After dressing in her green shift and tunic and plaiting her long blond hair she hurried to the great hall ready to eat.
Reena and Brigid sat at a table near the large fireplace where no one else was in sight, a relief to Mary. At least she would be able to eat her meal in peace.
“We heard the news,” Reena said.
Mary shook her head as she joined them. “So it is true, I am to wed by week’s end.”
“You did not know?” Brigid asked surprised.
“After I drank Old Margaret’s brew last night, I was not certain of anything.”
“But you feel well this morning?” Reena asked.
“I have not an ache in my head and I am famished.”
Reena ordered a servant girl to bring food for Mary, then huddled with the women to discuss the situation. “We have not much time.”
“There is nothing we can do to stop this wedding,” Mary said, knowing it was time to face the inevitable. “Even if we discover someone had betrayed me, what difference would it make? Decimus has decreed he will wed me and his word is final.”
“Perhaps this person can protect you,” Reena said, struggling to find a solution.
“If this mysterious person had the power to protect her, would he have not stepped forward by now?” Brigid asked.
“She is right,” Mary said.
“There must be a way—”
Mary placed her hand on Reena’s arm. “There is nothing that can be done. It is my fate to wed Decimus. I would like nothing more than for that not to be true, but it is and I can run from it no more.”
“You are brave,” Brigid said with a tear in her eye.
“I am not brave. I am fearful of wedding Decimus and”—Mary choked back her own tears—“I am glad I have known true love.”
The three women shared tears and promises to always be friends, and of course Reena refused to believe that something could not be done to save Mary.
“I will continue my search,” Reena said.
“She is not happy unless she is searching and getting herself into trouble,” Brigid said teasingly.
“Mary!”
The three women jumped and turned to see Decimus marching into the great hall, his clothing wet from the heavy rain.
“We talk,” he said and directed her to follow him with a wave of his hand.
She hurried after him, noticing the strength of his strides and the rigid way in which he carried himself. He was a man with strong beliefs, and he expected all to follow him.
She had spent precious time attempting to find a way not to wed him. Now it was necessary to find out more about the man who was to be her husband. She would need to know him well if she was to protect herself from harm.
He took her to his bedchamber. She hesitated at the door, it being not at all proper for her to be there. His scathing look warned of punishment if she did not obey, and she reluctantly entered the room.
“Sit,” he ordered, pointing to the lone chair by the table.
He stood near the fireplace warming his hands.
He was richly dressed. His tunic was the color of deep red wine and was trimmed with gold and as usual he wore his rings. A gold cross on a heavy gold, chain hung around his neck. He certainly did not mind adorning himself.
“You are well this morning?” he asked after she had sat.
“I feel much better this morning. Thank you for asking.”
He rubbed his hands together, they looked strong though his fingers were narrow, and she could not help but wonder how many people those very hands had hurt.
“I want you to rest today. I will instruct the servants to tend to you.”
“It is not necessary. I am fine and I prefer to do for myself.”
He glared at her. “This is why I wished to talk. I will make your duties as my wife clear, and then you will know how to behave.”
“As you say.” She had the feeling that she would repeat those words often.
He began with, “You will not speak unless I give you permission.”
He droned on, detailing every step of her life with him. He would control her every movement, her every breath, her every thought. There would be no reason for her to think for herself, he would do it for her.
“After all,” he said. “Women are inferior to men.”
She remained quiet listening like a dutiful, inferior woman, while silently swearing that she would teach him otherwise. She would learn his faults and use them to her advantage.
It was evident that his first fault was arrogance and that certainly did not serve anyone well.
He walked closer to her and stared as though he looked through her, and she shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Did he see something? Did he sense something? His dark eyes made her uneasy and she looked away.
“Are you prepared to do your wifely duties, Mary?” he asked roughly.
She had not anticipated that question. Making love was not a duty, and she was grateful she had learned that with Michael. When two people loved it was a beautiful joining of two hearts and souls.
She did not know if he expected an answer. She had none for him. How could she, when the thought of being intimate with him turned her stomach.
“I expect you to do your duty.”
She stared at him, not understanding what he wanted from her.
“It is every wife’s duty.”
Her look became more confused.
He lifted her chin with one finger. “We will wed and you will give me a son.”
Chapter 26
Mary was grateful for the knock on the door that interrupted them and allowed her to seek solace in her bedchamber, while Decimus saw to an urgent matter with his men.
She sat on the bed giving thought to his words. The idea that she would bear Decimus’s children horrified her. Was that why she had not given the idea thought before? And what of Michael?
She placed a tender hand to her belly. What if she already carried his child? She had not even considered the possibility, or had she not wanted to? It would be a joy to have Michael’s child. But to have Decimus raise the babe?
A heavy sigh had her throwing herself back on the bed. How could she let Michael’s worst enemy raise his child? If there was a child. If not, she had nothing to worry about.
But what if she was with child? A child conceived from the love she shared with Michael . . .
“A foolish thought,” she admonished herself. Having Michael’s child now would not be fair to Michael or the child.
A knock sounded at her door. “Mary, it is Magnus.”
She went to the door and let him in.
“I have been meaning to talk with you,” he said.
He looked burdened. “Come, let us sit by the hearth and talk.”
Mary always thought Magnus was a handsome man, and she thought he was even more so now after seeing him with Reena. They seemed to fit so perfectly together, though he was large and she small, it made no difference. When together there was no doubt the couple were in love.
He reached out and took her hand. “You were always strong. When your parents died and I took you away, you complained not and you shed your tears when you thought I could not hear you. Through the years I watched you grow into a remarkable young woman and . . .”
It seemed hard for him to continue.
“I did not want this for you, Mary. I wanted you free to live your life and to love.”