Read The Marriage Prize Online
Authors: Virginia Henley
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #General
the February Parliament, and without the king's presence
there could be no Parliament. Earl Simon had many
informants who traveled with the king's court in
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Europe, and it took only four days for merchant vessels to sail
from the Continent and bring messages to England.
The institution of regular sessions of Parliament was the first
and foremost of the Provisions of Oxford, but obviously it was
the provision that stung Henry's colossal pride the most. Until
now, cal ing a session of Parliament had been solely the
king's prerogative. He had had time to recover from the panic
that had made him sign the Provisions, and now he wanted to
rule personal y once again, without a council dictating to him.
Simon was furious. He knew Henry would use the French
treaty as a last-minute pretext for not returning in time for
Parliament. So before the king wrote to the justiciar, the
marshal, and his other nobles, asking for a postponement,
Earl Simon decided to forestal him and write to the nobles
himself, summoning them to London for the Candlemas
Parliament in February. He assured them that Lord Edward
Planta-genet, heir to the throne, would be at his side.
Simon hoped Rodger de Leyburn would return to Kenilworth
soon. That persuasive young man would be indispensable in
helping him to convince Lord Edward to replace the king in
Parliament, if Henry did indeed refuse to return in time.
Alyce de Clare was furious that de Leyburn had taken himself
off without so much as a by-your-leave. With Rod absent, it
was impossible for her to spend the night with Edward, so it
was pointless for her to remain at Kenilworth under Eleanor
de Montfort's contemptuous gaze.
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Owen, since he was the only one she dared to trust.
Mon Amour,
I shal persuade Richard to return to Gloucester, but shal
proceed to London and stay at Westminster in my fathers
apartments. I wish you would return to Windsor before
Christmas, so we could spend it together, but if not, I wil come
to you whenever you send word.
It was an arrangement they had used before. As wel as
access to Westminster, Alyce often enjoyed carte blanche at
the numerous de Clare castles close to London, without the
presence of her odious young husband.
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She and Gilbert hated the sight of each other and were
happiest when they were separated by a goodly distance.
Alyce was alarmed that Edward was al ying himself with
Simon de Montfort, though she was far too wise to voice her
objection to her lover. Instead, she would voice it to her father-
in-law, Richard de Clare, when the opportunity presented
itself.
The fol owing day, Edward hid his amusement when Richard
de Clare bade him farewel . "I've absented myself from
Gloucester for far too long. Gilbert has decided to stay on
awhile—he hero-worships Simon, you know—but duty cal s
me. You must come and stay with us at Gloucester and
sample our hospitality."
"Thank you for your generous offer, Richard; I have every
intention of sampling it one day soon."
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her. The food was good, and she was able to enjoy it because
she had inspected the kitchen and found it clean and tidy.
Rosamond and Nan sat alone at the head table, while the
household servants sat much farther down the hal . "I give
credit where it is due, they have earned their dinner today."
Nan replied, "The change in attitude is amazing. It is difficult to believe it was only yesterday we were treated like dirt beneath
their feet. We owe it al to Sir Rodger."
"Yes, a royal steward has a great deal of power and authority."
"My lady, even if he had no such office, the result would be the
same, I warrant. It is the man they are obeying, not the office."
"Yes, it is a man's world—I wil never doubt that again. Al the
power is in their hands."
"If a woman is fortunate enough to marry a powerful man, and
clever enough to hold that man in the palm of her hand, she
gains al his power for herself," Nan pointed out.
"That is certainly what Lady Eleanor de Montfort has done,
and I know what you are trying to tel me, Nan; I'm not oblivious
to the fact that I am betrothed to Sir Rodger de Leyburn."
Nan smiled knowingly. "He reminds you of it every time he
looks at you with those devilish green eyes. Surely he sets
your pulses racing and heats your blood, my lamb?"
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"He does not!" Rosamond declared, yet an inner voice cal ed
her a liar.
"Have you ever noticed the marked resemblance between Sir
Rodger and Sir Rickard de Burgh?" Nan asked innocently.
"Yes ... no ... I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about their bodies—shoulders so wide and
powerful, they make a female feel faint, hair blacker than
midnight, eyes like green pools of temptation a woman would
wil ingly drown in, and the same rich, dark laugh that makes
your very spine tingle. Both are wickedly handsome warriors
who could lure any lady to wantonness."
Rosamond tried to picture Rickard de Burgh, but it was
Rodger de Leyburn who rose up vividly in her mind,
completely obliterating her ability to conjure the older knight,
who until recently had fil ed al of her daydreams and
fantasies. She shivered, for Rod de Leyburn was real flesh
and blood, not some ephemeral fancy.
Just as she drained her wine goblet, Griffin, accompanied by
Ned, came into the hal with news. "My lady, your horses have
been safely returned. Ned has just fed and watered them."
"Oh, how wonderful! My palfrey means so much to me; I would
dearly love to see her. Has darkness yet fal en?"
"Yes, my lady, it is dark outside, but I wil light your way, you need have no fear," Griffin assured her. "But you wil need a warm cloak, for the night is bitter cold."
"I wil fetch your cloak, my lady," Ned said. "You wil be so pleased at the condition of the stables." He almost ran from
the hal .
"Griffin, you and Ned must stay and eat; I can visit the stables
tomorrow."
"We are both eager for you to see the vast improvements in
Per-shore's stable. We wil both enjoy our food better after we
have seen the pleasure in your eyes."
Such a concept startled Rosamond. The very notion that her
happiness could bring them pleasure made her feel quite
special.
When she arrived at the stable, flanked by Griffin and Ned, her
heart overflowed with affection for her little palfrey, and
Nimbus greeted her with a soft nicker and a nuzzle. As
Rosamond stroked the
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fil y, she breathed in the clean smel of soap and fresh hay. "I
can hardly believe what has been accomplished."
"Sir Rodger has been known to move mountains, my lady."
Rosamond laughed. Griffin had an earthy sense of humor, for
indeed Sir Rodger had moved mountains of horse dung. As
she crossed the bailey, she lifted her eyes to the bril iant stars.
There was no cloud cover tonight and it was cold enough for
frost. She pul ed her purple cloak closer about her and thought
of de Leyburn. Surely he would not rout people from the
warmth of Worcester Castle tonight. Nay, he had told her he
would return today to keep her from being afraid. Likely it was
done in kindness, yet she didn't appreciate being treated like
a child.
She glanced about nervously. Where was the brutish
stableman this night, or the men of Pershore who had been
drunk in the bailey? The pockmarked face of Dymock rose up
in the dark and she felt her fingers tremble as they clutched
her cloak. She liked Griffin very much, and Sir Rodger had
told her she could trust him with her life, but Rosamond knew
she would not feel secure tonight without de Leyburn's
protective presence.
The entire wing of Pershore where Rosamond had her
bedchamber had been scoured and cleaned, and each room
had been aired by its own fire, so tonight Rosamond had her
own private quarters. Nan took an adjoining room, while Ned
would sleep in the knights' quarters with Griffin.
As Rosamond readied herself for bed, she imagined her
chamber as it would be once improvements had been made.
She visualized a plush carpet on the floor and rich, artistic
tapestries upon the wal s. A rug and cushions before the
fireplace would lend a cozy atmosphere, and deep-red
hangings about the high window would make the room feel
both warmer and safer. Rosamond loved vivid colors. Her
hand caressed her crimson bed curtains and goosedown
quilt, their familiarity bringing a measure of comfort, as she
silently thanked Lady Eleanor for suggesting that she bring her
own bedding.
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
Leyburn, but other than the stars, she could see only
blackness outside. She climbed into bed and the incredible
events of the day replayed themselves in
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her mind. Rosamond didn't believe she had ever fainted
before in her life, and could not explain how her trampling
dream had overtaken her senses while she was ful y awake.
She told herself that the events leading up to it must have
taken an emotional tol on her. The terrifying black horse must
be a symbol of her fears threatening to overwhelm her. If she
conquered her fears, she wondered if the trampling dream
would stop.
Eventual y her eyelids became heavy and she began to drift
down into sleep. In the distance there was a low rumble.
Thunder? No, it was far too cold for thunder. It was more like
the drumming of hoofbeats on the frozen ground, coming ever
closer. A wave of stark terror swept over Rosamond,
snatching her breath away....
******************
welcome. The castle had always been a royal stronghold,
where he and Edward had entertained the young Marcher
barons of Hay, Clifford, Wigmore, and Ludlow. During the
previous year, most of the old barons had died off, leaving
their castles and titles to sons who were approximately the
same age as Lord Edward.
same age as Lord Edward.
From Worcester Castle's vast staff, Sir Rodger selected a
dozen household servants he intended to put in charge at
Pershore. He also picked land stewards to oversee the tenant
farms, and chose guards for its wal s and grooms for its
stables. To replace Dymock, he picked a man cal ed Hutton,
who was Worcester's under-steward. Rod promised that his
wife, Lizzy Hutton, could be head housekeeper in charge of
the other maids. She was so flattered that she helped him cul
some of Worcester Castle's royal furnishings to help replenish
Pershore.
By the time the wagons were loaded, it was time for the
evening meal at Worcester. Rod put Hutton in complete
charge and told him that tomorrow would be a better time for
the eight-mile journey to Pershore. Though the night was bitter
cold, Rod had assured Rosamond that he would return, no
matter how late the hour, and it never occurred to him to do
otherwise. He had left Griffin in charge, but the responsibility
for Rosamond's safety was far too heavy for one lone squire.
Pershore harbored more than a few disgruntled servants who
had been al owed to rule the roost.
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When he arrived at Pershore's stables, it was after ten. He
gave Stygian a thorough rubdown, then led him to a stal that
had been made ready with clean straw. As Rod offered his
horse a handful of fresh hay, his eyes traveled about the dimly
lit stable with approval. His nose told him better than his eyes
that his orders had been fol owed to the letter.
Griffin awaited him and showed him to a chamber with a fire,
a clean bed, and a supply of wine, the three things he was
most in need of. Rodger learned that the missing horses had
been returned, that al had remained amazingly quiet at
Pershore, and that Dymock was securely locked up in a cel
beneath the stil room. Griffin indicated the account books
stacked on the table and withdrew for the night.
Rod removed his boots and heavy leather doublet, then
warmed himself at the fire. When he felt that he was beginning
to thaw, he poured himself a goblet of wine. His eyes fel on
the account books, and he picked one up and carried it to an
easy chair before the fire. Rod finished his wine before he
opened the book, knowing from experience what he would
find in the ledgers.
Suddenly, from an adjoining chamber came a bloodcurdling
scream that made the hair on the nape of his neck stand on
end. He knew it was Rosamond before the chil ing sound died
away, and in a flash he was on his feet and running, his palm
clasped about the hilt of his dagger.
Rod found no one in the chamber except Rosamond. She was