Royal Feud

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

He was still and quiet as she probed her feelings. She had not realized how much it would help to tell him about her father's cruel treatment. Now that Delvin knew everything, she no longer felt ashamed or embarrassed. After telling him about the brutality she had suffered, she now realized she was not responsible for any of it. There was some evil in her father that caused him to a***e her. She was not to blame. She was not unworthy.

"I feel lighter, freer somehow," she mused.

"Do you still feel up to riding to Carleigh today?"

"Aye, I do."

"Good, I am glad." She felt his chest expand under her head as he took a deep breath. "Hermione, thank you for telling me what your father did to you. It helps me understand your fears. I am sorry I have been such a domineering husband. I realize now that I have been trying to force you to comply with what I want. I have never considered your feelings at all. For that I am truly sorry and ask for your forgiveness."

""Tis all right."

"No. No, it is not." He took another deep breath. With her ear pressed to his chest, she could hear the steady, rhythmic beating of his heart. "I have made no secret of what I want from this marriage. I want a wife to warm my bed and a son to inherit Ishton. What do you want out of our marriage, Hermione?"

I want your love.

She could never say the words out loud and reveal to him her secret, most cherished desire. But she could tell him the rest of her hopes and dreams. "I want to be rid of these fears. I want to live in peace and have a normal marriage. I

want to have children to love."

"Will you allow me to give you children, Hermione?" "Aye." Her voice was a mere thread of sound.

"Thank you."

His arms tightened around her body briefly, and she felt a slight pressure against the top of her head. Had he kissed her?

"It occurs to me that a change in tactics is in order." "What...what do you mean?"

"Since you fear losing control over your own body, it might well relieve your fears if you set the pace. If you control what happens between us in our bed. You can touch me or kiss me anywhere you choose. You would tell me where and when to touch or kiss you. What do you think about that idea?"

"But what if I do not know what to do?"

"I would be happy to provide guidance, suggestions, and instructions, if you need them. The idea is for you to be completely in charge of the situation." He paused. "Are you willing to try it?"

"Aye," she said, drawing out the simple word.

"Thank you, Hermione. Your courage astounds me."

She felt his lips against her forehead, his touch feather light. "Now, I am afraid, 'tis time to get out of our cozy bed. We have a long trip to Carleigh ahead of us."

A laric, with Hermione by his side and Father Michael right behind them, led the procession as they traveled to Carleigh. He kept to the edges of the newly ploughed fields so the horses would not trample the crops. After they had been riding for about four hours, he called a halt a few miles from Carleigh, near a group of trees.

After dismounting and hobbling his horse, Delvin came to Hermione's side to assist her. She put her hands on his shoulders to brace herself as he held her waist and lifted her down from her horse. Once she was safely on the ground, he smiled into her upturned face before stepping back to release her. He turned to issue orders to his men as they set about preparing a makeshift dinner. When he glanced back at Hermione, he frowned to see how stiffly she moved, as if she were in a great deal of pain.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Delvin asked, taking her arm to steady her. "Tis been a while since I was on a horse for such a long ride. I will be fine."

His respect and admiration for her grew. She had not complained once during their ride. Delvin silently cursed himself. Obviously, she had been conditioned to endure a staggering amount of pain, and he berated himself for adding to her suffering.

"You need to stretch your muscles before they become too stiff," Delvin said. "Let us

walk a little."

He took her arm and led her away from the men, slowing his pace to accommodate her halting gait. "Hermione, I am sorry. I should realized this trip would be strenuous for you." "When I lived at Bamchester, I used to ride every day. I often went on long

journeys on horseback."

"Aye, but that was a long time ago. And if you have not ridden much since then,

your muscles are no longer trained for it."

"I suppose so."

Delvin stopped and pulled her into his arms, using his body to shield her from his men. She rested limply against his chest as he rubbed her back.

"Do you feel up to walking back now?" he finally asked. "Aye." She pulled back from him and started to walk.

"I will take you up before me on my horse for the rest of the trip. That should help somewhat. You will have to take short rides every day and build your muscle strength back up again.

"Aye." A blanket had been laid out on the ground and Delvin carefully lowered Hermione so she could sit upon it, then dropped down beside her. The men had unpacked the bread, cold chicken, and ale they had brought with them from the castle. Father Michael said grace and they ate. There was little talking as they consumed their meal.

When they finished, Delvin lifted Hermione up onto his horse before mounting himself. He wrapped his arms securely around her and gathered up the reins. "Are you all right?" he asked when they had been riding for a few minutes.

"Aye. "Tis better than being on my own horse." "Good. We will be in Carleigh soon, so I should let you know what we will be doing there. After Father Michael performed mass for the villagers last Sunday, I asked him to inform them that I would meet with them today. They are to assemble in the middle of the village at noon. I want to talk to the villeins and explain to them my requirements for their service."

"That is a good idea. I know from what Langston told me that my father treated the villeins very harshly. He required them to give him three-fourths of the grain they produced."

"Aye. Father Michael told me about that, as well. I know that Morefy also turned

land that had been traditionally held by tenants into demesne land." As they rode down the main street of the village, Delvin noted with disgust the dilapidated condition of the huts they passed. Mentally he compared Carleigh's rundown dwellings to the cottages in Mersthrope, which were in excellent condition and were an obvious source of pride to their inhabitants. Morefy's severe demands on the villeins had precluded them from maintaining their own homes in a livable state.

As he had requested, the people had gathered in the center of the village. The men milled about in a group in front of the women and children. Most of the villeins were ill-dressed and ill-kempt, their poverty another sign of Morefy's neglect. The hopelessness and hostility on most of their faces presented a sharp contrast to the pleasant welcome he always received from the people of Mersthrope. Delvin halted and dismounted before reaching up to help Hermione down. He gave the

reins of his horse to one of his men and ordered them to stand aside, but to remain on

alert for any trouble. He took Hermione's arm and approached the villeins, Father Michael walking forward with them. Delvin listened carefully as the priest introduced him to the village leaders, trying to commit their names to memory and to associate their names with their faces. Delvin watched each of the men's faces as Father Michael introduced the leaders one by one to

Hermione and noted their reaction to the scars on her face.

The man named Grentel, whom the priest had told Delvin was the de facto leader of the community, graciously bowed to Hermione, neither staring at her face nor avoiding looking at her.

"Milord, welcome to Carleigh," Grentel said once the introductions were completed. "Thank you, Grentel. I have come to Carleigh today to tell you my expectations of

each of you, now that King Henry has granted all Morefy and Carleigh's lands to me."

He spoke loudly so his voice would carry over the noise of the crowd. Gradually, the people quieted.

Pausing, he looked intently into the faces staring back at him. "Father Michael has

graciously agreed to take up residence here. In addition to serving as your priest, he will

serve as my representative to you. He will judge and resolve all civil disputes and

criminal violations that may occur. Father Michael will also assign and apportion tenant lands as well as collect and record the grain owed in service." Delvin paused to let the villagers absorb his announcement. He saw approval on Grentel's face as the leader nodded in agreement. Approval was echoed on the faces of a few of the other men. As Delvin had expected, Father Michael was well liked here and respected for his honesty.

"The lands Morefy confiscated for his demesne will be released to you to farm as my tenants. I require that one-tenth of the grain you harvest goes to the church. I require that one-tenth of the grain you produce be paid to me as your service owed to me. The remaining eight-tenths of your crop is yours to keep."