Page 103 of Peregrine's Call
“You think he’d be jealous?”
“I don’t know. He never seemed the jealous type.” Then again, Robin had never been swarmed with suitors before Geoffrey Ballard expressed interest in her. He probably never considered the idea of her being pursued by others, let alone losing her heart in a matter of weeks.No, I lost my heart to Octavian years ago. I was a foolish child then, and I’m a foolish woman now.
“A good man will understand your reasons and trust your word,” Cecily said. “Geoffrey must know how lucky he is to gain you for a wife.”
Robin tried to smile. She knew how much Cecily wanted this for her, to be well married and well cared for. Geoffrey Ballard was a man who could provide for Robin’s future. What was a little broken heart compared to a lifetime of comfort? It was a trade that many women faced, and Robin couldn’t afford to indulge her whims. Not when the de Veres had all done so much for her.I have a duty, she reminded herself.
The next day, Geoffrey arrived at Cleobury. Robin watched him emerge from his carriage, his attire perfectly arrayed and his face the picture of concern. She studied him from her vantage point on the upper floor and tried to fall in love with the man she saw. She never could before, and she certainly couldn’t now. To say she loved him would be a lie.
She’d be expected to lie her whole life—as bride, as wife, as mother. “Mary, Mother of God, save me,” Robin whispered. She’d have to submit to Ballard in bed. She knew that, of course, but the notion had never seemed quite so…real before.
Now that she had shared a bed with a man—not just any man, but Tav, who had kissed and stroked and worshipped every inch of her—she couldn’t imagine performing such an act with someone like Geoffrey. Would he do what Tav had done? Would he expect Robin to do the same things for him? Would he tell her to choose his hand or his mouth, knowing that she wanted both and would take either because absolutely no one in the world had ever made her feel so exquisite and lovely before?
Would Geoffrey call her lovely, as Tav had once done?
Would Geoffrey then tell another man to forget about Robin, and that she could take care of herself?
Robin closed her eyes, the pain of Tav’s words springing up again to wound her. How was it possible that he could be so sweet and kind to her one night, and then so callous about her the next morning? And how was it possible that she still couldn’t put him out of her mind?
“My lady,” a maid said, interrupting her brooding. “Please come downstairs. You’re wanted.”
If only that were true, she thought, trodding down the cold stone steps.
The whole day, Lord Geoffrey was polite and attentive to Robin, expressing great relief that she was home safe and asking what had driven her to leave Cleobury without so much as a message. Robin told the truth…mostly. And she was right that he didn’t care for it. Fortunately, both Cecily and Alric spoke warmly of Robin’s commitment to helping the king’s cause, so Geoffrey could only nod. When he heard Lord Pierce was confined at the manor, though, he leaned forward and asked Alric, “May I speak to him?”
“Lord Pierce? Why, do you know him?”
“Not at all. But this whole situation is so far beyond anything I’ve heard. I’d like to hear what the man has to say.”
“I suppose it is unique,” Alric said. “I’ll tell the guards to let you in to speak with him tomorrow.”
Robin thought nothing more about it, happy enough to not need to entertain Geoffrey all the time. But after the midday meal the next day, she found herself summoned to the solar where Alric, Cecily, and Geoffrey greeted her.
Robin looked around at them. “Yes? Has something happened?”
Alric gestured for her to take a seat. “Lord Geoffrey just informed us that he has a most vital topic to discuss.”
“But he hasn’t said what it is,” Cecily added, looking a little annoyed. “Come sit by me, Robin, and we’ll all find out together.”
Geoffrey waited until everyone was seated, then said, “I spoke with Lord Pierce this morning and learned some very disturbing things.”
Alric nodded. “Well, Pierce is a rather disturbing man, who’s served all sides during this war.”
Geoffrey shook his head impatiently. “Not about him. About Robin.”
“Robin?” Alric frowned. “Explain.”
“He told me that she spent the night with him, quite willingly. That she chased after him, in fact.” Geoffrey looked around the table coldly, but he refused to meet Robin’s eyes, as if she weren’t worth addressing directly.
She rose to her feet. “Hold a moment. On the way here, I wasforcedto spend a night in the company of Pierce, during which time I tied his hands and feet so he couldn’t escape again. I did nothing shameful that night. If he said otherwise, his words were merely spiteful and mean, revenge against a woman who got the better of him.”
Geoffrey was unmoved. His mouth was a mere line as he told her, “Words are all you have as well. I for one will not take the word of a woman who might be no better than a whore.”
“Watch yourself,” Alric said in a low voice. He didn’t move, but his fury was obvious.
“Apologies for the crudity of the term,” Geoffrey said to Alric. “But consider my position. A man takes a wife for specific reasons. I am already compromising in this matter.”
“How?” Robin spat out. “How are you going to suffer in a marriage to me?”
