The Marriage Prize (3 page)

pennons, but from this distance the flags and the men al

looked alike, so she left the ramparts, curbing her impatience

to catch a glimpse of Sir Rickard de Burgh.

She had made herself late for her lesson with Brother Adam,

so she hurried along an upper passageway that led to a stone

staircase descending to the library. Suddenly, about thirty feet

ahead of her, she spied Sir Rickard de Burgh. Delighted to

find him right in front of her, walking down the same

passageway, Rosamond quickened her steps and

breathlessly cal ed, "Sir Rickard."

When he did not turn around, she realized he hadn't heard her.

She hesitated for a second, wondering if she was doing the

right thing. What harm is there in welcoming him back to

Kenilworth? she asked herself as she closed the distance

between them. "Sir Rickard?" she repeated.

He turned and Rosamond's heart hammered as she saw the

wide mail-clad shoulders, the jet black hair, and the green

wide mail-clad shoulders, the jet black hair, and the green

eyes. But these green eyes were not the ones she had

expected to see. The expression in them was so bold, she

gasped in protest, "You are not Sir Rickard!"

"Alas, I am not." The man openly assessed her, his green

gaze sweeping over her, lingering on hair that flowed about

her like pale golden honey. Her eyes were neither blue nor

purple, but some unique shade in between, and her

generously shaped mouth looked equal y capable of laughter

or a sensual pout. Her breasts were high and thrust

impudently from the neckline of her expensive gown, and

beneath that

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gown he imagined legs as long as a colt's. He couldn't help

but smile at her. "Wil I do in his stead, chérie?"

Rosamond stiffened and froze him with a haughty stare.

"Indeed you wil not!" Inexplicably, she was furious at the

resemblance between this insolent devil and the honorable

knight of whom she daydreamed. "How dare you look at me in

such a bold fashion?"

His eyes fil ed with amusement. "I was but paying homage to

your beauty, chérie."

"Indeed you were not! You looked at me as if—"

"As if I'd like to bed you? Such conceit. You are obviously an

ice maiden in need of a thawing. I'm on my way to the baths, if

you'd care to join me. A plunge in hot water might be just the

cure."

Rosamond drew back her hand with every intent to slap the

dark insolent expression off his face, but quick as mercury he

captured her fingers and drew them to his lips. "Mmm,

apricots and almonds ... good enough to eat." His white teeth

flashed as if he would bite her.

"Unhand me, you uncouth knave, or I shal scream!"

"In hope that the worthy Sir Rickard wil come running to your

rescue?" he asked mockingly.

Rosamond's temper exploded. "You bastard, I need no man to

rescue me." Swiftly she brought her knee up between his legs

and made contact with the codpiece that protected his

genitals.

Just the thought of the damage she could have done him lit a

fierce green flame in his eyes.

Rosamond gave him her sweetest smile, then her eyes slid

down his body to the apex of his legs. "A plunge in hot water

might be just the cure."

Stormy green eyes watched her descend the stone steps.

"Just wait, my beautiful little witch, we have a score to settle."

He shook his head, both angered and impressed by the girl's

fighting spirit, then suddenly he laughed, his good nature

restored.

******************

In the late afternoon it was the custom at Kenilworth for the

females to gather in the solar. The countess had a wardrobe

mistress and a dozen sewing women, but al of the tiring-

women were proficient with a needle and could embroider a

sleeve or repair a tapestry, and many of

l

the younger maids were given lessons. It was an enjoyable

part of their day, where the women of the castle could

socialize and exchange gossip.

When Rosamond arrived, the women's excitement was

palpable in the air. She soon learned that the heir to the throne

had arrived, and by their description Lord Edward was

nothing less than a golden god. His companions were so

overwhelmingly handsome and charming that a squabble had

broken out among the bathhouse women over who would

attend them.

Al eyes swung to Bertha, a strapping young matron in charge

of the bathhouse, for confirmation. Bertha couldn't wait to

embel ish the tale. "Lord Edward cal ed one of the men Dick

and the other Rod—never have names been more fitting!"

The corners of Rosamond's mouth rose in a smile. "Surely the

measure of a man should be his intel ect?" she said.

Her tiring-woman, Nan, winked. "I prefer brawn over brains

any night of the week. Come, my lamb, it is time for you to

dress. You must look your best tonight in the hal ."

When Rosamond entered her chamber, the Demoisel e was

already dressed in her new deep red gown. The sleeves of

her white silk underdress were embroidered with garnets to

complement the gown and set off her dark coloring. She

pirouetted before Rosamond. "Mother wants me at her side

tonight; I must hurry."

"That's because she wants to show you off! You look

absolutely lovely; don't forget to make a grand entrance." At

fourteen, the Demoisel e was quickly learning her female

power.

Rosamond knew that every woman at Kenilworth would be

adorned in her finest attire tonight, and she decided to wear

her peacock blue velvet, which had a smal train in the very

latest fashion. Nan brushed Rosamond's long golden hair until

it crackled, then held back the curling tendrils with a silver

circlet studded with aquamarines.

The sound of voices from the Great Hal could be heard the

moment Rosamond left the ladies' quarters. At the entrance,

Nan left her to join the other servants, who sat below the salt.

Even in that crowd, it didn't take Rosamond more than a

moment to pick out the royal heir to the throne. Conversing

with Lady Eleanor, who was dressed in royal purple, and the

Demoisel e, Lord Edward dwarfed the two beautiful dark-

haired females.

haired females.

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Rosamond was astonished at the prince's appearance. He

was resplendent in a crimson tabard embroidered with three

golden lions, while soft leather boots encased his long

shanks, but it was not his stylish clothes that astonished her; it

was the man he had become. No longer a lanky youth, he had

a man's muscular torso and wide shoulders. Above a close-

cropped golden beard were bril iant blue eyes, burning with

zeal and a passion for life.

When Eleanor spied her ward, she beckoned to her, and as

Rosamond approached Lord Edward, she sensed his

immense energy. Lady de Montfort reintroduced them.

"Believe it or not, this is Rosamond Marshal."

As she went down in a curtsy, Edward stared at her in

amazement. "Splendor of God, the rose has bloomed!" He

reached down, took possession of her hands, and lifted her to

her feet. "What happened to the grubby urchin who cursed the

stableboys?"

"I stil curse when the occasion demands it, my lord Edward,

and may I say your own transformation is nothing short of

miraculous."

Eleanor threw back her head and laughed. "Indeed, he is

splendid enough to revive the belief in the godlike origin of

kings."

"No wonder Simon adores you, it is your silver tongue."

Edward slipped his arm about Rosamond's waist. "May I steal

her for a moment?"

As he led her down the long hal , al eyes were upon them. "I

cannot wait to see the look on his face when he first lays eyes

on you."

"Who?"

"Rod."

An unbidden picture of the man the bathhouse matron had

described brought a blush to her cheek. A smal knot of

people who were gathered about Simon de Montfort stepped

aside as Lord Edward approached. Rosamond stiffened

when she saw the man deep in conversation with Earl Simon;

she might have known the green-eyed devil she'd

encountered earlier in the day was the Rod who had set the

maids atwitter.

"Rosamond Marshal, it gives me the greatest pleasure in the

world to reacquaint you with your betrothed, Sir Rodger de

Leyburn."

They stared at each other in stunned disbelief. Rosamond

saw him recover from the shock before she did. The look on

his face told her the news pleased him greatly. He looked like

a man who had just discovered

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a pearl inside an oyster shel . She knew her behavior was

gauche, but she couldn't stop staring at him. He was almost

as tal as Lord Edward and Earl Simon. He too was elegantly

garbed in continental fashion. He wore an emerald green

tabard emblazoned with a golden eagle. Below it his long,

muscular legs were encased in soft leather thigh-high boots.

Rosamond stood mutely as he bowed, then reached for her

hand and drew it to his lips. His green eyes shot her a look of

triumph and once again his white teeth flashed as if he would

bite her. "My lady, I am enchanted."

The bold devil was mocking her, and she felt an urge to wipe

the smug look from his dark face. "Betrothed? No, no, I

wouldn't dream of holding Sir Rodger to a chivalrous gesture

he made five years ago to comfort a distraught child."

His green eyes narrowed; his powerful fingers tightened

possessively on her hand. "My lady, I am honor-bound."

"My lord, I release you!" Rosamond snatched back her hand

and kicked her train behind her in a gesture that lent finality to

her words.

Lord Edward's laughter rol ed over her. "The wench is toying

with us, Rod. She knows this match pleases me."

Rosamond felt thwarted and cast a desperate look at Earl

Simon, who remained silent, much to her annoyance. Knowing

she could not stand and argue with the royal prince, she did

the next best thing. "My lords, wil you kindly excuse me? I

must find my cousin Harry; I have neglected him shameful y."

"We wil excuse you for the moment, Rosamond, but later you

wil join us on the dais for supper." It was a royal order.

She did her best to decline. "I should dine with Harry."

"You forget, our cousin Harry of Almaine is royal too. He'l be

up on the dais with me."

Rosamond knew better than to pit her wil against Edward's;

he always got what he wanted. Seething inside, she sank into

a curtsy and murmured, "Until later, then."

Two

At the first opportunity, Simon de Montfort took Rodger de

Leyburn aside. Rod had hero-worshipped Earl Simon since

he was a boy. The earl was a magnetic figure who had earned

the reputation of being the greatest warrior in Europe. He

appealed to young men's idealism with his unswerving

devotion to a cause. Compared with the weak and feckless

King Henry, Earl Simon was a knight in shining armor. The

barons had chosen him for their leader, and even nobles who

had been royalist, such as Richard de Clare, Earl of

Gloucester, had recently switched their al egiance to Simon

de Montfort.

"Thank you, Rod, for persuading Edward to visit Kenilworth."

"He seeks your guidance, my lord earl. He has a natural

military instinct and more energy than any man I've ever

known. You have taught him to be a great soldier, and if he wil

but listen, you wil teach him to be a great king."

"If he commits to the right course and is steadfast, Edward

has it in him to be England's greatest king."

Rod smiled. "He al ows nothing to stand in his way; he is

fanatical about achieving whatever goal he sets himself."

"Which is, of course, the only way to succeed." Simon's black eyes examined de Leyburn's face. "I suspect you are much

alike."

Rod glanced at Simon warily. "Does my determination to wed

Rosamond Marshal offend you, my lord? "

"Good God, no, I find no fault with a man ambitious enough to

wed an heiress; I did it myself. Rosamond Marshal is a great

marriage prize. She wil bring you two estates, whose income

should increase steadily. I heartily congratulate you."

"Thank you, my lord earl."

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"Are you and Rosamond planning to wed soon?"

"I would marry her tomorrow, if she were wil ing, but I believe

Rosamond needs a little more persuading. Certainly I should

like to make her my wife before we return to London."

"With King Henry away in France, it is wise that Lord Edward

return to the capital. As heir to the throne, it would be politic for

Edward to get to know the Council of Fifteen appointed by the

Provisions of Oxford, before Parliament opens."

Rod knew a political struggle loomed between de Montfort

and King Henry, and it was obvious to him that Simon wanted

Lord Edward on his side in the coming conflict. "Lord Edward

is a shrewd man; he can always be counted upon to act

wisely."

"Your intense loyalty to Edward is to be commended."