Rogan didn’t understand what these women were making such a fuss about. If it was food they wanted, they could take plenty with them. “I will not starve the girl,” he said, making an effort to take the hatred from Helen’s eyes. He was not used to women hating him. For the most part they were like that girl he’d married: adoring and soft-eyed.
“You will starve her,” Helen said, “as your father starved his wives of warmth and companionship.” Her voice lowered. “As you starved Jeanne Howard.”
Helen stepped back when she saw the look on Rogan’s face. His eyes hardened and he looked at her with such rage that she began to tremble.
“Never come near me again, woman,” he said coldly, in a low undertone. He then stalked past her, ignored the calls of the guests to come and join them in a drink, and went outside to the courtyard.
Jeanne Howard, he thought. He could wring that woman’s neck for mentioning Jeanne to him, but it made him remind himself to be careful with this new wife, not to allow pretty blue eyes and blonde hair to sway him.
“You look ready to run someone through,” Severn said jovially. His face was flushed from too much food and drink.
“Are you ready to leave?” Rogan growled at him. “Or have you been too busy bedding the wenches to tend to the business at hand?”
Severn was used to his brother’s constant anger and he’d had too much wine to let it bother him now. “I have anticipated you, brother, and filled a wagon full of food. Do we leave the feather pillows or take them?”
“Leave them,” Rogan snapped, then hesitated. In his mind he heard Helen Neville saying, “As you starved Jeanne Howard,” and felt a knife twisting in his gut. The girl he’d married—what was her name?—seemed simple enough. “Let her have her feather mattresses,” he growled to Severn, and went to check on his men.
Severn watched his brother walk away and wondered what his pretty little sister-in-law was like.
Chapter
Five
Liana hurried to dress herself, to make sure all her new clothes were packed, and to direct her maids to pack her personal articles. Three hours was such a short time to ready herself for her new life.
All the while that she was rushing about, Joice lectured her.
“Do not complain,” Joice said. “Men hate women who complain. You are to take whatever he gives you and never say a word in protest. Tell him you are glad to be leaving your wedding feast, glad to have three hours to prepare yourself. Men like their women to be smiling and cheerful.”
“He hasn’t liked me yet,” Liana said. “He hasn’t taken any notice of me yet except to abolish the risk of an annulment,” she said with some bitterness.
“It will take years,” Joice said. “Men do not give their hearts easily, but if you persevere, love will come to you.”
And that’s what she wanted, Liana thought. She wanted her beautiful husband to love her and to need her. If swallowing a little anger now and then would make him love her, then so be it.
She was ready before the three hours were up, and she went downstairs to say goodbye to her father and stepmother. Gilbert was drunk and talking of hawks with some men and barely had a word of farewell to say to his only child, but Helen hugged her tightly and wished her all the best in the world.
Outside, with the Peregrine knights mounted and waiting to ride, the big white falcon banner before them, Liana felt a momentary terror. She was leaving all that she knew behind and trusting her fate to these strangers. She stood frozen where she was and looked for her husband.
Rogan, atop a big roan stallion, came riding in front of her, so close she put up her arm to shield her face from flying gravel. “Mount and ride, woman,” he said, and moved to the head of his men.
Liana hid her clenched fists in the folds of her skirt. Swallow anger, she thought, and tried to calm herself at his rudeness.
Out of the dust came Rogan’s brother, Severn, and he smiled at her. “May I help you mount, my lady?” he asked.
Liana relaxed and smiled at this handsome man. He was as ill dressed as Rogan had been and his dark golden hair was too long and ragged at the edges, but at least he was smiling at her. She put her hand on his extended arm. “I would be honored,” she said, and walked with him toward her waiting horse.
Liana was just mounted when Rogan rode back to them. He did not look at her, but he scowled at his brother.
“If you are through playing lady’s maid, come with me,” Rogan demanded.
“Perhaps your wife would like to ride in front with us,” Severn said pointedly over Liana’s head.
“I want no women,” Rogan snapped, still not glancing at Liana.
“I don’t think—” Severn began, but Liana cut him off.
Even she knew that she would not please her husband by being the cause of an argument with his brother. “I would rather stay here,” she said loudly. “I will feel safer surrounded by the men, and you, sir,” she said to Severn, “are needed by…by my husband.”