Arthur didn’t answer, but merely stared at Judith. She knew she had an enemy. He had easily seen through her interest in the fortifications. She turned to Walter, “I believe I’m more tired than I thought. It was indeed a long journey here. Perhaps I should rest.”
“Of course, my lady.”
Judith wanted to get away from him, be rid of his hand, so often on her arm or her waist. Gratefully, she left him at her chamber door. She fell upon the bed fully dressed. All morning her mind had been full of what Joan had told her of Gavin. She could imagine him half-dead from the filth of the hideous place where he was kept.
The door opened, but she paid it no attention. A noblewoman was rarely allowed privacy. Maids always slipped in and out of her room. She gasped when a male hand touched her neck.
“My lord Walter!” she cried, looking quickly about the room.
“Have no fear,” he said quietly. “We are alone. I’ve seen to that. The servants know my punishments are harsh if I’m disobeyed.”
Judith was flustered.
“Do you fear me?” he asked, his eyes dancing. “You have no need to. Don’t you know I love you? I have loved you since I first saw you. I waited in the procession that followed you to church. Shall I tell you how you looked to me?” He picked up a curl of her hair and wound it around his arm. “You stepped into the sunlight, and it was as if that light darkened when presented with your greater radiance. Your gold dress, your gold eyes.”
He held up the strand of hair, rubbing it with the fingers of his other hand against his palm. “How I wanted to touch this fine stuff then. It was then that I knew you were meant to be mine. Yet you married another!” he accused.
Judith was frightened, not of him or what he could do to her, but of what she’d lose if he took her now. She buried her face in her hands as if she were weeping.
“My lady! My sweet Judith. Forgive me. What have I done?” Walter asked in bewilderment.
She made an effort to recover herself. “I am the one to ask forgiveness. It is just that men…”
“Men what? You can tell me. I am your friend.”
“Are you?” she asked, her eyes pleading and excessively innocent.
“Yes,” Walter whispered, devouring her as best he could.
“I have never had a man friend before. First my father and my brother’s—No! I won’t speak ill of them.”
“There is no need,” Walter said as he touched the back of her hand with his fingertips. “I knew them well.”
“And then my husband!” Judith said fiercely.
Walter blinked at her. “Do you dislike him then? Is it true?”
Her eyes flashed as she looked at him with such hatred he was taken aback. It was almost as if it were meant for him instead of her husband.
“All men are the same!” she said angrily. “They want only one thing from a woman, and if she doesn’t give it, she is forced. Do you know how vile rape is to a woman?”
“No, I—” Walter was confused.
“Men know little of the finer things of life—music and art. I wish I could believe there was a man somewhere on earth who didn’t paw at me and make demands.”
Walter gave her a shrewd look. “And if you found such a man how would you reward him?”
She smiled sweetly. “I would love him with all my heart,” she said simply.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. Judith lowered her eyes. “Then I will hold you to that,” he said quietly. “For I would do a lot to have your heart.”
“It has belonged to no one else,” Judith whispered.
He released her hand and stood. “Then I will leave you to your rest. Remember, I’m your friend and I will be near if you need me.”
As he left the room, Joan slipped inside. “Lady Judith! He hasn’t…?”
“No, nothing happened,” she said as she leaned back against the headboard. “I talked him out of what he wanted.”