by Anne Herries
‘Good evening, my lords.’ She curtsied to them. ‘I thought I should be late, but it is not so.’
Raphael looked at her, his brows rising as if he wondered what her reaction would be. She smiled and he inclined his head, holding his hand out to her as the horn was sounded.
‘I believe you are in good time, my lady. This is Loxley’s last night with us, for he must return to the forest.’
‘It has been pleasant to make your acquaintance, my lord,’ she said to the earl.
‘I must tell you that I am glad to see my friend in better spirits. I believe that must be because of you, lady. I hope that we shall meet again in the future,’ Loxley replied with some considerable charm.
‘When the King is restored and you are no longer outlawed.’ She smiled.
‘We must hope that justice will prevail.’ He grinned.
Rosamunde murmured her agreement and they moved to their seats at the high board. Letting her gaze move round the hall, Rosamunde saw that the men were smiling and jesting amongst themselves. It seemed that the feasting had banished any lingering unease from the men’s minds.
‘You are thoughtful.’
Raphael’s lowered tone made her turn her head to look at him. ‘I was thinking the men seemed pleased with life, my lord.’
‘Is that not how it should be? I am privileged to be lord here, and you will soon be my wife, but we should not take advantage of our position. Instead, it is our duty to care for and protect our people—and if that sometimes means we must correct or punish it is a part of the price we pay for our privilege,’ he said quietly.
‘Yes, I think I understand that now,’ she murmured. ‘Our duty is to the men we live amongst and the villagers we protect by a show of strength. If you were thought weak, other knights might seek to take what you have, and to terrorise our people.’
‘With strength there must also be fairness, but every knight learns to behave with honour and compassion. It is a part of our training. Those that abuse their power, as I fear my father and Sir Edmund did, betray their vows,’ he said somewhat sadly.
‘I am very glad you are not like your father,’ Rosamunde replied, her cheeks slightly warm.
Raphael’s hand reached for hers. He held it lightly, but with a look in his eyes that set her pulses racing.
‘I think that perhaps we begin to know each other a little better, lady. We shall do well enough once we are wed,’ he said.
‘And when is that to be, my lord?’
‘In three weeks’ time.’ His finger caressed the back of her hand, sending little tremors down her spine. ‘I would it were sooner but I wish to observe the laws of the church. I would not have your father think I rushed you into an illegal marriage. My sons must know that they were born in wedlock.’
Rosamunde felt a spasm of desire clench deep inside her. Her lips parted and she wished that they could be alone so that he could take her in his arms and kiss her.
‘It must be as you wish, my lord,’ she said on a sigh instead.
‘Must it?’ A wry smile touched his mouth. ‘You sound exceedingly modest, Rosamunde, but I know that you have a temper.’
‘I am shamed that I lost my temper before,’ she said. ‘A wife should not question or doubt her husband.’
‘I would not have you doubt me—for I swear to you that you will have no cause to do so—but you may question me whenever you wish. You are to be my wife, Rosamunde, not my slave,’ he said earnestly.
‘My father said my mother was constantly nagging him. I do not think you would wish for a nagging wife, would you?’
‘I should probably beat you,’ he teased, and then laughed as he saw her eyes darken. ‘No, my lady, I do not mean it. I speak in jest, but I do not believe you would nag me constantly.’
‘I should not,’ she said and laughed softly. ‘I was testing you a little, my lord. I hope that we shall live in harmony and peace.’
‘That is also my hope. I shall do my best to make you happy and content with your lot,’ Raphael said and took her hand to raise it to his lips. He dropped a kiss in the palm and smiled as she blushed. ‘Have I told you that I think you one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known?’
‘I think you flatter me, my lord,’ she murmured and dropped her eyes. Her heart was racing wildly. The heat in his eyes told her that he wanted her in the way a man wants a beautiful woman, but at the back of her mind the warning still lingered. He was marrying her because it was convenient for him to do so, not because he loved her as she loved him.
Rosamunde turned her head away as Sir Jonathan began to sing. Her gaze followed him about the room. He sang of love and disappointment, his song ending with a knight wasting away for a love of another knight’s wife.
‘I think once Richard returns our minstrel will leave us,’ Raphael remarked. ‘I believe he intends to seek a place at court. Shall you miss his company, Rosamunde?’
She glanced at him, surprised by the odd expression in his eyes. ‘He has a pleasant voice and I enjoy his music. I believe he is a good friend to you, my lord. You may miss him yourself.’
‘Yes, I dare say I shall. I have other friends who may choose to settle here when they return with Richard, but that is for the future.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘You know why Jonathan will move on, do you not?’
‘No, my lord. I thought him settled here,’ she said innocently.
‘He is in love with you. Had you no idea?’ he asked curiously.
‘None at all!’ She gasped. ‘I have done nothing to encourage him, my lord. I would not have it so for I do not wish to cause distress.’
‘He knows you have given him no encouragement. Had he chosen to do so, he might have courted you, but he believed you would refuse him. Was he right?’
‘I like Sir Jonathan but I could not marry him,’ she said bluntly.
‘Why?’
Rosamunde was silent for a moment. ‘If you do not know the answer, I shall not tell you, my lord.’
‘Is it that…?’ Raphael broke off as there was a commotion at the other end of the hall. Three guards entered, dragging another man with them. They hauled him in front of Raphael and then forced him to his knees. ‘What is the meaning of this?’ Raphael rose to his feet.
‘This rogue was trying to sneak into the castle,’ one of the men said. ‘He says he brings a message for you but would not give it to anyone but you.’
‘Stand up like a man and speak,’ Raphael commanded. ‘What do you have to say to me that cannot be said to my men?’
‘Baron Sigmund sent me,’ the man said, visibly shaken by his treatment. ‘He bid me tell you that he has heard the King is soon to land on English soil. He begs that you will join him on the road to London.’
‘His Majesty is on his way home to England?’ Raphael said eagerly. ‘This is wonderful news. When did your lord receive this news?’
‘It came a few hours ago. I was sent to warn you but commanded to speak with no one but yourself.’
‘You have spoken and your lord will forgive you for disobeying his orders in the circumstances. You may find a place and eat with us.’
Raphael turned to the earl. ‘I think we must leave at once, Loxley. We journey in different directions. You must return to your men, but alert those you can on the way. I shall take thirty men and ride for London at once. We shall meet when you bring your supporters to join Richard.’
‘I shall leave immediately,’ the earl said, rose to his feet and made a sign to the men he’d brought with him. ‘My men and I must meet the King and pledge our loyalty.’
‘How can you be sure this news is true, my lord?’ Rosamunde queried cautiously.
‘We cannot be entirely sure,’ Raphael said. ‘I shall respond to the summons but I shall not drop my guard either here or on the road. Yet we must leave, for Richard will need all men loyal to him.’
‘You will need to make preparations,’ she said. ‘Is there anything my ladies and I may do for you, my lord?’
> ‘There is nothing for the moment. However, it may be that I shall invite Richard to visit here with us,’ Raphael said. ‘Be ready to receive him, if he consents to make this his stronghold until he is ready to take the throne.’
‘Yes, of course. We shall prepare for a feast on your return. May God be with you, my lord,’ she said.
‘Go to your chamber now, my lady. I shall come to take my leave of you before I go.’
She inclined her head and smiled. ‘I shall await your coming, my lord.’
Rosamunde left the hall, closely followed by Elspeth and Lilia. They went up to the tower rooms where they were housed.
‘It is momentous news,’ Elspeth said excitedly. ‘England will be a better place if His Majesty has returned.’
‘Yes, it must be happy news for all His Majesty’s loyal subjects,’ Rosamunde replied.
She bid her ladies good night, saying that she would send for Maire when she was ready to disrobe. She went to the narrow window of her chamber, looking down at the courtyard. Men were scurrying here and there as horses and armour were prepared. Wagons carrying food and equipment would follow, but the men-at-arms would travel light and fast.
It was a race against time to meet with the King and show support, to protect him if need be against an attempt to murder him. Rosamunde knew that Raphael must leave at once but, remembering the attention he had paid her at supper, she could not help regretting that he must leave before their wedding.
‘Rosamunde.’ A tremor went through her as she heard his voice. She turned and saw him, something in his gaze telling her that he too was reluctant to leave. ‘I wanted to say farewell in private. Last time we parted in anger and I would not have it so again.’
She smiled and moved towards him, her hands outstretched. ‘Know that you have my blessing, my lord. I
might wish you could stay longer but I know you have your work to do.’
‘You are very understanding.’ He took her hands, looking down into her face. ‘I would not leave you again so soon if it were not of vital importance. I must go to the King to show my support.’
‘I know that you must go. I pray that you will return safely to wed me.’
‘I long for it,’ Raphael said, his voice deep with passion. ‘I have come to know myself these past weeks and I want only to live in peace and content with you, my love. This Christ’s Mass showed me how much more you bring to my life and the lives of my men. This place hath needed a woman’s gentle touch for many years.’
Rosamunde’s heart leaped. He had called her his love—but could he mean it?
‘I long to be your wife,’ she answered tremulously. ‘I know that you may be in danger, my lord. I do not seek to cling or to bind you in any way, but you should know that you have my love. I loved you that day you saved my kitten, and I love you now. My love grows stronger with every day.’
‘You are as beautiful within as without,’ Raphael replied huskily. He reached out, drawing her close to him, pressing her hard into his body as he bent his head to kiss her lips. ‘My sweet Rosamunde.’
She clung to him, giving her lips and her love without reserve. When he’d left her the last time in such anger, it had almost broken her heart, but this time he would take her love with him. He must know that she was his heart and soul so that he would come back to her.
‘Return to me safely, my lord.’
‘I shall,’ he promised and his fingers cupped her cheek. ‘How could I fail when I have so much waiting for me?’
Rosamunde smiled and let him go. It was hard to control the tears, and her desire to call him back, but she knew that she must allow him to do his duty. A woman must wait for her husband to return. Life was often harsh and cruel; women died in childbed and men were killed in battle. A woman must not weep and hold her husband back, though she might shed many tears in private.
Surely life could not be so utterly unfair as to take him from her before she had even had the chance to be a wife?
Chapter Ten
‘My lord said that we should prepare for a feast on his return,’ Rosamunde said to Mellors a week later. ‘I know that some of the cattle were killed when we salted the meat for winter, but we cannot serve His Majesty such fare. Have we fatted cattle and sucking pig?’
‘Yes, my lady. The wild boar killed yesterday was roasted last evening, but there is plenty of fish in the ponds and we also have duck, geese and capon.’
‘It is a pity we have no sheep,’ Rosamunde said regretfully. ‘A piece of fat mutton makes a tasty stew with onions and worts. Has my lord said nothing to you of purchasing breeding ewes and a ram?’
‘He hath not had the time to attend to the lack as yet,’ Mellors said. ‘Though I believe it his intention.’
‘We should send men to market to buy sheep and the kind of luxuries that the King would require. Not lampreys, for they must be fresh and we do not know when my lord will return, but sugar, honeycomb and nuts. My ladies and I will begin to prepare sweetmeats when we have news of Lord Mornay’s return,’ she said.
‘Before he left, my lord instructed me to obey your orders in these matters, my lady. All that you have asked for shall be bought at the markets, and anything that cannot be purchased locally will be sent for to London.’
‘Then everything will be as it should be for my lord’s return and the King’s visit,’ she said happily.
‘My lord also instructed that silks, velvets and good quality wool should be purchased from the merchants of London. Has my lady any preferences for the colour these should be?’ Mellors enquired.
‘I believe Lord Mornay’s favourite colours are blue, silver and black. I like these colours, but also favour green. For my ladies I should like some lighter materials to make gowns for the spring and summer, and these should be rich brown, grey or a figured damask for best. If you order a selection I shall allow them to choose.’
‘Very well. Ethelred, the wife of Boris the huntsman who was injured, told me that you said she and her children could work at the castle if they chose, at least until Boris is well again,’ the steward remarked.
‘Yes; I thought it better for them to be together as a family. I am sure we can find something for the children to do, can we not?’ she said.
‘The girl can help in the kitchens, and the boy wants to train as a squire, so for the moment he can be put to cleaning the men’s armour and working in the stables.’
Rosamunde smiled. ‘That is excellent, Mellors. I
think we should encourage more of the villagers to work here, either in the castle or as craftsmen. I am certain that some of our excellent craftsmen need apprentices to help them.’
‘I believe that we shall have more people asking for work now that you are to marry my lord. The castle has come alive, and if we have flocks of sheep once more there will be work for both women and children,’ he said.
Rosamunde nodded her agreement and they parted. It was January now and deep winter. Because the morning was bitter-cold with hoarfrost on the ground, she had planned to visit the kitchens that morning to make an inventory of what spices and stores they might need. The weather was too inclement to go foraging with her ladies, but as soon as it cleared a little she would venture to the woods and discover what fresh herbs and roots might be found.
* * *
Richard was not yet landed in England. The message had been hasty, but the news was that he had been freed from his imprisonment and might soon be on a ship headed for England.
Forced to kick his heels and wait, Raphael thought with regret of Rosamunde’s warm arms. Her image had begun to haunt his dreams and when he woke now it was with a smile on his lips.
At last the grief and guilt he had felt for so long over Messalina’s death had eased and he could no longer see the reproachful face of his dead wife when he slept.
It is not that I have forgotten you, he told her in his thoughts. You were my wife, and I shall always honour your memory, but life goes on and I must find a new way.
/>
He was beginning to see that his feelings for Messalina had always been protective and chivalrous and he had never truly been in love with her. His feelings for Rosamunde were very different.
Rosamunde was sweet and loving, but she was also both brave and practical, and did not cling or weep as Messalina had when he’d left her. He knew that he wanted to be with her, to hold her in his arms and have her in his bed. He had vowed he would not love again, and yet he found the waiting irksome and wished to be at home with the woman who had unexpectedly filled the empty space in his heart.
Was what he felt for Rosamunde really love? It was so different from the feeling he’d had for Messalina. Instead of wanting to escape for a few hours, he found himself longing to be with her. The need seemed to grow stronger every day that they were apart and he was already increasingly impatient to see her again though they had been apart for no more than three weeks.
* * *
Would Raphael never return to her? Rosamunde stared out of her window at the courtyard below. More than eight weeks had passed since Raphael had left to meet the King. They had received but one brief message to say that as yet His Majesty had not landed, and since then no word had come.
She was constantly busy, but sometimes the loneliness was almost unbearable. Rosamunde thought of her father and wondered how he was. Yet she could not leave the castle to visit him because Raphael had asked her to remain until he returned.
Supposing he did not return? The thought filled her with black despair. If she never saw him again, she would not wish to live. She did not even wish to think about what she would do if he were killed in battle.
After a week of bitter frosts the sun was shining at last. The month of February had almost passed and there was finally a touch of spring in the air. Each day Rosamunde looked eagerly for word of Raphael’s return, but knew that it might still not come for weeks. It might be that there would be fighting and Raphael would be needed at his King’s side. Sometimes she could not sleep at night, tossing restlessly as she wondered if he were in danger, and yet something inside her told her all was well.