Page 42 of The Raven and the Rose
“And you’d be exactly right.” She laughed. “Go on, I’ll take a groom. I don’t doubt you’ve already got one picked out.”
He chuckled. “I’ll be right back.” He returned with a squarely built young man who was already booted and spurred. “This is Kenneth. He’s a strong set of lighting muscles, and he’s armed.”
“Good morning, Kenneth.” The young man eyed her warily and answered, “Morning, ma’am.”
“Look, I’m afraid we’re stuck with each other, so let’s make the best of it. Give me a leg up.” Kenneth cupped his hands to boost her into the saddle. She placed her hand on his shoulder to hoist herself up and grinned. “God, you’re as square and solid as a mason’s block!” He grinned up at her, his wariness gone.
In minutes they were out on the dales and fells. The green ferns were turning to bracken. This was the time of year when everything turned from lush green to russet and dun. The heather still bloomed, giving the distant fells a purple hue, but the heather’s stems and leaves were turning to rough brown bracken, too. The fells were dotted with sheep and stone walls, and above them were scudding gray clouds and cries of the lapwing.
They galloped at a pace so fast, they surprised an occasional rabbit or moorhen. To the west in the distance rose the great Penine chain of mountains, linking the moors and the valleys like the backbone of some huge prehistoric monster, Roseanna curved in a wide circle and began to ride in the opposite direction. When at last she brought Zeus to a walk and let him nibble the turf, Kenneth said, “That’s a fine horse. In our stable only Ravenspur’s can compare with it.”
“I bred him myself,” she said proudly.
“So, the tales old Dobbin tells of ye are true then, my lady?”
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Well, I think it’s safe to say he probably didn’t exaggerate. I want to breed some fine horses and build up Ravenspur’s stable.”
“That’s a beautiful white horse ye brought with ye,” he said.
“That’s an Arabian. I’m going to breed him right away, if I can.”
“We don’t have any mares fine enough for him to cover, ma’am. One or two of the knights have some Thoroughbred stallions, but most of the fighting men ride big geldings. We only have one or two mares.”
“I’ll have a look at them, Kenneth. If we don’t have any, we’ll have to buy some. Breeding your own is a long process. A mare takes a year to gestate, and I suppose most stables find it simpler to buy what they need. But my father taught me how, with selective crossbreeding, you can acquire the very best horseflesh for the very least expense. You’ll see—in a few years Ravenspur’s stables will be the envy of every landowner in the country.” She heard her own words, heard the pride in her voice when she said the nameRavenspur.She was speaking of a long time into the future, but she wasn’t even sure of tonight’s events. She shook her head in perplexity.
The note inside her glove pricked her skin as well as her conscience. She dared not open it until she was alone in her chamber. After she returned to the castle, she passed through the main living quarters on the second floor and saw that her husband and Tristan were entertaining a guest.
“Roseanna, come and meet Richard, Duke of Gloucester,” said Roger.
She moved forward with anticipation, her curiosity almost making her forget to curtsey. Then belatedly she sank down before him. “Sire,” she breathed.
The boy before her blushed. “Nay—no formality, I beg you, Lady Roseanna. I am most sorry I was not able to be present at your wedding.”
She couldn’t believe her eyes. He was only about seventeen, slightly built, with dark auburn Plantagenet hair and the most serious air about him that she had ever encountered in a young man. “Welcome to our castle, Prince Richard, I know Ravenspur will show you every hospitality.”
“Yes, he is a loyal friend to Ned and myself. I prize loyalty above all other qualities.” His eyes bored into hers as if he were pressing home a point, and suddenly the note inside her glove began to burn a hole in her palm.
The contrast between the King and his young brother was startling. Here he stood without any trappings of office in a very worn leather jerkin, yet he held himself with such dignity that she knew there was intense force to be dealt with in the slight youth. As she studied his face, she saw its beauty and realized that she resembled him far more than she resembled the blond giant who was her father. So this was her uncle. She liked him, she decided. Gray eyes smiled into gray. “Will you sit with me in the hall tonight?” she asked.
“If Ravenspur will not look daggers at me.” Richard smiled.
“No, no, that is his natural look,” she teased, and sent her husband a challenging glance.
Tristan followed her upstairs. “Not quite the peacock you expected, is he?”
“No, but by God, I’ll bet he’s a man,” she said thoughtfully.
“Don’t tell me he has made a conquest of you. What will I do for amusement tonight if all your attention is reserved for Richard?” he complained.
“Oh, didn’t you know? Rebecca is joining me for dinner.” She slipped into the outer chamber and leaned back against the door to laugh. That would teach him not to be such a tease!
As Kate went to follow her into the inner chamber, she said, “Give me a few minutes alone, Kate. The King’s brother Richard dines with us tonight, so I want us all to look our best.” She closed the door, stripped off her glove, and unfolded the piece of paper.
I will keep close watch, and when it is safe, I will come to you sometime between the hours of midnight and four.
Her breath caught sharply. God, he must not! Come to her for what? To make love to her? To sleep with her? This wasn’t what she wanted at all. Why hadn’t he sent her a poem, something she could sit and dream over? She realized that she did not want a flesh-and-blood lover. She had one of those to fight off every night. She needed Sir Bryan to be her gentle, perfect knight to love from afar. She sat down at her dressing table and silently thanked Mr. Burke for providing her paper and quills.
Do not come to me. I cannot receive you in my chamber. We must only meet in such public places as the hall or the stables.
