“Under these circumstances, ’tis most easily done. You forget Lord Guy believes my father already made contract, and on that belief I have his permission to wed. Lord Guy’s castellan, Sir Henry, was to come to the wedding to accept my husband’s homage to Shefford, and to obtain copies of the marriage contract. That isallthat is necessary to see the matter done legally and without further consequence.”
“Nay, it sounds to me as if your willingness is also needed to prevent further consequence. Yet Rothwell means to have you. What do you think will be the end result?”
“Forced marriages are not familiar to me, Sir Walter, so I do not know what you expect me to say. I can tell you that unless this Rothwell kills me ere Lord Guy returns, I will see to it he knows I was forced. What will happen then is a matter between men. But I can also tell you that Lord Guy loved my father and so loves me also. ’Tis as like there will be war to have me back, whether there is issue from the union or not. But that is not your concern, is it?” she added resentfully. “From what I understand, your duty is only to deliver me to Rothwell.”
“But if you were willing to wed Rothwell?” Walter had to know.
“Then who is to know he is not the man my father chose for me?”
“God’s wounds, lady, you are mad to tell me that! If I so informed Rothwell, hewouldhave reason to kill you ere Shefford returns.”
“Then he would also have to kill those close to me who know the truth, and thereby kill everyone at Clydon, for I will die under torture rather than reveal any names to him. One way or another, Lord Guy will know if I am forced or not, so do you tell him that, too, if you mean to tell him aught. Now ’tis your turn to answer questions, Sir Walter.”
“Aye, fair is fair,” he agreed.
“Then do you tell me if there is a chance I might agree to wed this Rothwell without coercion. He obviously lacks honor, but is there aught else to recommend him?”
“You want the truth, demoiselle?”
“That would be helpful,” she replied dryly.
“Then as to his character, there is naught to recommend him. But whether you could be persuaded to accept him regardless of that depends on what you would deem important. He is wealthy enough, if that matters to you. He is a great lord with vassals aplenty, come from his many previous marriages, if that matters to you. That none of these men like or respect him is due to his manner, which is offense to one and all. If children matter to you, you will get none from him, but will have to wait until you are widowed and remarry, and that only if his large family is willing to give up any portion of your inheritance, which is doubtful. They are a greedy lot, just as he is. As to—”
“I think that is enough, Sir Walter,” Reina cut in, her complexion paler than it had been. “Just tell me why children would not be possible. Is he crippled or for some other reason unable?”
“Nay, just old, my lady, though not too old to—ah—try.”
She had paled even more, as he had hoped, though her eyes were ready to fry him when she hissed, “Thatis who you would sell me to?”
’Twas not easy to pretend indifference at this point. “When you need the money, you do not question the job too closely, and ’tis our livelihood, selling our service. If we did not accept the job, Rothwell would only have hired someone else to do it. But his offer was too tempting to ignore, especially when it will enable Ranulf to buy the fief he wants.”
“If ’tis land he wants, I will give him a rich fief myself, does he take me back to Clydon.”
Walter groaned inwardly. Ranulf would kill him if he ever found out that he was going to refuse in his behalf. “’Twould take much more than that to make him change his mind. He has a reputation to uphold, after all, one that has never failed to finish a task begun, nor failed to succeed at that task.”
“Is that all? He did not give his word or accept the fee already?”
“Nay, he did not.”
“Is that normal?”
“It is not,” Walter admitted. “But he liked Rothwell no more than you will.”
“Then there is no problem.”
“There is a very big problem,” he countered. “A reputation is naught to scoff at in our profession.”
“Is it worth two fiefs?” she offered.
Walter nearly choked. Ranulf really would kill him if he heard about this, and he would deserve it. But he was determined to hold out for all or naught.
“You seem to forget your present position, Lady Reina. Why would Ranulf settle for so little when he holds you and could have all by wedding you himself? ’Tis too bad he cannot be persuaded to do so, for I think you will agree he is the lesser of two evils.”
Her color was back with more besides. “Mayhap I wouldnotagree. Your friend is a churlish lout with the manners of the meanest villein!”
“Aye, he is that.” Walter grinned. “But then he has not had much association with ladies willing to correct his manners. He is also young, strong, and not without means. He might be landless now, but he has the wherewithal to correct that, a small fortune that he has been saving to do just that.”
“A few thousand marks?” she scoffed.
