"Ialways do, and Tancred waits outside to do the same. I will return as soon as Ihave met with William.”
Eadasmiled in reply, but the moment Drogo and Unwin left, she flopped back onto thebed and fought a fierce battle against the urge to weep. Her soul mate had leftto get his reward for conquering her people, uttering no promises, no words oflove, not even a hint of what the future might hold for her.
"Well,fool," she scolded herself, "Old Edith said I would meet my mate, butI do not recall her saying that I would keep him."
"Youdo talk to yourself a lot."
Asoft screech escaped Eada as she abruptly sat up then she scowled at May, whoquietly shut the door behind her. "And you walk too quietly," shecomplained. "You frightened away a year or two of my life."
"Ithought you might wish some help to prepare for your lord's return," Maysaid as she opened the chest at the foot of the bed.
"Iam not sure I should be here when Drogo returns."
Maydropped the gown she was unfolding and gaped at Eada. "But he will bereturning with his gift from our new king. He will wish to share his new honorswith you."
"Willhe?" Eada shook her head when May's expression of shock changed to one ofconfusion. "May, William is a king on an uneasy throne, a Norman claiminghe has the right to rule Saxons. He knows this will not be easy and he needs tocover his new lands with allies. He will give the lands to the Normans and hewill soothe his Saxon allies by wedding those Normans to Saxon ladies."
"Butyou are a Saxon lady."
"Ihave no lands." Eada felt guilty about telling May such a lie, but she didnot want the truth to be known yet and May might not be able to keep such a bigsecret. "If Drogo wed me, it would please none of William's Saxon allies,for they are no kin of mine, and since my father fought with Harold, it couldanger his Saxon and his Norman allies."
"Youswore allegiance to William."
"Thatwas but a game. Yes, I will hold to my vow and I have no fear that Williamdoubts my word, but it serves no purpose. I cannot fight for him and I cannotenrich his purse. He only wished my allegiance because of what I had said thatday I met him on the shores of Pevensey. I am sure I am now forgotten."Eada stood up and signaled May to help her dress, for, whatever she decided shemust do, she wanted to be attired in her finest. It would feed her courage.
"Thenwhat is to happen now?" May asked as she unlaced the simple brown gownEada wore.
"Iam not sure. It depends upon whether or not William offers Drogo a bride withhis land."
"LordDrogo will not accept a bride."
"Ofcourse he will," Eada snapped, but the sharpness of her reply was dulledas May tugged her embroidered blue gown down over her head. "If his kingsays that he must wed the girl to gain the land, Drogo will do it. He has made nosecret of why he joined this battle—to gain lands and a title."
"Thenyou can be Lord Drogo's leman. I am certain he will want you to stay withhim."
"No,I will not become his whore. William is king now and the war is over. I can nolonger claim that I need his protection, either."
"Whatwill you do?"
"Ihave many choices. After all, I can speak both French and English. Few otherscan." She managed a smile as she looked at May. "I willsurvive."
Maynodded as she laced up Eada's gown. "I know you will, for you are verystrong; but will you be happy?" She frowned at Eada. "I thought theold woman told you that Lord Drogo was your mate."
"Shedid, but that does not mean that I will wed him, bear his children, and win hislove. I was reminding myself of that when you walked in. Come, do not look soforlorn. We cannot know what will happen until Drogo returns from William'scourt." She sighed. "I should not be surprised that my fate rests inWilliam's hands. That, too, was foretold."
Drogopaced the cool stone hall of the great tower, realized what he was doing, andstopped, only to begin again a moment later. He could not understand his suddenuneasiness and confusion. This was what he had waited for, fought for, andhungered for. The only thing he should be feeling was an intense curiosityabout what his reward should be.
"Willyou cease?" asked Tancred in exasperation.
Aquick glance at his friend revealed that, despite the tension in his voice,Tancred was slouched against the wall with his customary grace and languid air."You do not appear to be distressed," Drogo said as he forced himselfto stand still in front of Tancred.
"Myneck has begun to ache from watching you go back and forth. What ailsyou?"
"Nothingails me."
Tancredshook his head and made a sharp, mocking noise. "You do not behave like aman who is about to gain all he seeks."
"Andhow should I behave on such an important occasion?"
