The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux

."
    "Let me see. It is for me, is it not?"
    "Oh, yes, and lovely it is, too."
    Both M elite and Lyonene gave her a harsh look for opening a gift meant for another. M eg handed the box to her young mistress carefully, with reverence.
    It was long and thin and covered with sheets of ivory on all sides and top and bottom. Each flat area, six in all, was covered with scenes of courtly love, a man and woman together. "It is lovely," Lyonene gasped.
    "No! Open it; the true gift is inside."
    Astonished that there could be more than the beautiful box, Lyonene lifted the lid on its silver hinges. The lion belt gleamed and the emeralds sparkled. M elite took the box as her daughter studied the tiny lions and lionesses. "I have never seen such as this," she whispered. She held it to the light, feeling the thin gold wire, the smooth pearls and enamels. "Is it not lovely?"

    M elite smiled at her daughter, glad to see such happiness. "It is indeed lovely. Now fasten it or we shall miss your wedding."
    Lovingly, Lyonene put the belt about her waist and let it fall just to the top of her hips. She caressed it and felt she could not take her eyes from it. "Did you send my husband my cups?"
    "Aye, my lady."

    * * *
The hand that William took as he led his daughter down the stairs was trembling. He helped her onto the pretty little mare. She was to ride sidesaddle for the auspicious occasion; the rest of her family and important castle retainers followed on foot. William led the horse the short distance to the castle chapel. The day was cold and clear, and the ceremony would be held outside the church door, marriage as yet considered a legal matter and not completely a holy one.
    Lyonene smiled to see the two brothers side by side. They both wore the M alvoisin black and green. The younger brother was in green with a trim of black and a mantle lining of white fur; the older brother wore black with a thin green braid about the edges of his tabard, his mantle lined in the rich black sable. Her father helped her dismount.
    The look Ranulf gave her almost frightened her. He was not at all as she remembered. He seemed to frown at her and not be glad to see, her. There were circles under his eyes.
    Father Hewitt asked who gave the woman in marriage and who took her. Her father relinquished her arm and she took Ranulf's, but he did not look at her. She wanted some reassurance that he was the same man she'd betrothed.
    The priest's questions were answered and the doors to the church thrown open. She released her pent-up breath and pulled on Ranulf's arm until he looked down at her. He looked tired, but he was her Lion. She smiled up at him. "You ever forget when you are to kiss me," she whispered.
    He gave her a faint smile and bent slightly toward her.
    "It is too late now, for now Father Hewitt must bless our marriage."
    As they knelt before the altar for the wedding mass, she was more aware of some change in her husband, a change not caused by mere lack of sleep. The long cere-59
    mony ended, and they were once again in the early morning sunlight.
    Ranulf lifted Lyonene into the broad saddle of the Frisian and mounted behind her, his arms encircling her to hold the reins, while the wedding guests threw sundry grains at them and called, "Plenty! Plenty!"
    "Ride with me now, away from here, to M alvoisin." His breath was soft in her ear.
    She turned in his arms. "I ever beg you to kiss me and you refuse, yet now you wish to carry me off and neglect our guests."
    The reins were dropped as he pulled Lyonene to him, crushing her against him. It was not a sweet kiss, but one from the longing, the doubt he still held.
    She leaned against him, her arms yet about his neck.
    "Go with me now," he urged.
    "I cannot. I could not think only of myself."
    "Do but think of me then."
    She looked into his eyes and saw the pain there. "On the morrow all my days will be yours, but this one belongs to my parents.
    Come, there will be dancing and we have cooked for