"Rod," he tempted, kissing a tiny pulse point.
Her silence stretched out for another minute, then on a shud-
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dering sigh, she whispered, "Bastard!" and gave herself up to his beautiful mouth.
For hours he kept her at the peak of her arousal, making love to her with his hands and his mouth, then finally when he could bear the self-imposed sexual torture no longer, and his gut ached from the hours of love play that had not reached its natural conclusion, he knew he must seek release. Straddling her waist with his thighs, he slid his shaft into the valley between her upthrusting breasts, then he took the round globes into his hands and squeezed until his throbbing erection was sheathed.
She cried out in low protest, "My lord, what are you doing to me?"
Rod was too far gone for words. It took only a dozen thrusts for him to reach climax and scatter his seed across her silken skin.
Rosamond was stunned at how possessively he held her until he drifted to the edge of sleep. If he felt this way, why had he not consummated the marriage? Was it because she kept part of herself from him, so he had done likewise? She was amazed that she had been able to keep her vow and that they were still married in name only. Then her innate honesty asserted itself. It had absolutely nothing to do with her. He could have easily seduced her into yielding her virginity to him. But he had not, and somehow she felt as if she had lost the battle over sex. As she lay in his arms she realized that Sir Rodger de Leyburn was a complete mystery to her. He had taken all control away from her and made it plain that he would decide when to make her his wife.
Thirteen
Rosamond awoke when she heard a tapping on the chamber door. Nan entered carrying Rosamond's vivid green gown over one arm. She was followed by two maids who brought in a slipper bath and two more who filled it with hot water. Rosamond, surprised that it was morning, was vastly relieved that Rodger de Leyburn had departed.
"Good morning, my lamb." Nan wrapped her in her silk bedgown as two of the maids approached the bed and stripped off the sheets.
Rosamond blushed as she glimpsed the dark crimson drops. It was his blood, not hers; how cunning de Leyburn was!
"Hurry and bathe, my lamb. Lady Eleanor and Demi are coming with a special breakfast tray, and heaven knows who else will try to get a good look at you this morning. Brides are an irresistible curiosity. Those sheets will be the talk of the castle!"
"Good God, that's disgusting!" Rosamond said with a grimace. "Hold them off as long as you can. I want to be dressed before anyone sees me."
Rosamond was clad in the green gown, with her hair brushed into a smooth French knot, by the time her visitors arrived. While Bette carried in the huge tray, Lady Eleanor pressed a kiss to her brow, and Demi hugged her close. "You look different!"
Eleanor laughed knowingly. "She will never be the same again. I warrant she feels both older and wiser. Marriage transforms a woman. Darling, you look absolutely radiant!"
Rodger de Leyburn filled the doorway, then stepped into the chamber. A richly embroidered surcoat covered his chain mail hauberk. While the ladies fawned over him he laughed good-naturedly "I have come to give my beautiful bride her morning gift," he said gallantly. He
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placed a velvet pouch in Rosamond's hands, then dipped his dark head to reverently kiss those hands.
Forcing herself to remain outwardly unruffled, Rosamond opened the pouch and lifted out its treasure. It was a gold torque necklace carved in an exquisite Celtic design, with a huge cabochon emerald at its center. Every woman in the room gasped at its beauty and urged her before the mirror to put it on. When she clasped it about her throat, she saw that it matched her gown to perfection. With her hair drawn up to display the elegant curve of her neck, the torque made her look regal as a princess. Rosamond's glance met Sir Rodger's in the mirror, and his proprietary look of ownership stunned her. Suddenly she remembered reading somewhere that torques were slave collars to the ancient Celts. As her hand lifted to remove it, she saw that her husband looked hurt.
"Please, I want you to wear it while I'm gone," he said softly.
"Gone?"
A smile of regret curved his mouth. "I am a royal steward, chérie. I must go to London ahead of Lord Edward and our men to make preparations for their arrival. I want you to enjoy your last Christmas at Kenilworth, then travel in comfort with Lady Eleanor's household." Rod made it sound as if he wanted only her comfort and happiness, but the truth was he could not bear the torture of sharing a bed with her for one more night, without demanding his conjugal rights.
"Come, ladies," Eleanor said decisively, "the newlyweds need privacy to say their goodbyes."
When they were alone, Rosamond offered up a silent prayer of thanks that she had had the foresight to dress. Her beautiful gown gave her the confidence she needed, and she was ready for him, ready to snatch the offensive before he did. "You are a master of manipulation," she accused. "I drank too much wine last night and you took shameless advantage of me!"
Rodger saw that Rosamond held herself stiffly. She had withdrawn behind an invisible barrier, thinking to protect herself from him. Amusement filled his green eyes. "Rosamond, you are a beautiful little liar. Last night you deliberately challenged my manhood and pitted your will against mine. Although you swore you would not yield to me, I wooed you to a giving mood. You just don't want to admit that you lost."
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She gasped in outrage. "I still have my virginity!"
He flashed a grin. "And therein lies the proof that you lost."
"You are a devil, de Leyburn!"
"A wicked devil," he agreed. She looked so vulnerable, it tugged at his heart. He wanted to take her in his arms, but the last thing he wanted was to have her recoil from him. "Lord Edward will bring you safely to Windsor. It's a journey of over eighty miles, which will take several days." When she looked relieved, he bit his lip. "Rosamond, when we meet again at Windsor, a brand new year will be nigh; I hope we can start afresh." When she did not reply, he went to the door and paused. "Bring Chirk with you, so you won't be lonely."
When he left, she suddenly felt abandoned. Damn him to hellfire, why hadn't he consummated the marriage? Why hadn't he told her he loved her? The answers were obvious. He did not love her. Now that he owned her castles, he was quite content that they remain married in name only!
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King Henry was in a Plantagenet rage! News had reached him that Edward, his heir to the throne, was plotting with his archenemy Simon de Montfort. Terrified that they would overthrow him as king, Henry knew he must act swiftly. He asked his brother, Richard of Cornwall, to go immediately to London and win back the loyalty of Richard's stepson Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. Once Richard was in London, Henry wanted him to set up an inner council consisting of himself, Gloucester, and the Chief Justiciar of England, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, in order to rally Plantagenet royalists. "Richard, you will give my traitorous son a message. Tell him I will make his brother Edmund heir to the throne if he does not immediately end this treasonous plotting with that whoreson de Montfort!"
Richard of Cornwall shook his head at the dire situation the king faced. "I advise you to get that Bull of Absolution from the Pope, even if you have to double the bribe, Henry. If the church nullifies the Provisions of Oxford, most of the barons will be ready to compromise and you will be able to resume royal power. Especially if you have a large troop of mercenary soldiers at your back."
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Henry's queen made up her mind immediately to return to England and take Edward's sixteen-year-old wife, Eleanora, with her. Though the queen's figure had thickened and her golden hair had faded, she was still vain, and still extremely manipulative. She could think of no better bait than a beautiful young bride to lure Edward back into the royal fold. The queen decided to sail with the king's brother, Richard of Cornwall, since he had a swift vessel that would take them directly up the Thames to London.
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When they arrived, the queen left her brother-in-law Richard at Westminster Palace and took Princess Eleanora by barge to the elegant apartments that had been especially designed for the bride at Windsor Castle.
Sir Rodger de Leyburn and his squire arrived at Windsor to ready Lord Edward's apartments. As well, he intended to furbish his own suite of rooms to accommodate Rosamond. When the Queen of England arrived the following day, bringing Edward's bride, Rod forced himself to hide his total surprise.
When the queen found only her son's steward at Windsor, she confronted him immediately, demanding to know where Edward was.
De Leyburn bowed gallantly to the queen, as his facile tongue prepared to defuse her wrath. Rod knew she disapproved of him, along with all the "wild young men" of Edward's household, because she feared they had more influence over the heir than she did. "Lord Edward will be here in a few short days, Your Highness. He will be overjoyed to see you."
"I asked you where he was, Steward."
"He is returning from the successful campaign in Wales. We fought side by side with the Marcher lords from the Welsh borders and all extended their hospitality." De Leyburn knew better than to mention Kenilworth.
"You had best prepare Princess Eleanora's apartments. This will no longer be a household of bachelors," she warned.
"Indeed, Your Highness. I am now a married man myself and my wife will be honored to serve Princess Eleanora."
"Whom did you wed?"
"Lady Rosamond Marshal, may it please Your Highness."
The queen's eyes narrowed. It did not please her at all. If her name
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was Marshal, she was an heiress. De Leyburn was becoming too wealthy, and wealth meant power! She would find a way to rid her son of this upstart steward.
Sir Rodger immediately dispatched Griffin with a message for the prince. Edward did not like surprises. Moreover, Rod knew that Edward and Alyce had plans to meet at Westminster and continue their liaison. Rodger also penned a note for Rosamond to let her know that Princess Eleanora was already in residence at Windsor. Rod knew that the last stop of the large cavalcade would be at Berkhamsted, and he bade Griffin await them there.
De Leyburn ordered the supplies Windsor would need, and alerted the servants that Lord Edward's household would be arriving shortly. The chambers must be cleaned, beds aired, wood chopped for the fires, and the stables plenished with oats and hay. When he was satisfied that no detail had been overlooked, Rod moved on to Westminster Palace, where he would undertake the same duties.
Another surprise awaited him at Westminster. When he learned that the king's brother, Richard of Cornwall, was in residence, he suspected that some plot was afoot. Deciding he would learn more if as few people as possible knew of his arrival, de Leyburn took a chamber in a wing opposite the spacious royal apartments and had a quiet word with the servants. All he learned was that the queen and Princess Eleanora had sailed with the king's brother, whose ship was anchored in the Thames. But late in the afternoon as he stood at his high window overlooking the stables, he saw Humphrey de Bohun, the Chief Justiciar of England, ride in with a troop of guards.
Sir Rodger was alarmed. The justiciar had obviously been summoned to London by royal order. Surmising that they were planning to prevent Simon de Montfort and Prince Edward from holding Parliament, Rod knew he must ride out to meet Edward and alert him.
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During Christmas and the journey from Kenilworth, Rosamond had days to ponder her marriage and the changes it would bring to her life. Her husband's absence and distance allowed her to think rationally and be honest with herself. She could not forget how Rodger de Ley-burn had come to her rescue at Pershore and, with his great authority, had single-handedly restored her property, righting the wrongs done to
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her people. And he had done it without being high-handed with her. In truth, he had treated her as an equal.
Then, with great strength and courage, he had saved her life, and afterwards she had allowed a certain degree of intimacy between them. Rosamond remembered how confident he had made her feel, and even if he had deliberately set out to make her feel special, she admitted how much she had enjoyed it. Something inside her wanted to recapture what they had shared.
A wistful shadow was cast over her thoughts, for she knew that tomorrow she would part from the familiar de Montfort household and go with Lord Edward to Windsor. Rosamond knew she had two choices: Either she could dread what lay before her, or she could think of it as a great challenge. She straightened her shoulders and spurred Nimbus forward to ride with Lady Eleanor. Rosamond needed advice. If she was to avoid loneliness and unhappiness, she knew that she and her husband must not become enemies.
"Lady Eleanor, how have you kept your husband's love all these years?"
"I think it is because we are well matched," Eleanor said, laughing. "I am not afraid to stand up to him and speak my mind. A clever woman has a great deal of power, which she must learn to use wisely. I like to have my own way, and Simon indulges me, but make no mistake, Rosamond, he is master in his own house. I have learned when to yield . . . and I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Rosamond knew that Eleanor had taken her husband's power and strength for her own, and she wanted to do the same. "I shall miss you sorely, my lady."
"Nonsense! Out from under my shadow, you will spread your wings like a butterfly and acquire your own power."
At that moment, Lord Edward galloped past them and bowed gallantly. With unflagging energy, he spent each day riding up and down the line, checking on the knights and men-at-arms, as well as conversing with Simon de Montfort for hours and also finding time to ride with the ladies.
Rosamond followed Eleanor's gaze as it fell upon Edward. With the sun touching his flaxen hair and glinting off his breastplate, he looked like a golden god. "I am astounded that my brother Henry produced
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such a magnificent son," the countess said. "Thank heaven he has decided to join forces with Simon. You played no small part in that, Rosamond. I thank you with all my heart for setting aside your reservations about Rodger de Leyburn and helping to cement the bond."
Suddenly, Rosamond felt proud that she had done her duty by the de Montforts. Someday the prince would be King Edward, and already he looked every inch a king. He had been gifted with an abundance of physical beauty, strength, energy, intelligence, and charm. If he used his gifts wisely, he would make a magnificent king.
When they arrived at Berkhamsted, Rosamond was delighted to see Griffin. She took the note from him and blushed, knowing it was from her husband. It was not a love letter, but his words were warm, informing her that Princess Eleanora was at Windsor, and assuring her that the chambers he had selected for her were quite lovely.
"What is the princess like?" she asked Griffin.
"I did not see her, my lady."
She realized Griffin had been sent with messages for Lord Edward, and that Sir Rodger's note to her was only a courtesy.
In Berkhamsted's dining hall, Edward shared the news with Simon. The message prompted more questions than answers. How long had the queen and Edward's bride been at Windsor? If the queen had returned from France, would King Henry follow? The spring Parliament was uppermost in Simon's mind, while Edward's thoughts were filled with his Castilian wife.
The following morning, when the travelers departed Berkhamsted, the de Montforts would take the London road to Charing near London, while Rosamond, Lord Edward, Harry of Almaine, and their train of knights would head directly south to Windsor in Berkshire. Rosamond bade Eleanor and Demi goodbye. "I wish I could see Princess Eleanora," Demi said wistfully.
Lady Eleanor refrained from telling Rosamond what a bitch the queen was; she would learn for herself soon enough. Instead she kissed Rosamond and urged, "When you are at Westminster, you must visit us at Durham House, downriver."
Later in the day, Rosamond caught her breath when she realized that t
he rider galloping toward them was Rodger de Leyburn. She
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thought it a most gallant gesture for him to meet Lord Edward and herself and escort them to Windsor.
He greeted her first, seeming to have eyes for no other. She did not flinch as the big black destrier drew close, though she felt a moment's apprehension. Her husband lifted her gloved hand to his lips and held her gaze. "Welcome, Rosamond, you have never looked lovelier."
She was well pleased. "Thank you, my lord."
He wheeled his mount instantly and joined Lord Edward. Griffin followed him immediately. Rosamond knew he should have greeted the prince first and was flattered by her husband's chivalrous behavior. As she watched the two men become engrossed in their conversation, she was reminded of how darkly handsome Rodger de Leyburn was, and how at ease he was with the prince. He and Edward were truly bonded, and she felt a surge of pride at their close connection. She was blissfully unaware of the tense subject of the men's conversation or the rippling undercurrent of events that had already been set in motion.
"Thank you for sending Griffin to warn me that I have a mother and a wife awaiting me at Windsor. I shall gird my loins."
"I come with a very different warning, Lord Edward. Yesterday I went to ready your apartments at Westminster and found Richard of Cornwall in residence. I avoided him, but late in the afternoon the Justiciar Humphrey de Bohun rode in hell-for-leather with a large force."
"Splendor of God, there is some plot afoot. Too bad you didn't arrive in time to advise Earl Simon."
"I can ride to Durham House with your message."
Edward's brow furrowed. "De Montfort has spies; I warrant he'll know the moment he arrives." Edward sent his squire down the line to summon Harry of Almaine. When Harry reached the prince's side, Edward said, "Your father is at Westminster."
"My father?" Harry swallowed hard. "Mayhap you can persuade him to stand in Parliament with you and Simon and the barons."