Page 28 of Hers To Command
Henry’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “You heard her, Roald. Go.”
Roald’s nostril’s flared, but otherwise, he didn’t move. “Stay out of this, Henry. This business should be no concern of yours.”
“As a knight, I am sworn to protect women, and I perceive that these ladies are in very grave danger.” He took a step closer to Roald. “Will you go, or must I run you through?”
His back straight, Roald stepped back. “You think I don’t see what you’re up to? You want Giselle for yourself.”
“What Iwantis for you to leave here and never trouble these ladies again.”
The angry muttering of the men behind Roald grew louder. Blinking back tears, Mathilde realized that she might be disgraced in their eyes, but they would still protect her, and Giselle.
“You’ll regret this, Mathilde,” Roald snarled, backing off the dais. “By God, you will—and your sister and that Norman knave and that big oaf, too.” He pointed his finger at Henry. “I would not risk the king’s enmity if I were you, not even for the beautiful Giselle. You are nothing but a landless knight and while your family may have some power in Scotland, it will not be enough to spare you when I return. Will you risk your life for these women? Will you embroil your brother and sister in this, too?”
“What areyourisking?” Henry countered. “A threat to me is a threat to the lord of Dunkeathe, close friend of the Scots king. I’m also the boon companion of the lord of Tregellas, most favored friend of the king’s brother. Do you really think the king will risk their enmity foryou?”
Emboldened by Henry’s presence and counter-threats, as well as her men’s loyalty, Mathilde stepped forward. “We hold Ecclesford by right of law, Roald, and we will keep it. If you try to move against us, it will be a mistake.”
“Brave words, my lady,” Roald mocked as he continued to back away. “You are truly one for vows and fierce resolve. I recall you once swore you would love me till the day you died.”
“I willhateyou till the day I die!”
Roald laughed coldly. “Passionate as always, eh, Mathilde? What a pity you are such an ugly creature, or I might have been persuaded to marry you—for a considerable dowry, of course.”
Mathilde grabbed the circlet of silver holding her veil in place and threw it after him, while Henry leaped down from the dais, rage twisting his handsome features into a frightening mask.
“You’ll be sorry for these threats,” Roald vowed, a hint of fear tinting his voice as he drew his sword and backed away more quickly. “I’ll go to the king. He’ll stand by me and see that I get what I deserve.”
“No, Roald,” Henry said, his voice almost a purr—a low, frightening purr, like that of a great cat sighting a delectable prey. “I’ll see that you get what you deserve.”
“No!” Mathilde commanded. As much as she detested Roald and would like to see him dead, he was an excellent swordsman and this was not Sir Henry’s fight. It had never been his fight, or his family’s, or his friend’s. It should not be their fight now.
She never should have asked him here. She wished she’d never met him. Most of all, she wished she’d never seen the look that came to his face when Roald proclaimed her shame. “Let him go.”
Henry hesitated, and in that moment, Roald ducked out the door.
“Coward!” Henry cried, rushing after him, but before he reached the door, they heard the sound of hooves striking swiftly against the cobblestones.
Bleakly aware that her life was forever changed, Mathilde stood still as a statue as Henry turned back. His eyes stayed firmly focused on her face as he strode toward her. “I think, my lady, that there are some things we should discuss, preferably in private.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
IFSIRHENRYwas going to denounce her for a duplicitous, dishonorable creature who’d lured him here under false pretenses, she would prefer privacy, too. “Come with me to the solar.”
He nodded, and followed as she led the way. She felt him behind her, and her whole body burned with shame and regret.
From the moment she felt Roald rip her maidenhead, her hopes for a happy marriage had ended. She had known it even as she lay crying, bleeding, on his bed. She had seen the truth of it reflected in her father’s sorrowful face, and heard it in Giselle’s soft sighs. She had thought she had accepted it, and that while she would keep the secret of her shame, she had vowed she would not lie to a man who offered her honest marriage believing her a virgin.
Yet, in spite of everything, she’d kept some spark of hope alive that the past and her mistake had not completely tainted her future.
Until now.
If only she had not been so vain, so eager to believe a young and comely man could love her. If only she had been stronger! If only she had resisted from the moment his expression had altered from querying to lustful, instead of being so bewildered by the change and then his sudden brutal actions that she didn’t move until her shift was up around her waist and Roald…
If only she had resisted Roald’s flattery and soft words, she would still have her honor, her father might yet be alive and all this trouble and pain averted.
When she reached the solar, she crossed the comfortable room with its tapestries and fine furnishings to stand behind the trestle table. Her hands clasped, she watched as Henry came to stand opposite her and she waited, like a condemned prisoner, for him to denounce her, steeling herself for the words that would be like lashes of a whip.
Before he said a word, Cerdic appeared on the threshold and for a moment, Mathilde forgot her misery. “How is Giselle?”
