Page 69 of The Pillars of the Earth
William wanted to say:That was because of good advance work, wasn’t it, Mother?
He bit his tongue, but his father spoke for him. “It was William who got us in.”
Mother turned to him, and he waited eagerly for her to congratulate him. “Did he?” she said.
“Yes,” Father said. “The boy did a good job.”
Mother nodded. “Perhaps he did,” she said.
William’s heart was warmed by her praise, and he grinned foolishly.
She looked at Earl Bartholomew. “The earl should bow to me,” she said.
The earl said: “No.”
Mother said: “Fetch the daughter.”
William looked around. For a moment he had forgotten about Aliena. He scanned the faces of the servants and children, and spotted her right away, standing with Matthew, the effeminate household steward. William went to her, took her arm, and brought her to his mother. Matthew followed them.
Mother said: “Cut off her ears.”
Aliena screamed.
William felt a strange stirring in his loins.
Bartholomew’s face turned gray. “You promised you wouldn’t harm her if I surrendered,” he said. “You swore it.”
Mother said: “And our protection will be as complete as your surrender.”
That was clever, William thought.
Still Bartholomew looked defiant.
William wondered who would be chosen to cut off Aliena’s ears. Perhaps Mother would give him the task. The idea was peculiarly exciting.
Mother said to Bartholomew: “Kneel.”
Slowly, Bartholomew went down on one knee and bowed his head.
William felt faintly disappointed.
Mother raised her voice. “Look at this!” she shouted to the assembled company. “Never forget the fate of a man who insults the Hamleighs!” She looked around defiantly, and William’s heart swelled with pride. The family honor was restored.
Mother turned away, and Father took over. “Take him to his bedroom,” he said. “Guard him well.”
Bartholomew got to his feet.
Father said to William: “Take the girl as well.”
William took Aliena’s arm in a hard grip. He liked touching her. He was going to take her up to the bedroom. There was no telling what might happen. If he were left alone with her, he would be able to do anything he wanted to her. He could rip her clothes off and look at her nakedness. He could—
The earl said: “Let Matthew Steward come with us, to take care of my daughter.”
Father glanced at Matthew. “He looks safe enough,” he said with a grin. “All right.”
William looked at Aliena’s face. She was still white, but she was even more beautiful when she was frightened. It was so exciting to see her in this vulnerable state. He wanted to crush her ripe body beneath his, and see the fear in her face as he forced her thighs apart. On impulse, he put his face close to hers and said in a low voice: “I still want to marry you.”
She drew away from him. “Marry?” she said in a loud voice full of scorn. “I’d rather die than marry you, you loathsome puffed-up toad!”
