Before she even reached it, Arthur's hand was on her elbow. He spun her around abruptly. He was so close, she had to stare up at him to see his face. He was livid.
"Thy words were rude. Thee will come back and apologize immediately!"
She tried to shrug him off but he was too strong. Her temper came to the fore and with it, her common sense disappeared. She slapped at his hand. "Take thy hands off me, thou loathsome toad. I will not apologize. If all Normans think like thee, then I fear for the future of my country!"
As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. Arthur's face turned to granite, his eyes as dark as coal. Despite her earlier bravado, a shiver of fear went down her spine.
* * *
Arthur knew it would take a little, if not a long time, for his wife to adjust to being married to a Norman but her rudeness was unforgivable. His jaw clenched angrily.
"'Twould seem, wife, that thou need a reminder in manners!" He pulled her protesting form to the edge of the camp, keeping just inside the glow from the fire.
Leaning against a large tree for support, he raised one knee and laid Elvina over his thigh so her bottom was raised off the ground. Throwing her skirts over her head, he began to smack her bottom. The loud slaps echoed in the night air, mixed with small gasps of outrage from Elvina.
"Thou shalt learn to keep a civil tongue in thy head, wife!"
She kicked her legs in response and tried to wriggle forward but he just gripped her tighter and smacked harder. She squealed as his punishment continued to rain down.
"And thee doth not refer to thy husband as a loathsome toad!"
"Aow – desist! 'Tis stinging!"
"I am glad. Mayhap it will help thee mind thy manners."
He continued smacking her until his hand began to smart and her bottom radiated sufficient heat for him to know that she would be sitting uncomfortably for a while. Deciding she had had enough, Arthur threw her skirts back down and pulled her up, keeping a tight grip on her wrist. She rubbed her bottom through the material with her free hand, whilst looking at him sullenly.
"Now we shall go back to camp, and thee will apologize to my brothers. If thee doth not, then I will bring thee straight back here and use a switch on thee!"
Even in the dim glow from the campfire, he could see her eyes widen with alarm. Without waiting for a reply, he pushed her forward towards his brothers where she actually did as he bid and made her apologies. She kept her head bowed, whether through embarrassment or rebellion, he knew not, but he was satisfied that at least, on this occasion, he had won the battle.
Ilchester Castle...
They arrived at Gerard's holdings early the next evening. One of the squires helped Elvina dismount, and she waited for her husband to join her. She wanted nothing more than a warm bath and a comfortable bed. At least, this night would not be spent on the hard forest floor.
Her bottom ached from the long ride, and it wasn't helped by the spanking Arthur had given her yester eve. She glanced over at him and scowled. Unfortunately, for her, he chose that moment to turn around and caught her in the act. She quickly looked away, biting her bottom lip.
He reached her side in moments. "Take that look off thy face, my lady, else I give thee reason to scowl so."
She huffed. "Thou hath already given me reason enough."
He placed a finger under her chin. "Nay, my lady, I hath not, but that can easily be rectified. We shall be safely ensconced in our own chamber shortly and, if thou doth not behave, then I shall chastise thee as I see fit."
For some reason, his words sent her heart beating wildly in her chest. Unnerved, all she could mumble was, "Beast!"
Suddenly, a fair-haired woman walked over to them. Gerard had his arm around her waist so Elvina quickly surmised she must be his wife. The lady tapped Arthur on the shoulder and smiled at the pair of them. "Welcome back to Ilchester, Arthur. 'Tis good to find thee well."
"Elfreda!" He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then stepped back. "All is well with the babe?"
She looked down at her swollen stomach. "Aye, Arthur. He grows well and fidgets constantly."
Arthur smiled. "'Tis a good sign, Elfreda." She was looking at Elvina with interest. He slipped an arm around his wife and led her forward. "May I introduce my wife, Elvina."
"Gerard just told me of thy recent marriage. 'Twas a surprise, but 'tis a pleasure to meet thee, Elvina."
Elvina immediately warmed to her. "Thou art Saxon?"
"Aye." Elfreda linked an arm through hers. "Come with me into the great hall. I can see thou art fatigued and there will be plenty of time to talk anon."
Arthur followed behind them as they walked into the keep. Renaud had already located his wife, Cynwise, and was locked in a tight embrace in front of the hearth. Elfreda coughed delicately into her hand, alerting them to her presence. The two broke apart and looked at her.
"Sister, may I introduce Arthur's wife, Elvina."
Elvina stared at Cynwise and immediately recognised a kindred spirit. She possessed the same rebellious nature as her own – she could see it in her eyes. Cynwise smiled impishly. "Welcome to the family, Elvina. Thou art also Saxon, I see. Three Saxon women against three Norman brothers. I think we shall lead them a merry dance!"
Renaud swatted her on the bottom. "Enough of thy cheek, wench."
"Aow!" she giggled, half-heartedly protesting. "I can see thy hands hath not lost their strength, husband."
"Nay! Which reminds me...hath thou behaved in my absence?"
"Of course!"
Renaud narrowed his eyes, and Elvina, looking at the pair of them, had a distinct feeling he disbelieved her. Cynwise, however, chose to ignore him. She stepped forward and linked her arm through Elvina's. "Come, sister-in-law, we hath much to talk about."
Elvina soon found herself settled in front of a huge fireplace next to Cynwise. Elfreda had gone to sort out refreshments for the men, who were in deep conversation together with the castle's constable.
"So, how come thee to speak Norman French?" asked Cynwise.
"The monks at Ely Abbey taught me. I lived there a while and with little else to do, they advised me to learn the Norman language." She lowered her voice so the men couldn't hear. "Forgive me, but I shall speak freely. I detest the Normans for what they did against my father. They took his lands and murdered my uncle." She sighed and looked down at her hands. "But to fight an enemy, one must know them...'tis wherefore I learned their tongue."
"By the rood, thou art almost as cunning as I, Elvina!" Cynwise breathed. "But if thee doth detest the Normans, wherefore didst thou marry one?"
"I did not ask to – King William ordered it."
Cynwise gasped. "'Tis what happened to me. I detested the Normans also."
For a moment, Elvina looked puzzled. "But thou seem so in love with thy husband?"
"Aye, we hath grown to love one another. But I was akin to thee, at first. I hated the Normans and all they stood for. The king demanded that I marry Renaud, and once I learned to accept my fate, 'twas not so bad. He hath proved to be a wondrous husband, as I hope Arthur will be to thee. Art thou still a maiden?"
Elfreda who had just approached with a flagon of wine, gasped audibly. "Cynwise, thou cannot ask such a thing!"
Cynwise pulled a face. "Of course I can, sister." She looked at Elvina expectantly. "Well?"
Elvina nodded. "Aye, Arthur hath not taken my maidenhead. We hath had no time alone since our wedding day."
Cynwise giggled. "Then tonight will be thy deflowering. Art thou nervous?"
Elfreda rolled her eyes. "Cynwise, desist! Thee will frighten the poor girl." She held a goblet out to her. "Willst thou take a cup of wine, Elvina?"
"Aye." She took the goblet and drank deeply before continuing. "I understand 'tis my duty as Arthur's wife to surrender my body to his, but I know not if I can endure it." She looked over at him and drank some more wine for courage before turning back to Cynwise. "Will it hurt?"
"Mayhap, for a br
ief moment, but then 'tis wondrous. Do not be scared, allow Arthur to lead thee and all will be well."
Elfreda patted her hand. "The de Clairvoy brothers may be Norman but they are chivalrous, Elvina. Arthur will not harm thee."
Elvina raised an eyebrow sceptically. The slight soreness in her bottom spoke otherwise. Mayhap, he would prove to be more sensitive when making love.
* * *
After they had all eaten, Elfreda showed Elvina and Arthur to a guest chamber located in one of the towers. She had already overseen the preparation of a hot bath for them, and Elvina looked at it longingly as tendrils of steam spiralled upwards.
"I hath laid fresh linen on the bed for thee to dry thyselves. If thou art in need of assistance, my maid will help."
Arthur walked with her to the door. "I thank thee, Elfreda, but we shall see to each other this night. I bid thee good night."
"Good night, Arthur, Elvina."
Arthur closed the door behind her and looked to his wife. She was staring at him, a look of uncertainty in her eyes. He walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Thou hath no need to fear me, my lady. Come, I will help thee undress."
Nervously, she turned around and allowed him to unlace her dress. It pooled at her ankles as he slipped it off her shoulders. Clad only in her shift, she shyly turned to face him. He brushed a strand of hair off her face and slowly began to unlace her bodice. Her breathing was erratic and when his hand brushed over her nipple, she gave a startled gasp. Undeterred, he told her to raise her arms and he pulled the shift off her body. She stood before him completely naked but she made no move to cover herself.
"Thou art beautiful." Arthur's eyes skimmed over her pert breasts, across her slim waist flaring out to perfectly rounded hips, and down to the triangle of hair hiding her womanhood. He felt himself grow hard within his hose and it took all his effort not to take her there and then. Willing self-control, he led her to the bath and held her hand while she stepped in.
She sighed softly as the warm water enveloped her body. "Oh, that feels wondrous!"
"Aye, travelling doth make thy body ache. The water will soothe thee." He picked up a piece of soap Elfreda had left for them and made a lather in his hands. "Lean forward, I will wash thee."
"Nay, I can do it myself."
"My lady, I will do it."
She huffed slightly but did as she was bid, pulling her plaits over her shoulder so they lay down her front. He immediately began to soap her back, running his large hands in circles over her smooth skin. She sighed and succumbed to his ministrations, clearly enjoying his touch. When his hands moved to her side and brushed over her breasts, she shied away.
"Do not fear me. I will not harm thee."
* * *
Elvina swallowed hard. His hands moving over her skin were sending confusing signals to her. One minute, she wanted to run from the room; the next, she wanted to melt in his arms. Even though she had resigned her fate to this Norman marriage, she still balked at the idea of giving herself to a man she hardly knew. She had thought, in her youthful innocence, to marry a man for love. Instead, she had been given to a man from foreign lands who spoke in a different tongue. Thank goodness, she could understand his language.
She tensed as his hands moved between her legs, moving the cloth softly over her most sensitive areas. Before she found voice to protest, he had stepped away, reaching for a linen cloth. "Come, my lady, 'tis my turn to bathe."
Slowly, she stood up and allowed the water droplets to run down her body. Arthur held the linen out for her, wrapping her small body in the soft folds as she stepped onto the wooden floor. She shivered a little, a combination of cold and nerves.
"Get thee to bed – I shall join thee shortly."
Elvina quickly dried her body and slipped beneath the covers as she waited for her husband to join her. Peeping out from the top of the blanket, she looked at him whilst he bathed. His body was huge, and she wondered that she wouldn't be crushed beneath him during the act of lovemaking. She watched him wash his supple body, the muscles rippling beneath his strong hands as he plied the soapy cloth over the surface. He stood up to clean the rest of himself and Elvina gasped as she stared at his manhood. Even in its relaxed state, it hung long and thick between his legs. She had overheard maids on occasion talk about their lovers and knew that a man's cock would grow when aroused. But if Arthur's grew, then how would they come together? Surely, it would not fit within her small sheath?
Arthur stepped out of the bath and dried himself before striding over to the bed. Elvina moved over when he crept beneath the covers. He reached for her and pulled her unresisting form to his own.
"I hath been waiting for this moment, my lady. Do not be afraid." He kissed her passionately and despite her fears, she found herself responding to his expert touch.
She broke away, breathless. "My lord, thy manhood...'tis large!"
"Aye, but hath no fear. We will go slowly, my lady. I will not rush thee."
His hair-roughened skin rubbed against her smooth flesh and the feeling sent shivers down her spine.
She felt his calloused hand slide down her hip and then lower still towards her womanhood. His knee nudged her thighs apart and, trembling, she let them fall. He ran a finger down her slick folds and she squirmed at the strange sensation.
He kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, moving lower still. She felt his hot breath on her womanhood, his tongue seeking entrance to her womanly core. She tensed. "My lord...'tis not right...'tis..."
Her words turned to gasps of delight as his fingers parted her delicate flesh and he began to move his tongue over her sensitive folds. She arched her back as feelings of intense pleasure invaded her being, her hands clutching the coverlet tightly.
Suddenly, Arthur moved back up, covering her body with his own. She opened her eyes and gazed up at him, her lips softly parted.
* * *
Arthur stared down at her, his eyes dark with passion. He felt his manhood, rigid and swollen, as he pulled her soft body against his.
She moved her hips restlessly beneath him, wanting something and yet, in her innocence, not knowing what it was. Slowly, holding himself in tight control, he slid himself inside her. She gasped as he broke through her maidenhead and would have cried out if he hadn't used that moment to kiss her deeply.
He stilled himself as he waited for her pain to pass. When her breathing quietened, he moved slowly so as not to hurt her, drawing himself out and plunging back in. Her hands gripped his arms, his back, and then his buttocks as he drove his large body into hers; her cries increasing in volume as his thrusts grew ever stronger.
He felt her tighten around him when she reached her pinnacle. It took him over the edge and he moved his hips quickly, driving them both to completion. His body tensed as he spilled his seed inside her, gripping her buttocks tight against him and burying his face in her neck.
They lay entwined without speaking for several minutes, their breathing slowly returning to normal. When Arthur raised himself up on one elbow to look down at her, he smiled. She had a dreamy look on her face and returned his smile easily.
"My lord, I had no idea 'twould be so wondrous!"
"'Twill be even better next time, my lady, for thy womanly barrier hath now been broken. Thee will feel no more pain."
Satisfied, she rolled onto her side and Arthur spooned himself behind her, drawing her small body against his own broad frame. As her eyes fluttered closed for sleep, she decided that mayhap marriage to a Norman was not such a bad thing.
The next morning, she found herself alone in bed, Arthur having already arisen. He had kissed her softly on the lips and told her to stay abed and get some rest, for they would be travelling to Dunster that afternoon.
After her morning ablutions, she wandered down to the great hall to break her fast, joining Cynwise as she sat at the high table.
Cynwise smiled and leaned close, whispering, "What happened last night?"
Elvina blus
hed, and Cynwise immediately sent her a devilish look. "Thou hath been deflowered!"
"Aye."
"Thou art truly a wife now, Elvina."
Despite her embarrassment, Elvina giggled and bit into her bread and honey. She felt a little sore from their lovemaking but Arthur had told her that would go in time, as her body adjusted to his size. She looked up as someone entered the great hall. It was Renaud. He wore a disapproving frown and was staring at her sister-in-law. Puzzled, she turned to look at Cynwise. Her smile had disappeared and was now replaced with a worried expression.
"What is afoot, Cynwise?" Elvina whispered.
"I fear Renaud hath found out about my indiscretion whilst he was away!"
"What indiscretion?"
"Oh, 'twas nothing. I had an argument with Eudo that ended up with him covered in ash from the fire."
Elvina clapped a hand to her mouth. "Cynwise!"
Renaud reached the table and leaned close to his wife. "Go to thy chamber, now!" His deep voice brooked no argument, and Elvina watched the impish Cynwise rise from her seat and walk around the high table towards him. He turned to Elvina and smiled. "Good day, my lady. Excuse the Lady Cynwise. She is in need of reprimand."
"Oh!" Elvina bit on her bottom lip and grimaced as Renaud took a firm hold of Cynwise's upper arm and led her out of the hall.
From Renaud's previous conversations, she knew Cynwise would soon be sporting a very sore backside. She wondered if all the brothers spanked? Had Elfreda been spanked by Gerard just as she had been spanked by Arthur?
"Wherefore doth thou frown so, wife?" asked Arthur as he strode into the great hall, catching the look upon her face.
"Oh, I-I just saw Renaud take Cynwise off to their chamber. Methinks she is in trouble."
"Cynwise is always in trouble, my lady. 'Tis in her nature. Luckily for her, she has Renaud as a husband. He will make certain she keeps out of mischief."
She licked her lips, her stomach fluttering uneasily as she looked down at Arthur's strong hands. "Will he spank her?"
Arthur: Knights of Normandy Book 2 Page 3