by The Raven
“If the King believed him innocent, then so do I,” she said firmly because the alternative was unthinkable.
“Roseanna, the King didn’t give a damn if his best friend was innocent or guilty. The woman was unfaithful and got what she deserved, or so most men would think.”
Roseanna shuddered. She had given herself up totally to Ravenspur in the night, to do with as he willed! She blocked the dark memories and looked around to see if they were observed. What she was doing now with Sir Bryan could be construed as faithlessness by tale-carriers.
Bryan touched her hand tenderly, “Best go now, Roseanna. I won’t approach you again unless we are chaperoned.”
Bless him, she thought. He knows exactly what danger he puts me in and would protect me
That night as she lay in bed, she worried that her dreams would be filled with unspeakable horrors because of what Sir Bryan had told her. But as she hovered on the brink of sleep, a deep longing began, a need to be enfolded and held by a pair of incredibly strong arms. Then as she slipped into sleep, she felt her husband’s big body cover hers. He filled her with his long, thick manroot and covered her with kisses until she almost drowned in his overpowering love.
When Roseanna awoke, she lay in her lonely bed, and Sir Bryan’s accusations washed over her. Damn it, she’d not let her mind go over and over it, filling her with sick dread.
She threw back the covers, dressed quickly, and sought out Mr. Burke. Although the hour was early, he had been about his duties since dawn. She found him in the small room he called the steward’s office. She closed the door quietly and sat facing him across his desk.
“Mr. Burke, I beg you to answer my questions. No one else can help me.”
Instinctively he knew what was coming, and knew he would not resist her appeal.
“Ravenspur’s wife Janet was murdered. Is it true she had been raped with a knife?”
He nodded slowly. “She was mutilated. The knife was found beside her body.”
“Ravenspur’s knife?” she pressed.
He nodded again.
“He was arrested for the murder?” she asked.
Mr. Burke said quickly, “The verdict was not guilty!”
She looked deeply into his eyes and asked softly, “Mr. Burke, was he guilty? I need the truth. Tell me what you know.”
He took a deep breath. “I’ve told no one this—you are the first and the last. I caught a glimpse of a man leaving her chamber late that night, before I went in and found her. I do not know who it was. It could have been Roger, or it could have been Tristan. If it was Tristan, what could have been his motive? I’ve asked myself a thousand times.” He shook his head and said low, “And if it was Roger, I prefer to think he found her like that and delivered a merciful coup de grace.”
“You truly cannot be sure of the identity?”
He shook his head. “He was tall and dark and coming from her private chamber.”
She shuddered. “Thank you, Mr. Burke. I appreciate your confidence, especially since I know that your loyalty to Ravenspur rules your life.”
Suddenly she had to get outside into the cool fresh air or faint. She went blindly down the main staircase, past the great dining hall, out into the courtyard. Pigeons and dogs scattered before her as she sought a place where she could be alone to sort out her thoughts. One voice inside her head screamed that the man they had bonded her to for a lifetime could not be a vicious murderer. Why not? Why not? another voice mocked. You know nothing of him!
She had not noticed that it had begun to snow. All at once she looked down at her hand and saw very clearly one perfect snowflake. Then as surely and as clearly as she saw its perfection, it came to her that she knew everything there was to know of this man Roger Montford, Baron of Ravenspur. His touch had told her that her body was precious to him. He had truly honored her with his body, as he had pledged in his marriage vows. His body was strong and powerful, but there was no cruelty in him, no evil. For the first time in the clear light of day, she allowed herself to relive their nights of love together, and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that those loving hands could be trusted with a woman’s body. Not with just her body but with any woman’s body; she would stake her life on it.
A weight was suddenly lifted from her heart. She was no longer afraid of him, and it was a wonderful feeling. They could fight and argue, have totally conflicting views, and drive each other to madness with their willful pride, but she knew she had nothing to fear from him— except that he might be able to make her love him. She pushed the thought away, regained her composure, and returned to the castle.
Two hours later, Roseanna was surprised to see a small troop of half a dozen men ride in. But when she saw that their leader was her brother Jeffrey, she was overjoyed. His arrival would dispel her somber thoughts. As he greeted her with a hug and a kiss, she marveled, “Jeffrey, you must have a crystal ball. Ravenspur left for the coast only yesterday, and today you turn up as if by magic!”
“Wonderful!” He grinned. “Now you will be able to be with Bryan openly while I am here to chaperone you.”
She blushed and felt a pang of guilt. It was almost as if the whole thing had been planned. “I hope your men have been well taken care of.”
“You have a most worthy steward who has extended the famous Ravenspur hospitality.”
“Come, we will find you a comfortable chamber,” she urged.
“That shouldn’t prove too difficult. By the looks of the place Ravenspur lives quite splendidly, doesn’t he? I wonder if his other castles are as richly appointed as this.”
“I’m led to believe that this is a barren pile of rocks compared with Ravenspur Castle.” She grinned as she threw open the door to a very masculine room with black oak furnishings and mulberry velvet hangings. Jeffrey couldn’t conceal his envy; for a fleeting moment she wondered if it was Ravenspur he envied or her, because it had all been bestowed upon her.
He said bitterly, “Things come so easily to some!”
“Easily?” she echoed. “The price I paid was high indeed. Need I remind you that I was forced into marriage against my will instead of being allowed to follow my heart?”
“Ah, brat, don’t take offense. As soon as I get rid of my travel stains, you can show me your stables.”
She felt that he was deliberately placating her by changing the subject to horses. She shrugged. What did it matter? The three of them would be able to spend a few happy days together.
The week sped past quickly. Jeffrey almost took on the role of the baron. He enjoyed sitting in the dining hall in Ravenspur’s great carved chair, ordering the servants around to fulfill his every whim. Kate Kendall fussed over him, spoiling him as she always had at home, and he was the cause of half a dozen brawling matches between herself and Mr. Burke, who did not take kindly to the petulant young lout who treated the servants like dirt— but not, he noticed with cynicism, in front of Roseanna.
Bryan and Jeffrey became inseparable to the point that Roseanna began to notice sudden silences in their intense conversations whenever she came upon the scene. She put it down to the fact that the two friends had been separated and were making the best of the reunion while it lasted.
Roger had only to close his eyes for a moment on that long ride to the coast and Roseanna would be with him. His spirits were high, for he could not remember a time when he had been as happy and contented with his lot. He still couldn’t believe his luck in securing Roseanna for his bride, for he knew without doubt that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever beheld. She literally took men’s breath away. He enjoyed nothing more than observing men who were meeting her for the first time. He saw their eyes widen and their jaws slacken. He’d hide his amusement as their tongues tripped over their words, turning them from polished courtiers or fierce men-at-arms into clumsy youths with their first infatuation. He enjoyed the envious looks other men cast his way. He knew exactly how the beautiful creature affected them, for many were the times he glanc
ed at her and felt his heart lurch!
He closed his eyes, and her beautiful face was before him. Her hair fell to her knees in a dark cloud; her marvelous violet gray eyes changed color as she looked at him; her mouth was as soft and inviting as a pink velvet rose. His body became aroused just thinking of her. He had to crush down his desire, knowing that he would not be able to slake it until he returned to her. His men and Tristan would indulge themselves when they reached Ravenglass, but he would not. He desired no other woman, and he had given her his word that he would be faithful if she yielded herself to him. And yield she had! Her body was fashioned for love, and he exulted that she showed promise of a rich sensuality. His happiness needed only one thing to make it perfect: He needed Roseanna to love him, and he was determined that she would.
They arrived at Ravenglass tired from the fast pace their lord had set. He had observed no movement of troops, nor anything untoward to cause suspicion. As soon as he had inspected the cargoes that his merchant ships had brought, he would ride full speed back to Roseanna and make the arrangements to move his household and people back to Ravenspur, his main castle, the place he thought of as home. He couldn’t wait to take Roseanna home.
Ravenspur had a total of nine merchant vessels; he kept three at each of the ports where his castles were built. All three of the Ravenglass ships had recently returned from long voyages, and their captains were in residence at Ravenglass. Roger arose at dawn and led his men through a day of arduous labor, unloading, inspecting, and tallying the cargoes. He was driving, tireless, overpowering, and exploding with energy. At one point, Tristan argued with him that it was unreasonable to drive men until they dropped. They exchanged curses and expletives and foul language to no avail, for Roger merely grinned and said, “I guess we understand each other. Let’s get to work!”
One vessel had taken the northern passage to Norway, taking grain there and fetching back a cargo of amber and magnificent furs that were worth their weight in gold. There were rich dark sable, mink, delicate ermine, and gloriously thick silver and red fox. The prettiest by far was the snowy arctic fox. Roger set a bundle of these furs aside for a cloak for Roseanna.
The other two vessels had gone south. One had taken casks of English October ale and smoky Irish whiskey to be traded for wines in France, Spain, and Portugal. The third vessel, its holds filled with wool, sailed all the way to Gibraltar and Tangiers and came back with hides of soft Cordoban and Morrocan leather and an almost priceless amount of ivory. Roger came across a sandalwood chest filled with pure silk caftans in heavenly shades and a small ivory casket of perfume vials, each one more exotic than the last. He sniffed them appreciatively, and these also he marked for Roseanna. Then when all three cargoes had been unloaded, he gave his men orders to reload one vessel with the most luxurious of the items to take to the London docks for the King’s Court at Westminster.
Tristan fell into his bed in utter exhaustion. He was dumbfounded when Roger awakened him to go convey to his men that they would be returning to Ravensworth at first light.
Although it was early in the day, back at Ravensworth Jeffrey lounged in a chair with a filled wine cup. “I’ve a mind to see Middleham Castle. How about a ride over that way?” He spoke casually, as if it mattered little whether she came or not.
“Oh, Jeff, the Abbey of Jervaulx is close by Middleham. The Cistercian monks there breed white horses, and I want to see if I can buy a couple of mares. I’ll get ready at once.”
Jeffrey frowned slightly. Then his brow cleared, and he nodded and told her he would meet her in the stables. He drained his wine cup quickly and sought out Sir Bryan. “A slight hitch in our plan has developed, but I think it will serve our purpose even better. Roseanna wants to go to the Abbey of Jervaulx to buy mares. All we need do is keep her there overnight until the prisoner is secured, instead of keeping her at Middleham. This way, if she isn’t needed, we can return her here without ever arousing her suspicions.”
Sir Bryan considered for a moment, then he agreed completely.
Jeffrey said, “So that we are not seen together by Ravenspur’s stablemen, you go now and meet us south on the road to Richmond. You will be such a sweet surprise for my dearest sister!”
“Do you never tire of playing cupid?” drawled Bryan with a leer.
Roseanna quickly changed into a warm riding skirt and covered her silk shirt with a warm quilted jacket. Then she donned her warmest cloak overall. She took the leather pouch containing the five hundred pounds she’d won from Ravenspur and went in search of her women.
She met Alice coming upstairs with freshly laundered bed linen. “I’m going out with Jeffrey. We should be back for dinner, but if I’m late, don’t worry. And don’t let Kate have any more tiffs with Mr. Burke about packing the household furnishings to take south!”
“Tiff? That’s English understatement if ever I heard it. And what, pray, can I do? They’ll be at it the minute your back is turned.”
“Yes. Well, on second thought, stay out of their way,” advised Roseanna, laughing as she skipped down the main staircase and headed for the stables.
Roseanna was enjoying herself. En route, Zeus was soon given his head, and with ears pricked and tail flowing, horse and rider almost flew down the Great South Road. Her hood flew off, and the wind caught her hair and sent it streaming out across the horse’s flanks. Her heart was high. She would buy Ravenspur the mares as a present to surprise him. She didn’t know why she had a sudden desire to please him, but it filled her with elation.
She was slightly shocked when she saw Sir Bryan awaiting them at a fork in the road. She turned to her brother sharply and asked, “Did you arrange this?”
“Of course, brat. You’re still lovebirds, are you not?”
She blushed and wished Jeffrey would stop trying to push her into Sir Bryan’s arms. She felt a twinge of guilt that she was keeping Bryan tied to herself. How selfish she was! He should forget her and find another to give his heart to. She determined to find a way to gently discourage him.
When they reached the land that belonged to the abbey, Jeffrey suggested he handle the business with the monks since they might not wish to deal with a woman.
Roseanna was incensed at his suggestion. “I am capable of handling any situation that arises, Jeffrey. I don’t need you or any other man for my mouthpiece,” she assured him.
Sir Bryan cut in smoothly, “Middleham Castle is only three miles off. Why don’t we go over there and return for Roseanna when she has completed her business?”
She gave him a dazzling smile of thanks and relief. Her brother and his men took off in the direction of Middleham, leaving her at the abbey gates. Visitors to Jervaulx were not rare, but seldom were those visitors women. She explained the reason for her visit to the young monk who attended the gate, and he took her along to his superior. Only the head of the order would have the authority to sell any of the strange white horses whose ancestors had been imported from the Continent and had made the first hoofprints on the moor. But until he was free to speak with her, Brother Ben would be happy to give her a tour of the abbey and show her how they used sheep’s milk to make their famous flaky cheese.
The shadows were starting to gather before the head of the order made time to see her. She was ushered into a tower room of the abbey that, though sparsely furnished, was immaculately clean.
“Thank you for your patience, my dear,” said the white-robed man with a lean face and large teeth, like a wolf’s.
“I’m Lady Ravenspur, and I’ve come to see if I can persuade you to sell me a pair of your famous white horses.” She smiled at him and clearly saw that he admired her in spite of the fact that he was a man of religion.
“Why did Baron Ravenspur not come himself?” he puzzled.
“I want to surprise him with a gift of two mares. We have a white Arabian that we wish to breed.”
The tall monk was not embarrassed to discuss such matters with a female, as one might have expected. For he had
sized up Roseanna shrewdly and realized she was a rare woman. “We don’t usually sell our horses, but in your case I am willing to make an exception.”
“Thank you. I’m willing to pay a good price,” she assured him.
His eyes twinkled. “Good. I won’t let them go cheaply.”
She smiled at his candor. “May I see some of them?”
He nodded. “Tomorrow you may choose two from what we have.”
“Oh, I had hoped to return home tonight,” she exclaimed.
He spread his hands. “The horses are scattered on Middleham High Moor. They are allowed to wander freely.”
“Oh, I see. Then I shall have to ask you to extend your hospitality and put me up for the night. Also, my brother and his friend are returning for me. They are probably here now.”
He arose and smiled down at her. “We can feed you and put you up for the night, and then in the morning you can choose your mares.” His eyes twinkled again. “If we had concluded our business today, the abbey wouldn’t have benefited from three paying guests, would it?” He opened the door and turned her over once more to Brother Ben.
Ravenspur’s cavalcade clattered into the castleyard. The horses were well lathered from the long, hard ride. Roger felt an impatience to be with Roseanna that he’d never before experienced. He turned his horse over to his head stableman, unloaded a leather trunk from a pack-horse, and hoisted it to his shoulder. He took the stairs to his chamber three at a time, set the trunk down by the great bed, and lifted its lid. He carefully moved the furs to his wardrobe and lifted a pale turquoise silk caftan with one finger, closed his eyes in appreciation of the exotic scent that lingered in its folds, and called loudly for Mr. Burke. His steward had sent the servants for hot water for the master’s bath the moment he had heard them clatter into the courtyard.
When the bath was filled, Roger stripped and stepped into the hot water, vigorously lathering himself with clove-scented soap. “Mr. Burke, summon my wife.”
Mr. Burke’s eyebrow went up slightly, and Roger grinned. “On second thought, issue her no summons, Mr. Burke. Ask her if I may have the pleasure of her company.” He quickly stepped from the tub and was vigorously toweling himself dry before Mr. Burke got to the door.