Alienor’s smile broadened at the juxtaposition of name and beast.“’Tis a lengthy name for such a humble creature,” she commented, folding her arms across her chest.
The man chuckled, reaching down to scratch the creature’s ears with something like affection.His hands were tanned and Alienor found herself noticing the lean strength of them and the gentleness with which he rubbed Dagobert’s ear.
“A unicorn, nobly born, is not a humble creature,” he said, correcting her.His warm glance made her realize that the chapel was abandoned except for the three of them.Dagobert eyed Alienor’s kirtle again before reaching for the red velvet once more.Alienor stepped backward, away from both man and beast.
“Do not touch me,” she ordered the beast with a warning finger.
The goatherd’s deep chuckle reminded her that he had overheard the priest’s words and made it impossible for her to meet his gaze.
“’Tis said the unicorn comes only to a woman pure and true,” he said in his quiet and confident way.
Alienor felt her color deepen yet again.To discuss the intimacies of her wedding night with strangers was too much for her characteristic modesty.
She started when the stable hand brushed one fingertip gently across her chin, tipping up her face with the simple gesture.The tremor that tripped along her veins at the touch of his fingertip startled her with its intensity.She felt suddenly too aware of the warmth in his eyes, and she found herself snared, powerless to move or avert her gaze.
“Fear not the night, lovely lady,” he murmured.
Alienor watched, spellbound, as his lips curved into that reassuring smile again.Somehow his words eased her fears, and his quiet confidence restored her own resolve to finish what she had begun.By morning, she would be able to ask for that annulment.
“I thank you for your compassion.”She smiled back at him, and he blinked as if disconcerted, his gaze dropping to her lips and back to her eyes again.
“Tis good to see the bride smile,” he said with approval.
His words reminded Alienor of who and where she was, of how inappropriate it was for her to be studying the outline of this goatherd’s lips.She felt herself flush scarlet, and managed to mumble an inarticulate excuse before she turned and fairly fled the chapel.
She felt the weight of his gaze long after she had left him and her new spouse behind.
If Alienor had regainedsome of her composure by the time she reached the hall, dinner quickly undermined it again.As soon as she reached the head table, Iolande handed her a chalice brimming with mulled wine.Her new mother-in-law’s hands were icily cold when their fingers brushed.The pewter chalice was clearly of some ceremonial value, its decoration too ornate for an oft-used piece.The design echoed the branching grapevines laden with fruit that Alienor had noted in the stained glass of the chapel.
“To the fruit of the union,” Iolande said as Alienor lifted the cup to her lips.
She stifled her annoyance that yet another mention had been made of the impending intimacy of her wedding night.
“Blessed be the fruit!”the company intoned.
Iolande arched an eyebrow at her in expectation.
“Blessed be the fruit,” Alienor repeated, wondering at the words.
Iolande’s smile did not quite reach her eyes.Sensing someone behind her, Alienor turned slightly, startled to find the goatherd watching her as he led Dagobert to the table.
It seemed the beast had the place of honor.
Iolande bent and offered the chalice to the creature, making the same enigmatic blessing as it lapped at the wine with its startlingly blue tongue.Alienor barely stifled a grimace and looked away.She was surprised to see the goatherd’s gray eyes twinkling, as if at some hidden joke.
“Blessed be the fruit,” that man repeated along with the company, his gaze fixed upon her.Alienor flushed anew, the words sounding curiously intimate when they fell from that man’s lips.
She could not think of a single clever word to say, so she took her seat at the board.A quick glance to her right confirmed that Dagobert was indeed still ruminating.A glance at the company revealed that they all considered the situation to be acceptable.Alienor sighed and lifted her gaze to study the stonework in the ceiling.
She had only to endure this travesty until morning.
The meal was served and the scent of the first offered platter made her raise her hand.
“I thank you, but I will take no meat.”Her refusal, though quietly uttered, seemed to draw the attention of everyone at the head table.Iolande inhaled sharply, muttering something unintelligible under her breath, and Alienor’s heart sank to her toes.She was not among friends and she should have realized as much.Truly she had erred, but the dangerous declaration had left her lips before she thought.Even Guibert looked grim.
She had been blessed with the tolerance of her neighbors for years and now forgot herself at the board of a count undoubtedly pledged to the king’s will.That king was pledged to exterminate the Cathars, who were known to spurn the consumption of meat.To spurn meat was to be Cathar; to be Cathar, an enemy of the crown.How could she have been so foolish?The response of the others at the head table left no doubt in Alienor’s thoughts that her religion had been suspected and was not appreciated.Could anything else possibly go wrong this day?
Dare she hope that she might be discarded as an unsuitable bride?
