Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

out of the way of the hurrying rider, she found Prince John at her side. He reined in and grinned at her.

"A good start to the season, my lady. I trust you enjoyed your day?" His surcoat was stained with blood and the blade of his knife sheathed carelessly in his girdle showed an encrustation of gore.

She returned his smile cautiously. "It was a good day's hunting, Your Highness. I'm glad you were at Winchester. William always says there is some of the finest hunting in the land here. "

"Ah, yes, the good Sir William. " The boy eyed her thoughtfully. "He's a fine man and good with his bow, and he's a lucky man too, to have so beautiful a wife. " He glanced at her sideways.

The ride narrowed and as the horses jostled for position his thigh for a moment brushed against hers. She felt a surge of repugnance. Was the silly boy trying to flirt with her? She forced herself to smile. "You are very flattering, Your Highness, thank you. "

After a few paces, to her relief, the path broadened and she was able to guide the mare away from him a little.

"Sir William keeps you too much in those border lands of his, " John went on thoughtfully. "You should come to my father's court with him. "

"Oh, I stay on the estates because I want to. I hate court. " Matilda was thinking wistfully of the times she had chosen not to go rather than risk meeting Richard; not wanting to see the king. She paused abruptly, seeing the prince scowling furiously, and cursed herself for her tactlessness. "But of course, " she hurried on, trying to cover her mistake hastily, "I am much honored when I have a special invitation... "

"Honored but not pleased, it seems, " he interrupted, his tone sarcastic. He stood up in his stirrups, reaching for a leafy branch and pulling it down as he rode under it. His horse shied, and John laughed. He seemed to make up his mind to try a different tack. "You're a lady who knows her own mind, I think. " He reined his horse close to hers once more, "And too young and beautiful to be content with so coarse a husband. I wonder if perhaps a lusty prince would be more to your liking?" He leaned across and put his hand on her thigh.

Matilda was overcome with anger. Not stopping to think, she raised her whip and thwacked him smartly across the wrist with the handle. "I don't think you realize what you're suggesting, my lord, " she flashed at him. "Do you wish to dishonor the wife of one of your father's most loyal subjects?"

Her fury dissolved suddenly at the sight of his red, discomfited face, and she tried to suppress a gurgle of laughter. He was, after all, but a boy. "I am sorry, my lord prince. It is just that you were only a child when last I saw you, and now—" Her words died on her lips at the sight of his face.

It was white with fury as he groped blindly for his reins, spluttering as he tried to speak. "God's teeth, " he managed at last. "Not so much of a child, madam, that I don't know how to deflower a woman or father a brat, I assure you. "

He pulled his horse to a savage halt, which sent it rearing and plunging sideways against the bushes at the edge of the path, and, giving her one murderous glance as he turned, he sent his horse galloping back down the ride.

Matilda let her mare stand for a moment as she realized, with a shock, that she was shaking from head to foot. She knew she had been a fool. She could have put him off tactfully without making an enemy of him. "An enemy for life. " She murmured the words to herself, watching the mare's ears twitch at the sound of her voice, and she shook her head, trying to throw off an irrational feeling of fear. How stupid, to let a little incident ruin a beautiful and exciting day. Taking a deep breath, she gathered up her reins and turned once more to follow the sounds of the other riders, slowly making their way back toward Winchester.

She told William what had happened when they were alone together in their guest chamber that night. To her surprise he threw back his head and laughed.

"The young puppy!" he said. "The runt of the litter and he fancies his chances with my wife. You should be very flattered, my dear. Prince John has an eye for a pretty woman. "

"But he's only a child, " she burst out. "If it wasn't so funny, it would be disgusting. "

"I'd bedded women and plenty by his age. " William unfastened his mantle and threw it down. "Take no notice, Moll. Think of it as a compliment. He's spoiled and, as the king's son, few women refuse him. It's about the only benefit he does get from his position, poor lad. He's not yet learned enough discretion to know whose wife he can wheedle and whose he can't. He'll know next time. " He laughed again.

For the remainder of their stay at Winchester John ostentatiously ignored Matilda and as obviously courted the attention of her husband. The sturdy baron was constantly required by his side, instructing, joking, even lecturing the boy, clapping him on his shoulders and laughing uproariously at his comments. Matilda watched silently as John listened and smiled, never totally unbending, but always allowing William to feel he had his confidence and his friendship, and she found herself wondering if the boy was quite as naive as William thought.

On the next hunting expedition she took care to remain in the center of a crowd of women followers, not once allowing her weary horse to drop back alone. She need not have worried. John went out of his way to