Free Virginia Henley by The Raven, the Rose Page A

was the root of all her misery!
    When Kate Kendall knocked on the door, she ignored it. The woman called through it, “I’ve brought your supper.” Roseanna didn’t respond. “Don’t be a silly lass. Yemust eat.” Again receiving no response, the sensible north-country woman decided to leave the tray outside the door. No doubt as soon as she left, Roseanna would eat.
    Her face was grim two hours later when she returned to find the tray untouched. She bent close to the door and called, “Roseanna!” There was no response. She put her ear to the door and listened for a few minutes, but there was only silence. She did not report this to Lady Joanna. No doubt by the time breakfast arrived Roseanna would be ravenous.
    Very early the next morning, Roseanna’s attention was caught by a piercing whistle from outside. She went to the window and saw her brother Jeffrey below, accompanied by Sir Bryan. Quickly she picked up a piece of paper and wrote,
    Please don’t worry about me. Ravenspur will give us no trouble. We hated each other on sight! I’ve locked myself in because of a disagreement with my mother. I beg you not to worry about me. Roseanna.
    She folded the note tightly, wrote “Sir Bryan” on the outside, and threw it from the high turret down to the young men below. Jeffrey stooped to retrieve it and handed it to Sir Bryan. Then he winked at her and waved his hand in approval.
    When Kate Kendall found Roseanna’s breakfast tray undisturbed outside her chamber door where she had left it, she knew she must inform Lady Joanna. But Joanna was still annoyed at her daughter’s behavior the day before; this only fanned the flames of her grievance. Shecame to the turret and rattled the doorknob, ordering, “Open this door at once!” There was no reply. “Roseanna, I have had enough theatrics! Open the door.” Still Roseanna didn’t respond. “Very well, madame, two can play this game! Kate, you are not to bring any more food up here today. By tomorrow there will undoubtedly be an improvement in her appetite.”
    Joanna did not discuss her daughter’s behavior with her husband. He had a knack for making her feel as if she were in the wrong, and in this instance she knew she was not. She had plenty to keep her busy. Ravenspur would return the day after tomorrow, and everything must be perfect for his visit. She had the maids clean and plenish the best bedchamber, overlooking no detail. Even the candles were scented with pine, and the bed linen was embroidered with the initial R.
    The next day when Joanna ascended to the turret, she was ready to make some concessions if Roseanna was. “Roseanna, open the door, and we will discuss our differences like civilized human beings.” Roseanna kept silent. “Kate Kendall is here with the key to the chastity belt,” she tempted. Silence. Her anger rose again. If there was one thing this mother and daughter shared, it was stubborn pride. “If you are willing to harm yourself by starving just to punish me, then so be it!” she said with suppressed fury. As Joanna walked away, Roseanna pressed her ear to the door and heard her mother say to Kendall, “What am I to do? Ravenspur comes tomorrow!”
    Roseanna smiled. She had been on the verge of opening the door, for she was truly longing for a substantial meal. But now she realized that if she held out until tomorrow, the showdown would be postponed until Ravenspur arrived.
    * * *
    Roger dressed with great care for his visit to Castlemaine. He rejected the clothes he wore at Court; they were too flamboyant for his taste. The tight silk hose had to be lined with heavy satin, which molded and exaggerated his manhood to the point of indecency. The doublets that were being worn were shorter and shorter to display to advantage everything a man possessed. He passed over these peacock-colored garments and chose sober black hose and boots and a wide-shouldered wine velvet doublet. His fine lawn shirt boasted lace at the neck and