Page 63 of Wed By Proxy

Mathilde waved her apology aside. “So, you and Waldon?”

“He gave me his vow this morning,” said Prudie simply. “We’re handfasted.”

Mathilde gasped, and hurried round the table to embrace her maid. “That was so quick! Why you only read it last night!” she marveled. “What wonderful news!” Prudence was even pinker when Mathilde released her. “Do you have to get it solemnized in a church or any such thing?”

“Round these parts, the country folks just makes their vows to each other.” Prudie shrugged. “We haven’t told anyone yet,” she admitted shyly. “I wanted to tell you first, milady, as you’d been instrumental so to speak.” She glanced around furtively. “By giving me the means to snare him,” she whispered.

“You mean the book? Was it of any use?” asked Mathilde, unable to contain her curiosity.

“Oh yes, miss. Very instructive.” Mathilde hesitated, not feeling she really had the right to ask, but Prudie leaned forward. “I went for the easiest one, milady,” she admitted in a low voice.

“The easiest one?” Mathilde puzzled, not liking to admit she had only read the first two tales. Maybe there was one later that was a good deal less work!

“The lusty landlady one,” whispered Prudie. “I wore no undergarments and got him up to my room on the pretext the shelf was broken. Then, when he was examining it, I lifted up my dress and lay across the bed.” She turned scarlet. “I told him I longed for his touch, like the landlady did. Waldon took over then.” She sounded a little dazed. “For a moment, I nearly lost my nerve thinking he wouldn’t react like that Sir Pelomon did. But he only hesitated for the veriest second before he fell on me, exactly like it said!” Her voice was a hoarse whisper now, her eyes very wide. “He didn’t even try to resist!”

Mathilde nodded. “Yes, it was the same for me,” she confided. “Only I followed the story of the lusty widow.”

Prudie’s eyes widened. “With the mouse and the tangled hair?”

Mathilde grimaced. “I felt a bit of a fool at the time,” she admitted. Prudie gave a startled chuckled. Mathilde bit the side of her mouth. “Truly men are strange creatures,” she managed to get out before her own laughter bubbled up. They both laughed until tears rolled down their faces.

“If you don’t mind, milady, I’ll just hold on to the book for a while to get a few more pointers,” Prudie said.

“Oh, of course!” Mathilde was a little taken aback. Clearly Prudie was a much better scholar than she.

“Only it’s quite a lot to take in,” admitted Prudie. “And Waldon didn’t seem to rush on to all those positions same as they did. He was quite happy just doing the first one all night.”

Mathilde coughed. “He probably won’t expect you to do all the others at once,” she said blushing. “Indeed, he’d probably think it a little odd if you expected it.”

Prudie’s eyes widened. “Then how—?” She faltered anxiously. “I don’t want him to get bored of me, milady.”

Mathilde reached across and patted her hand. “He won’t,” she said reassuringly. “You could always say you had a dream about him doing something to you, and you’d like to try it as it felt so nice. Or say you heard some other wives talking about something and you want to know if married couples really do that. Only when you feel ready mind you,” she cautioned. “That book is just a series of adventures, Prudie. Pelomon does not pledge himself to any of those women, whereas you’ve got your whole married life ahead of you. You’re in no hurry.” Prudence was hanging on her every word now, nodding.

“Yes milady,” she said. “Thank you, milady.”

“You’re entirely welcome,” said Mathilde, enjoying her role as mentor for once, instead of novice.

“But I don’t think you finished the book, milady,” frowned Prudie.

“Finished it?”

“For he did pledge himself in the end and settled down into matrimony.”

“With who?” asked Mathilde, somewhat startled.

“The original widow,” said Prudence. “He went back to her, when he realized she’d held his heart all along.”

XXVI

Robin returned only just in time for supper, his ears and nose quite pink with cold.

“It was rare sport!” he exclaimed as Mathilde helped him off with his hat and mittens. “I only wish the others could have been there. Will and Piers and Gordon I mean,” he added wistfully.

“We must write to them,” Mathilde said guiltily. “It’s only that things are not yet quite as settled as they should be…” she trailed off awkwardly, but Rob wasn’t listening.

“You should have heard how he cursed me, when I hit him square on the head with a rotten egg.” Robin hooted. “It was every bit as good as that time Gilbert Epsom sneaked on me to old Sir Avery, and I struck him that blow in the stable forecourt, and he fell directly in the water trough.”

“I’m sure it was a sight to behold,” Mathilde replied gravely. Gilbert Epsom was a squire Rob considered his mortal enemy. They were always feuding about something or other.