Nay, she wasn’t eager to hear more of that this morning because she knew just by Maude’s tone that it had been another long night of a husband who had kept her up to feed his desires. Vesper knew that as long as the old maids were around, two women who had been brought by Lord Eynsford from Maude’s home to tend her every need, that Maude wouldn’t speak of the dirty details of the bedchamber. But that changed quickly when Maude sent the women out to bring her food. Once they were gone, Maude sighed with exhaustion.
“Finally, they are gone!” she said with relief. “Where are Lisbet and Eloise?”
Vesper shook her head. “I believe they are in the kitchens dyeing thread. At least, that is what they told me they were going to do after we broke our fast in the hall. Shall I send for them?”
Maude shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “I will tell you, Vesper, but you must not tell them anything!”
Vesper knew that was a farce; Maude would tell them everything, anyway, because she could not keep her mouth shut. But Vesper was genuinely in no mood for sordid talk this morning.
“You know that I do not repeat what you tell me,” she said evenly. “But… why don’t you wait until they return? That way you will only have to tell your story once. Meanwhile, come to the window with me and see what the soldiers have done. They have created two armies of snowmen.”
It was enough of a lure to distract Maude briefly, but only briefly. She went to the window to see the snowman armies but it did not hold her attention for long.
“Last night was terrible, Vesper,” she moaned. “He tried something new and I have never been so ashamed in my life.”
Vesper tried not to roll her eyes. “My lady, I am quite sure that Lord Eynsford would not be happy if he knew you spoke of your private life with him. What if he did the same about you? Told all of the men of his bedchamber conquests?”
Maude looked at Vesper, stricken. “Does he?”
Vesper nearly laughed at the question. It was evidently acceptable for her to speak on her husband’s sexual habits but not the other way around. “I do not know,” she said, shaking her head. “I am simply trying to think of the lord’s feelings. And your feelings as well.”
Maude appeared hurt. “Do you not want to hear? But I have no one to talk to. I must share this with someone. I cannot talk to my lord.”
Vesper sighed heavily and returned her focus to her sewing. “Then speak if you must,” she said reluctantly. “I know that you find yourself in a lonely position these days.”
Maude remained by the window, gazing out over the bailey that was quickly turning into a sea of muddy snow. “I did not want to marry him, you know,” she said quietly. “I was hoping for a young, handsome husband, like Des. I can see him from here– he is by the gatehouse.”
Vesper looked up from her sewing, watching Maude’s expression. She knew that Maude had always been smitten with one of Eynsford’s knights, Sir Desmond de Marmande. Desmond had been fond of her, too, until the first Lady Eynsford died and Lord Eynsford swept Maude away from Desmond. Vesper was fairly certain that Desmond’s heart had been broken, but he’d never been anything other than polite and seemingly happy for the wedding of his lord to the woman he’d been fond of.
But it was something they didn’t speak of much these days because it hurt Maude to think of it since she had been very fond of Desmond, too. Vesper was surprised the woman had brought it up.
“You married well, my lady,” she said, returning her focus to her sewing. “Lord Eynsford is very fond of you and you have wealth and position. It is a fine marriage.”
Maude’s features softened as she beheld her once-favored knight through the window. “Sometimes, when William touches me, I imagine that it is Des,” she murmured. Her tone turned sorrowful. “Sometimes, I do not think I can take his touch one more minute, Vesper. He is old and fat, and he smells terribly. He forces me to lie on my back while he covers me with his big, hairy body and rubs himself all over me.”
Vesper was sorry for her friend but hearing the wistfulness in Maude’s tone when she spoke of Desmond made her think ofVal. Was that how her life was going to be, also? Spending her time pining away for the man she adored? It was tearing at her heart.
“Maude, don’t…,” she begged softly.
But Maude wasn’t listening. “All he cares about is having another son,” she said, close to tears. “I spend hours pulling at his slimy, stubby manhood until it is hard enough for him to bed me. And it hurts, Vesper– he rams it into me and grunts like a pig. I do not know how much longer I can stand it.”
Vesper sighed sharply and looked up at her. “No more, Maude,” she said quietly. “Please. Someone will hear you and it will get back to our lord. You are his wife now and you must do as he wishes.”
Maude knew that. Her fair face crumpled. “I am so miserable, Vesper,” she wept softly. “Whatever shall I do?”
Vesper had no answers. She was fairly miserable herself. Before she could come up with a reply that would both ease Maude and, hopefully, convince the woman to shut her mouth, Maude suddenly spoke.
“There is someone entering the gatehouse,” she sniffled, wiping at her eyes. Then, she blinked, peering at the activity at the gatehouse. “Vesper, it looks like your father!”
Vesper was on her feet, racing to the window where Maude stood and practically shoved the woman aside. In disbelief, she could see what had Maude’s attention– there was no mistaking the man who had come through the gatehouse on foot, dressed in clothes she’d seen on her father since he’d come to Eynsford those weeks ago. Dirty woolens and a torn, dirty cloak. The man’s head was uncovered and his bushy, dark hair was illuminated in the bright sunlight.
McCloud d’Avignon had returned.
Shocked, Vesper could hardly grasp what she was seeing. McCloud was speaking to the men at the gatehouse pleasantly.They knew him as Vesper’s father from his recent visit to Eynsford.
What they didn’t know is why Vesper had returned without him because she’d never said a word about her father. When people asked, all she’d said was that he’d been forced to return to Durley to tend the farm. She didn’t want anyone to know what had happened but here he was, returned to Eynsford, when he had promised to leave her alone. After Vesper’s initial shock faded, anger took hold. Damn the man!
He was here!
