"Then you are welcome, and those who come with you also," said William. "You may present them to us, Josselin."

Josselin drew Eada forward. She had worn her very best winter gown for this occasion, but now she wondered if the fine-spun indigo blue wool was suitable, or if she looked like the b.u.mpkin she felt. At least, she thought, my garnets are the best to be had.

"My lord, I present to you the lady Eada, widow of your loyal ally Aldwine Athelsbeorn."

Eada curtsied low, her skirts blossoming upon the gray stone floor about her, her dark red head dressed with its coronet of braids bowed in perfect homage. She did not realize just how pretty she looked or that her sweet smile reminded the others in the room of the wives they had had to leave behind in Normandy.

"I am pleased to learn, my lady, of Aelfleah's gentle submission to this good knight. You need have no fears of being uprooted from your home for I have charged Josselin de Combourg with your care."

"I thank your majesty," said Eada. "Your loyal knight has been kind to both me and my beloved daughter."

"Your daughter?" William looked genuinely puzzled. "I was not aware that you had a daughter, my lady."

The other men in the room now found themselves interested by the exchange going on, and the bishop of Bayeux could see that Josselin's eyes were bright with humor as he answered the king's query.

"Sire, may I present to you the Heiress of Aelf leah, the lady Mairin Aldwinesdotter. Therein, my liege, lies a problem that only you can solve for we both claim the lands in question. She by the legitimate right of inheritance. I by right of your majesty's conquest of England."

The king was decidedly curious. "Come forward, Mairin of Aelfleah," he said, "and let me see you."

Mairin moved from her place beside Josselin, coming forward to stand before the king. With a deliberate motion she pushed back the richly furred hood of her nut-brown woolen cloak to reveal her extraordinarily beautiful face framed by its red-gold hair which was barely restrained by finely carved gold hairpins studded with pearls, small emeralds, and crystals. The soft hiss of admiration that echoed through the room did not distract her in the least. She curtsied, but the king could see there was little submission in the gesture, only politeness.

William stared hard at her for a long moment. He could not ever remember having seen such a lovely girl. She was extremely well dressed. Her deep green silk tunic was b.u.t.toned modestly at the neckline with small pearls, and fell just below her knee and was worn over an undertunic of rich yellow wool. The sleeves of her gown were long and wide and embroidered with gold and blue metallic thread bands along the edges. About her waist was a girdle of gold plaques enameled in scarlet, blue, and green, and around her neck she wore a thick gold rope necklace with a circular pendant of rubies and pearls. In her ears were small pear-shaped pearls, and upon her fingers were several rings.

Slowly he let his eyes travel the length of her, realizing she was almost his height. Unlike his wife who was extremely tiny in stature, Mairin could look him directly in the eye. His life had frequently depended upon his ability to make quick judgments. Looking at Mairin he saw before him a well-to-do young woman, and realized that his gift to his loyal Josselin was perhaps greater than he had intended. He could not, of course, take it back now.

Focusing his gray-blue eyes his gaze met that of the girl. It was a proud gaze, but beyond it he saw the worry. She feared for herself. For her mother. And for the lands which were the greater part of her value to a future husband. She had every right to be worried, he thought. I have casually given away her inheritance to a stranger seemingly without care for her. That is not right. Still I have given my word to my old friend that the manor is his. "Well, Mairin of Aelfleah, we do indeed have a problem," he said. "What say you?"

"Your majesty could give me in marriage to Josselin de Combourg, for Aelfleah is my dowry. It would seem, my lord William, a fair and sensible solution," she answered him boldly.

The men about them chuckled, eyeing the young knight with amused approval.

"You are not promised, lady? I cannot believe that."

"I am a widow, sire. My husband is dead these past ten months."

"Who was he?"

"Prince Basil Ducas. He was the Emperor Constantine's cousin. I was married to him while my father was in Constantinople negotiating a trade treaty between England and Byzantium. I hope your majesty will continue to honor that treaty, for it is greatly to England's advantage. With my husband's sudden and unexpected death I returned home to England with my mother. As I was in mourning and England was on the brink of war, it was not a propitious time to consider another marriage. Then my father and brother were killed fighting Harold Hardraade."

He nodded. "You would be willing to marry Josselin de Combourg? He has told you of his birth?"

"Yes, sire, he has been forthright with me, and I with him."

"What is it that you must confess, lady? I cannot believe that anyone so fair should have a stain on her soul."

"Josselin has said that I must tell your majesty my entire history before a decision can be made regarding our fate, and the disposition of the manor of Aelfleah. I have agreed."

"Honor Above All, eh, Joss?" said the king in a gently mocking tone.

"Yes, my lord."

"Very well then, Mairin of Aelfleah, say on."

"I am not the natural-born daughter of Aldwine Athelsbeorn, and his wife, Eada, sire. They adopted me as their child when their only daughter died. It was all quite legal, and within the Anglo-Saxon code. I was designated my adoptive father's heiress should there be no other heirs of his blood. When my brother, Brand, was killed at York I became Heiress of Aelfleah.

"I was born in Brittany. My father, Ciaran St. Ronan, was the Sieur de Landerneau. My mother, his first wife, Maire Tir Connell, a princess of Ireland, died shortly after my birth. When I was a small child my father remarried. My stepmother was with child when father was killed in an accident, and she arranged with her uncle, a bishop, to have me declared b.a.s.t.a.r.d-born so that I could not inherit my father's lands. An hour after my father's death she sold me to a pa.s.sing slave trader who brought me to England where Aldwine Athelsbeorn saw me, and purchasing my freedom brought me home to Aelfleah. I was just six years old. That is my history, my lord William."

"You make serious charges, Mairin of Aelfleah. Not only against your father's widow, but against a bishop of the holy church," said the king. "I realize that you were a child when these things transpired, but could you still not have proved your claim if indeed you were legitimate?"

Mairin turned, and beckoned to Dagda, who came forward to kneel before William. "This is Dagda, my lord. He was my mother's servant, and has protected me all these years. The explanation to your question is his to make. May he speak?"

"Rise, Dagda," said the king. "You have my permission to continue your lady's tale."

The big Irishman arose, and in his deep, commanding voice said, "I have the proof." He reached into his tunic to draw forth a folded piece of yellowed parchment which he carefully opened and spread out for the king to read. "These are the marriage lines of the lady Mairin's parents, sire. They were entrusted to me by my lord St. Ronan shortly before he died. In the days following I kept them on my person for safety's sake. Had I dared to show this proof of my lady's true birth I believe that neither the widow of St. Ronan nor her bishop uncle would have hesitated to kill the lady Mairin, for they meant to have the St. Ronan lands at any cost.

"Aldwin Athelsbeorn knew the truth and agreed with me that she must be protected. We did what I believed was right, sire. It is hard for any child to be b.a.s.t.a.r.d-born, but it is harder for a maiden than a lad."

The king nodded in agreement. "So," he said, "Mairin of Aelfleah is also an heiress in Brittany. What say you, Joss? Would you stay in England, or would you go home to Brittany?"

"Sire." It was Mairin who spoke. They looked at her in surprise.

"My lady?" The king gave her leave to speak for the urgency in her voice startled him.

"I do not want my lands in Brittany, sire. My half-sister is innocent of the wickedness her mother committed. She should not suffer for it. I am the heiress of Aelfleah. It is enough!"

The king looked as if he might argue the point with her. No one could ever have enough lands, but of course a woman wouldn't understand that.

Then the king's brother, Odo, the bishop of Bayeux, said quietly, "This is a scandal not worth making, William. The lady Mairin has been careful not to mention names, but I know of whom she speaks. We have many good Breton knights who have helped contribute to your victory. The pope himself has aided you. I think we would be wise not to incur any enmity.

"The cleric in question is long dead of his own vile excesses. As for the lady, she has no dowry of her own. Having bartered the lands in question to gain her own daughter a respectable match, she lives in retirement, a pensioner in her eldest brother's house. It is hardly an enviable position for a woman yet young. The lady Mairin shows a generous nature in true Christian fashion, my brother. Can we expect any less from you who are as loyal and good a son of the church?"

William of Normandy snorted with amused affection. "Now," he said, "I know why mother put you with the church, Odo."

The handsome young bishop smiled. "The church," he said in a pious tone, "is in the blood of this family even as is conquest."

The king laughed, and flinging up his hands said, "I cannot argue with you, Odo. We must settle this question of the manor of Aelfleah, its heiress, and its new lord whom I appointed not knowing of its heiress."

The bishop lowered his voice, and softly advised his half-brother, "The lady wears her jewelry casually as if she is accustomed to wealth although her foster father was not a wealthy man. She has obviously inherited from her first husband. How much she possesses, William, that is the question. The manor involved is not enough to raise jealousy among your closer friends and more powerful allies. Since Josselin is well liked, I do not believe anyone would deny he deserves your generosity. And you cannot afford to lose such a loyal friend. As for the heiress, beauty such as the lady Mairin possesses can be a dangerous liability. We must chance that the monies possessed by the lady are not so great as to cause dissension among your supporters later on."

"What you are saying, Odo," the king replied in as soft a voice, "is that the solution is as the lady Mairin has suggested. That they marry with one another."

The bishop nodded. "Now," he said. "Today before any thought can be given to it by those who might be envious. After your coronation tomorrow Josselin and his bride will leave London to return to Aelfleah. Once out of sight they will be forgotten by those who otherwise might question your decision, and envy de Combourg his good fortune."

William nodded. Then he said to Josselin, "You are not precontracted to any other woman, Joss?"

"No, my liege. There is no one."

"Not even one you might prefer over Mairin of Aelfleah, or someone with whom you have discussed the possibility of marriage? Speak the truth to me as you always have, Joss. If you cannot be content with this lady, or your heart is elsewhere, I will still see you well rewarded for your long service to me."

"I can be content with this lady," came the quiet answer. He looked to Mairin whose radiant smile set other hearts within the room racing.

"And you, Mairin of Aelfleah," said the king. "Will you accept my choice of a husband for you, and surrender to him your lands in dowry?"

"I will accept your choice of a husband for me, my liege, but I would retain my own lands, and swear my fealty to you even as did my father."

William looked surprised at her bold words. He had heard that Anglo-Saxon women were outspoken and independent. He was not certain that he approved. "What is this?" he said. "You would haggle with me, lady?"

"Saxon law," she said, "allows me possession of my own property, sire. Norman law does not. Have you not agreed to honor the laws of this land? If my lord husband should fall in defense of you, and our children be but babies, how can I protect them without another husband? What man will have me without a dowry? I pray that G.o.d will give my lord Josselin and myself many years together, but I must plan ahead."

The king shook his head. "The lands must be in the hands of those who can defend it, Mairin of Aelfleah. You are but a weak woman. I will, however, strike a bargain with you. Render the manor of Aelfleah to Josselin de Combourg to be his in his lifetime. It will revert to your ownership should he die and you be either childless, or your heir be a minor. That, and half your wealth to your husband."

"I agree, sire," she answered him, and her violet eyes twinkled. "I suspect if I don't you will have everything of me before I know it. Only let your scribe draw up the papers before the marriage ceremony."

Again William shook his head. "You must learn to trust me, lady," he told her sternly. "You will be married here and now before me, but when you leave to return home the proper papers will be in your possession." The blue-gray eyes stared hard at her, and Mairin bowed her head in submission. It was far more than she had hoped for when she so daringly bargained with him.

The king looked at his brother and said, "Will you waive the banns, brother bishop?"

"I will!"

"Then perform the ceremony, my lord of Bayeux. All of you here with me will be witness to the fact that on this twenty-fourth day of December in the year of our Lord, ten hundred and sixty-six, Josselin de Combourg, a Breton knight, and a loyal servant of William of Normandy, took to wive the lady Mairin Aldwinesdotter, heiress to the manor of Aelfleah-in the presence of their king, and of her mother, the lady Eada of Aelfleah; Robert, Count of Eu; William FitzOsbern; William de Warenne; Hugh de Montfort; and Robert de Beaumont."

Josselin took her hand in his; and together they stood before Bishop Odo as he united them in holy matrimony. Afterward the king ordered that a health be drunk to the newlyweds, who then raised their goblets to toast their king. Mairin was feeling very giddy after two goblets of strong red wine.

Her mind fled back several years to her wedding day with Basil of Byzantium. How different it had all been on that bright spring day when hope itself had perfumed the air, and she had believed in a love that would last past mortal life into eternity itself. Now, she thought, I have made a marriage of convenience, and given Aelfleah into the keeping of a stranger. I wonder if he really loves me, or if now that the manor is his I will become just another of his new possessions.

"You must follow my brother's example, Josselin," the bishop was saying, "and have a large family. Our own mother gave birth to five living children, and I have two half-brothers, the sons of my father's second wife, Fredesendis. Families are important. A man's strength comes in part from the strong familial ties he has as well as those he makes."

Josselin nodded. "My lady and I will found a whole new branch of my father's family here in England. G.o.d willing, our name will have honor. What say you, Mairin? Will you give me at least half a dozen strong sons?" His arm tightened about her waist.

"What?" She looked startled. Though she had heard her name, she had not comprehended his question.

The young bishop chuckled indulgently. "You have the look of a maiden wed for the first time," he said. "Your new lord asks if you will give him a large family. You had no children from your first marriage?"

"We were but wed eight months, my lord bishop."

"Time enough for a man to plant his seed," the bishop remarked casually.

"My daughter was overyoung to be wed," said Eada, coming to Mairin's rescue. "The prince adored her! He insisted upon their marriage for he feared that someone else might see her, and seeing be unable to restrain his desire."

"Ahh," said the bishop, understanding lighting his gray eyes. "It is well known that maidens wed too young do not easily conceive. How old are you now, my lady?"

"Sixteen this October past, my lord."

"You are certainly old enough now! Do well by your lady, Josselin de Combourg! By autumn next I predict she will have given you a fine son!"

"Sons for a new England," said the king. "Yes, my lords and ladies, 'tis just what we need. Strong sons for a strong England!"

Another toast was raised, this time to the future sons of Josselin de Combourg. Mairin wondered as the cool wine burned its way down her throat if she would be able to walk or for that matter even stand if Josselin took his arm from about her waist. "Do not release your grasp of me, my lord," she murmured to him. "I think that I am drunk."

He chuckled. "The king will not tolerate a poor vintage in his wines. Those of us who serve him grow quickly used to it."

"It might be better had we eaten earlier, but we have had nothing since we broke our fast after the Ma.s.s this morning," she said. "I do not know if my legs can still function."

"Let us find out," he said, and then, "My liege, will you give us leave to depart? Aelfleah is several days' journey away, and we only arrived this morning. My lady is tired, and so am I. If we are to depart tomorrow after the coronation I think some rest is due us now."

"Rest? On your wedding night? What of those strong sons for England, de Combourg?" teased Hugh de Montfort.

"Fie, my lords," scolded Eada, but the king and his friends could not restrain their laughter. Mairin blushed a rose color, realizing the implications behind their words.

"My liege, my lords," laughed Josselin good-naturedly, "my wife and I will take our leave of you now." His arm still about Mairin, he led her from the king's residence. Finding herself the only woman in a roomful of men, several of whom sent her admiring looks, Eada curtsied to the king and hurried after them.

"A most handsome woman," observed the Count of Eu. "What a pity she cannot stay."

"Perhaps in the spring we should visit this Aelfleah," said Hugh de Montfort, "to see how our friend Josselin gets on."

"Do you think the widow will give you a warm welcome, Hugh?" teased Robert de Beaumont.

"A widow is still a woman, mon ami," laughed de Montfort, looking out the window to see the newlyweds mounting their horses.

"Just sit upon Thunderer," Josselin instructed Mairin as he boosted her into her saddle. "I will lead him."

"Are you all right, my child?" fretted Eada anxiously.

"The wine," Mairin said weakly, feeling her stomach beginning to roil ominously.

Eada shook her head, and turned to her new son-in-law. "She has never had a strong head for wine. She usually waters hers. The king's wine was a particularly fine one. I enjoyed it, but I fear Mairin will be ill from drinking it."

Josselin's mouth quivered with humor. He had just married the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen. His bride, however, looked close to vomiting. It was not, Josselin decided, a particularly romantic wedding night. He gazed over at Mairin, and saw that she was indeed very pale. A faint sheen of perspiration moistened her brow, and her violet eyes were closed. He wondered if she felt as awful as she now looked.

She did. Mairin had never realized before how very much like a ship a horse could be. Her head was beginning to ache fiercely and with every step that Thunderer took she felt closer to disaster. She wondered if she could reach home without getting ill, but between the rocking motion of her horse and the stink of the narrow streets she was not certain. The smell of the river at low tide did not help, but by some miracle the icy cold air of the late December afternoon kept her from losing control. She opened her eyes gratefully when her mount finally stopped and Josselin lifted her down in front of their London house.

His green-gold eyes shone with sympathy as he said, "I fear we must postpone any celebration of our nuptials, my lady wife. I would show you off proudly tomorrow at the coronation. To do that I think you will need a long night's rest."

"My lord, I am sorry," she murmured, and he laughed ruefully.

"Enchantress," he said, "I truly do love you, and I do not think that either of us could overcome your being sick amidst the heights of pa.s.sion. England's strong sons can wait another night for their creation."

Mairin chuckled weakly. "My mother said you were a good man, Josselin de Combourg. I suspect she does not know the half of it. I think I will like getting to know you better."

He grinned back at her. Then picking her up he carried her into the house and upstairs to the bedroom, where he set her down. "I will sleep downstairs tonight, Mairin," he told her, kissing her quickly upon the forehead. Then as he left her he said, "I will send your mother to you," and he was gone.

"Go to your daughter," he told Eada when he had returned to the downstairs hall. "I will sleep here tonight."

As Eada disappeared up the stairs Dagda moved to the fireplace and put light to the kindling he had arranged earlier. Carefully he fed the little blaze until it was burning brightly. Then he added two dry logs. The wood crackled sharply, the flame leaping and casting dark shadows upon the walls of the room. After moving a long table within the little hall, he filled two goblets of wine from the decanter upon the dusty oak surface. He handed one to Josselin.

"Now, my lord," he said, "I will toast your marriage to my lady Mairin. Long life to you both! Many children! Peace!" and he quaffed the liquid down in a single gulp. Then he placed his goblet upon the table. "I am fifty-eight years old," he began in his deep voice. "My father I do not remember. My mother was a large woman with a great capacity for almost anything but her many children by as many men. We were allowed to run wild. I stood over six feet tall at the age of twelve, and I had not yet stopped growing. I fought my maiden battle at twelve and a half. I killed two men, and for the first time in my life I found approval, adulation, acceptance. By the time I was seventeen, my lord, I was the most vicious and most feared warrior in Ireland. My name was a curse that mothers used to frighten unruly children into good behavior.

"At twenty-six I was captured by a group of monks. I was lured to them by stories of their hidden wealth. Monks! They knew me, and for what I stood. They had decided to save my immortal soul." Dagda chuckled with the memory. "So they stripped me of my chain mail and my weapons. Then, when I was naked as the day I popped from my mother's belly, they put me into a small windowless cell. 'You are to be reborn, Dagda,' they said to me, 'and this cell is your womb.'