When Love Awaits Read Online Free

our complaints were ignored if the lady herself is set against me. But if I make war on Pershwick, I make war on a woman. What do you think now of your jest, Thorpe?”
    “I think you will do what you will do.” Thorpesighed. “But do consider whether you want a deformed creature as wife before you rush ahead.”
    Rolfe waved that aside. “What law says I must live with the lady?”
    “Then why take her to wife? Be reasonable, Rolfe. All these years you avoided marriage when many great beauties were willing.”
    “I was landless then, Thorpe, and I could not wed without a home to offer my wife.”
    Thorpe began to say more, but Rolfe said flatly, “What I want most now is peace.”
    “Peace? Or revenge?”
    Rolfe shrugged. “I will not hurt the lady, but she will regret causing me any ill if that is what she intends. See how she likes being confined in Pershwick the rest of her days and her people hanged—for the slightest wrongdoing. I will have an end to these troubles.”
    “What of Lady Amelia?” Thorpe murmured.
    Rolfe frowned. “She came here by her own choice. If she wishes to leave, so be it. But if she wishes to stay, she is welcome. My taking a wife will not change my affections in other regards. At least my taking of this wife will not. I have no duty to please her, not after all she has done. The lady Leonie will have no say in what I do.”
    Thorpe shook his head and said no more. He could only hope a good night’s sleep would bring Rolfe to his senses.

Chapter 4
    R OLFE paced in the anteroom outside the king’s chamber. It was good of Henry to see him so soon, but Rolfe hated asking favors, even if this favor would cost Henry no more than words, words on parchment. Henry, on the other hand, loved doing favors. Rolfe’s new position as one of Henry’s barons had been such a favor, given without warning during a friendly talk the last time Rolfe was in London. The Kempston lands had come unexpectedly into their conversation, and Henry asked Rolfe if he wanted Kempston.
    In truth, Henry had long wanted to reward Rolfe for saving his natural son Geoffrey’s life. Until then, Rolfe had refused all offers, staunchly maintaining that keeping the son safe was only his duty. To be sure, that was not the first time Rolfe had helped Henry. But Henry was surprised when Rolfe accepted the offer of Kempston, for in truth Kempston was no prize and would have to be won at great cost. He immediately offered Rolfe something better, now that Rolfe was finally showing an interest in settling down. “Something closer to home? I can arrange—”
    Rolfe put up a hand to interrupt before the king could tempt him further. “It is the challenge I want from Kempston, my lord. I could buy estates aplenty in Gascony, but I do not call Gascony home any longer,nor do I want land I cannot earn. I will take Kempston and thank you for it.”
    “Thank me?” Henry seemed embarrassed. “It is I who must thank you, for in truth I was loath to pay an army to secure it. Now it will cost me nothing and I will have a man I know I can trust to curb the lawlessness in that area. You do me a service, Rolfe, and this is not how I meant to reward you for all your other service. What else can I give you? A wife who will bring you a large estate?”
    “No, my lord.” Rolfe laughed. “Let me secure Kempston before I think of a wife.”
    Ironically, a wife was the very reason Rolfe was there, pacing the anteroom. His offer for Leonie of Montwyn had been flatly refused.
    There were ways other than marriage to end the troubles, he knew that. He could always hire more men to patrol the borders of his land and keep her serfs out until Kempston was secured. But then, the cost of hiring enough men to patrol the whole area would be huge, he told himself.
    “Damn me, she will not dent my purse more than she has already!” Rolfe exploded aloud, then saw to his embarrassment that Henry had entered the room.
    “Who will not dent your purse?”