“Shh … Raise your arms so I can remove your tunic.” He prayed to God for her obedience and for once, she complied. He shielded the sight of her body from the guards, as best he could and undressed her. When done, she had one cloth wrapped across her breast and a similar one around her rear.
He squatted to her height and tried to catch her eyes. “Sit astride the chair with your back to the king.”
“Please, don’t make me do this.” She struggled until he finally had to hold her by her wrists. He picked her up, kneed her legs open, and sat her down.
“Nay make more fuss. I’ll cover everything, but what is necessary for him to see. Don’t try the patience our liege lord and king. Please. Do this one thing for me.”
She buried her crimson, tear-stained face into her arms, resting them on the back of the chair. He tucked the soft silk modestly around her lower half. Then he pulled down her breast wrapping to her waist. She sobbed, naked from the neck down. He handed her back her outer tunic. “Cover up your front with this and lean forward. We can only see your back.”
“And that is what I dread most.” She grabbed her dress and tucked it between her breast and the chair back.
Marcus turned to his king. “She’s ready, Sire.”
Edward rotated, viewed the wreckage that was her back, and grimaced. He took a deep breath and turned from them. “Cover her up. I’ve seen and heard more than enough.”
Marcus redressed his wife, set her garment straight, and cleared his throat when he was done. She looked to the floor, her body limp with humiliation.
When he was sure she was fully attired, Edward walked across the room and lifted her chin. “I’m not a monster. I’ll not hold you responsible. No man should treat a lady in such a way. How many times did he flay you raw?”
“I lost count after the first month of marriage.” She blinked her wet, thick lashes.
Would the brightness ever come back to her dull eyes?
“Did you send word to your liege and lord, Thornhill, of Underhill’s treatment?”
“No. It was him that sent Lord Underhill to wed me. ‘Twas well within his rights as my husband to torture me.” Her chin jutted out and Marcus detected a bit of an edge in her voice, too. Good for you.
Edward paused for a while, deep in thought, with an index finger upon his lips. “Aye, I can see where you would come to think that. I shall hope, in the future, that you’ll find a better manner to deal with your new husband?”
Her eyes lifted and she gave a little smile that melted his heart. “Oh, Your Grace. I’d never. Sir Marcus is very sweet and kind in bed. He makes the heavens open up for me.”
I’ll never live this down. Marcus groaned.
Edward let loose a howl of laughter and slapped him on the back. “Good God, man. The heavens open up?”
He let go of the breath he’d been holding and would’ve dropped to his knees if alone. There’d be no hanging today. Shrugging, he gave his friend a sheepish grin. “If she says so.”
“I’ll give you both time to compose yourselves, then please, join Eleanor and myself to dine. I’ll hear no more of this matter. It never happened and the stain of that blood is wiped clean.”
He grabbed both of her hands with his. “I’m sorry, but I must rule the land fairly, and to do so, can sometimes be painful. I believe you, and forgive you for taking the life of one of my father’s greatest knights. Have you confessed this matter, my dear?”
“Yes, for that I’ve been truthful as much I could. I’ll add more details, now that your herbs have forced my memory to more honesty.”
“Good. I’ll make my priest available to you now. Make sure you follow fully with the contrition. Killing is no small matter for the soul.” He threw a glance at Marcus with a knowing nod. “We know that well.”
He got up, wandered back to his oval table, and sat down. “Sit here. Both of you. There are a few other matters to discuss. Just a moment.” He drew back the curtain and shouted, “Scribe!” An elderly monk shuffled forward and sat down at the table by a sheet of vellum. He dipped in a quill and nodded to begin.
“Did you truly lock up one of the Holy Father’s bishops?”
Marcus bit back a smile and held onto a stern countenance. There was no love lost between the king and the church. “Nay. I believe he sequestered himself after a moment of lust for my beautiful wife. I understand he’s doing penance in our local abbey.”
“Liar.” Edward tried to suppress a grin. “But you may stick with that story. Just make sure you let him loose when he’s contrite. I’ll write to the Holy Father of his sequester.”
“I’m sure he’ll find his contrition. Eventually.” Marcus raised an eyebrow when the scribe snickered under a long gray beard.
Edward poured them both a glass of wine and Marcus was relieved that it wasn’t doused with herbs. The king clucked his tongue and indicated with a roll of his hand that the monk needed to continue to document the proceedings. “Did you really stick a curved knife to your father’s throat?”
“He tried to steal my wagon of goods. My goods are ten percent your goods. I feel justified in protecting the king’s wares.”
“Ha. Well said, again.” They waited for the scratching of the scribe to stop. “And Abernathy? I must say, for just a few weeks, you’ve been most busy.”
“I paid my neighbor and his men for their kind and gracious help. I don’t believe there’s a feud there.” Marcus held his palms up, blinked twice innocently, and lied through his teeth.
“Right,” the king said dryly. “You will make peace.”
“Give it time. We’ll come to some kind of agreement.” Even if he had to beat Abernathy’s stubborn arse into submission.
“And one more thing, this one is for your lady, now that she’s much recovered.” Edward swiveled to face her and bore his eyes into her. “Do you have Roman coins hidden in your estates?”
“Aye, I do, Sire.” She smiled serenely, still under the influence of the truth herbs.
“How did you come by them?” Marcus moaned when Edward frowned, eyebrows raised.
“I found them in the bathhouse hidden under a loose stone. Years ago. I was mayhap just ten and three.” Her smile was way too naive.
He leaned in closer. “How much?”
“One hundred and fifty pieces.”
Edward whistled in respect. “And how many have you spent m’lady?”
She held out five fingers.
He shook his head, unbelieving. “Only five? Why? You’ve a fortune.”
“A fortune of misfortune. Brother James warned me that coin as unusual as those would bring thieves and ruffians. He was right. I only spent them when circumstances were dire.”
“So the jewels around your neck?”
She picked the diamond up and caressed it. Marcus made a mental note to buy her more pretty things if they survived this day. “A wedding gift from my husband.”
“Nothing else?”
“No. I’m quite sure. The first was spent for food for my people. My father had taken everything when he left. The next was in order to secure a place for several young men to learn trades, and the rest to pay off Abernathy, for his protection.”
Marcus chimed in quickly, “Sire, we would be willing to give it all up to you for your kindness and mercy on this day. A gift.”
“What boon would you want in return?” He motioned for the scribe to stop.
“Nothing. Maybe I’d ask for small titles for my knights. Most are noble born but in an unlucky birth order. They’d pledge their loyalty to me and thus to you.”
“How will you support them? I know you’ve coin, but nobility expects privileges. Believe me when I say, it’s not easy to keep titled men happy.”
“That’s my second request. That you allow my man, Thomas, to see to the trade of our goods amongst the continents, through France and Venice. We’d like to have your permission to circumvent the guilds. Of course, we’d give you your percentage, when due. W
hatever you ask. When my men return, I’d allow them to build modest homes within my town and continue to serve as my vassals.”
Edward grinned. “That hardly feels like a boon. More like another favor from you. Easily agreed upon.” Edward slapped his hands on the table and leaned over. “So what else?”
“I believe my father has become bored, causing him to create intrigue where there is none. Mayhap you could put his healthy mind to work at court. He could leave the management of his lands to my older brother?”
He studied the king’s face, making sure he had not overstepped his requests. Edward remained relaxed in his chair, waiting for the scribe to put words upon parchment.
“He has become that much of a pain in your side?” He leaned back and sipped his wine.
“He was the one who sent the bishop to my estate to torture my wife.”
He pointed an index finger at them both. “If I grant this, I’d expect there to be peace. No more knives between father and son?”
“Aye, Sire. I’m sure we can find tolerance between us.”
“Is that it?” He began to look put-upon, so Marcus brought the bargaining to closure.
“Just to continue in peace with our lands and our trades and that you would allow one very fine Venetian glassmaker sanctuary. A small price at one-hundred-and-fifty gold coins.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but I find myself again in your debt. I tell you what. I’ll leave you twenty and five.”
Marcus bowed deeply. “Thank you. You’re too kind.”
He bowed with mock humility and slapped Marcus on the back, laughing heartily. “What else could I do with a knight who causes the heavens to open up? With all those angels abounding, I can only guess you soon will have sons to swear fealty to me?”
“It would be natural to assume.” Marcus gathered her into his arms and hugged her, thankful to be alive.
“Come. Let’s eat. Sit next to me, Ann. I want to hear of your village and tradesmen. How is it that you’ve come to such wealth, if not by conjuring gold?”
Chapter 19
Marcus couldn’t believe how slowly the last two weeks had passed. He’d thought that some distance would do them both good, but every moment had dragged on in dreariness. When he’d finished with his business, he’d returned to court and found her in the garden. She was sitting with Sally and other courtly ladies he didn’t recognize.
The late summer flowers of violets and yellows were no match for her vibrant beauty. She was wearing the green dress he’d given her. Her black hair was hiding under an elaborate headdress. A new rosy glow in her face disturbed him. Why so happy? Did she not miss him? What would he say to her? He’d been practicing for two weeks, but nothing seemed adequate.
He couldn’t hear the whole of the conversation, but his wife’s face was fully animated while she spoke of sheep, cloth, and wool. The other ladies listened with polite tight smiles while pushing needles in and out of fabrics. He chuckled when he noticed that she held a pile of knots in her lap.
Taking a deep breath, he strode over and bowed deeply. “Can I tear you away to walk with me in the garden?”
She jumped up, squealed, and flung her arms around his neck in a most uncourtly manner. Delight shined in her bright eyes. “Oh, I’m so, so, happy to see you. Where’ve you been?”
The other women looked away in embarrassment so he held on longer than he might have. Her breasts, seeming even more bountiful, crushed against him.
“Please excuse us.” Thank God she’s not angry. He bowed, took her hand, and looked for someplace, anyplace, to get her alone. “There was just a small window of opportunity for us to join the trade route. I had no time to come to you. You did get my missives?”
“Aye, I did. All ten and four. Have you not slept at all since I saw you last?” She put her delicate hand to his beard of many days.
How he’d missed that hand. It was a balm to his aching soul. He pulled her fingers to his lips. “There will be time for sleeping. All winter, in fact.”
“Aye.” There was a great stilted silence as they walked toward a copse of trees for privacy. How had their easy banter turned so uncomfortable in just a few weeks?
She bore her large green eyes into his. “Are you still angry with me? I fear that’s why you’ve left me alone since that day with the king.”
Marcus sighed and looked away. “I was disappointed at first that you didn’t trust me. We wouldn’t have been in near as much danger, had you been truthful. I don’t know if you were aware, but our lives, for a few minutes, hung in the balance. I needed some time away to think things through.”
“Oh, but I didn’t lie. I really didn’t remember that night. You believe that much?” She looked to him for reassurance and he didn’t know what to say. She had a way of cutting right to the heart of a matter.
How he’d missed her directness. “I never did think you could kill anyone, not even the old bugger, Underhill. If I did, you would’ve died that first day, for thus I’d sworn to Edward.”
A purple flower with a yellow center became the focus of her attention. “So, now what? Are you here to say you’re done with me?”
“Nay, nay, Ann. I’ve been thinking and I’ve something of great import to tell you.”
“Please say no more. I’ll go home alone. I’ll not beg.” Giant tears rolled down her face.
He dried one with his index finger. This was not at all how he’d intended the conversation to turn. “Quiet, dearest heart. Let me finish. When I felt the king was going to hang you, I was determined to behead you myself.”
She gasped, paled further, and dropped to a seat on a bench. “Dear Lord.”
“Then plunge my sword into my own heart.”
“But why?”
He sat down next to her, took her hands, and put them to his heart. “I would not want to continue my life without you in it. I love you. I didn’t even know what love was, until that very minute, when I considered what dreariness the future held without your presence. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’m sorry about the whole sordid mess, right from the beginning. I could’ve killed you and never known your wonder. I’ve been deep in remorse since last we met. I’m unworthy. Will you take me back and make it like it was before we came to London?”
Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her lips found his. Up and down her body his hands wandered, finding comfort in the familiar dips and curves. She was a feast for a starving man.
“I’ve never wavered in my love for you. The past is past. God’s will be done. We’ve survived His trials and not been found wanting.”
“Does nothing ever shake your faith?” He buried his head into her chest. It was definitely fuller than he remembered.
“Well, not really, but I’m not sure that we can go back to as it was before. I’ve something to tell you, too.” She pulled his face up to hers, by tugging on his chin and immediately he was lost in the depths of her dark green eyes.
“I’m not sure I’m ever ready for your surprises.”
She snatched his hand and placed it upon her belly. “Say hello to your son or mayhap daughter.”
His heart skipped a beat. “I asked you before we left and you denied it.”
“I’ve missed two monthlies. So now I’m quite sure.” Her face beamed like a Madonna.
He pulled her off the chair, into his arms, and shouted with triumph. “A son!”
“Or daughter.”
“We’ll be a noble family with heirs of our own. Our lands and titles will pass down through the generations. You’ve made me happier than I ever imagined possible.” He spun her around and around. Suddenly remembering her condition, he set her down like a delicate piece of pottery. “I should not be holding on so tightly? No twirling?”
“Holding tight is still very good.”
He pictured her large with his child and grinned like an idiot. “We should dine one more time with Edward, then pack for home. We’ve been gone far too long. Who knows wh
at disarray the town has fallen into?”
Chapter 20
Five years later
“You’re back home! We’ve missed you so.” Ann dashed down the staircase and landed in front of the hearth where Marcus was engaged in a serious conversation with Sir Thomas. She found his cheeks, gave him a peck on each, and smirked. “You look none the worse for wear.”
“I see you’ve been busy.” He grinned, leaned over the cradle, and pulled down the fur that covered baby Edward. He had a thumb in his mouth while a finger curled around a lock of inky black hair. Her other son chased his best friend around the tables. They both wielded long swords of wood while arguing over who had just cleaved who in half.
She ushered the young warriors outdoors, returned to the hearth, and said, “I can’t wait to hear about all your adventures.”
Thomas cleared his throat, glanced around the room, then met Marcus’ stern glare. “I do believe I need to attend to something first. Can I see her?”
Marcus nodded with a deep frown and pointed out the door. “She’s in the baths.”
“Please excuse me.” Thomas blushed and all, but dashed out the door.
After he departed, Ann gave her husband a playful hit to the shoulder. “Didn’t you tell him?”
“Why should I be the one to spoil the surprise?” Marcus glanced down as Edward stirred, opened his eyes, and sucked on his hand fiercely. “Sit. The boy needs to eat.”
“I don’t know who is bossier these days.” She loosened her dress and he put Edward in her lap. The babe latched onto a breast.
“Ow.” She poked an index finger into the corner of his mouth to release the suction, then gave a little smile when the milk settled in and the babe nursed.
He stood over and watched them both as he oft times did. She hated to change the mood but had to know. “So, how did Thomas say we did on the continents? Did we trade well?”
“Aye.” He smiled when Edward made a mighty gulp. He grabbed him, placed him on a shoulder, and patted his small back expertly.
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