Page 35 of The Raven and the Rose
“Oh, my lady, you seem filled with energy. Didn’t the last few days exhaust you?”
“To be truthful, Alice, I’ve never felt so exhilarated. Didn’t you have the time of your life at the King’s Court and the jousting?” asked Roseanna.
“I’m so unused to crowds. I—I find it all so unsettling.”
Roseanna laughed, because at last she was tasting life. “I love new experiences. I thrive on them! Alice, just think of the castles we’ll live in from now on. Tonight it will be Ravensworth, but soon we’ll be moving to Castle Ravenspur, which overlooks the ocean. I can’t wait!”
“Won’t you be homesick, my lady?” asked Alice mournfully.
“Homesick? Why, I hadn’t considered such a thing. I hope I’m too busy for any such nonsense, Alice. Do you realize that I shall be chatelaine of Ravenspur and that I don’t know how to run a household?”
“You’ll soon learn, Lady Roseanna. Nothing frightens you.”
“I should hope not!” Roseanna looked at Alice and wondered if she was already homesick. “When we move to Ravenspur, it is close enough to Castlemaine that we shall be able to visit often.”
“Would you like to ride in the coach with Kate and rest for a while, my lady?”
“Rest?” asked Roseanna, uncomprehending. “Alice, I don’t want to miss one moment of this glorious ride! Look down there—it must be the River Ure. From this great height it looks like a silver ribbon. And look, Alice, over there-the woods are black and red and gold! And breathe deeply; this Yorkshire air is so crystal clear, it’s like breathing French wine, and it’s just as intoxicating.”
Alice looked pinched and miserable. “Oh, love, why don’t you go and ride with Kate in the coach?” urged Roseanna.
“Will you be able to manage?” Alice faltered.
Roseanna threw back her head and laughed deliciously. “Alice, if I cannot, I have a hundred men at my beck and call!”
Alice felt disloyal to think it, but there were times when Roseanna was like a pagan. That was the only word for it!
From time to time the large cavalcade passed other travelers on the Great North Road. If any were in trouble or needed help, Ravenspur always courteously bade his men attend to it in spite of the delay it caused. Their own party was prey to the usual problems of travelers, such as loose wheels and balky animals; the slow progress would have tried the patience of a saint.
Roseanna rode beside Rebecca’s coach and talked with her for the best part of an hour, learning all about the castle they were going to. Rebecca wasn’t happy about going north and wished they were bound for Ravenspur, which was much more comfortably furnished than the northern strongholds in her opinion.
When late afternoon arrived and the slow pace of the long journey had begun to pall, Roseanna unconsciously sought the company of Ravenspur. She would sharpen her wits with a verbal duel, for one thing was certain—he never bored her. The two brothers were riding together and were deep in conversation. Whatever it was they discussed must have been serious, because both their faces were grim. But when Roseanna rode between them, they ceased the discussion instantly. She looked from one face to the other and asked lightly, “Must marriage be such a tragedy?”
They laughed heartily, glad of the diversion, and Tristan fell back so the newlyweds could have a moment of privacy. Ravenspur raked her with his eyes. “Am I under a spell, or do you grow more beautiful with each hour?” He maneuvered his horse close against hers, reached up, and unclasped the diamond R from his mantle and fastened it at her neck.
Her eyes blazed with anger. “Must you brand me with your initial?” she demanded.
“Is it not also yours, Roseanna?” He said her name caressingly.
Her eyes widened when she realized how quick she was to look for insult; she had been ungracious of his gift of diamonds.
“You are all the jewel I need,” he said warmly, and she actually felt her knees grow weak. “What do you say to a gallop?” he asked, wondering if she was up to it after traveling all day. Her eyes lit up, and when he saw her eagerness, he explained, “We’re only about ten miles from Ravensworth. I could send riders ahead to let them know of our impending arrival, or we could leave this lot in our dust and be the first to ride in.”
For her answer she spurred Zeus, and horse and rider flew into the lead. He heard her challenging laughter float back on the wind and was after her in a flash. She had every intention of beating him, and she bent low over her stallion’s neck, knowing Zeus had the heart for it in spite of the long journey. Her hair streamed loose from its jeweled net, and she felt the silken snood slip down her back inside her gown. As he came even with her, she glanced across at him and caught a flash of white teeth in his dark face. Then the wind whipped a long tress of her hair across his face, and he exulted in the feel of it. His black animal, as wild as Zeus, overtook her and threw up big clods of soft earth as it dug in with its powerful hooves.
When she clattered into the castle courtyard, his mount stood still, its sides heaving. Roseanna was piqued; she was so used to winning, she was a poor loser. Surreptitiously she reached down and loosened the girth. “My saddle came loose,” she said, challenging him with a haughty look.
Ravenspur’s brow arched. He had just learned a valuable lesson about Roseanna. Rather than admit defeat by him, she would cheat. Grooms ran from the stables to tend the horses; they stared openmouthed at the beautiful wild woman their lord had brought home.
Before she went into the castle to meet her household, she wanted to put her disheveled hair in order. But try as she might, she could not fish the amethyst net out from down her back.
Roger’s tall shadow fell across her. “Do you need any help?” he asked in his deep voice.
She thought that if he touched her, she would scream. “Unfortunately, I do,” she responded coolly. Like a child she put her back to him and bent her head down. He slipped his hand down her bodice. His long fingers caressed the satin skin of her back, then swiftly moved beneath her arm to capture a soft breast. He chuckled with delight as her nipple budded and hardened beneath his teasing fingers.
“That’s not playing fair, Ravenspur,” she said breathily, trying not to moan from the pleasure he was giving her.
“I’m going to play with you all night,” he whispered in her ear, “once I get you to bed.” His lips playfully nipped her earlobe. Finally, he pulled the jeweled net out from down her back. She gasped aloud.
