"Youhave not opened it," Drogo murmured. "I did not see you do so in thecottage and I am sure you have not tried to since then. Are you not curiousabout what she gave you? Or, mayhap, what you have stolen?"
Itwas hard not to respond to the accusation that she had helped herself to thepossessions of a dead woman. Eada found that deeply insulting. If he made toomany remarks like that, she was certainly not going to keep her knowledge ofFrench secret for long. Such insults demanded a quick, angry reply.
Herthoughts on how she might vent her anger were abruptly ended when Drogo reachedfor the chest. "Do not touch it," she snapped, holding it out of hisreach. "It is mine."
Drogowas surprised at the vehemence of her response. He was also dismayed by hercontinuing utter lack of submissiveness. Although he did not wish to have herterrified of him or completely defeated in spirit, a little deference would bebetter. It would strengthen his claim to her in the eyes of the other men.
"Ithink you forget that you are a prisoner," he said, wishing she couldunderstand him. "Nothing is yours alone any longer."
“Thisis mine. There is nothing in this of value or of interest to you. Old Edithgranted me this with her last breath, and no French knight will lay his handsupon it."
Theold woman's name was all Drogo recognized out of the softly hissed barrage ofwords. It was enough to make him step back, however. The old woman had clearlyleft the girl some meager inheritance, and he would honor that. He would findsome other way to assert his authority over her.
"Come,"he ordered as he took her by the arm and started toward the house he hadclaimed.
Eadahurried to keep pace with his long strides. She was uncomfortably aware of howtall he was, and how strong, as she was pulled along by his side. Destiny hadchosen a great deal of man for her.
Allof her concern over his size, strength, and how she might be able to resistcomplete domination by him fled her mind as she realized which house they werestriding toward. She had to nip the inside of her cheek to keep from gaping.The tall Norman who planned to conquer her as well as her country was leadingher to the door of her own home. Eada decided that the fates which had chosenhim for her had a perverse sense of humor.
Five
AsEada stood in the great hall of her home, the first thing she was aware of washow thoroughly her mother had emptied the house of all that was of value. Shewas certain the Normans would not have hidden away such treasures as the pewtergoblets or the silver platter, but they were not anywhere to be seen. Eadaprayed that her mother had been successful in getting their valuables to a safeplace. There would be a real need for such things when England's fate wasfinally decided. She just wished she had some way of discovering where thathaven was.
"Ivo,go and collect our share of the bounty we found," Drogo ordered hisservant.
Eadalooked at the big, dark man Drogo spoke to and frowned when she saw the thin,dark-haired girl who huddled close by his side. She moved quickly and caughtthe girl by the arm when she tried to leave with Ivo. Ivo turned and stared ather, his look so fierce that Eada almost stepped back.
"Ivo,"Drogo said, placing a gentle but restraining hand on his servant's shoulder."This woman is Saxon. She will not hurt the girl. I swear this. I think itis also wise if the girl does not venture outside."
Ivonodded, and after one last look Eada's way, he left. Eada breathed a sigh ofrelief and looked at the faintly trembling girl. "What is your name?"
"May."
"Iam Eada. Whom did you belong to, May? I see that you are a bond-slave."
"Iwas held by Eldrid, son of Hacon."
"Youpoor girl," she murmured in honest sympathy, for those men were well knownas brutes. "I can see that the swine beat you often." When the girlrelaxed, her trembling fading away, Eada eased her hold on her.
"Iwas beaten because I wept when Eldrid raped me, and then his wife beat mebecause he kept lying down with me."
"Mayhe rot in hell. And he left you behind when he fled?"
"No.He and his family tried to gather up all they owned when they saw the Normans,but they were too greedy and did not leave in time. When the Normans began totake their things, Eldrid's wife stuck a knife in one of them, and then theNormans killed them all."
"Butnot you? Where were you?"
"Iwas hiding in the wagon, but they soon found me. One man struck me, and then Ivocame. There were four men there; but Ivo beat them, and then he claimedme."
"Hewas kind to save you, but do you wish to stay with Ivo?" Eada was not sureif she could do anything to help the girl, but she would try if May wasdesperately afraid or unhappy.
"Ithink Ivo is slow-witted, but he is a good man. I think he is also a freeman,and that too is good. He wants to keep me and he is gentle with me. It might befoolish to push him away or try to leave." May shrugged, a faint wincemarring her thin face as the gesture pained her back. "In truth, I likehim."
Eadasmiled faintly and kissed May on the cheek, her smile widening when the girlstared at her in openmouthed shock. "Then you must stay with him, May. Ifear we are all no more than loot or bounty at the moment, free for the taking.If we are fortunate enough to be claimed by a good, gentle man—and I think wehave been—then it would be best to try and make him want to hold fast tous." Eada wondered briefly if she would have the wisdom to heed the goodadvice she was giving May.
"You,women," called Drogo as he moved toward the table. "Come and help meshed this armor." He sighed with frustration when both women staredblankly at him and then tried to signal his wishes to them.
"Ifear I cannot understand their speech, mistress," May whispered, a meek,apologetic tone to her timid voice.
