Melusine, in fact, was positively giddy.
“Asa says that he wishes to buy me a gift,” she said, clutching Elle’s hand. “He’s very rich, you know. His father was a jeweler to King John.”
Elle nodded. “I know,” she said. “Curtis told me. But… Melly… you are not thinking of accepting a gift from him, are you?”
Melusine was indignant. “Why not?” she said. “He wants to spend money on me, so I will let him. He is showing his affection for me.”
Elle shook her head. “You fuss when Curtis suggests you buy an article of clothing you need, yet you will freely let Asa spend money on you?”
Melusine frowned. “But he wants to,” she said. “Curtis is your husband, and he should only spend money on you and not me. But Asa… hewantsto.”
Elle could see she wasn’t going to get anywhere with her, so she simply looked away to the passing greenery around them. “Do not be greedy,” she said. “Asa is doing it because he likes you.”
“He wants to marry me, I know it.”
“But he is Jewish,” Elle reminded her. “I’ve heard Curt and Peter speaking on it. It will not make for an easy marriage for you.”
“Why not?”
“Because he is not Christian.”
Melusine’s eyebrows rose. “And you do not approve?”
Elle shook her head. “I did not mean that,” she said. “I like Asa. He is humorous and kind. But he worships differently. He is from a people who are not viewed the same as the Christians are. That is all I am saying. You are not part of his world, and his people may not accept you so easily, either.”
Melusine sighed, turning her attention to the window, too. “I know,” she said. “I know you like him. We all like him. You havemarried aSaesneg, and I am fond of anIddew. But what does it matter so long as we love them?”
Elle thought on that statement.What does it matter so long as we love them?She could see Curtis outside her window, riding strong and proud. Her heart fluttered every time she looked at the man, every time he kissed her, and every other time in between if he was on her mind. Which was constantly. That flutter had started from the day of their wedding and only grown worse. Now, it was full-blown giddiness when he was around her, and it was all she could do to keep from swooning sometimes.
And he belonged to her.
Did she love him? Of course she did. She couldn’t remember when she hadn’t. But in her world, speaking of things like love and emotion simply weren’t done. No one had ever loved her, and she’d never loved anyone, not even her grandmother. It was difficult to grow attached to an old woman who was bitter and never had a kind word. Elle had spent many years trying to please someone who would never be pleased. Could she speak of love to her? Of course not.
Could she speak of love to Curtis?
What if the feeling wasn’t mutual?
He was sweet to her. So very sweet. He called her “love” and “my love” from time to time, but she was sure it was simply a term of endearment and nothing more. If he truly loved her, why hadn’t he simply come out and told her? Nay, she couldn’t risk telling the man she loved him only to be rejected in turn. It was enough that they smiled at one another, that he would kiss her hard and often, and that they laughed together a good deal. That was the strange part. She’d spent a lifetime hardly laughing because there was nothing to laugh about, but with Curtis, smiles and laughter came so easily.
The man who had once been her enemy.
Now, he was her whole world.
The town of Rhayader came into view shortly, an idyllic little village surrounded by gently rolling hills. They passed through the outskirts, and the children, recognizing the de Lohr carriage because they’d seen it come to town the past few weeks, began to run alongside, begging for coins. The closer they drew to the town center, the more children joined in, until there was quite a pack following them. Elle looked to Curtis, smiling, and he took the hint. He always carried a sack of silver pennies with him, a smaller and less valuable denomination than the larger silver or gold coins. Digging into a purse that was fastened to his saddle on the inside of his left thigh, he came away with a small handful of the pennies and tossed them onto the side of the road.
A cheer went up from the children as they rushed to the scattering of silver coins very excitedly, and Elle and Melusine watched with smiles on their faces. The area they were in was fairly rural and poor except for a few bustling businesses in the heart of the village. It was one of the largest villages in the Welsh midlands, surrounded by farmland and mountains to the north. In the winter, it was cold and snowy here, and in the summer, it was green and mild.
The escort from Brython was heading to the heart of the village, where there was a big stone well in the center and a pool from which women would draw water. There was also a big stone cross on one end of the pool signifying St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children and merchants, among others. Curtis brought the escort into the center of the village and called a halt, putting Asa in command of the men. Douglas, Andrew, and Westley immediately begged to go to the stall of a woman who sold sweets, and also to the alley where the blacksmiths plied their trade, and Curtis sent them off with a stern warning to behave themselves. As they rushed off, he went to remove Elleand Melusine from the carriage. Once Elle stepped out of the fortified cab, she began to sniff the air.
“Smell it?” she said. “Fresh bread. And pie. I smell pies.”
Curtis knew what that meant. They had to find food. He was rather surprised, because Elle hadn’t been feeling well lately, not too inclined to eat like she usually did, but he would happily take her where she wanted to go. Melusine didn’t particularly want to go along because Asa was staying with the men, so Curtis took his wife’s hand and led her away, following the smells of the bakers. Elle held his big hand with both of hers as they crossed the square toward the bakers’ alley.
“Well?” Curtis said. “What will it be today? More bread? Mayhap the meat pies?”
Elle nodded. “All of that, please.”
He grinned. “What else?” he said. “What about the woman who makes those little cakes you like with the honey and cloves?”
