'You are being foolish as well as stubborn. The other maids will tell us,' Lord Henry said in disgust, and called in the man he had told to wait outside.
'Fetch the captain,' he said briefly, and they waited in silence until that man appeared.
'Fulk, arrest and place under strong guard Gilbert Fitzjohn and Sir Matthew de Chaumont,' he ordered.
The captain looked worried.
'My lord, I cannot,' he said. 'They both rode out a few minutes past, and took the road to the south. I suspected something, they were in so great a hurry, but I had no orders to detain them.'
'What? Send after them at once and bring them back!' Lord Henry roared, and the captain nodded and ran out of the room, shouting to his men before he had closed the door.
Lord Henry turned menacingly to Magda, but she was weeping hysterically.
'What do you know of this?' he demanded.
Magda had no more will to defy him. After a bitter tirade against faithless lovers who deserted the girls they had seduced she quietened sufficiently to tell her story.
'I was talking to him in the outer bailey. Lady Isabella had sent me for some things from the stalls still on the tourney ground,' she explained between gusty sobs. 'I was just coming back and I'd been telling him Lady Eva had been looking at my sleeve and had seen the blood, when the man came to fetch me here. Gilbert told me to hide the dress. I changed when I took my purchases to Lady Isabella. He's faithless, he promised he would take me with him when he went to France. Now he's gone and I'm with child! What shall I do?'
*
Eva turned away, sickened that her last shreds of respect for Gilbert had been trampled on. While protesting love for her he had been tumbling Magda. Indeed he must sometimes have come to her straight from the slut's arms. Yet despite her disgust she hoped he would escape, for she did not wish to see him dangling from the end of a rope on a gibbet. He was still her cousin, although he seemed to be more like his father and the uncles her own father despised than the girl Sir Edmund had loved so dearly.
Her wish was granted when at suppertime, after she had once more slept through the day, Lord Henry told her the men he had sent after Gilbert had returned empty handed.
'He gave them the slip, probably turned off the road and hid until the pursuit was past. I doubt if he'll come back to England, though, once he's safe in France, so you can rest easy. And your husband is better too, I hear. You will soon be able to set off for Granfort.'
Eva nodded.
'Father Gregory came again and said the wound was healing well, the poultices were drawing out the bad humours. Sir Piers will be permitted to get up in a few days.'
Those few days proved a strain for Eva. As Sir Piers no longer needed to be watched over at night Eva took over most of his daytime care. She slept in the small room still, saying she did not wish to disturb him, but she spent most of the daytime hours beside him, trying to win his love as she cared for him.
He was careful to thank her for all she did, but never smiled at her, only at the visitors who came frequently. Lord Henry told him of the plot to kill him and Gilbert's escape, but he made no comment. When Blanche and Lord John came to suggest they might travel with Piers and Eva when he was fit enough to ride, he agreed willingly, but Eva noticed he watched Blanche with a bleak expression in his eyes when she left the room.
Determined to win his love for herself Eva did all she could to make him comfortable, and was unfailingly cheerful even when his lack of response made her want to weep in an abandonment of despair. She even ventured the occasional tentative caress when she was near him, smoothing back his hair or resting her hand on his, and one morning when she came into the room and asked whether he had slept well, she dropped a light kiss on his cheek.
'Do you seek to change my intention?' he asked with barely concealed anger in his voice.
Eva looked at him, a trembling smile on her lips.
'I have come to value you,' she replied hesitantly.
He looked at her sardonically.
'Me, or the security I offer now your paramour has deserted you?'
'He was never my lover!' Eva snapped in despair that he would not accept her word, and he laughed harshly.
'I shall never know, shall I? His perfidy does not change my intention of arranging for an annulment. You are young enough and pretty enough, and have a fair enough dowry,' he added scathingly, 'to entice some other man into offering marriage. You'll not remain unwed for long if that is your fear, despite our disastrous attempt to live together.'
Eva was only too aware of her own fault in that failure, and did not believe she could ever convince him of her new love for him. He clearly considered her actions now were dictated by pure expediency after Gilbert's betrayal, although he knew of her own part in uncovering the plot.
One day she became so angry at his slighting references to her intentions she challenged him on this.
'Why should I betray Gilbert?' she demanded furiously. 'If it is as you say why did I not permit him to carry out his intentions, and marry him afterwards?'
Her husband looked at her and gave a wry twisted smile.
'I don't believe you would condone murder,' he said quietly. 'I suspect you acted impetuously when you discovered he had been involved with Magda. Your pride was hurt to share your lover with a serving wench!'
Eva ground her teeth.
'Do you wish me to swear the most solemn oath that Gilbert had done no more than kiss me?' she asked in exasperation. 'He was not my lover! And thank you for acquitting me of murderous intent!' she flung at him as she went hastily from the room, unable to remain there any longer without screaming out her love for him.
*
At last Sir Piers was pronounced fit enough to travel, and the four of them set out the following day, their servants following with the baggage. Now that the roads were dry and the weather good they could expect to reach Blanche's manor in two days, staying as before in the manor of one of Sir Piers' friends for the first night.
Sir Piers was silent during the ride, and Eva was afraid his leg, still weak but mending fast, was hurting him. She rode her own mare Fleet once more, delighted to be reunited with the mare and thankful no permanent injury had been sustained after the accident. For most of the time Lord John rode ahead with Blanche.
It was becoming increasingly obvious the two of them were very attracted to one another. Eva often caught her husband's glance resting on them, a brooding look on his face, and despite her own unrequited love for him she felt a twinge of sympathetic agony on his behalf that the woman he loved was in the process of falling in love with another man.
On the first night she and Blanche shared a room, for there were other guests also on their way home from the tournament who had rested there for some days, being kin to the host. It delayed the time when Sir Piers would once more refuse to sleep in the same room, a development which, when it inevitably happened, would shame her in front of their hosts.
It was fitting, she thought as she prepared for bed, that it seemed likely to happen when they were at Blanche's manor. There could be no excuse there but the truth, which she suspected Blanche already knew.
When they reached Blanche's home, however, Sir Piers accepted without comment the room Blanche escorted them to. He left Eva there and she had no opportunity of speaking alone with him until after supper when they retired to bed.
He was looking particularly grim as he closed the door behind him, and Eva spoke before he did. She could no longer endure the situation.
'My lord, can we talk? It has been the first opportunity.'
He raised his eyebrows slightly, and then sat on the stool near the small table.
'Well?' he asked uncompromisingly.
'Do you plan to seek the annulment at once?' she asked breathlessly.
'Does it matter?' he asked wearily.
'Yes,' she insisted. 'Have you not seen how devoted Lord John is becoming to Blanche? He will soon, if he has not already asked her, p
ropose marriage.'
'Well?' he repeated.
'Do you not wish to prevent it?'
'To what purpose?' he asked blankly. 'She has been alone for too long, would you seek to deny her happiness at last? Lord John is a good man, not too old for her. He will make an excellent father to the boys.'
'Yes, but – '
'But what? I cannot understand your intent.'
Eva found it difficult to understand herself. After these last few days when all she had desired was the love of her husband for herself she had finally come to the conclusion he would never give it to her. She had watched his anguished eyes as he looked at Blanche and contemplated her growing liking for another man, and knew that at whatever cost to herself she had to release him. One of them should have the chance of happiness.
'Blanche would prefer to marry you if you were free,' she said at last in an expressionless voice.
'But I am not free.'
'You will be soon. I – will not make difficulties. I will go home to my father if that is best.'
He looked at her consideringly, and she turned away from that steady regard, fighting to suppress the emotion which threatened to overwhelm her.
'Best? For you?'
'And for you. It is clear we can never live in amity, and it seems wasteful to prevent your happiness.'
'Is that what you truly wish?'
'Yes,' she lied desperately.
'Do you plan to join Gilbert?'
'Oh, Gilbert, always Gilbert! Cannot you forget him? I care not what becomes of me, but if your life is also ruined through this stupid marriage I could never be easy again. You love Blanche, do you not?' she demanded, looking at him once more.
'I have loved no one since – for a very long time,' he said bitterly.
'But you wanted to marry her once, I know you did.'
'I have never said so.'
'You talked, the first night after you were wounded. I thought you were awake, but I have realised since you were asleep despite your eyes being open. It was then you said you wanted to marry Blanche. You cannot deny it.'
'I asked her once, yes,' he agreed quietly, and Eva swung quickly away to hide the anguish the confirmation of her fears produced in her.
'I don't know why she refused, if she did, but it was clear to me the very first time I met her that she was in love with you then. Was it soon after her husband's death when you asked her?' she persisted, unable to prevent the twisting of the knife in the wound she had dealt herself by initiating this conversation.
'Too soon, I suppose. I thought it would solve her difficulties but she did not agree.'
'She would now. She has turned to Lord John because she thinks you are not free.'
'You are in her confidence? That I cannot believe.'
'Of course not, but I can imagine how a woman who is proud will behave when she sees her real love is lost to her. Why do you not go to her? Now?'
'You are very anxious to order my life,' he said cuttingly.
'You have ordered mine, with little success for either of us,' Eva retorted hotly. 'I don't know why Blanche agreed to be your mistress after refusing your offer of marriage, and I don't wish to. Perhaps she is careful of appearances, and did not wish to marry too soon. But if you ask her again I am sure she will accept. Are you afraid to put it to the test?' she taunted.
He took a step towards her and then halted. After a long moment when he stared at her in silence he bowed ironically and swinging round left the room.
*
Chapter 12
When Eva, her eyes ringed with shadows from lack of sleep, came into the hall the next morning Blanche was alone. She smiled and waved Eva to a seat beside her.
'Piers left early with Lord John. He said you were still weary, and hopes to set out for Granfort in an hour or two. They have taken the boys for a short lesson with the hawks.'
Eva nodded. How could Blanche sit there, after she had no doubt spent the night in Piers' arms, and chat so unconcernedly to her. Blanche did not seem to notice the silence, but continued hesitantly.
'Do you like Lord John? Has Piers said anything to you about him?'
Eva looked at her and frowned. Piers said very little to her about anything, and they certainly shared none of the confidences most married couples did.
'He has not,' she said abruptly. 'Why should he?'
'Well, John has not been discreet, I thought it was obvious to everyone,' Blanche said with a shy laugh. 'He has asked me to wed him, and I wished to know what Piers would say.'
'You'll marry Lord John?' Eva demanded, and Blanche stared at her in surprise.
'Yes. Why do you say it like that? Do you not like him?'
'Of course, he is a fine man, but Piers – ' She stopped in some confusion. Blanche was persistent, however.
'Piers what? Does he know anything to John's discredit?'
'Piers loves you!' Eva burst out and suddenly put her head down on her arms and sobbed heart-brokenly.
'What utter nonsense!' Blanche exclaimed, springing up and coming to take Eva into her embrace. 'My dear child, what gave you that notion? Have you thought that of him for long? Why should you think it?'
Eva gulped and shook off Blanche's arms. She sat up and stared miserably at her.
'He's always loved you, I knew it the first time I saw you together, and when we stayed here I heard his voice in your room. Besides, he says he once asked you to marry him. You cannot marry Lord John, Piers wants you.'
Blanche was regarding her with concern.
'You poor child,' she murmured. 'But I assure you I have never been Piers' mistress, and never would be. So there is no way he could have me.'
'But there is!' Eva cried wildly. 'He means to obtain an annulment of our marriage! I want him to be happy even if I cannot be!'
'An annulment? Then you have never – I see,' she added thoughtfully. 'Eva, this is an appalling tangle, we must talk. No, let me tell you a few things which may make it clearer to you. Come into the solar, we are less likely to be disturbed there.'
*
She led the way into the solar and Eva reluctantly followed her. Now she was in a position to plead with Blanche it was uncommonly difficult, but she was determined that if Piers wanted this woman she would do her utmost to smooth their path.
'Here, have some wine,' Blanche ordered, handing Eva a glass. While she drank slowly, Eva looked about her, noting the big bed and shuddering as she thought of Piers and Blanche sporting there. She had still not been able to believe Blanche's assurance she had never been Piers' mistress. But Blanche was speaking again.
'First, Eva, I must tell you I was very happy in my first marriage, I loved Hugh and admired him. I was half crazy with grief when he died, and without Piers to help me I think I would have died myself. He made me see I had to live for the boys. He offered to marry me, not because he loved me, but because he didn't. He did not expect love in marriage, and offered me only friendship and protection. I refused because I did not love him. Neither do I love him now,' she added.
'But he loves you,' Eva said, puzzled.
'No,' Blanche said quietly. 'We are friends, very dear friends, but that is all. I loved Hugh, and I knew that to marry Piers without love would be a calamity for both of us. I did not expect to find love again but I thought he might, and if he were tied to me I could never have forgiven myself. You see, I am fond of him, but as Hugh's friend and later mine, not as a lover.'
She had been walking about the solar as she talked but now she came to sit near Eva, and reached out to take one of Eva's hands in hers.
'Did Piers ever say he loved me?' she asked quietly.
'He behaved as though he did, and he left me, he did not sleep with me,' Eva explained haltingly. 'Besides, when you were at Granfort he was in your room. No one explained.'
'And you have been imagining the worst! Let us dispose of that before I tell you more. Piers takes his responsibilities towards my sons seriously. I think he looks on them as his own
, though I assure you they are not! He is godfather to Piers, hence the same name. He would like sons but they have filled a place until he has some of his own. He did come to talk to me for a while when you both stayed here, for I was so distressed at the idea they might soon go away from me. He told me a great deal about Lord John, and I have discovered since how correct he was. It had been a long time, you see, since I had seen him because he has been abroad with Richard of Cornwall, and there was a vast amount to discuss and decide. It was the same at Granfort. No more, I promise you.'
Eva was looking closely at her, and what she saw in Blanche's eyes made her smile a little uncertainly.
'I believe you, but why did he not say? I have accused him often enough, and he has not denied it – or not in such a way that I believed him,' she added in some distress.
Blanche sighed.
'I think I can guess why. Once, long ago, when he was little more than twenty, he was in love. He was about to become betrothed to the girl when he discovered her in bed with another man, a groom. He was devastated, Hugh told me. I did not know him then, but Hugh said it changed him completely. With his friends and those he can trust he is delightful, but he gives his trust to women with great difficulty. He once vowed he would never again give a woman power to hurt him in like fashion. Has he ever said he loves you?' she asked bluntly.
Eva shook her head.
'No, he made it plain he did not give or expect love in marriage. But why did he marry me when he knew I loved Gilbert?' she exclaimed.
Blanche looked puzzled.
'Was he aware of that before he offered for you?'
'No, we had never met. He made the arrangements with my father and my father told me I had to marry him.'
'I cannot explain why he should persist. I would have expected him to choose someone else. Once he decided to marry, with no hope of love, it could not matter to him who it was.'
'My lands would have been useful, but I am not a great heiress,' Eva said consideringly. 'Was it hurt pride made him continue?'
'I doubt that. There is one possible explanation, but it is so incredible, knowing Piers, I find it hard to accept.'
The Baron's Bride Page 14