“Please, friends and sisters. Thank you for coming and enjoy the feast but I believe we have duties to see to first. Namely - the marriage bed must be assessed. Follow my friends.”
Martha swept her hand over her head and all followed. Brighit was taken aback at the announcement but Ruth pulled her forward.
“I believe I’m needing to make this trip with my husband.” Her voice sounded as small as she felt.
“Here I am.” Peter stepped up as they walked through the open doors.
Mort waited for the group to pass by, giving her a kind smile as she went.
With great care, he took the bundle from Brighit’s arms and handed the babe back to its mother.
The cheering erupted around them once the group passed Ruth with her child. Ribald comments come to them from the men and the women giggled and rolled their eyes.
Brighit felt her face grow hotter with every step down the hallway and not knowing exactly where this “bedding” was to take place. She looked at Peter whose eyes were steadily glancing between where they were being led and her face. Did he measure her trepidation? His sudden responsibility? Or how long it would take before he could go to see John?
She swallowed the fear that swamped at the reality of having just made the biggest error in judgment of her short life. A fool’s error. She had allowed herself to believe that somehow this was a good thing but it was truly a farce. She was not compromised. She was not taken advantage of. Yet she was wed.
Just as she readied herself to halt right there and proclaim this marriage nothing more than a big lie, they reached an oak door. Martha pushed it open to reveal a huge chamber of exquisite elegance. Brighit’s mouth dropped open. It was a chamber fit for the King with a huge platform in the middle of the room which held a bed like none she’d ever seen before. Long drapes hung around the posts supporting the bed. A gentle fire burned to the far side of the room that was big enough to heat the entire Great Hall.
“What is this place?” Brighit asked.
“Martha told me this is the Bishop’s private chambers.” Peter looked around him, a slight nod to his head as if assessing something that has met approval. “I believe Odo will not mind if we use his chamber in this instance.”
He turned back at her with a knowing look. Her heart dropped to her stomach.
“Our marriage bed will be the bed of the King’s half-brother?”
“Hmm, I’m surprised you know that.”
The clamor interrupted their discussion. Peter smiled and turned toward the smiling faces that pushed against them in their eagerness to get inside of the room.
“It is not with great reluctance that we bid you goodbye. You may not be entering nor witnessing the bedding. As you believe the bedding has already taken place.” He shrugged his shoulders and pulled the door closed.
Peter closed his eyes, leaned back against the door, and blew out a breath. His irritation quite apparent and Brighit felt the tears at the back of her throat. The sound from the crowd outside diminished as they returned to the feast.
He suddenly opened his eyes and pierced her with his look. “Ah, my lovely Brighit. I could eat you up!”
Brighit’s eyes widened.
“Do not be afraid. And I promise to make it a pleasurable experience.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Peter pushed away from the door and walked toward Brighit. The look of fear on her face surprised him. She had shown herself to be quite passionate. He glanced around the room. All had been provided for them. Food. Drink. Water. Bed. A fire that could easily make the room extremely warm... for anyone who was dressed. Brighit would need to lose the dress. He pressed his lips together, remembering what was hidden beneath. Libations may be the best approach.
“Come.” He took her cold hand. The room was expansive and he led her to the bench. “Sit.”
The mead warmed beside the fire and he offered her a cup before sitting beside her. Taking a sip himself, he said, “Mead always tastes best at the Monasteries and Priories.”
She brought the cup to her mouth, a slight tremble in her hand. “This is the only one I’ve been to but I would agree it is good.”
No one would be interrupting them this time and he had time to ease any nervousness. He also knew no one would ever know what they did or didn’t do.
“They think we have already done the deed.”
“That is true enough,” Brighit said.
“If we choose to consummate this tonight or not, it is our decision alone.”
