Melissande was humiliated. Not only was her pledge ignored but she was compelled to wed Jerome’s son within the hour. Worse, Tulley himself would check the linens in the morning for evidence of the match’s consummation. Her agreement was not sufficient to appease him and that irked her beyond all.
If only Jerome’s son had not returned with such haste, she might have found Arnaud herself. She did not believe that he had betrayed their vow and wed Marie instead. Why else would Tulley insist upon both haste and blood on the linens? Obviously, he feared that Melissande would learn the truth and demand an annulment. Tulley had a plan and meant to see it brought to fruition before either she or this warrior could choose otherwise. Once their match was consummated, they would be compelled to rem
