One that didn’t almost happen.
But now, it had.
And what an adventure it was to be.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“There once was a lady fair,
With silver bells in her hair.
I knew her to have,
A luscious kiss… it drove me mad!
But she denied me… and I was so terribly sad.
Lily, my girl,
Your flower, I will unfurl
With my cock and a bit of good luck!
Your kiss divine,
I’ll make you mine,
And keep you abed for a fuck!”
The great hallexploded with bawdy laughter as Gar, Andreas, and Maksim sang what was traditionally known in the de Wolfe family circle as the “Naughty Wedding Song.” There were actually two or three of those questionable songs falling under that heading, but in any case, it was tradition at every de Wolfe marriage that the song, or songs, be sung. Gar and Andreas, drunk on Reese’s good wine, and Maksim, even more drunkon his father’s good wine, were singing it with the soldiers and sergeants that were in the great hall.
They certainly weren’t singing it with the bride.
While the majority of the hall was happy and celebrating, at the dais, it was a different story. It was a somber group that sat before a mass of food, listening to the songs and watching the revelry. That included Julia, who wasn’t exactly pleased with the song selection.
“Stop them,” she told her husband. “I’ll not have them debase this feast any more than they already have. Stop them, I say!”
Reece was trying to keep the grin off his face. He, too, would have been singing that song if he wasn’t afraid of the stick his wife would use on him if he did. Troy, who had historically been at the head of those naughty wedding choruses, kept putting his cup to his lips, sipping, as if keeping his mouth busy so he wouldn’t join in and offend his son’s new mother-in-law.
“Let them celebrate, my dear,” Reece said, trying to soothe her. “They are harmless songs. It keeps the men happy.”
“And what about your daughter?” Julia said, throwing an imperious finger in Mattie’s direction. “What about keeping her happy? Do you think she is happy right now?”
Reece looked over at his daughter, resplendent in a pale blue silk frock with silver and white embroidery around the neckline. It was a stunning piece, and she looked quite beautiful in it. When she saw her parents looking at her, she simply shook her head.
“I am untroubled, Mama,” she said. “If he wants to sing, let him sing.”
Julia frowned. “That is not a suitable song for your ears,” she said. “This is your wedding feast. There must be some decorum!”
With that, she stood up and went to her daughter, pulling her out of the chair. As she began to lead her away, Mattie grasped Agnes’ hand and pulled her along, too. There was a train ofwomen heading for the area of the great hearth, where a man with a lute and another man with a fife had been providing music during the evening. They were part of the de Reyne army, soldiers who happened to play instruments, and Julia had made sure they played tonight.
Gar and Andreas and Maksim were striking up another chorus of a song involving an old whore named Rose when Julia began waving her hands, shouting for silence. When the men realized that Lady Hensingham was calling for their attention, they immediately shut their mouths. Very quickly, the hall fell into silence.
“Thank you,” Julia said with a sarcastic tinge. “Now, the musicians will play something suitable for abransle. My daughter and Lady Agnes will show you how it is done. Gar, come and dance with your wife.”
It was a command. Gar immediately set his cup of wine down and went over to Mattie, who smiled hesitantly at him. He’d been having such a good time that she was concerned he might be angry with her that Julia had pulled him away from his friends, but there was no such annoyance on his face. In fact, he winked at her and took her hand, tucking it into his elbow as Julia directed the musicians, who began to play a common enough ballad suitable to that type of dance. But Mattie didn’t hear the music.
All she felt was Gar.
