Velvet Bond (12 page)

Raynor also felt that it would be well to be in company, if only to give himself something to think about other than the deep blue of Elizabeth’s eyes, or the way her black hair fell in ebony curls down her back.

But when they arrived at Claymoore castle, the party learned that the baron and his family were not in residence. They were at Landview, his wife’s keep, which was several hours away.

Irritated at the further delay, Raynor nonetheless said nothing. He had agreed to visit his wife’s family, and would follow through. He indicated that Elizabeth should show them the way.

As the single tower at Landview came into sight some hours later, Raynor found his annoyance dissolving at the unadulterated happiness on Elizabeth’s face. He pushed the feeling down, telling himself he hadn’t brought her here for any reason other than to be scrupulously fair. He did not care what pleased or displeased his wife. But he couldn’t deny that for a moment the sensation he felt at seeing her joy had been pleasant. And that left him feeling strangely unsettled.

He didn’t want to care about Elizabeth, or what made her happy.

On gaining the inner courtyard, they were met by Henry, baron of Clayburn. He had obviously been practicing at arms, for he wore mail and carried his sword in one hand and a helm in the other. His black hair was matted to his head, and sweat beaded his strong, handsome face, but his startlingly golden eyes were lit with both surprise and pleasure.

Henry dropped the items as he rushed toward Elizabeth, plucking his sister from her horse and swinging her about.

A gay laugh rang out, the sound vibrating sweetly along the back of Raynor’s neck. At first he didn’t understand whence the sound had come. And then he knew. It was Elizabeth, and this was the first time he had heard her laugh with such joy.

Henry Clayburn set Elizabeth on her feet, and she threw her arms around his neck to hug him. Then Raynor watched as his wife swung around upon hearing a woman’s voice calling out to her.

Raynor, too, turned at the hail and saw a tall woman, her wheat-gold hair pulled back in a braid. She came down the stone steps of the keep slowly, carefully leading a little boy of perhaps two by one hand. The little fellow’s hair was a cap of black, and his large eyes were a vivid gold, like his father’s. Her other hand rested on the gentle swell of her stomach. She was a beautiful woman, with direct gray eyes and strikingly sculptured features, pleasingly round at hip and breast, despite her pregnancy. A woman to make any man look twice.

But as Elizabeth ran toward her, enfolding the newcomer in her arms, Raynor realized he found her slighter more delicate frame more to his taste.

Unaware of her husband’s thoughts, Elizabeth cried out cheerily, “Aileen, you sent no word! When is the babe to come?”

The other woman smiled ruefully, looking to her husband. “Not for some three months. Henry was to send word to you ere long.”

Releasing the woman, Elizabeth bent to take the little boy up in her arms. “It matters not, except you’d best let Stephen know soon. And how is little Henry?” she greeted, kissing the little one’s fair cheek.

He giggled and planted a wet kiss on her own cheek.

Henry turned to Raynor, his visage pleasant, but confused. “By the way, where is our brother? And who is this come with you, Beth?”

Looking to her husband, as if just remembering his presence, Elizabeth simply stood there for a long moment. Then, with an unaccustomed shyness Raynor had never seen her exhibit heretofore, she went to his side. Standing stiffly beside him, she smiled and said, “This is my husband, Raynor, baron of Warwicke.”

The next silence stretched on for what seemed like hours.

Elizabeth knew that Henry was more than a little shocked. As head of the family, Henry had a right to be consulted as to her marriage. Not that he would ever try to make that decision for her. He would simply expect the formalities to be observed as a gesture to his position. Henry was a stickler for such things.

Besides, he was her brother and loved her greatly. That she would marry without even telling him must hurt a little, at the very least. But for the life of her, Elizabeth knew not what to say.

Besides, the unexpected news must be doubly hard to digest, as she knew her brothers had almost despaired of her taking a husband.

It was Aileen who recovered first. She moved forward to hug Elizabeth, despite little Henry, who squirmed between them. “You have my congratulations,” she said, then turned to Raynor. “Elizabeth’s husband is most welcome, is he not, Henry?”

The baron of Clayburn was a still a little slow to react, but at last he moved forward to hold Elizabeth close. Then he drew back when Henry complained at his father’s fervor. “Beth, why didn’t you send word? We would have come to attend the wedding. You are my only sister.”

She shrugged out of his arms, turning to her husband. She hoped Raynor would not tell them the circumstances of their marriage. She did not want to face any recriminations from Henry. He could be quite overpowering at times, even though he meant well. Elizabeth knew she had made a mistake in dining alone with Raynor and was responsible for everything that had occurred because of it. She did not need her brother to tell her that.

Obviously Raynor decided to heed the pleading in her eyes, for he turned to Henry, holding out a hand as if asking for understanding. “I am most sorry for not inviting you, my lord Clayburn. But we came to a decision in the matter in haste, and your brother Stephen was inclined to agree with us.”

Henry frowned, and Elizabeth could tell he would have much to say to his younger brother on the subject when next they met.

Of course, Stephen would tell Henry what had happened, and Elizabeth knew that was the right thing to do. She also knew that she should tell Henry right now. But she was feeling vulnerable and unsure as never in her life, and did not wish to discuss her marital problems with anyone. Least of all her volatile older brother.

When Henry continued to scowl but said nothing, Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. By the time Henry was able to question Stephen, she would be gone to Warwicke, and thus spared any recrimination about her foolishness.

Elizabeth cast Raynor a quick smile of gratitude. She didn’t know why her husband had protected her, but she felt a small glimmer of warmth near her heart. Mayhap he did feel at least some small bit of allegiance toward her.

But Elizabeth could not allow herself to dwell on that now. She dared not hope for too much.

What she needed most was to find her equilibrium and keep it, if she was going to be able to deal with the unpredictable Raynor. Their relationship was complicated at best, and could turn disastrous at any time. As she had seen the day he kissed her.

It would be best not to press him too hard.

With that in mind, she turned to Aileen, thinking that if they went into the keep it might relieve some of the tension between them. There was nothing to be gained in standing about the courtyard, feeling self-conscious. The more active they were, the less likely it was that Henry would ask a question she did not wish to answer. Elizabeth said, “Now that that is all settled, I would love nothing so much as a hot bath.”

Aileen laughed, taking her sister-by-marriage’s arm to lead her into the keep. “Forgive me for forgetting how tired you must be.” She looked over at Raynor, including him in the comment.

“Aye,” Elizabeth answered. “A warm bed will be most welcome, after two days of sleeping in tents.”

She was aware of Henry gesturing for Raynor to follow them. Henry chuckled huskily. “I would wager your lord husband will be glad of a warm bed, as well.”

Hot color stained Elizabeth’s cheeks as she strained to hear Raynor’s reply. But if he made one, it was too low for her to catch.

She made a show of listening to little Henry as he pattered on in his baby language. Distracted as she was, Elizabeth understood no more than two words in ten. It gave her something to attend to besides Raynor, whom she was completely aware of as he followed them into the great hall.

Aileen went to the end of the hall, where a fire burned in the large hearth, and spoke to a woman who was turning a roasting pig on a spit over its heat. She nodded and rose. Then Aileen came back to Elizabeth.

Leaving the men to their talk, Aileen led Elizabeth to the same room she had stayed in in the past. It was a comfortable chamber and contained an X-shaped chair, a table and a high, wide bed.

“Your bath is being brought,” the golden-haired woman said, taking her chattering son.

Elizabeth sighed, sinking down on the side of the bed as Aileen seated herself on the chair. “It will be good to be clean again.” She reached up and pulled her sheer wimple from her head, her hair tumbling down in a tangle of ebony. Without thinking, she began to tick off a list of things that needed doing. “I will need my companion, Olwyn. She is with the wagons outside the gate. She will know to bring clean garments for me. Raynor has no squire with him, so she might ask his man for a change of clothing for him. Also, I doubt that you need worry about housing Raynor’s men. No doubt he will want them to stay with the wagons. But he may want his knight, Bronic, to sleep in the keep. They are more friends than lord and vassal. I trust you will find accommodations for Olwyn, as well.” She paused as Aileen began to laugh.

Accustomed to Elizabeth’s managing ways, Aileen took no offense. She knew there was no ill in the younger woman, she simply liked to have things run smoothly. “Of course. I will see to it. Is there aught else?”

Elizabeth grinned at the other woman. “Nay, not that I can think of at this moment, but if anything does occur to me, I will certainly let you know.”

Aileen laughed again, as she was meant to. Then she grew noticeably more serious. “Now tell me of your marriage.” It was obvious that she was unable to contain her curiosity a moment longer.

Elizabeth looked down at the gray stone floor, suddenly feeling awkward. “I...” she began hesitantly, then straightened her shoulders, unwilling to let her uncertainty about the marriage show. “There is really very little to tell. We met when he came to court.”

“Why did you not write and tell us of the wedding?”

Elizabeth’s reply was airy. “As Raynor said, there was really not time to write. It all happened so quickly.”

There was some degree of censure in Aileen’s next question. “Why not wait, at least long enough to send word to us? We do love you very much.”

Standing, Elizabeth moved about the room restlessly. She had not meant to hurt them. Nor did she wish to lie, but neither could she bring herself to talk about the circumstances surrounding her marriage to Raynor.

Not with Aileen, whose relationship with Henry was nigh on perfect. Elizabeth did know that they had had problems. But Aileen and Henry had been in love. Raynor did not love her—nor she him.

Telling Aileen everything would not improve her situation.

Smiling with what she hoped was enthusiasm, Elizabeth said, “Stephen was the one who insisted on the marriage taking place so quickly. You see, Raynor must needs return to Warwicke, and Stephen felt we should definitely be married before he left.”

That much was the truth.

Elizabeth turned away. “That is really all there is to tell. I have nothing to say beyond that.” She knew Aileen, knew she was a very private person herself, and hoped that would be explanation enough to prevent her from prying further.

At that moment, the door opened and two serfs came in, bearing a large wooden tub.

Aileen stood, her eyes telling Elizabeth that she understood and would prod her no more. “I will go now and see that the meal is coming along. I wish you had sent word ahead that you were coming. I would have prepared something special.”

“There is no need.” Elizabeth smiled with relief and genuine warmth on seeing that there would be no more questions. She was fond of her sister-by-marriage, and glad she had found Henry. “I am happy to be here with you. That is special enough.”

Seeming slightly embarrassed by the other woman’s overt show of affection, Aileen flushed. Elizabeth knew some of the circumstances behind Aileen’s reserve, and had nothing but sympathy for her. Not until Henry came into her life had she been able to conquer her fear of giving and receiving love.

But it was still difficult for her to show her feelings at times, and Elizabeth understood this. So she took no offense when Aileen changed the subject.

“I will have Lord Warwicke’s belongings sent here, as well. Surely he, too, would benefit from a hot bath and a change of clothes.

Elizabeth’s eyes rounded with horror. Raynor’s belongings in her room? She opened her mouth to say it was not possible, then shut it again. She had led both her brother and his wife to believe her marriage was a desired one. She could not refuse to share a room with her husband of three days.

But what on God’s earth was her husband going to say?

* * *

Elizabeth sat nervously beside her husband at the high table.

Aileen had insisted they take her and Henry’s usual places, in honor of their recent marriage.

Raynor hadn’t even looked at her. He sat eating little, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. The only evidence that he was aware of her at all was the fact that he had set the choicest pieces of meat on her plate.