The Marriage Prize (28 page)

156

lievable waves of pleasure began to sweep through her. She

threaded her fingers through his black hair as her body began

undulating to the rhythm of his thrusts, then her nails dug into

his shoulders as she began to writhe and arch beneath his

powerful torso. Her blood pulsed through her veins, her desire

spiraling higher and higher, as his savage lovemaking

demanded she meet and match his towering passion.

The sensations he aroused deep inside her final y became

too exquisite to bear, and she surrendered everything with a

sob. The next moment, she exploded with a scalding burst of

fire that shattered into a mil ion splinters of light. In the middle

of her cry, she felt Rod erupt and his white-hot seed spurt up

inside of her. Rosamond's cry turned into a scream of

pleasure as her body pulsed with one climax after another.

They were deaf and blind to everything save each other; their

entire world was the cocoon of the curtained bed. They did not

hear Griffin knock on their chamber door when he brought

food; they saw and heard only one another. Their game of wil s

paled into insignificance as they realized neither had lost, both

had won. They held each other close as they drifted toward

sleep. Rod's strength made Rosamond feel safe. She smiled

as she lay curled against him; at last she was beginning to

trust him.

Before the early light of dawn, Rod arose and dressed. When

Rosamond's body was deprived of his warmth, she stirred. He

came quickly to the bed and spoke . "Go back to sleep, my

beauty. I accompany Edward to Westminster. I'l be back

tonight," he pledged, brushing her disheveled hair from her

brow. "Perhaps you'l meet Dofia Eleanora today."

"We've already met. She is lovely, and sweet too, and madly

in love with her husband, God help her!"

He felt the barb in her words. "If love is in the air, perhaps it's catching," he teased lightly, touching his lips to hers.

"Don't wish for the impossible, Rodger," Rosamond said,

smiling softly. "God speed, my lord, I shal see you tonight."

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

Edward Plantagenet, flanked by Rodger de Leyburn and

Harry of Almaine, led their cavalcade of knights and men-at-

arms on the twenty-mile ride to London. Though Edward had

not closed his eyes during

157

the long night, his immense energy was not diminished. Lying

abed, knowing that his beautiful bride was in a chamber

directly above his, frustrated him beyond belief. A dozen times

he had arisen to stride upstairs and assert his rights. A dozen

times the thought of the royal row that would ensue with his

mother made him hesitate. He was not afraid of losing the

battle of wil s, indeed the thought never entered his head, but

he knew if he overruled the queen, her shattered pride would

make her vindictive. If he exercised patience, of which he had

little, perhaps he could accomplish his goal without a

rancorous confrontation that would doubtlessly upset

Eleanora.

"The men are expecting to be paid," Harry declared.

Edward and Rodger, each thinking of his wife, were jolted out

of their reveries by Harry's practical statement. Edward

nodded and said, "When they are settled in the Tower, I'l get

their money."

"Wil the crown pay my men of Cornwal ?" Harry asked.

Edward winked at Rod. "Your father's nickname is Midas; his

coffers overflow, while the king is in debt up to his crown."

Used to the ribbing about Richard of Cornwal 's wealth, Harry

grinned at his cousin. "Then you can ask my father for the

money when you get to Westminster."

"You amaze me, Harry. You are fearless in battle, but gutless

when it comes to your father."

At Richmond the river came into view, and the cavalcade

fol owed it to Westminster. As agreed, Harry of Almaine

proceeded with the troops to the Tower of London, and

Rodger de Leyburn rode the short distance upriver to Durham

House. Before they parted, Edward directed Rodger to meet

him at Westminster Palace after his meeting with Simon de

Montfort, so they could ride to the Tower together.

At Westminster, Edward greeted his uncle. The two men, both

stamped from the Plantagenet mold, embraced each other.

Edward was tal er and broader, possessing the golden glow

of youth, but Richard, now in his early fifties, was stil a

handsome man with a commanding presence.

"Does my father intend to return in time for Parliament? "

Edward asked.

158

"There wil be no Parliament, Edward. Simon de Montfort

does not rule England."

does not rule England."

Not yet, Edward thought. "De Montfort is adamant about

convening Parliament at Candlemas, and he is the undisputed

leader of the barons. The king signed the Provisions of

Oxford, and I too have put my signature to it."

"You fool, Edward. Henry has asked the Pope to issue a Bul

of Absolution from the Provisions!"

"Goddamn it, Richard, the Provisions of Oxford provide a

system of fair government that wil make England strong and

prosperous."

Richard shook his head. "You are parroting Simon de

Montfort. Edward, you are a royal Plantagenet, for Christ's

sake, how can you even think of breaking rank? Your father is

threatening to make Edmund his heir if you take sides against

us."

"I am parroting no one; I think for myself! England is my

inheritance, my divine right, and neither my father the king nor

Edmund wil wrest it from me. I love England! Though my

father is king, al his intimate friends and personal tastes are

French. I wil be an English king, and when it is time for me to

rule, I want England united, not divided."

"If you think Simon de Montfort wil put you on the throne, you

are deluding yourself. His towering ambition is for himself."

Edward hotly denied that he had any such thought. But now he

knew why his father had sent Richard to England, and why the

justiciar had been summoned so urgently. Henry feared he

would lose the throne. Edward immediately changed the

subject. "My men need to be paid for the Welsh campaign."

"The crown's coffers are empty." Richard shrugged

expressively. "However, I can always find coin for a loyal

Plantagenet."

"Dangling another carrot," Edward accused bluntly, "like my mother, as if I were a bloody donkey!"

"Nay, we are wel aware you are a lion, Edward," Richard said softly. Then he too changed the subject. "I hear Harry acquitted

himself wel in Wales. I am surprised he did not accompany

you."

"Harry has taken our men to the Tower. I promised to join them

159

there, but I shal be back to discuss this matter of Parliament

further, Richard. And I shal bring your son with me; we stand

together in this."

Edward decided to await Rodger de Leyburn at the stables.

That way he could learn how many men Justiciar Bohun had

brought with him. He counted seventy mounts, far more than

he had expected.

Rodger rode in, and as he watered his horse his eyes

fol owed Edward's thumb as he gestured toward the fil ed

stal s. Rod nodded but did not speak until they were away

from the palace stables. Once they were outside and he was

certain that they could not be overheard, he said, "As you

suspected, Simon knows Richard of Cornwal has come in

your father's stead. He thinks it a clever move, for Richard is

far more persuasive than Henry."

Edward nodded, adding cynical y, "And Richard has coin to

put where his mouth is! Did you tel him the justiciar brought

troops?"

"Aye, but he already knew. The Earl of Norfolk sent him word."

"So, the marshal remains loyal, if the justiciar does not!"

Rodger nodded. "Simon knows the barons wil be split if it

comes down to civil war. He wishes to speak with you about

this matter."

"It can wait a day; we have a more pressing problem. There is

no payment for the men. Richard offered me a bribe, but I

didn't bite."

"Then we'l have to provide the men with a diversion. We could

throw a banquet at the Tower; more food and drink than

they've seen in a year. As steward I stil have a little left in the

household accounts, and the merchants wil supply on credit."

"See to it, and don't forget to order whores. A banquet is no

good without whores; women are a better diversion than

drink!"

Accompanied by half a dozen servants from the Tower

kitchens, Rodger de Leyburn made the rounds of Bil ingsgate,

then Leadenhal markets, buying everything from lampreys to

lobsters, and plump pigeons to pickled pigs' feet. He bought

barrels of ale from a warehouse on Thames Street and wine

from a ship anchored at Tower Wharfe. In the East End of

London, there was no shortage of brothels, and Sir Rodger

hired al the bawds who plied their trade in the houses of Dog

and Bitch Lane.

That night by ten o'clock, the banquet was wel on its way to

becoming a wild carousal. As Rodger watched the antics of

the bare-

160

breasted bawds, he thought wistful y of Rosamond awaiting

him at Windsor. When he did not arrive, her trust in him would

evaporate. It was not the twenty-mile ride that deterred him, it

was his duty to Edward. Amusement fil ed his eyes as he

watched two sisters having a cat fight over the prince. The

buxom blondes were pul ing each other's hair and trading vile

curses.

"You fawning, fat-arsed strumpet! 'E saw me first!"

"You pox-marked, whey-faced harpy! You can kiss my fat

arse!"

"And you can suck my duck til it quacks!"

Edward roared with laughter. "Fanny, Fancy, there is no need

to fight. I have a solution that wil keep peace in the family." He arose, forced them apart, then, taking the sisters by the hand,

led them upstairs to a bedchamber.

Rod watched them disappear, then drained his wine cup,

wondering if he could slip away. Then, like a miracle, Edward

rejoined him. "This was an unqualified success, as are most

of your ideas, Rod. But you and I have far lovelier damsels

awaiting us at Windsor."

Rod flashed him an appreciative grin. "What the hel did you

do with Fanny and Fancy? "

"Led them into Harry's chamber, of course!"

161

Fifteen

It was wel past midnight when Edward and Rodger entered

Windsor Castle's new tower. Both men had drunk enough

wine to make them overbold, but luckily both had hard heads

for drink and neither was completely intoxicated.

"Your task is a hel of a lot simpler than mine," Edward

complained. "Your wife wil be waiting in your bed. Mine wil be

surrounded by a fire-breathing dragon and a horde of

dragonettes."

Rod flashed him a grin. "Your sword is stout; my money is on

you, Saint George!" He watched Edward ascend the stairs

before he opened the door to his own apartments. Chirk

displayed frenzied delight by pawing at his leg and wagging

her entire bottom.

"Sssh, I want to surprise her."

Rosamond, lying awake, was indeed surprised; she had given

up on him long ago. Her trust in him slowly returned while she

listened to the rustle of garments as he undressed in the dark,

then felt the mattress dip as he joined her in the bed. He

smel ed of cheap perfume and expensive wine, and her trust

evaporated instantly.

"Don't you dare touch me!"

Rod laughed. "Dare? Do you know how many miles I've

ridden?"

"Don't you mean how many whores you've ridden?"

Her words mauled his pride. This was the thanks he got for

being faithful. "I don't need to pay my women."

"Wel , you'l have to pay this one a king's ransom to al ow you

to share even my chamber, let alone my bed!"

"Al ow?" His voice held a dangerous note. "This is my

chamber, my bed .. .my wife."

162

Chirk took heed of the danger, if Rosamond did not. A loud

pounding on the outer door sent her scooting beneath the

bed.

A foul oath fel from Rod's lips as he flung back the covers and

strode naked to the door. "What the devil do you want? "

"I want to come in."

Rod recognized Edward's voice. It sounded as annoyed as he

himself felt. He opened the door and lifted down a lit torch

from its wal bracket to light the chamber.

"The bird has flown! The bloody royal apartments are

deserted. There are times when I could cheerful y choke my

mother; she is an infuriating bitch!"

"Name me a woman who is not!"

At the sound of Lord Edward's voice, Rosamond sat up, but

she did not have time to put on her bedgown before he came

striding into the bedchamber. She quickly drew up the sheet to

cover her night rail.

"Rosamond, did you see the queen today? Did you see

Eleanora? Do you know when they left or where they went?"

The questions came one after another without pause.

"I was gready looking forward to talking with Princess

Eleanora. I walked in the wal ed garden for over an hour,