The Captive Heart by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

a grandchild, and I will protect you as long as I live.”
    “I should never have allowed my daughter to marry your son,” Alexander Givet said furiously. “God forgive me! God forgive me!”
    “It’s all right, Papa,” Alix tried to reassure him. “Hayle is behaving like a child because he did not get his own way. But I am his wife, and I shall be the mother of his heir. Then all will be well. I don’t want you to worry.” Privately, however, Alix was not pleased with her new husband’s behavior. He did behave like a child. A ten-year-old. What was the matter with him, anyway? He had agreed he would not shame her publicly, but then she recalled he hadn’t agreed. She had asked it of him, but he had never agreed. Was she to be subjected to this sort of behavior forever because he couldn’t have his own way? She sighed softly, letting her eyes go to where he danced with his mistress. His whole face was different than the one he usually presented. It was soft and kind. Alix knew, looking at her husband, that he would never present such a face to her.
    “Alix is wiser than you, Alexander,” the queen murmured. “Be still, mon ami .”
    When the evening came, the villagers departed and Hayle with them. Sir Udolf took Alix aside, sitting with her by the blazing hearth. “Do you remember that Hayle spoke of certain conditions for agreeing to your marriage, Alix?”
    She nodded. “I do, but you have never told them to me.”
    “I must tell you now.” He looked unhappy. “My son feels coupling with you is a betrayal of his mistress. Therefore, while he knows he must lay with you if he is to have a legitimate heir, he does not wish to see you while he does his duty by you and by the family. You will be prepared for bed and then left in a totally darkened chamber. And whenever he comes to your bed, the room must be dark. The shutters will be closed and the draperies drawn tightly. I am sorry, but those are his conditions, and I was forced to agree with them else he would not have made this marriage.”
    Alix shook her head. “His mistress is with child,” she said. “Did you know that, my lord? He told me as we returned from the church.”
    “Forgive me, my child!” the baron begged her. “In time I am certain he will relent and you will warm his heart.”
    “He will never relent,” Alix said despairingly, “but I will do my duty, my lord. You need have no fear of that.” No. For her father’s sake she would let Hayle Watteson have her virginity, and she would bear him children. And with Sir Udolf’s aid, she would raise her sons to be true gentlemen like her father, like the poor king. She would teach them kindness, respect, and duty. Once she had her children about her, she would be safe even after her father and Sir Udolf were gone.
    “Do not go to his bed!” her father said desperately. “I should rather die in the cold than have you suffer that man a moment. Call the priest and have this union annulled.” And then Alexander Givet began to gasp with his distress. He coughed so hard that his whole body was convulsed, and he collapsed back in his chair.
    “Papa!” Alix was immediately by her parent’s side. The physician held a napkin to his mouth, and she saw the flecks of blood staining the linen. “It’s all right, Papa. I am content with this marriage. Do not distress yourself any more. I need you and Sir Udolf here with me. You must not fret yourself.” She put the wine cup to his lips now that his coughing had subsided.
    Alexander Givet sipped slowly. He was pale, and he felt so weak that he could hardly move himself even to sit up. “I can’t let you do this, mignon ,” he murmured softly.
    “It is done,” Alix told her parent. She signaled to a young serving man, who came immediately to her side. “Take my father to his bedspace, and see he is made comfortable for the night. Then sit with him until he sleeps.”
    “Yes, mistress,” the young servant said. He had a pleasant