Free The Marriage Prize by Virginia Henley Page B

oblivious at her
    haven of Kenilworth.
    Rosamond did not dare let go of her anger, for once she did,
    she would sink into despair. Never in her life had she felt so
    helpless, useless, and insignificant. A young, unwed female
    had less authority than one of the mangy dogs in the bailey.
    Even they had a measure of control over the geese they
    chased. The last thing she wanted to do was run back to
    Kenilworth in defeat, crying for help, but she knew she had no
    choice but to swal ow her pride.
    Rosamond furiously told herself to hang on for just a few more
    hours, that things always looked better in the light of day. The
    lump in her throat almost choked her. Last night, thoughts of
    Sir Rickard de Burgh had left her heartbroken. Tonight,
    Pershore made her feel as if her spirit was close to breaking.
    Five
    At Kenilworth, most of the day was taken up by military
    exercises in and around the mere. It was discovered that
    some soldiers could not even swim, so that was the first
    lesson that had to be taught. Lord Edward and Sir Rodger
    noticed that the men from Wales had little trouble after long
    hours in the water, and questioned their Welsh squires.
    Griffin, who was not short and dark like most Welshmen, but
    tal and fair, grinned at Rod. "There are so many wild rivers in
    Wales that if you didn't learn to swim across raging waters,
    you'd drown. It's as simple as that!"
    "I admire their skil with the longbow too," Lord Edward said, shrugging off his hauberk. "I intend to become expert at it, and
    I've ordered that some of these six-foot bows be made for my
    Gascons; I believe them superior weapons to their
    crossbows."
    Rod laughed. "They are only superior if they are shot by expert
    longbowmen."
    Both Griffin and Owen, Lord Edward's squire, agreed. "It
    takes years of experience, my lord."
    "Then we'd best get started," Edward said, grinning. "Get some hay bales set up as targets in yon field beyond the
    mere, and I'l ask Simon to loan us a troop of his Welsh
    archers to teach us how it's done."
    "Edward, because it seldom happens to you, you forget that
    men tire," Rod protested. "Our men have struggled through
    freezing water for hours today. Cannot the archery lesson wait
    until the morrow?" He removed his heavy hauberk and handed
    it to Griffin.
    Edward roared with laughter. "Soft, the lot of you!" He peeled off his wet linen shirt, and Rod fol owed suit. Suddenly a great
    female cheer went up from the ramparts of Kenilworth, and the
    two bare-chested
    50
    males lifted their eyes to observe their admirers. "Wel , I'l be damned," Lord Edward said, "do you suppose I could have
    my pick, Rod?"
    "I have no doubt of that whatsoever, my lord." Rod frowned.
    Where the devil was his beautiful ice maiden? Surely she
    could have let her guard down long enough to come and
    watch him traverse the cold mere, if only to rejoice in his
    discomfort. What would it take to chip through her frozen
    exterior? Her interior would be hot enough, if her temper was
    any indication. Suddenly, in spite of his clinging wet chausses,
    his cock began to swel and harden.
    Edward glanced down with wry amusement at his friend's
    erection. "Show-off! I'm shriveled to the size of a worm."
    Rod chuckled. "A one-eyed snake perhaps, never a worm,
    Edward."
    A few hours later as Rod entered the hal , he was looking
    forward to supping with Rosamond. He was starting to
    suspect she enjoyed exchanging barbs with him, if only to
    sharpen her claws. He held out hope al through the first
    course, knowing she was quite capable of being late
    purposely, just to keep him waiting. When Alyce de Clare
    noticed his inattention to her, she began to pout prettily and
    thought up ways to plague him. Alyce usual y amused Rod, but
    tonight she simply annoyed him.
    When the meal was over and the tables were being cleared,
    Rod sought out Lady Eleanor and her daughter Demoisel e.
    "The fair Rosamond is avoiding me, I fear. Could you not
    persuade her to dine in the hal