Eadawas concentrating on her food, and Drogo winked at his friends. Their swiftlyhidden smiles told him that they understood as well. There was only one thingDrogo regretted about what he was doing. If Eada did understand him, his littlegame would undoubtedly make his wait for her a very long one unless he wasextremely clever in his explanations and suitably contrite in his apologies.
"Youdo not think William shall make us learn the language, do you?" askedTancred, his expression one of well-feigned horror.
"God'steeth, I pray not," Drogo replied. "It sounds too much like gruntingor a heavy clearing of the throat. Most unpleasant to the ear."
Asthey continued to malign the Saxon tongue, Eada fought valiantly to control hertemper. She thought nastily that her speech was better than theirs, for theyall sounded as if they spoke through their noses. It would also prove difficultfor them to rule England if they scorned the language of its people; and that,she decided, would be justice. As the wine continued to flow, the talk turnedto her; and Eada wished she had not lingered in the hall but had fled to herroom the moment she had finished her meal. So personal were their remarks, Eadawas not sure she could control the fury building inside her.
"Weshall be well served if England holds more such beauties," Tancred said.
"Justpray that their tongues and temper are sweeter than this one's," Drogoreplied.
"Iam not concerned with what theysay."
Drogolaughed. "Nor I, when the candle is snuffed. Although with a piece as fineas this, I would miss much if I but rutted in the dark."
"Ithought prisoners were supposed to be made to tell you the secrets of theenemy," Unwin said, a wide grin brightening his beardless face.
"Well,boy, mayhap if I pump hard enough at one end, words will pop out theother." Drogo laughed heartily with his friends, his amusement growingwhen he heard Eada grinding her teeth. "Ah, but usually all that the womencry isMore, Drogo, more."
"Howhe boasts!" Tancred hooted with laughter. "This one will no doubtscreamless, less."
"Ithink not, my friend." Drogo patted Eada's leg. "Once I spread thesepretty thighs and fill her, she will grow sweeter."
Eada'scontrol snapped and she flung herself at Drogo, yelling in French, "Normanswine, I will break your fat head!"
"Lookout, Drogo!" Tancred cried, but his warning came too late.
WhenEada slammed into him, Drogo tumbled back off the bench onto the hard floor. Heknew what she would do next, but was a breath too late to stop her. As hersmall hands painfully gripped his hair and she began to bang his head againstthe floor, he cursed and grabbed her wrists. Careful not to press so hard hewould break her delicate bones, he started to exert enough strength to breakher hold on him.
Whenthe force of his hold caused her to loosen her grip, Eada was angered more. Abig, strong arm suddenly encircled her waist and she was yanked off Drogo. Shehurled curses at Drogo as a frowning Ivo carried her to her bedchamber, a wideeyed May hurrying ahead of them to show him the way. Eada's curses only stoppedwhen Ivo dropped her on her bed so abruptly the breath was pushed from herbody. By the time she caught her breath, Ivo was gone and only a wary Mayremained.
"Ishould have broken that Norman dog's head," Eada hissed.
"Youspoke to him in his own tongue," May said.
"Iknow it," Eada snapped, and she indulged in a brief tantrum, pounding herfists and heels on the bed. "That bastard tricked me." She sighed asshe gained control of her wild emotions and sat up. "Those men spoke of meas if I were some baseless whore. I see now that it was all a game. Drogo meantto enrage me and make me reveal that I could understand him. I fell into thatsnare like a blind hare."
"Sonow you must speak to him."
"Ithink I shall not speak to that oaf for at least a week."
"M'lady,he intends to bed down here with you. See, there sits his chest."
"Howdid he know where to put it?"
"Ibelieve he but chose the best chamber for himself." May frowned as shelooked around the room. "Did your parents not use this chamber?"
"Motherdid not like to sleep in this big bed when Father was away, so we would changerooms until he returned. Well, I think I will ready myself for bed," shesaid, as she stood up and May hurried to help her. "Mayhap I should justsleep in one of the other rooms."
"Allthe beds have been claimed, m'lady. That youth Unwin was offered the last onejust before the meal was served."
"So,my home is full to bursting with cursed Normans, and if the weather turns poor,there will undoubtedly be more to come." Eada shook her head. "Thesemen are careful, but others might not be; and Mother worked so hard to make herhome a fine one. Ah, well, there are more important matters to worry about,such as staying alive. It will not be this peaceful for long."
"M'lady?"May asked as Eada slid into her thin night rail and crawled into bed. "Doyou know what that man Drogo will want from you?"
"Iam not that ignorant, May," Eada replied. "I know."
"Ifyou wish, I could take your place in this bed. With the candle snuffed, hewould never know the difference. My maidenhead was torn from me but days aftermy first flux, so it would matter little to me."
