Betrayal (Book 2: Time Enough to Love) (11 page)

* * * *

The whirling sound of his cape and retreating footsteps told her he had gone.

Alyse slumped against the rail. She had to let him go, though her heart would break with it. Tears continued down her cheeks, the empty ache of grief within her as sharp as when she had first learned of his marriage. Her life with Geoffrey Longford had indeed ended. His strong arms could not comfort her again, nor could his burning lips kiss her tears away.

She gazed out at the waves playing in the brilliant light, thinking about all she had lost. Geoffrey, the chance of happiness, a future with the man she loved. All gone. Nothing could ever replace what should have been. She would instead have to live the rest of her life without him, and with a man she respected but did not love.

Thomas, who had rescued her at the sacrifice of his own future, deserved better than what she could offer. She knew now it was pitifully little. The devastation in Geoffrey’s eyes when she said she had lain with Thomas had stabbed like a lance to her heart. She could never betray him by becoming Thomas’s wife in earnest. And neither could she be disloyal to her husband.

’Twould be best if she explained this to Thomas now, before he raised any more expectations of her yielding to him. With a last glance at the dancing waves, she quit the deck to find her husband. Their time of waiting was over.

She discovered him in their compartment, a somewhat cramped affair that made up in convenience to Her Highness what it lacked in spaciousness. He had laid out breakfast for the two of them: new bread and butter, fruit, and slices of meat.

“Ah, my sweet,” he greeted her as she entered the chamber. “I was about to come in search of you. I have laid the food and only need your charming presence to begin the meal.”

He smiled as she came toward him, but it did not reach his eyes.

Dear Lord, how do I tell him?

Her resolve slipped a notch. What could she say to make him understand that she could never be more than a companion to him? Would he remain true to his word not to force more from her?

On a sudden urge, she grasped his hand, raised it to her lips then rubbed her cheek against the rough palm. The words simply would not come.

Abruptly, he gripped her face, pulling it up until she peered into the dangerous dark eyes of her husband. Terror surged through her at the sight of his snarling countenance.

“Why so amorous this morning, my sweet?” he growled, his eyes snapping with anger. “Were Geoffrey’s kisses not as satisfying as you remembered?”

Oh, God. Oh, God. He saw—

Thomas flung her toward the bed. She huddled at its foot in a heap, shivering, while he strode to where she lay, towering over her. Alyse cringed before him, head bowed, too frightened and ashamed for tears.

“I believe I may have misspoken earlier, madam.” His voice dripped sarcasm. “I had, in fact, gone in search of you, to invite you to an intimate breakfast with your husband. Imagine my dismay to find you engaged in one already, albeit with someone else’s husband. From the exchange I saw, I can scarce credit that you hunger still. Yet you enter our chamber apparently unsatisfied. Pray tell me, how many more husbands would you devour
ere the day begins
?”

His voice rose to an excruciating volume, and Alyse clamped her hands to her ears lest she be deafened.

“I have played the tender lover these past weeks. Petted and cajoled you, like some simpering green boy in an effort to remain true to the vow I made you, despite my
right
as your husband to demand your obedience in bed. I have been patient, kind, and true, madam, and I am repaid in treachery!”

“Nay, Thomas!” Quite suddenly, she found her tongue and raised a resolute face to her livid husband. She rose from the floor and stood facing him, breasts heaving in indignation. “Whatever you saw, whatever you think, I did
not
betray you with Geoffrey.”

“You were in his arms, your mouths locked together as though nothing could pull them asunder. Do you deny that?” He spat the words at her.

“Nay.” She pitched her voice low, her resentment of his accusation ebbing. “God forgive me, I kissed him and held him, and he held me. And the world ceased to exist for a little while.”

The memory of Geoffrey in her arms rose before her, and the ache in her heart deepened. Ruthlessly, she pushed that image aside and stared her husband down. When she spoke, her voice was heaped with scorn. “You knew how it was between us ere you married me. Did you think merely repeating the vows would change that? I have lived with that love these many weeks, and deny it though I would, it was there still. So when I turned this morning to find Geoffrey standing before me, the past month slid away as though it had never happened. He had returned to me as he promised, and there was joy in my heart for the first time since June.”

Alyse searched his face for some understanding, but found nothing save a brooding silence. “I know not what you saw.” Weariness overwhelmed her, as if she had run a long distance and was at the end of her strength. “But I will swear to you before God, his priests, King Edward himself, an it please you, I will never dishonor you. Do you have so little regard for me that you believe I would give Geoffrey what is now your right as my husband? Do you know me so little, or despise me so much?”

At that thought, Alyse’s reserve broke. Two tears slipped down her cheeks, and she hung her head.

Thomas lifted her face to his. She had hoped for the compassion she had always found in him, but this time his visage remained cold, forbidding. “You cannot go from Longford’s bed to mine, madam. I say you play me for the fool, and I will not take his leavings.”

Outrage spurred her defiance. She flung her hand toward the bed. “Then take me right now, my lord, and you will have proof I have not played you false! You will find no trace of Sir Geoffrey upon me.”

Thomas looked her up and down contemptuously. “Madam, I will take you when I will and where I will, but I will not take you now with the reek of Geoffrey Longford still on your person.” He words were deliberate and cold. “But when I do take you to bed, by Christ, there will be
no
doubt from anyone, least of all you, that you are mine!” He spun on his heel and stomped through the doorway, slamming the door as he went.

Alyse collapsed onto the bed, weeping from fright and despair. How had the beautiful morning managed to go so horribly wrong? She would never have expected such an outburst from Thomas. Did it stem from his fear of being cuckolded? ’Twas possible. By his own admission, his regard for her did not reach beyond friendship. Or so he had said. Had his feelings actually deepened into something more?

She dried her tears on the hem of the bed sheet and went about the painstaking business of repairing her appearance. Princess Joanna would send someone to fetch her soon if she was not careful, and she did not wish any more excitement or scolding this day. She had had enough to last a lifetime.

Thomas turned from their cabin and ran swiftly up the gangway. He emerged on deck with a single intent in his heart: seek out Geoffrey Longford and kill him. He had warned Geoffrey, by God. He would not brook being dishonored, especially by his supposed best friend.

He strode to the bow, scanning the quarterdeck, but to no avail. Turning aft, he shoved his way past deckhands and members of the court, anger fueling his quest for vengeance. Almost to the stern, he heard sudden laughter behind him, and spun to find Geoffrey coming from the aft passageway in the company of Sir Robert Bouchier. Despite the fact that Geoffrey accompanied the head of the princess’s household, Thomas stepped forward, blocking his friend’s path.

Geoffrey stopped short and warily nodded to Thomas. “Good morrow, Thomas.”

“Speak not pleasantries to me, Sir Geoffrey, when you have betrayed my trust and compromised my good name.” He rested his hand near his sword, itching to seize it. “I will have satisfaction of you, lord, ere this day is done.”

Frowning, Geoffrey tried to put a restraining hand on his friend’s arm.

With a snarl, Thomas slapped it away. “You have laid hands enough on me and mine this day, sir. Stand you ready to see this affront avenged, or do I cry you coward for all to hear?”

Geoffrey glared at his friend. “You tread on dangerous ground. Let us speak of this privately, lest—”

“I will not hold privy conference with a traitorous villain!”

“’Struth, sir, you go too far!” Geoffrey dropped his hand to his sword.

Thomas drew, and they faced each other in the glare of the early morning sun.

“Gentlemen, hold!” Robert Bouchier barked the order with the full authority of his office. “Lower your weapons now, sirs, else I be forced to call the guard to disarm you.”

Thomas glared at Geoffrey, but slowly lowered his sword. Geoffrey did likewise.

A crowd began to form around the angry courtiers, but he was past caring who heard his indignation. “Sir Robert, this is a private quarrel, a matter of the honor of—”

“Thomas, no!” Geoffrey shouted, arresting the words.

Mayhap that was as well. He would implicate Alyse in this disgraceful display and, much as she deserved censure, ’twould hurt him as well should she become the object of gossip among the members of the princess’s court.

Geoffrey turned quickly to Sir Robert. “My lord, ’tis a matter betwixt us two alone, a misunderstanding that needs confidential remedy. I beg leave speak to Lord Braeton in private.” He paused, looking pointedly into his friend’s eyes. He then continued with a warning tone in his voice. “’Tis a closeted matter that need not become public property.”

Sir Robert looked askance at Thomas. “Lord Braeton, will you sheath your weapon and speak with Sir Geoffrey alone?”

Thomas glowered at the man he had called friend for ten years, almost tempted to simply raise his sword and run him through. The jealousy that had begun covertly, with Alyse’s reluctance to come to his bed, had burst into eager flame when he saw her hungry embrace of Geoffrey that morning. The look on her face as she gazed at his friend had wrenched his heart. He had avoided asking himself why it should concern him when he was not in love with Alyse himself.

A matter of pride ’tis all.

He would not allow his best friend to cuckold him.

Reluctantly, Thomas nodded and sheathed his sword. A public spectacle was not his aim, and he would see how well Geoffrey’s version of the meeting matched with Alyse’s. He would know the truth of the matter soon enough, by Christ, for he intended a reckoning with his wife this evening.

“Let us go to my chamber,” Geoffrey said in a lowered voice. “’Twill be quiet and far from prying eyes.”

“Would you speak of such things in front of your wife, Geoffrey?” Thomas tried to infuse as much scorn into his voice as possible.

“She is about her business with the princess’s chaplain and will not intrude on our conference.”

Thomas grunted an agreement, and they made their way below decks, toward the mid-ship’s cabins. Geoffrey threw open the door to his chamber and strode to the chest that served as a sideboard. “Wine, sir?” He moved to pour a cup for himself.

“Nay.” He would take no hospitality from such a traitor.

“For God’s sake, Thomas!” Geoffrey opened his mouth, but then paused and closed it as the exasperation quickly fled his face. He sighed, and began again. “I must beg your forgiveness for what occurred this morning between myself and Alyse. I know that it was wrong, but it...happened, without warning. Did she tell you?”

“I was there. I saw you.” He made his voice as ice.

Geoffrey’s breath hissed inward. He sat abruptly, his head in his hands. “God help me, Thomas. I am sorry.” He looked up then, his eyes flinty. “But you know how it is between the two of us. And now, perhaps, you also know something of what I have been forced to endure these past months, loving her as I do, and knowing she belonged to another.” He drew in a ragged breath. “Even though it was you. Mayhap that made it worse. I understood with my head ’twas best for Alyse to marry you rather than a stranger. But the heart is a different matter. There have been days when I have seen you together and wanted nothing more than to kill you and take your place.” He snorted in derision. “So welcome to my hell.”

Thomas glared at him, but his resentment eased a little. He understood the couple’s passion and desperation. But Alyse belonged to him. He clenched his jaw. What was his, he would hold.

Geoffrey caught his look and smiled sadly. “What you saw this morning was the dying embers of a passion that was never meant to be. I came upon her on deck, and, without thought, we began where we left our lives in June. But she recalled herself.”

Thomas continued to stand, studying his friend. He would now see if their tales matched
.

Geoffrey returned the look steadily. “She is ever the one to think of her honor and now of yours as well. My thoughts, I am ashamed to say, were bent elsewhere, but she would have none of it.” He paused then continued dejectedly. “Alyse has done with me. She spoke the words herself, though God knows I did not want to hear them. She is your wife, and as I still bear love for her, I wish her happiness. Pray God, she finds it with you.”

Thomas relaxed a trifle. It could be as they both described: an accidental meeting. Yet he knew this man to be a keen adversary in battle. And this was a war of sorts. He narrowed his eyes. “Was this morning’s meeting chance, Geoffrey, or by design?”

Geoffrey sat for a moment, completely mute. Then he shrugged, as if casting off a burden, and raised his gaze squarely to Thomas’s. “Aye, ’twas by design, but not hers. I sought her out.”

“’S blood, sir!” Thomas’s fist crashed down on the table, making the bottle jump. “How could you serve me thus?”

Geoffrey leaped to his feet to pace the floor. “I can offer no excuse to you, save I surrendered to the temptation to see her once more. God help me, I am but human!” He ran a distracted hand through his hair. “But now ’tis done. If I see her after this, ’twill be but in company, as any good acquaintance might. ’Twill not be as it was this morning. You have my word and my honor on this.”

Thomas continued to stare at the man he had long called friend. And wanted to believe. Wanted to accept the scurrilous actions of this morning as a single lapse in judgment of a man desperately in love. Having known that desperation once himself, a small part of him sympathized with his friend’s pain. But he knew also such a depth of feeling could not be sundered so neatly. Although Geoffrey declared it so, he sincerely doubted this to be the end of the matter. There might still be a reckoning to come.

Geoffrey returned to the table, drained his cup then poured another. He looked bleakly at Thomas. “Can you forgive me this one grievous lapse? And, for your lady’s sake, never speak of it more? I would not cast suspicion on her honor through your actions or mine.” He paused, as if gathering his courage. “As wretchedly as I have abused your honor, I beg to be still considered your friend.” Geoffrey bowed his head.

The words touched a chord in Thomas’s heart. Geoffrey had been his boon companion for ten years, had helped him through many a dark night. He had numerous acquaintances, but only one true friend. Would he give him up so quickly for one transgression?

The circumstances were understandable—he had borne witness to the couple’s passion and devotion before their world descended into hell. Mayhap it had taken this final encounter for the two of them to end it by saying farewell. In any case, he would now be vigilant about the time they spent together in company. And they would spend much time thus. They would have no choice in the matter, for they all served the princess. All he could really do was make sure Alyse never found herself alone with him.

Misgivings abounded, yet he wanted to put the past to rest. ’Twould be foolish to sunder a friendship that had stretched ten long years over a woman. But he would keep a close eye on them all the same.

He sighed and nodded.

Thoughts of this morning’s encounter with his wife rose to mind. Never had he acted thus with any woman. What demon had possessed him? Did the same jealous rage Geoffrey had displayed lurk beneath his own surface? At a loss for how to confront his feelings for her, he shoved all thought of her from his mind.

His face must have told the story, for Geoffrey gripped his shoulder. “Remember your advice to me on my wedding night, Thomas?”

The question puzzled him until the awful memory surfaced, and he nodded.

“‘Lay the blame for these misfortunes on the head of him who deserves it,’ you told me. My father still bears the brunt of the guilt for our woes. But this morning’s indiscretion, I take on myself. Lay that responsibility on me, not her.”

Thomas inclined his head toward him. Intrigued, he would hear what Geoffrey had to say.

“You urged me not to take my anger out on an innocent, and I now ask that same pledge of you. I swear on my oath, Alyse is innocent of everything except loving me and honoring you.” Geoffrey leaned forward. “I know not if she professes affection for you. What I do know is that she will honor you with her last breath. Do you your office as a gentle and caring husband, and she will be loving and kind in return.”

Thomas sighed long, the anger slipping away bit by bit. Those had been his words to his friend; he could scarce disregard them now. He nodded. “Aye. An you speak fair, Geoffrey, I will take this advice and your oath to heart. I have never known you to break your word. By the Blessed Virgin, I pray you do not begin now.” He mustered a wan smile and reached for the bottle. “Mayhap a cup of wine now will help mend the bonds of friendship.” Doubt still plagued him, but old habits, old alliances were hard to toss away. Pray God this act of grace did not return to dog him.

Geoffrey nodded, and held his cup out in accord. “To gentle Alyse then. Cherish her, Thomas.” He choked to a halt, the deep misery in his eyes proclaiming his pain. “She is a jewel of great price.”

Thomas nodded. “Aye, Geoffrey. I will treasure her to my dying day.” They raised their cups in a salute.

Boom, boom, boom!

The quiet was shattered by a heavy fist knocking against Geoffrey’s chamber door. He leaped to his feet and pulled the portal open.

Sir Robert Bouchier stood in the doorway. “Her Highness, Princess Joanna, demands your presence in her privy-chamber, my lords.”

Without another word, he motioned Thomas and Geoffrey into the gangway then strode away. Thomas followed, silently cursing. Of course the altercation had come to the ears of the princess. Bouchier had been there. It could hardly have escaped her notice. So how would she punish them? Or Alyse? He would do his best to protect her, whatever the cost.

Sir Robert led them to the tiny cabin where they amused the princess in the evenings. Today, however, it had a different purpose.

They had to cool their heels for over an hour in the stuffy room before Her Highness arrived. Long enough for Thomas and Geoffrey to assure themselves the princess herself would not take them to task. After some discussion, they reached the conclusion that each of them would likely receive a severe dressing-down from Sir Robert. But the fourteen-year-old girl would scarcely be eager to confront them. There might be some minor reproof from her, but nothing substantial.

Then she swept into the room, every inch regal, purpose in each step. Without granting them time enough to bow, she sat before them and fixed them with a cold stare.

“How dare you make a public spectacle on my ship, in broad daylight?” Clipped and biting, the princess’s voice sounded aloof, completely unlike Joanna. But very like her father, King Edward. She turned her formidable gaze on Thomas, and he knew a moment of trepidation. From the ice in her eyes, he would not be able to charm his way out of this censure.

“Sir Robert tells me, Lord Braeton, that you accosted Sir Geoffrey and drew your sword, challenging him. Is this correct?”

“Aye, Your Highness. That was the way of it.” Thomas kept his head lowered, out of respect as much as caution.

“And, Sir Geoffrey, you accepted this challenge and drew your sword as well?”

“Aye, Highness. I did so.” Geoffrey’s voice sounded muffled, as though he kept his head down as well.