exceeding lovely this morning, Countess. I have brought you a small token of my affection.” He maneuvered his mount close and placed a small brown merlin upon her gloved wrist. “She is from our own wild mountains of Pembroke in Wales, but she has been trained to a lady’s hand and will be well mannered, I trust.”
“Thank you, my lord; I love presents.” Eleanor removed the ornate hood then looked directly into the fierce yellow eyes of the merlin as they challenged each other. After a full minute she murmured, “The pigeons at Windsor will be tame fare for you, my beauty, but someday I shall take you back to Wales.” The merlin ruffled and decided to accept Eleanor.
William smiled. When even a winged predator could not resist her, what chance had he? They rode out into the forested park of Windsor with only William’s devoted squire Walter in attendance. Eleanor was overjoyed that he dismissed the usual throng of attendants mandatory whenever she rode out.
She was fiercely determined to display her riding and hunting skills, secretly thrilled that she performed for his eyes only. The speed of their horses flushed a covey of woodcock, and they removed the hoods from their hawks and flung the birds skyward. “Which bird do you consider best for hunting, my lord?” she asked.
“Well, the peregrine falcon is the fastest raptor in the entire world. Did you know it kills its prey by striking it hard with a foot balled-up like a fist?”
“No, I assumed it used its beak and talons like other predators. Why are you not flying a falcon today?” she asked curiously.
“The hunting here is unworthy of a peregrine. We’ll only bag snipe and such. It’s too bad owls are nocturnal; they are much better hunters than hawks. Owl feathers are specially adapted so that owls can fly silently and approach their prey without warning. The leading edge of the feather is downy, which eliminates the flapping noise.”
“How fascinating. I love birds, tell me more,” she urged, thinking I love the way his eyes crinkle when he glances into the sun to watch his hawk.
“Well, let’s see.” He searched his mind for some obscure piece of trivia that she’d never heard. “’tis rumored that when vultures are pursued by a predator they have a unique defense. They vomit on their predator, and it is said to be so foul-smelling it spoils the appetite of their assailants.”
Eleanor’s trill of laughter echoed through the glade, startling birds into flight, and they cast their hawks after them.
“I like to see you laugh,” William confided. “You throw back your head and let the laughter escape freely.”
“Not very ladylike,” Eleanor confessed.
“From my observation most ladies cover their mouths with one of those infernal trailing kerchiefs to hide their laughter.”
“That, my lord, is to hide their rotten teeth, not their laughter,”Eleanor said solemnly. It was William’s turn to laugh. She gave him back his words. “I like to see you laugh. You throw back your head and let the laughter escape freely.”
“Perhaps we are birds of a feather.” He smiled, feeling happier than he had in years.
“Did you know that male and female eagles grasp each other’s talons and tumble through the sky?” In that moment she longed for William and her to be eagles so they could cartwheel through space.
When she described the courtship ritual of eagles, he felt unbidden fire snake through his loins. He knew he wanted to mate with the vividly beautiful creature who rode at his side. Yet he also knew he must protect her from his lust until she was old enough to become his wife in more than name.
He felt quite guilty that she had been kept a virtual prisoner at her brother’s castle of Windsor for years. It had been necessary while she was still a child, but now that she was almost a woman grown, she should have her own manor and household as befitted the Countess of Pembroke. He owned such vast estates that it would be
“Thank you, my lord; I love presents.” Eleanor removed the ornate hood then looked directly into the fierce yellow eyes of the merlin as they challenged each other. After a full minute she murmured, “The pigeons at Windsor will be tame fare for you, my beauty, but someday I shall take you back to Wales.” The merlin ruffled and decided to accept Eleanor.
William smiled. When even a winged predator could not resist her, what chance had he? They rode out into the forested park of Windsor with only William’s devoted squire Walter in attendance. Eleanor was overjoyed that he dismissed the usual throng of attendants mandatory whenever she rode out.
She was fiercely determined to display her riding and hunting skills, secretly thrilled that she performed for his eyes only. The speed of their horses flushed a covey of woodcock, and they removed the hoods from their hawks and flung the birds skyward. “Which bird do you consider best for hunting, my lord?” she asked.
“Well, the peregrine falcon is the fastest raptor in the entire world. Did you know it kills its prey by striking it hard with a foot balled-up like a fist?”
“No, I assumed it used its beak and talons like other predators. Why are you not flying a falcon today?” she asked curiously.
“The hunting here is unworthy of a peregrine. We’ll only bag snipe and such. It’s too bad owls are nocturnal; they are much better hunters than hawks. Owl feathers are specially adapted so that owls can fly silently and approach their prey without warning. The leading edge of the feather is downy, which eliminates the flapping noise.”
“How fascinating. I love birds, tell me more,” she urged, thinking I love the way his eyes crinkle when he glances into the sun to watch his hawk.
“Well, let’s see.” He searched his mind for some obscure piece of trivia that she’d never heard. “’tis rumored that when vultures are pursued by a predator they have a unique defense. They vomit on their predator, and it is said to be so foul-smelling it spoils the appetite of their assailants.”
Eleanor’s trill of laughter echoed through the glade, startling birds into flight, and they cast their hawks after them.
“I like to see you laugh,” William confided. “You throw back your head and let the laughter escape freely.”
“Not very ladylike,” Eleanor confessed.
“From my observation most ladies cover their mouths with one of those infernal trailing kerchiefs to hide their laughter.”
“That, my lord, is to hide their rotten teeth, not their laughter,”Eleanor said solemnly. It was William’s turn to laugh. She gave him back his words. “I like to see you laugh. You throw back your head and let the laughter escape freely.”
“Perhaps we are birds of a feather.” He smiled, feeling happier than he had in years.
“Did you know that male and female eagles grasp each other’s talons and tumble through the sky?” In that moment she longed for William and her to be eagles so they could cartwheel through space.
When she described the courtship ritual of eagles, he felt unbidden fire snake through his loins. He knew he wanted to mate with the vividly beautiful creature who rode at his side. Yet he also knew he must protect her from his lust until she was old enough to become his wife in more than name.
He felt quite guilty that she had been kept a virtual prisoner at her brother’s castle of Windsor for years. It had been necessary while she was still a child, but now that she was almost a woman grown, she should have her own manor and household as befitted the Countess of Pembroke. He owned such vast estates that it would be
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