by Connie Mason
“Well, Vella, are you willing to accept the consequences of wedding a villein?”
“Aye, my lady. My station in life matters not to me.”
“It matters to me,” an older man said, stepping forward. “I did not raise my daughter to wed a villein.”
“You are the girl’s father?” Dominic asked.
“Aye, my lord. My name is Algar, and I have chosen another husband for Vella—a freeman who can give her a better life. He can afford to give me the pig I’m asking as a bride’s price.”
“I do not want to marry David,“Vella protested. She clutched the young villein’s arm.“I will have no one but Piers.”
“I have no pig to give your father,” Piers said sadly, “nor a cottage as fine as the one David owns.”
Dominic stroked his chin, regarding the couple through narrowed lids. At length he said, “I am inclined to rule in the father’s favor.”
Vella looked so disheartened that Rose felt obliged to speak up. “You could free Piers, my Lord Dragon.”
Dominic looked at her as if she had lost her mind. That would set a precedent that could have disastrous results. Every villein of marriageable age would begin courting daughters of freemen in order to raise their status.”
Rose knew Dragon was being practical, but the couple looked so much in love she could not bear to see them separated.“Master Algar, would you allow your daughter to wed Piers if he had Lord Dragon’s permission and offered a pigand a cow for her?”
“Careful, Rose,” Dominic warned.
“A pigand a cow, my lady?” Algar asked, his eyes bulging greedily. “Piers has neither a pig nor a cow.”
“Just answer my question, Algar, and let me worry about the rest.”
“You are treading on dangerous ground, Rose,” Dominic growled. “The decision is mine to make.”
“I am mistress here,” Rose argued, “and I have a pig and a cow I wish to present to Piers.”
“My lady!”Piers gasped, clearly startled. Truly?”
Dominic’s mouth flattened.“My lady wife speaks out of turn.”
“Look at them, my lord. They are in love,” Rose argued.
“I am surprised you hold love in such high esteem, madam.” He searched her face. “Has someone claimed your heart?”
Rose met his penetrating glance with raised eyebrows. “My heart is still unengaged and likely to remain that way as long as I am married to you.”
“One day your sharp tongue will be your undoing,” Dominic cautioned.
Deliberately ignoring him, Rose returned her attention to the couple anxiously awaiting Dominic’s judgment. “Piers and Vella await your answer, my lord. Will you allow them to wed if I provide Vella’s bride price?”
A crafty smile curved Dominic’s lips. That depends, my prickly wife,” he whispered into her ear, “on whether or not you intend to honor your wedding vows tonight”
Rose went still. The man was ruthless; she should have known he would use underhanded means to get what he wanted. What she could not understand, however, was why he wanted her when he loved another. Was his sexual appetite so voracious that he needed more than one woman to satisfy him? Or did he want her simply to finalize their marriage?
“What say you, madam?” Dominic asked.“Will you force me to consummate our marriage in a way you will not enjoy, or will you give yourself to me like a dutiful wife?”
Rose longed to tell Dragon she wanted naught to do with him, but one look at Piers’s and Vella’s expectant faces changed her mind. She did not have the heart to disappoint the thwarted lovers; she would give Dragon her body but naught else of herself.
“You win, my lord,” Rose murmured.“Give the couple your blessing.”
Dominic felt like crowing. His stubborn wife had finally capitulated, and tonight he would have her beneath him. Though he had been tricked into wedding the wrong woman, he was determined to get some enjoyment from this unfortunate marriage.
Reluctantly Dominic turned his salacious thoughts from Rose’s voluptuous body to his vassals.
“Think well on this before you answer, Algar. Will you accept Piers as your daughter’s husband if he can pay the bride’s price?”
Algar’s assessing gaze traveled along the length of Piers’s muscular young body. “He does have a strong back, my lord, and mayhap can be of some help since I have no sons. David is spindly and frail and would likely be of little help to me. Aye, if Piers can pay the bride’s price, I will accept him.”
Then so be it,” Dominic said. “You will have your pig and cow before Father Nyle blesses the union.”
Vella fell to her knees before Rose and touched the hem of her skirt. “Thank you, my lady. I will never forget your kindness.”
“Nor will I,” Piers echoed, dropping down beside Vella and touching his head to Dominic’s feet.
The next petitioners took their place and the court continued. Rose listened closely to Dominic’s rulings but did not interfere again. No man could have done a better job of impartially meting out punishment or dispensing justice. But that still didn’t make their marriage any more palatable to her. Rose’s father had promised her that she need not wed where she did not love, and she had hoped one day to meet a man she could love and who loved her in return. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would be forced to call a man like Dominic Dragon husband.
Dominic rose stiffly, declaring the court adjourned. Immediately servants appeared to prepare the hall and set up tables for the noon meal. Dominic grasped Rose’s elbow and led her toward the solar.
Rose resisted,trying without success to pull away from his grasp.“Where are you taking me?”
“To consummate our marriage.”
“Now?“Rose squeaked.“The noon meal will be served soon.”
“I will order something sent up to the solar.”
They had just reached the staircase when Lady Emily hailed Rose.“Rose, come quickly. Cook and Lord Dragon’s man are engaged in an altercation and I fear they will kill one another.”
“Raj is arguing with the cook?” Dominic repeated. “I will come with you.”
“Nay,” Rose demurred. The kitchen is my domain. I will take care of it”
Rose hurried off, leaving a disgruntled Dominic in her wake. He watched her flounce off, her skirts swirling about a pair of shapely ankles. Charming women into his bed had never been a problem for him, but then, he had never encountered a woman like Rose before.
Rose hurried to the kitchen, grateful for the reprieve. She knew she would not always be so fortunate, that ultimately Dragon would have his way with her, but she wasn’t ready to surrender her body to a man she barely knew.
Rose heard the shouting as she burst into the kitchen, fearing she was too late to stop the carnage. She laughed aloud at the scene she had interrupted. The diminutive cook, brandishing an iron skillet, was holding her ground against Dragon’s giant. Hands on hips, Raj towered over Cook, a menacing look on his face as he bared his teeth at the woman.
Jumping into the fray, Rose asked, “Is there a problem?”
It took a moment for the combatants to realize they were not alone, but when they did, Cook lowered the skillet, though her expression remained belligerent as Raj stepped away.
This overgrown lummox is trying to tell me how to prepare His Lordship’s food,” Cook complained. “I have been cooking for the Lord of Ayrdale many years, my lady, and do not need lessons from a foreign devil.”
“My master has a discriminating palate,” Raj declared. “I have been overseeing the preparation of his food since the Crusade and do not intend to stop now.”
“And I will have no heathen foreigner in my kitchen,” Cook declared staunchly.
“Can we not settle this peacefully?” Rose asked.“How about a compromise?”
“No compromise,” Cook declared. “Mayhap you should find another cook, my lady. Let the heathen do the cooking if he is so anxious to supervise Lord Dragon’s meals.”
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nbsp; Raj drew himself up to his full, impressive height. “I do not cook. I merely oversee the preparation of my master’s food.”
Rose was ready to throw up her hands when Dominic strolled into the kitchen. “I heard the shouting. What seems to be the trouble?”
At this point, Rose was more than happy to let Dominic handle the fracas. With a minimum of words, she explained the situation.
“I appreciate your concern, Raj,” Dominic said, “but I am well satisfied with the quality and quantity of food served at Dragonwyck. Should I become dissatisfied, you may intervene, but until then, there are other areas in which I need your expertise.”
“If that is your wish, master, then of course I will obey.” Turning on his heel, Raj strode off with his dignity intact, but not before aiming an intimidating look at Cook over his massive shoulder.
Thank ye, Lord Dragon,” Cook said adoringly. “With that great buffoon gone, I can get on with the noon meal. I hope ye and the mistress enjoy it.”
“I’m sure we will,” Dominic said. He ushered Rose back to the hall, seated her at the head table and settled into the chair beside her.
“Your reprieve will be short-lived, Rose,” Dominic murmured. “While you were in the kitchen, I learned that Murdoc MacTavish is on his way to Dragonwyck. My border guards report that MacTavish and a large number of his kinsmen have just crossed the border and are heading in this direction. He probably heard about your father’s death and is coming to claim Dragonwyck.”
“Uncle Murdoc has no claim to Ayrdale, or Dragonwyck, as you prefer to call my home.”
“He would if you were to wed one of his kinsmen,” Dominic ventured. His intense gaze bored into her. “Even Father Nyle would agree that an unconsummated marriage has no legal status. MacTavish must be given no reason to seize Dragonwyck because of a technicality. You are the eldest daughter, are you not?”
“Aye, I am Father’s heir.”
“Then you understand why our marriage must be consummated at once.‘Twould be disastrous to England should a Scotsman gain control of Dragonwyck.”
Rose winced. She knew Dominic loved another woman, but did he have to be so blatantly truthful? His words made it abundantly clear that bedding her was a duty he must perform for England and his king. Obviously, he found her not in the least desirable.
“Rose, did you not hear me? A Scotsman cannot be allowed to gain a foothold on English soil.”
“I heard you,” Rose muttered. “I regret that you find your duty so distasteful.”
Dominic’s dark brows shot upward. “You are putting words in my mouth.”
” Tis the truth, but I have a solution. Let our marriage remain unconsummated and I will lie to Uncle Murdoc about it. Only you and I need ever know the truth.”
Dominic speared a roasted pigeon from a platter and placed it on his plate. Rose waited with bated breath as he put a succulent morsel in his mouth and chewed with obvious relish.
“Well?” Rose asked with growing impatience. “What say you, my lord?”
“About what?” Dominic answered.
Impossible man! “Did you not hear me? I offered a solution to our dilemma.”
“What you suggest is no solution at all, nor do I perceive a dilemma. Your servants have doubtless noticed the lack of virgin’s blood on your bedding. By now the entire keep is aware that you are still untouched.”
Spots of color appeared on Rose’s cheeks. She had not thought of that. “I do not believe you.”
Dominic shrugged. “Ask your ladies if you do not believe me.”
Rose fell silent as she contemplated Dragon’s words.
After the meal, Dominic went to inspect the fortifications, leaving Rose mired in her dark thoughts. Deciding to follow Dragon’s advice, she sought out Emily and Blythe and invited them to the solar.
Once they were seated before the hearth, Rose blurted out, “You are the only ones I can confide in. Have either of you heard gossip concerning my … my … virgin state?”
Blythe blushed and looked away, leaving the older and wiser Emily to provide the answer to Rose’s question.
“I cannot lie.Rose,” Emily said.Tyra noted the lack of blood on your bedding when she changed the bed linen, and you know how servants gossip. Besides,” she said, shrugging, “‘tis common knowledge that Lord Dragon slept in the hall on his wedding night.”
“He was in my bed the following night,” Rose maintained.
“Without proof, everyone will assume you were not a virgin when Lord Dragon took you,” Blythe dared to suggest.
The conversation was becoming too personal for Rose’s liking, so she changed the subject. “Did you know Uncle Murdoc is on his way to Dragonwyck?”
“Aye, Eric told me that Lord Dragon believes your uncle intends to claim your father’s holdings.”
“I know,” Rose said.
“Lord Dragon has naught to worry about if your marriage is legally consummated,” Emily asserted. “I know you do not care for Lord Dragon, but women are rarely consulted when it comes to marriage. My own marriage was arranged, but I learned to love Eric. Perhaps it will be the same with you.”
“Dragon loves another,” Rose contended. “All I will ever be to him is the mother of his legal children.”
“Think you he has bastards by his mistress?” Blythe ventured.
“Veronica has borne me no bastards,” Dominic said from the doorway. “Excuse me, ladies, my wife and I wish to be alone.”
Emily and Blythe made a hasty exit. Dominic closed the door firmly behind them and leaned against it. Rose stared at him, unable to direct her gaze else where. He was Satan incarnate, she thought, with his dark hair, diabolical smile and soul-piercing gaze.
“What do you want?” Rose asked, backing away.
He pushed himself away from the door.“Tell me about your uncle. Is he as greedy as I have heard? How will he react to our marriage?”
“I haven’t seen Uncle Murdoc in several years. He and my father were at odds over a piece of borderland both claimed. The land actually belonged to Father, but Uncle Murdoc wanted it. Mother brought it to the marriage with her, but Uncle Murdoc refused to accept that it no longer belonged to him.
“As for his reaction to our marriage, I know not what to tell you except that Uncle Murdoc once tried to talk Father into betrothing me to his stepson. Fortunately, Father rejected the betrothal.”
“Ah, that explains a great deal. Obviously Murdoc does not know that I am the new lord and your husband.” He gave her a look that sent shivers of apprehension down her spine. He stalked toward her and offered his hand.
Rose stared at his hand but made no move to take it. “Surely you do not expect…‘tis still daylight. The servants will talk.”
“Think you I care? Our marriagewill be consummated before your uncle arrives. I have been tricked, goaded and denied my rights by a woman who duped me into marrying the wrong sister. This is no longer about what I want or what you want but what is best for England.”
“England, bah! I care naught about a country or king that values human life so little. The king executed my father without just cause, leaving a grieving widow and two children behind to fend for themselves.”
“You are wrong on both counts, Rose. Your father plotted treason. He tried to rally the barons against King John. And you were not left defenseless. I am your protection.”
The kingshould be removed from the throne,” Rose retorted. “He is a menace to England.”
Dominic grasped her shoulders and gave her an ungentle shake. “Be careful what you say, wife. One never knows who might be listening. I am well aware that the king’s justice tends to be harsh. He is a man who enjoys torturing his enemies. Let my words serve as a warning. No matter how you feel about the king, keep your thoughts to yourself.”
Rose went very still. That sounds like a threat, my lord.”
Take it any way you want. I would not like to see you become a victim of John’s cruel nature.”
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sp; “Like my father,” Rose whispered.
“Aye, like your father.”
He did not offer his hand again. Instead, he swept her into his arms and strode determinedly toward the bedchamber. The door was ajar and he kicked it open, then banged it shut with his boot heel. He carried her to the bed, pulled back the covering and dropped her onto the pristine sheets. Rose stared up at him and shuddered. His expression was determined, inflexible. Realizing the futility of resisting, she went limp. He could take her without her permission, but she did not have to like it.
Chapter Five
Live now, believe me, wait not for tomorrow; Gather the roses of life today.
—Pierre de Ronsard
More than a little annoyed, Dominic stared down at Rose’s limp body. He wanted more than she was offering; he wanted a responsive woman capable of passion. The woman lying on the bed with her eyes closed and her fists clenched held little resemblance to the warrior woman he’d first encountered.
“Open your eyes.Rose,” he demanded harshly. “Look at me and tell me you find me repulsive. You don’t strike me as a woman who fears a man.”
Rose’s eyes opened slowly. Surprisingly, they were not filled with fear as Dominic had expected. Nay, they glowed with defiance, and for some reason that pleased Dominic. Better defiance than fear.
I’m going to make love to you, Rose. If you give yourself over to me, I vow you will enjoy it.”
“Why do you care? Tis Veronica you want, not me.”
He found her hand and dragged it against his groin. “My cock wants you.”
She pulled her hand away. “My lord—”
“Dominic. My name is Dominic.”
“Dominic, can we not wait until tonight?”
He grasped the hem of her over-tunic and tugged it upward.“I want you now, Rose. Raise your arms.”
When she failed to respond, Dominic took matters into his own hands, stripping her over-gown from her and tossing it aside. He started to do the same with her under-gown, but she stayed his hands. “I will do it,” she bit out.
“Nay, Iwant to do it,” Dominic said, impatiently shoving her hands aside. “Let me.”
