Page 58 of Fortress of Snow

The servants began bringing in the food, and he ate heartily, as they had not had food this good since they left London four days ago.

“Everything is exceptional,” he told Lady Bristow. She frowned, but before she could speak, he told the servant who brought in the next course, “Please tell the cook that the food is excellent and perfectly cooked and spiced.”

Lady Bristow laughed. “You must be accustomed to eating at inns and alehouses. I was just thinking that the meat was oversalted and the sauces needed more spice.”

Berenger caught a glimpse of the servant’s face. He pursed his lips together and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, but then quickly let his expression go blank.

“I don’t think anything is wrong with this meal.” Berenger raised his brows at Lady Bristow. “It is all very good.”

Lady Bristow smiled and said, “The bread is very good, isn’t it?”

Then she started talking about how lovely the castle would look in the morning, all covered in snow. “Did you know that this castle was built as a fortress to withstand any attack? The front door is reinforced with iron, and the stone walls are two feet thick.”

“That is very impressive. How near is the ocean from here?”

“It is very close. In fact, you can see the ocean from the windows on the upper floors. Tomorrow we should ride through the estate so you can see just what it is the king is offering you.” Lady Bristow laid her hand on his forearm and leaned toward him, smiling. “I think you will be pleased with how vast the estate is and approve of the condition of the land. It is very fertile for farming, and the fields are flat and free of rock. It is some of the finest land in England.”

“I am looking forward to seeing it.”

“I think we both need a good night’s sleep after our journey.” She said the words while gazing into his eyes quite intently. “But after tonight, we shall be spending a lot of time together. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” That was the most important reason for coming with her on this visit—to get to know her and decide if he wanted to marry her.

Most men would not concern themselves with a woman’s character before marrying her, if they had much to gain from the alliance. Most men assumed they could subdue their wives, if necessary, and if a man was displeased with his wife, he would find another woman to love, while using his wife for heirs.

This was not at all what Berenger wanted. He wanted a love match like Delia and his brothers Edwin and Gerard had made. He’d always imagined having a wife who would love him and to whom he could give his love. Nothing less would ever make him happy.

At the end of the meal, Lady Bristow asked Berenger, “Will you accompany me to my room?”

He let her take his arm as they walked slowly to the stairs.

“I have put you in the bedchamber next to mine. I like feeling that I have a strong man nearby to protect me.”

“Why? Do you feel yourself to be in danger here?”

She did not answer right away. Finally, she said, “No, but as I told you, my first husband was very cruel. He would often strike me when he was angry. I often wished there was someone to protect me and to rescue me from him.” She said the last words in a soft whisper, clinging to Berenger’s arm with both hands.

The thought of her husband hitting her made heat crawl up the back of his neck. He imagined defending her from the man.

“I am very sorry that happened to you. You did not deserve to be treated that way.” The way she was clinging to him and gazing at him, as if she was entreating him to save her, made him think about kissing her. But it was not time for that. He wanted his mind to stay clear and alert. He needed to think of something that would steer his thoughts elsewhere.

“You have Juliana now, but did you never have children with your husband?”

“No, I never was able to conceive.” She said the words quietly. “And he blamed me for that.” She reached up and rubbed her eyes with her fingertips, as if brushing away tears.

“I am very sorry you weren’t able to have children.”

“Perhaps you will not wish to marry me, for fear that I will not be able to bear you a son, but I promise I shall try my best. I will consult the healer in the village. I have heard that she has an herbal concoction that can get barren women to conceive. I didnot try it when I was married before. I did not want to have his child. But that was probably very wicked of me.”

“I do not think that was wicked. You were probably afraid he would mistreat the child.”

“Yes. You understand me so well, Sir Berenger.” She stopped in front of a door and turned to him, pressing her forearms against his chest and gazing up at him. “I asked King Richard to allow me to marry you, of all the knights that he was considering, after he told me of your great bravery and honor on the battlefield. But we also have a mutual friend, Sir John of Wexcombe, who told me that you were a good man. Are you surprised?”

In fact, he was surprised that Sir John would speak so favorably about him. They were friends, but it was not Sir John’s way to praise someone else. And how did she and Sir John even know each other? Before he could decide how to respond, she interrupted him.

“I believe you could be the one to save me from my loneliness and to protect me if anyone should ever try to mistreat me again.”

Berenger’s heart leapt inside him at the vulnerable look in her eyes. She needed a protector, and he suddenly wanted to be that protector, to save her from pain. How could he not? She was beautiful, with her large eyes, and she gazed at him as if she adored him already, even though he hadn’t, as yet, done anything to deserve her affection. She stirred something inside him.