Lords of the White Castle by Chadwick Elizabeth

Author:Chadwick, Elizabeth [Chadwick, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Warner Books
Published: 2012-04-28T14:55:05+00:00

Seduction of any kind had to wait. The wedding ceremony was a brief, simple affair. Their hands bound by Hubert Walter's purple stole, they gave their oaths. Fulke produced a ring of simple braided gold, which the Archbishop blessed, and as Fulke slipped it on to Maude's finger, pronounced them man and wife unto death.

Unto death. Maude shivered at the thought. How long would that be? A few hours, a few days, or a lifetime? Fulke kissed her, but it was a formality before witnesses and there was none of the breathless pleasure she had experienced in the antechamber. After Fulke came her father, and Jean, and finally Hubert. As he kissed her on both cheeks, she experienced a sudden rush of affection, followed by a melancholy lump in her throat and a sparkle of tears, because he reminded her of Theobald and all the safety and gentle affection she had left behind on a windswept Irish shore.

'If you set out now while the court is readying to dine, you'll have several hours of daylight on your side and very few witnesses to see you leave,' Hubert said practically.

Barbette was sent to the women's quarters to fetch cloaks and her mistress's bow and quiver. If questioned she was to say that Lady Maude was going to practise her archery. Ideally Maude would have liked to take her coffer and her favourite green dress, but could not do so without rousing suspicion. Besides, she was aware of the necessity of travelling light.

Fulke was not riding Blaze, but a grey rouncy of high quality with a fluid pacing motion to eat up ground and carry the rider for long distances in comfort. Fulke mounted up and, leaning from the saddle, held out his hand. Maude grasped his strong, tanned fingers and swung up behind him on the leather grid of the crupper. Jean de Rampaigne offered his own hand to Barbette.

Maude turned to her maid. 'My danger does not have to be yours, Barbette,' she said quickly. 'Stay here if you wish. The Archbishop will find you another household.'

The young woman shook her head decisively. 'I have served you since your marriage to Lord Theobald, my lady. I know that I could not be comfortable with any of those women we are leaving behind.' Pulling a face to add emphasis to her words, Barbette settled at Jean's back and gave a mischievous smile. 'Well, not as comfortable as this anyway.' She put her arms around Jean's waist.

'I agree,' Jean grinned.

Maude laughed and her spirits lightened. Suddenly there was a feeling of camaraderie and adventure. It was them against the world, and they were fearless.

Fulke clicked his tongue and Maude put her hand through his belt, taking a firm grip. Occasionally she had ridden like this with Theobald, but the emotions had been different. She had been more interested in her surroundings than the closeness of the man guiding the horse. Now the landscape had changed. She was aware of every fibre of Fulke's cloak.

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