“But you appear to be so... so close.”
“Aye, Richard and I are close.” Will’s handsome face twitched with a wry smile. “We have both saved each other’s lives so many times we can’t count them all. Women aren’t always aware of this, but there are bonds formed in battle that are stronger than even passions of the flesh.”
Marguerite nodded thoughtfully. “How do you intend to hide your... your difference as time goes on? Your family is one of the richest and most powerful in England. There is bound to be pressure on you to marry, to father heirs for your line.”
“Perhaps some day I will marry. In the meantime...” He gave Marguerite a warning look. “I must ask you to keep this knowledge to yourself. You could cause me a great deal of trouble if you were to spread this information at court. I’m not sure King Henry would understand.”
“Of course. I am good at keeping secrets, Will, truly I am.”
He nodded doubtfully, wondering if this impulsive, flighty woman would be his ruin. His unease increased when Marguerite gave a whoop of laughter.
“What? What is it?”
“I was just thinking, Will, how funny this is. For once my father was right. He gave me into your care, thinking that you would be the perfect escort, and by God, you are!”
Will smiled back, his spirits lifted by Marguerite’s infectious laugh. “I am pleased you are so understanding. I wonder if you would allow me the honor of continuing to serve as your escort?”
Marguerite shrugged. “You’re good company, and now that I know it’s not my fault you don’t want to kiss me, I feel much better. Besides, I had another reason for dragging you off alone. I think Astra is falling in love with Richard, and I wanted them to have some time alone together.”
Will shook his head. “I may be harmless, but Richard more than makes up for me. I wonder if it is wise to leave him alone with Lady Astra.”
“Why? Don’t you trust Richard?”
“For myself, I trust him with my very life. But with Lady Astra’s virtue...” He rolled his eyes.
“Astra will manage, I’m sure. For all her ethereal beauty, she’s no fool. At Stafford, I depended on her to keep me out of trouble.”
Will’s smiled faded. “While we are sharing confidences, Marguerite, I must warn you—Richard intends to seduce your cousin. He thinks by compromising Lady Astra, he can force your father to allow them to wed.”
“If Richard wants to marry Astra, why doesn’t he just ask her?”
“Richard did not think Lord Fitz Hugh would look favorably on the match. Despite his success on the battlefield, Richard has been unable to convince the King to grant him any land. Except for his horse, his armor and a chest of war booty, Richard owns almost nothing.”
“That is something of a problem, but it’s not insurmountable. My father has agreed to give Astra a small manor near Wallingford as a dowry. It’s not much, but it would be a place for them to live until Richard can increase their fortunes.”
“A small manor—that is all Lord Fitz Hugh offers for his niece? What of her own family? Surely Astra has dower lands of her own?”
“You misunderstand my relationship to Astra. She’s not my cousin, but rather, a dear friend. Her father and mother are dead, and there is no family fortune. She is as poor as Richard. My father offered her the manor because I asked him to.”
“What? Astra is not related to the Fitz Hughs? She is not an heiress?”
Marguerite shook her head. “I love Astra like a sister, and I intend to see that she weds a man who loves her and cherishes her as I do. But he need not be rich. If he truly cares for her, Richard would make a perfectly acceptable husband.”
“I don’t think you understand. Richard has his heart set on marrying for wealth. If Astra is poor...” Will’s voice trailed off, and his fine features tensed with worry. “You must not continue to encourage Lady Astra’s feelings for Richard. He may be bewitched with her beauty, but I doubt any woman can make Richard forget his ambitions. Astra will likely be hurt, her reputation ruined before she has an opportunity to attract a more suitable husband.”
“Oh, bother, Will. I think you worry for nothing. I would not be surprised if Astra is able to entice Richard into marrying her despite her lack of dowry. If there is true love between them, they will find a way to be together.”
Will shook his head but did not speak. Beneath her bluff practicality, Marguerite was obviously as naive about life as most women. He didn’t have the heart to shatter any more of her illusions today.
“I
t was astonishing. One kiss and Astra gave herself to me like a flower opening its petals to the sun,” Richard exulted as soon as he was alone with Will in the knights’ quarters.
Will groaned. “What did you do? Attempt to debauch her in some filthy alley?”
“Of course not.” Richard sat down on a bench and yanked off his rumpled tunic. “A jewel like Astra deserves the proper setting for romance. We were down by the river, near the Tower. Her lessons in love are only beginning. All I did today was teach her how to kiss properly.”
Will fidgeted with the cross-garters on his braies, trying to decide what to do. Richard had to know Lady Astra’s situation, and the sooner the better. Still, he dreaded telling him the truth. Richard was bound to regard Astra’s poverty as another galling set-back in his plan to amass a fortune.
“Richard, I’m afraid there is something you should know. I learned today that Astra isn’t related to the Fitz Hughs at all. She’s simply a comely young woman Marguerite befriended at Stafford and decided to take under her wing.”
The smug, self-satisfied look on Richard’s face faded. “What do you mean?” he asked in a puzzled voice. “If Astra’s not kin of the Fitz Hughs, who is she?”
“No one, apparently. Certainly not an heiress. As I understand it, your new ladylove is penniless.”
“Penniless? The girl has nothing?”
“I believe Fitz Hugh has promised to grant her a small manor when she weds.”
“A small manor. God’s blood, Will, that’s not nearly enough!”
“Actually, Fitz Hugh is being quite generous. He offered the manor to Astra as a favor to his daughter. It is rare such a gift is made to someone outside a family.”
Richard appeared too stunned to respond. He stood abruptly, his hand rubbing the short sword at his side with a thoughtful, almost sinister motion. Will watched his friend uneasily, wondering if he had been unwise to blurt out the truth. He did not like the cold, bitter look on Richard’s face. The scar on his cheek twitched—a sure sign he was wroth.
“Of all the damnable, wretched...”
“Calm down, Richard. This isn’t that grievous a setback. Your visit to London might still yield benefits.”
“I should have known she was too good to be true,” Richard fumed, ignoring Will’s attempt to soothe him. “Most heiresses are ugly as sin or betrothed nearly at birth. The really comely women are always poor.”
Will nodded sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Richard. Perhaps you’ll have to endeavor to win your fortune by other means.”
“I hate this hellish, miserable city! I wish there was a good war I could go fight in. Perhaps I could finally win some land that way—or get my guts cut out trying!”
“God’s teeth, don’t take on so! Surely things will work out eventually. If nothing else, I will see to it that you are made castellan of one of my family’s castles.”
“Oh, that would be grand, wouldn’t it? Then I’d never live down the whispers that I’m a nellie like you.”
Will blanched. Richard cursed again, then began to pace. “I’m sorry, Will. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t care what they say. I know you’re as good a man as any that’s walked the face of the earth.”
He paced a few moments more and then continued. “I appreciate your generosity, but it wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t be my land or my castle. Lady Astra may be willing to accept a friend’s charity, but I am not.”
Will wanted to argue that a grant of land from him was no different than one from the King, but decided against it. Richard was very stubborn, and for all his cynical words about wealth and power being everything, Will suspected that deep down Richard sought something more in his life. “What will you do now?”
“What can I do?” Richard snapped. “I’m right back to where I was a month ago when I first came to London. Again, I’m reduced to begging for favors from my liege lord.” His eyes narrowed suddenly, and a dark look passed over his face. “I have half a mind to go to Henry and ask straight out for a reward for my years of loyal service.”
“I wouldn’t advise it. The King doesn’t like to be forced into decisions. That’s the reason he gets on so poorly with his brother by marriage, Simon de Monfort of Leicester. De Monfort insists on backing Henry into a corner and rubbing his face in his shortcomings. They say that’s why King Henry sent de Monfort to Gascony to quell the troubles there. They say he wanted Leicester out of his sight.”
“Still, the King owes me, and I doubt that he’ll have the guts to refuse me before a roomful of knights. It would make him look too much the greedy, conniving bastard he is.”
“Richard, I think...” Will began, then paused as he saw the look on his friend’s face. When Richard was in this mood, it was better to distract him than argue. “What about Lady Astra?”
Richard’s mouth quirked bitterly. “You were right. She was too good to be true.”
“Will you drop your pursuit?”
Richard shrugged. “I must. There’s no way I can wed Astra if she’s poor.”
“It seems a shame. I thought perhaps you were beginning to care for her.”
Richard shook his head. “The part of me that could care for a woman was destroyed long ago. What I feel for Astra is naught but lust, and I am far too old and cynical to let my cock get the better of my wits.”
“Are you sure? The way you talk about Astra is different than the way you usually speak of women. You seem to genuinely like her, even admire her. You once likened her to an angel.”
“She is an innocent, but after all, she only arrived in London a few days ago.” Richard’s face hardened. “I don’t doubt that her innocence will tarnish over time. She’ll end up whoring around like the rest of the women at court.”
Will shook his head, depressed by Richard’s bitter words. Marguerite had been wrong. There was no such thing as true love. Marriage was a grim, practical business. Those who denied it was so were fools.
* * *
“Well, you certainly took your time,” Marguerite teased as Astra entered the small sleeping chamber to dress before the banquet. “This morning you were afraid to be alone with Sir Richard. Now, after spending nearly the whole day in his company, do you still think he’s ‘ferocious’?”
Astra blushed and glanced uneasily at Isabel. It was embarrassing enough to reveal to Marguerite what had happened. She certainly wasn’t going to share her failings with Isabel, who already disapproved of her. “Actually, he was most polite,” she answered. “He took me all over the market, then down to the quay.”
“You were alone with Sir Richard?” Isabel asked in a shocked voice. “How could you do such a foolish thing? The Queen is a pious and virtuous woman. She won’t tolerate her ladies being involved in scandalous dalliances!’
Marguerite rolled her eyes and turned away, but Astra met Isabel’s accusation calmly. “Sir Richard and Lord de Lacy were asked to act as our escort by Marguerite’s father. As for being alone with Sir Richard, that happened by mistake. We simply became separated from Marguerite and Will at the market.”
“A mistake!” Isabel snorted. “I’ll wager it wasn’t a mistake at all. Sir Richard has a notorious reputation with women. He probably took you off alone so he could make improper advances.”
“As I said, Sir Richard was extremely polite and well-mannered,” Astra said stiffly. “Anyway, you shouldn’t listen to gossip, Isabel. Most of it is untrue, and you only shame yourself by repeating it.”
Isabel looked startled and then made a sour face. “You must be more of a simpleton than I thought. Ask anyone at court. Sir Richard is an outrageous womanizer, not to mention an unscrupulous fortune hunter.” She stalked abruptly out of the room, leaving Astra to glare after her.
“Oh, Astra,” Marguerite giggled. “That was marvelous. Isabel is a terrible gossip. I loved the look on her face when you told her she shamed herself by repeating it.”
Astra shook her bead. “I couldn’t allow that whey-faced shrew to imply that Richard... that he...” Astra broke off suddenly. “Oh, Marguerite, do you think it’s true? Do you really think Richard might intend to seduce me?”
Marguerite shrugged. “Given the opportunity, most men will attempt to entice a woman into loveplay. My father assures me it’s simply the nature of men. He believes they have much less control over their physical urges than women.”
“God help me,” Astra sighed. “I truly am a hypocrite.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, Marguerite! After calling Isabel a liar, I realize her words are likely true. Richard did make improper advances towards me. And I... I let him. I let Richard compromise me.”
Marguerite’s eyes widened with horror and fascination. “Surely you didn’t. What did he do—take you to some dirty inn?”
“No,” Astra moaned. “We were under some trees in a garden by the Tower.”
“You let him futter you right there on the grass?”
“Of course not!” Astra gasped. “That much of my virtue I still retain. But I did let him touch my breasts.” She felt her face flame.
“Oh! Well, that is only natural,” Marguerite responded, sounding relieved. “It seems to be the next step beyond kissing. Unfortunately, I am so skimpily-endowed, I can’t usually distract a man that way.” She glanced ruefully at her own less-than-ample bosom.
“I have done such sinful things, Marguerite. First, I let him kiss me. Then I touched the bare skin of his back and chest. Then he put his hands on me.”
“Were you naked?”
Astra shook her head vehemently.
“Then it hardly counts. Don’t look so glum, sweeting. Letting a man feel up your titties hardly means you’ve lost your virtue.”
Astra groaned. “Isabel’s right. I am a simpleton. I let Richard do those things, and then convinced myself he hadn’t planned it, that my own sinful nature led me into temptation. Isabel insists Richard has a terrible reputation with women, and I have seen the proof of it. How could I be so dense not to know what he was up to?”
“Perhaps you didn’t see the truth because you didn’t want to. I suspect you’re falling in love with Richard, and it goes against your nature to think badly of those you care for.”
“Falling in love! What a horrible thought! I don’t want to fall in love with a man like Sir Richard. He’s very much lacking in virtue and honesty. Isabel called him ‘an unscrupulous fortune hunter!’ and I suspect it’s true.”
“You can’t control your feelings, Astra, only your actions. If you’ve fallen in love with Sir Richard, there is naught you can do about it. Even so...” Marguerite put a consoling arm around Astra. “I don’t want to see you hurt. It might be best if you were not alone with him too soon.”
Astra nodded, and then reached to touch the small glass pendant that hung from her neck. “I suppose I should give this back to him.”
“What is it?” Marguerite asked, leaning nearer.
“A glass jewel Richard purchased for me at a little shop in Cheapside. He gave me the chain so I wouldn’t lose it.”
“It doesn’t look valuable. Although it’s exceedingly pretty, and somehow suits you.”
“But I must give it back, mustn’t I?”
“Why? It was a gift. Besides...” Marguerite smiled slyly. “It appears that Richard obtained what he wanted as well. I imagine he considers the sweet kisses and caresses you granted him more than fair payment for the few pennies he spent on the necklace.”
“Don’t say that!” Astra cried. “Richard said that every woman has her price, that a man can buy any woman’s virtue if he has enough gold. I almost sold mine for this cheap trinket!” She took off the necklace and flung it down on the bed.
How close she’d come to disaster. A few moments more of kissing, and she might well have given in to Richard and let him take her maidenhead. Despair washed over her as she wondered again if she had made the right decision in leaving Stafford and coming to London. Did she risk her immortal soul by remaining in this dangerous world of flatterers and connivers?
Sighing, she turned from the bed and began to dress. She must not give up now. Tonight was another banquet, another chance to meet a decent, worthy man. She would not forsake her goal simply because the way was difficult and treacherous. She had more courage than that.