Claiming(23)
“I…” She looked away.
He grabbed his clothes. “I think I have my answer.” He pulled on his shirt. “Yes, I’ll be away. One week. And then I’ll return for good.”
As he turned to go and he saw once more the distance in her eyes, he knew he wanted more from her. He wanted those eyes to trust him, to believe in him, like no-one else had done before. And he thought he knew the way to do it. Yes, he had work to do on the morrow but it wasn’t where she thought it was.
CHAPTER TEN
“Are you well, my lady?” Her maid opened the shutters and sunlight flooded the room. Rowena groaned, feeling the aches in her limbs, and in her muscles, unused to such exercise.
“Of course.” She turned and looked Birghiva in the eye. The woman’s soft smile brightened and she laughed.
“’Tis good you’ve already taken to the master’s bed.”
“Birghiva! Do you know everything that goes on here?”
Birghiva laughed. “Of course. We are all very pleased that he brought you pleasure. Twice!”
Rowena felt the blush rise deeply and cover her chest and face. “Birghiva! You should not listen. You must reprimand the others.”
“‘Twould have been hard not to hear. Your cries and those of my lord, echoed around the inner castle. Got quite a few of the others at it, I can tell you. Lust is catching.”
“That’s enough. I do not wish to know.”
“’Tis nothing to be ashamed of, my lady. You are married in law and now in fact and that is as it should be. Besides he is a good man.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Because you can tell a good man by the reports of their men. And he has good reports, believe me.”
Birghiva passed Rowena a cup of ale and Rowena turned over in her mind Birghiva’s comments. A good man. And he had been a good man to her these past days… and nights. Was she doing the right thing? She’d had great plans for the use of the money on the Gresham estate and would miss it sorely. But she didn’t dare risk Saher discovering it and guessing its source. Proof of the smuggling she and her father had undertaken these past five years would lead to certain imprisonment, at the very least, if the King should be told.
“Sir Saher is gone?”
“Aye. He and his men left after sunrise.”
“And you have arranged for the horses to be ready for the ride over to Blakesmere Priory? We meet my men with the cart from Cley on the road to the Priory.”
“Aye, my lady. As you said, they’ll be there within the hour.”
“Good.” She had to go forward with her plans, but it didn’t feel good. A little voice inside her said these were plans she’d made before she knew him, before she’d made love to him.
“Are you sure, my lady?”
She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again as conflicting words battled in her head. What had seemed such a good plan a few days ago had now lost its shine. She nodded. “I must. I don’t know Sir Saher. I don’t know how he will treat me. Look at my mother. Look at Angelique. Both have suffered at the hands of their husbands. Even my father, whom I loved, found it in himself to banish my mother from us.”
“But, my lady.” Birghiva gripped her hands in hers. “He believed he was doing that for your own good.”
“My mother wanted us and he wouldn’t let us near. For all I know she’d recovered. How can I trust a man with my life?” She shook her head. “I can’t.” The memory of Saher’s eyes, so strong, direct and imperative, urging her to trust him after their lovemaking, flashed into her mind. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the image but failed.
“I can’t,” she repeated, more to herself than to Birghiva. But, even as she said it, she wondered if she was making a mistake.
“Well,” said Birghiva. “Sir Saher won’t notice you’re gone. It sounds as if he has his own secret plans.”
“Really? Are they still secret?”
“No,” laughed Birghiva. “He’s planning to demolish some buildings and build some more.”
Rowena felt cold. It wasn’t just herself who’d been keeping secrets. Trust Saher? How could she when he was already working in secret against her. No, she’d continue her plans, she’d hide her silver where he could never discover it and it would be there for her when she needed it.
“Is he now?” She glanced at Birghiva. “We must leave soon. But first I must bathe.” Rowena frowned at Birghiva’s grin.
“I’ve the maid heating up the water for your bath, my lady.”