Promises Made
They enjoyed Ellesmere’s protection for two days during which time they encountered only a handful of servants chosen by Steward Bonhomme on the basis of proven loyalty to the family. They took all their meals in the privacy of William’s solar.
Most of the daylight hours were spent in consultation with William as to the best course of action. Their cousin expressed outrage when he learned of the murderous intent of the women at Waterthwaite. He undertook to do what he could to have them prosecuted, and to seek out Mandeville’s family and inform them of his death. “You must understand,” he explained. “I’ll have to tread carefully until I discover whether John knew of the misdeeds at Waterthwaite. The nobility here in England is in an untenable position. We cannot support John’s excesses, but we cannot openly oppose him.”
“Else you lose everything,” Roland replied.
“Including our heads,” William confirmed. “I’ve heard the stories from generations ago of how our family always seemed to come out on the winning side of any conflict, thanks to Ram de Montbryce’s decisions. I’m hoping to similarly guide the earldom through what I foresee will be turbulent years. It’s akin to being court jester to a king who refuses to be amused but who threatens death to anyone who doesn’t amuse him.”
“I don’t have any political sway, but you can count on my support,” Terric assured him.
William nodded. “Unity is important. It’s the other thing that has secured this family’s survival and prosperity.”
“It’s perhaps to your advantage, and Terric’s as well, that you are both situated far from court,” Roland suggested.
“Correct,” William replied. “John is nervous about the volatile border with Wales, and he’s aware of the importance of our family’s Welsh ancestry. The king is actually dependent on me and the other earls in this western region to keep him informed. Fortunately, we are all of the same mind. At least, all purport to agree, but I’m always careful what I say and to whom I say it.”
“In other words, trust no one,” Adelina said.
“It’s a sad state of affairs, but that’s exactly how it is.”
If the days of discussion seemed long, the nights were too short for Roland. He accompanied Adelina to her chamber every evening and lingered there until well after midnight.
Mindful of the fact she was an innocent without the benefit of a mother’s guidance, he resolutely controlled the urge to make her his without delay. Instead, he derived satisfaction from her response to the intimate touching he introduced her to and whispered promises of the delights they would share.
Adrien and Terric were snoring loudly when he tiptoed into the chamber they shared. Neither uttered a word of censure when they awoke in the morning. He’d have paid no mind, but it was a relief that Terric in particular seemed to have accepted his sister now belonged to Roland.
* * *
Adelina had always assumed she would marry one day. Men and women married, lay together and procreated children. She’d even dared to hope she and her future husband might be friends as well as companions. Her parents had loved each other, but such marriages were few and far between and she’d never aspired to finding a great love.
Roland had awakened a completely different view of marriage and sexual congress. She had only to look at him for the wanton cravings to begin. Nay, just thinking of him sent desire spiraling into intimate places.
After he left to return to his chamber, she still felt his mouth at her breast. Desire still throbbed where his clever tongue had brought her to ecstasy. The intoxicating scent of his manhood lingered on her fingers. She could hardly wait for the fulfillment of his promise of rapture when they finally joined their bodies. Overwhelmed by the craving to feel Roland inside her, she’d begged him to take her, but he’d been the one with restraint. “I’m selfish,” he’d rasped. “I want to claim your virginity on our wedding night.”
But she sensed the truth. He longed to join their bodies but respected her right to come virgin to their bridal bed.
Roland would be a husband to whom she could entrust her body and her soul.
She felt no guilt at sharing intimacies with him. Their union had been blessed by a priest. She was already his wife, though she understood his wish to marry at Montbryce. They had yet to run the gauntlet of King John’s England and cross the Narrow Sea. The dangers ahead were daunting, but she had confidence in Roland to see them safe.
* * *
Terric couldn’t rid himself of the urge to throttle Roland when he heard him creep back into the dark chamber. However, he was no longer his sister’s champion. From what he knew of Roland, he had to trust his cousin hadn’t yet breached Adelina’s maidenhead. It was a noblewoman’s right to come virgin to her bridal bed.
However, Adelina loved Roland to distraction. That much was obvious. It would be difficult for even the noblest of knights to hold himself back if a woman begged. He could imagine Adelina begging. She’d committed herself body and soul to Roland.
Was it natural for a protective brother to resent that truth? Or was he simply being selfish?
It would seem so in light of Roland’s insistence on accompanying him to Melton Manor instead of making directly for the galley William kept moored at Portsmouth.