The Conqueror (Hot Knights) (28 page)

He addressed Bourges. “Surely you did not really think that Sir Robert would let you keep the Saxon heiress? Hah! You were to be eliminated after Valois had convinced the king that no Saxon, and especially a female one, could be trusted. Valois intended to claim the lands himself and put the wench in a nunnery.” The man’s dark, narrow eyes raked Edeva. “Of course, myself, I think that would be a waste of luscious English quim. I’d much rather see her set up as a harlot in London.”

Jobert felt Edeva tense in his arms, and he guessed this man was the one he must deal with. But how could he do so without a weapon?

Abruptly, Edeva began to swoon, and Jobert turned all his attention to her. “Let me fall,” she whispered as he leaned near. She crumpled to the ground. Jobert immediately called for someone to get water, and then knelt beside her. She pressed a dagger into his hand. “Be careful,” she whispered.

Jobert picked her up and started to carry her toward the door. Halfway there, he felt a weapon prick into his back. “I’ll take the woman, Brevrienne.”

Jobert turned slowly and faced the dark-eyed man, who held a wicked-looking sword pointed at Jobert’s unprotected throat. “There will be no wedding today,” the man said. With his free hand, he gestured for Jobert to release Edeva.

Jobert slowly set Edeva on her feet, keeping his hand holding the knife hidden behind her skirts.

“You cannot do this!” The priest spoke for the first time, his voice shaking with outrage. “This is a holy place, and I claim sanctuary for all gathered here. If you take the woman by force, you will live your life cursed and condemned!”

The dark-eyed man laughed. “Think you that I am not already cursed and condemned? I have no soul, you stupid priest. Now,” he added to Jobert, “give the woman to me.”

Edeva took a step toward the man. Jobert’s fingers itched to use the knife, but he held back. He must take this man by surprise, or the chance of failure was too great.

“You killed the priest,” Bourges spoke suddenly, as if the realization had just come to him. “’Twas not the Saxons after all, it was you.”

The man turned toward Bourges, a sinister smile on his face. “Of course. I took pleasure in ending Father Reibald’s miserable exist... ”

The last word ended in a scream as Jobert’s dagger sank deep into the man’s neck. He made another gruesome noise, and then collapsed. Edeva backed away from his twitching body and Jobert heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“Appalling!” the priest cried, striding towards them. “Simply appalling. The man might have been a villain, but you need not have murdered him in our church! I doubt your immortal soul can survive this horrible sin!”

“I will take my chances with the Almighty,” Jobert said. He groped his way to the church’s smooth whitewashed wall and leaned against it. “I have found God to be more merciful than men with sharp blades at my throat.”

Edeva came to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Jobert,” she whispered. “Do not anger the priest. He has yet to perform our wedding.”

It took some coercion from both Jobert and Bourges, as well as some outright begging from Edeva, but the prior finally agreed to conduct the ceremony.

“At least I am properly attired,” Edeva said as she took her place beside Jobert at the altar.

“For all my grimy, travel-stained clothes, I have had a bath this day,” Jobert retorted.

“A bath.” Edeva looked at him, eyes luminous. “I believe that is the first thing I wish to do when we arrive at Oxbury.”

“Share a bath with me?”

“Yea, that is exactly it. A long, leisurely, very hot bath.”

Jobert heaved a sigh. “’Twould be paradise.”

The prior cleared his throat. “This is a sacred rite I am about to perform. You should strive to cleanse your mind of all base and sinful thoughts ere I begin.”

“Mmmm,” Edeva whispered. “’Tis not your mind I wish to cleanse, milord.”

“Hush,” Jobert whispered back. “We are in disgrace enough without your lewd thoughts.”

Edeva giggled. The priest cleared his throat again, frowning more severely.

When the ceremony was over, Jobert and Edeva shared one brief kiss, then parted, she to go to the guest quarters for women visitors, he, the one for men.

Jobert sat down to a plain meal in the refectory where Hamo tried to console him regarding his celibate wedding night. “It’s not as if you haven’t sampled the woman’s charms already,” the knight said. “Tired as you are, you might even have trouble performing.”

“I would not have trouble performing with Edeva unless I was unconscious or dead,” Jobert asserted. “For that matter, one time when I was out of my head with fever from my shoulder wound, we actually...” He paused, realizing that every man at the table was regarding him with amused curiosity.

Jesu, what had come over him—he’d grown as loose-tongued as Edeva!

He cleared his throat. “The soup’s tolerable. At least it’s warm. Although I prefer Beornflaed’s choice of seasonings.”

Hamo guffawed and the other men suppressed chuckles. The light mood vanished as the door opened and Bourges entered. He looked around uneasily. “I do not know if I am welcome here, but I would offer an explanation for my actions if you would hear one.”

Jobert gestured with a crust of bread that the knight should seat himself.

The older man took a place at the table and drank deeply from a cup of wine before speaking. He said, “They say there is no greater fool than an old fool, and I am one. I knew Valois to be treacherous and corrupt, yet I listened to him.”

“Tell us of his plan,” Jobert said. “I would know how the pieces fit.”

Bourges nodded. “I’ve told you the story he gave me regarding your treachery with his daughter. He said you would meet with your death while in London, and I was to go to Oxbury and take over the manor, then wed the Saxon heiress in order to seal my claim.”

Bourges heaved a sigh. “But there were problems from the beginning. Your men would not give in without a fight, and there were more of them than expected. I realized that if we engaged in battle with other Normans, we would be in violation of the king’s orders. I had to think of a way to get the woman to come with us without bloodshed.

“But Henry—may God assoil him—kept pushing me to attack. He told me that the Saxons had killed the priest and that was sufficient excuse to storm the palisade. Although I did not know for certain that Henry was a spy for Valois, my instincts told me not to trust him. Instead, I remembered Valois had said that the Saxon woman was heir to other property besides Oxbury, and I decided to use that as a means to convince her to come with me.”

“You mean there is some truth to that?” Jobert asked.

“I believe so. Although I do not know how Valois knew of it.”

“And was the promise of wealth the means you used to convince Lady Edeva to wed with you?” Alan spoke the question. The other men looked around uneasily, as if unwilling to meet Jobert’s gaze.

“Nay,” Bourges answered, “’Twas the fact that she thought Lord Brevrienne was dead. She agreed to wed me if I would use her wealth to gain revenge against Valois. In truth, I half suspected Valois would find me inconvenient, and that I might have to choose between my own life and loyalty to my liegelord. I agreed to her bargain.”

Jobert felt a self-satisfied smile spread across his face. “So, you see, Alan, a woman can be as loyal and trustworthy as a man.”

“My apologies, sir,” Alan said. “Mayhaps it is my own circumstances that make me doubt all women.”

“What circumstances are those?” Bourges asked.

Hamo clapped Alan on the back. “Fornay has a
tendre
for a certain Saxon wench, but she flirts and dallies with every man but him. Daily Alan must swallow the bitter gall of jealousy as fair Wulfget bestows her smiles elsewhere.”

“Wulfget!” Rob exclaimed. “I did not know you still fancied her. You always appear so sour-faced and grim whenever you are in her company!”

“Why should I not seem grim? The woman is a fickle, heartless creature who finds pleasure in torturing me!”

“Wulfget—heartless?” Rob got to his feet. “I’ll not hear you disparage her name so cruelly. She is the kindest, the most patient of maidens.”

“As you should know, after all these weeks of shamelessly exaggerating your wounds so she would fuss over you.”

“A belly wound is a grave thing. I might have died!”

“I wish you had, you bastard! If you were gone, Wulfget might finally notice me!”

Jobert stood. “Sweet Jesu, you are like two dogs fighting over a juicy bone! If the wench is causing this much trouble between the two of you, I vow neither one of you shall have her. Indeed, I’m of a mind to marry her off to some man outside of Oxbury. How would you like that, you half-witted fools!”

The two knights immediately looked contrite. “I did not mean to provoke you, Alan,” Rob said. “In truth, although I am fond of Wulfget, I had not thought of marrying with her. If you wish to win Wulfget’s favor, I’ll not oppose your suit. But be advised—the way to woo a woman is not to mope and curse around her, but rather to be lighthearted and pleasant when in her company.”

“I try, but when I see her with you, the pretty words I have thought of turn to vinegar in my mouth.”

“Have you spoken to Edeva about the matter yet?” Jobert asked. “I think she would help, if you asked her.”

“How can I beg a boon of Edeva after all the awful things I have said about her?” Alan asked.

“Edeva is ever generous-hearted. She knows you did not mean them,” Jobert answered, smiling.

They all sat down and began to eat again. Jobert spooned the warm soup into his mouth, then took a mouthful of bread. The next thing he knew, someone was shaking him. “Wake up, Brevrienne. You’ll sleep better lying down, even on a monk’s hard pallet.”

He was vaguely aware of being half-carried out the doorway and through the snowy yard to the guest house. Then he sank down on the straw-filled pallet and knew no more.

I
n the morning, Jobert thanked the prior and then went to the abbey gate where his men waited with Edeva. Jobert gave her a quick kiss, and then drew away. ’Twould be torture enough to ride pillion for their long journey. He did not need to stoke his lust any higher.

He helped her onto the horse, and then climbed up behind her. As they left the priory and started down the frost-covered road, he heard her heave a sigh. “Are you weary, love?” he asked.

“Nay, merely relieved. These last few days have been so trying. You cannot know what it was like to think you were dead.”

He leaned close to murmur in her ear. “Yea, I can. The thought of losing you filled me with a dread so great I could scarce go on.”

She reached back to caress his cheek. “But now all our foes are vanquished. No one will take Oxbury from you as long as William lives.”

His jaw tightened. “Myself, I will not be satisfied until Valois is punished. He was behind all of this. If not for his treacherous plotting, so many would not have suffered.”

“But my brothers played a part—they kept the conflict alive.”

“In truth, I think they might have given up long ago if Father Reibald had not been giving them encouragement and supplies.”

“You think the priest used them to damage your claim to Oxbury?”

“Yea, I do. I think he convinced them to attack the palisade when we were in London.”

“And then the priest—and Golde—betrayed them.”

Jobert nodded. “Father Reibald wanted the rebels to be captured so I would hang them and further alienate you.”

“But it did not work.”

“Nay. And then he changed his plan to helping the prisoners to escape so they could kill me on the journey to London,”

“What?” Edeva turned on the horse, her eyes wide. “I did not know of this, Hamo told me after the wedding ceremony that Alnoth was safe and Beornwold, Gothic and the others had escaped. I did not know any of them tried to kill you.”

“That is mostly true. Alnoth is safe and Godric and his companions did flee. But Beornwold...” Jobert took a deep breath, wondering if he should say the words. If he told Edeva he had killed her brother, would the tender warmth between them vanish?

“Beornwold tried to cut my throat. I have no doubt that it was at the urging of Father Reibald.”

Edeva said nothing.

“I was able to twist out of his grasp before he did the deed, but I could not let him get away. I... I drew my own dagger and killed him.”

Edeva faced forward again, and the silence stretched between them. Jobert felt his throat swell with anguish. He could not argue that it was self-defense. Beornwold had been fleeing when Jobert cut him down. ’Twas pure instinct that made him throw that dagger.

Edeva spoke softly, “If I must choose, ’twould be your life I would preserve. Beornwold might be my brother, but he does not hold my heart as you do.”

Jobert released the breath he had been holding and squeezed Edeva tightly to his chest with his free arm. She was silent for a while. Then she said, “Father Reibald has paid the price for his treachery, but what of Golde? She betrayed Godric and the rest of her countrymen. Though she may have been your lover once, surely you can see that she must be punished for her part in the plot.”

Jobert started. “My lover! Whatever gave you such a foolish notion?”

Edeva spoke tartly. “I saw you together one morning soon after you arrived at Oxbury. And she told me you shared her bed. In fact, she taunted me with the information!”

He could not help chuckling. “Ah, my silly Edeva, always believing the worst. I told you that I found women like Golde unappealing. ’Tis very clear she lets men bed her not because she enjoys lovemaking, but to gain power over them. Besides, why would I pursue a harlot like her when I could have a beautiful virgin like you?”

“You could not have me, then. We’d made a bargain you could not touch me if you wanted my aid in running Oxbury.”

“A bargain that you chose to ignore.”

He felt her stiffen and wondered if he’d offended her. Despite Edeva’s wild abandon in the bedchamber, she was still embarrassed when teased about her passion. “My love,” he leaned forward to nuzzle her silky hair, “I am very glad you decided to alter the terms of our arrangement. If you had continued to be cool and distant, I don’t know what I would have done. I was near out of my mind with desire for you.”

“I’ve always wondered why you did not take me by force. There are many men who would have disregarded an agreement made with a Saxon, and a woman.”

“I was not brought up that way, Edeva. I was taught to honor my agreements and to treat women with respect.”

“Even vicious hellcats like me?”

He laughed and leaned to kiss her cheek. “’Tis your fire that makes you such a passionate, exciting bedpartner. I would not trade that for a whole court of boring Norman maidens.”

“Truly?” she whispered.

“Truly.”

He cuddled her close, enjoying the simple pleasure of having her near. His wife. His lover. Nay, best not to think such thoughts in the present circumstances.

“Jobert,” she interrupted his lustful musings. “What are you going to do about Golde?”

“Mayhap I should have her whipped, but properly this time.”

“But if the flogging hurts her too badly, she might not be able to do her weaving. I can scarce afford to lose a skilled servant.”

Jobert laughed. “Always the practical one, aren’t you, Edeva? Tell me, do you seek retribution against the woman or not?”

“I want her to pay, but I don’t think that is the means. Golde’s weakness is her pride. She thinks no man can resist her. Nothing would humiliate her more than for her to lose her looks so she had no power over men.”

“But deliberately disfiguring her seems too cruel and barbaric.”

“Yea, it does. But there must be something... I have it!” Edeva turned in the saddle, her eyes bright. “We’ll send her to live in the village, where she’ll not have an opportunity to seduce the knights!”

“That hardly seems like sufficient punishment after what she’s done.”

“But that is not all of it. We’ll send her to live with Helwenna!”

“In that pigsty of a hut?”

“Helwenna needs someone to look after her, and she’s not likely to be swayed by Golde’s wiles. ’Twill be a loathsome, miserable existence for the wench.”

“What if she runs away?”

“Where will she go? Once the villagers know of her treachery, they’ll not shelter her, and she’s not such a fool as to try to survive alone in the forest.”

It seemed an odd discipline, Jobert thought, but for a woman it might work. At least it saved him the unpleasantness of having Golde whipped.

“And once we have done that, will that satisfy your taste for vengeance?”

She gave him a haughty look. “Do you imply that I am vindictive?”

“Nay, merely highly concerned with justice, as all your people are. The English appear to have a very strong sense of right and wrong.”

“And the Normans do not?”

Jobert shook his head ruefully. “Among the Normans I know, too often ‘might makes right’.”

“Is that why the king has refused to deal with Robert de Valois?”

It was Jobert’s turn to sigh. “He says that this is not the time. In truth, I can’t blame him. For all he has accomplished in England, William needs his Norman allies if he is to finish his work here.”

“You mean his work of oppressing Saxons?”

Jobert could not help grinning. Edeva would never let him forget they had once been bitter foes. “Peace, wench. You are married to a Norman now, and you must stop thinking of us as the enemy. Someday you will carry a child of mine in your belly. You’d best learn to speak more kindly of your son’s heritage.”

“How do you know I will give birth to a boy?”

“You must. How else will I honor my pledge to name one of my children after the king? ’Twould be very odd to have a daughter named William.”

“Hmmph. We shall see about what we will name our children, be they boys or girls. If King William does not do right by you, I don’t think he deserves such an honor!”

“William will do right by me, though it may take him twenty years. Whatever he is, the king is a man of his word.”

That seemed to satisfy Edeva, and Jobert felt himself relax. He enjoyed sparring with his wife, but he’d not want to do it all the way to Oxbury.

Alan rode up beside them, but said nothing. Jobert watched him out of the corner of his eye. When Alan cleared his throat, Jobert forced his own mouth shut. There was still a matter between his captain and his lady, and he’d not intervene.

“Lady Edeva. I must ask your pardon.”

Edeva suppressed a smile as Fornay spoke. She knew Alan had been working up to this for the past half-mile of riding beside them. Should she make him worry over her answer? Nay, that seemed too cruel. “You have it, Sir Alan,” she answered.

He shot her a wary look. “I have made many mistakes.”

“Have not we all?”

“But mine were... serious ones. I have treated you ill, worse than I have any man.”

“That may be, but you have asked my pardon and I have given it. There is naught more to say.”

“But there is! I would ask a boon of you.”

Edeva felt her mouth quirking. She could easily guess what Alan’s “boon” might be.

“I have a... fondness for a certain maid, but I fear she does not know it. I would ask your advice in the matter.”

Edeva considered. If she wished to repay Fornay for all the trouble he had caused her, he had given her the perfect means. Nay, she could not wish him ill in his quest. The obvious desperation in his voice touched her heart. “Very well, Fornay. My advice is to tell the woman how you feel.”

“That is all?”

“She cannot read your mind. If you do not tell her, how will she know?”

“But I thought... that is... I cannot...”

“Alan of Fornay, are you a coward?”

She saw his face flush and wondered if she had provoked him into despising her once more. “I thought better of you,” she added. “I did not think you would fear a dainty maid like Wulfget.”

“I do not fear her!” he bellowed.

“Then speak with her. Prove your mettle, sir knight. If you do not take this risk, then you do not deserve to have her.”

She heard him draw in his breath. “I’m afraid of what she will say.”

He was weakened, vulnerable, the perfect moment to land the crippling blow. But she would not. Alan of Fornay was not a bad man. He had persecuted her out of loyalty to Jobert, and his own misguided sense of how a woman should behave. She said softly, “If it aids you at all, then know that I think she will favor your suit.”

“Truly?” Alan’s face lit up like an eager squire’s. “You believe she might care for me?”

“’Tis only a woman’s silly fancy, of course. The sort of thing that a sensible man like you might well discount.”

“I yield, Lady Edeva,” Alan broke in. “I submit to your counsel. I have found you to be right many times over.”

“Of course you have, Fornay,” Jobert said wryly. “Leowine of Oxbury raised no foolish daughters. Sons, mayhaps, but not daughters.”

Edeva felt a pang of tenderness well up inside her. How fortunate she was to have been “conquered” by this Norman. She would thank blessed Jesu every day for her beloved Jobert.

If only she could show him how she felt, how much she desired him...  but mayhaps she could. “Jobert,” she said, “I am feeling rather faint. It must be the turmoil I endured yesterday. Could we stop for a time?”

He immediately pulled their mount to a halt. “What is it? How can I aid you?”

She turned around to whisper in his ear. A spark gleamed in his green eyes.

He motioned for his troops to halt, then dismounted and helped her down. She leaned heavily against him, pretending to be ill. “Fornay,” he told the knight. “You and the rest of the men go on ahead.”

“Milord? What of you and the lady?”

“We will resume the journey as soon as Edeva feels better. Milady requires a moment of privacy. I will stand guard for her.”

“Of course.” Alan motioned to the other men to follow him. The troop set off at a sedate pace.

Edeva started to giggle as soon as they were out of earshot. “Will we be able to catch up with them?”

Jobert gave her a dazzling grin. “That, Lady Edeva, depends upon how quick we are at our endeavor.” He moved nearer. Edeva felt her breath catch as she gazed into his lust-filled eyes.

* * *

Hours later, Edeva walked around the bedchamber, lighting candles. She wanted everything to be perfect for their first night home at Oxbury. The wooden tub was filled to the brim with steaming, herb-scented water. The small table held goblets of wine and some honey cinnamon cakes she had coaxed Beornflaed into making. Candles illuminated the bright wall hangings and cast a soft glow over the rest of the room’s furnishings, and the two braziers near the tub helped make up for the draft of winter wind blowing through the burned place in the wall.

Satisfied, Edeva sat down on the bed and began to undo her braids. Her hands trembled with anticipation. Soon, Jobert would be there, and they would enjoy hours of blissful lovemaking. It seemed like a dream that she was married to him—married to the proud Norman knight she had once considered her deadliest enemy. Now he was as dear to her as her own life.

She thought back to the terrible hours when she believed him dead. The only thing that had kept her going was the thought she must bear his child and avenge his death. To accomplish those solemn duties, she had been willing to do almost anything, even bind herself in marriage to a man she scarcely trusted.

But to find that Jobert was alive and safe—the memory of the relief and happiness she had felt near took her breath away. He was her heart, her soul.

As if her thoughts had summoned him, the door opened and Jobert strode in. He looked at her, smiling his wide, bewitching grin. “Ah, my Saxon maiden,” he said.

“Not maiden, wife,” she corrected him.

“A wife I have not properly bedded.”

“That is, not in a proper bed,” she murmured.

At the shared memory of their recent woodland tryst, the mood in the room turned intensely erotic. Jobert gestured to the steaming tub. “Mayhaps bathing could wait.”