Free The Marriage Prize by Virginia Henley Page A

de Montfort. If a lady
    has a man of strength and power behind her, al run to do her
    bidding."
    Digesting the truth of his words, Rosamond carried a wooden
    bucket of water to Nimbus. "We'l have to tether the horses in
    the meadow behind the stable, Ned. The night wil be cold, but
    at least they'l be able to forage the stubble from the hay crop.
    We shal leave tomorrow!"
    When they had done al they could for their horses, Rosamond
    helped Ned carry in their own luggage. Then she bade him
    fol ow her into the dining hal so they could eat. Dymock was
    nowhere in sight, but the rest of the servants were stil at the
    table. Nan was sitting exactly where she had left her, but
    Rosamond could clearly see she had been served no food. It
    was the last straw. Her temper exploded.
    47
    She strode over to the head table with the light of battle in her
    eyes. "I have taken al the abuse I am going to take." She
    raised her arm and swept everything from the table to the
    floor. Molded jel ies were awash with gravy, and giblets floated
    about in a river of spil ed wine, while pewter plates and
    goblets rol ed across the flagstone floor. "If we don't t eat, you don't eat!"
    Rosamond headed toward Pershore's kitchen, summoning
    Nan and Ned to fol ow her. The cook had three chins and her
    red face branded her the twin of the brute in the stables. "This
    is my kitchen. Get out!" the cook ordered insolendy.
    Rosamond grabbed a long-handled ladle made of heavy
    copper and brandished it with intent to maim. "Stand back,
    you fat bitch, or I wil spit you over your own fire and render you
    down to a tub of lard. We wil feed ourselves, which certainly
    won't be hard with the amount of food lying about this kitchen. I
    have never seen such wil ful waste in my life! Nan, prepare
    three plates for us. Ned, fil that basket with cheese, fruit, and
    wine; we'l take it upstairs for later." Rosamond picked up a
    meat skewer and prodded the cook's bel y. "Your days of
    ruling the roost in my kitchen are numbered. Now, get out of
    my sight, you're ruining my appetite."
    When they ventured into the rest of Pershore, they found
    neglect of every kind. The chambers were filthy and damp, the
    furnishings rotted and dilapidated, except for the cozy rooms
    occupied by the servants. The rest of the dwel ing had been
    left without fires, and the dampness had mildewed the
    hangings and even the stone wal s.
    It took the three of them al afternoon to make a bedchamber
    with an alcove habitable. Ned chopped and hauled up wood
    for the fire. Nan helped Rosamond lift a couple of mattresses
    before the flames, then she scrubbed the wooden floor, while
    her mistress washed the mildew from the wal s and cleaned
    the windows. "Thank the saints in heaven that Lady Eleanor
    suggested I bring my own linen; I vow I shal never travel
    without it from this day forth. Ned, you wil have to sleep in the
    alcove; I'm afraid we won't be safe unless we al stay
    together."
    They ate supper in the chamber, before the fire, then
    Rosamond lit a couple of scented candles she'd brought. "We
    have no choice but to return to Kenilworth tomorrow. When I
    report the dreadful conditions at Pershore to my cousin
    Richard, I'm sure he wil look into it for me.
    48
    He can have little idea what's been going on here." She
    looked at her companions. "Thank you both so much for
    helping me. I feel wretched about this."
    "It's not your fault, my lamb. I think I packed warm quilted
    bedgowns for us, and we'l need them in this place. You look
    tired to death. Let's al get some rest; we've a long ride
    tomorrow."
    As Rosamond lay watching the shadows flicker on the wal ,
    she was angry with herself. Though Nan had been kind
    enough to declare it wasn't her fault, Rosamond knew she
    must take the blame for what she had found here at Pershore.
    She was the one who had neglected her lovely property,
    content to al ow others to administer her Marshal lands and
    holdings, while she stayed safe, happy, and