The Troubadour's Romance (37 page)

“
Things went awry for Boltof when the king would not approve him as
Felise
’
s husband,
”
Royce said. But in his mind he could not rest it that easily. Boltof had been tampering with Royce
’
s future, as if playing with some pawn, for years. He set his mind to watch carefully this one he had called his closest friend.

“
Aye,
”
Celeste replied.
“
For now his plight is only the worse. He sees me as a burden, has no rich woman to wed, and Lord Orrick, crippled though he is, will hold our family lands for many years, making Boltof a grandfather before he rules his own demesne.
”

“
And so? What does your brother wish of me? I know the man well, and he often has a plan to include riches. And you have come here without invitation when we are ill fixed to be hosts. Boltof strains the friendship. I would know why.
”

Celeste looked at him boldly.
“
Perhaps he wishes a settlement, as you should expect. You shamed our family, cost Boltof dearly, and leave us paupered in money and
dreams,
”
she said.
“
I don
’
t think your offer of a sum for me at some later time will soothe him.
”

Royce shrugged.
“
He has little choice. Should I choose, I can rescind even that offer.
”

“
He hopes that I can persuade you to do better by
us. It is not too late to ..
.
”

There was no need for her to finish. Royce knew the rest as he knew Boltof.
“
It is too late for any of this to be changed. Surely you realize that.
”

“
Why can it not be? You could take the matter into your own hands, have the marriage declared void by some excuse. Tell her that I am with child, that Boltof will provide well for her. Divide the property with my brother and let us
--
”

“
Does he ask you to seduce me?
”
Royce asked. Celeste dropped her gaze and a light flush marked her cheeks. Royce suddenly knew that Boltof had always been the one to encourage Celeste to risk her virtue to trap a man into wedlock. Likely it had been Boltof who taught her the indelicate trick of timing her seduction with her menses and groaning in pain at the consummation. Boltof, more than Royce, had been fond of wenching and especially drawn to young virgins. Though Royce could not prove such a secret pact between brother and sister, he had begun to know much of these two and their many plans. He simply wouldn
’
t have believed their deceptions could reach these limits.

He shook his head, but pity showed in his eyes. Celeste could not answer him. He felt a stirring anger toward Boltof, but at the same time an anger with himself. He should have been suspicious long ago. But until now, Royce
’
s actions had quite pleased their whims. He bristled at the
naiveté
he had shown them, thinking the love and friendship true, while they labored for years to use him.

“
You must refuse him, Celeste. I will not bend to any seduction. Do not shame yourself further for Boltof. I am wed. Albeit first by order,
‘
tis now much by my will. You are not with child, and though you
’
ve been hurt, it is as much by your own foolishness as by my advantage over you. I will be fair with you, lady, but know this and take it to your
brother
’
s ears: I will kill the man that threatens my wife and my home
--
even if he is Boltof.
”

She looked at him through glassy eyes, and the pained disappointment that set her mouth was grim.
“
You love her.
”

She is mine,
he nearly said, but did not voice this. He knew himself to be plagued by her, drugged by her beauty and effervescence. He had dreamt of her on nights away and prayed she would greet his return. He stood amazed, each passing day, at her quiet and di
gnified
determination as she labored to set his sorry home to rights. He sometimes wished to damn her for her high-flown ways, yet he swelled with pride as she showed her constant respect for him by her diligence. Whether beside her in bed or many miles away in France, he knew in his heart that she was true. This puzzled him, for he did not see himself as more handsome than others, nor more desirable because of possessions. Yet she not only accepted this union, but seemed to crave it and hold it dear.

If I have been tricked by her witch
’
s locks and adoring eyes,
he thought,
then so be it. I will play the willing victim and be her knight.

“
Yea, I love her. And I hold our marriage contract above all other oaths.
”

“
I had hoped ...
”
she began, but her voice trailed off as she saw the conviction in his eyes. She shook her head as if in denial, and her tears ran unheeded down her cheeks.

“
I labor with the right words, Celeste. I cannot explain myself better than this: I saw in you a good woman and useful wife and would have met you to pledge that. I thought myself to care. I would have played the husband true for you, yet our lives did not venture so far. And now all I can tell you is that
Felise
is my wife and has my oath and honor and love for all time. Yea, I must turn you away, and I will pray that your pain from this circumstance is short. Perhaps you will find happiness with an honorable man who can give you more loyalty than I could. And with this a warning: if you let Boltof use you to snare a husband, you will find your cup empty again and again.
”

“
You kill me with your words. My heart aches.
”

“
Aye,
”
he said softly, trying to remember that Celeste was also Boltof
’
s victim, and probably not the clever conspira
tor here.
“
I am sorry.
”

She tried to shrug, but it was really a gesture of defeat that pricked his conscience. He wished he had seen that Boltof used her. And he deeply regretted stilling his instincts years before, when the desire was lacking and he knew better than to entwine himself with Celeste. But there had been no other to snare him, and she had been available at every turn. Such is the plight of a man who grows older without bonds.

Now his bonds were of the strongest, surest sort. From a king
’
s command to consuming love, his body and heart were completely tethered.

“
You should not have loved one so careless as me.
”

“
But she has your heart.
..
”

“
This is a poor place for you. You deserve a quiet resting place to reckon with your hurt. Refuse Boltof
’
s plans and schemes and go home to Lord Orrick, where there is no reminder of the betrayal you feel.
”

“
She risked nothing and has all of you and I
... I gave all, chanced all,
and am turned away in shame ..
.
”

“
I will take you to the hall, lady. You may wish t
o leave us this very day and ..
.
”

“
She could have had any man
--
indeed, she toyed with many.
”

He grabbed her fiercely by the arms and forced his voice quiet when it would boom into her head.
“
Even you, in your disappointment, will not decry her good name.
‘
Twas not Felise who tried to trap me with her body, nor did she fling virtue and good sense aside in an effort to gain. I under
stand that you claim love and devotion as your reasons for your actions, and I have not berated you for your foolish
ness. You gained nothing and lost all and I pity you. But you will not abuse my wife
’
s good reputation in her own house.
”

He took a deep breath and let his angry stare bore into her.
“
You are unwise to listen to Boltof. You should not have traveled here to wear your woes on your breast and attempt to haunt me or trap me.
‘
Tis done. I have no more patience with your broken heart.
”

He led her, less than gently, toward the manse and walked
with her into the largest room, where the hearth now blazed and many gathered to break the fast. Even Boltof was present, and that one
’
s eyes widened as Royce brought Celeste into the room.

Royce faced Boltof, and while he had risen that morning with the notion of treading carefully, he was spent of their plots and notions to better their circumstances.

His voice was a coarse whisper mean
t for Boltof
’
s ears alone.
“
I have done your sister poorly on some counts,
”
he fairly growled.
“
But that you would bring her here and leave her no dignity names you a worse protector than I could ever have been.
”

Boltof smiled easily.
“
We came in friendship, Royce. We were to be brothers. Twas a pledge made as much to me as to Celeste. I did not think you would face your obligations so poorly. Are we to be called friends beyond today? Or do you cast us out?
”

Royce
’
s eyes darkened and reflected the anger that was slowly building. He knew he must quit the room quickly before his fist moved well ahead of his mind and laid Boltof low.

“
My obligations will be met, whether to your satisfaction I cannot say. As to friendship beyond this day, I would not dare predict
.
”
He took a step in the direction of the stairs and looked back at Boltof.
“
If I listen to another demand from someone who would be a friend
--
nay, brother
--
I will end the possibility myself.
”

That said, he mounted the stairs quickly, trying to put enough space between Celeste, Boltof, and himself to pon
der the outrage of it all. The worst feeling that rose in him concerned his own
naiveté
in trusting them so completely, nearly becoming entrapped by both of them.

***

Felise
had stirred in early morning, still flushed with the memories of the night. But as she stretched out arms to embrace Royce, she again found her empty bed.

She sat up with a start, for this time she had rested with the comfort that his reclusive ways would finally be at an end and they would rise with the sun together. Disappoint
ment overwhelmed her and anger began to stir within her.

She instantly set her mind: she would not be his lover in the dark of night, only to be rejected in the light of day. Whatever his dilemma, the struggle that brought him to her only in this secretive manner, only in great need of her body, she would meet the challenge and somehow set it aside.

She slipped into her nightdress and the new morning wrapper she had fashioned, found her soft leather slippers, and made her way directly to his chamber. No help there, she thought, for not only was he not within, nothing had been disturbed.

She went to the window, hoping to spot him enroute to the stables, his favorite place for peaceful toils. What she saw in the yard below caused her heart to lurch.

He stood speaking with a woman. Although she was cloaked and a hood covered her head, Felise knew it must be Celeste. She watched as Royce held a cloth to her nose and wiped tears from her cheeks.

Felise turned away, her eyes wide and the color drained from her face. She was afraid to see more. If Royce embraced Celeste, or kissed her, Felise knew she could not trust herself to pursue him in good faith and with hope.

She went quickly from the chamber and nearly collided with Daria, who was just on her way below to start her day of work.
“
Daria, please have some boys from the kitchen fetch water for my lord
’
s bath,
”
she instructed.

“
My lord?
”
Daria questioned.

“
Royce has returned, late last night, and I would set a steaming tub for him. And,
”
she said as an afterthought,
“
send a platter of food, that we may break the fast in leisure in his chamber.
”