Free Joining by Johanna Lindsey Page A

supposed she could concede that much and nodded, letting the maid drape it over hernarrow shoulders and fasten the golden clasps and chains that would keep it from falling off.
    It did not do what the maid had hoped, though, which was let her lady realize that it would look much better with the light blue bliaut it had been designed for. So Ena was left sighing as Milisant rushed out of the chamber.
    The Great Hall was noisy, the castle folk already gathered for the midday meal. Milisant nearly ran down those last few steps in the north tower, her rumbling belly prodding her to haste. But she came to an abrupt halt as she entered the hall and found Wulfric right there at the bottom of the stairs, as if he had been waiting for her. And so he had been, she realized, when his eyes moved over her slowly, then his head shook just as slowly.
    “Only half done, wench. You will take yourself back upstairs and finish the other half.”
    Her back went stiff. Her jaw set stubbornly, her eyes flashed. She was about to retort when he continued.
    “Unless you would like my assistance. So go now and dress yourself properly, or I
will
dress you myself.”
    “You would not dare,” she hissed at him.
    To that he chuckled. “Would I not? Ask your priest about marriage contracts, and you will learn that we are all but wed, verily, missing only the bedding ceremony. Which means I have rights where you are concerned, wench, that supersede your father’s rights. When you were contracted to me, that gave my family the control of you if they so wanted it. My father could have dictated your education, where youwould live, and aught else to do with your upbringing, could even have put you into a nunnery until the wedding. That he left you in your family’s care was obviously a mistake, but one I am in a position to rectify. So you will honor me today by looking like the lady you are supposed to be. If I must help you to do so, so be it.
Do
you need my help?”
    Milisant stood there in shock. Furious beyond common sense, she opened her mouth to heap invectives on him, but noticed her father across the hall frowning at her and closed her mouth again. To Wulfric she gave the most baleful look she could manage, but she did indeed turn on her heel to remount the stairs.
    This was intolerable. The man had no sensitivity, no tact, no understanding. Everything he said to her was intended to provoke her to argument. Was he hoping she would fly into a rage so he would have an excuse to use his great strength on her again? She did not doubt it. Nothing too despicable was beneath his doing, the churlish lout.

Eleven
    Wulfric smiled to
himself, well pleased. Lord Nigel had been correct after all. The girl would obey him, simply because she did not know him, and so did not know how much he would tolerate from her. She also did not know what means he would use to force any issue between them; thus she would not be eager to find out.
    He still was not happy with her, doubted he ever would be. She would never give him the tender care he could expect from a wife.
Jesu,
she actually admitted she loved someone else. So she would never be happy in their marriage either, and she was not like to let him forget it. Her ways were abrasive. He could expect a never-ending battle with her. But he
would
make a lady out of her. She would not embarrass him.
    The lady Jhone rushed past him and up the stairs, her expression concerned, so she had likely witnessed her sister’s upset. He sighed, regretful that she had not been the eldest daughter, for she was lovely in every way, would have made him a fine wife indeed. Compassionate,soft-spoken, eager to please—everything her sister was not.
    Nigel tried to summon him to table, but Wulfric declined for the moment. He was not leaving his position by the stairs so that the wench could sneak past him again and be gone for another entire day. However, he was reminded that she had gone up these stairs yesterday, yet had disappeared