The Bride Tournament Read online

  “And before that, I feared the wool would never grow back on the sheep.”

  “I hoped to make shearing easier and faster. I almost succeeded.” Eleanor hopped onto Alyce’s bed. “This time is different, you’ll see.”

  Alyce shook her head. “I’ll hear you out, but make no promises.” She picked up her comb, climbed onto her bed and began unwinding her long braid.

  Eleanor wanted to dance with joy. “We are going to find Richard a bride!”

  “He already has one. You.” Alyce’s hands dropped from her hair.

  “I’m going to seek an annulment. If I get it, Richard will be left with nothing. No bride, none of her lands or gold, none of the prestige of a highly ranked wife. Whether I get it or not, if I find another bride who’ll satisfy both him and King Edward—a better bride—he’ll be happier with her and end the day ahead. We’ll all be happier. Then I can marry Arthur.” And finally be alchemy free.

  Alyce stared at her, hands dangling at her sides, mouth agape.

  “Close your mouth,” Eleanor said. “Everything happened too fast yesterday for me to think. How could I meekly accept a change in grooms, after years of waiting?”

  “It was cruel of Father to keep it from you,” Alyce agreed. “But women like us don’t have the luxury of choosing their husbands.”

  “Just because we don’t know of many marriages based on love doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Else why would there be so many books written and tales told of romance? Why should people spend their lives stuck with someone they don’t want?” Eleanor sighed.

  “Marriage isn’t about love.”

  “You sound like Father. Last night I began a list of unwed women we know.” Eleanor couldn’t tell even her sister that between the unfamiliar sounds of Richard’s soft breathing from the other side of the bed and concern about falling asleep and rolling toward him, she hadn’t slept a wink.

  She started pacing. “First is Lady Howes, wealthy but not beautiful enough and only two small manors to her name. Obviously this better bride needs have more lands than I.”

  Christ hanging on a large cross on Alyce’s wall interrupted her recitation. His sorrowful, compassionate eyes haunted her. Was it a sin to find your husband a new bride? She pivoted and kept walking.

  “Katherine de Sutton is of excellent lineage, but spiteful. Richard would never be comfortable with her. Alice Poynings has wealth, but six children from her first husband. I don’t know how he’d feel about that.” She shook her head. “As you can see, the available brides lack the necessary qualifications.”

  “Better bride? Qualifications?” Alyce’s voice cracked. “Have you lost your wits?”

  “I’ve never been more serious.” Eleanor halted. The dazed expression on Alyce’s face proved she hadn’t grasped how clever the plan was. “I’ll let you think. When you agree that helping Richard to another bride is the way to help me and him to happiness, nod.”

  Alyce combed her hair, but Eleanor could tell she wasn’t counting the strokes as she usually did.

  “What do you think?”

  “I said I would hear you out and I have. I think you are ill.” Alyce stared at her as though she had three eyes. “The shocking events of your wedding day must’ve disrupted your humors. Your blood, bile, choler and phlegm are clearly out of balance. I shall send for the physician. Perhaps you need a bloodletting.”

  “Don’t even think it,” Eleanor warned. “I am well.”

  “How can you be?” she asked. “You were sorely tested yesterday. But you must do your duty.”

  She sounded just like Richard. “Duty.” The word left a taste in her mouth worse than sour milk. “Why do men have more freedom to do as they choose? Why must women obey men’s demands?”

  “’Tis the way of the world. Richard and Arthur didn’t have much choice, either. From king to peasant, we all must obey a higher power.” Alyce set the brush on her trunk and began to make her bed.

  “I have to try.” Eleanor pivoted again, skirts swinging. “Here’s how my idea will work. What is my favorite tale?”

  “The Odyssey,” Alyce answered.

  “I put the two together, and voilà!” She clapped her hands. “Aren’t I brilliant?”

  “What has The Odyssey to do with finding Richard a bride?”

  Eleanor spoke as patiently as she could. “Odysseus’s wife Penelope waits twenty years for him to return from his voyage. She can’t keep her suitors at bay, so she holds a test of skill. A husband test. She’ll marry the man who can string Odysseus’s bow and shoot through twelve axes.”

  Alyce held up her hands as if warding off disaster. “Oh, Eleanor, no.”

  “You see? Brilliant.”

  “You have gone mad. You mean to hold a bride test.”

  “Exactly.” Eleanor raised her arms with glee. “Wait…why have one test when we can have several? I know! We’ll hold a tournament. A bridal tournament.” She skipped around the room.

  “Stop this instant. Or I’ll be certain you have the dancing mania and will send for the physician.” Alyce hurried toward her. “Finish the tale. Penelope believed Odysseus would return, so she made the contest impossible for anyone but her beloved husband to win.”

  Eleanor froze mid-step.

  “Is that what you’re going to do, Eleanor?” Alyce asked, her voice softer than usual. “Set the bar so high only you can prevail? You are all the things you say Richard deserves. Are you but giving yourself time to see if you could care for him? Or if Arthur remains true?”

  Slowly, Eleanor turned. Could Alyce be right? Of course not. “The only fair way to have Arthur is by providing an excellent new bride for Richard.”

  “Didn’t Odysseus kill all the suitors after he won?” Alyce crossed her arms.

  “’Tis like you to be absolutely literal,” Eleanor said.

  “Plan or not, perhaps Arthur will prefer the bride Richard offered. How do you know he still wants to marry you?”

  The question hung in the air like unwelcome fog.

  “Arthur says I should accept Richard,” she admitted. “I don’t believe he means it.”

  “Has Richard agreed to this lunatic scheme?”

  The thought of discussing this with him made her uneasy. “I’m not sure he’ll need to. Once he meets the winner and sees how much better suited she is, the means of finding her won’t matter. Richard seems perfect in every way but two. He’s not Arthur, and he’s pursuing alchemy. Yes, he’s handsome. Yes, he seems honorable, kind, intelligent and many more good, manly things.” Including inspiring stirrings of what she had to admit was desire.” But I want to marry Arthur.”

  “You sound like a spoiled child. I half expect you to stomp your foot.”

  Eleanor stiffened. “I’m not upset over being denied a mere sweetmeat or toy. Mayhap I am a bit stubborn. Nay, persistent. I won’t give up on the one thing I’ve always wanted.”

  “You’re a married woman now and have—”

  “Here it comes. Your ‘I’m the younger but because I’m going to the Church wiser sister’ voice.” Eleanor hated when Alyce talked in that superior fashion. Because she was almost always right.

  Alyce took her hands. “Sometimes we can’t have what we think we want. But then what we get is actually better. If you have faith, if you trust in God, perhaps what you must do can become what you truly want to do.”

  Tears of frustration and sadness welled in Eleanor’s eyes. She kept her eyes open until a fat tear was ready to roll down her cheek. Then she blinked, sending the tear on its way.

  What good timing.

  Alyce smoothed back Eleanor’s hair. “Ellie, please don’t cry. I don’t agree with you, but if this is what you think is best, you know I’ll help.”

  Eleanor bit her lip to keep from smiling. A surge of guilt erased her satisfaction when Alyce’s eyes also filled with tears.

  “Promise me that for once you’ll carefully consider all of the consequences,” Alyce ordered. “What will happen if you fa
il? What if you succeed?”

  “Stop fretting. ’Tis action that wins the day.”

  At least she hoped so, for she had no answers to Alyce’s questions.

  “You don’t have the satisfied smile a man should have the morn after his wedding. I saw the bloodied sheets,” Blanche said, resting her hand on Richard’s arm. “What could be amiss?”

  She’d cornered him on his way to the great hall where guests gathered to break their fast. The clamor of conversation mixed with laughter.

  He shook her hand free. “You’ve outstayed your purpose and your welcome.”

  “Does your unpleasant disposition this morning reflect on her?”

  Richard wouldn’t let her goad him, but she was right. He hated the emptiness he’d felt when he’d awoken and realized Eleanor wasn’t beside him. He’d quell such feelings and reinforce the armor around his heart. No sense caring for a woman who didn’t want him. No sense caring for a woman at all.

  Keeping his voice low, he said, “I’ll have the guards bar the gates should you visit any of our holdings.” He raised his voice as they neared the tables. “Farewell, Lady Latimer. I bid you safe journey.”

  “Blanche, must you leave? I haven’t had the chance to speak much with you. Or others deemed important enough to be guests at my wedding, unbeknownst to me.”

  Eleanor. She looked lovely in a high-waisted, green velvet gown with tight sleeves. A headdress with a turned back brim and sheer veil covered the thick blond hair he’d so enjoyed seeing and touching.

  Could he tell her the whole truth about Blanche this soon? She didn’t need another unpleasant surprise. Yet they’d agreed to be honest.

  “Lady Latimer was just about to bid us farewell. It’s time for us to move forward now that the festivities are over.”

  “I agree,” Eleanor said. “And forging new friendships is one way to do that.”

  Blanche smiled one of her cat-has-got-the-cream-now smiles. “Eleanor, I’d enjoy remaining at Middleworth for a day or two. My obligations can wait.”

  Arm in arm, the two women strolled into the hall, skirts swishing over the floor, leaving him to follow. Blanche’s trilling laugh grated on his nerves.

  She clearly wanted to work her way into Eleanor’s affections and sought a means to remain close to him. What mischief was she up to?

  If he told his new bride about his past, she’d likely wish to be rid of him all the sooner. But better that the news come from him than Blanche.

  Later today, then, when he and Eleanor were alone.

  “You left before I awoke,” Richard began as he sat beside her. He spread butter on a thick slice of the costly manchet bread only served to those at the high table.

  “I didn’t want to disturb you,” Eleanor said. “I needed to speak with my sister.”

  She didn’t want to be reminded of how handsome Richard was, but couldn’t help noticing. He wore a tunic of fine wool the color of leaves in the deep of the forest, which brought out the green in his eyes. Similar to the shade she’d chosen today. Did they like the same colors? Books? Anything? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  Best she not find more reasons to esteem him before she obtained an annulment. If only she could stop wondering what their life together would be like.

  “This cheese is delicious.” He took a bite, then licked his lips.

  Startled by the intriguing memory of his lips on hers, she turned to her own cheese.

  “We don’t know very much about each other,” he continued.

  Apparently they thought alike. A good quality to have in a spouse…that one planned to keep.

  “How could we? We just met yesterday.”

  “True. So let’s start with something simple. What are your favorite foods?” he asked.

  “Pain perdu is one of my favorites, and anything fried in butter. I confess to a fondness for crystallized ginger.”

  “Ah, so you favor sweet stuffs.”

  “What do you like to eat?” The question was out of her mouth before she could call it back.

  “Venison stew and roasted meatballs.”

  “Very well. I can have Cook prepare roasted meatballs for supper.” Why was she trying to please him? What purpose would getting to know Richard serve? Best not to think of him and how nice it was to converse and think about something other than their awkward situation. Best to focus on her plan.

  She worried her bread into a pile of crumbs as she assessed the female guests. Could the potential bride be right in front of her? Most of the women were already married, others wouldn’t suit. Except perhaps for Blanche. The vibrant beauty seemed intelligent. Some men had openly admired her. Perhaps Richard would, too. Eleanor was glad Blanche was staying so she could learn more about her.

  “I’d hoped today you’d give me a tour of Middleworth,” Richard said. She couldn’t escape the warmth of his gaze. “Then I thought we’d ride into the village so you could introduce me to the villagers.”

  He had, at least, said “hoped” and “thought,” instead of issuing orders. Sometimes his tone reminded her of her father’s, cold and distant. Yet a few minutes ago and last night, he’d sounded as if she were the most important person he knew. And she’d liked that.

  How much time did he expect to spend with her? Getting to know him, sharing things, becoming friends could endanger her plan. But being ill-mannered or churlish wouldn’t get him to agree to it, either.

  “’Tis a fine day for a tour.” True. “I’m sure the villagers would love to meet you, their new lord.” Also true.

  “I look forward to both events, and to spending the day with you,” he replied.

  Because he wanted to or because he had to? The answer shouldn’t matter.

  What did she want? Eleanor busied her mouth with a large bite of cheese. She didn’t have to bare her soul or convey every thought in her head, or feign emotions she didn’t feel.

  “I haven’t spent much time in Northumberland. Is the North Sea coastline as beautiful as they say?” he asked.

  “It is. I have happy memories of walking along the beaches with my mother.” Her heart swelled. If she were still alive, what would she advise?

  “We shall have to go, then.”

  “No. Yes,” she blurted. “Yes, we shall.” Would doing more things as a couple reinforce her wish to be free, or tie her to him all the more? If only she had more time to be sure.

  Near the end of the meal, when naught remained but scraps too small for the almoner, a messenger wove his way through the crowded hall. Richard opened the sealed parchment and scanned the contents.

  “I’m needed at court,” he announced. “King Edward wishes me to join him at Windsor Castle.”

  Eleanor felt torn in two. She’d get to meet the king. And court would be the perfect place for her bride contest. Where else would so many eligible women gather? Perhaps Arthur would be there, too, trying to gain favor with the new king. Seeking information about how to pursue her annulment would also be easier.

  But if she left, she couldn’t interfere with her father’s alchemy experiments. With its goals of transmuting base metal into gold, unlocking the secrets of Nature and immortality, she didn’t understand how the king could support the sacrilegious “science.”

  First resolve my marriage, then deal with Father.

  She breathed a sigh of relief when the messenger handed her father a similar parchment. He’d be going to court, too.

  “The timing is unfortunate. I’d hoped we’d have time to get to know each other.” Richard took her hand. His warm palm was unexpectedly satisfying. “I’ll endeavor to conclude my business quickly. If you prefer, you may remain here with your sister instead of waiting for me at Glasmere Manor.”

  Would any man simply ask what a woman preferred? Wasn’t she capable of knowing whether she wanted to travel with him or not? At least he’d offered her a choice again.

  She didn’t want to wait at his home, alone except for servants she didn’t know. Nor did she
want to stay here, for this no longer felt like home. A lump formed in her throat. Where did she belong?

  “You intend to leave me behind,” she said. “But I intend to go with you.”

  “Why?” His eyes narrowed. He didn’t trust her.

  “Why wouldn’t I want to go to court? I haven’t been in years. And didn’t you tell our wedding guests, ‘Let it not be said I would neglect or abandon my new wife. I will have you by my side?’”

  “Your memory serves you well,” he said with a nod. “But you said you’d remain at home. ’Tis best I go alone.”

  What could she say to make him agree to take her? The right words formed a lie. Thus far, she’d been painfully honest, whether he believed her or not. In the deep recesses of her mind, she heard her mother cautioning, “A single lie never fails to beget more.”

  The achievement of her goal was worth any means, because her plan worked to his benefit as much as hers.

  “Your memory also serves. What if I’ve changed my mind?”

  “What changed your mind in such a short span of time?”

  The line between truth and deception was slim. She didn’t want to cross it. She wouldn’t break her promise to be honest, she couldn’t lie. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t do her best to influence him.

  “How long will you be away?” She pitched her voice low, as sultry as she could make it.

  “A month, at least.”

  “Such a long reprieve,” she whispered. She met his gaze boldly and traced a finger down his sleeve. “Longer than I expected without you to warm my bed.”

  The slight narrowing of his gray-green eyes told her he understood.

  The hum of conversation continued around them. Richard saw only Eleanor, even more beautiful today then yesterday, when shock and dismay had paled her skin and dulled her violet eyes.

  She wanted to go to court with him. Her not so subtle hint about their lack of consummation was unconvincing, however. The more sincere a woman seemed, the deeper the betrayal likely to follow. He’d allowed himself to be beguiled by Blanche and had learned caution from his mistake.