Fire Song (28 page)

“To honor your betrothal, of course,” Kassia replied.

Blanche blinked rapidly and drew in her breath. “You know? Graelam has spoken to you?”

“Aye, he did this morning. I suppose that I must congratulate you.”

Blanche felt that the world had taken a faulty turn. “Are you not upset? You did understand what Graelam said?”

“Aye, I understood, and I am only upset because it seems . . . an unlikely match, at least to me. I had no idea you cared for each other.”

Blanche was momentarily speechless, wondering if the little snit was blind. She was not loath to gloat, just a bit. “And I had thought that you cared for him. It was all an act? Come, I do not believe you!”

“I do care for him.” Kassia shrugged. “However, since I have no say in the matter, it is foolish to rant and rave. It is his decision, after all.” She raised her chin. “I hope, Blanche, that you will be a good wife to him.”

“You may be certain that I shall. He has been quite pleased to share my bed the past two nights.”

“Aye, I know. Graelam also told me of that.”

Blanche could only shake her head. She wanted to gloat a bit more, but in the face of Kassia’s calm acceptance, she was left without a word to say. “You are mad,” she managed, and left her.

Mad, am I? Kassia frowned in some confusion at Blanche’s back, then turned to direct the servants. The hall filled quickly, the men seating themselves along
the long trestle tables. Blanche hung back a moment, until Guy smiled at her and motioned her to her place beside him.

“I don’t know,” she began, trying to gain Graelam’s attention. But he was speaking to Kassia and did not heed her.

“Sit down, Blanche. You will see, ’tis better so.”

She could scarce eat a bite, her gaze continually going to the high table, questions tumbling through her mind. When will he tell everyone? Why is he waiting? What is he saying to Kassia?

“Patience, Blanche,” Guy said softly, slanting her an amused look.

At least, she thought, turning to the young knight, she could show him her triumph. If Graelam had told Kassia, ’twas likely Guy also knew. “Everything has worked out just as I said it would,” she said, her voice sounding shrill and defensive to her own ears.

“I think so,” Guy said blandly.

“There is nothing you can do about it!” she hissed at him. “In a few minutes Graelam will make the announcement.” Why did he seem so indifferent to what had happened, so uncaring?

“He told me he would,” he said.

She cursed him softly under her breath, her unspoken disappointment making her say angrily, “It is your hope to take Kassia yourself? Will you volunteer to see her back to her father in Brittany?”

“No,” he said evenly.

Blanche turned at the sound of Graelam’s bellow for silence. At last, she thought, straightening. At last!

Graelam rose from his chair. “Attend me,” he called out. He paused a moment until the hall was quiet. “I
have happy news to give you. Blanche, will you please come here? And Guy, of course.”

Why Guy? she wondered. She walked gracefully to the raised dais, Guy beside her.

“Everyone wish the couple well,” Graelam said, grinning at Guy. “Blanche and Guy will be wed the day after tomorrow, in the presence of the Duke of Cornwall.”

“No!” The small word readied to erupt from her mouth, but Guy grabbed her and kissed her heartily, smothering her cry.

There was a chorus of shouts and congratulations and calls for more ale. “It is done, Blanche,” Guy said into her mouth.

“You whoreson!” she spat at him, her mind still reeling. She tried to pull away from him, but his arms were like iron bands.

“You didn’t think that when I was in your bed,” he whispered. “Indeed, you enjoyed yourself much, Blanche. And I did promise you that you would never sleep alone again. You are well caught, my love. Graelam is pleased. You will not gainsay me now.”

“No,” she moaned, still unable to believe what had happened.

Guy heard shouts and kissed her again, allowing his hand to slip down her back. “Mayhap my son already grows in your belly, my love. Chitterly is not so grand as Wolffeton, but you will grow contented, you will see. Now, Blanche, smile, else when I come to your bed tonight, I will take you without thought to your pleasure.”

“You planned this,” she gasped, feeling his hand upon her hips. “May you rot in hell, Guy! I will never wed you, never! ’Tis Graelam I want, and I shall have him!”

Guy was profoundly grateful for the lecherous calls
and lewd jests from the men, and Graelam’s oblivious presence. “I think, my love, that you and I will leave the hall for a moment. There is much that you must come to understand.” Without another word, Guy hoisted her onto his shoulder and strode through the laughing men out of the hall.

She struggled mightily, but it was no use. She was panting in fury when he set her down and took her arm, pulling her along with him into the inner bailey. He took her into the warm, dark stable. Only Osbert was there, and Guy dismissed him quickly.

He gave her a light shove and she fell onto a pile of hay. He stood over her, hands on his lean hips. “Listen well, Blanche. It is my intention to turn you into a sweet, loving wife. If you fight me, I shall beat you, doubt it not.” He saw the rippling fury in her eyes, and hastened to add, his voice harsh, “Graelam does not want you. He never has. How you could be so blind astonishes me. You know as well as I that there are . . . problems between Graelam and Kassia, but you will not be here to add to Kassia’s unhappiness, or, I might add, my love, to hire more men to rid Wolffeton of her presence. No, do not bother to deny it. Now, I believe it time to . . . consummate our betrothal.”

He began shedding his clothing, and for a moment Blanche simply stared at him. Pain filled her, and she whispered, “You told Graelam that I willingly bedded you?”

“Aye.” He puased a moment and regarded her closely. “ ’Tis odd. Graelam still believes you modest and submissive. That you managed to keep him blind for so long is amazing to me.” He laughed heartily. “I assured him that you were quite a woman in my bed.”

“You do not want me,” she said, her eyes against her
will going over his body as he bared himself. “It is that little slut you want. You know Graelam does not want her! Damn you, you know it!”

He stood before her, naked. “Graelam wants her, all right,” he said softly. “He merely does not know it yet. And with you gone from Wolffeton, my lady, he will come to understand her quickly enough, and himself. Do you like my body, Blanche? Last night you searched for the scar on my groin before you fell into a sated sleep. And Graelam is a much larger man. I was surprised that you did not recognize me last night, for you were drunk only on lust, and not on wine.”

“I was a fool,” she said dully.

Guy didn’t like the defeat in her eyes. “ ’Tis likely,” he said coolly, dropping down beside her on the hay. “But you have won me, Blanche. You do account me a good lover, do you not?”

“I believe you a nasty, cocky whoreson,” she spat him. He smiled and pressed her upon her back. “You are a feisty little witch, do you know that? Come now, Blanche, I know you are not indifferent to me, no more than I am to you.” He kissed her deeply, his hand gliding downward over her belly. He felt the ripple of pleasure in her as she arched her hips up toward him. “No,” he whispered into her mouth, “not indifferent at all. You are a delightful bargain, my love. I will easily make you forget Graelam and Wolffeton.”

“You could pretend that you are pleased,” Graelam said, looking sharply at his wife.

Kassia gave him a wan smile. “I will miss Guy,” she said. “He has been kind to me.”

“Aye, so many men are
kind
to you. Even Drieux
sings your praises.” He leaned closer to her. “Have you entertained the good merchant in your bed?”

“Since my bed is also yours, my lord,” she said coldly, “you know you speak only to fan your dislike of me.” She shrugged. “Of course, since you have not been in your bed for several nights, you cannot really know, can you?”

She felt gooseflesh rise on her arms at his deep laugh, and wished she had kept her mouth shut. Why did she allow him to bait her? “You sound lonely, my lady. But I wonder how that can be so, when you are still a child, and have no use for men.” He sat back in his chair, his arms folded over his chest. “I imagine that at this very moment Guy is thrusting deep between Blanche’s lovely thighs. That bothers you, does it not?”

She shook her head, not looking at him.

“Kassia, you believe I dislike you. Damn you, look at me when I speak!”

She obeyed him. “Aye, I believe it,” she whispered. “Not at first, but you changed.”

“I, wife? ’Tis only that I discovered my sweet, innocent wife was a deceitful bitch.”

Was there never to be an end to it? she wondered wearily. “I did not hurt you, my lord. Nor have I ever been deceitful.”

He cursed very softly, aware that Blount was looking at him.

“May I be excused, my lord?”

He waved her away. He watched her walk gracefully through the hall, stopping to speak to various of his men, and felt his irritation grow. He thought again of the conversation he had had with Drake, his armorer, that afternoon. He admitted to himself that he had been wavering in his beliefs until Drake had
matter-of-factly stated in his even, emotionless way that women, even the best of them, couldn’t help themselves. “They spin tales, my lord,” he said as if he were calmly discussing the weather. “Lady Kassia lied to you, but again, she is but a woman. How could she tell you the truth?” Drake shrugged, and spat into the corner of the armory.

“Mayhap,” Graelam heard himself say as if from a great distance, “she did not lie.”

“She is young, my lord. Wolffeton is vastly different from her home in Brittany. Why did she try to escape you? Why did she come back? Why, my lord, does any woman behave in ways that make our heads spin?” He picked up a hauberk and began to pound methodically at the iron fastenings. “You might as well forget it, my lord. Accept your lady for what she is.”

Graelam knew that he should have cut off Drake’s impudence, but he had wanted to hear what he had to say. He was a man who had lived many years and known many women. He treated Kassia’s duplicity as if it were naught. Damn her, he thought now, draining the remainder of his wine.

“Well, well, my lord,” the Duke of Cornwall said to Graelam as he gazed about the great hall of Wolffeton, “ ’Tis quite an improvement. Even a carpet.” He turned a kindly smile upon Kassia.

“You have done more than I thought possible, my lady. It appears you have tamed this big brute. Ah, even cushions on the chairs. Aye, Graelam, you chose your wife wisely.”

Graelam grunted and Kassia kept her head lowered.

She felt the duke’s bony fingers cupping her chin and slowly raised her head. “And you, my lady, have much
benefited from your husband, I see. More meat on your delicate bones. No babe as yet?”

Kassia, her eyes held by the old duke’s piercing gaze, could only shake her head.

“You’ll see to it, my lord,” the duke said, and patted her cheek. He turned slowly, his joints creaking in his own ears, and called out, “Sir Walter! Come and meet your new lord!”

Kassia watched the tall, thin knight stride forward. He was well-garbed, and as she listened, she realized that he said all the right words, showing due deference to Graelam. But there was something about him, something that she distrusted and disliked. When he at last turned to her, she realized that it was his eyes. They were dark blue, but cold and flat, without feeling.

“My lady,” Sir Walter de Grasse said smoothly.

She felt naked, even her thoughts stripped bare before him. She thrust up her chin, angered at herself for such fancifulness. “Sir Walter,” she said in a crisp voice. “Welcome to Wolffeton.”

“Sir Walter comes from Cornwall,” the duke said, “Now, unfortunately, he must make his own way.”

Sir Walter said, “Aye, ’tis true. My family’s home was destroyed by the father of that viper Dienwald de Fortenberry.”

Graelam gazed at the man thoughtfully. He heard venom in his voice, and saw the gleam of hatred in his eyes. He said very calmly, “Whatever de Fortenberry has done, Sir Walter, he has not come near to Wolffeton. I do not count him an enemy. I pray you will not forget that.”

Sir Walter bowed slightly. Kassia shivered. She became aware of her husband’s eyes upon her, and immediately broke into speech. “My lord duke, we have
prepared a chamber for you that has its own carpet. Allow me to show you.”

When told later at dinner of Sir Guy’s betrothal, the duke beamed with pleasure. “A good lad, and worthy. The lady Blanche, I understand, is Graelam’s sister-in-law?”

“His first wife’s half-sister,” Kassia corrected smoothly.

“The boy, Evian,” the duke continued to Graelam, “is he not Blanche’s son?”

“Aye. Sir Guy has decided that the lad will remain here at Wolffeton. He is performing his duties quite well. I have hopes that one day he will squire me.”

Kassia wondered how Blanche felt about leaving Evian at Wolffeton. They had not seemed particularly close, but still, shouldn’t Blanche be the one to decide the future of her son?

“Likely the boy will have many brothers and sisters,” the duke said, casting his rheumy eyes toward Blanche and Sir Guy. “The lady looks to be a fine breeder.”

“At least she is a proven breeder,” Graelam said dryly.

“Do you consider wives to be as cattle and horses, then, my lord duke?” Kassia asked, and immediately bit her lip. Graelam’s opinion of women she knew well. Likely now she had insulted the duke.

“Nay, my dear wife,” Graelam said very softly, leaning toward her. “Cattle and horses know but one way to mate. Wives, if they but show a little interest, can find breeding very pleasurable.”

The duke overheard Graelam’s words and laughed loudly. “Well said, my lord. But forget not that your lady has many other talents as well.” He patted the cushion and sighed in contentment. “My old bones feel like they’ve melted and gone to heaven.”

When at last the sweetmeats and fresh fruit were set in front of the duke, he turned to Graelam, a wide smile on his face, and said, “I’ve a surprise for you, Graelam. Quiet the men, and I will announce my news.”