against him.
'My forfeit, he repeated, his voice a little slurred, but more with lust than drink. 'I command you to lift your skirts. He took his hand from her mouth and raised his tunic to reach down inside his braies.
Catrin's eyes widened. She glanced around. 'What, here, on the stairs?
'Lost your daring, Catty? he taunted with a devilish grin. 'Forgotten that time against the salted herring barrels in Chepstow?
'I had bruises for weeks after, she protested, but the spark in his eyes was kindling enough, and she began to gather up her skirts. 'Someone might come, she added on a last thread of reason, as he seized her hips and angled her body towards his.
'I certainly hope so, Louis said incorrigibly, and thrust into her.
It was not the most comfortable coupling, but the excitement and novelty more than compensated for the rough stone at Catrin's back and the jolt of pain in her spine each time that he lunged. Sheer, raw lust was what had fired their marriage before, and it was as incandescent as ever. Catrin cried aloud at the pleasure, then, remembering where they were, clenched her teeth and held the sound in her throat.
'No, Catty, let it go! Louis panted in extremis. 'I need to hear you!
She shook her head from side to side.
'Please! Louis groaned.
Her climax struck, enhanced by his pleading, and her scream echoed along the walkway as her knees buckled. Louis took her weight and plunged into his own crisis with a long moan. Then he too lost his strength and staggered, pulling her down with him so that they ended in a tangle of limbs on the cold stone floor.
After a moment, Louis rolled on to his back, a blissful grin on his face. 'The best yet, he said breathlessly.
Catrin struggled to sit up. Her spine was sore, her loins tingled and burned. The pleasure had been intense, but she was not sure that it was 'the best yet' for her. It was fun to couple in unexpected places, but she also liked the slower, sensual comfort of a feather bed, and the small, niggling voice that she preferred to ignore informed her that Louis seemed to derive his greatest pleasure from coupling with her where the danger of being discovered lent an added spice.
'You don't answer me, wife. He glanced at her sidelong.
'You leave me no breath to do so, she retorted, then turned her head sharply towards the stairwell. The sound of voices and the scrape of shoe on stone were far too close.
She scrambled to her feet and frantically shook out and smoothed the skirts of her gown. Louis, in no such rush, slipped his genitals back inside his braies and stood up almost lazily. He was bending over to pick up his shoe when King Stephen and William d'Ypres stepped on to the walkway that led to the private solar.
Catrin performed a flustered curtsey, her face flaming. Louis flourished a bow and, at the same time, grasped the shoe.
Stephen raised his brows. 'Is a place of honour in the hall not good enough for you that you should choose the royal apartments instead? he asked with a smile. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and weariness dragged at his mouth corners. The months of imprisonment had taken their toll.
'No, sire, Louis responded smoothly. 'We are grateful indeed. It is just that I needed a quiet retreat to give my wife her Christmas gift.
'I see. Stephen eyed the shoe that Louis held in his hand, then looked at Catrin where she stood flushed and dishevelled. 'Was it well received?
Louis smiled. 'Yes, sire.
William d'Ypres snorted in amusement and shook his head. 'I do not know how you do it.
'I could explain, sir. Louis waggled his brows suggestively.
D'Ypres laughed and gave Louis a push. 'That wit of yours is sharp enough to carve you a path to success or cut you to the bone. Have a care which way you use it.
'As ever, sir. Louis bowed.
'As never, d'Ypres retorted, but his tone was indulgent. 'Perhaps in the New Year, I'll see what you can accomplish.
'You will not find me lacking, my lord.
'As to that, a gambler takes his chances, d'Ypres responded drily.
The two men made to go on their way, but Stephen stopped and turned round. 'Mistress healer, do you have a cure for a sore throat? He rubbed his larynx to indicate the pain.
'Surely, sire, Catrin answered, her colour remaining high. Louis had taken the brunt of the banter, and the King and his chief mercenary had been indulgently amused, hinting that they were well accustomed to discovering Louis in such situations. He had done no more than live up to expectations — theirs and his own. Catrin felt, rather ashamedly, that she had lived down to hers, and would gladly have remained overlooked. 'You must drink a tisane of blackcurrant, liquorice and horehound, sweetened with honey. It will ease, but not cure, she added as a safeguard to her reputation.
'Then mix it for me, and bring it to my chamber. His winning smile flashed across his face. It should have lifted his features, but instead it made him look all the more exhausted.
'Sire. Catrin bowed her head, and the men continued on to the royal chambers.
Louis hopped into his shoe. 'If I didn't know that Stephen was so attached to his wife, I'd think he had a fancy to you, he remarked with a grin.
Catrin gave her husband a withering look. 'Some men at least, carry their brains above their belts.
Louis knelt to fasten the horn toggle on the side of the shoe. 'Now why should I think that your blade is aimed at me?
'If the cap fits, then wear it.
Louis stood up and looked at her, his expression suddenly serious. 'It doesn't fit me, Catty, whatever you think. I've made mistakes, but I've learned from them.
'So you keep telling me, she said. 'But I believe that actions speak the louder.
'What do you want me to do? Have myself tonsured and profess a vow of chastity?
Catrin smiled at the notion, but then she sobered. 'No, she said. 'I would not put such a strain on our marriage. Keeping your faith to me will do. I am your wife, and you know how much I sacrificed to stay with you. Her voice took on depth and vehemence. 'I won't remind you of it again; I am not a martyr, but hear this, Louis. I will not have our lovemaking used as cheap coin to feed your self-importance and your standing in the eyes of other men!
'But you enjoyed it as much as I did! he blustered, spreading his hands in a gesture of disbelief. 'Your cries weren't for me to stop!
Catrin tightened her lips. 'It was the way you jested with the King and Lord William.
'That was nothing, harmless banter. All men do it.
'That is what I mean about the brains below the belt, Catrin retorted smartly. 'Condemned out of your own mouth. She gathered her skirts. 'I have a tisane to brew.
He watched her go to the stairs, chewed his lip and tugged at his hair in perplexity. 'Catty, he said as she set her foot on the first step.
'What? She gave him a glance over her shoulder.
He made a contrite, prayerful gesture. 'You're beautiful and I love you.
She gave him the ghost of a smile and put her nose in the air. 'That begins to make amends.
'And I humbly promise to keep the faith.
Still smiling, despite herself, Catrin went down the stairs.
'King Stephen is not well, she said later, as she and Louis lay together in a daub and wattle shelter in the bailey. Usually it held sheep, but it had been swept out to provide accommodation for the overspill of troops. All around them, others were settling down to sleep, huddling in their cloaks for warmth against the sharp winter cold. 'Serious?
'No, Catrin said doubtfully, 'but he is so thin and he looks so tired. If he cannot throw it off, then it might grow worse. I told him that he should rest, but he just laughed, and asked what I thought he had been doing all those months in Bristol. I said fretting.
