Read Online The Marriage Prize by Virginia Henley - Free Book Online
Authors: Virginia Henley
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marrying me. Lady Eleanor advises me not
to take no for an answer, but it seems to be the only word
Rosamond wants to say to me."
Simon threw back his head and laughed. "You think that a
problem? Have you any idea of the obstacles I had to
overcome? Eleanor had taken a vow of chastity, so we wed in
secret. When the marriage was discovered, the church
declared it invalid. I had no choice but to go to Rome and
bribe the Pope! Al you need do is persuade one smal
female!" Simon clapped Rod on the back. "If al else fails,
surely you know the tried-and-true method of changing a lady's
answer from no to yes? Get her with child!"
******************
Rosamond found the Demoisel e in the stil room, where she
was crushing some red berries to add to the wax of the
Yuletide candles she intended to mold. The air was redolent
with the piquant fragrance as Rosamond took a deep breath
and announced, "I have decided to journey to my property of
Pershore." She wanted to get away from Rodger de Leyburn,
and her conversation with Lady Eleanor about her own
properties had provided her with the perfect solution. It was
obvious that her guardian welcomed and approved of her
imminent marriage to Sir Rodger de Leyburn, which greatly
disappointed her. But Rosamond stubbornly refused to resign
herself to the arranged mar-
40
riage. A visit to Pershore would delay the nuptials and give her
time to find a way to put an end to the betrothal.
Demi lifted the pestle from the mortar and stared at her friend.
"Has Mother given her permission?"
"It was she who suggested it," Rosamond said airily, assuring herself it was only a tiny lie. "She reminded me that I am a
grown woman and should take a hand in running my own
properties."
"I suppose that is so. How exciting for you! Pershore must be
close to twenty miles away. Wil you also visit your castle of
Deerhurst?"
Rosamond lowered her lashes to hide the stab of pain she
felt. Deerhurst Casde had belonged to Giles, and she hadn't
been there since her brother's death. It was now hers, of
course, but she didn't think she could face going there. "I
doubt there wil be time if I am to return to Kenilworth in time
for the holy days of Christmastide."
"Oh, you must be back in time for the feasting and
celebrations, because I heard a whisper that we might be
going to London after the Yuletide!"
"Of course," Rosamond said thoughtful y as her mind darted
about like quicksilver, "there is to be a Parliament at
Candlemas." Lord Edward and his knights would soon depart
for London; perhaps they would be gone before she returned
from Pershore ... if she lingered there.
That night Rosamond wore a fetching gown of carnation red
velvet and sought out her cousin Richard de Clare in the Great
Hal . She had learned that when a woman wanted a favor from
a man, she was far more likely to get it if she looked her
prettiest. She spotted him quickly and made her way to his
table. "May I sit with you tonight, my lord?"
"It would be my pleasure, sweeting. You have grown unearthly
fair, Rosamond; what is it you want from me? No, no, don't
protest, when a woman seeks out a man, she always wants
something."
She gifted him with a dazzling smile. Though he was in his
mid-thirties and a good twelve years older than his half-
brother Harry, Richard had inherited the Marshal looks of his
mother, Isabel a, and was stil a handsome man. "I am
traveling to my property of Pershore and need an escort," she
said.
41
"Wel , that's an easy enough favor to grant. I have knights and
men-at-arms returning to Gloucester every day, who pass
close by Pershore."
"Thank you, Richard, I knew I could count on you. Please don't
tel Harry, he wil blab it to that devil de Leyburn."
"Oho, a lover's quarrel, eh?"
"Yes," Rosamond said faintly, "something like that."
At that particular moment, the devil's green eyes were upon
her. Though the Great Hal of Kenilworth held over two hundred
tonight, Sir
to take no for an answer, but it seems to be the only word
Rosamond wants to say to me."
Simon threw back his head and laughed. "You think that a
problem? Have you any idea of the obstacles I had to
overcome? Eleanor had taken a vow of chastity, so we wed in
secret. When the marriage was discovered, the church
declared it invalid. I had no choice but to go to Rome and
bribe the Pope! Al you need do is persuade one smal
female!" Simon clapped Rod on the back. "If al else fails,
surely you know the tried-and-true method of changing a lady's
answer from no to yes? Get her with child!"
******************
Rosamond found the Demoisel e in the stil room, where she
was crushing some red berries to add to the wax of the
Yuletide candles she intended to mold. The air was redolent
with the piquant fragrance as Rosamond took a deep breath
and announced, "I have decided to journey to my property of
Pershore." She wanted to get away from Rodger de Leyburn,
and her conversation with Lady Eleanor about her own
properties had provided her with the perfect solution. It was
obvious that her guardian welcomed and approved of her
imminent marriage to Sir Rodger de Leyburn, which greatly
disappointed her. But Rosamond stubbornly refused to resign
herself to the arranged mar-
40
riage. A visit to Pershore would delay the nuptials and give her
time to find a way to put an end to the betrothal.
Demi lifted the pestle from the mortar and stared at her friend.
"Has Mother given her permission?"
"It was she who suggested it," Rosamond said airily, assuring herself it was only a tiny lie. "She reminded me that I am a
grown woman and should take a hand in running my own
properties."
"I suppose that is so. How exciting for you! Pershore must be
close to twenty miles away. Wil you also visit your castle of
Deerhurst?"
Rosamond lowered her lashes to hide the stab of pain she
felt. Deerhurst Casde had belonged to Giles, and she hadn't
been there since her brother's death. It was now hers, of
course, but she didn't think she could face going there. "I
doubt there wil be time if I am to return to Kenilworth in time
for the holy days of Christmastide."
"Oh, you must be back in time for the feasting and
celebrations, because I heard a whisper that we might be
going to London after the Yuletide!"
"Of course," Rosamond said thoughtful y as her mind darted
about like quicksilver, "there is to be a Parliament at
Candlemas." Lord Edward and his knights would soon depart
for London; perhaps they would be gone before she returned
from Pershore ... if she lingered there.
That night Rosamond wore a fetching gown of carnation red
velvet and sought out her cousin Richard de Clare in the Great
Hal . She had learned that when a woman wanted a favor from
a man, she was far more likely to get it if she looked her
prettiest. She spotted him quickly and made her way to his
table. "May I sit with you tonight, my lord?"
"It would be my pleasure, sweeting. You have grown unearthly
fair, Rosamond; what is it you want from me? No, no, don't
protest, when a woman seeks out a man, she always wants
something."
She gifted him with a dazzling smile. Though he was in his
mid-thirties and a good twelve years older than his half-
brother Harry, Richard had inherited the Marshal looks of his
mother, Isabel a, and was stil a handsome man. "I am
traveling to my property of Pershore and need an escort," she
said.
41
"Wel , that's an easy enough favor to grant. I have knights and
men-at-arms returning to Gloucester every day, who pass
close by Pershore."
"Thank you, Richard, I knew I could count on you. Please don't
tel Harry, he wil blab it to that devil de Leyburn."
"Oho, a lover's quarrel, eh?"
"Yes," Rosamond said faintly, "something like that."
At that particular moment, the devil's green eyes were upon
her. Though the Great Hal of Kenilworth held over two hundred
tonight, Sir
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