The Marriage Prize by Virginia Henley

Author:Virginia Henley [Henley, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780440222095
Publisher: Island
Published: 2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

It was well past midnight when Edward and Rodger entered Windsor Castle's new tower. Both men had drunk enough wine to make them overbold, but luckily both had hard heads for drink and neither was completely intoxicated.

“Your task is a hell of a lot simpler than mine,” Edward complained. “Your wife will be waiting in your bed. Mine will be surrounded by a fire-breathing dragon and a horde of dragonettes.”

Rod flashed him a grin. “Your sword is stout; my money is on you, Saint George!” He watched Edward ascend the stairs before he opened the door to his own apartments. Chirk displayed frenzied delight by pawing at his leg and wagging her entire bottom.

“Sssh, I want to surprise her.”

Rosamond, lying awake, was indeed surprised; she had given up on him long ago. Her trust in him slowly returned while she listened to the rustle of garments as he undressed in the dark, then felt the mattress dip as he joined her in the bed. He smelled of cheap perfume and expensive wine, and her trust evaporated instantly.

“Don't you dare touch me!”

Rod laughed. “Dare? Do you know how many miles I've ridden?”

“Don't you mean how many whores you've ridden?”

Her words mauled his pride. This was the thanks he got for being faithful. “I don't need to pay my women.”

“Well, you'll have to pay this one a king's ransom to allow you to share even my chamber, let alone my bed!”

“Allow?” His voice held a dangerous note. “This is my chamber, my bed … my wife.”

Chirk took heed of the danger, if Rosamond did not. A loud pounding on the outer door sent her scooting beneath the bed.

A foul oath fell from Rod's lips as he flung back the covers and strode naked to the door. “What the devil do you want?”

“I want to come in.”

Rod recognized Edward's voice. It sounded as annoyed as he himself felt. He opened the door and lifted down a lit torch from its wall bracket to light the chamber.

“The bird has flown! The bloody royal apartments are deserted. There are times when I could cheerfully choke my mother; she is an infuriating bitch!”

“Name me a woman who is not!”

At the sound of Lord Edward's voice, Rosamond sat up, but she did not have time to put on her bedgown before he came striding into the bedchamber. She quickly drew up the sheet to cover her night rail.

“Rosamond, did you see the queen today? Did you see Eleanora? Do you know when they left or where they went?” The questions came one after another without pause.

“I was greatly looking forward to talking with Princess Eleanora. I walked in the walled garden for over an hour, hoping she would join me. I took my midday meal in the dining hall, expecting to see her, but she did not come. When I returned to my chambers, I found a note from her under the door. I ran to the window and was in time to see the royal barge going downriver toward London.

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