The Marriage Prize (36 page)

invoke your special patronage in times of need; to you I have

recourse from the depths of my heart, and humbly beg you, to

whom God has given such great power, to come to my

assistance, and in return I promise to make your name

known." Gradual y she began to feel warmer, and safer, and

her self-confidence returned. Tomorrow she would meet up

with Lady Eleanor and Demi; she felt it in her heart.

Rosamond final y caught up with the de Montfort household,

but not until she arrived at Brackley Castle, a good thirty miles

farther than Berkhamsted. Eleanor was outraged that

Rosamond had been so reckless as to travel alone.

"I gave you credit for more intel igence than to be riding about

the countryside without escort. Have you no notion of the

danger out there? Surely you know the country is at war,

Rosamond?"

"I... yes, I do know we are at war, Lady Eleanor, and that is why I wish to return to Kenilworth with you. I cannot be disloyal to

you and Earl Simon, who have been like parents to me."

"Does your husband know about this, Rosamond?"

"He knows how I feel, yes! I cannot live with a man who is

without honor," she cried passionately.

"I have learned that women's ideas of honor differ greatly from

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men's. De Leyburn has honor, Rosamond, but it is his own

honor, different from yours."

"When I agreed to wed Sir Rodger, you told me that I could

come back to Kenilworth at any time," Rosamond reminded

Eleanor. "I love you, child; I want only what's best for you."

"Kenilworth is best for me," Rosamond assured her. "You are best for me."

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

On his way back from the Marcher country, Rod de Leyburn

met up with Lord Edward at Wal ingford. The prince and

Richard of Cornwal were in charge of a large royal force and

had ridden to Wal ingford hoping to engage de Montfort's

army near Oxford.

"I was fortunate to find Mortimer and Clifford at Hay, holding

their own council of war. Al three barons have pledged to the

king, providing you stand with your father. The news isn't good;

de Montfort has taken the Bishop of Hereford prisoner, and

his army is seizing livestock to feed itself. De Montfort's

barons swarmed across the West Country, exacting tribute

from any landowner with royalist sentiments. Those who

objected had their fields burned."

"Would you believe that little cocksucker Gilbert de Clare

opened the gates of Gloucester to de Montfort?" Edward was

livid. "Richard de Clare has summoned the little redheaded

prick. I'd not be in his shoes when Gloucester gets his hands

on him."

"Gilbert hero-worships Earl Simon. We shouldn't have

underestimated him. Where is de Montfort's army now?" Rod

asked.

"Just west of Oxford," Richard of Cornwal informed him. "We wil intercept them tomorrow!"

"Nay, my lord, we rode through Oxford, and the barons were

long gone; de Montfort has eluded you."

"Splendor of Christ!" Edward cursed. "He moves with

unbelievable speed. He wil try to make London his

headquarters; we must cut him off before he reaches the

Thames Val ey."

"We must move the army to Reading, and we must do it now!"

Richard of Cornwal declared.

But when their steel-clad forces reached Reading, they were

once

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again too late. Al they found was the barons' dust upon the

roads leading to London.

"I believe Simon wil overthrow the royal forces who hold the

seaports of Surrey and Kent before he tries for London," de

Leyburn told Edward and Richard.

"The city of London must be his permanent base if he wishes

to rule England," Richard of Cornwal insisted.

"But command of the sea is paramount. Any reinforcements

from France can only come through the Cinque Ports of

Dover, Hythe, Romney, Winchelsea, and Hastings."

"Simon would have to march his army through Kent to get to

the ports, and Kent has always been loyal to the king,"

Edward argued.

But Edward was proven wrong. De Montfort marched to

Romney and the men of Kent came out to support him, then

the barons of al the Cinque Ports opened their gates to him.

Suddenly those who had been staunch supporters of the king,

such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, fled to the Continent

along with other royal advisers who had picked up the scent of

danger. Londoners, who had ever been unpredictable, began

rioting in the streets. King Henry and Queen Eleanor were

now most thankful for the strong wal s of the Tower of London

when the mob turned upon the foreigners and the Jews

because they had always financed the king in his opposition

to the barons.

King Henry had no guts for adversity. He caved in immediately

when Simon de Montfort rode in from Kent to take control. The

king sent his brother, Richard of Cornwal , to acknowledge de

Montfort's victory and accept the terms he proposed,

promising to remain within the wal s of the Tower of London.

It took Earl Simon only three days to set up his own

government in London. He appointed a new Chief Justiciar to

replace Humphrey de Bohun, who had guarded London's

wal s against him, and gave custody of the Great Seal of

England to Nicholas, Bishop of Ely.

At Durham House, Simon de Montfort discussed with his sons

the sweeping changes he planned. "I intend to select new

castel ans for al of the royal castles. Simon, I shal put you in

charge of Northampton 209

Castle, which lies near Kenilworth. That wil demonstrate de

Montfort strength throughout the Midlands." Earl Simon turned

his authoritative gaze on his eldest son. "Henry, you are to

take your men to Dover and guard the Channel. I have drawn

up an official order for the king's younger son, Prince Edmund,

to vacate the Castle of Dover."

"Am I to take him prisoner?" Henry asked.

"Nay, Richard of Cornwal negotiated freedom for himself and

the king's sons. Only King Henry is to be held under guard.

The Planta-genets are finished. I assure you there wil be no

more royal resistance," Simon de Montfort said with deep

satisfaction.

Lord Edward Plantagenet, however, was furious that his father

the king had given in. Edward's fighting spirit would not al ow

him to give up. Though the royal resistance had ended, it did

not weaken Edward's resolve to go on with the struggle. He

had a shrewd head on his shoulders and knew the weak Hnks

in the baronial chain. Edward returned to Windsor to begin

secretly persuading and recruiting.

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

At Windsor, Chirk gave Sir Rodger an ecstatic welcome, and

when he picked her up, he could feel that she was with pup.

When he could not find Rosamond, he summoned Nan.

"She went where?" Sir Rodger demanded incredulously.

"To Durham House, my lord," Nan said, nervously fingering the note Rosamond had left her, then added hastily, "but I sent a

message immediately, begging her to return."

"And?" Rod asked in an ominous tone.

"The messenger returned without a reply, my lord. They told

him Lady Eleanor had returned to Kenilworth."

"Splendor of God, my wife is living with the enemy!" He went immediately to Lord Edward and asked leave to go and get

his wife.

"Rosamond is at Kenilworth?" Edward asked in disbelief. "If you ride into the enemy camp, they wil take you prisoner."

"I am resolved in this, Edward; no power on earth wil stop me

from returning my wayward wife to Windsor."

Edward shrugged. "So be it, my friend. When you have

brought your own wayward wife to heel, perhaps you can do

something with mine. Princess Eleanora treats me like a

stranger."

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Rodger de Leyburn took only his squire Griffin. They were wel

armed and wore breastplates and helmets as they rode north

through enemy territory. Rod avoided both Berkhamsted and

Brackley Castles, opting instead to sleep outdoors, since the

weather had turned mild. They passed by the high-wal ed town

of Northampton and saw that the castle, a gray-stone fortress

of a place, was proudly flying the de Mont-fort flag. Rod made

inquiries and learned that Northampton Castle was in the

hands of Simon de Montfort's son Simon and his cousin Peter

de Montfort.

Kenilworth Castle lay thirty miles west of Northampton, and de

Leyburn arrived at its gates in the late afternoon, flying a white

flag of truce. He gave his name to the guard on the barbican

and waited while the man sought Eleanor de Montfort for

permission to admit him. "Stick closer than my shadow," Rod

cautioned Griffin.

Rosamond, on the ramparts with Sir Rickard de Burgh, saw

her husband ride up the causeway to the gates, and rushed

below to seek out Lady Eleanor. "Please, do not admit him,

my lady; I have nothing to say to him!"

"Obviously he has something to say to you, Rosamond. I

cannot deny him the right to speak with you. After al , he is

your husband." Eleanor de Montfort could afford to be

magnanimous with her husband in control of London.

Rosamond turned and fled up the stairs to her chamber, her

emotions in total disarray. She could not deny that she was

secretly flattered that he had come, yet she was afraid of what

he would do to her for taking refuge with the so-cal ed enemy.

Eleanor de Montfort, with Sir Rickard de Burgh at her side,

listened as Sir Rodger de Leyburn demanded to speak with

his wife. "You may speak with her, but that is al , my lord.

Leave your swords here in the hal ; Sir Rickard wil escort

you."

The muscle in de Leyburn's jaw clenched like a lump of iron at

the sight of Rickard de Burgh. Yet he knew he should not have

been surprised to find the knight in residence at Kenilworth.

The Irish warrior was pledged to Eleanor, not Earl Simon, and

would natural y be in charge of the fortification of Kenilworth

Castle.

Sir Rickard extended his arm to indicate that the two men

should

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climb the stairs before him. He was trained never to turn his

back on any man save a loyal squire. But in spite of his

precaution, de Leyburn had a knife at his throat before he

could take a breath.

"If you have designs upon my wife, you wil have to kil me for

her." De Leyburn's green gaze pierced de Burgh's soul. The

Irish warrior's green eyes stared back; they showed no alarm.

"I have told Rosamond her fate lies with you, but she refuses

to listen. You and I both know this conflict is not over; her

survival depends upon your strength, de Leyburn."

Rod stared at him fiercely. "I intend to take her with me now."

Sir Rickard de Burgh took the man's measure. "Excuse me, I

am patrol ing the ramparts." He took the stone stairs that led

to the castle roof, and Rod sheathed his knife beneath his

mail shirt.

De Leyburn threw open the chamber door, motioned for Griffin

to enter, then closed it firmly behind them. His green gaze

swept Rosamond from head to toe. "Explain yourself."

Rosamond took the offensive immediately She lifted her chin

and tossed her hair back over her shoulders. "My actions

explain themselves. I refuse to live with a man who has no

honor!"

"What of your own honor, Rosamond?" he asked silkily. "You vowed to love, honor, and obey me. You vowed it before God. I

don't expect love, but I wil have you honor and, above al , obey

me, wife!"

"What an arrogant swine you are to come here and issue me

orders. You changed sides and you lost because of it! Go, and

leave me in peace, you cur!"

"Strip off your clothes and put on Griffin's," he said quietly.

"Are you mad?"

"Mad as a raging bul , madam; it would be wise to do as I say"

Rosamond watched wide-eyed as Griffin removed his helmet

and breastplate. "If you don't leave immediately, I shal scream

for the guard."

"For your knight in shining armor, Sir Rickard de Burgh?"

Rodger taunted. "I have him gagged and trussed like a

haunch of venison ready for the spit. If you have a tendresse

for the man, you had best obey me, Rosamond, or I shal vent

my spleen on him."

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For the first time she faltered, and fel back on the defensive. "I cannot wear chain mail and a breastplate."

"You can and you wil . Remove the dress!"

She saw that Griffin stood naked, stripped even of chausses.

Slowly her hands began to lift off her gown.

Rodger's tone lightened. "Chirk wil be happy to see you; she

is with pup."

Rosamond gasped, and her hand almost flew to her bel y,

except she remembered in time. There was no way she would

reveal her secret to Devil de Leyburn!

After she pul ed on the squire's chausses, Rodger helped her

into the mail shirt and the breastplate. Then he pul ed Griffin's

helmet over her long blond hair. He saw that she staggered

from the weight of the armor, and crushed down the urge to

aid her. He pul ed Griffin's knife from its sheath and handed it

to his squire. "If she makes any outcry when we leave this