A Winter's Knight

by Fiona Neal

  “Thank you, for your consideration, Edmund. Perhaps in a few months you can get an annulment on the grounds of non-consummation.”

  “Yes,” he said. “I shall do that if that is what you want.” She could see he did not like that idea.

  “I don’t want that, Edmund. I admire you, I like and esteem you more than anyone, but I don’t want to ruin your life. I should have told my grandfather, but everything happened so fast. One day I was waiting to take vows in the convent, the next I was here, having to contemplate marriage. I am so sorry. I should have told you. I was so confused, but I couldn’t tell anyone. I saw so ashamed.” She began to cry again.

  He took her in his arms. “Listen to me, dear girl. We don’t have to consummate our marriage now. We can wait a while.”

  “But I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready, Edmund.”

  “We should give ourselves a chance,” he murmured. “We have more than a lot of couples. We like each other. We admire one another. Our circumstances are better than loathing each other and having to take possession of our bodies, wishing we were making love to someone else.”

  “Yes, I suppose you are right, Edmund. But what if I never can submit?”

  “If people love each other, there is no submission, Alice. Both the man and the woman are very willing to make love and procreate new life.”

  She gazed up into his eyes. “I never thought about the situation that way.”

  “It is very pleasant, perhaps the most pleasurable thing people can do.”

  “Is it really, Edmund?”

  “Yes, dear wife. I should never lie to you.”

  “But in the meantime, you mentioned certain evidence the maidservant would find,” she said. “And if it is there, how will we sue for an annulment later if that is what we must do.”

  “A doctor’s examination will prove you are a virgin, and I will admit to chicanery.”

  “Oh, Edmund, I feel so guilty.”

  He released her and walked to the table. He took the knife and held out his hand.

  “No!” Alice ran to him, holding back the knife. “A wound, even a slight one, can fester. You could get very sick. You could even die.”

  “The maidservant will need to see a few drops of blood, Alice.”

  She picked up a pomegranate from the bowl of fruit. “Cut this and use the juice.”

  “I don’t think this will look like dried blood,” he told her.

  “Use it anyway. We must try something.”

  “Yes, I suppose we should.”

  Edmund took the fruit and cut it over the sheets. The juice spilled on the white linen. He then picked up the white small seeds of the fruit.

  “It will have to do,” she said.

  “I suppose we could eat the rest of the fruit. It is one on my favorites,” he remarked.

  “But we must be sure to burn the skins in the fireplace,” she suggested.

  They made short work of the pomegranate and destroyed the leathery red skin and in the flames.

  “Now, I am tired,” he said. “I’ll go to my room.”

  “No, Edmund, the maid should not see two rumpled beds.”

  “The door is barred,” he said. “She cannot get in this room. I can lock the other.”

  “I see.” But she felt disappointed to have him leave her.

  “Yes, one step at a time, my lady,” He agreed. “And I will protect you, Lady Alice. I promise.”

  “I believe you, Edmund, but you will not close the door between us, will you?”

  “No, I shall keep it open, dear wife.” He kissed her and went to his room.

  * * * *

  Edmund got into his bed. He knew this was the best way—for the time being. It would be more than he could bear to sleep beside her and not make an overture. Waking near her warm, most desirable body would have proven more difficult than he imagined. Edmund was glad he didn’t have to contend with that. He had been celibate for a long while, but his self-control had limits.

  Yes, he was tired, and fell asleep quickly, for he had drunk the ale. Still, when he woke in the predawn of the cold morning, he wanted to draw near her warmth and take possession. Still, she was in another bed in the room next to his.

  I am just a normal man. I am not a saint. I have my needs, and they are not being satisfied.

  Edmund was within his marital right to force her, but he wanted her to enjoy his caresses. He loved her, and rape was out of the question. The whole notion of forcing her disgusted him.

  She was a frighten woman who had born insult and injury to her mind.

  He rose from bed and threw more kindling on his fire, which was still valiantly smoldering. When the fire sprang back into life, he put two huge logs on the grate. It was servants’ work, but it was much easier to do it than it was to rouse a hard working person from sleep, although by now, the servants would have woken.

  He then went into her room and fed her fire as well.

  Edmund was hungry, and he ate another pomegranate and an apple. He also drank the ale. .

  So…what should I do about this current situation?

  Well, the fact that he did not sleep on the cold hard floor was definitely in his favor. Alice had also admitted to liking him, to admiring him. Those things were definitely a plus.

  Edmund decided to wait and show her small signs of affection. He hoped those gestures would win her heart.

  But…he also knew that the news of his wedding would reach Camden. The man would be furious at being outwitted, and he we lay siege to the castle. Lord Camden was a proud man, and he would plan Edmund's destruction and seek revenge.

  “I must prepare for a siege,” he whispered.

  Cold now, he returned to bed, and got under the covers and fell asleep.

  When he awoke, Alice was standing by his bed.

  “I’m sorry to rouse you, Edmund, but the maidservant will come with the hot water I ordered last night. She should find us together.”

  “Yes, you are right.”

  “Will you come into the other bed,” she asked.

  “Yes, have you unbarred the door, Alice?”

  “I have.”

  They got into her bed. He wanted to snuggle closer to Alice, but he didn’t dare. She certainly was a beautiful woman, but she was a frightened. Of all the females in the world, she was the most timid one he ever knew—not that he met many women.

  Unlike many knights, he strictly adhered to his vows to honor and protect woman. He also kept celibate, since he wife died.

  “Edmund, did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, I did, Did you?

  “Yes, because I knew you would protect me,” she replied.

  “You know I always will,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

  When she did not jerk away, he felt that he was making some progress, albeit a small step.

  “If we’d married in the summer, I might suggest a trip to Italy or maybe Scotland,” he said.

  “And we would be safe from Camden,” she said.

  “Give him time. He will make his move, Alice.”

  “Yes, he will.” She nodded. “He will be very angry that you did not kill me, but married me. Furthermore, you got custody of Edith.”

  “Yes,” he said. “But I could not kill you, Alice.” I love you, but you are not ready to hear those words.

  “I am glad you did not, and you make me feel safe. That is a good thing.” She smiled. “After the soldier's attack, I did not feel safe here, so I went to the convent. I always felt safe there. I felt useful, too.”

  “Alice, I hope you will put that nasty assault and battery out of your mind. Try to think of the regard we have for each other. Replace those ugly thoughts with good ones.”

  “Yes, that is a good suggestion. I think I shall.”

  “What do you want to do on your first day as a married woman?”

  “Well, I think we should go shopping in the village if you feel that is safe. You have wedding gifts to buy.”

 
“It will be safe. Camden won’t attack during the winter season. He will wait and prepare. He will come with every weapon in the arsenal.”

  “Oh, Edmund, it sounds so ghastly.”

  “Then let’s not consider it now. We’re married. We should behave happily.”

  “Yes, we shall,” she agreed and smiled.

  A knock heralded the arrival of the maidservant with the pails of water, which she put near the hearth.

  Alice rose from the bed, throwing back the covers so the servant could see the pomegranate stain.

  “I should like our breakfast served in this room,” Alice said.

  “Yes, my lady.” The woman then left.

  “She saw the stain,” Alice quietly stated.

  “Yes, she did, and word will be reported to your grandfather,” Edmund confirmed.

  * * * *

  After a hearty breakfast, Edmund and Alice rode to the village. Riding along the High Street, they passed by the tavern, the butcher shop, the chandler's shop, and the pillory.

  A young person was locked into the stocks and a loaf of bread and a weight of tied of iron was tied around his neck. People were jeering at him, and others members of the village were hurling rotten eggs, dung, and other nasty things at him.

  “Oh, Edmund, what is going on?”

  Her handsome husband looked at her, his expression surprised. “Don’t you know? Haven’t you even seen someone in the stocks before?”

  “No.” Alice shook her head. “I have heard about such things, but I stayed mostly at the convent.”

  “Well, from the look of him, I should guess he cheated his master's customers by putting a piece of iron in the bread when he weight it. The cheated people became aggrieved and decided to punish him.”

  “Oh, that was wrong of him, but the day is freezing, and the temperature is dropping. He will surely die of the cold. Perhaps the poor young mans has learned his lesson,” she said.

  “What would you have me do?” Edmund asked.

  “I want him released, and then he can come with us. Help me dismount, Edmund.”

  “Alice, the young man is the baker’s apprentice. He cannot come with us. His master needs him.”

  “I wish to hear the poor soul's side of what happened, Edmund.”

  “As you wish,” Edmund said, got off his horse, and helped her down.

  The crowd had become silent as the members of the large group watched her. Alice was not accustomed to being the object of attention, but she had to help the poor boy. She could not bear to see anyone suffer—even if he was guilty. The young person looked as if he would freeze to death.

  “Get this poor soul out of the stocks,” she ordered with authority.

  “But my lady,” a tall man said, “he has cheated us.”

  “And from the look of him, I think he has learned a hard lesson. Now,...I order you to release this young person, or I shall have to report your disobedience to my grandfather, Lord De Winter.”

  The man quickly released the boy, and the your person fell to the ground, looking pale and he was shivering strenuously. The terrible odor of dung and rotten eggs emanated from the filth on his cloths as Alice bent over him.

  “Please fetch me a drink of mulled win, Edmund,” Alice asked. “This poor person is in a bad way,”

  Her husband hurried to the tavern across the road as she knelt by the boy, who looked about thirteen years old or so.

  “What is your name, boy?”

  “My name is Godwin, my lady.”

  “Where are your parents, Godwin?” Alice asked.

  “They are dead, my lady,” the boy said. “My uncle apprenticed me to the baker this year.”

  “Did you cheat these people?”

  “No, my lady,” The boy shook his head. “I just followed my master’s instructions,” the boy whispered.

  “You were just following instructions?” she queried.

  “Yes, my lady. I did exactly as my master ordered.”

  “I am sorry you have to suffer this humiliation and the physical suffering, Godwin.”

  The poor boy was covered with filth, and she took her handkerchief and wiped his face, fighting the nausea the odor caused.

  Edmund approached with the mulled wine and gave it to Alice. She held the cup and put it to the shivering boy’s lips. Godwin drank all the warm liquid.

  “Edmund, I think we could give this boy a place in the castle.”

  “But we would have to pay his master.”

  “I have money,” she said. “Please call him.”

  Edmund called the baker. He was a large man, with a wide girth. He looked wily, and Alice got a bad feeling about the man. Nevertheless, she had to help this poor young man.

  “What is your name?” Alice asked.

  “My name is Edward,” the man said.

  Alice did not like the man. He seemed brutish. Poor Godwin must has suffered under this man’s tutelage.

  “Please take the funds and find another apprentice,” Alice said with authority. “I want this young man in my service.”

  “He is a cheat,” my lady.

  “Is he?” She glared at him.

  “He was caught,” my lady, Edward replied.

  “But he has learned the error of his ways.” She did not think it would be beneficial to accuse him to the crime of cheating. Alice just wanted to give the boy a chance at a decent, honorable life.

  Alice gave the man more money, and he stared at it and said, “Thank you, my lady. The boy is now in your service.”

  “I thank you,” she replied.

  A serving woman from the castle was passing, and Alice called out to her. “Marjorie, please take this boy to the castle. Let him have a bath and a new suit of clothes. See that he is fed well. Then have him wait for us in my apartment. Do also inform his lordship that the boy is now in my service.”

  “Yes, Lady Alice,” Marjorie said.

  “Can you walk, Godwin?”

  “I think so, my lady.” The boy staggered to his feet. He seemed unsteady.

  Alice saw a man delivering wood. “You there,” she called out. “Take this woman and boy to De Winter Castle. She then gave the man some money.

  The woodman stared at the money. Then he said, “Thank you, my lady.”

  “You are welcome,” Alice said.

  Likely, the man had never seen that much money at one time in his hand.

  “Go now,” Alice told the man. “Edmund, would you please help me get into my saddle?”

  Her new husband quickly helped her mount the lovely white mare.

  Alice felt good about helping the boy, but she was not sure how Edmund felt. Furthermore, she had never been as assertive and as she had been a few moments ago. She had taken the reins of leadership.

  This is something I’ve never done before, but she felt good about her actions.

  She did not know if the boy had spoken the truth, but she did not get a good feeling about his former master. The young man would have a better chance at life under her tutelage than the bakers. Of that, she was quite sure.

  For a moment, she watched the cart transport her new servant to the castle. She then said, where do you wish to go now, husband?

  “I thought we could peruse the stores,” he said, looking at her somewhat differently.

  Alice wondered if Edmund liked her new-found assertiveness. Perhaps she was a bit too forceful, but she could not let poor unfortunate Godwin perish. Besides, she was her grandfather’s heir. One day she would rule over this earldom, she thought as they rode through the center of the village. I must learn how to assert my authority.

  They reined back their mounts in front of a shop that produced carpets.

  This place was new, and the proprietor and his wife made lovely carpets, and the merchandise sold well, or so Alice had heard.

  “I think the merchandise here is expensive,” Edmund remarked in a soft voice.

  “Is it Alice asked. “Well, it is fun just to look.”

  Bu
t she did not like the serious expression on his face. Was he thinking of money again?

  Edmund left the saddle and helped Alice dismount from her gentle white palfrey. She had to admit that she liked the sensation of his hands on her body. Telling him the truth, seemed to set her free—somewhat—but she was not sure she was ready to be his partner in the act of love—just yet. She needed time for that.

  Alice surveyed the shop. The store had a thatched roof and a sturdy wooden construction, similar to other buildings in the heart of the village.

  They then entered the establishment. Inside, dark oaken beams held up the whitewashed ceiling. The small windows let in little light, but a large fire, writhing in the hearth, gave heat and illumination against the cold and gloom of the day. The floor was made of slate flags, and the wares filled the counters and shelves against the walls.

  Alice lingered over two lovely woolen carpets, which looked oriental in style. That type of rug proved costly and few could afford such luxury, for most people had reed mats on their floors.

  “These would look lovely in front of a fireplace.” Alice ran her hand over the thick, soft woolen pile.

  Edmund grew closer and murmured so just she could hear. “They are beautiful and are well made, but the price is quite high.”

  “But I have a pouch of gold. They will make lovely wedding gifts for Sir Crispin and Sir Nigel.”

  “Sir Nigel and Sir Crispin are my friends, Alice,” he murmured. “I must pay for the presents.”

  “But you and I are married. I want to share everything with you. I have enough money—”

  “No, Alice,” he whispered adamantly. “This is my responsibility. I live in your house, eat your food, and draw a salary from your grandfather. I must take responsibility for some things.”

  Alice felt hurt by his words. Nevertheless, Edmund had saved her life more than once. Furthermore, he was her husband. She should obey him, shouldn't she?

  After all, he had said nothing when she bought Godwin's freedom. Still, that had been her right. She was the heir to this place.

  Why, oh, why, did money mean so much to him? Their difference in social status amounted to a huge problem for him—which meant a problem for her. Her grandfather had not realized what a difficulty Edmund’s lack of a title and fortune presented.