meant to strike me down, would have if Jhone had not prevented it, and only because I questioned why he did not go after the attackers ere they escaped.”
She knew she was misleading her father. She should have mentioned that Wulfric had not known who she was. Unfortunately, her father guessed so much.
“He thought you a lad, Mili, and a villein at that. You know yourself that villeins can be dealt with severely for questioning their betters. Some have been hung for less. ’Twould seem he would have been most lenient, merely to think of striking you.”
She flushed furiously. “You find that acceptable, that he will beat me?”
Nigel snorted. “I doubt me he will ever do that. And be honest, daughter. You choose to provoke him, so the choice is in fact yours, whether you live with him in harmony or not.”
“I do not want to live with him at all! I want to marry Roland Fitz Hugh of Clydon instead. I know him well. We are friends.”
“Is that not Lord Ranulf’s son?”
“Aye.”
“And is he not one of Guy de Thorpe’s liege men?” “Aye, but—”
“You would have me wed you to the son of one of his vassals, when you could be wed to his own son instead? Do not be a fool, Mili.”
“If you were not friends with the earl, if you had not saved his life, I would
never
have been considered for his precious heir! You know that.”
“All the more reason to be honored that you were considered. He made the offer himself. ’Twould have been the gravest insult to refuse such an offer. You should be pleased with it. You will be an earl’s wife.”
“What would I care for titles when I know I will be miserable? This is what you want for me? To condemn me to a life I will hate?”
“Nay, I want you to be happy, Mili. The difference is, I know you will be, once you get over this silliness of thinking you cannot love Wulfric. There is no reason for you
not
to love him.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to give him one very good reason, that in the space of mere seconds, Wulfric had not only killed one of her pets, but nigh crippled her for life. But since her father had never known about her broken foot, with Jhone going about pretending to be her during those three months she had stayed to her chamber to recover, so she would not be missed, he was not like to believe her. And even if he did believe her, he would still discount it, because Wulfric had only been a boy at the time,and boys could be forgiven for their childhood misdeeds.
So she gave him another reason, albeit one that was not true as yet, but she had every confidence that it would be. “I cannot love Wulfric de Thorpe when I already love Roland and know I can be very happy with him. I would not fear him, because I know that he would make me a good, tolerant husband, as you have been a good, tolerant father.”
Nigel shook his head slowly. “You speak of feelings you developed as a child. That is not love—”
“It is!”
“Nay, you have not even seen him for nigh two years—aye, I remember his visit here. A fine lad. I was much impressed by his manner. No doubt he would make a tolerant husband. But I have done you no good favor, being tolerant of your preferences all these years. More tolerance is
not
what you need now. ’Tis time for you to accept what you are, a woman, soon to be a wife, soon after that to be a mother, and to conduct yourself accordingly. Or do you intend to shame me for the rest of my days, as you have shamed me thus far?”
She blanched. She had never heard him speak so before—nay, that was not exactly true. He had mentioned many times the embarrassment she brought him with her unnatural tendencies, but he had not seemed to really mean it. She had not taken him seriously. But now …
“You are ashamed of me?” she asked in a small voice.
“Nay, child, not ashamed, just very disappointedthat you cannot accept your lot, what the good Lord decided you should be. And very tired of not being heeded. You do not
She knew she was misleading her father. She should have mentioned that Wulfric had not known who she was. Unfortunately, her father guessed so much.
“He thought you a lad, Mili, and a villein at that. You know yourself that villeins can be dealt with severely for questioning their betters. Some have been hung for less. ’Twould seem he would have been most lenient, merely to think of striking you.”
She flushed furiously. “You find that acceptable, that he will beat me?”
Nigel snorted. “I doubt me he will ever do that. And be honest, daughter. You choose to provoke him, so the choice is in fact yours, whether you live with him in harmony or not.”
“I do not want to live with him at all! I want to marry Roland Fitz Hugh of Clydon instead. I know him well. We are friends.”
“Is that not Lord Ranulf’s son?”
“Aye.”
“And is he not one of Guy de Thorpe’s liege men?” “Aye, but—”
“You would have me wed you to the son of one of his vassals, when you could be wed to his own son instead? Do not be a fool, Mili.”
“If you were not friends with the earl, if you had not saved his life, I would
never
have been considered for his precious heir! You know that.”
“All the more reason to be honored that you were considered. He made the offer himself. ’Twould have been the gravest insult to refuse such an offer. You should be pleased with it. You will be an earl’s wife.”
“What would I care for titles when I know I will be miserable? This is what you want for me? To condemn me to a life I will hate?”
“Nay, I want you to be happy, Mili. The difference is, I know you will be, once you get over this silliness of thinking you cannot love Wulfric. There is no reason for you
not
to love him.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to give him one very good reason, that in the space of mere seconds, Wulfric had not only killed one of her pets, but nigh crippled her for life. But since her father had never known about her broken foot, with Jhone going about pretending to be her during those three months she had stayed to her chamber to recover, so she would not be missed, he was not like to believe her. And even if he did believe her, he would still discount it, because Wulfric had only been a boy at the time,and boys could be forgiven for their childhood misdeeds.
So she gave him another reason, albeit one that was not true as yet, but she had every confidence that it would be. “I cannot love Wulfric de Thorpe when I already love Roland and know I can be very happy with him. I would not fear him, because I know that he would make me a good, tolerant husband, as you have been a good, tolerant father.”
Nigel shook his head slowly. “You speak of feelings you developed as a child. That is not love—”
“It is!”
“Nay, you have not even seen him for nigh two years—aye, I remember his visit here. A fine lad. I was much impressed by his manner. No doubt he would make a tolerant husband. But I have done you no good favor, being tolerant of your preferences all these years. More tolerance is
not
what you need now. ’Tis time for you to accept what you are, a woman, soon to be a wife, soon after that to be a mother, and to conduct yourself accordingly. Or do you intend to shame me for the rest of my days, as you have shamed me thus far?”
She blanched. She had never heard him speak so before—nay, that was not exactly true. He had mentioned many times the embarrassment she brought him with her unnatural tendencies, but he had not seemed to really mean it. She had not taken him seriously. But now …
“You are ashamed of me?” she asked in a small voice.
“Nay, child, not ashamed, just very disappointedthat you cannot accept your lot, what the good Lord decided you should be. And very tired of not being heeded. You do not
Similar Books
