She swept him a curtsy. “My lord,” she said softly.
He came forward, catching her hands in his, looking down into her face. “You have spoken with the king’s mother and you are satisfied?” His hazel-green eyes searched her visage for any sign of discontent.
She gave him a shy smile. “I think it is a good solution to both our problems, sir. I need a husband, and you will be able, by marrying me, to continue in your loyal service to the House of Tudor,” she told him gravely. “And you, sir. Are you content to be my husband?”
“I am,” he answered her. “And you understand, Rosamund, that this marriage you undertake with me will not be in name only, as it was with your two previous mates? You will be a wife to me in every way that a woman may be to her wedded lord.”
She blushed, but she responded, “I am old enough now, sir. I am older than the Queen of the Scots.”
Still holding her by one hand, he reached up with his other hand and gently grazed her cheek with his knuckles. His look was warm. “You are so very fair,” he said to her. Then he brushed her lips with his. “I will be a good husband to you, Rosamund.”
“I know,” she replied, and she did. In that single moment that his mouth met hers so briefly, Rosamund Bolton knew that she had waited her whole young life for just this moment. “I know you will, Owein,” she said, and she meant it.
Chapter 8
“Tonight,” the king said as he stood at the high board, “I have a happy announcement to make. You all know Sir Owein Meredith. He has served the House of Tudor since his childhood. He has served it faithfully. The Queen of the Scots has requested a boon from me. She has asked that in honor of her marriage I reward this good knight. I am pleased to do so. So I give my ward, the Lady Rosamund Bolton of Friarsgate, in marriage to Sir Owein, and I grant them permission to travel as far as their home in the company of my daughter’s wedding train. May their life together be a happy and fruitful one.” He raised his goblet to the couple who were seated at the trestle just below the high board tonight.
At once the entire hall arose, raising their drinking vessels, and shouted with one voice, “Long life and many children!”
Rosamund clutched Owein’s hand, blushing with her excitement.
“I fear Hal has lost his wager,” murmured Richard Neville, who was seated at the far end of the table.
“But neither have you won it,” Owein Meredith said softly, for he had heard young Neville’s remark. “Master Brandon, you will bring the stakes you have been holding to the Countess of Richmond. You will tell her ’tis a donation from Prince Henry’s friends for the poor. In future have more care with your gaming, gentlemen.”
“It will be exactly as you have dictated, Sir Owein,” Charles Brandon said, bowing from his seated position.
But Richard Neville was incensed. “Be careful, Meredith,” he snarled. “My family is very powerful where you are going!”
“You acted dishonorably, sir. Be grateful I do not tell your father, who I have not a doubt would send you home immediately,” Sir Owein replied sternly to the younger man. “Only that I would not have Rosamund’s good name damaged, I should give you the thrashing that you so richly deserve. Do not dare to threaten me.Andhow dare you encourage England’s future king to less than honorable behavior?”
Richard Neville opened his mouth to reply, but Charles Brandon hissed sharply at him, “Be silent, Dickon! There is no excuse for what we attempted, and I knew it when I agreed to hold the wagers. We have only gotten what we deserved in this matter.” He turned to the king’s knight. “You have my apologies, Sir Owein,” he said.
“They are accepted, Master Brandon,” Sir Owein responded.
“What is this all about?” Rosamund asked the man who was to be her new husband.
“It is of no import, lovey,” he answered her.
“Sir, if you persist in treating me like a witless and frail flower we shall not get on at all, I fear. Now, what is this quarrel about?” Rosamund demanded.
“We wagered on whether or not Prince Hal could seduce you,” Richard Neville said meanly. “You are such a little innocent bumpkin, lady.”
To their surprise Rosamund laughed aloud. “And you, sir, are a fool if you thought that Prince Henry’s charm was all that was required to steal my virtue. We country lasses are clever in our own way. Perhaps we are not wise to your sophistication, but an attempted seduction be it by a prince or a cowherd, is very much the same. Although I will agree a prince’s language is more flowery.” She laughed again, and then as if an afterthought said, “Oh,and when your father wonders why I will not put my stallion to his mares any longer, tell him of this conversation we have just had. I know he was hoping to breed up several good warhorses by my King Valiant. What a pity.” Then Rosamund smiled up into her betrothed husband’s face and murmured, “Will you take me from the hall, sir. I find the air here has become rather fetid.”
Without another word Owein arose and escorted her out, smiling and nodding at the congratulations they received along the way. When they had exited the great hall he turned to Rosamund saying with a grin, “I had forgotten how cleverandhow fierce you can be, lovey.”
“I know I have been a quiet little ninny these months I have been at court,” she admitted. “I have never been sure of myself in these surroundings, but now I am to go home. I can be myself once again. I hope you like who I am, sir, for you would, it seems, have no choice in the matter any longer.”
He stopped, and looking down at her, took her face into his two hands. “I have liked you since the moment we met, Rosamund Bolton. I just never expected to be any more to you than a friend.” The hazel-green eyes engaged her amber ones most directly.
“But now you are to be my husband,” she answered him softly.
“Tomorrow we sign the papers,” he told her.
“I am not unhappy about the matter,” she told him. Her heart was racing madly, for he was looking at her so intensely.
“Are you flirting with me, madame?” he asked, and unable to help himself, he brushed her full ripe lips with his.
