Once outside their chamber, he splayed his hands against the cool stone wall and hung his head. Then he let his breath out in a long, shuddering sigh before pushing himself off the wall.
He was the lord of Tregellas, not a little boy alone and frightened in a wood. And Constance was the lady of Tregellas, whether that pleased her.
Or not.
AFTER MERRICK HAD GONE, Constance closed her eyes as another wave of shame, of dismay, of acute disappointment washed over her. Yes, he wanted her still, but not as before. Before, there had been gentleness and kindness; there had been affection and joy.
Despite her resolution not to beg his forgiveness, she’d tried to show him that she was sorry for her accusations, but she’d been so tense, so anxious, she could hardly speak, and her words had sounded cold, even to herself. So she’d deliberately enticed him and given herself to him eagerly.
He’d taken her as if she were the lowliest whore in London. There were no words of forgiveness, or understanding. No tender endearments, no whispers of entreaty.
She had become his woman, to use when and where and how he pleased. She was his chattel, just as she had always feared.
“BY ALL THE SAINTS IN Christendom, I could hardly believe it when I heard, but if you’re here, it must be so!” Lord Carrell exclaimed as he sat beside Henry in the main room of a tavern in Truro a se’ennight after Henry had left Tregellas.
Henry gave the man a carefree smile and raised his mug of ale in a salute. “Greetings to you, too, my lord. What brings you to this cheery place?”
He laughed softly at his own joke, for in truth, this tavern was far from the finest establishment in Truro. Ithad the benefit, however, of cheap lodgings and a relative lack of fleas.
Lord Carrell looked upon him with pity. “I must say, Sir Henry, it’s a sad, sad day when a man of your birth and skill must take shelter in a place like this.”
His pride pricked, Henry shrugged as if Lord Carrell’s observation didn’t disturb him. “It was my choice to leave Tregellas.”
Lord Carrell gave him a sympathetic smile. “So I heard, but a man like you must have plenty of friends who will offer you their hospitality, if Lord Merrick won’t.”
“I do,” Henry retorted. “I’m on my way to…” He tried to think of a lord who might indeed welcome a penniless but valiant knight, even one with a reputation for being less than chaste where the daughters of the household were concerned. “My brother’s,” he said, although the last place he wanted to go was Scotland.
“Ah well, Lord Merrick’s loss will be his gain. Given the troublesome nature of the Scots, I’m sure he’ll be glad of your assistance.”
Henry frowned into his mug. Nicholas didn’t want or need his help.
Lord Carrell shook his head and heaved a sigh. “I fear I’ve been sadly disappointed in my nephew-in-law.”
Henry perked up.
“I had such hopes that under the tutelage of Sir Leonard he would become a just and honorable man, but alas…”
Henry frowned. “What makes you think Merrick isn’t honorable?”
Lord Carrell covered his mouth with his fingertips and looked contrite. “I fear I’ve said more than I should.”
Henry sniffed. “Well, you don’t have to tell me he’s not.” He fixed a determined gaze on Lord Carrell’s face, barely visible in the dimness of the low-ceilinged tavern. “Did you know we swore an oath, him and me, to be brothers-in-arms and faithful to death? And what does he do but cast me out.”
Lord Carrell drew back in surprise. “He cast you out?”
“As good as,” Henry confirmed with a nod of his head. “And me just trying to help the ungrateful bastard.” He raised his mug and took a drink, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “I tell you, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I ride to his aid. He can rot for all I care.”
“I was aware he was not winning over his tenants, but I had no idea he would actually break an oath.”
Henry shifted uneasily. “I can’t say he broke it, exactly.”
Lord Carrell didn’t seem to hear that qualification as he worriedly chewed his lower lip. “Now I wish we’d delayed the wedding of my niece until we knew him better. If she suffers because of him, I’ll never forgive myself. The poor girl deserves better. She spent so many years in thrall to Lord William.” He sighed again. “She deserves someone more like you.”
Henry recognized flattery when he heard it. “I don’t think you’d have been anxious to have her marry a penniless knight.”
“I have many castles. One could easily be given over to a relative.”
“You would grant me a castle if I served you?”
