He laughed again, and with Lily folded within one powerful arm, led her from the castle.
Radulf passed, unseeing, through the castle guard. His smile had gone, and beneath his grim exterior his feelings were careering as wildly out of control as Lily’s. He had come to William yesterday with the express purpose of begging his king to grant him leave to make Lily his wife.
After a long night, much talk, and more to drink, William had finally agreed to Radulf’s request. Only now that Radulf had had his wish granted, he saw it was not so simple.
She hated him, and he could not trust her!
And he had certainly not made himself any more palatable to her with his coarse playacting in the king’s hall.
The one thing Radulf felt reasonably certain of was the power he exerted over her body. Their kiss had shown him that, and he had reaffirmed it moments ago, when she all but swooned in his arms at the thought of the marriage bed. By God, she wanted him; she burned for him as hotly as he burned for her! Perhaps if they spent every moment together in bed, they could find some measure of rosy happiness among the thorns of distrust and lies…
Jervois had the horses ready. As Radulf threw Lily up into her saddle, he fancied for a moment that he saw sheer anguish beneath the furious mask of her face. The impression was gone in a flash and she was glaring at him once more like an icy wildcat.
Aye, he had been granted his wish. Lily was to be his wife.
Pray God he did not live to regret it.
Chapter 11
Lily rode back to the inn in even more of a daze than she had left it. The afternoon was fading, night closing over the city like a dark lid. Gray smoke drifted across thatched roofs, and shadows gathered in narrow streets while mist, like ghostly fingers, plucked at the surface of the Ouse.
When they reached the inn, Lily slipped quickly off her mare, ignoring any helping hands, and marched inside without a word. By the time Radulf had followed her, she was in her room with the door shut. Alone with her thoughts.
They were chaotic.
Primarily, there was the frightening but indisputable fact that her emotions and her body were in direct opposition to her mind. Despite everything Radulf had said and done, as soon as he touched her…as soon as he looked at her in that way, sensible and considered behavior lost all meaning.
Radulf had admitted he would use her lands and people against her if she disobeyed him, that he did not trust her and meant to punish her in his own way and in his own time for the damage she had done to his pride.
And still she wanted to tumble blithely into his strong arms!
Lily sank down on her bed and stared at the wall. It was no use wishing things might have been different. It would be oh so easy to sink into his embrace and allow him to do with her as he willed. Then she would be his prisoner indeed! He knew she burned for him, she could not hide that, but that was all it would ever be—lust. And lust could be controlled, held on a tight rein, maybe even worn out.
One thing Lily swore to herself: Radulf must never conquer her.
“Lady?”
Una’s gentle voice was accompanied by a tap on the door.
“I’ve your supper here. Are you not hungry?”
Lily hesitated, but the rumbling in her stomach convinced her not to take the martyr’s path. Best to continue to eat well, so that she had the strength to resist Radulf.
When she opened the door she knew she had made the right decision. Una beamed at her over a bowl of mouthwatering stew, thick slices of buttered bread, and a mug of ale.
“Lord Radulf said to be sure you eat it all,” she announced as she set out the food. Her open countenance took on a speculative quality. “The soldiers are saying you are to wed Lord Radulf, lady. Upon the morrow!”
Lily took a bite of the bread and nodded soberly. “’Tis true, Una. I am to marry him. The king has ordered it.”
Una gave a
dramatic shiver. “Oh, lady! Are you not afeard? Such a great big man will crush your bones when you lie with him!”
Lily choked on her ale. Una didn’t appear to notice.
“’Tis times like this,” she went on thoughtfully, “I’m glad I’m free and lowborn. No king will ever be interested enough in me to order me to wed.”
“Lucky indeed,” Lily assured her with a wistful smile.