She snorted. “Certainly, it was one of their favorite pastimes. Wager they could not seduce a goat, and they would try.”
“I trust the queen protected you?”
“No, I protected myself. My father had warned me, you see. He dinned into my head what the men at court would do, and he was right. He also gave me a small knife if a man tried to force himself on me.”
“Your father should not have sent you to court.”
“He knew it was time I was wed and he wished me to see if any of the men at the king’s court pleased me since all the king’s knights and barons, mayhap even an occasional earl, visit the court periodically.”
“None of them pleased you?”
She shook her head. “The cruelty, Garron, the honeyed vicious words, the careless promises that meant nothing at all, I couldn’t bear it.”
“Did you have to use your knife?”
“Once. His name was Baron Landreau. He had just buried his second wife and he was searching for another one, preferably a rich one. One night, he was very drunk and caught me, probably if he raped me then the king would give me to him. I slipped the knife into his shoulder. While he was screaming at me, I ran.”
“I know the baron. He is an excellent fighter.” He frowned. Men drank, many times even forgot their own names. He said, “Burnell believed you looked familiar. He was right. He must have seen you in the queen’s company at court.”
She nodded. “Oh yes, but you see, my head was always covered so he never saw my hair.” She began to tidy her worktable. “I never saw you, so you must have come to court after I returned to Valcourt.”
He nodded. “You are an heiress.”
It was an accusation. She couldn’t help herself, she gave him a crooked smile. “It is not an affliction, Garron, but since it displeases you so much I will carefully read my herbal, mayhap find a decoction of coltsfoot and soapwort to cure it.”
“Your jest does not amuse me.”
She watched him dash his hand through his hair. Without thought, she reached out her hand, but he took a quick step back. Her arm dropped to her side.
“Your father was Lord Timothy de Luce de Mornay, the Earl of Valcourt. I visited Valcourt once a very long time ago, when I was but a boy. My father knew Lord Timothy, but even as a young boy, I saw the stiffness in my father, and knew they were not friends, but I was too young to know the truth of things. I still do not know. Valcourt is larger than Wareham.”
“Yes, it is.”
“The wealth, Merry, Valcourt is an incredibly wealthy holding. Since the time of William, it has flourished.” Indeed, he had heard men at the king’s court speak of it and the daughter who was Lord Timothy’s only child, and that she hadn’t been ugly, a pleasant surprise, that.
“My father told me his father taught him how to manage his properties just as his father had taught him, and so it went back to the first earl.” She recited, “Ensure tenant farmers have the proper tools and seeds and help during harvests, use rents to buy more farms, control as many surrounding towns as you can, maintain them, always protect them from outlaws, buy all goods from them, keep a stout fighting force, make excellent ale—and on it goes.” She grinned suddenly. “My father said the first earl was a violent old man who wore a long beard wrapped around his neck, but he knew how to make his lands thrive and so he set down rules. They are written in a bound leather book, so very worn when I first saw it. My father set me to copying it. It is fresh now and easily read—for the man the king gives me to, if he can read or write, that is.
“It is a pity my father had no son, only me. Soon another man will become Valcourt’s master.” She shrugged. “Valcourt will probably lose its wealth in the next couple of generations.”
“The Valcourt earls are not the only smart men in England. The king is not a fool. He will not select an incompetent wastrel.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Did your own father have such rules for administering Wareham?”
He saw his father in that moment, his face red with fury as he beat the miller because a grain of poorly ground flour cracked a tooth. He gave no help to any of his dependents. He wasn’t much loved, his father. He remembered the farmers starving when the crops were poor. He shook his head. “But I will have them.”
“That is good. Do you know, my father never shirked his responsibilities, but to be honest, his great love was tournaments. He told me he was the only man he knew to become wealthy from winning tourneys, and he was only eighteen. He was an excellent fighter, only fourteen when he won his first destrier and suit of armor off a French knight he’d bested. He was greatly saddened when King Edward outlawed them.”
“Too many men died needlessly in tournaments. Listen, Merry, it must be done. I must take you to the king. You are of marriageable age, indeed past it. He will select a husband for you, a strong warrior to protect Valcourt and swear fealty to him. I will suggest to the king that he find a man who has rules and makes lists.
“I will escort you myself. I will ensure that you are not harmed or forced by any of the men at the court. The king will find a man to follow in your sire’s footsteps and Valcourt will continue to prosper.”
“Will you tell the king that Jason of Brennan is the Black Demon, that his man Sir Halric kidnapped me? Will you tell him Jason made a bargain with my mother? Will you tell him your brother was probably poisoned by the Black Demon?”
“Aye, I will tell him.”
28
He gave her a brooding look. “Now you said you ran away from Valcourt rather than marry Jason of Brennan. Tell me exactly what happened.”
She turned away from him and began to pace. Her gown was so short, he could see her ankles. “I told you my father died unexpectedly. He was well and then he was ill and vomiting and sweat poured down his face and off his body. Then the fever came and he shivered until his teeth chattered. The fever never left him and he died.” The telling of it, so bloodless, those words. She wiped tears away with the back of her hand.
“I’m sorry, Merry.”
She nodded. “When my mother rode into Valcourt the next day with her men and Jason of Brennan, I believe I was the only one surprised by her sudden appearance. My nursemaid, Ella, said my mother would take care of me now and I was not to worry, and that I was to obey her. My mother was beautiful and very smart, she told me again and again, her heart full to bursting with kindness, and it no longer mattered that my father had hated her, and abused her.
“I didn’t say anything, but I knew to my soul that could not be true. My father never abused me, never resented me because I was not a boy. He never spoke ill of her. Once, though, I saw him cross himself when someone mentioned her name in his presence.” Tell him, just tell him. Her voice came out a whisper. “I also heard it said she was a powerful witch, that she knew things no one else did, that she could cast spells to shrivel a soul. I think that is why my father sent her away. He was afraid for me.”
A witch was a creature a man couldn’t begin to understand. He hated it. He hadn’t wanted to believe that monk’s tale, but now—this was real. “Are you a witch also?”
“I do not think so,” Merry said, her voice as serious as his had been light, but, he saw, she did not speak with much conviction. Did Merry believe herself a witch like her mother? What nonsense was this?
“I told you she brought Jason of Brennan with her. She told me I would wed him. Jason appeared young enough, well made, smoothly spoken, but I tell you, Garron, when I looked into his eyes, I saw no light. Whenever he laughed, which was too often, I saw something shift in his eyes, something calculating, something that scared me to my toes, and I simply knew there was nothing good or wholesome in him. He left then. My mother told me he would soon return.”
“How did you escape from Valcourt?”
“I bided my time and finally I was able to escape. Unfortunately, Sir Halric had arrived at Valcourt, unannounced, and he saw me running away. He caught me, and dressed me in boy’s clothes to
take me to his master.”
Garron thought about this for a moment. “I wonder why he simply did not hand you over to your mother? Surely she would have had you locked in your bedchamber at Valcourt, kept you safe for Halric’s master, Jason of Brennan.”
“I thought that was what he was going to do, but instead, he rode away from Valcourt. Was he really taking me to Jason of Brennan? I remember how he laughed when he spoke to one of his men, said I would be a gift to his master, then he laughed and wondered aloud how such a dirty little beggar could have any worth at all. All in all, he was very pleased with himself because he had me.”
Garron began to pace. “Then I found you and freed you and you made your way here. Now, why did Jason of Brennan send Sir Halric back to Wareham?”
“Because he found out where the silver coins were hidden. There can be no other answer.”
“And Sir Halric believed all would be dead or nearly dead and welcome him right in.”
“Do you think Jason has admitted his failure to my mother? If so, I hope she will blight him with a curse. She surely must realize now that Wareham is safe from more attacks. Will she guess that you will escort me to King Edward?”
Garron picked up a flower sprig and sniffed it. It was lavender. “I doubt either your mother or Jason of Brennan will even consider my giving over such a plump prize to the king. They doubtless believe I will keep you for myself, and gain Valcourt in the bargain.”
She said clearly, with no hesitation, “Why not?”
She watched him pick up a lemonwort leaf and sniff it, then carefully set it back into its place. He slowly turned to look at her. “You believe I would force you to wed with me? You believe me as big a villain as Jason of Brennan? As your mother?”
“No, you are not at all like them. You would never force me to wed you. Indeed, you wouldn’t have to force me.” She thrust up her chin, stared him straight in the eye. “I would agree willingly. I would not mind being your wife.”
“You are mad,” he said, appalled, turned on his heel, and strode out of the small solar, his back straight as the new barrack door.
Merry picked up one of the jars that held Miggins’s infusion, shook it, watched bits of anise and sundew dance in the liquid, then settle to the bottom. The jar was cool to the touch. Time to give it to Miggins.
What to do?
And then she knew.
29
Merry knew Gilpin slept on a pallet outside Garron’s door. Even though she’d slipped a sleeping draught in his ale but an hour before, she cupped her hand around her candle and removed her slippers before she very carefully stepped over him and slowly opened the lord’s bedchamber door. Gilpin didn’t stir. Thank St. Agnes’s crooked fingers Garron hadn’t set the bar on the door. She nearly fell over when she heard Gilpin whisper, “Let me cleave his head, Lord Garron, let me cleave his head.” She jerked about to see he was still asleep. He had sounded enthusiastic.
She closed the door, picked up the stout wooden bar, and eased it into place. The room wasn’t as dark as the bottom of one of Bullic’s cooking kettles, since Garron had tied back the deerskin that hung over the now-open window, and moonlight poured into the room. She paused a moment and breathed in the still, sweet night air. She looked toward the bed, saw no movement, but she could clearly see his outline.
She walked to the great bed and stood over him, raising her candle until she could see his face. He looked very young in sleep, a slight smile about his mouth. Was he dreaming of cleaving someone’s head, as was his squire?
He lay on his back, his legs spread, the blanket pulled only to his waist, leaving his chest bare. She knew the rest of him was bare, too, a good thing, since that step on her list had no instruction. But she wasn’t stupid. She knew what lurked beneath that single blanket.
She was here and he was here, and he was naked. The bedchamber door was barred. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know how men and women mated, but making the mating happen was something she wasn’t quite sure how to bring about. On the other hand, she’d heard Lisle say to Elaine that Lady Anne had often remarked that a man was always randy, and a woman had naught to do but spread her legs and think about a new gown or perhaps a new bauble as she bounced up and down and moaned.
She looked down at his chest, saw the scar high on his shoulder, another one, long and puckered, on his arm, yet another disappeared beneath the cover over his belly. She saw his new bathing tub in the corner. She leaned down and breathed him in. The smell of him was so familiar to her.
She reached out her hand. Mayhap if she touched him—touched him where? What would he do?
He made a sound deep in his throat, and his head twisted back and forth on the pillow. He flung his arm over his head, then stilled. What was he dreaming?
She drew her hand back and looked again at him. He was big. Big was not bad. Big meant he could meet an enemy head-on and cleave him in two. That made her smile, but only for a moment. Big also meant he could hurt her. But who cared? Time to get it done.
Merry set the candle on the floor, steadied herself, slipped out of her robe. She then pulled her shift up to her waist, and slowly and carefully climbed on top of him. His eyes flew open. He jerked up onto his elbows. “Are you the enemy?”
“Nay, my lord, I swear I am no enemy.” He sighed deep in his throat, his eyes closed, and his breathing deepened. She lightly shoved him back down. She carefully straddled him, and realized she didn’t know what to do now. He had to come inside her, but how, since she was sitting on top of him and there was a blanket between them? She wished she could waken him and ask how to continue. He stretched beneath her, stilled again, and began to snore lightly. He would never compete with Miggins.
She leaned forward, kissed him, then straightened up, fast as a shot arrow.
The kiss was nice, more than nice actually, even though it had lasted but a moment. Again, she thought, leaned down, and this time her mouth stayed on his. His mouth was warm, but it was more than simple warmth, it was something about the feel of him that sent a touch of heat straight to her belly. She wasn’t expecting that, frowned when she felt her heart speed up. She knew mating was enjoyable to men, at Valcourt she’d heard them bray and brag about it all the time, and at court as well. Nothing else interested them that she could see. To be honest, it wasn’t just the men. At home and at court, she’d heard the women giggle and whisper behind their hands when a comely man was near, but what exactly were they saying? About how wonderful he smelled? How they wanted to touch him and never stop? Curse her for a fool, she should have listened, but she hadn’t, she’d always slithered away. It was clear she’d been shortsighted. She had not considered the future.
She kissed him again, this time pressed her mouth harder against his. To her shock he opened his mouth and his tongue touched her. Never had she thought about a man’s tongue touching her mouth, roving over her bottom lip, and her legs tightened around his flanks. Suddenly, his tongue slipped into her mouth. She nearly leapt off him she was so shocked. She lurched up, and he moaned. He raised a hand, cupped her cheek, and whispered, “Blanche, have you come again to kiss me awake? You know I love the taste of you.”
Who was this wretched Blanche? She came to him when he was asleep and kissed him awake? If the bitch were here, Merry would clout her head.
“Come, Blanche, come closer, I’ll give you whatever you want. Aye, give me your breasts.” He began humming the sad angel song she’d once sung to him as his hands moved to cup her breasts. How could he hum her song when he believed he was touching that bitch Blanche? He stopped, frowned. “What is this? I want nothing between your sweet flesh and my hands.” He jerked up her shift. Merry helped him pull it over her head.
“Ah, that is much better. Give me your breasts, sweeting.”
She was naked and sitting on top of a man who was running his hands over her arms, her shoulders, dipping to cup her breasts again. His hands were callused, hard, and warm, and the way he was touching her made her want to
sing. It was astounding, mayhap a bit frightening. “Ah, that is very nice. Bring me your mouth, Blanche. Aye, come down to me. Then you may have your way with me.”
Even as she lowered her head, Merry never stopped looking at him. His eyes were still closed. How could he sleep through such a cataclysm? She wanted to kiss him until her mouth was numb. He moaned as he raised his head and nuzzled her breasts, then licked her flesh. When his mouth closed over her she wanted to leap straight to the ceiling, but only for a moment because she wanted his hands and his mouth to touch more of her, and she wanted what was beneath that single blanket.
His hands slipped beneath her, and his fingers skimmed inward until they touched her. She sat atop him, horrified and frozen, feeling his fingers probe.
“You are so soft and warm. But you are not wet for me, Blanche. What is wrong?” Wet? What was this? When he raised her hips with his big hands, she splayed her palms on his chest and closed her eyes and waited to see what he would do. What he did was ease a finger inside her. It hurt, but not all that much. Now what would happen? Whatever he would do next, she only knew she wanted it very much. As he pressed further, she realized she was beginning to pant, her heart speeding. It hurt, but not for long. She wasn’t stupid. She knew he wanted to come inside her, not just his fingers, but what was beneath that blanket. His fingers left her. He eased her upright again, still holding her with one of his big hands, and with the other he pulled down the blanket. She wasn’t about to look at him, even though she wanted to, desperately. It was going to happen. She raised herself more, and felt his fingers, then felt him enter her. He heaved out a huge groan and pushed. He pushed and pushed, not that he got very far. She gripped his shoulders, closed her eyes and seamed her lips to keep from yelling. He would tear her apart, she knew it, but she had to let him do it, no choice. Pressure, too much pressure, and it didn’t stop. How far could he push?
She couldn’t bear it, simply couldn’t. Just as she was about to pull off him and run from the chamber, he moaned, grabbed her waist in his hands, and pulled her down as he shoved upward.