That the clothes were made especially for him was indicated by their perfect fit. That Ranulf did not care was indicative of his mood, still sunk in gloom.
He heard little of the praise from his friends for his new finery, did not even recognize his wife when she entered the hall, and was barely aware of being ushered out of the keep for the short ride to the village, where the ceremony was to take place before the village church. With prodding from the priest, he managed to repeat the terms of the marriage contract, what he was to contribute to the marriage, and give his wife a ring in token of the dower, as well as a gift of gold coins. The ring and the money represented a pledge, in Old English, awed, whence a wedding. The vows were then exchanged for all to hear, and before Ranulf knew it, they were moving inside the church for the nuptial mass.
Yet even during the long mass, it did not dawn on him that it was actually accomplished. He had wed his lady wife again. He had warned his men to be prepared for anything, but he was so in a daze himself, he could have been struck down from any side and not seen the blow coming. Not until the mass was over and Sir Henry approached him right there in the church to hear him swear homage to Shefford, did Ranulf begin to suspect what an idiot he had been. That done, the Clydon vassals were quick to do likewise, and swore fealty to him for their honors then and there.
No longer dazed but still thoroughly bemused, Ranulf looked at his wife, who held to his arm as they left the church together. “You married me?”
She trilled a soft laugh before she leaned closer to whisper up at him, “I am glad you were at our first wedding, my lord, for you surely have not been much present at this one.”
It was a red-faced groom who was greeted by the cheering crowd outside the church.
Chapter Twenty
If Ranulf thought he had been served a feast yesterday in honor of Sir Henry’s arrival, his wedding feast was worthy of a king. A total of six courses was served, double the normal number, each course consisting of numerous dishes each of meat, fowl, fish, eggs, vegetables, desserts, and ended with a subtlety, a sugar, paste, and jelly concoction shaped to depict something, in this case scenes of courtly love.
Complete ceremony was observed, with the pantler arriving first with the bread and butter, followed by the butler and his assistants with the wine and ale. Squires lined up behind tables to serve their respective knights, and to cut and replace the trenchers after each course.
With such variety, everyone’s appetite was well satisfied. Roasted were venison, boar, lamb, veal, partridges, and peacocks. There were partridges also in a mustard and ginger sauce, or stuffed with eggs and herbs, and a number of stewed meats for those with not so sturdy teeth. For different tastes in fowl, woodcocks, mallards, herons, plovers, larks, and redshanks were also served. For those who preferred fish, there was turbot basted with verjuice and spices, oysters served on a bed of parsley soaked in vinegar, haddock cooked with garlic butter, boiled mackerel with mint and sorrel sauce, or fresh herring, crawfish, mussels, lamprey, and fish tarts. The desserts were too many to name, from spiced fruits to pastries with every kind of sweet filling.
His wife had not lied when she said she had no lack in food stores at Clydon. With such abundance, the feast naturally lasted the remainder of the day. Entertainment was nonstop, with music, or jokes and stories provided by the guests so inclined or by the dozens of wandering performers hired for the special occasion.
When Ranulf returned from the privy, it was to find the lower tables gone and a noisy carole in progress, where the dancers joined hands and sang as they circled. His lady had joined in, and as he watched her laughing and singing with the others, he realized it was the first time all day that he was reallyseeingher, though she had been near his side ever since leaving the church.
She glowed with a special loveliness that had naught to do with her glittering attire. Her chemise was the same white silk as his tunic, shot through with silver, her bliaut a bright blue sarcenet silk edged with silver embroidery, and girded about her hips was a belt sparkling with red and blue gems. She wore no mantle or veil to detract from the richness of her clothes, and her lustrous black hair was unbound and flowing about her as she danced, crowned with a circlet of silver that slanted endearingly to one side.
Her cheeks were flushed, her lovely blue eyes gleamed with pleasure, and without warning, Ranulf’s body came alive as he watched her. Annoyance quickly followed.
He resumed his seat at the high table, the seat of honor, aye, the lord’s chair,hischair. It did not matter that this had been the chair offered him every time he had sat at this table. Today it was truly his. Yet when he thought of the agony of doubt he had taken to bed last night, he could dredge up no satisfaction. And she had been amused by his surprise in the church, teasing him about it. ’Twas more than likely that she had deliberately provoked his suspicions with that smug little smile of hers last night, just so hewouldsuffer through the night. She was devious, spiteful, everything he knew a lady like her to be—yet he looked at her carefree abandon in the dance and felt lust for her. He must be mad.
She was out of breath when she returned to him, the short hairs curling damply about her face, laughing at some jest called out to her from a noble across the room. She did not glance at Ranulf once, so he was surprised from his dark thoughts when she spoke to him.
“You do not dance, my lord?”
“Nay.”
“I do not much either, though ’tis expected today.”
Ranulf was in no mood for frivolous conversation. “When do you…that is, will your ladies escort you from the hall soon?”
“Oh, but ’tis early yet.”
It annoyed him that she still would not look at him, enough to ask, “Have you your little vial handy?”
“Of course,” she replied absently.
That had not gotten a reaction from her either, and he was of half a mind to pull her across his lap to see ifthatwould. But then her cerulean eyes did turn to him, proving she had been attentive to his questions. Only she had misunderstood his motive.
“You need not be nervous about the bedding ceremony,” she told him in a soft murmur. “There is no question that you will repudiate me, nor I you, so we need not be stood naked before each other and the guests for inspection.”
He grunted, even more annoyed with her. Why was it she never blushed when speaking so plainly of such matters? The control she had of her emotions was commendable, yet thoroughly irritating just now.
She interpreted his frown correctly. “You are not enjoying yourself, my lord? Is there aught I can—”
“You can get yourself to bed, lady, and right quickly. I want the last formalities of the day concluded.”
Nowshe blushed, and her eyes dropped to her lap. She sat there silently for a long moment, but at last she gave a stiff little nod and rose to leave.
Ranulf sat back, feeling the tension flow out of him. He had not realized how important her response had become to him in those long seconds of silence. If she had tried to gainsay him—but she had not. She had taken his words as an order and obeyed, giving him a most satisfying feeling that lasted all of two minutes, when it dawned on him that the hourwasearly yet, and that his wife had been enjoying herself immensely until he had visited his dark mood on her. And, verily, he had noreasonto be in such a grouch. Was he not lord of all he surveyed? The most fortunate man there? As powerful now as his own father? Aye, but what had he done to earn it?
