No matter what else happened in his day, it seemed that Alienor could draw the tension from him and give him ease to rest.She was the sole one who demanded naught of him; she was the sole one who gave to him instead of taking.Dagobert praised the day he had reluctantly taken her to his side.When he was in this bed with Alienor, it seemed absurd that Eustache suspected her of being the source of the betrayal within the house—but then, Eustache had never experienced the tranquility that Alienor shared with Dagobert.’Twas in the quiet hours of the night that Dagobert had no doubt of his wife’s trustworthiness.
If only such conviction would not fade so readily before the harsh light of day.
His thumb drew rhythmic circles against the smoothness of her shoulder and he watched her closely, as if he would discern the very secrets of her heart.Dark lashes splayed against the smooth golden contour of her cheeks, and her rosy lips were even more full in sleep.Waves of dark hair fell over her bare shoulders in disarray and he slid his hand through the tresses, watching the ebony strands catch on his fingertips.He seized a fistful of the thick softness and lifted it to his nose, inhaling of his wife’s sweet scent.
Aye, he could lie like this forever.
Alienor sighed, her breath soft against his skin, and her hand eased across his chest in a slow caress.Dagobert smiled and tightened his arm around her shoulders, bending to brush a kiss across her forehead.Exhaustion rose within him and he surrendered to the temptation to sleep.He pulled Alienor yet closer into his embrace, knowing that he would not trade these moments for all the riches in Paris.
As the days passed,the winds of March that wailed around the keep grew steadily warmer and less insistent.New grass unfurled in the bailey and a few intrepid flowers dared to poke their heads from the chill of the earth.
Alienor’s stomach grew more steady.She missed the festivities of Bema and the celebration of the equinox that she had previously enjoyed with the Cathars in Perpignan.The spring equinox was not celebrated at Montsalvat and she was hardly in a position to encourage a change.
No one in the household had yet learned of her condition.Even Giselle remained ignorant of the soft curve of her mistress’s belly and Alienor could not help but wonder how long this fortunate condition could continue.Iolande commented one day in the solar that the spring had put roses in Alienor’s cheeks.Alienor’s hands had frozen over her work, certain her secret had been detected, until the other women laughingly agreed and talked of losing their own fairness of complexion thanks to the warm sunshine.
Iolande seemed preoccupied these days, as if concerned with matters in another sphere.Alienor wondered at the cause, though she knew Iolande was unlikely to confide in her.More than once she glanced up and found the older woman frowning down at her work as though she saw not what lay before her.Perhaps ’twas as much Iolande’s preoccupation as Alienor’s cleverness that kept Dagobert’s mother from learning of the babe.
Alaric seemed touched by the same reflective mood as Iolande.Alienor was disappointed to find him distant on those rare occasions when their paths did cross.She noted that he was apparently so occupied that the care of the unicorn was often entrusted to a young squire.Alaric himself was seldom to be seen around the hall or stables.Only Eustache seemed much as before, his assessing gaze darting from one face to another around the hall as if he sought some hidden piece of a greater puzzle.
And that Jordan.Still he lingered at Montsalvat and still his presence plagued Alienor.He was no gallant knight, despite his spurs, of that Alienor was certain.He consistently vowed he would show her the way of real men should she so much as crook a finger in his direction.’Twas improper and disgusting and Alienor could only be amazed that no one seemed to have noticed his manner—or perhaps no one chose to take issue with it.Perhaps she was no better than a brood mare, even in her husband’s view.’Twould be a fine change of events if she had a husband who would take issue with such insult, whether it be by night or day.
How she wished she could dismiss her sense of foreboding.Something was awry.Some peril drew near.But Alienor could neither name it nor halt its approach.
’Twasat the end of March that Alienor awoke one morning and discovered that Dagobert was not with her in either form.To her surprise, the chamber door was still locked.She rose hastily, that feeling of dread multiplying with speed.
A quick survey revealed that the unicorn was not hidden in the solar.The brightness of the morning sun fed her trepidation.With alarm, Alienor turned the lock and opened the heavy door, nearly colliding with Giselle in the darkened antechamber in her haste to find her husband.
“My lady, the floors are too cold for you to be barefoot.”Giselle began to scold as she attempted to usher her mistress back into the solar, but Alienor interrupted her abruptly.
“Where is my lord Dagobert?”she asked, and the maid fell silent in surprise.
“He is not within?”Giselle gestured to the open door.
Alienor shook her head quickly, her fear rising.’Twas no good omen that Giselle had not seen the unicorn outside the room.
“Nay, he is not there and the door was locked when I awakened.”Alienor heard her voice rising.“Giselle, something has gone amiss.I know it in my heart.”
“My lady, certain I am that all is well.”The younger girl spoke with an authority that belied her years, but that that did not settle Alienor’s fears.“I would have you return to bed while I send someone to seek my lord and return him to you.”
“Nay, Giselle, I would know the truth of it, and I would know it now.”Alienor pushed past the girl into the corridor.
“Not without yourpelisson, my lady!”
Alienor hastened to the stairs, and barely noticed the weight of the silk-lined garment settling over her shoulders.Her pulse picked up its pace as she reached the hall below.A quick survey of the common room was enough to convince her that the unicorn was not there.Alienor made for the stables.
“My lady, you have no shoes!”Giselle wailed, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Alienor had to learn the truth.
“My lady.”That firm voice caught Alienor’s attention.She halted before an obstacle, then looked up to meet the concern in Alaric’s eyes.
Truly she had missed him these last few weeks.
“What is amiss?”he asked softly and she was glad to see that he shared her concern, even without knowing its root.
“’Tis the unicorn,” she confessed.“Have you seen him this morn?”
“He is not in your chambers?”Alaric asked.
