"Iunderstand." Drogo was surprised at his lack of disappointment or regret.
"Keepyour little Saxon lady, my friend. Wed her and breed an army of sons with yourstrength and her spirit, and you will be much respected and honored. What Icangive you is all she and her family lay claim to. All I ask is, when you learnwhat that is, you let me know. At least I will have a full accounting of oneholding."
"Thankyou, my liege," Drogo said, standing and bowing.
"Ipray that you will still thank me in the years ahead. I hope she is worth whatyou might be giving up."
"Sheis. I am but ashamed to admit that I did not see it before. Now, if I may begiven leave, I believe I shall go and discuss my discovery with Eada."
William'shearty laughter followed him as he walked out of the hall. William understoodhis choice, but Drogo was not sure his men would. When he met up with Tancredand Unwin and saw the eager, expectant look upon their faces, Drogo inwardlygrimaced. They were going to think he was mad.
"Inow understand why you asked if I would be taking Eada to my new lands,Tancred," Drogo said as he stood before his two friends. "William ishanding out wives with some of the lands."
Tancredsighed and nodded. "Our king spoke of it briefly. He even asked if Ithought you would accept one particular woman, an earl's daughter."
"Hedid not offer her to you?"
"Iam not as highborn as you or as lauded a knight. He was seeking her equal. Didhe find him?"
"No."Drogo smiled when Unwin gaped at him in shock, but he noticed that Tancred wasnot surprised. "I told him I did not want the woman."
"Wasshe so hideous?" asked Unwin.
"No.She was most fair. I simply did not want her."
"Hewants Eada, boy," Tancred said to Unwin, clapping the youth on the back.
"MistressEada is a fine woman, brave and very fair," said Unwin. "She is alsopoor and landless."
"Verytrue," agreed Drogo. "Although she does hold that fine house inPevensey and her family was not actually poor."
"Imeant that she is no earl's daughter. I am not sure she is even a thane'sdaughter."
"No,but she is mine; and now, all that her family laid claim to is mine."
"Canyou be satisfied with that?" asked Tancred. "You sought a great dealmore when you sailed here."
"Iknow, and I continued to want it until it was offered to me and I saw what Ihad to sacrifice to gain it." He laughed ruefully and shook his head."William was not surprised; and, I think, Tancred, neither were you. I wasstunned. There it was, all I craved or thought I did. All I had to do was marrythe woman. I could not do it. Even reminding myself of all I owe those who ridewith me could not make me do it."
"Youowe us nothing."
"Ido. You have all stood at my back, fought at my side. You have lost little,Tancred, for you have always had the chance to gain from this. All you had todo was survive the battles. Serle, Garnier, and young Unwin are not sofortunate. Their fortunes have been tied to mine. For that reason I regret mychoice, but only for that reason. And that regret was not strong enough to makeme cast aside Eada." Drogo draped his arm around Unwin's slim shoulders."I fear you have bound yourself to a poor knight. I may yet gain, butWilliam could make no promises."
"Youmade the choice you had to, sir," Unwin said. "I have enough. Myfirst battle was long and fierce, yet I survived and gained honor. Without you,I would have been sent back to France, untried and with no one to fight for orwith. I would have missed this great battle. I have been part of the army thatwon William the crown of England. No, you owe me nothing. And there is alwaysthe chance that you and the rest of us may still gain more."
"Ah,the never-dimmed hopes of the young," murmured Drogo, smiling when Tancredlaughed and Unwin blushed. "You are right, Unwin. There is always thechance for greater gain, and if I see that chance before me, I will grasp itfirmly. Now, let us return to our rooms as I feel a great need to graspsomething else most firmly, something a great deal softer and sweeter than coinand land."
"Doyou think Mistresse Eada will be disappointed over how little you havegained?" asked Unwin as he hurried to keep pace with Tancred and Drogowhen they left the tower and walked along a narrow, winding road.
"No,and that may be the only thing I am sure of concerning that lavender-eyedwoman," replied Drogo. "Eada will have all she had before, no more,no less, except that she will have it through me. She is not a woman whohungers after riches or power."
"Shejust hungers after you," drawled Tancred as he paused before Drogo'squarters.
Standingnext to Tancred, Drogo frowned up at the tiny window to the room he shared withEada. "I pray you are right. I am suddenly possessed by a teeth-clenchingapprehension. I have never done any more with a woman than bed her or treat herwith courtesy, depending upon who she was. Curse the girl. I have bravely facedthe whole of the Saxon army screaming for my blood and wielding battle-axes,yet quail at the thought of speaking my heart to one woman."
"Ifear this ordeal is one Unwin and I cannot face with you." Tancred gaveDrogo a light shove toward the door. "We will be ready to celebrate orcommiserate with you, however."
Drogocast his grinning companions a sour look then started into the house. With eachstep he took toward his room he struggled to regain his lost confidence andcourage. He had just refused a rich gift from a king. How much more difficultcould it be to speak of love and marriage with a tiny Saxon lady?
