The Marriage Prize (32 page)

Rodger's arms closed about her possessively as he lifted her

and carried her to their bed. He laid her back against the

pil ows and spread her beautiful golden hair al about her. He

removed his chausses, then gazed at her for a long time,

seeing her beauty, her passion, and her vulnerability. He knew

that she was going to be deeply hurt by Edward's decision

today to break with Simon de Montfort, and he also knew

there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Tenderly he

gathered her in his arms and began to make gentle, sweet

love to her.

Later, after her husband had fal en asleep with his arm

wrapped possessively around her, Rosamond lay stil as her

thoughts drifted back over the days since she had been

married. On the whole, it was much better than she had

expected. She was beginning to adjust to the separation from

the secure de Montfort household at Kenilworth. She felt

somewhat stronger and certainly more self-confident, and she

wondered if she had Sir Rodger de Leyburn to thank for it.

She smiled into the darkness, knowing Rod was definitely

responsible for making her feel beautiful and making her

aware of her female power. Perhaps power was more exciting

than love!

She knew she had been terribly wary about giving him her

trust, but now she felt he was doing his best to earn that trust. It

was a new year, a new life, and for the first time, Rosamond

was optimistic that their union held the promise of happiness.

SEVENTEEN

Rosamond slept late, and when she awakened and found

herself alone, she assumed Rodger was long gone. Deciding

herself alone, she assumed Rodger was long gone. Deciding

that today she would ride out and explore Windsor Castle's

great park and forests, she bathed quickly and opened up her

wardrobe. The first thing to catch her eye were her brother's

garments that she had brought from Deerhurst. She thought

how practical men's clothes were for riding, and no sooner

had she thought it than she found herself slipping into Giles's

chausses and doublet.

"Griffin, where the devil is Sir Rodger?"

Rosamond, hearing Lord Edward's voice behind her, swung

around to face him.

"Splendor of God, Rosamond, I thought you were your

husband's squire! Your long legs make you Griffin's height,

and I didn't expect to find a lady dressed in male garb."

"Forgive me, Lord Edward, these clothes belonged to Giles."

When he gave her a tight-lipped look of disapproval, she

blushed and quickly added, "Rodger isn't here, is there

anything I can do? "

"Yes, my dear. I intend to bring my wife, Eleanora, back to

Windsor where she belongs, and I hope you wil befriend her."

"We are already friends, Lord Edward. Did you find out where

the queen and your wife went?"

"Aye, Owen told me the royal barge was moored at Tower

Wharfe, so apparently they are in residence at London's

Tower. An impregnable fortress, but my mother has reckoned

without taking into account my determination." He suddenly

gave Rosamond a look of speculation. "God's feet, I have an

idea. Don't remove those clothes until I find your husband!"

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Edward's powers of persuasion were put to the test when he

explained his idea to Rodger de Leyburn. At first his steward

refused point-blank to al ow his wife to be part of what he

thought was a ridiculous scheme, but when he saw with his

own eyes that Rosamond might be able to pass herself off as

Griffin, he hesitated. When Edward explained the daring

scheme to Rosamond, she was eager to take part in the

charade.

Skeptical about the plan, Rodger drew Edward into the

adjoining chamber so that they could speak privately. "How do

we get through the city's gates? How do we gain entrance to

the Tower? "

"We'l stop at Westminster and get Richard of Cornwal . He

issued the bloody order to keep me out, now he can issue

another to let me in."

"I don't want Rosamond to know that we have withdrawn our

support from Simon de Montfort."

"She'l find out sooner or later, my friend. You'l have to tel her sometime soon."

"Not yet! She assuredly won't help you if she knows you have

defected. Eleanor and Simon were like parents to her!"

"Wel , I certainly shan't tel her; we have always kept each

other's secrets," Edward pledged.

In the end, Rosamond was dressed in Griffin's clothes, so that

garbed identical y, they might easily pass for one another.

When the smal cavalcade arrived at Westminster, Rodger

headed to the stables with Rosamond and the two squires,

while Lord Edward went into the palace in search of his uncle,

Richard Plantagenet.

He was gone for the better part of an hour, but of course most

of that time was taken up by Richard thanking his nephew for

repudiating Simon de Montfort and returning to the

Plantagenet fold where he belonged. Richard of Cornwal was

more than happy to take Edward in his own barge to the

Tower of London so that the prince could see his bride and

assure the queen that he was a dutiful son.

Aboard the barge, Rosamond fol owed her husband's

instructions and remained in the stern so that Richard of

Cornwal could not see her face. In reality, Rodger did not want

Rosamond to overhear any of Edward's conversation with his

uncle. He remained with her and the other

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two squires, pointing out London's landmarks to his

fascinated, wide-eyed bride.

"Which is Durham House?" Rosamond asked avidly.

With a sinking heart, Rodger pointed it out to her.

"They have waterstairs! When I visit Demi, perhaps I could

come by watercraft and avoid the twenty-mile ride." She

grinned at her husband and rubbed her bottom through the

chausses she wore.

To change the subject, Rod gestured toward a cluster of

buildings. "These constitute the New Temple, where al the

banking is done. Goldsmiths make their loans here, but not

without taking your worldly goods as security and locking them

away in their vaults."

Rosamond wondered briefly if Sir Rodger had borrowed gold

from these men, but stopped short of asking. What he had

done in the past was real y none of her business; only what he

did now and in the future mattered to her.

Suddenly, there was the great city of London, its streets,

lanes, and buildings so close and crowded, they seemed to

be built one on top of another. She pinched her nostrils at the

stench of the river, which was no longer clear, but dotted with

smal boats, floating rubbish, and a dead animal or two.

Above their heads, seagul s screeched and swooped for

dead fish or other offal.

"Oh, it's al so—"

"Disgusting?" Rod asked sympathetical y.

"No! It's fascinating ... enthral ing!" Rosamond stood up to get a better view. "I've never seen anything to compare!"

"Sit down, hang on, we're about to shoot under London

Bridge." Rodger pul ed her down ungently, and Rosamond

clamped her hands to her hat so it wouldn't go sailing off on

the wind. The square barge suddenly picked up speed and

bobbed about on the roiling tide as the oarsmen tried to

control it. It shot beneath the bridge, nearly col iding with one

of the stone arches, then almost immediately the massive,

Norman-built Tower loomed before them.

When Richard Plantagenet took them through Traitor's Gate,

Rodger watched Edward's face for any sign of guilt, but there

wasn't even a flicker upon his handsome countenance, and

Rod wondered if the prince was even capable of feeling guilty.

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Owen walked directly behind Lord Edward, while Sir Rodger,

flanked by his two squires, brought up the rear. When

Rosamond almost tripped over her sword, making it clatter, as

she climbed the stone steps, she sent Rodger a quick look of

apology.

"Clumsy young devil!" he muttered, "watch your feet instead of gaping about like a Welsh bumpkin."

Rosamond lowered her head and kept her eyes on her boots

as she and the men climbed al the way to the top floor.

Richard entered the royal apartments alone, while the rest of

them waited outside the door. When he returned, he said,

"The queen has consented to see you, Edward; I advise an

attitude of contrition." He led them into an anteroom, then led

Edward through the door on the right.

Edward had described in detail the layout of the royal

apartments to Rosamond, who knew she had no time to

waste. Without hesitation, she slipped through the door on the

left and strode through two more chambers, affecting a

confidence she did not feel. Due to the smal windows in the

Tower, the chambers were dim, and the first sign Rosamond

had that she was nearing the princess was Bebe, Eleanora's

Maltese terrier. He ran toward her, tail wagging, as Rosamond

came upon three ladies who were doing embroidery.

Princess Eleanora fol owed the dog and apologized to the

squire.

Rosamond swept off her hat and bowed low. "It is me,

Eleanora, I have urgent messages from Edward."

The princess quickly dismissed her two ladies. When they

were alone, the princess took Rosamond into her

bedchamber and closed the door. "Oh, you are so brave to do

this for me!"

"Nay, you are the one who must be brave. Edward has come

to rescue you and take you to Windsor. You are to change

clothes with me quickly and leave with your husband as one of

his squires."

"I cannot put on male attire!" she said, aghast.

"If I can do it, so can you. Think of it as a game," Rosamond urged. "Do you wish me to go back and tel Edward you are

too afraid? "

"Ah, no, no, but what wil happen to you when they find you

dressed in my clothes? "

"Nothing wil happen to me. I am Lady de Leyburn, they wil

have to let me go. I shal bring your ladies and Bebe to

Windsor." Rosamond

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hoped it would be as easy as she made it sound. She

removed her tabard and began to help Princess Eleanora

from her gown and petticoats. Then she removed her own

boots, unfastened the chausses, and slipped them off.

Eleanora gingerly stepped into the chausses and struggled to

pul them over her round hips. Rosamond fastened them for

her and pul ed the wide, loose tabard over her head.

The boots, however, were too big for Eleanora's smal feet,

but she solved the problem by taking a pair of her own riding

boots from the wardrobe. Rosamond then pul ed the hat low

on Eleanora's head and hoped no one would notice that the

fair-headed squire now had dark brown hair. When

Rosamond was satisfied she could do no more to disguise

the princess, she donned Eleanora's gown and draped her

lace mantil a over her golden hair.

"Keep your head down and your eyes on your feet so you

don't trip over the sword," Rosamond advised. When she took

Eleanora's hand, she found it trembling like a leaf. "It's an

exciting game." The words were to reassure herself as much

as the princess. She pul ed Eleanora through what felt like

endless chambers, then literal y pushed her through the

doorway where Rodger waited. The squires closed ranks

about the princess, and Rodger gave her a reassuring smile

and placed his finger to his lips.

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

contrition, but his mother's haughty manner soon set his teeth

on edge, and he began to pace like a caged lion.

"I doubt your father wil ever be able to forgive you for this

betrayal, unless you go on your knees to him!"

"That wil never happen," Edward promised. " 'Tis not my knees, but my strong arm the king craves. I am taking my men

and Eleanora to Windsor," he stated flatly.

The queen thrust out her chin aggressively. "When Henry

arrives, he wil decide if you get your men back."

Richard of Cornwal spoke up quickly. "I think we can release

his men to him, Eleanor. Now that he has repudiated Simon

de Montfort, he wil need his men for his own safety."

"So be it, but I shal keep your bride here with me to guarantee

your good behavior." Eleanor smirked slightly. "The bait

worked."

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Edward silently prayed that Rosamond's ploy had worked. If it

had, he would give anything to see his mother's face when she

found out he had spirited his wife from beneath her royal

thumb!

Back in Princess Eleanora's bedchamber, Rosamond locked

the door and stretched out on the bed to try to relax. It was

almost impossible, because she found the Tower of London

so oppressive. She had to determinedly push away thoughts

of the ordeal that awaited her, but she consoled herself with

the fact that she had Bebe for company, and gently stroked

the smal white dog nestled beside her.

It was at least an hour before one of Eleanora's ladies

knocked on the bedchamber door. Rosamond jumped, and

her heart began to thud, but she issued forth a couple of loud