The Baron's Bride Read online

  Her nights were undisturbed. She assumed Sir Piers occupied one of the small guest rooms, where she had herself been housed on her first night in Granfort, but he did not come near her after wishing her goodnight, and she slept in lonely grandeur behind the curtains of the large bed.

  She did not think Gerda was aware of the true situation, for the woman treated her with a friendly respect and made no sly comments to indicate she knew her master slept apart from his new wife.

  Eva began to be suspicious, however, for Gerda was always present. She hovered in attendance whenever Eva went into the gardens. When Sir Piers went out, as he explained he had to do after such long absences, seeing to matters which needed his attention, Gerda stationed herself in the hall ready to follow Eva when she emerged from the solar.

  Once, when she knew that Sir Piers had ridden to visit a distant part of his land, she went to the stables and ordered the groom she found there to saddle Dusky Rose, saying that she wished to ride out for a while.

  The man nodded and went away, but when he led out the mare he also brought another powerful horse which it was clear he proposed to ride himself.

  'I need not take you away from your work,' Eva said as pleasantly as she could.

  'The master said I was always to attend you if you rode out, my lady. There are some wicked ruffians about these days,' the man replied, and Eva bit back the angry retort on the tip of her tongue. The man was only obeying orders, but she was convinced her husband had set his servants to spy on her.

  *

  She confronted him with her suspicions that evening after supper, when they had retired to the solar and he was pouring her a goblet of wine.

  'Am I never to be permitted to be alone?' she demanded. 'Gerda, and the groom, and no doubt all the other servants are told to spy on my movements!'

  'What else can I do?' Sir Piers asked lightly. 'You make no secret of your detestation for me, and from your behaviour before we married I have no doubt you would cuckold me if you were given the least opportunity.'

  'How dare you!' Eva was trembling with fury at his continued unjust accusations of her lack of virtue. To her horror she felt tears pricking the backs of her eyelids, and she blinked rapidly.

  'I protect my own, my love,' he said quietly, but Eva recognised the steel in his voice and began to despair of ever being able to free herself from this intolerable situation.

  'I do not like being watched all the time!' she exclaimed.

  'You have the nights to yourself,' he reminded her. 'Do you complain of that?'

  'That is the only bearable part of the entire business!' Eva declared petulantly.

  His expression hardened. 'Make the most of your freedom, my lady,' he said in a harsh voice. 'Be warned, I shall expect you to perform all your duties soon. I bid you goodnight.'

  Eva stared after him as he left the room. She could not understand him. Normally he treated her outbursts with calm amused detachment, unless she provoked him too far as she had done when she had mentioned Blanche. Then he had demonstrated he could show anger. Yet his reaction to her latest complaints had been bitter rather than angry. She realised she knew very little about him.

  'And that little is too much,' she said hurriedly to herself.

  'I beg your pardon, my lady? Sir Piers said I might come to help you disrobe.'

  'Gerda. I am sorry, I was talking to myself, I did not hear you knock. Yes, come in, I am weary.'

  Unbearably weary, she thought as Gerda brushed her hair and braided it for the night. Weary of constantly warring with the man who was her husband, though only in name. Weary of the longing that possessed her to see Gilbert again, to be held in his arms once more, to feel the peace and safety she had once experienced there.

  So lost was she in these recollections she did not realise Gerda had been chatting until she caught the hated name.

  'Lady Blanche? What of her?' she asked sharply, and Gerda looked at her in surprise.

  'Such a sweet lady, you will enjoy her company while Sir Piers is gone. Such a pity he has to leave you so soon, no wonder you are melancholy. And the little boys, so like their father.'

  'Their father?' Eva exclaimed, and jerked her head so that the comb caught in her hair and she bit back a cry of pain.

  'Sir Hugh was such a handsome man,' Gerda continued, and Eva decided that she did not entertain the same suspicion as herself with regards to the parentage of the two boys she had met at Blanche's manor.

  *

  Eventually Gerda had finished and Eva was left alone. Blanche was due to arrive the following afternoon, and Eva dreaded the intrusion. She and Sir Piers would laugh and talk together as they had done before in her home, and Eva would have the utmost difficulty in remaining calm, refraining from accusing Blanche directly of being her husband's paramour.

  It was to fortify herself against the lovely Blanche that Eva took especial care with her dressing the following morning, choosing the watchet gown in which she had been married. To look her best would help her ignore any barbed remarks the woman might direct at her. With the same intention she pinned onto her gown the delicately wrought brooch Sir Piers had given her, and only her heightened colour when Sir Piers remarked he was happy she liked it enough to wear it betrayed her consciousness that it had been more than an accidental choice.

  When Blanche and her two children arrived, however, it was much easier than Eva had expected. Blanche seemed determined to behave circumspectly, and barely spoke to Sir Piers, directing all her remarks, full of compliments, to Eva.

  'I fear I must have behaved oddly when we first met,' she said at supper, seated between Sir Piers and Eva but speaking to the latter. 'It was such a surprise to me, you see, that Piers had chosen a wife and was so anxious to be wed. But I can see why, my dear, you are enchanting. Make him happy,' she added in a low voice which did not carry to the man on her other side, and Eva looked at her in puzzlement.

  Blanche had turned away, however, and Eva could not see her expression. She pondered the woman's words, and began to doubt her earlier suspicions. Surely if Blanche were her husband's mistress she would not wish his wife to make him happy? Yet possibly she thought such apparent friendliness would divert attention from her own activities, if they were in any way dubious.

  Apart from her lingering doubts about her guests, Eva found herself enjoying playing hostess. Blanche was so ready to be pleased with everything, and the little boys were so full of innocent lively mischief that for the first time since entering the house Eva began to experience a feeling of pride. Even her husband bestowed compliments on her, and smiled at her in a friendlier fashion than he had previously used. If only she was Gilbert's wife and hostess to his friends, how happy she would be.

  Sir Piers planned to ride out early the next morning, and he followed Eva into the solar when Blanche had retreated to her own room, to leave with her some instructions he wanted her to pass on to the servants. Then, in his usual manner, he bade her a good night and abruptly left the room.

  In some way Eva was disappointed. She had half expected to be praised for her behaviour, which had been impeccable, but he did not seem even to have noticed it. She shrugged and responded briefly to Gerda when the maid came to prepare her for bed, saying she was tired and anxious only to sleep. Gerda smiled to herself and finished as quickly as she could.

  Eva lay in the big bed, restless, and despite her resolve to drive all thoughts of Sir Piers and Blanche from her mind, listening intently for any sounds that might betray whether they were together.

  The house was silent, however, and gradually Eva became drowsy. She was on the very edge of sleep when a sudden scream of terror caused her to sit up in bed. The scream came again and Eva scrambled out of bed, dragged on a tunic, then pulled open the door into the hall.

  The dogs who slept there were growling, deep menacing sounds in their throats, and above their noise another scream rent the air. A fire still glowed in one huge fireplace, and as Eva became accustomed to the faint i
llumination it provided she distinguished a small figure crouched against the large chair where Sir Piers normally sat. As she started forwards the figure rose to its feet and the dogs growled again. She could see now it was Roger, and as she spoke to calm the dogs he leapt forwards and hurled his trembling body into her arms.

  'It's all right, Roger,' she soothed the terrified child. 'I'm here, the dogs are friendly. They won't hurt you. They were surprised, that's all, because they don't know you very well.'

  Roger was clutching her as though he would never let her go, and his sobs and trembling did not lessen. Eva turned towards the room he shared with his brother, a small room which led out of the back of the hall and was next to the one Blanche had been given. She wondered that no one else had been woken by the screams, and then the door of Blanche's room opened.

  Sir Piers emerged and halted as he saw Eva with the child in her arms. He was wrapped in a cloak which he held tightly about him, and Blanche herself appeared behind him, her golden hair unbound and rumpled, and wearing a loose blue robe different from the one she had worn earlier in the evening.

  Roger stopped howling as he saw his mother and struggled down from Eva's arms. He ran forwards and Blanche knelt to clasp him to her as Sir Piers began to walk towards his wife. Eva cast him an angry contemptuous look and turned and ran to her room, thrusting home the bolt as she slammed the door. When he knocked gently on it she ignored him, and then heard his footsteps retreat and his voice enquiring if Roger was feeling better now.

  All her suspicions returned in full force, and unaccountably Eva burst into anguished tears as she cast herself down on the bed.

  *

  Chapter 8

  When Eva emerged from the solar the next morning, pale but composed, carefully gowned in a dark green tunic discreetly embroidered round the neck and hem, and fully resolved to argue calmly with Sir Piers and demand she be allowed to go to Rudge Manor, she found he had already departed for Lord Richard's manor in Gloucestershire where the King of the Romans was awaiting his friends.

  Frustrated, she wondered whether to confront Blanche with her accusations, and force the woman to depart, since Eva considered it would have been impossible for anyone to remain in such circumstances. Blanche forestalled any complaints, however, by coming quickly towards Eva and bending to kiss her on the cheek. Astounded, Eva forgot what she had intended to say as Blanche began to speak.

  'My dear Eva, what a dreadful mother you must think me! I'm so grateful to you for going to Roger last night. He rides the night mare, you see, and I'm used to him crying out in the night, so I do not always go to him. I wait to see whether it's an isolated cry, for it can often be worse to wake him from these dreams than to leave him to sleep and forget them!'

  'He was awake, and terrified of the dogs. They were growling at him,' Eva reminded her coldly.

  'He must have walked in his sleep, probably because he was in a strange house. He's done that once or twice, but so rarely I didn't at first consider it. I think he awoke and because of the dogs he was afraid. I thought at first the noise was coming from his room, not the hall, although Piers was not sure.'

  Eva stared in amazement. How could the woman so openly refer to the presence of her host in her bedroom to that host's own wife? Had she no shame whatsoever? But Blanche was continuing.

  'Such a pity he has to leave you so soon after your marriage. It will be for a few days only, but to you no doubt it seems an endless separation. You will enjoy going with him next time.'

  Eva was confused. Almost in the same breath Blanche seemed to be admitting her liaison with Sir Piers and assuming all was well between Sir Piers and his wife. Could she be mistaken about Blanche? She had certainly heard voices from Blanche's room during the night they had been guests at her manor, one of them belonging to a man, and who could it have been except Piers? He had made no denial when she had openly accused him of dalliance with Blanche. And Eva could not have been deceived about his presence in Blanche's room the previous night. Neither Blanche nor Sir Piers had offered any explanation at the time. His early departure this morning seemed to indicate a guilty conscience or a desire to avoid an explanation, and there did not seem to be any possible conclusion except the obvious one.

  Telling herself she was being weak and cowardly for not wishing to accuse Blanche immediately, Eva responded to the older woman's friendly manner with aloof coolness. This did not deter Blanche, who merely said she had been very shy herself when she had first been the mistress of a household, and no doubt Eva would soon become used to married life.

  Eva pursed her lips and refrained from the angry response she was tempted to make. She would endure Blanche's presence until she had positive proof of her husband's entanglement with his old friend's wife, but as soon as Sir Piers returned she would insist he told her the truth.

  *

  Throughout the next few days it became clear to Eva Sir Piers had left strict instructions with Blanche and his servants that she was never to be left alone. Blanche, despite Eva's coldness and increasingly pointed hints, spent most of the day with her, helping with the household duties, which Eva had assumed more from a lack of other occupation than because she enjoyed supervising Granfort. When Blanche was absent with her sons Gerda always took her place, and although Eva rode out a few times on Dusky Rose, with Blanche and the boys, a groom invariably accompanied them. Gerda even slept in the solar on a small mattress she dragged there, saying it was customary while the master was away.

  Angrily enduring the endless surveillance Eva constantly watched the road leading across the high ground between Granfort and the forest for either her father or Gilbert. Surely Gilbert would have found the opportunity by now to leave Holdfast and approach her father. He would not know it was too late, that she was already married. If he had seen her father would he not have contrived an opportunity to see her, or did he assume she had assented willingly to the marriage and wished to have no more to do with him?

  Sir Piers had been away for several days when a messenger arrived just as the household was beginning supper and asked to speak to Eva.

  Eva went pale and her heart began to race uncomfortably. Was it bad news he brought? Before she could analyse what she expected, or what she would have considered bad news, the man was bowing before her.

  'Speak,' she said in a strangely hoarse voice. 'Where do you come from?'

  'Sir Piers sent me, my lady,' he replied, and Eva unconsciously let out the breath she had been holding. 'He asks me to beg your pardon and forgiveness, but he is detained some while longer. He hopes to be with you in another se'nnight.'

  Eva thanked the man and he took the place offered him towards the end of the table. Eva, finding she was trembling, tried to steady her hands as she picked up a leg of chicken and began to nibble at it.

  'The abominable man!' Blanche said indignantly in a low voice to Eva. 'It's a careless bridegroom who stays away from his bride so soon after his wedding. Be sure to chide him for it when he does return!'

  Eva glanced at her. If only she could believe what Blanche said, and accept the friendliness the woman displayed, she would have enjoyed her company. Despite Eva's coldness Blanche was unfailingly cheerful and helpful in an unobtrusive way. In other circumstances, thought Eva wistfully, she would have been pleased to have her as a friend. But not when she and Sir Piers were conducting their liaison so openly.

  The irony of the whole situation struck Eva suddenly. She liked Blanche, her husband's mistress, while she detested her husband. Yet because she was married she could not show that liking. If she loved Sir Piers would she feel any differently, she wondered. Would she even be able to consider the possibility of friendship with his paramour? What would have been her reaction if she had found Gilbert had a mistress?

  The puzzle was insoluble. She made some remark about their plans for the following day, and Blanche followed her lead, not again mentioning Sir Piers and his extended absence.

  Gerda was not so reticent, howeve
r. She bemoaned the lonely fate of her young mistress, and when indisputable evidence arrived that Eva was not pregnant, sniffed and commented Sir Piers could not hope for heirs if he neglected his wife so shamefully.

  *

  Her declared intention of chiding him for his neglect made Eva apprehensive. She had toyed with the idea of pretending she was with child in order to avoid the intimacies she knew Sir Piers would soon demand. The King's own sister Eleanor, now married to Simon de Montfort, had done so with very different motives when her first much adored husband William Marshall had died suddenly. But with Gerda's eagle eyed watchfulness, and her freedom as an old and valued servant to comment on such matters to her master, Eva knew she had no chance of making anyone believe her.

  She began to feel desperate. There was no possible escape. Gilbert seemed to have given up all hope of seeing her again. Her father was strangely silent too. She had expected him to visit, but if he did not she could not appeal to him. And once the marriage was a real one she had less chance of gaining her freedom at some future time, for it could not then be annulled.

  One afternoon when the sun had the first hint of warmth in it, they were in the herb garden inspecting the plants for signs of new growth. Blanche was pointing out the recognisable herbs to young Piers and telling him some of the properties of them when the child, only spasmodically paying attention, gave an excited shout and began to run towards the house.

  'Piers, come here at once!' Blanche commanded.

  'As quickly as I can,' a deep voice replied, and Eva, who had been stooping down to look at some tiny pale green spikes, stood up hastily, her heart suddenly beating painfully hard beneath her gown.

  'Piers!' Blanche cried in a glad voice, and started towards him, then laughed, blushed, and stepped back. 'Eva, forgive me, I forget he now has a wife to take precedence! Piers is such an old friend.'

  Or lover, Eva thought angrily, and the look she turned on her husband was far from welcoming.