Page 141 of An Inconvenient Vow

“Redressing the balance.” He shrugged. “Everyone at court thinks I treated you with contempt for the first few weeks of our marriage. It is only right that they should learn the truth.”

“The truth?” she squawked. “When have I ever spurned your love?”

“I want there to be no doubt, Sabina, of the regard I hold you in. That I adore you.”

“Do n-not do this, Jeffree!” Sabina stammered. “Have you forgotten you said you would never prostrate yourself before a woman?”

“That was before I met you.”

“Cease this now!” she said in desperation, her voice becoming shrill. All around them the once hushed whispers were now deafening. “Simply everyone is looking at us!”

“I don’t care,” he said and lifted his arms to wrap them tightly about her waist, pressing his face to her bodice.

She couldn’t even speak for a moment, just glanced about at the staring faces, her own growing hot and red. “Jeffree!” she whimpered in a strangled voice. “Have you forgotten where we are?”

Her words made no difference. She gazed across the murmuring chamber and threw an agonized glance in the Queen’s direction. Queen Armenal was looking very agitated, standing up from her seat.

“I will listen to what Sir Jeffree is saying!” the Queen insisted imperiously. “I cannot hear through all these murmurings from you people!” she scolded her courtiers. “Silence I say, or you shall all be ordered to leave! Now stand back, so I can see the De Crecys clearly!” There was an immediate sound of shushing through the hall and the press of people fell back once more. “Rise, Sir Jeffree!” the Queen commanded.

Sabina almost staggered when Jeffree released her and rose from his knees to stand beside her. His expression was grave, but he seemed calm enough.

“Sir Jeffree! Sir Jeffree, I say!” the Queen insisted. “I wish to know what it is you are saying to this wife of yours.”

Sabina licked her lips. “Your Majesty,” she started croakily, “he was merely—”

“I told her that I am dying for love of her,” Jeffree announced so loudly he drowned her words out. Sabina gasped, her head whipping around to stare at him in disbelief. “I told her she is cruel,” he continued steadily. “That she will not pity me. A drowning man that only she can save.” Sabina’s bosom heaved with indignation.

“I have treated her badly,” he continued, glancing about the chamber. “You have all borne witness to that. To the kind of husband I have made.” He paused long enough for the crowd to murmur in cautious agreement. “I am jealous and unreasonable. I am demanding and quarrelsome. I am… unkind.”

“Stop it!” Sabina burst out hotly. “This is not true!”

Jeffree swallowed again. “You see, Your Majesty? It matters not how I petition her. She will not soften her heart toward me, even though I offer her mine on a platter to do with it what she will.”

“Jeffree…!” she protested weakly.

The Queen clapped her hands again, but this time it seemed with delight. “Yes, yes,” she said gleefully. “Your proud heart, it has been conquered, Sir Jeffree?”

“It is no longer proud, Your Highness,” he said in ringing tones. “It is only bleeding, pierced right to the core.”

Queen Armenal gave a murmur of excitement. She was gesturing to a page who had pulled out a quill and parchment. Sabina had a horrible suspicion he was committing Jeffree’s every word to paper. “Jeffree, for heaven’s sakes,” she spluttered.

“I am simply speaking the truth,” he replied, just as loudly. “My heart beats for you alone and you will not accept my love.”

So stunned was she by his words, that Sabina had not even noticed the Queen’s approach until she was upon them.

“Lady de Crecy,” Queen Armenal said sweepingly. “You must defer to me in this matter for I have superior knowledge of the rules of courtship and of love and am likely the greatest authority in the land.”

Sabina blinked at her. “Of course, Your Majesty,” she murmured, dropping once again into a curtsey. “But there has been some misunderstanding—”

Armenal waved this aside. “Sir Jeffree has wronged you during the early days of your marriage,” she said calmly. “He made you wear the rags. He disgraced you. He did not treat you with respect. You must make a list of the conditions you demand from him now. Make it clear to him, what he must do in order to make you look upon him with favor. You may not be disposed kindly toward him, but he has made it clear he will go to the ends of the earth, simply to earn a kind look from you.”

Sabina shook her head, but the clamor about her was rising once more to a heavy swell. “There is really no need—” she tried to insist, but her voice was drowned in the noise of the crowd.

“Make your demands of me, wife!” Jeffree said in a voice that rang out. “I will deny you nothing.”

Sabina gulped. “Really I—”

“Jewels and furs are too dull and conventional for such a courtship as yours,” Armenal ruminated, tapping her chin. An unholy gleam entered her eyes. “How would it be if you told Sir Jeffree to kiss your foot now in front of everyone?” Even as she suggested it, inspiration seemed to strike her anew. “Wait! I have an even better idea!” she crowed. “A spell in the stocks outside the palace! I am sure there would be plenty who would love to pelt the proud Sir Jeffree with the rotten vegetables!”