized

  "There is only one problem— I am already married," he stated bluntly. Andre and Nicholas caught each other's eye and quickly looked away.

  Alison sat with her hopes shattered, and Guy continued, "She is no wife to me—none know of her existence outside this room, save Rolf, of course. I am telling you this, Alison, but I don't want Lillyth to ever find out. I do not want to hurt her, not ever. I want her to have a wife's place of honor here, and if there are children, they will be my heirs. I don't hold this land for William; he has deeded it to me outright. Andre is to have Oxstead, and Nicholas, Sevenoaks. I hope they will follow my lead and marry, as will my other knights." He looked at her keenly, trying to gauge her reaction. "If you do not agree to my plan, we will say nothing more of the matter."

  She gathered her things together quickly and said, "I will think on it, my lord."

  It was past midnight, and Guy sat with his head back and his eyes closed before the fire. He was trying to summon the effort to arise and go to bed when Alison knocked lightly and came in.

  "I need your help, my lord. It is Rolf; he is much worse!"

  His lethargy disappeared immediately as he followed Alison to her chamber. Rolf's face was dark red, his whole body had a dull flush over it. He was still unconscious but he thrashed about the bed like one demented, and the bandage covering his wound had become displaced.

  "We have to break his fever and make him sweat. I have made a clyster from camomile flowers beaten up with oil. We have to spread it on his body from head to foot and pray that the fever breaks. If it does not he won't last the night."

  They spread the mixture all over his body and piled the blankets and furs on him, then sat down to their vigil. Alison knew that any claims Lillyth and she had to Godstone could only come through Guy. Her practical mind could weigh sentiment against advantages, and the advantages won.

  "My lord, I have been thinking about the matter we were discussing, and I have decided that any marriage would be better than no marriage at all."

  "So think I," said Guy. He held her eyes for a moment and said, "Do not worry, I shall be good to her."

  "I have no doubts about you, my Lord Montgomery."

  Within two hours the concoction had worked its magic, and Rolf started to sweat profusely. They worked together, washing and changing him throughout the night, and finally he succumbed to an exhausted sleep. At three o'clock all seemed to be well, and Guy left Alison dozing in a chair. He felt that a great weight had been lifted from his chest as he quietly entered his own chamber.

  Lillyth was coughing because the cold had settled in her chest. He quickly poured a drink and took it to her. She took it gratefully and drank it down. "Is it morning yet?" she asked.

  "No, I have been helping your mother with Rolf. We thought he would never last the night, but your mother came up with another miracle and he should be all right now."

  "Thank God," she breathed. "You must be exhausted! You came home only to work yourself to a standstill. I'm sorry about everything that has happened. I must get up today and make myself useful."

  "Your chest sounds terrible. You will stay in bed until you are better. This room looks lovely, you have worked hard too." He smiled. "In a few short days, Lillyth, we have to leave for London. I gave my word we would return for William's coronation, or I would never leave you right now."

  "I have a gift for you, my lord. Since you will not be here for Christmas, I want you to have it now, to wear in London. It's in my coffer by the wall."

  "I wish you would use my name, Lillyth," he said wistfully. "When I return and we are married, it will be ridiculous to keep 'lording' me, don't you think?"

  Her eyes opened wide with delight, and he watched her reaction with deep pleasure. He opened the coffer and took out the scarlet cloak. "Why it's magnificent," he said, twirling it in a wide arc and settling it on his shoulders.

  "It looks wonderful," she said proudly.

  "I have something for you too," he said. He took a small parcel from his saddlebags and, unwrapping it on the bed, gave her the gold bracelets. She put them on immediately and held up her arms for his admiration.

  "I'll have these others made smaller for you."

  "Oh no, they are for you, Guy," she said.

  "Me in bracelets?" He laughed incredulously.

  "Oh yes, put them on! They will make you look like a pagan god." She smiled seductively.

  He clasped them onto his thick arms and his muscles bulged above them. "They make me feel pagan. How will you fare if they make me act pagan?" He laughed and clasped her tightly to him and began kissing her neck and breasts, and laughing together they tumbled back and forth across the bed. Suddenly she was racked with coughing, and he was all tender concern for her, his passion dissolved.

  "I'd better get a couple of hours' sleep. Cover up warm, love, and try to rest. I'll see to the fire."

  She felt such a stab of disappointment that he was going to his own bed. She wanted to feel the long, hard length of him against her. Then, remembering his promise of marriage, she contented herself with the thought of all the nights to come and snuggled down, closing her eyes.

  During the next couple of days it became evident that Rolf would recover and that André's leg was doing as well as could be expected. Guy decided to take only twenty-five men with him to London and leave the rest behind, at Godstone. He left the choice up to them, and as he had supposed, it worked out well, because some really wanted to see London and others preferred for one reason or another to remain at home.

  Lillyth insisted on dressing and coming down for their leave-taking, and Guy drew her aside and said, "If you had been well enough I would have taken you to London with me. I feel such a great need of you when we are parted for a long time."

  She looked at him archly and said, "I do not intend to share your bed again until we are wed, my lord."

  He gave a mock sigh and said, "Ah well, I had better keep my eye open for a likely wench then."

  She slapped him playfully and in front of the assembled men he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. He looked full into her eyes and said,

  "And by God, madame, if you receive any more proposals while I am gone, tell them you are pledged to me."

  "Godspeed, my love," she whispered.

  Chapter 16

  As Guy's small cavalcade drew close to London, the travelers upon the road increased in number with each mile, and then the roads became clogged completely. London was every man's destination, it seemed, from Norman knights to Saxon peasants. There were many parties on horseback, including soldiers, rich merchants
and highborn Saxon ladies. Every denomination of holy man was traveling to London. Some, poor priests and friars on lowly donkeys, and some, rich corpulent bishops in ostentatious litters. Wagons and carts hauled and heaved their way slowly on the badly rutted roads that had started out frozen and passable, but were now so mired with mud and befouled, with animal dung that a journey that should have taken hours now took days. Farm carts carrying provision into the city dropped everything from autumn apples to winter cabbages, but these were soon picked up and devoured by the travelers in the wake of the oxcarts.

  Flocks of sheep and geese were herded between the crowds of people. Even whole herds of cattle and goats were driven forward in one large concerted attempt to reach the capital and turn a profit.

  It took a great deal of patience on Guy's part not to ride roughshod over the people on foot, but when he saw others on horseback doing this he determined to push through at a slower pace that left none behind in the throng killed or maimed. He amused himself, with Nicholas beside him, watching the different kinds of people that made up the humanity about them. There was a gaily painted wagon whose inhabitants tumbled and did acrobatics all about the cart and then passed a hat around for coins. Fashionably dressed minstrels with their viols or harps were present, and when the crowds came to a full stop for more than ten minutes, these troubadours strolled about, playing and singing the Song of William and other popular chansons.

  The air was thick with insults. The Norman insulted the Saxon; the Norman insults were pale compared to the curses that fell from the lips of the English. Merchants cursed farmers, men swore at women, the young railed at the old and the poor directed their hatred toward the rich. When the travelers passed by huts, the inhabitants tempted them with warm food or drink, or other commodities depending upon the tastes or morals of the passers-by. When they reached the gates of London they surged through with the mass only to discover every street and thoroughfare plugged solid. Their horses became very agitated, and to keep in the saddle required all the expertise their long experience in warfare had taught them.

  Every inn seemed overflowing, and the people in the city presented a motley mixture greater than they had ever encountered upon the road. There were black men, men in turbans and Jews everywhere. It seemed that people from every corner of the world were assembled in this one place at this one time. It was almost an impossible task to keep his men together as they sought accommodation, and their quest seemed hopeless until Guy espied Richard de Rules in the throng, and he hailed him as a drowning man would claw at straws. Richard de Rules was very young, only eighteen years old, but he had covered himself with glory at Senlac and ably ruled over a mesnalty of about a hundred knights.

  "Montgomery! Well met!" he shouted joyfully.

  "We promised to come, but now that we are here, where the hell are we to go?" asked Guy bluntly.

  "Follow me, we've taken over some houses along the Strand. We will make room for you somewhere, never fear."

  They made very slow progress, and it took an hour before they clattered up to a large mansion with vast stabling facilities in the rear. Despite the cold, they were covered in sweat and needed to bathe and change clothes before they were fit to sit down in the dining hall. Excitement permeated the air because of Christmas and because of the coronation. There were serving wenches aplenty, and Guy noted indulgently that Nick and other of his young knights were already making their selections for their evening's entertainment.

  "Enjoy yourselves tonight," he told them sternly, "because tomorrow you will spend the whole day polishing your armor and tack. I want a smart turnout for the coronation."

  After supper he left them to their carousing, and he and Richard de Rules went to seek out Robert de Mortain at William's court.

  Christmas Day, 1066, dawned cold and clear. Guy's instructions were to place his men outside Westminster Abbey, along with many more companies of Normans, to guard against any interference with the ceremony taking place within its sanctified walls. They held back the surging crowds and allowed William and his nobles’ unimpeded access to Westminster.

  The highest nobles of Saxony were also present. Inside, they were seated on one side and the French on the other. William's half-brother, Odo, was there, resplendent in his bishop's robes, but it was Archbishop Eldred of York who officiated. The ceremony seemed endless, but finally it came to a climax when the archbishop asked, "Do you consent that he be crowned as your lord?" once to the English and once to the French. There arose such a thundering tumult inside Westminster that the Norman soldiers outside thought William had been set upon. They immediately set fire to the buildings opposite. The soldiers closest to the doors knew that everything went well inside and began shouting to the knights who were creating havoc outside, and in a few minutes the pandemonium without was louder than within. Everyone rushed out to see what was happening, and William received the crown of England alone in Westminster.

  It took hours to bring everything back to order, and by the time Guy got back to the palace, the banqueting was well under way. There were so many to be fed and they had to wait so long between courses that an elderly knight remarked, "These benches are so hard, my arse is as sore as a virgin's crotch on her wedding night."

  William, who lived austerely for a ruler, usually allowed no drunkenness at his court, but tonight he relaxed his guard and turned a blind eye to the merrymaking festivities. Guy was surprised that so many ladies of the court had come from Normandy and remarked on this to Robert.

  "Aye, they can't get over the narrow sea fast enough. Some of them swam over, I think! My own lady will be mad as fire that she missed the celebrations. I received a message only this morning that she has brought my son William and awaits me on the coast. I think I will travel down with you, Montgomery. May I bring them to Godstone to break the journey?"

  It will be my pleasure, my lord," he answered gracefully.

  "I wish it were my pleasure," said Robert, wrinkling his nose slightly at the thought of being reunited with his wife so quickly. "We had better make hay while the sun shines. By the rood, Montgomery, you are getting a lot of inviting glances. It must be that scarlet mantle you are wearing." He winked.

  Guy awoke very early. He had the clear mind of a soldier whenever he opened his eyes, and he found it almost impossible to go back to sleep. An unbidden picture of Lillyth arose before him, and he could not dispel it. He feared greatly when he was away from her. It was funny that he had only experienced the feeling of fear in connection with her. Never, even before battle, had apprehension filled him as it could nowadays. His mind drifted to a more intimate fantasy, and the desire was upon him. It became so great that his loins ached with longing. He threw back the covers and stepped out upon the cold stone floor. Something must quell this ache that reached clear up to his guts. He fervently hoped that Lord Robert would not keep him waiting too long. He knew that Robert wanted to get his wife and son with the least possible delay and return to Berkhamstead and the enormous building task he had set himself. What kept him in London at his brother's side was obvious. Land was being given out wholesale and all wanted a fair share.

  William planned to return to Normandy by March, set everything to rights at home and return to England with his family and full court before the end of the year. Before he left for Normandy he wanted the land distributed to the strongest advantage, and it was a massive undertaking. Guy entered the vast council chambers and eighteen-year-old Richard de Rules made room for him on a crowded bench. Eudo Dapifer, the king's steward, read from a parchment:

  "The king has declared that all English lands are forfeit wherever the said English opposed William's coming. The king has appointed the bishop of London and Ralf, master of the horse, as the dual legates responsible for organizing land settlements. Ralf is made earl of East Anglia and receives the manors at Tring. Bishop Odo of Bayeux-is to receive the earldom of Kent, and Hugh de Montfort is henceforth sheriff of Kent, and receives as his division the castle of Saltwo
od above Romney Marsh."

  Guy was watching Robert's face, for Robert was seated on the main dais with his other brothers. Guy had asked him yesterday what he wanted, and he had replied, "Cornwall."

  Guy had lifted an eyebrow. "All of it?"

  "All of it!" answered Robert. "William gives generously with both hands, but many have their eyes on Cornwall. What William gives me will tell me immediately where I stand in his favor."

  The steward cleared his throat and drank water before he continued. "Count Robert of Mortain to receive Cornwall and to stay in residence at Berkhamstead during the king's absence."

  Robert did not betray his pleasure on his square features, but Guy knew he would be well satisfied indeed.

  Eudo Dapifer continued, "For his generous pledge of men, horses and supplies for the English venture, Count Eustace was promised one hundred Essex manors." A gasp went round the room at William's generosity "William Fitzosbern is to receive the earldom of Hereford. Richard de Rules"-- he stiffened beside Guy as he heard his name—"is to be created lord of Deeping and receive Lincolnshire." Eudo lifted his head and commented, "Lincolnshire lies sixty or seventy miles to the north and has not been brought to heel as yet, but we have no doubt young de Rules will have no difficulty in that direction."

  Richard's mouth split into a grin and he was well pleased that he would see action again so soon.

  "Likewise Richard de Bieufaite is to have Suffolk, sixty or seventy miles to the east, territory not yet secured. The castellaria of Hastings to go to Count Robert of Eu."

  William held up his hand at this point. "I should like to make it clear that land can be bought from the crown. I do not want this to degenerate into a scramble for land. Saxons as well as Normans are free to bring me their gold in exchange for land or for the redemption of their own land. I have promised land to many privately and as you can well imagine there will be mix-ups and two or more men claiming the same castle or manor. Let this not bring bad blood between us. In Normandy there was too much of that. I do not want this England to be torn apart with strife and petty wars. I command you all to keep the peace and should difficulties arise, the bishop of London or Earl Ralf have my authority to settle them as they see fit."