Telepathy of Hearts (14 page)

* * * *

Eleanor spoke so quickly, every word alive and anima
t
ed. Matheus watched her, resentful that she talked to Sline as if they were
lovers
and he was her betrothed. Like a brier of brambles
stuck in his foot
, he felt the twist and knot of his guts
,
sharp and unyielding.

Richard and Eleanor exchanged soft smiles, comfortable and relaxed with each other. This did not improve Matheus
's mood. His body language alone was warning enough.

Richard looked from one to another. Looking at Matheus, he was greeted by a glare so challenging it looked to all that a joust to the death was the only way to decide u
p
on the lady.

Matheus snapped.
“Eleanor you will never ride out with another man, astride or otherwise, again. Richard is a friend to us both it seems.
” Matheus wiped his face with his hand. Returning his intense glare to Richard he continued.
“You have put Sir Sline in an awkward situation, my Lady. Of course he must refuse any invitation even if it is to walk around the gardens
with you
. You are mine and soon all of you will belong to me as your husband. Socialising with married men would be unseemly
,
but single ones unaccept
a
ble. I will not permit it.
Please leave us Richard, I will find
you
later.
”

Richard bowed at Eleanor and patted Matheus on the back answering,
“Of course
… My Lady, Matheus.
” He left with an expression of relief on his face and a haste in his walk.

Matheus went to give his hand to Eleanor to aid her dismount. Kicking his open hand with her foot, she scowled at him.

Gripping her with force,
Matheus snapped.
Pulling her from the saddle he shouted,
“Lad
,
come stable my horse and the Lady Eleanor
's. Make haste.
”

Matheus unceremoniously slung her over his shoulder. It would be fair to say that the newly betrothed couple were furious with each other. The castle staff and servants were used to uproar in the household. After all
,
they had Lady Bruce and the Old Earl as their masters. But even they were shocked at the sight and sounds of Eleanor and Matheus as they tore emotional chunks out of each other.

With a face like thunder
,
he
strode across the court
yard with Eleanor over his shoulder as if he was carrying his sa
d
dle pack. Kicking at his chest with her feet and hitting his back with her fists, Eleanor continued her attack by savaging his male pride with her tongue.
“No wonder they call you a bull. You
're a beast. You are a stubborn ox
!
Unhand me
!
This is no way to treat a lady
!
”

“I hold no lady
!
”
Matheus
' left arm
tightened
around his precious cargo, steadying her as she hung over his back. His right hand
began giving
her backside a few swats
as he co
n
tinued.
“
A lady would not flirt so. You have talked more to Richard this eve in an hour than to
me in a week, and swee
t
ly too.
”

He did not want to hurt her; tame her and force her to show him some respect, yes. But to hurt her
,
certainly not. It was Matheus who was hurting.
His pride had taken a bea
t
ing, a
nd the taste of jealousy was bitter on his tongue.

Lady Bruce came to see what all the commotion was. Seeing her stepdaughter being carried over her future son-
in-
law
's shoulders as he gave her nates a few slaps was a little too much. Most stepmothers would feel some compassion for their stepdaughter
's predicament. But Mother Bear just bemoaned the fact it wasn
't her, muttering to herself about how unfair life could be.

“She plucks clumsily and cruelly at that man
's heart strings. If he were mine, I would play him like a harp. Oh what music we could make.
”

Behind her,
leaning against the entrance to the great hall,
Richard Sline spilled
,
“Mother Bear
,
'tis the wrong i
n
strument and I fear the wrong musician. She is strong
-
willed
;
t
here is no doubt and stubborn too. The man who owns her heart will spend his whole life cursing. But to me there is no other gold that shines so, no jewel as precious.
”

Lady Bruce gave him the lash of her tongue.
“Sir, co
n
trol yourself. You are a knight, not a poet. Talk like that could see your head upon a pike if the King was to hear it. And friend or no, do you think Matheus will have you speak so sweetly of her? Yes, lower your head and look to your groin and view what you may find missing
,
for if you speak like that in his hearing, you
'll sing like a choir boy
when
he castrates you.
”

Richard Sline was flushed. He was a measured man and his words often considered. It was partly his shame in voi
c
ing his love. But also the heavy weight of acceptance.

“
Come, Sir. We
'll find you a whore as the old Earl says,
“A broken heart takes some escaping but viewed between the legs of a wench it aches less.
”
Do you not think I was that wench when the Earl lost his wife?

“Oh, and Sir, do not look at me that way. I have heard about your libido, and I am not going to be that wench.
” L
a
dy Bruce looked straight at him as she spoke, her gaze never leaving his. She moistened her lips, licking them ever so slowly. Her face then broke into the most seductive smile.

Richard found his heart aching just a little less.
“I think the old Earl has a point. And excuse my intimacy, my Lady. But I like looking at you that way. In fact, I would enjoy looking at a whole lot more of you in
…that
…way.
”

It was Mother Bear
's turn to blush.
“Oh
,
and Sir
,
you are wrong about them. You don
't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. Epicurus
,
I recall.
Perhaps as they have so much courage their happ
i
ness will follow.
Come now, let
'
s go find you one of my maids.
”

An hour of Eleanor wailing and kicking
had passed
.

Even his men had tired of the sight of their knight stri
d
ing around fuming and had settled down to their ale. Matheus knew he couldn
't put her down. Holding her co
m
forted him but what ailed him, he had no idea.

Why am I angry? She
's just a maid. Dear God
,
am I jealous
?
Do I love her?

Truth be told he was angry with himself. How could he let her bewitch him?
Bloody woman is a witch
…too much of the she-
wol
f
and not enough lady.
Emotions he neither knew well
,
nor understood
,
were nipping at his nerves, prickling his skin.

“
Can you hear
,
men?
” he shouted to his soldiers
,
who had made so merry that half were passed out, their eyes heavy with ale.

Alert and already preparing for some altercation with his hand on his sword, his man of arms replied
“What My Lord? I hear nothing.
”

“Quite right
…the deafening sound of nothing, Godwin. My Lady has given up her wailing.
”

The men now awake cheered at their knight
's words. Making lewd innuendo and suggestions, both in speech and action. Matheus had not really intended to humiliate her in front of his men. But driven by jealousy and a touch of pique, he had wanted her to feel as he did when she refused to greet him.

“Godwin,
” he boomed.

“Yes
,
Sire.
”

“
Please take my good Lady to her chambers to her nursemaid. She has a signing celebration to prepare for.
”

Bringing a tearful Eleanor off his shoulders he took her face in his hand. His touch was not delicate or kind; it was vice-
like and
angry
. Forcing her to look at him he said,
“And Godwin, station yourself outside her chambers. We don
't want the Lady getting lost, do we?
”

Without a sweet word or gentle touch to his betrothed, Matheus stormed off uttering in damnation as he did so. Making his way through the castle to his chambers like the bull he was. Driven still by his
angry
jealousy, he had the need to kick every door and was relieved when he reached his chambers for fear he would draw his sword in rage.

Maids were preparing his bath, m
an servants coming back and forth with jugs and pots of steaming water.
Cam
o
mile and brown fennel scent filled the room.

* * * *

A maid spoke.
“My Lady Bruce thought you would like me to bathe you, sir. I have added some goodly herbs to ease your riding strain. Would my Lord wish us to help him di
s
robe?
”

She kept her head low as she spoke. Stealing a little look, a sharp breath left her as her chest recognised the feast of masculinity that her eyes were already enjoying.

* * * *