When Eva emerged from the solar the next morning, pale but composed, carefully gowned in a dark green tunic discreetly embroidered round the neck and hem, and fully resolved to argue calmly with Sir Piers and demand she be allowed to go to Rudge Manor, she found he had already departed for Lord Richard's manor in Gloucestershire where the King of the Romans was awaiting his friends.
Frustrated, she wondered whether to confront Blanche with her accusations, and force the woman to depart, since Eva considered it would have been impossible for anyone to remain in such circumstances. Blanche forestalled any complaints, however, by coming quickly towards Eva and bending to kiss her on the cheek. Astounded, Eva forgot what she had intended to say as Blanche began to speak.
'My dear Eva, what a dreadful mother you must think me! I'm so grateful to you for going to Roger last night. He rides the night mare, you see, and I'm used to him crying out in the night, so I do not always go to him. I wait to see whether it's an isolated cry, for it can often be worse to wake him from these dreams than to leave him to sleep and forget them!'
'He was awake, and terrified of the dogs. They were growling at him,' Eva reminded her coldly.
'He must have walked in his sleep, probably because he was in a strange house. He's done that once or twice, but so rarely I didn't at first consider it. I think he awoke and because of the dogs he was afraid. I thought at first the noise was coming from his room, not the hall, although Piers was not sure.'
Eva stared in amazement. How could the woman so openly refer to the presence of her host in her bedroom to that host's own wife? Had she no shame whatsoever? But Blanche was continuing.
'Such a pity he has to leave you so soon after your marriage. It will be for a few days only, but to you no doubt it seems an endless separation. You will enjoy going with him next time.'
Eva was confused. Almost in the same breath Blanche seemed to be admitting her liaison with Sir Piers and assuming all was well between Sir Piers and his wife. Could she be mistaken about Blanche? She had certainly heard voices from Blanche's room during the night they had been guests at her manor, one of them belonging to a man, and who could it have been except Piers? He had made no denial when she had openly accused him of dalliance with Blanche. And Eva could not have been deceived about his presence in Blanche's room the previous night. Neither Blanche nor Sir Piers had offered any explanation at the time. His early departure this morning seemed to indicate a guilty conscience or a desire to avoid an explanation, and there did not seem to be any possible conclusion except the obvious one.
Telling herself she was being weak and cowardly for not wishing to accuse Blanche immediately, Eva responded to the older woman's friendly manner with aloof coolness. This did not deter Blanche, who merely said she had been very shy herself when she had first been the mistress of a household, and no doubt Eva would soon become used to married life.
Eva pursed her lips and refrained from the angry response she was tempted to make. She would endure Blanche's presence until she had positive proof of her husband's entanglement with his old friend's wife, but as soon as Sir Piers returned she would insist he told her the truth.
*
Throughout the next few days it became clear to Eva Sir Piers had left strict instructions with Blanche and his servants that she was never to be left alone. Blanche, despite Eva's coldness and increasingly pointed hints, spent most of the day with her, helping with the household duties, which Eva had assumed more from a lack of other occupation than because she enjoyed supervising Granfort. When Blanche was absent with her sons Gerda always took her place, and although Eva rode out a few times on Dusky Rose, with Blanche and the boys, a groom invariably accompanied them. Gerda even slept in the solar on a small mattress she dragged there, saying it was customary while the master was away.
Angrily enduring the endless surveillance Eva constantly watched the road leading across the high ground between Granfort and the forest for either her father or Gilbert. Surely Gilbert would have found the opportunity by now to leave Holdfast and approach her father. He would not know it was too late, that she was already married. If he had seen her father would he not have contrived an opportunity to see her, or did he assume she had assented willingly to the marriage and wished to have no more to do with him?
Sir Piers had been away for several days when a messenger arrived just as the household was beginning supper and asked to speak to Eva.
Eva went pale and her heart began to race uncomfortably. Was it bad news he brought? Before she could analyse what she expected, or what she would have considered bad news, the man was bowing before her.
'Speak,' she said in a strangely hoarse voice. 'Where do you come from?'
'Sir Piers sent me, my lady,' he replied, and Eva unconsciously let out the breath she had been holding. 'He asks me to beg your pardon and forgiveness, but he is detained some while longer. He hopes to be with you in another se'nnight.'
Eva thanked the man and he took the place offered him towards the end of the table. Eva, finding she was trembling, tried to steady her hands as she picked up a leg of chicken and began to nibble at it.
'The abominable man!' Blanche said indignantly in a low voice to Eva. 'It's a careless bridegroom who stays away from his bride so soon after his wedding. Be sure to chide him for it when he does return!'
Eva glanced at her. If only she could believe what Blanche said, and accept the friendliness the woman displayed, she would have enjoyed her company. Despite Eva's coldness Blanche was unfailingly cheerful and helpful in an unobtrusive way. In other circumstances, thought Eva wistfully, she would have been pleased to have her as a friend. But not when she and Sir Piers were conducting their liaison so openly.
The irony of the whole situation struck Eva suddenly. She liked Blanche, her husband's mistress, while she detested her husband. Yet because she was married she could not show that liking. If she loved Sir Piers would she feel any differently, she wondered. Would she even be able to consider the possibility of friendship with his paramour? What would have been her reaction if she had found Gilbert had a mistress?
The puzzle was insoluble. She made some remark about their plans for the following day, and Blanche followed her lead, not again mentioning Sir Piers and his extended absence.
Gerda was not so reticent, however. She bemoaned the lonely fate of her young mistress, and when indisputable evidence arrived that Eva was not pregnant, sniffed and commented Sir Piers could not hope for heirs if he neglected his wife so shamefully.
*
Her declared intention of chiding him for his neglect made Eva apprehensive. She had toyed with the idea of pretending she was with child in order to avoid the intimacies she knew Sir Piers would soon demand. The King's own sister Eleanor, now married to Simon de Montfort, had done so with very different motives when her first much adored husband William Marshall had died suddenly. But with Gerda's eagle eyed watchfulness, and her freedom as an old and valued servant to comment on such matters to her master, Eva knew she had no chance of making anyone believe her.
She began to feel desperate. There was no possible escape. Gilbert seemed to have given up all hope of seeing her again. Her father was strangely silent too. She had expected him to visit, but if he did not she could not appeal to him. And once the marriage was a real one she had less chance of gaining her freedom at some future time, for it could not then be annulled.
One afternoon when the sun had the first hint of warmth in it, they were in the herb garden inspecting the plants for signs of new growth. Blanche was pointing out the recognisable herbs to young Piers and telling him some of the properties of them when the child, only spasmodically paying attention, gave an excited shout and began to run towards the house.
'Piers, come here at once!' Blanche commanded.
'As quickly as I can,' a deep voice replied, and Eva, who had been stooping down to look at some tiny pale green spikes, stood up hastily, her heart suddenly beating painfully hard beneath her gown.
'Piers!' Blanche cried in a glad voice, and started towards him, then laughed, blushed, and stepped back. 'Eva, forgive me, I forget he now has a wife to take precedence! Piers is such an old friend.'
Or lover, Eva thought angrily, and the look she turned on her husband was far from welcoming.
'My lord,' she said formally, and then gasped as he pushed the child, who had been clinging to his hand, towards his mother and stepped forward to enfold her in a close embrace.
She trembled at the unexpectedness of it, and tried to evade his questing lips as he bent to kiss her, but to no avail. After a long hard kiss he released her, and she looked flushed and confused, unable to meet either his or Blanche's gaze.
'Blanche, my dear, how do I find you? Has Eva been entertaining you well?'
'Indeed she has, Piers, she is an excellent hostess, but she has pined grievously for you. It was wicked of you to leave her for so long.'
'It shall not happen again, I promise,' Sir Piers said, slipping his arm about Eva's waist.
'Was your meeting with Lord Richard successful?' Blanche asked, when Eva's lack of response had made an awkward silence.
'I am not sure. There was trouble when the discussions took place in the New Temple, and later Simon de Montfort tried to demand more concessions than the King is willing to give. He plans trouble, of that we are certain, but when and where is not clear. Lord Richard is prepared, however, if he cannot bring him to reason.'
'What does de Montfort want?' Eva asked, interested despite herself.
'More power for the barons. He is even suggesting Parliament meets without the King,' Sir Piers replied, smiling down at her in a disturbing fashion. Eva looked quickly away, suddenly afraid of the warmth in his eyes and what it might portend. 'How discussions can take place without the King I do not know. He, after all, has to agree to whatever is planned or nothing can be done.'
'Hugh sometimes said kings might abuse their power,' Blanche said thoughtfully.
'Possibly, but it does not solve problems to take the power away from the King and give it to the Confederation of Barons as Richard de Clare wanted last year. They are far more likely to abuse it,' Sir Piers replied seriously. 'The King must listen to advice, and choose what he considers best, but not be constrained by force as when the barons appeared at Court in full armour last May Day, and prevented Henry from helping the Pope in Sicily. After all, the King has God to guide him, it is part of the nature of kingship, part of the grace reposed in him in the consecration ceremony. No one else has been given such divine help. Certainly not Simon de Montfort!'
They had been walking back towards the house, and Roger suddenly tore round the corner of it, having in some manner learned of Sir Piers' return. In the diversion he created Eva moved away from her husband and the casual embrace of his arm about her. She was tinglingly aware of his masculinity, his strength, and the feelings even the most accidental contact between them aroused in her. If he had this effect still, she was thinking in a jumble of emotions, of which the predominant were fear and excitement, what would happen when he demanded his marital rights?
From his attitude towards her she thought he would not leave her in peace for much longer. Or was his apparent affection assumed for some devious reason? Did he try to deceive the servants that all was well? It could scarcely be for Blanche's benefit he made this show of pleasure in their reunion.
Eva cast a glance towards Blanche. How was she taking this behaviour of her lover to his wife? But Blanche was busy inspecting some treasure Roger had brought out with him and her head was bent. No hint of her emotions was visible. They continued towards the house and went into the solar where Sir Piers poured wine and then stood warming himself at the fire.
*
'I must return home tomorrow,' Blanche said with a slight sigh. 'It has been most enjoyable staying here with Eva, but doubtless there are many matters awaiting my attention there.'
'You have been kind,' Sir Piers remarked. 'I know Eva is grateful. About Piers and Roger, however, I have a plan to suggest.'
Blanche looked up in alarm and made a movement of protest.
'No, do not fear, I've heeded your wishes. It's just that I took the opportunity of speaking with Lord John de Burgh and he is willing to take both boys in a few years' time, whenever you feel ready to part with them. I know you'll not permit your fondness for them to damage their upbringing, Blanche. I suggest you accompany us to the tournament after Easter at Holdfast, where you can meet him and discuss the plans for yourself.'
'Holdfast?' Eva exclaimed. 'A tournament?'
Sir Piers looked at her quizzically.
'Indeed. Will you look forward to meeting your old acquaintances again?'
Eva was thinking rapidly. Gilbert would be there. She might, after all, find some way out of this marriage. She smiled carefully.
'It will be pleasant to see everyone, I left rather hurriedly, in too much haste to bid them farewell,' she added cuttingly, and Sir Piers laughed.
'You will never forgive me for that, I think. Blanche, if you really have to go home tomorrow I will ride with you. Shall we take hawks and make it a day's sport, Eva?' he enquired.
Eva agreed readily. She loved hawking, and had done none since she came to Granfort, partly due to the inclement weather at first and then because Sir Piers had been away and Blanche had said she did not care for the sport. Eva looked at her now, but Blanche was smiling and nodding.
'I suppose it is time Piers and Roger learned something of it,' she murmured.
'Good, then we will set off early.'
No more was said. Sir Piers left them while he attended to some business his bailiff had brought to him, and Blanche disappeared to begin packing her own and the boys' belongings. Gerda bustled into the solar as soon as Eva was alone and began to plan what her mistress would wear that night for supper.
'The blue woollen overgown, my lady, with the grey undertunic and sleeves,' she suggested insinuatingly. 'Sir Piers has always liked blue, and it does make your eyes deeper somehow.'
Eva was reluctant to protest. It would cause Gerda to comment and press questions upon her, and she could not endure the prospect of that. She had begun to wonder, with a shiver of apprehension, whether Sir Piers would come to her this night, or whether, with Blanche so determined to depart on the next day, he would take the opportunity of spending the last night in her arms.
All the old suspicions about Blanche came flooding back into Eva's mind. She had begun, against her will, to like the woman, and just because Blanche herself seemed so unconscious there could be any cause for friction between them Eva began to doubt it too. Surely no woman in such an invidious situation could behave with such cool unconcern?
As though they had appeared deliberately to celebrate Sir Piers' return, a small troupe of strolling minstrels arrived just before suppertime and were made welcome. After supper they sang and played on a small harp and a gittern, and then the trestles were cleared and the servants demanded their master and mistress join in the dancing.
'Come, Eva,' Sir Piers said softly and pulled her to her feet. The minstrels must have known they were newly married, for the dance they chose was a kissing dance, which involved a great deal of embracing and kissing. Sir Piers entered into the spirit of it with considerable gusto, and to the delight of the household prolonged the kisses with his wife until Eva was hot with embarrassment.
'They clearly approve,' he whispered in her ear as he whirled her round and round in the final figure of the dance. 'They must be awaiting an heir with as much impatience as I am myself.'
Eva cast a frightened glance at him and his expression hardened slightly. Before either of them could speak again the music ended, and he led her back to the seats beside the high table.
After another couple of energetic dances the minstrels started a round song, encouraging all the servants to join in the different parts.
'Summer is a'coming in,' Blanche said, smiling at Eva. 'That's appropriate, is it not? It will soon be Easter, and then my favourite time of year. I hate the winter. Hugh died in midwinter.'
Eva did not reply. Was the grave expression on Blanche's face caused by her recollections of her husband, or by the fact Sir Piers, no doubt with the impression he wished to make before his servants in mind, was being unusually attentive to Eva?
*
It was late when the rare treat of minstrel entertainers was over, and everyone prepared for bed. Eva bade Blanche a good night and went to the solar. As she walked away she heard Blanche speak.
'Piers, just a small matter, about Lord John.'
Sir Piers turned to her courteously and when Eva looked back at them he was standing beside Blanche's chair and listening intently to what she was saying. A ruse, Eva thought angrily, and all her growing liking for Blanche disappeared in a tide of anger which left her limp as she closed the door into the solar, restraining herself from slamming it only by the greatest self control.
Gerda had come in first and was making herself busy. She smiled at Eva, apparently not noticing anything amiss.
'You'll be glad your man is home, my lady.'
'I do not need you any longer, Gerda,' Eva said in a carefully controlled voice, wondering at herself she should be so calm when those two out there must be laughing at her and at the ease with which they could deceive all the servants. Part of her fury, she told herself was because they did not consider it important to even attempt to deceive her.
Gerda gave her a puzzled look, and then chuckled.
'My lord makes an excellent maid, no doubt,' she said with what Eva disgustedly thought of as a leer.
'Go, please,' Eva said sharply, and Gerda grinned amiably and took herself off.
Eva sank onto the bed and tried to calm herself. Surely she should be grateful to Blanche for occupying Piers' attentions. All too soon he would be forcing them on herself in his desire to produce an heir. It was the fact they conducted their liaison right under her nose which hurt, not the fact of that relationship. She realised she would feel diminished, ashamed, if others knew the man who had married her in so roughshod a fashion had never attempted to come to her bed.
Did he hate her, she wondered, thinking she knew very little of the man who had married her. His expression was often hard and with her he was stern, although Blanche's children, his servants and his friends all seemed to love him. He would be justified in despising her, she admitted, and yet occasionally she had surprised an expression of warmth in his eyes when they had rested on her, and his few embraces had revealed a fierce but controlled passion. Why had he insisted on marriage when he thought so ill of her? And when would he claim his rights?
It was not that she wanted him to do so, or even to try, she hastily reminded herself. If she were not able to marry Gilbert the present situation was the best she could hope for. But it was unlikely to continue.
*
Her confused reflections were broken as the door opened. She looked up to see her husband enter the solar. He looked across at her with a blank expression in his eyes.
'Well, my dear?' he asked.
Eva's mouth was suddenly dry. 'Well?' she responded in a low voice.
'I understand my fears of introducing a cuckoo into our nest were groundless,' he remarked without emotion.
'So were your despicable suspicions,' Eva said angrily.
'If they are, I humbly apologise,' he said, somewhat to her surprise. 'We shall soon discover it. If I have misjudged you I shall apologise even more fervently, my dear.'
He unfastened the girdle about his waist, and Eva was struck by the tautness of his body, broad shouldered and muscular yet slim hipped and with long shapely legs. Then he slipped off the long sleeveless supertunic he wore and let it fall to the ground. Sitting on one of the chests he began to remove his pointed shoes while Eva watched with growing apprehension.
'Why did you send Gerda away?' he asked casually.
'I – needed no help,' Eva said swiftly. 'My gown fastens at the front, and it really is unnecessary for anyone to have to disrobe me.'
'Unnecessary, but an attractive prospect,' he murmured.
'No doubt you are accustomed to performing such services for Blanche!' Eva snapped.
Sir Piers stood up suddenly and took a menacing step forwards.
'Cease this foolish complaining and your unjustified accusations against Blanche!' he thundered. 'She is not my mistress and never has been, and I find your determination to believe the worst of us childish and not the sort of behaviour I expect from my wife!'
Eva was trembling with fury and fear. Never before had he lost the suave calm which annoyed her so much, but this anger was difficult to face.
'How can I believe it when all I see and hear tells me the opposite?' she flung at him, suppressing her fear determinedly. 'I heard you in her room, and the last night you spent here I saw you coming from it. What other reason could you have except – except what I suspect?'
'Is my word not sufficient?' he asked in a suddenly quiet tone, turning away from her so she could not see his face.
'Why should I trust your word when I have no reason for it? And when you refuse to accept mine? You have treated me abominably from the start, forcing me into this marriage when you knew I loved another. Since you consider love and marriage as separate matters why should you not have mistresses? Why pretend she is so pure and admirable? But if this is to be my home I would prefer not to have to share it with her! Go to her! Make the most of her last night! Surely you can wait one more night before proving that I, unlike you, have had no lovers, before using me as a brood mare!'
Eva turned away and made desperate efforts to control the tears threatening to overwhelm her. He would misinterpret them, he would think she was jealous, not merely angry and frightened.
'I tell you for the last time Blanche is not and never has been my mistress. If you believe me I will be able to tell you why I have been closeted with her.'
'I have no desire to know. I have no interest in either of you, alone or together!'
There was a long silence, and Eva was just about to turn round, unable to endure it any more, when she heard the door close softly.
She swung round, startled. Sir Piers had gone. He had silently gathered up his discarded tunic and girdle, and there was no sign he had ever been in the room. She was safe from his attentions for at least one more night. Eva breathed a sigh of relief and then, her overwrought nerves giving way, burst into a storm of weeping.
*