She had finally stopped coughing, looking up at him with watery eyes. "I don't know what happened."

"You ceased to breathe when I kissed your fingers," he replied bluntly. "You must not flatter me so, Eleanore. While I will admit to having a reputation as a good knight, I have but little reputation where the ladies are concerned. You will turn my head if you behave so each time I approach you tenderly, petite." His hazel eyes twinkled at her.

"I am, as you are well aware, not used to being addressed tenderly, my lord," she said. "You did indeed take my breath away, but not unpleasantly so." His hazel eyes were like forest pools in autumn. Was it possible to drown in another’s eyes? she wondered.

"Would you swoon if I touched you again?" he asked.

"Nay, my lord."

"Nay, Ranulf." His knuckles gently grazed her cheekbone. "It would give me pleasure to hear you call me by name."

"Ranulf," she whispered breathily. "My lord Ranulf."

His head spun at the sound of her voice speaking his name. "Now it is you, petite, who quite take my breath away," he murmured low.

A discreet cough ended their interlude. "Good morrow, my lord, my lady," Cedric said. "If you have finished your meal, we have certain manor business to attend to that I would have settled today."

Ranulf took Elf’s hand in his, his thick fingers closing over her dainty fingers. "Speak, Cedric," he said. "My lady and I will hear you out."

"We are in need of a bailiff, my lord. We have not had one since the last bailiff died. Lord Richard was so involved with his lady wife, your pardon, my lady, he had no time to decide upon another man to fill the position. John, Ida’s son, was the previous bailiff’s nephew. He has overseen his uncle’s duties since his death, although he has not the true authority. He is a good man, my lord. Honest and diligent in his duties. I would recommend him to you."

"Can he read or write?" Ranulf asked.

"Lord Robert saw that those who sought knowledge were given it, my lord," Cedric said. "John, like myself, can both read and write. We were taught by old Father Martin, who has since died."

"Is John in the hall?" Ranulf asked.

"I am here, my lord," John said, coming forward.

"You are hereby appointed to the post of bailiff of Ashlin. Bring your records to the lady so she may see them," Ranulf said.

"Thank you, my lord," John said, bowing and stepping back.

"What is next?" the lord of the manor asked.

"The miller and his wife have no children, nor the hope of any, for they are growing old. They ask your lordship for permission to take an apprentice from among the serfs."

Elf touched her husband’s sleeve. "Appoint Arthur," she said low. "He is deserving, and will work hard for the miller."

"The lady suggests that Arthur be apprenticed to the miller," Ranulf said. "Is Arthur in the hall?"

Arthur stepped forward. "Aye, my lord." While Elf had been in Worcester, he had slipped home from his sanctuary at the convent. Learning that Saer de Bude also was to be in Worcester, he knew he was safe. He bowed.

"Will you be apprenticed to the miller, Arthur?"

He was being asked what he wanted. Arthur was astounded. This new lord was like none he had ever known. "Aye, my lord, I should not be unhappy to be apprenticed to the miller. It is a good trade, and perhaps one day I may earn enough to obtain my freedom," Arthur said enthusiastically.

"You obtained it the day I became Ashlin’s lord, Arthur," Ranulf said. "When you saved my wife from the lecherous advances of Saer de Bude, heedless of the danger to your own life, you proved you were worthy of your freedom. The papers will be drawn up."

"My lord!" Arthur fell to his knees, took Ranulf’s hand, and kissed it. "I can never thank you enough!" he exclaimed.

"Ah, my young friend, your seven years' apprenticeship to the miller will make serfdom seem easy," the lord said. "But when those seven years are up, if you have done well…" He shrugged. "The miller cannot live forever. See you are a worthy successor to him."

"Thank you, my lord," Arthur said rising. He moved back into the hall among his envious friends. In these last few minutes his status had been raised, his entire life changed.

"Is there any other business we need attend to, Cedric?" Ranulf asked.

"Nay, my lord, that is all this day." He bowed.

Ranulf spoke again. "We will need stone to build the demesne walls higher. Can it be easily found?"

"Yes, my lord. The stone was quarried nearby on the manor lands. More can be obtained. Shall I instruct the bailiff to assign workers to that task?"

"Aye. They are not to work in the snow, however," Ranulf said. "When the storm stops, I will want to inspect the manor."

"Very good, my lord," the steward replied, bowing again.

Ranulf turned to Elf. "You must inspect the bailiff’s records this morning, petite. A good chatelaine knows everything about her manor. Should I have to go to war for the king, you will have to manage all of it. So it is wise that you familiarize yourself with all aspects of Ashlin’s life, and not just those things that usually concern a woman."

"Can you read?" she asked him. She knew many men, including knights, could not. It was not considered important for a man.

"I was raised at the court of King Henry, a most educated man, petite. Like your father, he gave any who wished to learn the means of doing so. Most of my companions thought learning to read and to write was a waste of time. What need for a simple knight, they would say to me, but one never knows where fate will take us. I thought it worth the time to sit with one of the king’s chaplains, and learn my letters, and how to write them. My hand is not fine, but I can do it. Are you surprised? Would you have thought less of me had I not been able to read and to write?"

"Had you been ill educated, my lord Ranulf, I should have taught you myself," she said, surprising him. "I should not have thought any the less of you. Many men have not the time, but the abbess always said it was a great pity, for an ill-educated lord but tempted his servants to steal from him. We will go over John’s records together so he can see that you know how to read and to write, too. He will tell the others, and thus prevent anyone foolish enough from believing they might gull you. Now, on another matter, my lord Ranulf, if you are quarrying stone for the walls, then quarry some for the church. It lays half ruined. Until it is repaired, I cannot petition the bishop for another priest."

"Have you any idea of how absolutely adorable you are, my Eleanore?"

She blushed. "My lord!" she scolded him. "What of my stone?"

"You have the sweetest mouth. I should give you the moon and the stars were they mine to give," he murmured.

"But they are not yours to give," she said, "and I just want some stone." He was so outrageous. Her heart had begun to beat faster.

He laughed softly. "The stone is yours, petite."

Fulk came up to them, and almost immediately he and Ranulf became engaged in deep conversation about the manor’s defenses. Elf arose and returned to the solar where Ida was awaiting her with a young girl.

"This is Willa. That Cedric," Ida grumbled, "says the lady of a manor needs two serving women. He seems to think I need help taking care of you, my lady."

"I think Cedric was concerned for you, rather than me," Elf soothed her old nursemaid. "You are not young, dearest Ida. It cannot harm you to have a strong young helper." Elf smiled at Willa, a pretty girl with long flaxen braids and bright blue eyes.

"Well, I suppose I can find a use for the girl," Ida admitted. "We've unpacked your trunk, lady. What wonderful materials you have brought back with you. There is even a bolt of fine linen for your undergarments."

"The king and the bishop were most kind to me," Elf said. "Now that I am no longer a nun, I must have some new clothing."

"Lady," Willa said, "what is that beautiful green and gold garment? I have never seen its like before."

"It is called a bliaut, and is very fashionable," Elf told her. "I have not the courage to attempt to make one, however. We shall make just simple tunic tops and skirts. One bliaut is more than enough for a country wife, I think."

The women worked together the rest of the day cutting and sewing in the cozy warmth of the solar. The cook came and made suggestions for dinner. Venison stew, he told Elf, for men liked a good hearty meal on a cold day. And he had several plump ducks, well hung now, that would be perfect with a sweet fruit sauce, a Mortrew-a meat dish made with eggs and bread crumbs-a Col-cannon made with cabbage, turnips, and carrots, and a nice Frumenty pudding of wheat and milk with honey.

"Is it enough?" Elf asked the cook.

"Aye, lady, there will be cheese, bread, and butter, too," the cook answered her, and she nodded her approval.

Cedric came and suggested she add several young girls to the staff for cleaning and polishing. "Now that you are home, lady, and a married woman, it is meet that you keep a proper household."

"Do you have any girls in mind?" she asked.

He nodded, and she told him to make it so.

The day waned, and the snow finally stopped. It had not been a hard storm, just a long one. Elf ordered a bath, for she had not had one since her wedding day. On the previous night she had been too exhausted.

"The lord should have a bath, too," Ida said. "He will go first, and you will wash him."

"Me?" Elf looked horrified.

"Of course, lady. It is a wife’s duty to wash her husband. Who else would do it?" Ida demanded to know.

"But I have never washed a man, or anyone else but myself, for that matter," Elf protested nervously. "Why can he not wash himself?"

"Lady!" Ida was scandalized.

"I have never seen a naked man," Elf said frankly.

Willa giggled, and Ida turned on her fiercely. "Speak a word, any word, that is ever spoken in this chamber, and I will personally cut out your gossiping tongue, girl! Do you understand me?"

Willa paled and nodded.

"Good!" Ida snapped.

"I never knew a wife had to bathe her husband," Elf said.

"And her guests, too, sometimes," Ida told her.

"Ohh!" Elf paled.

"Willa," Ida said, "go and tell Cedric that the lady would like the tub taken from its storage place, and filled with hot water. Then go to the linen cupboard, and bring drying cloths and soap." And when the girl had gone, Ida turned to her mistress. "I know you've never seen a naked man, but you're a married woman now. There is nothing terrible about a naked man. I'll help you, my chick. I'll tell you just what you need to do, my little lady, and your lord will be pleased. Now go and tell Cedric to serve up the evening meal. The bath won't be ready until after you have eaten. We'll set it right up here in the solar by the fireplace, and clear it away directly afterward."

Elf did as old Ida suggested, ordering Cedric to have the evening meal served. The men ate with unfeigned and vigorous appetites. The cook had been right, and this was something she would remember. In cold weather the appetite increased. She ate a bit of venison stew, mopping up the winey brown gravy with her bread. Afterward she told her husband that there was a bath prepared for him in the solar.

His face lit in a smile. "Good! I stink of the road. Unlike some, I like to bathe." Then his hazel eyes twinkled. "Will you bathe me, my lady wife?"

Elf nodded. "I don't know how, but Ida will be there to instruct me, my lord. I have not before had the opportunity to bathe a man. It is not a duty called upon in the convent, I fear." She was nervous, but she teased him back nonetheless. "I hope I shall be able to master the technique as quickly as possible."

In response he took up her hand, and began to nibble upon her fingertips. "So do I, petite," he said.

"What is this fascination you seem to have with my fingers, my lord Ranulf?" she asked, but this time she did not draw away.

"It is because you are so delicious, and I knew it the first time I saw you, Eleanore."

"I wore robes of a religious when you first saw me," she said, slightly scandalized.