Telepathy of Hearts (28 page)

Matheus felt Eleanor touch his heart the moment he saw her. His heart ached with recognition and his groin throbbed in agreement. In all her splendour, fine silk and the richest velvet, the She-
Wolf looked at him from under her gossamer veil. Twelve knights guarded her
,
dressed in full armour
;
their movements caught the low winter sun and the glare illuminated them.

To all that looked upon her, it seemed as if she was the Virgin herself dressed in blue. A halo of golden tresses about her head, attended by armoured angels who blazed in the Lord
's grace. The breath that left Matheus
's body was the audible sound of his adoration of the beauty that would soon be his.

Soon my sweet, soon.

The Norman West front of St Mary
's, Lincoln
's cathedral, rose up before the assembled. The cathedral was the
tallest building in the world. S
ave only York Minster and St
Pauls
' in London
,
it was the biggest cathedral in Britain, a testament to the Earl of Lincoln
's faith and perhaps his wealth. The gargoyles and grotesques looked down upon the guests.

Matheus looked to Eleanor. As she was lifted down from Arthur, he could see how she trembled, and it cast a shadow over his concupiscent heart. Trying to gain her attention, he wanted at least to offer her his calming smile. But it was to no avail. The procession was already moving.

It had been decided that the wedding would take place inside Lincoln
Cathedral. Tradition would have had them gathered and wedded at the entrance. But Matheus grew unhappier daily as Richard Sline was organising an uprising. So he urged the party in and the entrances heavily guarded.

Taking his rightful place, the King led the procession up the aisle. His furs flowed and his regal prowess was the highlight of this parade of splendour.

The priest walked in front of the bride
,
swinging the incense thurible. Eleanor was attended by her maids
and
the Old Earl
,
her father. Her guard of honour bought up the rear.

Matheus was the last to enter the
Cathedral, his hand on his sword hilt, escorted by Godwin, his best man at arms, and five knights. He came to the altar, bowed his head and stood to Eleanor
's right, keeping his sword hand free to protect her if the need arose.

The sound of song resonated around the cathedral
.

Ex te lux oritur o dulcis Scocia

qua vere noscitur fulgens Norwagia.

Que cum transvehitur trahis suspiria

tui subtrahitur quod regis filia.

Cum pax accenditur que sui gracia

regnis indicitur redit leticia.

Applaudunt undique terrarum spacia

tecum sed utique congaudet Anglia.

Desperately trying to get her to look at him to comfort her, Matheus was following her face intently.
“Look at me Eleanor
…please,
” he whispered whilst the bishop delivered his lesson. Required to kneel, he opened his cloak. Using it as a shield to the keen eyes that watched them
.
he took her hand. Eleanor resisted. But Matheus held her strong. Leaning in to her, he whispered once more,
“You can run as easily in thought as you can in body. You will run, Eleanor
…but only to me.
” His fingers gripped around the small trembling hand and he squeezed a little, offering her the only comfort he could.

Asking them to stand, the bishop commanded they look to each other as he bound their hands. Matheus could not help but notice the bruise that still sullied her cheek.

Emotions, stirred his blood

Eleanor took in a breath when she looked at him.

Matheus replied in silent words.

Why so startled Eleanor?

If eyes could talk she would know why he frowned so. With every word spoken, the distance between them seemed wider.

Eleanor
's words were but whispers as she promised to obey and be bonnie and buxom in bed and board.

As always Matheus, confident and able, spoke as the knight he was. As he repeated his vows, loud and sanguine. To love and cherish her, he looked straight into Eleanor
's eyes. This was a promise he intended to keep.

The Bishop addressed Matheus.
“Sire, you may kiss your bride.
”

She turned to her maids, her veil was lifted and her face returned to Matheus
's smile.

A single tear fell onto her cheek.

Taking her into his arms, with a grip fierce with passion, but tenderly meant, he smiled upon her lips and whispered.
“That is the last tear
…remember I have and always will have strength enough for two.
”

Leading her from the altar, he could not help but smile. It was as if the hole in his soul had been filled as his heart swelled up to fill it simply with the need of her.

Now to convince her to admit she feels the same.

Turning to her, he caught her shy smile. Squeezing her hand, he asked,
“Better? Lady
…my Lady, Eleanor of Lincoln, wife of mine.
” Ever protective of her
,
Matheus guided her through the joyous celebration that greeted them. It was a cacophony of sound and a blaze of colour. Showered with coins at the cathedral door, Eleanor received more favours. Horse shoes, posies, and purses of herbs and sweets.

Goody bought a sleeping newborn and placed the babe in Eleanor
's arms. Godwin beamed with delight in the fertility rite. After their husband, the first thing a new bride must hold is a newborn
,
spreading the goddess
' luck from one mother to a potential other. The infant screamed as the crowd cheered. She took it up to her shoulder, sheltering the babe from the disturbance
.
She rocked her body, and the infant settled as Eleanor soothed it.

Three strides from her stood Matheus. Watching his bride, a natural comforter to the babe. He saw her for the first time as the mother of his children. It was wondrous; he was lost to her.

She turned toward him. Their stares met. Frozen for a moment they just gazed. There was a shared u
nderstanding. Both knowing
t wasn
't only the hopes of a wounded nation that desired their successful union, but a need of each other.

The wedding feast was a lavish affair. There was everything imaginable from boar
's heads to capons.
Pigeon
s
flew from pies and frogs escaped from jellied tureens of meat, causing the ladies to shriek and bolt as the disorientated birds flew into the guests and the frogs hoped on to their plates. The noticeable exception on the table was the cockatrice.

Matheus had thought it ridiculous.
“
'Tis daft foolery,
” he grumbled

Eleanor smiled, cocking her head to him she whispered,
“Oh and live birds in pies and frogs in puddings is not, husband?
”

Winking
,
he took her hand to his lips and brushed her knuckles with a kiss.
“Wife we have been married but two hours and Madam you chide me. I may well have to bridle that tongue or better still beat your nates.
”

Eleanor pulled at her lip. Her face paled and her eyes widened. She turned from him and withdrew her hand.

“Hey,
'twas jest, my Lady. I would strike myself before I struck you
.
Eleanor
?
Eleanor
,
you know that.
” Taking her face in his hands, he turned her to look at him. Searching her eyes in question.

She succumbed and replied,
“The ladies told me I would be stripped and my nates beaten with a birch to make me fertile.
” Her eyes widened still further.
“Then they will strip you and carry us naked to our bed chamber
…tis true, Lady Welm swore it.
”

Matheus grinned. His smirk became a light laugh.
“Dear Lady
'tis custom. But if you fear it, it will not be done. There is no knight nor man at arms who would dare overrule me. Sweet Eleanor, do not fret so, thy nates will be mine to view and mine alone.
”

She flushed, but smiled back at him as the expression of relief broke across her face.

Jesters and fools entertained the guests. The King especially enjoyed the dwarfs who performed a play dressed as Eleanor and Matheus, where Eleanor beat the dwarf knight with a dough pin, much to the guest
's delight. Minstrels played lute and drum. Nobles danced. Ale and wine flowed until some could not stand and slept as they sat or lay.

Matheus demanded his bride sing.

“It is as if a lark has been captured,
” the king remarked.

It was soon time for the couple to take to their bed. There would be no beating of Eleanor
's bottom. And she would remain clothed. Matheus had instructed the ladies and no one would dare disobey him. Eleanor was lifted first. Godwin had the pleasure of putting her over his shoulder. Offering her bottom to be slapped. With Matheus
's eye on them no one dared touch her. But charms of good luck ribbons and mistletoe were pinned to her skirts.

Whirling her around, Godwin made for the stairs. Dodging the knights in jest, who tried to prevent him taking her out of the hall. The ladies ran to the stairs after the carried bride, barring the path of the knights, leaving Godwin to carry her up unchallenged.

Matheus was next to be lifted. The old King tried then. The old Earl. Even the Goat of Leicester had a go but none could lift him free from his chair.
“We should have kept Godwin and given the ladies the Old Goat,
” the knights jested.

The face of The Earl of Leicester known as the Old Goat was hilarious, Matheus thought as he watched him search to see who this Old Goat was.

It took four knights to lift him. Try as he might, he couldn
't hold on to his chair any longer and he was thrown in the air. The ladies who were left pulled at his boots and hoes. In less than a minute all that Matheus wore was his shirt. Held up by
Pike and four other knights, Matheus was taken to the stairs. The ladies barred his way, demanding kisses or coins to move. One by one he kissed them, enjoying the experience more with some than others.

“
Could be worse
,
Sire,
” His squire shouted over the throng.
“Mother Bear could be your next kiss.
”

“And pray why would that be a problem
,
not a pleasure to his Lord?
” Lady Bruce
's voice boomed.

Matheus
's squire crossed himself and hid amongst the drunks.