The Marriage Prize (55 page)

befitted a princess.

"Oh, I am so glad you are here, Rosamond ... al these people

make me mix up my words."

Rosamond squeezed her hand. "You look so lovely tonight, al

you need do is smile."

Rodger bowed gal antly, kissed Eleanora's hand, and took

himself off to join Edward and the noblemen who surrounded

him. Edward acknowledged his arrival with an amused glance

that told Rod the prince knew exactly why he was late. There

was much to discuss, however, and their thoughts quickly

moved from pleasure to business. A date for cal ing

Parliament had to be set, and punishment decided upon, not

only for the forty prisoners taken at Evesham, who were being

held at Windsor, but for the Lord Mayor of London and the

city's wealthy merchants, who had staunchly supported the

enemy.

Any noble who was thought to have influence with Edward

Planta-genet was being deluged with petitions for land or

places at court, but ambition for themselves was uppermost in

his nobles' minds.

Edward was determined to restore order to the entire country.

He and his lieutenants stil had the responsibility for al military

operations, but one by one the castles were surrendering,

from Dover and the Cinque Ports to Kenilworth.

Edward himself would restore and keep order in the southern

shires, while his royal cousin, Harry of Almaine, was given

command of the northern provinces. It would be his

responsibility to subdue any uprisings and keep the peace.

Mortimer was put in charge of al the Welsh Marches, and

Gilbert of Gloucester was reconfirmed in his father's earldom

and vast landholdings.

Edward Plantagenet wanted no more bloodshed, but he

intended to bleed dry the coffers of those who had opposed

him. He set a fine of twenty thousand marks for the City of

London, and each of his prisoners would forfeit his property

and pay a hefty ransom in return for his

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freedom. The wealthy bishops and heads of religious houses

would be summoned and al owed to buy the crown's pardon.

When the food was ready to be served, Edward took his

place on the dais beside his future queen. When he indicated

that Rosamond was to sit next to her, Eleanora whispered her

thanks to him, then blushed when he whispered something

back to her. Soon, however, he and Rodger became

engrossed in conversation.

Eleanora's eyes shone with joy as they lingered on the golden

head of her husband. "I am so happy to be back at Windsor

with Edward; his mother the queen is not a very nice lady."

"I shal have to teach you to swear," Rosamond declared. "The queen is a bitch, and I am delighted that she and the king are

to live out their days in far-off Winchester. Edward wil never

al ow her to interfere in your marriage again."

Eleanora leaned close and whispered, "Speaking of bitches,

the scandal about Alyce de Clare is on everyone's tongue. Is it

true, Rosamond, that Gilbert has petitioned the church and the

courts for a . . . divorce?" Eleanora hesitated over the

dreaded word.

"Yes, it is perfectly true. Gilbert says the marriage was never

consummated, though Alyce swears otherwise."

"I heard whispers that her ladies were worried she might...

harm herself because of the terrible shame."

Rosamond laughed. "Don't you believe it. Alyce is so in love

with herself, she would choose dishonor over death any day.

Gilbert once threatened to kil her, but I think he has decided

that covering her with shame is a much sweeter revenge.

Poor Alyce, I wonder which hurts most, losing her title of

Countess of Gloucester, or losing the vast wealth and castles

her marriage brought her?"

"Where wil she live?" asked tenderhearted Eleanora.

"Wel , certainly not in England. After she's been completely

humiliated, Gilbert wil send her back to her father, Guy de

Lusignan. He, by the way, already asked your husband to

restore his estates, but Edward refused him." Rosamond had

too much delicacy to tel Eleanora that Edward firmly believed

England was for the English.

"I persuaded Edward to let us have dancing tonight. I want our

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court of Windsor to be fil ed with music and laughter. Do you

like to dance, Rosamond?"

"I love to dance! What is the point of our wearing gorgeous

gowns and dazzling jewels if we cannot lure the two

handsomest males in the room to whirl us about the floor and

make the other females green with envy?"

"We are so fortunate, Rosamond."

"Fortune favors the bold," Rosamond declared, then she

leaned forward to catch her husband's eye and said, "Would

you partner me in the next dance, my lord?"

An hour later, Rosamond was overjoyed to see her dearest

friend, Demoisel e de Montfort, arrive quietly in the hal . She

hugged her lovingly. Rosamond's heart overflowed with

compassion for the lovely dark-haired girl who had so recently

lost her father in battle. "Demi, what in the world are you doing here? I thought you were in France!"

They found an alcove where they could talk in private. "My

mother and two brothers are in France. Lord Edward came to

Dover himself to arrange their safe passage. He was most

tender and considerate of my mother, al owing her to take al

her furniture and personal belongings. They have gone to live

on the de Montfort estates in Normandy. My father came from

a wealthy and influential family, and my brothers wil have the

family's potent influence behind them."

"How is your mother, Demi? Simon was her life, the center of

her existence. She loved him beyond reason; my heart goes

out to Lady Eleanor."

"She is very strong, Rosamond. She made Lord Edward

promise to restore the members of our household to their

homes, and she demanded an annual pension of five hundred

pounds for her dower lands, and Edward has granted it to her.

Her spirit is not broken, but I fear her heart is. And nothing can

mend it."

"Did Sir Rickard de Burgh accompany her to France?"

Rosamond asked softly. When Demi nodded, she said, "Then

Lady Eleanor's heart wil heal, given time. Sir Rickard gave

his pledge to her when they were very young, and he has

loved her al these years. His devotion is absolute. She wil

always have his strength to lean upon; Sir Rickard wil never

fail her."

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"You were in love with him, Rosamond."

"Nay, that was a young girl's fancy. I hadn't the faintest idea

what love was until I wed Rodger de Leyburn. He was my

destiny, and I thank al the saints in heaven."

"I too am married, Rosamond. I was wed by proxy to Llewelyn,

Prince of Wales, though I feared we would never see each

other again. That is why I am here. Edward has told Llewelyn

that if he comes to Windsor and signs a peace treaty with

England, he may take his bride back to Wales with him."

"And wil he come?"

"Oh yes," Demi said with complete conviction. "We love each other; he wil come for me, Rosamond."

She squeezed her hands and kissed the Demoisel e's

forehead. "I am so happy for you. Tomorrow you must come

and see my son. It is so wonderful to have you here, if only for

a little while."

"I must go; I only came to the hal to see if I could find you."

"Tomorrow we wil spend the entire day together. You must

meet Princess Eleanora; she is as sweet and lovely as you

are, Demi."

After Rosamond bade her friend good night, she turned to find

her husband waiting to claim her. "Are you angry that Edward

is using Demoisel e de Montfort to force Llewelyn to his

bidding?"

She searched his face. "They are in love. She is a wil ing

pawn, just as I was."

"You? Wil ing? You were an ice maiden who set your heart

against me from the very beginning," he teased. "I swear it

took the longest wooing on record to thaw you to a giving

mood."

Rosamond brushed against him. "The wooing isn't over, not

by a long chalk!" She licked her lips provocatively in

anticipation of what was to come.

"Now look what you've done to me! How the devil do you

expect me to dance in this condition?"

"I think you can manage the mating dance."

He slipped a powerful arm about her, and was moving

purposeful y toward the door when Edward's voice stopped

him.

"A moment, de Leyburn. From now on you must observe

protocol when we hold formal occasions at Windsor." 325

Rodger led Rosamond before Edward and Eleanora's carved

gilt chairs, and bowed his head graciously. "My lord, wil you

excuse Lady de Leyburn and myself?"

Edward's blue eyes narrowed, but he could not hide his

amusement. "I know where you are going ... al at Windsor

know where you are going. Bed, if you make it that far. You are

an inconsiderate devil; I have to stay here another two hours

before I can take my wife up to bed."

Eleanora hid her blushes against her husband's shoulder.

"If I were you, my lord," Rodger advised, "I wouldn't stay longer than two minutes. We bid you good night."

"Hold!" Edward leaned toward his friend and lowered his

voice so none but Rod could hear. "I forbid you to get

Rosamond with child again until I've had a chance to catch

up!"

Once the lovers were free of the banqueting hal , Rosamond

picked up her skirts and began to run. "I'l race you!"

He was after her in a flash, picking her up and swinging her

high, then took the steps two at a time.

"What did Edward say to you?" she asked, breathless with

laughter.

"That's a secret, chérie! Suffice it to say he issued me a

chal enge, one that is impossible to resist."

"You are a devil, de Leyburn!" Rosamond yielded her mouth

up to him, and knew she wouldn't want him any other way.

THE END

Also by Virginia Henley:

A Woman of Passion

A Year and a Day

Dream Lover

Enslaved

Seduced

Desired

Enticed

Tempted

The Dragon and the Jewel

The Falcon and the Flower

The Hawk and the Dove

The Pirate and the Pagan

The Raven and the Rose

VIRGINIA HENLEY is the author of sixteen romantic hovels,

including the New York Times bestsel ers Seduced and

Desired and the national bestsel er A Woman of Passion. Her

work has been translated into fourteen languages. A recipient

of the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, she lives

in St. Petersburg, Florida.