“The dawn arrives.”He nodded toward the first lightening of the eastern sky.“We should find somewhere in the woods to hide ourselves and settle for the day.”
It tooka fortnight for them to travel the distance between Paris and Montsalvat, riding hard from dusk to dawn and concealing themselves during each day.July ripened as they rode farther south and the days were hot even in the shade of the trees, the nights scarcely better despite the breeze.Their meager rations put flesh only on Dagobert, giving Alienor a new understanding of what he had endured in prison as her own belly rang hollow.Iolande walked into towns on market days to buy provisions, so careful with her coin that Alienor knew she did not have much.They had bathed in streams when they had the opportunity and truly, she yearned to reach the fortress she had come to consider her home.
Alienor had barely spoken with Dagobert since their argument.The realization that she could not withdraw her ultimatum increased as each day passed with only silence reigning between them.And what else could she say?It seemed absurd to make casual conversation with such an issue unresolved between them and she had no more to say about her objections.
When she chose to ride alone, he did not protest.When she became drowsy, he invited her to join him.Their interactions were polite, even formal, and a far cry from Alienor’s desire.Alienor barely listened when Iolande and Dagobert talked of armies and quests.He would do as he would do, and she suspected, he would choose to uphold his pledge to his father.Perhaps he would die young.Perhaps he did not have the confidence in the future to attempt to win her heart, or even answer her accusations.Alienor could not say.Often she would feel the weight of someone’s gaze upon her and would look up, only to find her spouse considering her.What was he thinking?She knew not and had not the audacity to ask.
’Twas with relief that she realized he took responsibility for her safety more seriously than ever he did, for each day no matter where or when she fell asleep, she would awaken nestled securely against his warmth.More than once on those long days when they rested in the woods, the weight of his arm cast around her waist would bring unbidden tears that their hearts should be so far apart while their bodies lie in such close proximity.
“’Tis Lavelanet ahead,”Iolande said as they crested a hill in the quiet hour before the dawn.Her comment was unnecessary, for even Alienor recognized the misty silhouette of the town that had become visible through the steady downpour of rain.
“Just half a day’s ride from home.”Dagobert looked up at the darkened sky.His destrier stamped, impatient to continue, but he settled the horse with one hand.
Alienor followed his gesture, admiring his skill with beasts.She wished that she had not refused his offer that she ride with him this night.She was wet and cold.
Even after a fortnight, she had not managed to change her body’s rhythm that she might sleep in the day and be awake at night.She was not tired as she had been earlier with the babe: she was filled with unusual vigor during the day, restlessly awaiting their departure, but then inevitably dozed in her saddle once the moon rose high.
“We could avoid a rest this day and be in Montsalvat before nightfall,” Dagobert suggested.
Iolande shook her head.“You forget the situation there,” she argued.“I believe we should stop at an inn and rest.The way will certainly be less easy than when I left two months past.”
“We have insufficient coin for such an endeavor,” Dagobert said, his words prompting Alienor’s memory.His mother poured out the contents of her purse but the coins were so few that there was no need to count them to know ’twas not enough.Alienor urged her horse forward and retrieved Jordan’s forgotten purse from the satchel on Dagobert’s saddle.“I heartily doubt that any would extend their charity to us,” Dagobert continued.His mother nodded, then frowned as she noticed the silver spilling into Alienor’s hand.
“We still have a few coins,” Alienor said.
A slow smile stole over Dagobert’s lips as glanced down at her hand and his pleasure warmed her heart.“You offered it so freely in Paris that I thought the funds exhausted.”Alienor shook her head and he took the pouch, tipping out the coins into his palm.He whistled under his breath as he counted them.“’Tis more than adequate,” he informed his mother, throwing Alienor a sidelong smile.“Were you saving this for some greater purpose, my lady wife?”he teased, and Alienor flushed with pleasure at his mood.
“In truth, ’twas forgotten,” she confessed.
Dagobert chuckled and shook a finger at her, his eyes sparkling so that she could not look away.“’Tis but the prospect of a hot bath that loosens your purse strings.”he teased and Alienor laughed in turn.He watched her so closely that she felt her anticipation rise.
“’Twould be tempting enough for me,” she replied.“But for you ’twould be more necessity than luxury.I will not take the second water should you be first into the tub!”
Dagobert laughed aloud.
“Aye, she speaks the truth.”Iolande agreed.“You have been a fragrant companion these last weeks.”
Dagobert bore these accusations with good humor, regarding his mother and his wife with mock affront.“Am I to be given no allowance for the circumstances that forced me to this low level of cleanliness?”he asked.
Both women shook their heads as one.“’Tis but a blessing that they shaved your head and the lice had nowhere to nest,” Alienor said.
“That is true enough,” he ceded, though she sensed he would make another jest.He lifted the pouch and shook its contents so they jingled.“But you show poor judgment to so insult the one with the coin.Perhaps I alone will bathe this night!”With that, he touched his heels to his impatient horse’s flanks and the beast sped off toward drowsy Lavelanet.The two women laughed as they gave pursuit.
The three found a well-sizedroom in a clean inn, each of them equally torn between the attractions of the soft mattress, the steaming bath and the fragrant food being laid out on the table before the hearth.Of course, there was no question that Dagobert would use the bathwater third.Iolande took the first bath when Alienor deferred to her.
Iolande examined Alienor’s rounding belly with a proprietary pride when the younger woman undressed for her bath, declaring herself pleased by the babe’s progress.Aware of her husband’s gaze upon her, Alienor hastened into the tub and sank beneath the water.Similarly, she paid keen attention to the food when Dagobert stripped for his bath, finding herself achingly aware of his nudity.She was determined not even to cast a glance in his direction.
When all had bathed, Iolande and Dagobert settled before the dying fire to plan their strategy and Alienor called for more water.She had no doubt that water would be in short supply at the fortress: ’twas always thus in the mountains in the summer heat.Plus supplies from outside were likely being curtailed by the invading troops.She washed all of their garments, for the fabric was fairly choked with dust from their travels.Soon every surface in the room was draped with wet garments.She considered the grimy state of her chemise, trying to decide whether she should be without a single dry garment.
“Are you not tired, my lady?”Dagobert asked softly.Alienor’s skin prickled as she felt his breath on the back of her neck.He lifted her loosened hair and pressed a kiss beneath her ear, and Alienor’s knees threatened to buckle at the simple caress.
Aye, this was why he showed such good humor at the prospect of an inn.He meant to partake of the pleasure of the marital bed.That was one matter in which she had his attention.
But ’twas no longer sufficient, not matter how beguiling she found his touch.
“Nay,” Alienor said, her words breathless with her awareness of him.“I have much to do.”
“Indeed?”Dagobert surveyed the damp clothing, then considered the chausses he wore and the chemise Iolande was wearing where she had fallen asleep before the hearth.“What else do you intend to wash?”
