The great black destrier snorted and sprayed water from his nostrils then stood quivering, waiting impatiently for his master"s next move.
"Did you say Chester weds my lady?" Falcon demanded incredulously.
"Aye, tonight at Gloucester. She planned to get away disguised as a boy and ride to her father at Chepstow, but I wouldn"t underestimate Chester and that b.a.s.t.a.r.d John. They won"t let their quarry slip through their fingers."
"Ride to Cambridge and take rooms at the Crusader Inn by the stone Bridge of Sighs. Hubert is with the men and that"s where they"l cross the river. We"l meet again at Mountain Ash," de Burgh ordered.
"Aren"t you coming to the inn to get dry clothes?" Gervase asked incredulously.
De Burgh shook his head impatiently. "No time, but you get there, you look like hel . You and your horse are about finished, man."
Gervase nodded wearily. De Burgh didn"t need his squire to hold him back; his part in this drama was finished.
In midafternoon four female attendants went to Jasmine"s chamber to prepare the bride. They carried in a bathing tub and plenty of hot water and liberal y poured in her own precious oil of jasmine Estel e always made for her. She protested as they began to remove the boy"s disheveled clothing she stil wore. "Where is my grandmother? She is the only attendant I require."
They shook their heads, claiming no knowledge of Dame Winwood"s whereabouts. Jasmine had no choice but to submit to their ministrations as they washed her hair and bathed her. They placed soft pads of linen soaked in witch hazel upon her eyelids to erase the tear-swol en puffiness.
They murmured amazement at the silk-iness of her white skin and lavished praise upon her for the way her newly washed hair formed a cloud of pale silvery gold about her shoulders.
A wedding gown had been provided by the earl, and while the women were in transports over its loveliness, Jasmine sat tight-lipped, consumed with loathing. A white lace underdress with long, delicately trailing sleeves went on first with no shift beneath it. It was finespun and almost transparent. Her round b.r.e.a.s.t.s with their pink thrusting nipples could clearly be seen through it. Over this came a white satin tunic, slit up each side and with a low-cut square neckline edged with white ermine fur. A silver girdle encrusted with pale mauve amethysts was fastened about her hips and a simple wreath of tiny white rosebuds was pinned to her hair.
It had just struck the hour of five, time to leave for the chapel, when the door opened to admit Chester. The women cried out that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, but he quickly dismissed them and came toward Jasmine holding a luxurious white ermine mantle. His eyes swept over her with lascivious appreciation; he knew there had never been a more beautiful bride.
She faced him defiantly. "I"l never wed you. When it is time to make my responses I shal not take the vow. I shal appeal to the bishop to stop the wedding!"
One powerful hand closed into a fist, crushing the fur he held.
"I wouldn"t advise it," he said ominously. "I have Dame Winwood locked safely away. She has had no food or drink since yesterday. Her guards are instructed to give her water only after we are safely wed," he said with satisfaction.
Jasmine felt the blood drain from her face as she struggled to make sense of the earth-shattering knowledge that she must go through with it. Dimly, through mists of horror, she began to comprehend the enormity of it al . She realized how much he had in common with John.
They were bul ies to the core, and there was nothing they enjoyed more than exploiting weakness.
He wrapped her in the ermine and cal ed for the guards. Like a sleepwalker she al owed herself to be ushered from her chamber, down the long hal way past his apartments, and down the winding staircase of Gloucester Castle. Although the cathedral was adjacent, it stil required a long walk in the cold evening air. Darkness had arrived early on this late autumn night. The wind ruffled her furs, yet she felt nothing.
She was taken past the magnificent arched entrance to Gloucester Cathedral and taken by a side entrance into the smal er chapel. There were perhaps two dozen people present. John and Isabel a occupied the front-row private pew.
Only high-ranking n.o.bles and their ladies had been invited to the secret wedding.
Jasmine lifted her downcast eyes only once as she was escorted to the front of the chapel. Her eyes met Isabel a"s neat smile of spiteful malice, and she quickly lowered them again until her lashes swept her cheeks. She heard the Bishop of Gloucester chanting in Latin, she smel ed the nauseating incense that covered the acrid smel of the burning candlewax, and she felt the lace of the hated underdress chafe cruel y against her tender nipples. She could smel , see, hear, and feel, but she could not think.
She dared not think of Estel e, she dared not think of the night to come, and so her mind had withdrawn and gone blank. She did not make her responses until she was prompted to do so, then she parroted the unctuous tones of the Bishop of Gloucester.
"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"
Jasmine was startled to hear the king say "I do," and knew she was lost. Al hope was gone. She felt dead inside. Then Ranulf was kissing her, and she was his in the eyes of G.o.d and man.
There was a great blank s.p.a.ce after that. She could not remember going from the chapel, the cheering outside, the showers of rice and rose petals, entering a private dining hal in the royal wing of the castle, or eating the wedding supper.
She became aware of her surroundings amid uproarious laughter.
The king was on his feet giving a speech. "And now at great expense to the royal exchequer I have had our wise wizard Orion prepare an aphrodisiac to ensure a night of wedded bliss."
Chester good-naturedly went along with the ribbing but protested, "I need nothing to speed me up, rather I need something to slow my ardor."
There was a great fanfare of trumpets then Orion appeared through an arras in a cloud of green smoke. He held aloft a great foot-high silver chalice and bore it to the new bridegroom. "Drink this magic elixir made from powdered pearls, rubies, sapphires, and amethysts. It also contains emerald dust and finely ground gold."
The guests sent up an "Ahh" of wonder at the costliness of such a rare brew.
Orion chanted, "Sip the sorcerer"s philter from a silver chalice of ecstasy and your virility wil gain in strength like unto a magnificent stag."
Jasmine"s face was whiter than her gown. Ranulf took her hand and dragged her to her feet. Then he picked up the chalice in both hands and quaffed deeply. "The bride, let the bride drink," came the shouts. Ranulf handed the tal goblet back to Orion. "Nay, I wil do the awakening. I possess a more tried and true weapon to arouse her l.u.s.t than any aphrodisiac."
The laughter and ribald shouts increased as they imbibed drink upon drink. The toasts descended from risque to ribald, then degenerated from bawdy to obscene.
Jasmine yawned. It was not a sign of boredom, it was a sign of extreme nervous tension.
Chester swayed on his feet as he announced, "My bride longs for her bed, I think it is time to bid you good night."
"A bedding! A bedding!" went up the demand, and the king, urged on by Isabel a, lurched to his feet and cried, laughing, "You don"t think you"re getting off that easily do you, you randy old goat!"
The men surged forward and lifted the couple aloft. They were al quite drunk and fumbled and staggered so that they al but dropped the bridegroom, but undeterred they hoisted him high again and carried them to the other side of Gloucester Castle where Chester"s apartments lay ready to receive the newly joined couple.
At the heavy oaken door studded with bra.s.s, the terrible reality of Jasmine"s situation swept over her. She did not know how she would get through the next few minutes, never mind the rest of the night. She glanced across at Chester and the look in his eyes terrified her. Her knowledge of men was limited, but she knew that l.u.s.t brought out the most unpleasant characteristics a man had and very shortly she would be forced to submit to whatever it was men did with women.
They set her on her feet and began to strip off her wedding gown. She gasped to the nearest female. "I cannot bear al these leering men to see me naked."
Joan of Devon"s heart went out to her. She had endured it when she was married the first time and would have to do so again tomorrow to a much larger audience than this. She was to be married in the cathedral proper, with hundreds of guests.
Isabel a"s spiteful voice came at her clear as a bel . "You ought to be proud to prove that you go unblemished to your bridegroom. Are you marked in some way?"
Jasmine stood completely naked as eager hands pul ed off the lace wedding gown. She held her hands in a way that covered the two tiny beauty spots that made a triangle with her golden mound of Venus. Jasmine trembled visibly as they turned her about before the men, lifting her silvery tresses to reveal her satin-perfect back and legs.
She stood naked with downcast eyes, yet she was acutely aware of the greedy eyes that fed from her. Chester had been stripped almost naked before he insisted enough was enough and urged the drink-sodden guests to quit the room so he could get down to work. Only the king remained. He leered at his friend, "Ranulf, I believe I wil claim the droit du seigneur."
Chester"s eyes narrowed dangerously. "How long do you think you could keep such a tale from her father?" he pointed out.
"Be patient, John. The marriage is not legal until it is consummated. Then she is my property to do with as I wish, not her father"s."
Jasmine"s eyes fastened upon the king and she turned cold as ice inside. It was not Isabel a she should blame, nor even the Earl of Chester, for if the king, her uncle, had one shred of decency she would not have been sold. It was John"s innate evil and greed that were responsible for her plight, and she swore an oath in that moment to be avenged for this night"s work.
She closed her eyes and swayed with dizziness. Ranulf caught hold of her to steady her. John threw back his head in uncontrol ed laughter. "Have at her then. Some night soon we"l exchange bed partners and you"l see for yourself how hot and hungry Isabel a is for a wel -endowed man."
Chapter 25.
Chester threw the bar across the door, turned, and came toward Jasmine. The last thread of her courage fled. She backed away from him, but he went after her and dragged her back to stand before the fire. "Please, milord . . ." Her voice disappeared.
He took her chin between his finger and thumb and forced her to look at him. "You wil cal me Ranulf, do you understand?"
"Yes, milord . . . Ranulf. Please, have you sent word to the men who hold my grandmother?" she whispered.
"You are now the Countess of Chester. You have more important things to worry about than your grandmother. I would advise you to worry about pleasing your husband. Your maiden"s shyness pleases me, but I wil brook no disobedience from you. I wil not indulge and spoil you as your father has. I wil school you to do your duty by me. If you do not please me in every way, I shal punish you."
She stood trembling.
"Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Ranulf," she murmured now on a half sob.
"Now come here to me," he ordered softly, and his hand covered the creamy swel of her breast.
De Burgh arrived in Gloucester at ten o"clock. He had gone beyond weariness. His body demanded action. He sought his own men immediately. They fil ed him in on what they knew but it wasn"t much. The wedding had been secret with only a handful of Chester"s most trusted men knowing of it.
"If Chester has married my lady I intend to chal enge him. I need your help. When Chester cal s for his men I want them to be incapable of responding. This night"s work wil be remembered a long time by Chester and by King John, so if you want no part of it, speak now and I wil release you." No man spoke.
"At midnight get the hel out of here. We wil meet again at Mountain Ash. Pa.s.s the word to every de Burgh man." He chose two he knew he could trust with his life. "Montgomery . .
. de Clare . . . attend me. Montfort, look to my destrier. I stabled him. See that he is warmed and fed. He"l only have a short rest, I"m afraid. I"l need another strong horse and a couple of packhorses made ready. I also want my lady"s palfrey saddled."
The next stop he made was at the residence of the Bishop of Gloucester. He was informed by a servant that the bishop had retired for the night and could not be disturbed. By this time de Burgh had little patience left. One strong arm forced back the door. "Stand aside, man, if you know what"s good for you. He"l be disturbed by what I have to tel him, I"l warrant."
The servant was reduced to a handwringing subservient as he fol owed the three men down the hal to the bishop"s private study. De Burgh offered the token of a brief knock before he entered.
The Bishop of Gloucester, a beefy man with a round, ruddy face, quickly set his drink aside and was on his feet to chal enge the intruders.
"Did you perform a wedding tonight between Ranulf of Chester and Jasmine of Salisbury?" demanded de Burgh.
"I did. Who are you and by what right are you here?"
the bishop demanded fearlessly.
De Burgh"s hand swept his question aside with an impatient gesture. "Did the king attend the wedding ceremony?" he rapped out.
"I"l answer no more questions until you identify yourself, sir, and I learn if your business is legitimate!"
De Burgh clenched his fists in fury, then schooled himself with a great effort to patience. "I am Falcon de Burgh. The Lady Jasmine is my betrothed. I have a valid contract with her father, Salisbury. If the king attended the wedding ceremony tonight the marriage is il egal-nul and void."
"Il egal?" echoed the bishop, thinking his authority was being chal enged.
"Pope Innocent has excommunicated the king," de Burgh said simply.
The words took the wind from the bishop"s sails. "By al that"s holy, is this true?" he asked, overawed. The news was devastating, but if he was honest with himself he knew that John had asked for it, deserved it, "Who wil tel him?" he asked quietly. "Have you the courage?" de Burgh asked sarcastical y. "Or is it more expedient for you to ignore Rome and take the side of the king?"
The bishop sat down as if his legs had col apsed. "I cannot do that. My duty is clear-cut; I must uphold the excommunication or Rome wil issue an edict against the whole realm."
"Just so," said de Burgh, satisfied the bishop was not weak- livered. "If King John took the time to read his dispatches from Rome, he would know of this. He would have known his attendance at the religious ceremony of a wedding would invalidate it. Get dressed, my lord bishop, you have a wedding ceremony to perform." The bishop paled visibly.
"Courage, man. John wil have drunk himself into a stupor by now. His brother Salisbury, Wil iam Marshal, and the justiciar wil deal with the king in a few days." De Burgh was finished with explanations. "Hurry, man, if Chester has consummated this marriage, I won"t be responsible for my actions."
Ranulf was busy inspecting his merchandise. He was savoring his acquisition, running his hands over every inch of Jasmine"s creamy satin skin, letting his fingers play with her pale silken ma.s.s of hair that fel about her shoulders like a silvery waterfal . His palms cupped and weighed each perfect breast, then he let his mouth suck and taste each taut, pink nipple.
Jasmine stood before him like a cold statue of marble. She had withdrawn to a place apart, a place of the mind, not of the body. A place where Ranulf"s avid fingers could not touch.
He removed the last of his clothing and Jasmine"s eyes looked at his body impa.s.sively. He was not an attractive man.
Though he was tal , it was his body that was long rather than his legs, and though he had no bel y, his torso was the same width from shoulder to hip and his muscles had a knotty appearance. His body was devoid of hair except his groin, and this was covered by the same lank, black hair that covered his head.
He reached for Jasmine"s hand and brought it to his swol en member, which had been in a semiaroused state since he had seen her in the pristine white wedding gown.
Jasmine"s smal hand lay unresisting in his own. When her fingers did not eagerly close over him, he bent to cover her mouth with his. He forced her lips apart and thrust his tongue deeply into her mouth. She went limp as if she would swoon, and he gave her face a smal , sharp slap. "Respond to me!"
he ordered.
Suddenly there was a heavy crash upon the door. The bar splintered with a loud crack and Jasmine"s eyes flew open.
Were the Powers of the Universe she had begged for help coming to her rescue?
Three heavy shoulders applying their power in unison had battered down the door. De Burgh murmured, "I"l do this alone," and the two men who flanked him backed off and took the Bishop of Gloucester a discreet distance down the hal .
Falcon, like an avenging bird of prey, swept into the room.
Naked, without a weapon, Chester knew he was trapped. De Burgh stood with one hand on his sword hilt, the other held his dagger. He was dressed from head to toe in black. His black leather boots reached up to his thighs and he had casual y tucked his black leather gauntlets into the cuff of his boot. He wore a flared hat to shield his eyes, and only the slant of his scarred cheek and jaw were visible.
Chester threw back his head and bel owed, "Guard! Guard!"
One of de Burgh"s men came to the door. Chester cried, "A hundred crowns if you seize him!"
Montgomery laughed. "I wouldn"t p.i.s.s for a hundred crowns,"
then retreated down the hal way.
De Burgh spoke for the first time. His voice was quietly menacing. "Don"t move unless you want to lose a t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e." He was trying to control a terrible bloodl.u.s.t, and he found it the hardest thing he"d ever had to do.
Chester argued, "You"re too late to do anything about it ... we are wed."
"In that case I"l have to make a widow of her," he threatened with relish. The vein on Chester"s forehead began to pulsate with fear. De Burgh towered over him, an unforgiving mountain of hatred. Chester took an involuntary step backward.
Jasmine stood rooted to the spot. De Burgh hadn"t spared her a glance. It was obvious he was more interested in taking his revenge on Chester than rescuing her, and in that moment she hated him. She darted to the bed and s.n.a.t.c.hed up the ermine mantle to cover her nakedness. Chester looked quickly over to her.
"Keep your eyes to yourself, man," ordered de Burgh, the fury inside him stil threatening to spil blood.