Chapter 2 Chapter two

After the lengthy wedding was finally over, Gavin led Judith down the steps, and both kneeled in front of the altar to receive the priest's blessing.The priest gave Gavin a kiss of peace, which he passed on to his wife.Ordinarily, the kiss should have been formal, and although it ended quickly, Gavin's lips lingered a little too long, causing Judith to look up at him, her golden eyes reflecting her Pleasure and surprise. Gavin grinned happily, holding her hand and half-running out of the church.Once outside the church, the crowd outside threw grains at the couple, enough to crush them to death.

He lifted her onto her white horse, and even though she was wrapped in layers of cloth, her waist was still so slender.If he hadn't made enough embarrassments when he first met her earlier, he really wanted to put her on his horse and ride them together.He stretched out his hand to take her horse's rein, but Judith took the rein first and controlled herself. Instead of being disobedient, he felt happy, because it proved his wife was a good knight. The bride and groom led the procession back to Ravey Dawn Manor, and Gavin held her hand tightly and entered the spotlessly clean hall. Looking at the carpet of rose petals and daffodils on the ground, Judith felt deeply touched.A few hours ago this tapestry had meant her gloomy future, but now looking at Gavin, his gray eyes smiling at her, she realized that being his wife was not as scary as she imagined.

"I'm willing to give anything to know what you're thinking." Gavin said softly, his lips next to her ear. "I was thinking maybe this marriage wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Gavin was taken aback for a moment, then raised his head and burst out laughing.Judith really didn't know that her simple sentence not only insulted him, but also complimented him at the same time.It is not for a well-bred girl to confess her reluctance to marry the husband chosen for her. "Well, my wife," Gavin said with a twinkle in his eyes, "I couldn't be happier."

Their only chance to whisper is quickly passed; the bride and groom must stand at the entrance of the hall to welcome the hundreds of guests who have come to congratulate them. Judith stood beside him quietly, smiling and saluting each distinguished guest.Due to her narrow living circle, she does not know most of the guests.Robert stood by and watched her closely in case she made a mistake.Before the marriage became a fact, he felt that he had to be responsible for everything about her. Judith was worried that her outfit would be too showy, but now that she is busy thanking guests, she finds that her dress is still conservative.The guests were all dressed in gorgeous clothes, and some even wore various colors together.The female guests were dressed in various red, purple and green clothes, and there were even more kinds of clothes, but Judith's golden green still stood out among them.

Ren suddenly grabbed Judith's waist, lifted her up, and kissed her heavily on both cheeks. "Welcome to the Montgomery family, sister-in-law." His mouth was so sweet, with deep dimples on his cheeks. Judith liked his candor and directness.Next came Miles, whom she had met when he came to get engaged on Gavin's behalf, and he had looked at her like an eagle in a cage. Now Miles still looked at her with that strange and sharp eyes, she felt a little embarrassed, so she sneaked a glance at her husband who was looking for Ryan to settle accounts. Although Ren is a little shorter than Gavin, he still has his unique style and extraordinary bearing when he is wearing a black velvet jacket with silver trim.He has a pair of smiling blue eyes and attractive dimples, and his appearance is handsome and charming.

Miles is about the same height as Gavin, but has a slender build.Among the three brothers, Miles' clothes are the most eye-catching.He wore a dark green velvet bodysuit and a bright green coat trimmed with sable fur.A wide emerald-encrusted belt slashed across the thin hips. They were all strong, handsome men; but Gavin stood out to her, or so she thought. Gavin felt her looking at him.He raised her hand close to his side and kissed her fingers.When he sucked a fingertip into his mouth and touched it lightly with the tip of his tongue, Judith's heart beat wildly. "I know why you're impatient, man, but I think you'd better bear it," Wren laughed. "Tell me about that fat ugly heiress again."

Gavin reluctantly let go of his wife's hand. "Laugh all you want - but I won her over, so I'll be the one who laughs in the end. Maybe it's not right to say 'laugh,'" Gavin said triumphantly. Ren snorted pretending to be disgusted, and pushed Miles with his elbow, "Let's go, let's see if we can find another golden-eyed goddess here. Give your sister-in-law a kiss to welcome her first, and then Let's go." Miles stared at Judith, took her hand and kissed, "I'll save that kiss for a better time." After saying that, he followed his brother away.

Gavin hugged Judith's shoulder possessively, "Don't take them to heart, they're just joking." "I'd rather be joking." Gavin smiled at her with his head down, and let her go suddenly and abruptly.Touching her almost set him on fire.There were still a few hours before the bridal chamber, and if he wanted to live through the day, he'd better keep his hands off her. Later, when Judith accepted a kiss from a countess, she felt Gavin beside her suddenly freeze.She followed his line of sight and saw an extremely beautiful woman, and many men stared at her in amazement.When it was finally her turn to stand in front of the bride, Judith was stunned to see deep hatred in her blue eyes.

Judith instinctively wanted to put her arms around her as protection.The whispering at the side attracted Judith's attention, and she noticed that many people were enjoying the scene where these two beauties faced each other with great interest. The blond beauty walked past Gavin quickly, refusing to look at him, and a pained look crossed her husband's face.This episode was not only confusing, but also gave her a feeling of uneasiness. Finally, the reception ceremony was completed.All the guests had seen the couple separately, and Judith's father gave each a gift according to their status, and the wedding banquet began with the sound of horns.

While the guests were congratulating the bride and groom, many tables and chairs had been set up in the hall, and the tables were filled with various delicacies: chicken, duck, quail, crane, pheasant, grouse, as well as pork and beef.There are also meat pies and twelve kinds of fish.Assorted vegetables are served with oriental spices.Fresh strawberries are also in full supply, and some rare and expensive pomegranates are also available. The wealth of Raveldawn Manor can be seen from the gold and silver plates used by the most important guests and guests sitting on the raised platform.Judith and Gavin used a pair of exquisitely handcrafted silver goblets with gold engraving.

There is an open space in the center between the tables, where bards sing, oriental dancers dance, and the acrobatic troupe performs all their skills for the guests.The joyful singing resounded sky-high and echoed in the two-story hall. "You don't eat much." Gavin said, trying not to yell, but it's not easy to hear in the noise. "I don't want to eat." She smiled at him. She thought over and over again, the fact that this stranger was her husband, and she really wanted to touch the little groove on his chin. "Come with me." He said holding her hand and helping her up.Amidst the cheers and laughter of the crowd, Gavin led his wife out of the hall, and neither of them ever looked back. They wandered outside the house.The manor is full of endless spring flowers, and on their right is the venue for tomorrow's tournament.Numerous tents were set up around the venue, and the family flags of the characters they belonged to were planted on the top of the tents, and most of them were leopards of the Montegoli family.There are three fierce and mighty leopards on the banner, each standing upright, embroidered with gold thread and lined with an emerald green background. "Are they all your relatives?" "Uncles and cousins. Ryan wasn't kidding when he said we were a big family." "Did you have a good time with them?" "Happy?" he shrugged. "They're all Montgolis," he said, as if that answered all the questions. They stood on a small hillside, from which they could overlook the camp below.He helped her sit on the floor with her skirt brushed aside, and then he lay down beside her with his hands behind his head. Judith sat with her back to his face.His long legs stretched out in front of her.She could clearly see the tangled and undulating muscles on his legs, and his strong thighs.She was 100% sure that his thighs were thicker than her waist.Unexpectedly, she shuddered. "Is it cold?" Gavin immediately asked sensitively.He propped himself up on his elbows, watched her shake her head, "I hope you don't mind leaving for a while. First at the church, and now—you must think I'm not polite. But it's so noisy in there, I want to talk to you alone." "Me too," she admitted, looking back at him. He raised one hand to lift her curly hair and wrapped it around her wrist. "I was shocked when I saw you. I always heard that you were ugly and fat and crippled." He played with her hair . "Where did you hear that?" "It's been rumored that's why your father hid you," he said. "My mother actually hid me from him." She didn't want to say more, but Gavin understood. Gavin looked down on the father-in-law who bullied the good and feared the evil, and only beat women. Gavin grinned at her, "I love being with you, you're more than anything a man could ever hope for." Suddenly, Judith remembered that sweet kiss in church.If you can kiss calmly, what kind of feeling will you have? She has absolutely no experience with things between men and women. Gavin found her staring at his mouth and held his breath.A quick glance at the sun tells him that he has hours before he can have her completely.He didn't dare to rashly start an action that he couldn't end. "We've got to go back," he said abruptly. "Our abrupt behavior has been enough for people to chew on their tongues for years." He helped her up, and when she stood next to him, he stared down at her hair, breathing in the tangy fragrance of her hair.Originally, he only planned to kiss him lightly, but Maurice raised her head and smiled at him at the right time.In the next moment, his arms had encircled her, and his lips had fallen on her. Judith's knowledge of everything between men and women comes from the maids laughing and comparing the lovemaking skills of each boyfriend.So when Judith reacted to Gavin's kiss, she was not as reserved as ordinary ladies, and she relied on her feelings. His arm was around the back of her neck, she instinctively opened her mouth for him, and pressed her body close to him.What a huge man he is!The chest against her was so broad and strong, and the muscles of his thighs were even more steely.She liked the way he felt, the way he smelled.She raised her arms tightly to him without any fuss. Suddenly Gavin pulled away, his breath becoming heavy and short. "You seem to have a knack for kissing," he said angrily, "from practice?" Her mind and body were still intoxicated with the new passion, and she didn't pay attention to his tone, "I never kissed any man before. My maid told me that kissing is beautiful, but I think it is more than beautiful." He looked at her dumbfounded, knowing that she was telling the truth, "Let's go back and pray for the sun to go down soon." Judith turned her blushing face away and followed behind him. They strolled back, neither of them speaking again.Gavin seemed to be preoccupied, if he hadn't held her hand tightly, she would have thought he had completely forgotten about her. He didn't see Robert waiting for them because he was looking the other way, but Judith did.She recognized the anger in his eyes and pulled herself together for battle. "You little whore!" Robert hissed, "You're drooling at him like a nympho, and I'm being ridiculed by the whole of England!" He raised his hand and slapped Judith across the face. Gavin was stunned for a while before taking any action.He couldn't imagine that a father would beat his daughter like this.When he reacted, his fist hit his father-in-law's face until the middle-aged man fell dazed to the ground. Judith glanced at her husband, his eyes dark with anger, his jaw muscles twitching. "You're not allowed to touch her hair again," Gavin ordered in a low, menacing tone, "I've always possessed—and protected everything that's mine." He bullied Robert again. "Please, don't hit me again," Judith grabbed her husband's arm, "I wasn't hurt, and you punished him, so forget it." Gavin didn't move.Robert looked back and forth between his daughter and son-in-law, and didn't speak any more wisely, but slowly got up and walked away. Judith tugged at her husband's sleeve. "Don't let him ruin the day. He doesn't know anything but his fists." Her mind was spinning rapidly.The few men she knew felt that fathers had the right to beat their daughters, and perhaps Gavin thought of her only as his property, but there was something about the way he spoke that made Judith feel protected, even loved . "Come on, let me see you." Gavin said in a choked voice, showing that he was trying to control his temper. He stroked her lips with his fingertips, feeling for any bruises or broken skin, and her eyes were fixed on his tight jaw.His touch made her knees go weak.Impulsively, she raised her hand to touch the groove on his chin with her fingertips.He stopped exploring and looked into her eyes.They just remained motionless, staring at each other for a long time. "We have to go back." He said sadly, holding her arm to go back to the stone castle. After returning to the hall, they saw that the food had been removed, and all the dining tables had been moved to the wall and piled up. They were surprised to realize how long it had been since they left the table.The musicians are tuning their instruments to accompany the dance. "Gavin," someone called, "you can have her forever in the future, so don't keep pestering her now, and give us all a chance." Although Judith held Gavin's arm tightly, she was quickly drawn into the dancing circle.She was pushed and pulled and turned so dizzy under the quick dance steps, but she kept her husband as close as she could, and she didn't want him out of her sight. A man's giggle made her look up. "Sister-in-law," Wren said, "it's only fair that you give the rest of us a glimpse once in a while." Judith smiled at him, and the next moment, she was picked up by another strong arm and turned around, her legs were off the ground.When she came back to Ryan again, she said, "How dare I ignore a handsome man like my uncle?" "Well said, but if your eyes are not lying, then only my elder brother can make your eyes shine." Someone swept Judith away again, and when she was lifted by the other arm, she saw Gavin smiling at a woman in a lilac silk gown, who caressed Gavin's chest provocatively. "Where did your smile go?" he asked Rain when she came back to him.He turned to look at his brother. "Do you think she is beautiful?" Ryan restrained himself from bursting out laughing, "It's so ugly, she's just a little golden retriever, Gavin wouldn't like her." Because everyone else has already tasted her, he thought. "Alas!" he sighed, "Let's get out of here and get some cider." He grabbed her arm and walked in the opposite direction from Gavin. Judith stood quietly in Ryan's shadow, watching Gavin pull the blonde onto the dance floor.Every time he touched the woman, Judith felt a twinge of pain in her heart.Ren was concentrating on talking with another man, so she put down her wine glass and quietly walked out of the room along the shadow of the corner. There was a small fenced garden behind the manor house, and Judith would sneak into it whenever she was young and needed to be alone. Gavin embraced the image of another woman, dancing like a flame in front of her eyes.She really didn't know why she should care.She had known him for less than a day.Why should she care if he touches others? She sat down on the hidden stone bench.Could she be jealous?She had never felt this intensely in her life, she just knew that she didn't want her husband to see or touch other women. "I knew you'd be here." Judith looked up at her mother, then looked down again. Helen quickly sat down beside her daughter, "Is there something wrong? Did he treat you badly?" "Gavin?" Judith asked unhurriedly, liking his name, "No. He's been so nice to me." Helen didn't like the look she saw on Judith's face, and she had felt the same way.She held her daughter's shoulders, though the move hurt her still-healed arm. "You have to listen to me! I should have made it clear to you. I prayed every day that something would happen to abort this marriage, but nothing happened. Mark my words, you always, ever Men cannot be trusted." Judith wanted to speak for her husband, "But Gavin is a man worthy of respect." Helen lowered her hands, "Yes, they respect each other—respect their men, even their horses. But to a man, a woman is far less valuable than his horse. A woman can be easily replaced, and is of little value .A man would not lie to the lowest servant, but he would not care to invent tales to his wife. What has he to lose? What have women to do?" "No, I don't believe all men are like that." "Then you will live long and unhappy days like me. If I had known this when I was your age, my life would not be like this today. I thought I loved your father. I even put these words I told him. And he just laughed at me. Do you know what it's like to cut a man's heart, but get his ridicule?" "But a man loves a woman too—" She couldn't believe what her mother said. "It's true that they love women, but for the person they take to bed - when they get tired of her, they will love another woman. A wife is only when she is still new to him, and her bedtime skills still fascinate him When you are young, you can barely control her husband. When he 'loves' you, you can control him." Judith stood up, her back turned to her mother, "Not all men are like what you said. Gavin is..." She couldn't finish. Helen walked up to her daughter alertly, "Don't tell me you think you're in love with him. Oh, Judith, my lovely Judith, have you lived here for seventeen years and learned nothing? Didn’t you see? Your father wasn’t like this before. You might not believe me, but I was beautiful once, and he was very pleased with me. That’s why I have to tell you these things. You think I want to talk to you My own child saying this? When I trained you to join the church, I just wanted to save you. Please, please listen to me. You must establish your own status from the beginning, and then he will listen to you. Never let him see your fear. When a woman shows fear, a man will feel strong. If you start with a bunch of demands, he will listen to you - but not at this time Too long. Soon there will be another woman—" "No!" Judith yelled. Helen looked at her sadly.She couldn't save her daughter from harm, "I have to go back to greet the guests. Are you coming too?" "No," Judith said softly, "I'll be in in a moment. I want to be alone and think." Helen shrugged and left through the side door.There was nothing she could do. Judith sat quietly on the stone bench, her chin resting on her lap.For the first time in her life, she was rebelling against her mother for someone else, and it wasn't easy for her.She thought over and over how different Gavin was from her father, but most of the reasons were her own fantasies. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.A thin woman entered the garden, and Judith recognized her immediately.She dresses to command attention; the bodice of her gown is green silk on the left and bright purple on the right, while the skirt is arranged in reverse. There is purpose in everything she does.Judith hid on the stone bench behind the honeysuckle and watched coldly.Her first impression of Alice Willens was that she was beautiful, but she didn't take it seriously.Her chin is thin, her mouth is thin and her lips are thin, she has a sinister look, and her eyes are shining like ice. Judith heard the man's heavy footsteps outside the wall, and immediately turned to the side door her mother had just used.She wanted to give this woman and her lover some privacy, but the first sentence of their conversation held her back, and the voice was already familiar to her. "Why did you ask me to come here to meet you?" Gavin asked in a stifled voice. "Oh, Gavin," Alice said, reaching for his arms, "you're so indifferent to me? Is your love for your new wife really that strong?" Gavin frowned deeply at her, although he didn't touch her, he didn't leave either. "Why do you fall in love with me? I beg you to marry me. I don't even want your dowry. I promised to return your father's dowry to Chotels, but you still refuse to marry me." "You're going to turn against me for this?" she asked. "Didn't I show you the bruises my father made, didn't I tell you how many times he locked me up and didn't give me water or food? What do you want from me? I try to sneak out and meet you whenever I can, I give you everything and you give me back like this. You love someone else already. Tell me, Gavin, do you ever love past me?" "Why do you say I love someone else? I never said I loved her." He said angrily. "I got married because the strings were good. That woman brings wealth and land and title and it's all about you Remind me." "But when you see her—" "I'm a man, and she's so beautiful, of course I'm tempted." Judith wanted to leave the garden, even though she saw her husband with other women, she still wanted to leave, but her body froze in place. Every word Gavin said was like a sharp knife piercing her heart.He had begged this woman to marry him, and now he accepted Judith only as a second choice, for her generous dowry. What a fool she is!She actually thought that their contact and caress meant love, so it was all just an illusion. "Then you don't love her?" Alice pressed. "How do I love? I haven't been with her for a day. How do you want me to love?" "But you can love her," said Alice sullenly, looking away.When she looked back at him again, there were tears in her eyes—big, lovely and crystal clear tears, "Do you dare to say that you will never love her?" Gavin said nothing. Alice sighed heavily, and smiled with tears in her eyes, "I always hoped that we could meet here, so I sent some wine first." "I have to go back." "It won't delay you for too long." She said coquettishly, pulling him towards the bench against the stone wall. Judith looked at Alice in amazement.There was a great actress in front of her.She saw with her own eyes that Alice turned her face away and surreptitiously cut the corners of her eyes with her nails to make tears.Alice's lines are even more cadenced, and her singing and writing are excellent. Alice sat down carefully so as not to crease the stiff silk of her body, and poured two glasses of wine.With slow and precise movements, she took off a ring, opened the ring face, and slowly poured some white powder into her wine glass. When she raised her glass to drink, Gavin raised his hand and knocked her glass, sending it flying halfway across the garden. "What are you doing?" he asked sternly. Alice leaned limply against the stone wall, "I have to end this, my love. I can take it all for us. I can bear my marriage to another man, and your marriage to another woman, but I I must have your love. Without your love, I am nothing." She lowered her eyelids slowly, with such a peaceful expression that one might really think that she has become one of God's angels. "Alice," Gavin panicked, and hastily pulled her into his arms, "You can't really want to end your life." "My sweet Gavin, you don't understand how much love means to a woman. Without love, I'm already a living dead. Instead of living a miserable life of walking dead every day, why linger on?" "How can you say you have no love?" "You really love me, Gavin? Love me, and only me?" she asked with longing. "Of course." He lowered his head and kissed her, the wine still remained on her lips, exuding the breath of death.The slanting sunset in the west deepened the gray on her cheeks.Her black eyelashes cast mysterious shadows on her cheeks. "You swear!" she said decisively, "you must swear to me that you will love only me all your life—no one else." It seemed like a small price to pay to keep her from killing herself, "I swear." Alice got up quickly, "Now I have to go back, or someone will find out that I'm missing," she seemed to have fully recovered, "You won't forget me, will you? Not even tonight?" She pressed his lips Whispering softly, hands provocatively explored inside his clothes. Without waiting for an answer, she slipped out of his arms and went through the garden gate. The sound of rolling made Gavin turn around immediately alertly.Judith was standing there, her eyes and clothes reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun. "That scene just now was brilliant, thank you for opening my eyes," she said, dropping her hands. "It's been years since I've seen such outstanding acting. That woman should seek development on the London stage." , I heard that there has always been a shortage of talents like her." Gavin approached her with an angry face, "You cunning woman! You have no right to follow me!" "Following you, huh!" she snorted. "I only came out for some fresh air after my husband—" she snorted again, "—leaved me aside. Here, I I also witnessed my husband humbly being manipulated by a white-faced woman." Gavin raised his hand and slapped her across the face.An hour earlier, he had sworn that nothing would make him hurt a woman. Judith was thrown to the ground by his giant palm.Gavin regretted it immediately, he spurned himself and what he had done, and he knelt down to help her up. She shook off his hand violently, with deep hatred in her eyes.When she spoke, her voice was so calm, so rigid that he could barely hear her. "You said that you don't want to marry me at all, you only marry me so that I can bring you wealth. Tell you, I am not willing to marry you either. I also refused at the beginning, if it wasn't for my father in front of me, like breaking a tree branch You wouldn't have the chance to hurt me today. I don't have any love for that man—even less for you, but he's at least an honest man. He wouldn't have stood up an hour ago Swearing your love in front of a priest, in front of hundreds of witnesses and then giving that same love to another woman. Gavin Montgoley, you're not a man at all. "You are lower than the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and I will forever curse the day I am married to you. Since you swore to that woman, I will also swear to you. God proves that you will regret what happened today for the rest of your life. You may have the wealth you desire, but I will never give myself to you willingly." Gavin steps away from Judith, as if she had suddenly become poison.His experience with women was rather limited, all centered on the courtesans and the friendships of several ladies at court.They are all gentle and dignified, just like Alice.Why did Judith order him, curse him, swear before God?The husband is a woman's god, and the sooner she learns this fact the better. Gavin grabbed Judith by my hair and pulled her towards me forcefully, "Whatever I want, I will get it whenever and wherever I want, and if I want you, you have to be grateful." He let go of her hair, Pushing her to the ground again, "Now get up and get yourself ready to be my wife." "I hate you!" she whispered softly. "What does this have to do with me? You think I care? Tell you, I don't love you either." Their eyes interlocked—steel gray against gold.Neither of them moved until the woman who was assisting Judith in her bridal chamber came to her. This new home is specially prepared for the bride and groom, with a huge bed covered with the softest linen sheets, gray squirrel fur bedspread and sprinkled with rose petals. Judith's maid and several female guests are busy undressing the bride.After she was completely naked, they pulled back the sheet and Judith slid into it mechanically.Her mind wasn't even on what was going on around her, and she called herself a fool over and over again. In a few hours, she had forgotten everything she had known about men for the past seventeen years.In those few short hours, she was convinced that men can be gentle and kind, and even have the ability to love.Yet Gavin wasn't different—even worse than the other men. The group of women made fun of Judith's silence, but Helen knew that her daughter was not just nervous. She silently prayed to God to help her daughter. "You're lucky," murmured an older woman in her ear. "My first marriage was a disaster. I married an old man five years older than my father. I doubt it." Now who will help him exercise his rights." Maud chuckled. "I'll bet—Ser Gavin doesn't need help." "Maybe Miss Judith will need help, and I'm more than happy to provide my... er... services." The other laughed indulgently. Judith barely heard what they were saying, the only thing she heard was her husband giving his love to other women, the only thing she saw was the way he kissed Alice as they pulled the sheet over her chest. Through the heavy oak doors, they heard the noise of men carrying Gavin on their shoulders.His feet entered the room, and half of his clothes had been stripped off. The men who made the new house shouted that they would be willing to do it for them and bet on his performance.They put him down, and when they saw the bride waiting on the bed, they immediately fell silent. The quilt emphasized her fat-like snow-white shoulders and bulging breasts, and the candlelight beside the bed deepened the undulating shadow of the quilt, and the pulse in her bare neck was beating rapidly.Her expression was dignified, her eyes were darker in color, and her lips were pressed tightly together. "Quick!" someone yelled. "Are you going to torture her or me?" The silence was broken, and Gavin was quickly stripped naked by them and pushed to the bed.They all stared greedily as Mor pulled the covers back to give them a glimpse of the bride's rounded hips and thighs. "Get out!" ordered a tall woman, "Let the two of them do their own thing." Helen glanced at her daughter worriedly before leaving the room, but Judith kept her eyes down on her hands and didn't look at anyone. When the heavy wooden door was forcefully closed, the room suddenly fell into an unnatural silence. Judith's whole body was tense, and she couldn't ignore the man beside her. Gavin sat on the bed and watched her.The only light in the room now came from the fire burning in the fireplace at the foot of the bed.Firelight danced in her hair, casting flickering shadows on her soft collarbone.At this moment, he has already forgotten the dispute, but he also has no love in his heart.All he knew was that he was sharing a bed with an alluring woman.He reached out to her shoulders, wanting to touch her skin to see if it was as smooth and delicate as it looked. Judy dodged to avoid him, "Don't touch me!" she reprimanded through gritted teeth. He stared at her in surprise.Her golden eyes were full of hatred, and her cheeks were also stained with anger.In truth, her anger only made her more beautiful, and he had never felt such a horrible desire. His palms were wrapped around the back of her neck, and his thumbs pressed down into the soft skin, "You are my wife," he said in a low voice, "You are my man." She resisted him with all her strength, but she was a woman after all, and she was not as strong as him anyway, and he pulled Judith's face easily. "I will never belong to you," she spat, and the next moment his mouth was covering hers. Gavin had intended to be gentle with her, but she had irritated him, and the woman had stimulated his primal bestiality, making him want to curse her and beat her.But most of all he wants to possess her, so he kisses her hard. Judith struggled to avoid him, and he hurt her.It wasn't the sweet kiss of the afternoon, it was punishing her.She tried to kick him, but the sheet not only separated them, but also bound her feet so that she could barely move. "I'll help you." As Gavin said, he pulled off the entire quilt and threw it off the bed. He didn't let go of his grip on the back of her neck until she was lying naked in front of his eyes. He looked at her plump breasts, slender waist and round buttocks in amazement, then he raised his eyes to look at her face, her eyes were still burning, and her sexy lips were red and swollen by his kiss.Suddenly, there was nothing in the world that could stop him from possessing her. Like a hungry man who would do anything for food, he rolled over on top of her, pressing her deep into the mattress.她看着他眸中的神色，虽不明所以然，却直觉地害怕起来，她确信现在他要做的事，不只是挥挥拳头而已。 “不！”她惊骇地轻呼，拚命挣扎想甩掉他沉重的身体。 盖文是个训练有素的武士，茱蒂丝若想跟他比力气，无异是以卵攀石，他压根没注意到她的恐惧，他不是要跟她做爱，而是要利用她的身体。他已亢奋难耐到无法在意她，只知道她是他所渴望，所迫切需要的。他压住她扭动翻滚的身子，用一只腿硬撑开她的双腿，他用力吻住她。 意外地感觉到障碍时，盖文楞了一楞，但他继续前进，无视于茱蒂丝的痛楚。当她叫喊出声时，他用嘴封住她，继续发泄。 待一切结束后，他翻身离开她，一只沉重的手臂横压在她胸上。这一切对他是解脱，但对茱蒂丝却一点快乐都没有。 没过多久她便听见他徐缓、稳定的呼吸声，知道他已沉睡。她小心翼翼地滑出他的手臂，悄悄溜下床，她抬起跌落在地的松鼠皮毛床罩被在身上，凝视着跃动的火焰，告诉自己她绝不哭。 Why is she crying?被迫嫁给一个在她成婚当日，曾发誓永远爱她的男人，却是永远不会爱她。他还告訢她，她对他毫无意义。面对如此不快乐的未来，她有什么理由要哭？难道她还想年复一年地，乖乖地待在家里为他生儿育女，而让他背着她在外头和艾丽丝逍遥？ 她才不要做傻瓜，她会追寻属于自己的生活，若可能的话，甚至追求自己的爱情。她那名义上的丈夫，对她将不具任何意义。 她沉默地伫立于炉火前，控制她的泪水，然她似乎只记得下午盖文那甜蜜的一吻。喔，那与今晚的攻击行为有多大差异呀。 盖文在床上蠕动着，睁开眼，起先他想不起自己身在何处，侧首发现身旁是空的，他立即一惊。 she left. 他全身肌肉顿时紧绷起来，直到看见茱蒂丝立于壁炉前，这才慢慢放松下来。他没去多想为什么会骤感恐惧，只知道她仍在他身边，自己便感到如释重负。 她似乎专心沉浸于另一个世界，没听到他翻身。床单上的殷红鲜血，使盖文皱了眉，他知道自己弄痛了她，但不明白何以会出血。他当初占有艾丽丝时她也是个处女，但她并没有痛的表现，更没有出血。 他再望向他的妻子，突然觉得她好娇小、好孤独。他确实对她没有爱，但他却残暴地利用了她，淑女是不该受到强暴之辱的。 “回床上来。”他淡淡地微笑着，柔声说道。他要从容不迫地与她做爱，算是向她道歉。 茱蒂丝挺起肩膀，“不，我不回去。”她坚决地说，她必须先由不让他控制她开始。 盖文骇然瞪着她的背影，这女人真是不可理喻，她说的每一句话都是意志的竞赛。他咬紧牙关，起身踱到她身前。 刚才茱蒂线并没有真的看清楚他的身体，现在定睛一看，心中不觉受了些干扰。他赤裸的胸膛上覆盖着浓密的黑色胸毛，古铜色健康肤色更吸引住她，他看来强而有力，恍若神只般完美。 “你还没学会，我一叫你，你就得立刻赶到我身边吗？” 她抬起下颔，勇敢无惧地迎视他，“你还没学会，我不会平白听命于你吗？” 盖文伸手抓起垂在她臀上的发丝，一圈又一圈地绕在手腕上，硬把茱蒂丝拉了过去，一把扯开围在她身上的床罩，他将她赤裸的肌肤贴向自己。 “目前你或许能藉痛苦来得到你所要的，”她轻声说道，“但是到最后你终将厌倦于这种抗争，而赢的人会是我。” “你又能赢得什么？”他问，嘴唇紧抿成一线。 “摆脱一个我所憎恨的男人，一个野蛮、诈欺、不名誉的——”她倏地打住，因为他吻住了她。这回的吻不再像一小时前那般，而是温存撩人的。 起初茱蒂丝一直拒绝反应，但双手却已不知不觉抓向他的手臂。他的肌肉坚硬凸起，他的皮肤是那么温暖，不知何时起，她意识到他那摩擦着她胸部的浓密胸毛。 当他更进一步吻她时，他松开她的头发，改而圈锁住她的肩，同时推动她，使她的头枕在他肩窝上。 茱蒂丝放弃了思想，她沉浸于那崭新的欢爱感受，与那梦想不到的喜悦之中。她盲目地弓身向他，探索他后背结实的肌肉，那与她光滑的后背是多么不同呀。他开始亲吻她的耳朵，轻咬着可爱的耳垂。当茱蒂丝双膝一软，瘫在他怀中时，盖文沉声咯笑起来。 他弯身将另一只手臂置于她膝后，嘴唇依然在她颈间徘徊，他将她迳自抱上床。他亲吻她的每一吋肌肤，由前额至脚趾，没有一吋不曾膜拜过，而茱蒂丝则静静地躺着，只有她的神智是活跃的。 没过多久她便再也承受不了更多的亲吻，只觉全身无一处不在疼痛，不在尖声抗议。她不管三七二十一抓着他的头发，硬将他的嘴拉向她的，她贪婪地吸吮着他的唇，紧紧地攫住他。 盖文自己也已头晕目眩，神智恍惚。他这辈子从未像今晚这样，从容不迫地与女人做爱，更从未想像过这竟会是如此美妙又神奇。茱蒂丝和他一样亢奋难耐，但谁都不曾急于行事，他们都想延长这痛苦的折磨，享受更美好的结果。 当他翻身压住她时，她的手臂紧搂住他，将他更拉近自己。这一次茱蒂丝没再感到疼痛，因为她早已准备好接纳他。她应和着他一同蠕动，起先是极缓慢，直到再也按捺不住，他们的律动才乱了节奏，最后一同在狂喜中爆发。 茱蒂丝终于倦极而沉睡，她的一只腿压在盖文的腿上，散乱的长发一圈又一圈地缠绕着他的手臂。 可是盖文却没有立即睡着。他知道这是怀中女人的第一次，而在某方面他又觉得自己仿佛也失去了童贞。这个想法固然荒谬，但却又是如此真实。他几乎无法计数到底带过多少女人上床，可是今晚却与过去的经验截然不同。他从未体验过如此炽烈的激情，和别的女人在一起时，每当他觉得亢奋到了极点时，她们总会突然抽身，可是茱蒂丝就不会，她付出的和他的一样多。 他撩起她散在他颈上的秀发，凑到眼前迎着火光把玩其闪烁的光泽。他将它凑到鼻前，呼吸那淡淡的幽香，凑到唇边，亲吻那柔滑若丝的尾端。她在他怀中蠕动紧贴向他，他亦欺身贴近她。就连在睡梦中，她也要他亲近她。 盖文的眼皮愈来愈重了。在他记忆中这是有生以来第一次真正感到满足与畅快。喔，别忘了还有早晨，他微笑着沉沉入梦。 乔斯·拉恩将他的七弦琴收进皮箱内，对正要离去的金发美女略微颔首。今晚有许多女人主动邀他分享她们的床。婚礼所挑起的兴奋，尤其是眼见一对金童玉女宽衣上床，更使得众人也迫不及待地找寻属于自己的欢乐。 这位歌手是个特别英俊的年轻男子，他那灼热的黑眸与浓密的长睫毛，以及一头柔顺的黑色鬈发，不知迷倒多少多情女子。 “今晚忙吗？”另一位歌手笑问道。 乔斯但笑不语，继续系绑他的琵琶箱。 “我真羡慕娶到那个新娘的男人。”另一男子朝楼上点点头。 “的确，她长得很美，”乔斯同意，“但漂亮的不只她一个。” “但没有一个像她，”那男子凑向他的朋友，“我们要去会新娘的女仆，欢迎你一起来。” “不，”乔斯无动于衷地说，“我不能去。” 那歌手暧昧地瞥一眼乔斯，然后抬起他的弦乐器大步离开大厅。 大厅终于归于沉寂，乔斯穿梭于地上数百张供地位较低的留宿客睡觉用的草垫之间，悄悄拾级而上。他实在纳闷现在要去会的女人，是如何弄到一间私人卧室的。艾丽丝·威伦斯并不富有，虽然她的美使她赢得一位伯爵的戒指，但她到底不是什么高贵出身的贵客。 在这时候堡中已人满为患，只有新娘新郎能单独享有一间房，其他人只有挤主卧室或女眷闺房。幸好每张床都很大——一般都有八呎见方——加上四周厚重的幕帘，倒也可勉强算是独立的。 乔斯很容易便混入为未婚妇女特别开辟的卧室，有好几个男人已早他一步先进去了。由于那金发美女的床帘敞着一条缝，所以他很容易便找到了她。眼见赤裸的她，乔斯不觉亢奋起来。 艾丽丝毫不矜持地对他展开双臂，由不得他慢慢品当她，便急虎虎地吞食了他。她就像一场暴风雨，充满闪电和霹雳。 当一切归于平静后，她不让乔斯碰她。他向来对女人的情绪变化非常敏感，所以就顺着她未加坚持，他从没遇见过那个女人不喜欢在做爱后被拥抱，他起身匆匆着衣。 “一个月后我就要结婚了，”她若无其事地说，“到时候你到我丈夫的城堡来。” 他没接腔，他们都知道他会去的，他只是纳闷她到底开口邀请了多少男人。 一道阳光穿窗而入，其热度搔痒了茱蒂丝的鼻子，她困倦地抬手想挥开它，未果，又想翻身躲开，但什么东西压住了她的头发使她动弹不得，于是她只有懒洋洋地硬撑开眼皮，结果第一眼就看到一张陌生的床顶盖。待她想起身处何处时，一张粉脸立即涨得通红，甚至连她的身体也羞红了。 她侧首转向床的另一边，打量她熟睡的丈夫。他的睫毛虽不长，却很密很黑，他颊上覆盖着新长出来的胡髭。睡梦中，他的观骨不似醒着时那么突兀，就连下巴上的小凹沟似乎也松弛了。 盖文面对她侧身躺着，于是茱蒂丝乘机好整以暇地打量他。她喜欢他那毛茸茸的黑色胸毛，他的肌肉虽结实却不过于纠结。她的目光往下游移至他坚实平坦的腹部。过了一会儿，她才终于再往下秦视，她所看见的似乎并不那么强悍有力，但就在她凝视的的当儿，它又生龙活虎起来。 她倒抽了口气，视线立即飞向他的眸子，他不但醒了而且正在看她，这时他深灰色的眸子已几近墨黑。他再也不是她醒来时所见那个孩子气的男人，而是个欲望焚身的热情男子。 茱蒂丝想躲开他，但盖文仍掌握着她的头发，更糟的是，她并不真的想抗拒，她记得她恨他，更记得他与她做爱时的欢快、狂喜。 “茱蒂丝。”他轻声呼唤，那语气令她不寒而栗。 他亲吻她的嘴角，她的双手无力地轻推他的肩膀，然而在他似有若无的轻触下，她已情不自禁地合上眼睑投降了，他亲吻她的面颊、她的耳垂，当她张口喘息时，他及时攫住她的嘴，他的舌尖甜蜜地轻点她的，她登时愕然抽身，他对她微笑着，仿佛他能了解。 昨晚茱蒂丝以为她已对男女情爱有了全盘了解，而今她又发觉或许她仍是知道的非常非常少。 当他再将她拉回怀中时，他的眸子泛着烟灰的光芒，他的舌尖在她口中滑动，特别探索最深幽处的角落。她为他启齿，试探地伸出舌尖品尝他，他比最上等的蜂蜜更醉人、火热、香醇、柔软、坚实。她仿效他的方式探索他的口中神秘，她没想到要羞怯矜持。事实上，她根本不知何谓矜持，何谓羞怯。 当他垂首进攻她的颈项时，她直觉地仰起头，双手贪婪地在他身上探险。她的心跳愈来愈沉，愈来愈乱。当他的唇与舌触及她的乳房时，她差点没叫出声，她真以为自己也许会死于这般折磨之下，她试图把他的嘴拉向她的时，他由喉间发出的低沉笑声使她打了个寒颤。 她几乎神智换散时，他终于翻身压住她，一手爱抚着她大腿内侧，直到她在燃烧的欲望中战栗。当他强而有力地挺身进入她时，她情不自禁地呼喊出声，她所承受的折磨并未获得解脱。她紧紧攀附着他，双腿缠在他腰间，自发自动地挺身迎合他每一冲刺。最后，当她肯定自己要爆炸时，她感到一波又一波的战栗与痉挛解放了她。盖文瘫在她身上，把她搂抱得好紧好紧，紧得她几乎无法呼吸。但是在此一刻里，她并不真的在乎自己是否会再呼吸。 一小时后，女仆们前来为茱蒂丝着衣，唤醒这对新婚夫妻。 突然间她意识到周遭的凌乱。她的头发、她的身体都缠绕着盖文的身子，床单脏了，落地的部分远多过于还勉强留在床上的部分，那张松鼠皮毛床罩更是躺在壁炉前，摩德和琼安一定会糗她的放荡。 女仆们把茱蒂丝拉下床，为她沐浴净身，盖文则懒洋洋地躺在床上，兴致勃勃地旁观这一幕。 茱蒂丝没去看他一眼，她根本不敢去看他，她简直窘死了，她憎恨这男人，他有她所厌恨的一切，卑劣、诡诈、不诚实、贪婪……然而他一碰她，她就表现得毫无尊严。她曾对他——对上帝——发誓，她永远都不会将自己给他。可是他已从她身上得到的，远超过她所愿意付出的。 她几乎没发觉她的女仆替她套上一件薄亚麻内衣，然后再加一件墨绿色天鹅绒长袍，这件衣服上以金线精工刺绣着错综复杂的图案，裙部前方开叉，露出一部分丝质内裙，袖子宽阔至腕际紧收，蓬起的衣袖剪裁成数段宽条，衬出色泽较浅的墨绿色丝质内里。 “现在——这是给你的，小姐。”摩德将一个扁扁的大型象牙盒交给她。 茱蒂丝惊讶地看一眼她的贴身女仆，然后小心翼翼地打开那只象牙盒。黑色的天鹅绒上躺着宽宽的一条金丝所缠绕成的项炼，每一条编结的金丝都细若发丝。在金练下缀着一排翡翠，其大小形式莫不恰到好处，没有一粒大过于一滴雨滴。 “好……好美哟。”茱蒂丝敬畏地喘息道，“我妈妈怎么——” “这是你丈夫送你的新娘礼物。”摩德忍着笑解释道。 茱蒂丝感觉得到盖文的目光就盯着她后背，她缓缓转身面对他。眼见他大剌剌地躺在床上，古铜色肌肤衬着雪白的床单，她不觉双膝发软，她硬是按捺住自己，单膝微屈向他行礼致意，“谢谢你，爵爷。” 她冰冷的话语令盖文气得下颚紧抽，他本希望这份礼物能使她多少融化一些，她怎么会在床上火辣辣，下了床却又冷傲不逊？ 茱蒂线回身转向她的女仆。摩德继续为她扣衣扣，琼安则为她编织长发，系上许多金色丝带。她们才一忙完，盖文就命令她们出去，他起身匆匆梳洗修面，换上深棕色紧身衣和紧身裤，外加一件黄褐色羊毛外套，这期间茱蒂线始终不曾看过他一眼。 当他伫立于她身前时，她必须以强硬手段硬逼自己的心跳稳定下来。他对她伸出手臂，挽着她一同下楼加入等待着的宾客。 他们一同出席仪式活动，然而这次却不见吻手或相互凝视。从头到尾，他们都一直一本正经地正襟危坐。