Page 2 of The Unwilling Bride
Henry turned to the cynical knight beside him while his hand wandered toward the wench’s fulsome breasts. “Pay the girl, Ranulf.”
Sir Ranulf raised a sardonic brow as he reached intohis woolen tunic and drew out a leather pouch. “I don’t suppose there’s any point suggesting you be quiet about our winnings? You’re making us the bait of every cutpurse between here and Cornwall.”
“Fie, man, you fret like an old woman! No man would be fool enough to try to rob the three of us!”
With a shrug, Ranulf pulled out a silver penny. The wench’s eyes widened and she reached out to snatch it from his grasp, but Ranulf’s hand closed over it before she could. “You can have this if you bring us some good wine instead of this vinegar.”
She nodded eagerly.
Sir Ranulf’s eyes danced with amusement. “And if you’ll share my bed tonight.”
The wench immediately jumped up from Henry’s lap.
“Hey, now!” Henry protested.
Ranulf ignored him. “Off you go,” he said to the wench, holding out the coin again.
“What about him? Does he want any company?” the young woman asked, nodding at their companion.
The dark-haired man raised his head to look at her. He was undeniably good-looking, but there was something so stern and forbidding in his expression, the wench’s smile died and she immediately took a step back. “I didn’t mean no offense.”
“Don’t mind Merrick,” Henry said with a soothing smile. “He’s in mourning for his father, you see. Now fetch the wine like a good girl.”
The wench cast another wary look at Merrick,smiled at Henry and Ranulf, then hurried to do Henry’s bidding.
Henry smacked the table in front of their grimly silent friend. “For God’s sake, Merrick, this isn’t a wake.”
Ranulf frowned. “He’s got a lot on his mind, Henry. Let him alone.”
Henry paid Ranulf no heed. “It’s not as if you cared for your father that you should be upset over his death. You haven’t even been home in fifteen years.”
Merrick leaned back against the wall and crossed his strong arms that could wield a sword, lance or mace for hours without tiring. “Ruining your entertainment, am I?” he asked, his voice deep and gruff.
“As a matter of fact, you are. Granted, it would give any man pause to think he’s not just inherited an estate but also has to get married to some girl he hasn’t seen in years, but if you ask me, that’s all the more reason you should enjoy tonight. Given how many knights you defeated, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these wenches would do it for nothing. Come, Merrick, why not have a little sport? I know you, and once you’re married you won’t stray, so all the more reason to—”
“No.”
“You’re going to save yourself for a girl you haven’t seen since you were ten years old?” Henry demanded.
“Yes.”
“Then I hope what we’ve heard is true, and she’s a beauty.”
“Her looks don’t matter.”
“But supposing you don’t suit each other?” Henry asked with exasperation. “What if you find you don’t even like her? What will you do then?”
“I’ll manage.”
“It’s a question of honor, Henry,” Ranulf interjected, giving Henry another warning look. “The betrothal agreement means they’re as good as married already, so it’s no easy contract to break. Now for God’s sake, let it alone.”
“If there’s honor involved, it’s his late, unlamented father’s, not his,” Henry replied. “Merrick didn’t make the betrothal agreement.”
“His bride’s lived in Tregellas since they were betrothed, so she’ll know the household, the villagers and the tenants,” Ranulf pointed out. “That’ll be a help to Merrick when he arrives to take possession. Plus, she’s got a sizable dowry…” He glanced at Merrick. “There is a sizable dowry?”
The knight inclined his head.
“So he’ll be even richer. He’ll also be wanting heirs as well as a chatelaine, so he needs a wife.”
