The Velvet Promise Read online

  Helen’s eyes blazed at him. “You ask me now where she is?” she sneered at him. “You have hurt her, as all men hurt women. I tried to save her from this. I told her all men were vile, evil creatures not to be trusted—but she wouldn’t listen. No, she defended you and what did it earn her? I saw her lip on her wedding night. You beat her before you even bedded her. And this morning many people saw your brother throw that Valence whore—your whore—from your tent. I would die before I told you! Better I had killed us both before I gave Judith to such as you.”

  If his mother-in-law said any more, Gavin did not hear her. He was already walking away.

  He found Judith, minutes later, sitting beside Miles on a bench in the garden. Gavin ignored his younger brother’s malevolent scowl. He didn’t want to argue. All he wanted was to be alone with Judith, to hold her as he had last night. Perhaps then his head would stop throbbing.

  “Come inside,” he said quietly, each word difficult.

  She rose immediately. “Yes, my lord.”

  He frowned slightly and held his arm out for her but she did not seem to see it. He slowed for her to walk beside him but she still walked a bit behind him and to one side. He led them into the manor and up to their room.

  After the noise of the great hall, the chamber was a haven, and he sank onto a cushioned bench to take off his boots. He looked up to see Judith standing at the foot of the bed, unmoving. “Why do you stare at me so?”

  “I am waiting for your command, my lord.”

  “My command?” he frowned, for all the movement hurt his pounding head. “Then undress yourself for bed.” He was puzzled by her. Why didn’t she rage at him? He could have handled her anger.

  “Yes, my lord,” Judith answered. Her voice was a monotone.

  When he was undressed, Gavin went slowly to the bed. Judith was already there, the covers to her neck, her eyes staring up at the canopy. He climbed under the covers and moved close to her. Her skin against his was soothing. He ran his hand down her arm but Judith did not react. He leaned over, began to kiss her but her eyes did not close and her lips were unresponsive.

  “What ails you?” Gavin demanded.

  “Ails me, my lord?” she said evenly, looking steadily into his eyes. “I don’t know what you mean. I am yours to command, as you have told me often enough. Tell me your wish and I will obey. Do you wish to mate with me? Then I will obey.” She moved her thigh against his and it took Gavin a few minutes to realize that she had spread her legs for him.

  He stared at her, aghast. He knew crudity was not natural to her. “Judith,” he began, “I wanted to explain about this morning. I—”

  “Explain, my lord? What must you explain to me? Do you explain your actions to the serfs? I am yours no less than they are. Just tell me how I may obey you and I will.”

  Gavin began to move away from her. He did riot like the way Judith looked at him. At least, when she hated him, there had been life in her eyes. Now there was none. He left the bed. Before he knew what he did, he pulled on doublet and boots, his other clothes thrown over his arm, and left the cold chamber.

  Chapter Nine

  THE MONTGOMERY CASTLE WAS SILENT AS JUDITH LEFT the big, empty bed and slipped her arms into a mink-lined, emerald-green velvet bedrobe. It was very early morning, and the castlefolk were not awake yet. Since Gavin had dumped her on the doorstep of his family estate, Judith had hardly been able to sleep. The bed seemed too large and too empty to give her much peace.

  The morning after Judith refused to respond to his lovemaking, Gavin had demanded they depart for his home. Judith had obeyed, speaking to him only when necessary. They traveled for two days before reaching the Montgomery gates.

  Upon entering the castle, she had been impressed. The guards on top of the two massive towers that flanked the gate had challenged them even though they could see the Montgomery leopards flying. The drawbridge was lowered over the wide, deep moat and the heavy spiked portcullis was raised. The outer bailey was lined with modest, neat houses, stables, the armorer, the mews, and storage sheds. Another gate had to be unlocked before they entered the inner bailey where Gavin and his brothers lived. The house was four stories with mullioned glass windows in the top floor. A bricked courtyard was in the center, and Judith could see a garden with fruit trees just blooming behind a low wall.

  She wanted to tell Gavin what she thought of his stewardship, but he had not given her a chance. He had done little more than give a few orders then abandoned her amid the baggage. It was up to Judith to introduce herself to the retainers.

  During the past week, Judith had become very familiar with the Montgomery castle, and had found it a joyful place to work. The servants had no objections to a woman’s direction. She buried herself in tasks and tried hard not to think of her husband’s affair with Alice Valence. Most of the time Judith was successful. Only at night did her loneliness haunt her.

  A noise in the courtyard made her run to the window. It was too early for the servants to be about, and only a Montgomery would be allowed through the smaller back gate. The light was too dim to tell who was dismounting the horses below.

  She flew down the stairs to the great hall.

  “Be careful, man,” Raine bellowed. “Do you think I am made of iron that I can stand so much banging about?”

  Judith stopped at the foot of the stairs. Her brother-in-law was being carried into the room, feet first, one leg heavily bandaged. “Raine, whatever has happened to you?”

  “Cursed horse!” he said through clenched teeth. “It can’t see where it is going even on the brightest of days.”

  She went to him as his men set him down in a chair by the empty fireplace. “Am I to understand that your horse caused this?” she smiled.

  Raine stopped frowning, his cheeks beginning to dimple. “Well, maybe it was partly my own fault. He stepped into a hole and threw me. I came down on my leg and it snapped under me.”

  Judith immediately knelt and began to unwrap his foot which was propped on a stool.

  “What are you doing?” he asked sharply. “The leech has already set it.”

  “I don’t trust him and will see for myself. If it isn’t set straight, it could leave you lame.”

  Raine stared at the top of her head then called to his man. “Fetch me a glass of wine. I’m sure she won’t be satisfied until she causes me more agony. And fetch my brother. Why should he sleep when we are awake?”

  “He isn’t here,” Judith said quietly.

  “Who isn’t here?”

  “Your brother. My husband,” Judith said flatly.

  “Where did he go? What business called him away?”

  “I am afraid I don’t know. He set me on the doorstep and left. He didn’t speak to me of any matter that needed his attention.”

  Raine took the cup of wine his vassal held for him and watched his sister-in-law as she probed the bone of his leg. At least the pain kept nun from giving full vent to the anger he felt for his brother. He had no doubt that Gavin had left his beautiful bride to go to that whore, Alice. His teeth clamped down on the rim of the cup as Judith touched the break.

  “It is only a little out of line,” she observed. “You hold his shoulders,” she said to one of the men behind Raine, “and I will pull the leg.”

  The heavy sendal of the tent was coated with water. Fat droplets collected on the ceiling and as the rain outside jarred the tent, the water dripped down.

  Gavin swore loudly as more water hit his face. Since he’d left Judith, it had done little but rain. There was nothing that was not wet. And worse than the water was the tempers of his men—blacker even than the sky. They had been roaming the countryside for well over a week, camping in a different place each night. Their food was hastily prepared in between cloudbursts and consequently was usually half raw. When John Bassett, Gavin’s chief vassal, had asked his master the reason for the meandering journey, Gavin had exploded. John’s level look of sarcasm made Gavin avoid his men.

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