By Arrangement (20 page)

“Two days ago. I did not seek you immediately because I was with my friend Geoffrey. He is in a bad way with a fever. He lies in Lady Catherine's house in London.”

“You are friends with Catherine?”

“Not really. Geoffrey is, however.” He stepped toward her. “She told me all about your marriage to this merchant,” he said sympathetically. “If Edward were not my king, I would challenge him for degrading you thus.”

She glanced at the concern in his expression. It struck her as a little exaggerated, like a mask one puts on for a festival.

He reached out and caressed her face. The broken heart, aching for the balm of renewed illusions, sighed.

The spirit and mind, remembering last night's passion and David's rights, made her move away.

“You already knew of my marriage, did you not? I wrote you a letter.”

“I knew. I received it, darling. But I never imagined that the King would go through with this. And Catherine has told me of your unhappiness and humiliation.”

How kind of Lady Catherine, Christiana thought bitterly. Why did this woman meddle in her affairs? And how had Catherine known about Stephen and her?

Joan. Joan had gossiped. Did everyone know now? Probably. They would all be watching and waiting the next few days, maybe the next few years, to see how this drama unfolded.

“Perhaps I should not have come,” Stephen muttered. “Catherine assured me that you would want to see me.”

“I am glad to see you, Stephen. At the least I can congratulate you on your own betrothal.”

He made a face of resignation. “She was my father and uncle's choice, my sweet. She does not suit me, in truth.”

“All the same, she is your wife. As David is my husband.”

“Aye, and it tears me apart that there is nought we can do about that, my sweet.”

A candle inside her snuffed out then, and she knew that it was the last flame of her illusions and childish dreams. It did not hurt much, but something of her innocence died with it, and she felt that loss bitterly.

Through it all, she had saved a little bit of hope, despite knowing and seeing the truth. If he had not returned, it would have slowly disappeared as she lived her life and spent her passion with David, much as a small
pool of water will disappear in the heat of a summer afternoon.

What if Stephen had spoken differently? What if he had come to plead with her to run away together and petition to have both of their betrothals annulled? It was what that reserve of hope had wanted, after all.

A week ago she would have done it, despite the disgrace that would fall on her. Even last weekend, such an offer might have instantly healed her pain and banished her doubts about him.

Now, however, it would have been impossible. Now …

A horrible comprehension dawned. Stephen's presence receded as her mind grasped the implications.

Impossible now. David had seen to that, hadn't he?

Last night had consummated their marriage. No annulment would be possible now, unless David himself denied what had occurred. And she knew, she just knew, that he would not, despite his promise that first night.

I expect you to be faithful to me. No other man touches you now.

All of those witnesses … even Idonia and her brother.

An eerie chill shook her.

David had known Stephen was coming. He had been asking the pilgrims and merchants. He could not know if Stephen came to claim her, however. Nonetheless, he had still covered that eventuality. Methodically, carefully, he had made sure that she could not leave with Stephen. If she did anyway, despite the invisible chains forged last night, despite the dishonor and disgrace, he possessed the proof necessary to get her back.

The ruthlessness of it stunned her.

She remembered the poignant emotions she had felt last night. Twice a fool. More childish illusions. Her stupid trust of men must be laughable to them.

A warm presence near her shoulder interrupted her thoughts. Stephen hovered closely, his face near hers.

“There is nought that we can do about these marriages, darling, but in life there is duty and then there is love.”

“What are you saying, Stephen?”

“You cannot love this man, Christiana. It will never happen. He is base and his very touch will insult you. I would spare you that if I could, but I cannot. But I can soothe your hurt, darling. Our love can do that. Give this merchant your duty, but keep our love in your heart.”

She wanted to tell him how wrong he was, how David's touch never insulted. But what words could she use to explain that? Besides, she wasn't at all sure that the magic would return now that she knew why he had seduced her. Perhaps the next time, on their wedding night, she would indeed feel insulted and used.

Well, what had she expected? David was a merchant and she was property. Very expensive property. She doubted that King Edward gave refunds.

Love, she thought sadly. She had thought that there was some love in it. Her ignorance was amazing. David was right. She did live her life like she expected it to be some love song. But life was not like that. Men were not like that.

“I am a married woman, Stephen. What you are suggesting is dishonorable.”

He smiled at her much the way one might smile at an innocent child. “Love has nothing to do with honor and dishonor. It has to do with feeling alive instead of dead. You will realize that soon enough.”

“I hope that you are not so bold as to ask for the proof of my love now. I wed in several days.”

“Nay. I would not give a merchant reason to upbraid or harm you, although the thought of him having you first angers me. Marry your mercer as you must, darling. But know that I am here.”

“I am an honest woman, Stephen. And I do not think that you love me at all. I think that this was a game to you, and still is. A game in which you lose nothing but I risk everything. I will not play in the future.”

He began protesting and reaching for her. Footsteps in the anteroom stopped him. She turned to the new presence at the threshold.

Good Lord, was there no mercy?

Morvan filled the doorway, gazing at them both. For one horrible moment an acute tension filled the room.

“Percy, it is good to see you,” Morvan said, advancing into the chamber. “You have come for the tournament?”

“Aye,” Stephen said, easing away from her.

Morvan eyed them both again. “I assume that you are wishing each other happiness in your upcoming marriages.”

She nodded numbly. There was no point in trying to explain away Stephen's presence. She saw in her brother's eyes that he had heard the gossip.

“It is a strange thing about my sister's marriage, Stephen,” Morvan said as he paced to the hearth. “It is said that the King sold her for money, and I believed that too. But I have lately wondered if this didn't come about for another reason. Perhaps he sought to salvage her reputation and my family's honor, and not disgrace it.”

She watched them consider each other.
Not now, Morvan
, she urged silently.
It doesn't matter anymore.

“I must be going, my lady,” Stephen said, turning a
warm smile on her. She gestured helplessly and watched him stride across the chamber.

“Sir Stephen,” Morvan called from the hearth. “It would be unwise for you to pursue this.”

“Do you threaten me?” Stephen hissed.

“Nay. It is no longer for me to do so. I simply tell you as a friend that it would be a mistake. Her husband is not your typical merchant. And I have reason to think that he knows well how to use the daggers that he wears.”

Stephen smirked in a condescending way before leaving the apartment.

She faced her brother's dark scrutiny. He looked her up and down, and searched her eyes with his own.

“It is customary, sister, to wait a decent interval after the wedding before meeting with one's old lovers.”

She had no response to that calm scolding.

“And since you spent the night in that man's bed, you are indeed truly wed now.”

“David. His name is David. You always call him ‘that merchant’ or ‘that man,’ Morvan. He has a name.”

He regarded her with lowered lids. “I am right, am I not? You slept with him. With
David
. ”

It was pointless to lie. She knew he could tell. She nodded, feeling much less secure about that decision now that she understood David's motivations.

“You must not see Percy again for a long while.”

“I did not arrange to meet Stephen.”

“Still, you should be careful. Such things are taken in stride if the woman is discreet or if the husband does not care, but you have no experience in such deceptions and your merchant does not strike me as a willing cuckold.”

“I told Stephen that I am not interested in him anymore.”

“He does not believe you.”

He was just trying to help her. In this his advice was probably as sound as any man's. He'd certainly bedded his share of married women.

“Do you despise me?” she whispered.

A strained expression covered his face. He strode across the space and gathered her into his arms. “Nay. But I would not have you be this man's wife, and I would not have you be Percy's whore. Can you understand that? And I blame myself because I did not find a way to take you away from here.”

She looked into his dark eyes. She read the worry there and thought that she understood part of it.

“I do not think that being David's wife will be so bad, Morvan. He can be very kind.”

A small smile teased at his mouth. “Well, that at least is good news. I am glad that he is accomplished at something besides making money.”

She giggled. He tightened his embrace and then released her. “Take your meals with me these last days,” he said. “I would have this time with you.”

She nodded and watched sadly as he walked away.

She never doubted that her brother had requested her attendance at meals because he wanted her company. She would be leaving him soon, and a subtle nostalgia hung between them at those dinners and suppers, even when they conversed merrily with the other young people at their table.

Morvan's presence beside her had other benefits, however, and she suspected that he had thought of them. Stephen did not dare approach her in the hall while Morvan stayed nearby, and the peering, glancing courtiers received no satisfaction to their curiosity about the status of that love affair.

Everyone knew. Stephen had only to rise from his bench and sidelong looks would watch to see if he would speak with her. It became abundantly clear that the court believed an adulterous affair with Stephen was probably inevitable at some point. She got the impression that many of these nobles accepted the notion with relief, as if such an affair would be a form of redemption for her. The marriage to the merchant would just be a formality, then, and much easier to swallow and even ignore.

Aye, Joan had gossiped. When Christiana confronted her, she tearfully admitted it. Just one girl, she insisted. Christiana had no trouble imagining that small leak turning into a river of whispers within hours.

She filled the next days with preparations for the wedding. Philippa came to the apartment to survey her wardrobe on Saturday and immediately ordered more shifts and hose made for her. A new surcoat was fitted as well. Haberdashers descended so that she could choose two new headdresses. Trunks arrived to be filled with linens and household goods for her to bring to her new home.

She spent most of her time in the apartment managing this accumulation, but her mind dwelled on David. They had agreed that he would not come before the wedding because of their time-consuming preparations and because he had his own affairs to put in order. All the same, she expected him to surprise her with a visit. It would be the romantic thing to do, but when he came it would not be for that reason, although he might pretend that it was. She expected him to check that Stephen had not persuaded her to run away or do anything dishonorable. He would want to make sure that his plan had worked.

He did not come. Saturday turned into Sunday and stretched into Monday. She began to get annoyed.

She felt positive that David knew that Stephen had returned. How could he just leave her here to her own devices when another man drifted about who wanted to seduce her? A man, furthermore, with whom she had been in love? Was he that sure of himself? That sure that one night could balance the ledger sheet of a woman's heart? Didn't he worry about what Stephen's presence might be doing to her?

She pondered this sporadically during the days. At night she chewed it over resentfully. But in the dark silence of her curtained bed, her recriminations always managed to flow away as other thoughts of David would flood her like some inexorable incoming tide. Images of his blue eyes and straight shoulders above her. The power of his passion overwhelming his thoughtful restraint. Her breasts would grow sensitive and her thighs moist and the thoughts would merge into wakeful dreams during a fitful sleep.

She awoke each morning feeling as though she had been ravished by a phantom but had found no release.

David did not come, but others did. Singly or in twos or threes, the women of the court approached her.

Aye, Joan had gossiped, and not just about Stephen. It seemed every lady felt obliged to advise the motherless girl who, rumor had it, was unbelievably ignorant about procreation.

Some of the servants joined in. While she bathed on her wedding day, the girl who attended her boldly described how to make a man mad with desire. Christiana blushed from her hairline to her toes. She seriously doubted that noblewomen did most of these things, but she tucked the tamer tidbits away in her mind.

Getting her dressed turned into a merry party with all of her friends there. They gave her presents and chatted as the servants prepared her. Philippa arrived to escort her
down to the hall. The Queen examined her closely and reset the red cloak on her shoulders. Then with her daughters beside her, and with Idonia, Joan, and several other women in attendance, Queen Philippa brought her down to the hall.

Morvan awaited them. He wore a formal robe that reached to mid-calf. His knight's belt bound his waist but no sword hung there. “Come now,” he said, taking her arm. “The King already awaits.”