< previous page page_273 next page >

Page 273
to such a shameful situation unless she were desperate. But perhaps Richard would not care. He had been totally indifferent about the injustice done her in France. In that case, Richard might still refuse to annoy Walter to protect her. Biting her lips with chagrin, Marie went to Gervase's chamber. If both of them swore to the promise, Richard would have to listen.
Gervase's pleasure had also been cut short by Richard's departure. Not only had he taken with him the men who had been entertaining her with tales of King Henry's court in more pleasant times, but he had ordered the minstrels to leave also. This had been done in the hope that they would spread the tale that he had gone north to join Prince Llewelyn, not because he desired that his wife be lonely and bored, but Gervase never thought of that and, if she had, would not have regarded it as a sufficiently good reason to deprive her of amusement.
Thus she was again very angry at her husband and delighted with a proposition that would hurt him and cause him trouble. Nonetheless, Gervase was not completely a fool.
"He lay with you only that once," she said. "Are you really with child?"
Marie hesitated a bare second. Richard would not think to question her maid, but Gervase certainly would, and no matter what Marie threatened, the girl would tell the truth because she belonged to Gervase, not to Marie. Again Marie tasted the bitterness of dependency and hated Walter and Sybelle all the more for snatching away her chance for independence.
"No, I am not, but what does it matter?" Marie spat.
"What will you say three months from now when you do not begin to increase?" Gervase asked.
"Do not be ridiculous!" Marie exclaimed. "Next month when my flux comes, I will cry out in pain and lose the child."
"Then you will lose the man, tooif you can ever gain him by this method." Gervase frowned. Although they snipped and snapped at each other and although she resented having to support Marie out of her purse, Gervase was fond of her sister. "Are you sure you should do this?" she asked. "He will hate you. And I am much afraid that Richard will not take

 
< previous page page_273 next page >