The monk was aghast at the small amount. “But—”
“There are no ‘buts,’” she cut in forcefully, only to add more moderately, “Sir Ranulf also agrees to give me children, protect my people and property to the best of his ability, and—and not to beat me, for as he is a man of such unusual size, one blow is like to kill me.”
All eyes turned to Ranulf to be treated to the bright color flooding his face. That last stipulation was unheard of, for a man had a right to beat his wife if she was deserving of it, even if she was not. The monk would be the first to say so. And yet she had made a point that Ranulf had not considered. He did not dare take his fist to her as small as she was, for itwaslike to kill her.
But children! To have it stated in contract that he could not ignore her. Did she think that was his intention, to take all she had and put her away somewhere? It was a tempting notion, but he would not do it. Christ’s toes! He was getting so much that it would be a matter of honor to treat her with the tenderest of care!
“Do you—ah—agree to this, Sir Ranulf?” the monk asked with hesitancy.
“Aye.” He nodded grudgingly. “But I need a word with the lady ere the terms can be finished.”
So saying, he rose and snatched Reina’s hand to pull her out of the room before she could gainsay him. She thought he meant to beat her now ere the contract was sworn to and he lost the chance. She had dared much considering she was in no position to make any demands at all. But she had gotten away with it. Hehadagreed before taking her out of the room.
She held her breath when he stopped just outside the door. She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut, too, but did not want him to know she was afraid of him. If he did beat her, it was no more than she deserved for deciding to accept him. It was madness to be “under the rod” of such a man, a complete stranger. To be unable to gainsay him even if he sold her land. To have no rights whatsoever, not even to appeal in court without him. To allow him suchcontrolover her, a man who gave every indication of actively disliking her. But what was the alternative? An old, greedy man who would not care about Clydon, who only wanted to drain its wealth.
She shuddered each time she thought of Rothwell, after what she had been told of him—and shehadasked some of his men, not trusting Sir Walter any farther than she could throw him. At least this Ranulf would care for the land. That he had saved so long to own land told her that. And he was more than capable of being Clydon’s lord. That really had been the deciding factor and why she had not tried to enlist the monk’s help, which was no guarantee, really. Neither John nor Richard would be able to do as well as this giant when it came to actual fighting. From the size of him, ’twas doubtfulanyonecould beat him.
“What was the reason, lady, for those ridiculous demands?” Ranulf demanded in a low rumble. “Think you I cannot see to you and yours?”
Reina let out her breath. That had to be the softest she had ever heard him speak, and it boded well that he would not be stomping all over her.
“Not at all. I think you will be quite able to protect Clydon.”
He was not sure he had heard her aright. A compliment! Fromher?Unbelievable!
“That was not your sentiment earlier in camp,” he reminded her.
“Do not be stu—” She bit her lip.Jesú, she would have to learn to watch her tongue with this man. “Ah, I ask your pardon for what was said earlier. I was upset and did not really mean any of that.”
“So if you think I am capable, why insist on seeing it in writing?”
“That stipulation and the other were only a cushion, so to speak, to lessen the impact of the last.”
He was frowning now. “Which you press your luck in demanding at all.”
“True,” she allowed, lowering her eyes to his broad chest. “But you have agreed. And as for making mention of children, I know ’twas unnecessary. To get me with child will be to your benefit, to strengthen your position should Rothwell or anyone else still think to have me by killing you.”
“You talk freely enough of the bedding, lady. Are you prepared for it?”
She knew he asked that just to fluster her, and it worked. “Aye,” she whispered.
“Tonight?”
Her eyes flew back to his. “But this is not the ceremony that counts! We must be wed again at Clydon, with my vassals and Sir Henry attending. I thought we would wait—”
“And have you return to Clydon not truly wed, so once your vassals are there you can put me out? Nay, lady, you will have no grounds for annulment. You stipulated children, so we will get started on them soonest.”
She could feel her cheeks heating rapidly, and with it, her temper. He would do this just to get even with her. She was aware she did not attract him, that he did notwantto bed her. ’Twas likely he would never have gotten around to it if she had not embarrassed him by making demands about children in front of the others.
Tight-lipped, she asked, “Is that all?”
Surprisingly, his expression grew uneasy. “As it happens, that was not why I asked you out here.”
She could have said he had not asked but had dragged her out, but she did not belabor the point. Whatever it was he wanted to say was obviously difficult for him to speak of.
“You called me a baseborn knight.”
“And you admitted you were,” she agreed, amazed that he might be embarrassed aboutthat.
