The Baron's Bride

by Marina Oliver

  'My lord,' she said formally, and then gasped as he pushed the child, who had been clinging to his hand, towards his mother and stepped forward to enfold her in a close embrace.

  She trembled at the unexpectedness of it, and tried to evade his questing lips as he bent to kiss her, but to no avail. After a long hard kiss he released her, and she looked flushed and confused, unable to meet either his or Blanche's gaze.

  'Blanche, my dear, how do I find you? Has Eva been entertaining you well?'

  'Indeed she has, Piers, she is an excellent hostess, but she has pined grievously for you. It was wicked of you to leave her for so long.'

  'It shall not happen again, I promise,' Sir Piers said, slipping his arm about Eva's waist.

  'Was your meeting with Lord Richard successful?' Blanche asked, when Eva's lack of response had made an awkward silence.

  'I am not sure. There was trouble when the discussions took place in the New Temple, and later Simon de Montfort tried to demand more concessions than the King is willing to give. He plans trouble, of that we are certain, but when and where is not clear. Lord Richard is prepared, however, if he cannot bring him to reason.'

  'What does de Montfort want?' Eva asked, interested despite herself.

  'More power for the barons. He is even suggesting Parliament meets without the King,' Sir Piers replied, smiling down at her in a disturbing fashion. Eva looked quickly away, suddenly afraid of the warmth in his eyes and what it might portend. 'How discussions can take place without the King I do not know. He, after all, has to agree to whatever is planned or nothing can be done.'

  'Hugh sometimes said kings might abuse their power,' Blanche said thoughtfully.

  'Possibly, but it does not solve problems to take the power away from the King and give it to the Confederation of Barons as Richard de Clare wanted last year. They are far more likely to abuse it,' Sir Piers replied seriously. 'The King must listen to advice, and choose what he considers best, but not be constrained by force as when the barons appeared at Court in full armour last May Day, and prevented Henry from helping the Pope in Sicily. After all, the King has God to guide him, it is part of the nature of kingship, part of the grace reposed in him in the consecration ceremony. No one else has been given such divine help. Certainly not Simon de Montfort!'

  They had been walking back towards the house, and Roger suddenly tore round the corner of it, having in some manner learned of Sir Piers' return. In the diversion he created Eva moved away from her husband and the casual embrace of his arm about her. She was tinglingly aware of his masculinity, his strength, and the feelings even the most accidental contact between them aroused in her. If he had this effect still, she was thinking in a jumble of emotions, of which the predominant were fear and excitement, what would happen when he demanded his marital rights?

  From his attitude towards her she thought he would not leave her in peace for much longer. Or was his apparent affection assumed for some devious reason? Did he try to deceive the servants that all was well? It could scarcely be for Blanche's benefit he made this show of pleasure in their reunion.

  Eva cast a glance towards Blanche. How was she taking this behaviour of her lover to his wife? But Blanche was busy inspecting some treasure Roger had brought out with him and her head was bent. No hint of her emotions was visible. They continued towards the house and went into the solar where Sir Piers poured wine and then stood warming himself at the fire.

  *

  'I must return home tomorrow,' Blanche said with a slight sigh. 'It has been most enjoyable staying here with Eva, but doubtless there are many matters awaiting my attention there.'

  'You have been kind,' Sir Piers remarked. 'I know Eva is grateful. About Piers and Roger, however, I have a plan to suggest.'

  Blanche looked up in alarm and made a movement of protest.

  'No, do not fear, I've heeded your wishes. It's just that I took the opportunity of speaking with Lord John de Burgh and he is willing to take both boys in a few years' time, whenever you feel ready to part with them. I know you'll not permit your fondness for them to damage their upbringing, Blanche. I suggest you accompany us to the tournament after Easter at Holdfast, where you can meet him and discuss the plans for yourself.'

  'Holdfast?' Eva exclaimed. 'A tournament?'

  Sir Piers looked at her quizzically.

  'Indeed. Will you look forward to meeting your old acquaintances again?'

  Eva was thinking rapidly. Gilbert would be there. She might, after all, find some way out of this marriage. She smiled carefully.

  'It will be pleasant to see everyone, I left rather hurriedly, in too much haste to bid them farewell,' she added cuttingly, and Sir Piers laughed.

  'You will never forgive me for that, I think. Blanche, if you really have to go home tomorrow I will ride with you. Shall we take hawks and make it a day's sport, Eva?' he enquired.

  Eva agreed readily. She loved hawking, and had done none since she came to Granfort, partly due to the inclement weather at first and then because Sir Piers had been away and Blanche had said she did not care for the sport. Eva looked at her now, but Blanche was smiling and nodding.

  'I suppose it is time Piers and Roger learned something of it,' she murmured.

  'Good, then we will set off early.'

  No more was said. Sir Piers left them while he attended to some business his bailiff had brought to him, and Blanche disappeared to begin packing her own and the boys' belongings. Gerda bustled into the solar as soon as Eva was alone and began to plan what her mistress would wear that night for supper.

  'The blue woollen overgown, my lady, with the grey undertunic and sleeves,' she suggested insinuatingly. 'Sir Piers has always liked blue, and it does make your eyes deeper somehow.'

  Eva was reluctant to protest. It would cause Gerda to comment and press questions upon her, and she could not endure the prospect of that. She had begun to wonder, with a shiver of apprehension, whether Sir Piers would come to her this night, or whether, with Blanche so determined to depart on the next day, he would take the opportunity of spending the last night in her arms.

  All the old suspicions about Blanche came flooding back into Eva's mind. She had begun, against her will, to like the woman, and just because Blanche herself seemed so unconscious there could be any cause for friction between them Eva began to doubt it too. Surely no woman in such an invidious situation could behave with such cool unconcern?

  As though they had appeared deliberately to celebrate Sir Piers' return, a small troupe of strolling minstrels arrived just before suppertime and were made welcome. After supper they sang and played on a small harp and a gittern, and then the trestles were cleared and the servants demanded their master and mistress join in the dancing.

  'Come, Eva,' Sir Piers said softly and pulled her to her feet. The minstrels must have known they were newly married, for the dance they chose was a kissing dance, which involved a great deal of embracing and kissing. Sir Piers entered into the spirit of it with considerable gusto, and to the delight of the household prolonged the kisses with his wife until Eva was hot with embarrassment.

  'They clearly approve,' he whispered in her ear as he whirled her round and round in the final figure of the dance. 'They must be awaiting an heir with as much impatience as I am myself.'

  Eva cast a frightened glance at him and his expression hardened slightly. Before either of them could speak again the music ended, and he led her back to the seats beside the high table.

  After another couple of energetic dances the minstrels started a round song, encouraging all the servants to join in the different parts.

  'Summer is a'coming in,' Blanche said, smiling at Eva. 'That's appropriate, is it not? It will soon be Easter, and then my favourite time of year. I hate the winter. Hugh died in midwinter.'

  Eva did not reply. Was the grave expression on Blanche's face caused by her recollections of her husband, or by the fact Sir Piers, no doubt with the impression he wished to make before his servants i
n mind, was being unusually attentive to Eva?

  *

  It was late when the rare treat of minstrel entertainers was over, and everyone prepared for bed. Eva bade Blanche a good night and went to the solar. As she walked away she heard Blanche speak.

  'Piers, just a small matter, about Lord John.'

  Sir Piers turned to her courteously and when Eva looked back at them he was standing beside Blanche's chair and listening intently to what she was saying. A ruse, Eva thought angrily, and all her growing liking for Blanche disappeared in a tide of anger which left her limp as she closed the door into the solar, restraining herself from slamming it only by the greatest self control.

  Gerda had come in first and was making herself busy. She smiled at Eva, apparently not noticing anything amiss.

  'You'll be glad your man is home, my lady.'

  'I do not need you any longer, Gerda,' Eva said in a carefully controlled voice, wondering at herself she should be so calm when those two out there must be laughing at her and at the ease with which they could deceive all the servants. Part of her fury, she told herself was because they did not consider it important to even attempt to deceive her.

  Gerda gave her a puzzled look, and then chuckled.

  'My lord makes an excellent maid, no doubt,' she said with what Eva disgustedly thought of as a leer.

  'Go, please,' Eva said sharply, and Gerda grinned amiably and took herself off.

  Eva sank onto the bed and tried to calm herself. Surely she should be grateful to Blanche for occupying Piers' attentions. All too soon he would be forcing them on herself in his desire to produce an heir. It was the fact they conducted their liaison right under her nose which hurt, not the fact of that relationship. She realised she would feel diminished, ashamed, if others knew the man who had married her in so roughshod a fashion had never attempted to come to her bed.

  Did he hate her, she wondered, thinking she knew very little of the man who had married her. His expression was often hard and with her he was stern, although Blanche's children, his servants and his friends all seemed to love him. He would be justified in despising her, she admitted, and yet occasionally she had surprised an expression of warmth in his eyes when they had rested on her, and his few embraces had revealed a fierce but controlled passion. Why had he insisted on marriage when he thought so ill of her? And when would he claim his rights?

  It was not that she wanted him to do so, or even to try, she hastily reminded herself. If she were not able to marry Gilbert the present situation was the best she could hope for. But it was unlikely to continue.

  *

  Her confused reflections were broken as the door opened. She looked up to see her husband enter the solar. He looked across at her with a blank expression in his eyes.

  'Well, my dear?' he asked.

  Eva's mouth was suddenly dry. 'Well?' she responded in a low voice.

  'I understand my fears of introducing a cuckoo into our nest were groundless,' he remarked without emotion.

  'So were your despicable suspicions,' Eva said angrily.

  'If they are, I humbly apologise,' he said, somewhat to her surprise. 'We shall soon discover it. If I have misjudged you I shall apologise even more fervently, my dear.'

  He unfastened the girdle about his waist, and Eva was struck by the tautness of his body, broad shouldered and muscular yet slim hipped and with long shapely legs. Then he slipped off the long sleeveless supertunic he wore and let it fall to the ground. Sitting on one of the chests he began to remove his pointed shoes while Eva watched with growing apprehension.

  'Why did you send Gerda away?' he asked casually.

  'I – needed no help,' Eva said swiftly. 'My gown fastens at the front, and it really is unnecessary for anyone to have to disrobe me.'

  'Unnecessary, but an attractive prospect,' he murmured.

  'No doubt you are accustomed to performing such services for Blanche!' Eva snapped.

  Sir Piers stood up suddenly and took a menacing step forwards.

  'Cease this foolish complaining and your unjustified accusations against Blanche!' he thundered. 'She is not my mistress and never has been, and I find your determination to believe the worst of us childish and not the sort of behaviour I expect from my wife!'

  Eva was trembling with fury and fear. Never before had he lost the suave calm which annoyed her so much, but this anger was difficult to face.

  'How can I believe it when all I see and hear tells me the opposite?' she flung at him, suppressing her fear determinedly. 'I heard you in her room, and the last night you spent here I saw you coming from it. What other reason could you have except – except what I suspect?'

  'Is my word not sufficient?' he asked in a suddenly quiet tone, turning away from her so she could not see his face.

  'Why should I trust your word when I have no reason for it? And when you refuse to accept mine? You have treated me abominably from the start, forcing me into this marriage when you knew I loved another. Since you consider love and marriage as separate matters why should you not have mistresses? Why pretend she is so pure and admirable? But if this is to be my home I would prefer not to have to share it with her! Go to her! Make the most of her last night! Surely you can wait one more night before proving that I, unlike you, have had no lovers, before using me as a brood mare!'

  Eva turned away and made desperate efforts to control the tears threatening to overwhelm her. He would misinterpret them, he would think she was jealous, not merely angry and frightened.

  'I tell you for the last time Blanche is not and never has been my mistress. If you believe me I will be able to tell you why I have been closeted with her.'

  'I have no desire to know. I have no interest in either of you, alone or together!'

  There was a long silence, and Eva was just about to turn round, unable to endure it any more, when she heard the door close softly.

  She swung round, startled. Sir Piers had gone. He had silently gathered up his discarded tunic and girdle, and there was no sign he had ever been in the room. She was safe from his attentions for at least one more night. Eva breathed a sigh of relief and then, her overwrought nerves giving way, burst into a storm of weeping.

  *

  Chapter 9

  Eva woke after a disturbed night with a violent headache. She could barely lift her head from the pillow and winced when Gerda came into the solar and threw back the shutters, letting in the bright sunshine.

  'A lovely day for Lady Blanche to ride home,' she said cheerfully, and turned to look at Eva. 'Why, what ails you, my lady?'

  'My head is breaking in two,' Eva groaned. 'Close the shutters, the light hurts my eyes!'

  Gerda did as Eva requested and then came across to look at her.

  'You're flushed, my dear. Let's hope it's not the ague.'

  'It's just my head. Please leave me alone, I want to try to sleep.'

  'Will you not eat? That will make you feel better.'

  'No, nothing.'

  At last Gerda was persuaded to leave Eva alone, and she dozed, waking some hours later feeling more her normal self. Gerda looked round the door and nodded encouragingly as Eva smiled wanly at her.

  'I will eat now, Gerda, if you please, but I do not wish to get up. My head feels thick and woolly.'

  Gerda brought some wine and a dish of potage made from fowls and vegetables.

  'You'll feel better after this, my lady,' she said encouragingly, and when Eva had eaten and drunk she did feel much better.

  'What – has Lady Blanche departed?' Eva asked.

  'Hours since, but she left a message to thank you for your hospitality, and looks forward to seeing you soon at Holdfast.'

  Eva nodded, and Gerda left her to sleep again, but Eva had too much to think about. She was apprehensive about Sir Piers' reaction to her outburst the previous night. Clearly he had departed to spend the night in Blanche's arms, but now the other woman was gone he would undoubtedly insist on his rights. The very thought of his arms about her
and his mouth on hers made her tremble with fear, not so much fear of unknown intimacies but panic at the fear she might not be able to maintain her resistance and would become once more a creature without a will of her own, an instrument responding to his control, as she had almost done on previous encounters.

  It was only a few weeks to Easter, to the time when she would once more be at Holdfast. There, amid all the excitement and bustle of a tourney, with the crowds and confusion, Sir Piers would not be able to keep so close a guard on her. She would be able to meet with Gilbert and talk with him. They could make plans.

  What sort of plans, Eva wondered. There could only be hope of the marriage being annulled if her husband still had not claimed his rights, and after what he had said the previous night that seemed unlikely. She would need her father's support too, and she did not know whether he was to be at Holdfast.

  What alternative was there? She and Gilbert could run away together, but that was to risk dire punishments. Gilbert would not be willing to throw away all chance of advancement, and it would not be right to demand it of him. Running away before her marriage was a totally different matter, it did not provide a solution now.

  Having reached this gloomy stage of her thoughts, Eva for the first time considered the prospect of life with Sir Piers. Could she endure it, or must she take the final and drastic step of entering a nunnery? Might she escape the marriage in that way? She sighed. It did not seem likely. The Church would not be willing to accept her so soon after her marriage, especially since she could not plead any prior wish or intention of embracing the religious life. It was true elderly couples sometimes separated and went into convents, but to permit a young wife to desert her husband, and leave him with no prospect of heirs merely because she objected to the marriage would be considered wrong.

  *

  Would it be so dreadful to live as Sir Piers' wife? Her initial revulsion to the marriage stemmed, she was honest enough to admit, from her love for Gilbert and her fear that Sir Piers was old. The first remained, but there was little that could be done now to bring about marriage with Gilbert, unless the unexpected happened and Sir Piers agreed to arrange for an annulment. And Sir Piers was not old, indeed he was the sort of man most girls would have been pleased to marry, young, strong, handsome and rich.