The Spitfire by Bertrice Small

anger. She had been jealous of the attentions he was paying her daughter, she admitted to herself. It was only right he give his attention to Arabella. It was she who was to be his wife, not her. If Rowena had been foolish enough to fall in love with this man, then it was but God’s judgment upon her for enjoying their shared passion. Not for her liaison with Jasper, for that was but to protect Arabella, but she should not have enjoyed him. She sighed with resignation, and rising from her knees, went off to speak to her daughter.
    Arabella, however, was not as easily convinced as her mother was as to Sir Jasper Keane’s motives. “I have heard unpleasant rumors these past few days,” Arabella said darkly.
    “What rumors?” Lady Rowena asked, knowing her daughter’s firm moral stance on infidelity, and nervous as to what might have been said.
    “It is said Sir Jasper is over fond of the ladies, Mama, and I can well believe it, for it is clear he thinks highly of himself. The king has said the choice is mine to make regarding this marriage. Would you have me wed to a lecher and a womanizer? The man I speak my vows with must be true to me.” Arabella’s jaw was firm with her determination.
    “Father Anselm!” Rowena wailed. “You must help me explain.”
    “Men are weak where the flesh is concerned, my daughter, and the world offers many temptations,” said Father Anselm, dutifully coming to Lady Rowena’s aid. “I will not deny that I, too, have heard that Sir Jasper enjoys feminine company perhaps more than he ought to, but he is, after all, a bachelor. Marriage to a beautiful and virtuous wife will settle him. Of that I am certain.”
    “He beat me,” Arabella said, outrage sparkling in her green eyes with memory.
    “There is no sin in a man beating his wife,” the priest said honestly. “It is man’s duty to teach his wife acceptable behavior. I see many good qualities in Sir Jasper, my child. He is loyal to the king, and he is a good soldier, FitzWalter says.”
    “And you will forgive him, Arabella?” Lady Rowena said nervously.
    “I do not know if I will forgive him, Mother. My father never beat you, nor did he beat me,” Arabella remarked. “I will allow the incident to be forgotten, however.”
    “Ohh, Arabella, you must be more biddable!” Rowena counseled, looking to the priest for support. “Men do not like women who speak their minds as plainly as do you.”
    “I cannot be meek and silent as you have always been, Mama,” Arabella said ominously. “I will make peace with Sir Jasper, but you must be satisfied with that, for I shall offer no more.”
    Seger, hidden in a corner of the hall, reported the conversation in careful detail to his master even before Rowena came fluttering in to him with her carefully laundered version of her discussion with her daughter. He had already decided what he would do. It was unthinkable that a headstrong girl like Arabella Grey should unseat him from his position here at Greyfaire, but nothing, he had learned in his lifetime, was impossible. He kissed Rowena tenderly and said, “My pet, you have done well, and I am grateful for your intercession.” And she had simpered happily at him, her foolish love shining brightly in her pretty face.
    Jasper Keane then set about to once again court the heiress of Greyfaire Keep. Confused by his sudden kindness, Arabella began to question her former judgment, yet still in the back of her mind a tiny dark doubt lingered and refused to be dispelled. In a flash of understanding she began to comprehend how his reputation with the ladies had grown so mightily. He was charm itself when he chose to be, which seemed to be most of the time these days. She tried to put the last year in true perspective. Only once had he been unkind.
    Of course women would be attracted to this handsome lordling. It was easy to see how his legend might have grown as a ladies’ man. Arabella was young, but she knew enough about gossip to