The Bride's Portion. Susan Paul

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СКАЧАТЬ laughed at her innocence. She sounded like a little girl who needed a parent’s reassurance. “Of course I’m not angry with you, dearest.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “It must be very hard to have a stranger in the household and staying in the chamber that will one day be yours. I’m sorry to put you through so much.”

      He felt her smile against his shoulder. “Oh, Alex! You are always so kind!” She lifted her pretty little face and gazed at him adoringly with her green eyes. “Kiss me before Aunt Leta comes to find us. I’ve missed you so much all day!”

      Alexander could not resist the rosebud lips she offered him, puckered together to receive his kiss. He lowered his head and felt her soft arms sliding around his neck to hug him closer. He let himself draw comfort from her mouth, which opened under his and allowed his tongue to explore. He let himself forget his worries and lose himself in her tenderness. When she pressed her slender body against him provocatively, what little control he had slipped away. One hand tightened around her waist while the other began to roam. Just as he was ready to give way to passion, he felt himself being pushed away.

      “Oh Alex,” she said with a sigh. “When will we be married?”

      He groaned and tried to capture her elusive lips again.

      “When, Alex?” she persisted, her delicate hands pushing at his shoulders.

      Alexander drew in a steadying breath and straightened up and away from her.

      “I don’t know,” he said, wondering why this subject seemed to come up every time he kissed her. “You know I can make no promises.”

      She stiffened beneath his hands. Her eyes were sharp and clear; there was nothing in her to evidence the passion that he was feeling.

      “I don’t know why you make us wait!” she declared, pushing at him in earnest until he let her go. “It’s the fault of that woman from Wellewyn! If it weren’t for her wretched father we should have already been married!”

      “Barbara,” Alexander said shortly, “we have discussed many times the reasons as to why we are not yet wed.” He went to where Cedric had left the ale, and picked up the tankard. “I’m in no mood to discuss them again. You shall have to be patient.” He took a long drink.

      He heard her sharp intake of breath, and could almost envision the expression on her face.

      “You want her!” Barbara accused, her voice full of hurt. “You find her beautiful!”

      “Her?” Alexander repeated with bewilderment. “Who is it you speak of?”

      “Lillis of Wellewyn! You won’t marry me because of her!”

      “That,” Alexander said, setting the tankard down and moving to pull her into his arms, “is the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard, and you well know it. It is you I want, and none other.” He hugged her more tightly. “You have been dear to me since I can remember. Since I was a boy and even before. Say anything you want to me, but tease me not about about such feelings.”

      “Alex.” She sounded as though she might cry. Her arms were clasped firmly around his neck, squeezing him very hard. “I don’t mean to be so childish, my lord, but I cannot help myself. Lillis of Wellewyn is very beautiful, and I hate you having anything to do with her. But I know you’d not be unfaithful to me, for you have ever been kind and honest in your dealings with John and me. It was foolish of me to accuse you of such a thing.”

      “It’s all right,” he said with some relief. “We’re both under a great deal of tension, of late. We’ll be married soon, dearest.” He smiled at her, and kissed her quickly. “As soon as possible, I promise. Can you be patient a little longer?”

      She returned the smile brilliantly. “Forever, if I must, Alex,” she promised. “Let us speak of it no more. Come and eat, before Aunt Leta starts pounding on the door. You must be starved by now.”

      Willingly Alexander gave her his hand, and let her lead him out the door.

      * * *

      From one of the windows in her chamber, Lillis could see more clearly the garden she had wanted to explore earlier that afternoon. She sat on the wide ledge of the window’s arch and surveyed the inner bailey of the castle, its gardens, the village beyond, and the open land after that as far as she could. It was such a beautiful land, so well kept and settled, so very different from Wellewyn. The sun was beginning to go down, though the rays that fell upon her were still warm and bright. What a different day from the one before with all its rain and misery.

      A brief glance toward the bed showed that Edyth was still soundly napping. They had eaten and enjoyed the sumptuous meal that had been brought to their chamber earlier, and had even drunk the wine that had been brought with it. They had not been used to drinking much wine at the convent, except for communion and on the Sabbath and holidays. Not that drinking wine was considered a sin; on the contrary, the sisters at Tynedale fermented and bottled quite a bit of wine each year for their own use. It was, however, less costly to drink well water or goats’ milk with the daily meals, and the wine was used sparingly. In truth, neither Edyth nor she had ever before consumed so much wine as they had that afternoon, and it made both of them feel tired and pleasant.

      As soon as they had finished eating, Edyth had stretched and yawned and announced that she would like to nap. With very little encouragement she lay down on the bed and was soon soundly asleep. Lillis smiled with affection at her companion; Edyth always slept the sleep of the innocent. There was never the tossing and turning that Lillis suffered, or the slumberless hours of staring into nothing while trying to blank her mind and go to sleep. Edyth’s was a pure soul and a pure mind. She was content to live a simple and unassuming life. Even her ability to sleep reflected it. Lillis sighed and looked back out the window. If only she were more like Edyth. If only she weren’t so restless, so wanting.

      It came from living so many years in the convent, she thought. It had been a quiet and spare life, one filled with daily hard work and sacrifice. During the ten years that she had lived and worked and studied at Tynedale, Lillis had come to respect and appreciate the women who had dedicated their lives to the Lord’s service, for really they had nothing for themselves save the satisfaction of doing what they felt God wanted of them. She herself could not have made a life of such sacrifice. Ten years had been quite long enough.

      They had been hard years and sometimes lonely, though she was one of several girls who had lived at the convent. She had studied in the mornings and worked with the orphans or with the nuns during the afternoons. In the evenings there was cooking and cleaning to be done, and from season to season there were always the gardens and livestock to tend. All during the day, at different times, there were masses, prayers and devotions in the chapel, and all were required to attend. At other very specific times during the day, plain meals of bread and cheese, vegetables, a stew or soup, and occasionally a chicken or loin of beef were served. The entire day was spoken for by routine from the moment one rose to the moment one returned to rest, and Lillis had dreamed of and longed for the time when she would be able to spend her days as she pleased.

      She’d learned many things at the convent and from the nuns. Truly, if she could go back and have the choice of either staying at home with a tutor or going to the convent, she supposed she would have chosen the latter all over again. In truth, the time she’d spent in Tynedale had been invaluable. The nuns had given her the charge of many responsibilities, including the overseeing of the schoolgirls when she was fifteen and the management of the orphanage at seventeen, and those duties had trained her to be disciplined, strong and very capable.

      The СКАЧАТЬ